Your Faith In Your Friends Is Yours | TSE Invasion of TRA Held Gree Hex

[Bernard]

Industrial Sector, Construction Zone
Serving the Rebel Alliance with [member=Wyatt Morga]
Defending against [member=Vestille Thumahra] while the Sith warmachine closes in on the city.


The Jedi sighed a short breath of relief when the two pistols left his opponent's hands. The ease with which they were dislodged surprised him somewhat, the expectation had been a brief power struggle as the power of the Force battled the resolve of living muscle. Yet there had been none, as though his opponent had willingly abandoned the major advantage he quite literally held. Nonetheless, he was content with the new direction of their battle. A hand-to-hand fight was far more manageable without a lightsaber than an asymmetrical hand-to-blaster fight would have been.

Quickly the Arkanian climbed back to his feet, allowing the Force to breathe new life into his tired limbs, just in time to witness his massive opponent's charge barely a few metres' distance away and closing fast. His angered roar drowned out the quiet rain, the fierce rage behind it radiating unmistakably not just within the Force. The glint of metal in the soldier's hand caught Bernard's gaze for a moment. A knife would complicate things. Judging from the man's charge the intent was to tackle the Jedi and overpower him with sheer brutality. It seemed too late for a dodging manoeuvre, even if he managed to get out of the soldier's direct path he had no doubt a quick adjustment would bring him back into the blade's reach. With each thunderous step, it became increasingly clear that time was running out.

Years of harsh training kicked in for the Jedi, principles learned and fused with the very way he lived his life would guide his actions. A dedication to the Fifth Style of Lightsabre Combat has turned his mind to constantly look for opportunities to turn an enemy's offence into opportunity for counterattack. His opponent was physically superior to the Jedi, standing what he guessed must have been a whole head or two taller, not to mention he was far broader as well. Bernard was no push-over, but there was little doubt in his mind that the speeder-truck barreling right at him was too much for him to take head-on. The sheer momentum would be too much to handle and dodging would be too risky to attempt. How best would one eliminate the threat of a speeder-truck? One disabled its engines.

The Jedi entered into an upright stance again, body-weight shifted forwards, positioned as though he were bracing himself for the coming attack. With only metres to spare he would have to act quickly. His eyes observed his opponent, tracking the rhythm of each leg as it brought the soldier closer and closer with alarming speed. A counterattack would likely be most opportune when the soldier was about to make contact, it would give him the least amount of time to alter course or respond to an attack, he wagered. Yet, what if his intention was to lunge during the final stretch? Bernard's plan would be for nought and he would have a murderous war machine descending upon him. Not the ideal situation. Simply waiting for the soldier to get too close would not do, he had to make the first move sooner. Just before the soldier came into lunging distance would be the most opportune moment for what he had planned, that was the moment he would strike.

With steady breaths he waited several heartbeats for the soldier to be close enough, eyes trained directly at the charging beast, his roar now nearly deafening. His foot crossed an invisible line drawn only in the Arkanian's mind, initiating the Jedi's response. He'd maintained the facade of bracing himself for an oncoming attack until this point, but instantly he shifted to lunge forwards himself, jumping towards the man from a stand-still. Yet he didn't attempt to tackle, he didn't intend to simply throw himself against the man, instead, he let his body weight move backwards as he leapt, allowing his legs to spearhead the counter-attack. The sole of his boot aimed directly at where the soldier's foot would next plant itself during the sprint, attempting to hit the knee just as the foot would support the entirety of his opponent's weight on its own. As he moved towards his opponent, Bernard bent his front leg slightly, concentrating the Force in the muscles within it. When he was about to make impact, his leg would shoot forwards in a Force-empowered kick right at the soldier's knee in an attempt to take out one of the soldier's legs by breaking it using the movement of his charge as an advantage. He wasn't a firm believer in the Living Force or the Will of the Force as an entity that aided living beings in tough situations, but boy did he wish those stories were true as he attempted this manoeuvre.

 

[Arage Bao]

Location: Satikan, Capital of Asation
Objective: Get The Feth Out Of Dodge Asation.
Allies: [member="Darth Caecus"]
Enemies: TSE, TRA, Open to Interaction

Luca was not a forcer.

Not a Master of the Darkside, nor a Guardian of the Light.

But one does not need to be attuned to either side to feel in the deepest pits of their soul that something was incredibly wrong. Luca felt it a moment after Kith, after she tripped and fell on her knees- his hands coming down to support himself against the wall. Every muscle in his body tightening, tension enough to snap, as the Force cried out in wrongness. There was a reason why that veil existed between this world and... theirs, a reason why even the strongest Master would have thought twice here.

These Things On The Other Side were not chained easily.

"We need to go, need to move." Luca managed to grind out between teeth and set jaw. He helped Kith back up, his own knees weak. Feeling weak. Because... what could one man do against this? "If we can get-"

Oh it was... beautiful. Absolutely horrifying, and one could not look at the tear in the veil between worlds for long before they would go mad, but to see the ritual near completion... oh such beauty. The smaller horrors would be spilling all over the planet by now, the ritual opening portals all across Asation.

As they stumbled out of the corridor and into the courtyard they had come from... one of those gates were ripped open. It wasn't as large as the one at the ritual site, not as expansive, but it was enough. Enough for something to claw itself out of the chaos behind it. No eyes, a maw filled with sharpened teeth, sets upon sets of tentacles, it was enough for Luca (a clone forged to fight and kill, no fear) to take a step back and tugging Kith with him.

"Oh, no." He murmured, trying to stop the shaking of his hands as he grabbed for his blaster.

 

[Darth Prazutis]

​

Location: Gree Space, Asation, Ancient Ruins

Objective: Unleash the Darkness

Allies: [member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Taeli Raaf"], [member="Fiolette Yvarro"], [member="Kaalia Pavanos"], [member="Darth Caecus"], [member="Luca Thorne"], [member="Preliat Mantis"]

Enemies: [member="Varex"], [member="Jyoti Nooran"], [member="Kamon Vondiranach"], [member="Avoim Oeymo"], [member="Allyson Locke"], [member="Kahne Porte"], [member="Valkren Calderon"], [member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

Equipment:

• In Signature
• Jinwodasirhttp://starwarsrp.net/topic/127673-jinwodasir-pins-of-protection

It was glorious.

To see the fruits of their labor unfold in front of their very eyes right through the rift in reality. But even before it could be seen the Lotek'k could be heard, felt. It's presence was like the muffled, maddening beating of drums, the thin monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from inconceivable, unlighted chambers beyond this reality. Through the rift its maddening screeches could be heard so horrific, so disturbing ears bled. The first sign of its presence came from a whirring drone that grew louder by the second, first a skin crawling thrum became a hurricane roar. A carrion wind brought forth an unspeakable sickening stench, a spore-thick gale of absolute horror.

A seething mass of tentacles reached out from within the massive rift one after the other dead black of coloration and devoid of any sort of hair, a certain darkness that pulled in the light. It was followed by two massive tentacle appendages that were harder than the rest, they suddenly took the form of twin dagger like blades that cut through the earth like a hot knife through butter as the creature pulled itself through the rift. A series of deep tusk like appendages jutted out from its rock hard head. Eyes like black coals covered its head. It had no ears yet it could hear, it had no nose yet it could smell. It was a walking contradiction, a freak of nature that could cause even mother earth to weep at its very presence.

It's very presence unleashed a deep maddening aura, a choking fog of black energy so deep it clouded the force in the complex the light became indecipherable amidst a sea of darkness, so smothered that those who wielded it became blind beyond what was in front of them, their strength of foresight choked in darkness. A circle of sorcerers in its immediate vicinity began to scream and cry in absolute horror, their shrieks rang into the air as they dropped to their knees rambling with frantic voices of the maddening whispers that rang within their heads. They dropped down to the fetal position on the ground before the great beast and clawed their own eyes out, rocking back and forth they babbled incessantly and cried tears of blood. For the briefest of moments everyone felt its maddening aura unfold, it's maddening insanity flooded their minds through some otherworldy aura. It's voice was both mesmerizing and disturbing, like honeyed wine and succulent nectar yet also like the grating of metal nails on glass.

The beast that stood well over a hundred feet in height outwardly raged and howled in rage as it turned toward the Lord of Lies, his iron will the link that bound it to the circle. Des
pite its terrible rage the Zambrano Lord stood his ground locked in the ritual of binding with the tyrant of the void. It's flesh burned and sizzled while it's crashed with the black
power of the binding ritual, it whipped and thrashed unlike the others that burned right away. It's binding was slow. But this ancient ritual was designed to force even the heart of madness to its knees before them. After much struggle Great Terror from Beyond bent and lowered it's massive head in a sign of submission, its binding going beyond the surface and it's connection directly to the Shadow Hand.

The effects, the sheer strain of the last leg of the ritual were evident on the giant's face. He bled from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth the same black ichor that flowed through his veins. He was completely exhausted, spent from the final battle he was forced down to one knee holding the ground for support. But it now followed his commands. He gave it a simple order and suddenly the Sith stop
ped hearing it's maddening whispers. The beasts madness was directed to the Jedi, the Light, the enemies who dared to attack them. It connected with its spawn and from it's portal came yet more masses of monsters, some created from the creatures very form. When it shrieked they shrieked, when it commanded they responded. While these beasts responded to commands through their binding it could coordinate them on a deeper level and these bio forms responded.

It was beautiful. But the darkness wouldn’t be so easily bound. The whispers began to creep back in, and looks can be deceiving.

 

[Amun]

​

Allies: [member="Atlas Kane"]
Enemies: [member="The Slave"]
Objective: Subdue
Gear: Link

Everything went fast. As soon as they stepped off from the vessel they formed a formation around their transport and started shooting at the patrols of droids that begin to approach them. Amun didn't bother to intervene the fight between the two Sith entities, noticing the two beings battling each other with their prowess in the Force. But that all changed when the Slave unleashed a power on Atlas, causing the latter man to retreat amongst cargo crates in order to recover whatever injuries he received from the Slave.

But then the Slave's focus went on Amun after Atlas hid from sight.

The man, using his emotions to empower his will on the Force, incredibly lifted his own ship and hurled it with speed at Amun and his crew. The Kyuzo's reflexes turned on, reflexes that were greater and humbled those of a human. His body, too, was superior that other humans and most humanoids. The Bounty Hunter sprinted off to his right and jumped at great distance from his run. The squad of soldiers accompanied him also tried this to evade this incoming ship, but it was futile. They were caught in throw of the ship, the vessel's momentum instantly killed as their impact crushed their body's. Their corpses would then burn in the fire that was produced when the thrown ship collided with the other, resulting a big shockwave and combustion reaction.

Amun picked himself up on his feet and faced the Slave with the music playing. Fitting for a man that was betrayed and was about to lose everything, and maybe for this fight. The Kyuzo turned his war helmet on his head with his fingers and then jumped off in a sprint for his opponent. Bowcaster in hand and fully loaded the Bounty Hunter fired explosive quarrels as he closed the chasm between the two.

A voice entered the hangar, one belong to a female and said something about a last dance with sadness in her voice.

The last dance for them.

And Amun was determined to accomplish that.

 

[Darth Imperia]

​

The Voidlight Cathedral

[member="Verse Taggart"]
[member="Sebastian Thel"]
[member="Lyra Sarn"]

--

Imperia saw the silver streaks arcing towards her a split second before she heard the crack that their movement produced. Chit, chit, chit.
Rage and indignation flickered across the Lady's face as lashed out through the Force, willing - no, commanding - the blade to cease its movement. She would not stand for this, not from an impudent little beast, and certainly not on her ship. The Sith's will, indomitable and implacable, grasped one of the blades flying through the air, slowing it to a halt.

The other? The other buried itself in her collarbone, scraping uncomfortably against her mechanical shoulder. The knife Imperia had been focusing on dropped harmlessly at Verse's feet, her focus breaking as she let out a stream of Sith profanity, her normally impeccable Imperial accent breaking in favor of something that would've fit in perfectly in Coruscant's undercity.

"For the love of - will someone who doesn't have a bleeding great hole in their chest get her?"

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Allies: TRA​

Enemies: TSE​

Suicide Squad: [member="Kamon Vondiranach"] | [member="Valkren Calderon"] | [member="Avoim Oeymo"] | [member="Jyoti Nooran"] | [member="Allyson Locke"] | [member="Kahne Porte"] | [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] ​

Engaging: [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Preliat Mantis"] | [member="Kaalia Pavanos"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]​

​

Ritual Site​

Venom Assault Squad​

​

​

​

Varex was in front of the lead adept before she had even fully activated her lightsaber. One second he was meters away and the next his right gauntlet blade was buried in the Rattataki's chest.

It was as good a signal as any, one of the Venom supercommandos charged the first Sith who revealed themselves. With a look of derision, the adept flicked his wrist and sent the marine sailing through the air past him. Too late, his danger sense picked up on the bandolier of thermal detonators this pest had unhesitatingly activated. They detonated precisely at the moment the soldier passed by overhead, incinerating him but also engulfing his enemy in flames as well.

Two other supercommandos had taken cover at a precise one hundred and twenty degree angle, their shots were timed to force the most amount of concentration out of their Adept target, who was already visibly beginning to tire as she futilely deflected bolts back at her assailants. The last three were fighting back to back, laying down a savagely precise base of fire which cut down Legionnaire's supporting these Sith minions.

He was beginning to think they might make it after all, until two more Adepts stepped out to block their path, and a barrage of blaster fire from behind finally overloaded his suit's personal shield generator. A grazing bolt gouged a blackened scar across his cheek, nearly killing the Rogue Jedi outright after he chanced a glance back to see another full company of Legionnaire's closing in from behind.

One by one each Venom holding off the oncoming tide of stormtroopers was felled by sheer force of numbers. The flanked Adept finally slipped up, and even though both marines could see the downward swings of new crimson sabers on their periphery, they brought their quarry down with efficient headshots moments before they themselves were cut down by the reinforcement Adepts.

The Inquisitor broke one of their backs across his knee, but in the end the other kept her distance long enough for Legionnaire reinforcements to fully surround the lone survivor. A scatterblaster from behind laid him low, and the last thing he remembered before everything faded to black was a lightsaber hilt rushing towards his skull. When he awoke, his head was still pounding from the blow. Surrounded by Sith, he had been dragged on his knees before the woman he had been hunting since even before Lothal.

The Lady of Shadows. We meet face to face at last.

Varex's vision cleared and he looked past his former master, now ensconced in the very trappings of deviant mysticism she had taught him must never be espoused, to fully take in their surroundings. Now far away, he could see a Sith Lord he did not recognize deep in a meditative trance, all his focus apparently on the yawning portal opening onto impossible realms.

The Grand Hypergates, of course, he shook his head in shame. The Inquisitor had suspected it, but despite his knowledge of Taeli's double identity he had been hoping there was a shred of the wisdom he had once seen in her left, So you're just as mad as the rest of them.

 

[Kyla Asla]

She got on a comm link, the war on the planets looked massive. “This is Acolyte Kyla, does anyone need assistance?” she asked. She needed any Sith personal to respond, ground or space. She waited by watching all the TRA ships that were trying to get out of the Gree sector blown up, as the fleet would soon complete there encirclement of the system. She awaited an answer.

 

[Anden Fancelo]

​

​

OBJECTIVE: Survive. Reach Belphaegor. Assume control, and evacuate Sith assets.
EQUIPMENT: Mark I Ghoul TIC Armor | Mark I Banshee IAW | Glie-50 Blaster Pistol
ALLIES: [member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Tabigarashu Madara"] | [member="Belphaegor"] | [member="Kyrel Ren"] | [member="Lok Munin"]
ENEMIES: [member="Cedric Grayson"] (MVP) | [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] | [member="Ursula Vizla"] | [member="Noah Corek"]

The scenery within the hangar of the Acerbitas changed, although not drastically. Less bodies littered the ground, but only by a small amount unfortunately for the Empire. The members of Onyx who were given duties, had done so. All the wounded stabilized and set for transportation, thanks to Sergeant Reida and the other medical units that were able. Maxevan and a group of the newly arrived, were just picking out some weapons from the floor here and there, the main bulk of gear that was originally left on the metallic floors of the Hangar, were found in the shuttle assigned to it. Although it was categorized as sloppy to some, it was rushed due to the fact that they had such little time left.

Which was three minutes.

Lieutenant Fancelo, having done his part which was evacuating the sith troopers that were there to see it all, as well as 2 squads of newly arrived to accompany. Ordered a small batch of medics and newly arrived to approach the returning Lady Matsu and Belphaegor. Providing aid, if the Sith allowed it. Although by the looks of it, they needed it bad. Normally these people would get aid with or without their approval, but these were sith. This wasn't the Sovereignty anymore, this was the Sith Empire.

Eventually Maxevan would be finished with his part, ordering a squads of newly arrived to embark the shuttle and evacuate with the gear. Once every person was accounted for, the shuttle ascended from the bloodied metal floor, the gears rising into their slots. And the shuttle taking off.

Two minutes.

The Transports holding the wounded were ready to go, but Lok's suggestion had an Officer pull some of his hair as that officer was seen alongside a pair of medics were running across the hangar, checking if each and every body was dead, just to make sure no one was left behind. Fancelo merely watched on, an additional shuttle entered the Hangar, just for the last squad of newly arrived and those that remained to do their job. (Fancelo, and 2 medics and officer.)

However, it was intended that they'd be the last one out. Awaiting the Sith and Lok to evacuate and the wounded.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

By The Dogged Hand - Lead ship of Assault Fleet Cinder.​

Landed on Gree - Assaulting the Capital​

​

[member="Thyne"] [member="Kor Vexen"] [member="Khonsu Amon"] [member="Darth Voracitos"] [member="Alkor Centaris"]​

[member="Vestille Thumahra"] [member="Djorn Bline"] [member="Khaji Ri'Had"] [member="Wyatt Morga"] [member="Solonariwan Tofusin"]​

Joycelyn's relationship to Thyne was a bit like owning a slightly dim-witted dog. She cared about him in ways, but at the same time irritated herself over his lack of- well, he was not like her, or like Evaelyn. Her iron grip on his shoulder was as much there to keep him from doing something stupid as any other reason. Just as she had pushed the helmet on his head, she had done so out of a sense of care. If he died in battle, then her father would not blame her, but she would blame herself. If she kept him out of the fight, then she would blame herself too.

"Indeed. General Vexen just issed the order." "Your air support is most appreciated."

The scout report was rerouted to her, and while she glanced over it, she did not have time to ponder it. The assault on the city had to commence. The forward troops fighting in the streets needed support. Saving the trapped scout team would be a simple consequence of their assault, in her mind. However, that meant she could not shell the line from here. Not safely, anyway.

All troops, commence assault on the city. Armoured vehicles take the front. Keep the Hounds in reserve.

The walkers and tanks of the great battle line started to move. The skyward cannons pivoted to trace and to expect the rebel ships, and when the missiles were launched, the Harbingers started picking them off. One shot more than tearing through the missiles that rained in from the sky. On a clear day, it would have been easy pickings. When the missiles came closer, the supporting AT-HAWs took over, plucking down the missiles as the Harbingers aimed in on the signatures of the Thunderbirds instead. Quick and agile, they were difficult targets and high in the air, but not out of range.

Booma pearls did rain down, but with the range and counterblow of the artillery, they did not have the reach to touch the artillery reaches. Instead, the pearls peppered the battlefield in the expanse between the line and the city. Walkers and bikes were crippled or disabled. There was loss of life as the large constructs crashed into the ground, its security systems stopped by the booma pearls.

"Gentlemen, if you will join me." CRASH

One of the missiles hit its mark, crashing against one of the Powerhammers. Pieces flew from the sheer impact, and sparks arced out from the boompa pearls. Legionnaires ducked down, but pressed on against their foe with renewed vigor; they were encouraged by the return of fire, knowing that the enemy was out there gave them focus. The Harbingers returned fire, a hail of railgun shot capable of reaching all the way into low orbit before dissipating. The shield was raised after the barrage, too late to prevent the damage, but covering them while they reloaded. The AT-HAWs walked out of its protective range to maintain the protective fire.

"Join me as we take to the front." She gestured to one of the troop shuttles, re-stocked with eager, black and alabaster-armoured legionnaires. Joycelyn's own black-wrought armour was surprisingly quick to climb on board, and she extended a hand to Thyne and Khonsu, pulling them on board if they wished to join. Then, the shuttle shot off across the rainy plains.

Booma pearls cratered the mark and the grim silhouettes of downed ATs reminded them of the realities of their battle, but Captain Joycelyn Zambrano had a fierce sensation about her as she eyed the horizon. Ahead of them, she saw the line of battle, already alight. Her hand clutched her sword in anger, making the lobstered fist creak as if crushed in her grip. Little flames licked her hand, peering out from the sheath of the blade. In her other hand, the silver staff.

Then, a terrible CLUNK. Something was wrong. She gripped the side of the ship as it lurched in the air and starting canting. More bad, bad sounds rang through the hull as it skidded along the wet grass. She crashed into the side of the ship, feeling the plates of her armour compress on her form. Then, it halted. Joycelyn scrambled to her feet with a groan and climbed out. A shot clanked against the head, reflecting off her armour and to the side as she turned sharply.

Her hand shot out, fingers curling like talons. One would expect a body to rise, choking, but instead there were flames - Intense enough the persist against the heavy rain, fire shot up from a foxhole, enveloping the bodies within in a flash of intense heat.

"Troops, on foot! Move, move!"

The city was ahead, now tall and imposing against the darkened clouds and the roaring din of planetary war, almost deafened by the drumming of rain on armour and wet grassland. Joycelyn's fire twisted as she moved the shaft of her weapon.

 

[The Lurking Presence]

Sparks bloomed vividly, as Belphaegor and [member="Matsu Xiangu"] staggered down the Battery Hall back towards the desolated Hangar; glittering embers that hung gently in a soft haze of smoke, sagging downward to press upon the two. Every arduous step, tedious and uncomfortable. With his left arm around and under his Masters back, he dragged her, scathing pain branching out through what felt like his every nerve.

While it would have been reasonable, perhaps even instinctive, to find himself aggrieved by the morbid wounds [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] had stowed upon Mother Matsu; Belphaegor suffered no such sentiment. This woman leaning against him, was a true Titan. She had suffered worse, and yet, here she remained.

Mauled and Mangled Matsu always overcame, always recovered and reappeared stronger.

In a stupor, Belphaegor mutely reflected upon the Atrisian, letting his body haphazardly hale onward down the ruined hall, the Hangar some three hundred paces ahead of them. Lost in the Legend Sebestev, a Sworn Sword of the Last Fathers, told of her. How - whether true or untrue - she had been carved and cleaved by a thousand weapons at the Ambush of East Haven; during the Orphan Wars back on Maena. Only to reappear less than a year later, where she subjugated the Last Fathers in their entirety through a series of tempestuous Battles that stretched from the Obsidian Pinnacle all the way to Black Stone Rise.

Death made of flesh.

By the time they'd entered the Hangar, the Maenan had found himself scarcely aware of the atmosphere around him; dazed and lost until Matsu's voice uttered something throatily. "No, " he croaked with a hoarse reply, amber eyes nestled between rivers of crimson taking a moment to focus in on [member="Lok Munin"] as he scuffed his battered body towards them. "I. . . we. . need you to get on the Transport. "

At this particular juncture, her children, would not take a refusal for an answer.

"Careful. " Belphaegor grimmaced while displacing Matsu from the grasp of his good arm in to the care of the Mercenary. "Get her on the Ship, " were the only words he knew he needed to exchange with Lok; fishing the Communications Device away from his Master before she was guided off laggardly.

For a moment he watched on, gazing weakly, before he slowly examined the work of [member="Anden Fancelo"]. Offering an appreciative nod, entirely cognizant that they were starved for time. But the Lieutenant would have to yet wait before his assigned duty could be completed. Turning his back slowly upon the final proceedings, he elevated the device painfully towards his fissured lips.

"Hirou. . . " The Maenan's voice exhaled like rough gravel, trying to raise [member="Tabigarashu Madara"]. "We've extracted as many assets as we can, " Belphaegor informed, turning back towards the ships before lamely limping towards them; pausing on the landing Ramp of the Shuttle that had been prepared. Silently he gave a motion of his left hand, the Comm pinched between his fingers, for Anden to load up and depart. "Are you close? "

Two minutes. . .

 

[Kamon's OOC]

Allies: [member="Varex"] (Sort Of), [member="Avoim Oeymo"], [member="Kahne Porte"], [member="Allyson Locke"], [member="Jyoti Nooran"], [member="Valkren Calderon"], [member="Yuroic Xeraic"] | Enemies: [member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Darth Prazutis"], [member="Fiolette Yvarro"], [member="Kaalia Pavanos"], [member="Taeli Raaf"] [member="Preliat Mantis"] | Location: Facing The Beast | Gear: Corporis Skin Suit, Twin White Lightsabers, Amphistaff, Blast Bugs

As he ran towards the gate he wrapped himself in the Current and diminished his Force signature to nothingness. To make sure she couldn't track his line of movement he altered his course away from a straight line. It was fortuitous, though, as he spotted Varex being led towards the gate. Captured? Pathetic or smart. It depended on the circumstances surrounding it. He didn't care save for the fact that it provided him an opportunity to sneak inside to where the ritual was going on. Fortunate.

Or perhaps not so fortunate.

As soon as he entered the high pitched whine started up, and it turned into a cacophony of noise like nothing he had ever heard before. Were he not wearing the suit he was certain that his ears would have exploded. They very nearly did anyway. He leaned against a wall, exposed to danger for anyone that could see the Current. Right in front of the one who had hidden from the Jedi for so long, right in front of their noses. But she would deal with the noise too.

The question was, how would they deal with the creature that came through the hypergate. It was massive. He had seen a lot of creatures in his days, but none as big as this. What the heck was it? It turned and faced someone outside the gates. A person was controlling this? Oh, he doubted that. Even when it lowered its head. A tentative connection? He felt a dark malevolence fall over him, threatening to crush him, but he wasn't a speck in the dark. He was a warrior of age.

Pushing off the wall, he turned to the creature. Huge. Massive. How could one person face off against it? Did it matter? This thing wasn't going to go away unless it was made to go away. Who was going to make it go away if even he wasn't willing to try? He was a Jedi. A former grandmaster. An Echani. Father of the Queen of Eshan. He was there. It was right in front of him. A beast of epic proportions; claws dug in, tentacles and horns. He didn't know if he could do anything, but he was going to try.

His left hand called down the amphistaff and hardened it. His right sent forth the white blade of a lightsaber. A deep breath, and he released it again. The creature was not itself a spawn of the darkside, despite the dark feeling. He stopped sizing it up, and ran towards the creature. Claws in the ground. A perch. The Force drawn into legs. A jump to land upon arm. Speed to run forward. Not but a flea upon the creatures body, but a flea with a bite.

Blade swung, cleaving at skin. It may do nothing, he didn't know. The only way to discover was to attempt. Experiment. He would try what he could, now visible. Soon it would turn on him, he was certain.

Let it.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Location: Gree Space, Asation, Ancient Ruins
Objective: Unleash that which has Slumbered
Allies: [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] [member="Kaalia Pavanos"] [member="Darth Caecus"] [member="Luca Thorne"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Preliat Mantis"]
Enemies: [member="Varex"] [member="Kamon Vondiranach"] [member="Allyson Locke"] [member="Kahne Porte"] [member="Avoim Oeymo"] [member="Valkren Calderon"] [member="Yuroic Xeraic"]

Equipment: Armor Lightsaber

She could feel it coming... and that was when her curiosity decided it was sated and she started to wonder... was this really the right decision to make? Conquering and crushing the rebels? Sure, she could get behind that in a heartbeat. Summoning minor eldritch abominations from beyond and unleashing them on their enemies? Sure, she was fine with that. Plenty of creatures to study, plenty of spells to test to see how effective commands could be given. But the Lotek'k... she could feel the madness coming from the portal, just that horrible sense of Other...

Varex had been brought in, dropped to his knees before her. And... she felt it in the Force, in the very currents flowing around them. Someone was sneaking in with the White Current, but she had more immediate concerns.

"It's Lady of Secrets," she amended the Vaemath. Seconds away now, and she began the Force to her. Not for an attack, but to defend herself and Fiolette against the crushing madness that was already starting to grip several sorcerers of lesser mental fortitude. "And more curious than mad, but I can see how one would be unable to distinguish the difference. You were always a promising student. Pity we didn't finish your reeducation, but it is not too late. You have a choice now. Join us or..." She trailed off as the Lord of Lies finished the ritual... and the beast started to emerge.

With a building hum that turned into a roar of massive tentacles and sheer sound, the Terror from Beyond was brought into this world and Taeli had to act immediately. The dark madness sweeping through the area as the Lotek'k voiced its displeasure at the attempts to control it by the Shadow Hand of the Emperor. A glimmering shield of purple energy surrounded herself, Fiolette, and the few Sith and troopers nearest her. Varex would not be so lucky. The madness and power was overwhelming, and Taeli was feeling an awful strain on her barrier of protection... whispers of incomprehensible languages threatened to slip in... and then they were gone as it seemed the Lord of Lies was able to subdue the beast.

She was not so sure of that... and then the intruder who slipped in using the White Current of the Fallanassi was visible, leaping towards the Lotek'k to strike it. Fool! Every precious moment the creature was subdued, every moment the creatures it had created and brought with it were under their control... her lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss.

This was not going to end well.

 

[Tehkyram]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XBNLOK3OUo​

Objective: Jedi Hunt
Allies: Sith Imperial Legion
Enemies: Rebel Soldiers // [member="Cenric Marus"]

With each step, Tehkyram felt the pain in his injured leg. And with each step, he embraced that pain. He recognized it and made it a part of himself. And in doing so, it alleviated the pain and made each step easier than the last. He was only limping slightly, with a gait less pronounced than his Master's. But still, he slowly and steadily made his way through the wreckage, moving closer and closer towards Cenric.

He said nothing as he advanced. There was nothing to say. True, it was admirable that the Jedi was choosing to stand and fight in the face of inevitable violence, but also insulting. He expected Tehkyram's surrender but would never surrender himself. Such damnable hypocrisy! Yes, he would break this Jedi good and proper, shatter him into a million pieces and cleave him into a billion.

Stepping into the hangar, Tehkyram readied his own lightsaber. The Jedi was in great pain, yes, but he was still willing to fight. He was still afraid, but his will was too resolute for the fear of death to overtake him just quite yet. He would have to come closer to death to be truly broken. So that begged the question: how intact was his body? There was only one way to find out: to let the Jedi make the first move.

 

[Darth Caecus]

Location: Satikan, Capital of Asation
Objective: NO LONGER DRAW ATTENTION - Get the Feth off of Asation
Allies: [member="Luca Thorne"], always
Enemies: Basically everyone, good job. Open to Interaction

How much had he known?

It was the question repeating, over and over again in Kith's mind.

How much had [member="Darth Saarai"] known?

For the last six months, they had simply lived. Not as Sith, not as agents of the Saaraiash. Not as Darth Caecus and Agent Thorne. Simply as Kith and Luca. People, doing their best, figuring out what that meant without a Master. Without war. Figuring out who they were alone, but also together. They had just been people, doing their best.

Had they changed that much in that time, truly?

Or had she simply not cared to look at it all before?

Before today, she wouldn't have believed that her friend would have sent them into this without knowing what was to happen. Tai Fa wasn't known for needless waste. Wanton destruction. But the amount of power it had taken- she had felt them, those helping, lending their strength to the ritual- how could he have been ignorant of that plan?

She didn't know.

She didn't want to know.

But there was doubt.

Kith stumbled, feeling the pressure of the Dark Side. She was a Sith. Because the imprint in her cloned brain told her she was. But she had never cared about the Dark Side itself. About power. Especially since Thyferra, there seemed no point in it. It was right there, waiting. Like a caged beast just out of reach. She could touch it, wrap her hands in the reigns and take control. In the past, she wouldn't have hesitated. Not because she cared for the power but because of the needs of the moment.

She was not a good person. She didn't pretend to be. But there was someone she cared about.

If Luca hadn't been there, perhaps she would have done something different. But then, wouldn't it have been the same on Thyferra?

If he hadn't been there, the needs of the moment would have been different. Fortunately, Luca had never asked her to be good.

He had only asked her to be her.

She felt the security forces before she saw them. Kith reach out with the Force, giving a *tug* on the creature, pulling its attention- but not toward her and Luca. Toward the trio of people that came around the corner into the courtyard a heartbeat later. Scrambling, pulling up short at the sight of the abomination turning its maw toward them.

Away from Kith and Luca.

"Run, run go now!"

She was already pulling him.

In some way, she hadn't changed at all.

 

[Tabigarashu Madara]

Allies: TSE, [member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Belphaegor"] [member="Anden Fancelo"] [member="Lok Munin"]
Enemies: TRA, [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] [member="Noah Corek"] [member="Cedric Grayson"] (rip) [member="Ursula Vizla"]
Objective: Intelligence, Don't Die (so you know, the usual)

Belphagor's voice came through the comms while the people in the data hub were still getting the water turned off, so the sound was nice and muffled.

"Good work," the Nezumi said, able to take their attention away from the pad for a moment. With the scrambling on the other side of the bulkhead, there was no one to attempt to baffle with creative slicing bullchit.

Hirou checked the progress on the upload. Eighty five percent. Almost there. So close.

But even if they trusted that the last fifteen percent would go through without a hitch, there was no way they could make it back to the hangar in time. The sheer impossibility of tiny legs and great distances. Two minutes would never see them there before the doors closed. Hirou had already lied to Matsu, to make sure that this data would get there without putting her at further risk.

Now they lied again, because sometimes, the truth served no purpose.

"Oh yeah, I'm already on the ship!" They pipped, injecting a cheerfulness that they didn't feel into their voice. "You must have missed me. I waved when I ran past, but you were kind of busy. I am small, after all."

Despite the tone in their voice, Hirou's ears drooped and absently, they clutched their tail.

Thirty seconds, and the upload would be complete. Matsu would have all of it to give to [member="Darth Saarai"].

A minute left.

 

[Romi Jade]

​

GREE ENCLAVE​

Shipyards​

WITH: [member="Aten Ramses"]​

ENEMIES: [member="Jairus Starvald"] & [member="Dante Sotari"]​

---

---

​

---

Spoiler

[youtube]

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/VTsD2FjmLsw[/youtube]

The irises in her eyes vibrated; she was shocked.

She caught the tailwind of the tendril slamming into its target, prompting her to fallback on her right foot with less confidence on how she should continue to proceed.

Wha...

The quake in the catwalk forced her to lock her legs for more balance. A stray glance to just beside her, she took in the sites of the station giving itself life and lashing out around them any chance they got. She thought this would be the moment; she went for it. Then, she was whirling away for the final assault The second she released herself from balance she felt a force dig into her side, and before she could process it completely she was being launched directly into the trajectory of the station itself.

Ugh!

She released an animal noise on impact that was a combination of pain and anger as her body flailed for the moment. She'd been thrown right into the coil of this alien-esque appendage that quickly began to lace itself about her body while she struggled to overpower her way through. In her mild attempt at resistance, she was slammed against the surface of the catwalk and subsequently dragged along the rigged flooring until she was yanked towards the edge. With one foot finally free, she caught the lower railing of balustrade just in the crevice of her boot, halting her inevitable plummet.

"Not again!"

She clenched her teeth to show her struggle. When she was finally able to get a grip on her lightsaber handle again, she ignited the weapon and sliced her way to freedom. Just then the catwalk itself began to twist and warp itself into a position where it could throw its inhabitants off. With the railing on either side now the only thing keep her from failing, she hopped back up.

"That was a cheap shot!" She yelled out. Balancing herself along the railing, which took the place of the catwalk in the transition, one wrong step would see her falling through and down to wherever the pit ended....if it ended.

She scrambled to her feet, staggering more than standing. She caught herself in a few seconds between, taking in a gulp of air. Within one release of breath, she let go a surge through the Force. A high pitched screech erupted from her mouth, bleeding from her body like a detonation.

 

[Warchief Waddles]

Location: Gree Enclave, Shipyards
With: [member="Romi Jade"]
Enemies: [member="Dante Sotari"], [member="Jairus Starvald"]
Equipment: See Sig

---

---

Eyes locked on the trooper Aten clung onto the catwalk trying to remain as positive as possible in both a warzone, and when hanging above a multiple story fall. Thankfully his clothes were made of an Ultrachrome weave, because if it wasn’t his collar would probably be stained from the nervous sweat that poured down the Jedi’s face. Though getting hit by tentacles didn’t help the situation. Aten could already feel the welts rising up on his skin. The legionnaire removed their helmet, Aten thinking this them trusting the Jedi, as he looked at the bloody image the Morellian winced. He’d been so lost in his rage, in his own anger at the thought of his master’s death he’d wanted nothing more than to hurt the woman. To break her, but he’d been wrong. Aten knew that, he’d even confronted his master on her willingness to take lives mere moments prior to her being shot.

Despite the blood that marred her appearance the legionnaire was attractive, if only she hadn’t attempted to kill his master. Though it was obvious she had no intentions of aiding Aten, couldn’t much blame her, she wasn’t bound by the same creed as the Jedi, nor even as a Sith. The Legionaire zipped away to safety with her grappling line leaving the Jedi behind clinging to what remained of the catwalk as its swaying began to pick up the tentacles preparing for another assault. She seems nice! Chirped the saber causing a sigh to escape Aten.

“She tried to kill Romi. Not that much of a nice person, and she left us to die.” Looking up the Morellian began trying to think of a way out, as one of the tentacles came in once more at his forearm. The tentacle struck true at the clothing, though the gauntlets Aten wore protected him. Reaching up with the opposing arm the Jedi latched on wrapping first one hand around it, then another. The weight of the Morellian pulled on the tentacle, stretching it, becoming a line for the Jedi to swing from. A line that snapped as Aten came around in a swing, he watched clearly as the facility released the tendril in an attempt to rid itself of the Jedi. “Chit…”

 

[Cenric Marus]

Exact Location: RAS Defiance - Acerbitas Support Ship
Enemies: [member="Tehkyram"]
Allies: Rebel Alliance

The Sith waited.

For the life of him Cenric couldn't really figure out why. The Karkodon had done nothing but attack for the last few minutes. Even when it had been foolish to do so the Alien had struck again and again. He had ravished the inside of the Defiance and slaughtered his way through half a dozen troops. So why wait now? Was he attempting to bait him? Lips thinned for the moment and the Lorrdian closely watched his opponent, a breath slowly filled his lungs.

After a brief pause Cenric called out to the man. "We don't have to do this."

The Padawan had tried this before and had been met with nothing but rage. Still, he felt his body beginning to shake, his entire being filled with a mixture of adrenaline and dozens of other endorphins that tried to keep him standing. Cenric knew that he had to be careful, knew that he had to be smart. He would fight, but he wouldn't be stupid.

"You can surrender." He told the Alien. "Turn to the light."

His fingers tightened on his lightsaber, but he didn't move. "The path is always open."

Slowly Cenric's chest rose and fell, watching the Karkodon closely for any sign of movement. So far the Alien had been nothing but a mindless beast, no talk, no chance for conversation or redemption, but right now his options were few. He had to do this right, or he knew that he would die.

 

[Vestille Thumahra]

Vestille Thumahra​

---

---

​

---

Capital City, Gree​

Allies: Nowhere to be seen​

Enemies: A broken leg​

Directly Engaging: [member="Bernard of Arca"]​

Pain wasn't a new concept to the Captain.

Having let the murderous corruption deep within his psyche loose, it was almost as if the towering trooper had allowed things like common sense to also fall into the abyss. Rushing into the Jedi's trap with reckless thirst for murder, the trooper's leg fell victim to the force infused kick as it unleashed a sickening crack and sent the trooper down onto one knee. His roar became a yell of reactionary anguish; the Jedi had risked it all and it turned out that his play gave him a brief reprieve for this soldier was no ordinary Legionary. Beneath the armor of the Captain was what was once called 'beyond human', the augmentations of the Death Trooper program as much a part of him as the mental attributes that created the core concepts of Vestille's demeanor. A simple broken leg wasn't going to stop him, especially now that savagery and murderous intent sat atop the controls above all else. In this brief moment, the helmet looked towards the Jedi and silently stared; perhaps a moment of clarity coming to the soldier as he looked upon the Knight, realizing what he was up against. Whatever it was, it didn't last long.

If anything, the pain simply drove Vestille into destruction; his zeal overriding any sense of self preservation.

Deep within the Captain, negative emotions and sensations running through his body were poured onto the fire, an industrialized process that kept the armor clad titan ticking, the beast snarling and seething at the sheer audacity that the Jedi had even been able to land such an immobilizing strike upon him. Still, broken leg or not, the trooper used his still capable leg to spring at the Jedi like a desperate animal, a barbaric snarl emitting from beneath the helmet; flashing the combat blade within his hands rather than a set of razor sharp teeth. Every fiber that created the zealous killing machine had every intent on bringing the Jedi to his end, however messy it may be; that was simply a parameter out of his control. The pain, the desire to kill, everything added up into a swirling pool of rage and blood-lust as it was as if someone had flicked the light switch off within his mind, allowing the nocturnal predator to become the king of the hill and sit upon the throne; an animal with its illuminated hungry eyes focused upon its prey.

At that moment, the man known as Vestille had been warped and twisted into something far worse than a overzealous soldier. A rabid animal with blood upon the tip of its tongue, it simply needed to land a strike.

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

ALLIES: [member="Belphaegor"] | [member="Tabigarashu Madara"] | [member="Lok Munin"] | [member="Anden Fancelo"]
ENEMIES: [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] | [member="Cedric Grayson"]
OBJECTIVE: Make a horrible realization.

Of course, her insistence that the others get healed might have seemed laughable in the face of the damage she was moments from succumbing to. That both sons bore vicious wounds however, was secondary to the knowledge that Elpsis was still on the ship. Go, go, go, off this ship, somewhere safe. Distance from fire is your safest bet.

“Right back here,” she said to Belphaegor as he shifted her towards Lok. Dwarfed as she was by the two younger men, it meant little to her as anyone else who ever towered over her petite frame. Finding hooks in Lok’s armor to clasp her fingers too, she limped along at his side. Broken bodies were being pulled either on to transports so that the dead might find proper and honorable burial back home in Sith space, or aligned reverently by Rebel counterparts. Matsu had left early in the fighting to get in to the hallways and therefore knew little of what had transpired here, but the stench of melted plastics, burnt flesh, acrid explosive materials… destruction. Part of their intention, but not the mission.

“You’ve done well, Lok,” Matsu breathed, choking on a bit of cybernetic stasis fluid again as the effort displaced her insides. “Just get me stable, then take care of yourself. I’ll survive.”

Wasn’t that what people did? If you acted sure, that put truth in to it.
Right?

Everything was too cold inside the transport, her hands grasping and clutching at Lok’s arms and armor as she was gently assisted in to sitting down. Immediately she was swarmed by TSE personnel, assessing the damage and what to work on now and what had to be reserved for actual surgery. Bacta was being slathered on to her burnt side when Belphaegor returned, the door closing up behind him and the engines roaring to life as the last thirty seconds of the cease-fire ticked away.

At first, when her apprentice said that Hirou had gotten on to the ship unnoticed in the commotion, that made sense. In her haze of exhaustion there was a moment where she didn’t question it. But it was a small transport and as the seconds ticked by without a glimpse of the Nezumi, Matsu reached out for their mind. If it were close she would sense it, she at least had that much in her.

Nothing.

Immediately she called Hirou over comms, a blare of electromagnetic interference piercing her ears before it softened. That wasn’t good.

“Hirou, are you back on the ship?”

In the viewport of the room in which she and her sons recovered, the lights on the Acerbitas started glaring as it prepared to jump out of the system. Matsu leapt out of the seat she was in as if she had the strength to do so, shoving one of the medics out of the way as she stumbled up to the window. Pressing one hand up against the duraglass, she tried hailing Hirou again.

“Where are you!?”

If they were capable of answering back, the three would never know. The back of the Acerbitas glared bright as it fired forward, hovering ahead slowly for about ten seconds, before jumping in to hyperspace and disappearing out of their reach.