[ACCESS GRANTED.]
PROCESSING...
PROCESSING...
INITIALIZING...
[INITIALIZATION AND ARCHIVE RETRIEVAL COMPLETE.]
FORMOS CAMPAIGN RECORD 04: LESSONS AND ORDERS
[BEGINNING PLAYBACK]
Formos
2:00 PM
[ERROR] / [ERROR] / 878 ABY
"Your stance is too contained, widen your feet or else you'll fold in on yourself trying to block an attack." Maximilian frowned at the command but reluctantly complied, widening his stance as Alisteri circled him. The masked man paused his inspection and nudged one of his protege's feet with his own, making the boy move that foot forward a bit. "Better." Alisteri crossed back in front of the younger Sith and looked him over for a moment.
The wide open area that they trained in was serene and peaceful as usual, only the occasional breeze and themselves providing any noise. Maximillian was clad in his more practical Zeyd-Cloth robes for training of course, his Karza Asmenys held tightly in his hands and angled slightly across his body. "This stance you occupy now is basic and serves as a foundation for many other stances that you'll learn later." Alisteri mirrored the stance by adopting it, his own sword held in a slightly more relaxed grip. "It will allow you to lash out with a few different strikes but also make it easy to guard if your opponent is quicker to strike than you are."
He acted out a few strikes, a slash and a stab, before showing off a couple of blocks. "Like that. Did you see how my feet and hands shifted position to better secure myself in my actions? Fluidity is integral, being rigid in combat will only make you easier to hit and defeat. Now try and mimic my movements."
-
"No, I'm not a rebel! You can't do this!" The struggling man grunted as he was roughly shoved forward by the Legionnaire that was escorting him. He was but one of many, with a few dozens of the various dissidents, criminals, and others that rejected the Order of Wonosa's rule over their homes. This group in particular hailed from Levstrom, the last freedom fighters who had once struggled against Orum and now against the cult.
The Legion had assembled their prisoners near a building on the outskirts of the settlement, some old shed or barn that had barely withstood the test of time and was in dire need of repairs. Several Mailocs flanked the barn, some still unloading their passengers whether they be prisoner or soldier. The struggling man kept up his attempts at escape, the binds that held his hands in place were only rags after all. The Legionnaire escorting him moved to secure his hands but a lucky and swift movement by the man caused the binds to be pulled loose.
The man wasted no time in running, heading towards the open plains that weren't occupied by the soldiers nor by their vehicles. "Halt!" But there was nothing that they could say that would stop him now that freedom was so close. "You're not going to kill me!" He was almost out of their encirclement, almost free. "Legionnaires!" Three bolts seared into his back and cut the man down before his foot left their perimeter, his body falling to the ground as the Legionnaires on the outer perimeter lowered their blasters. Decurion Thetbye sighed and turned away from the corpse to look at the frightened but cowed prisoners that remained.
"Anyone else feel like running?" There was no response, only fearful silence or resolute stares. "Good. First group line up against the wall."
-
"Agh!" Maximilian stumbled back and panted slightly from exertion, his sword barely clasped in his tired and sweaty grip. Alisteri stood before him, still untouched despite the numerous attempts that the boy had made to strike his teacher over the past half hour. "You almost got me that time, but you're too tired to make any hit land." He could almost hear the smirk in the man's voice and it made his blood run hot.
Alisteri tapped the dulled tip of his blade against his own helmet. "Come now Maximilian, one hit can't be that hard to land now can it? Not for the 'rightful Sith Emperor' hm?" The jeering finally made the boy snap. With a roar he launched himself forward and pounced upon his teacher with what appeared to be a wild swing from above. Alisteri prepared to easily block it but the boy's strike never fell, instead Maximilian landed on the ground right in front of the Sith Knight and stabbed his blade up before his opponent had the time to pull back. The dulled blade's tip jammed against his mask and chin and caused Alisteri to actually stumble back.
Seeing the moment of weakness the boy was quick to try and lash out with a wide strike, only for his blade to be caught by his teacher's hand. Blazing yellow eyes met a visor as the two Sith stared at one another. "That's the spirit. Again."
-
The last prisoner in the group made their way to the wall without complaint or resistance, fully understanding that there was little point in spending their last moments trying in vain to escape. The prisoners were all lined up in front of the barn's wall, facing it. Six of them stood there, some of them choking down sobs or muttering prayers while the six Legionnaires behind them stood still and stared at their respective prisoners.
Silence reigned over everyone there, not a single soul was unaware of the grim reality of the situation that was about to unfold. Many of the prisoners had hoped that they would be transported to some sort of holding area or work site, somewhere unpleasant but where they would live. Others had seemed to know what fate awaited them and didn't share in the despair of their compatriots but rather stood solemn and still.
"You stand accused of uprooting and rejecting the rule of order and law. Of rebelling against common society and decency by committing your crimes and fighting against our rule." Decurion Thetbye read off the scroll in his hands, giving the prisoners the last words that they would hear. "For these sins and actions there is no forgiveness, no mercy, nor absolution that can be granted. You have chosen the path of disorder and lawlessness, and as such we bring justice upon you."
With a nod to his soldiers the six Legionnaires behind the prisoners took aim at them and readied themselves, fingers hovering over the triggers. "By order of the High Priest of the Order of Wonosa, Alisteri Haxim, Darth Strosius, you have been sentenced to execution for your crimes. May the Force be merciful on your souls, for you have not earned any such treatment by we the living." He lowered the scroll and gave the lineup of prisoners one last glance, perhaps even a moment of hesitation.
"Fire."
-
Salneva opened the door to her humble home with a smile as the two Sith approached it, stepping out and folding her hands in front of her stomach as she looked at Maximilian. "Welcome home! Dinner is waiting on the table for you, it's your favorite!" The tired boy gave her a slight glare but she caught the relieved look on his face as he walked by her and it only made her smile widen. As he walked inside she turned her attention to Alisteri and straightened up slightly in order to appear more formal. "How did he do High Priest?"
The masked man chuckled and idly tapped on the bottom of his mask as he responded. "He's a quick learner, untrained but eager. Got a few lucky strikes in on me too." Salneva nodded in satisfaction, her gaze briefly running over the Sith to check for any real injuries despite knowing that none would show. Sangnir healed too quickly for that, a fact she that knew very well. "I'm glad to hear it. He's been rather irritated this past week but since you mentioned training him he perked up a bit. Perhaps training could be a good outlet for him."
Alisteri hummed in agreement, training had been the only thing that kept him sane in his early days as an Acolyte after all. "I'll see if I can arrange a little sparring area for him when I'm not around then. I'm sure the Squires wouldn't mind sharing their yard and sparring with him a bit. But anyway I shall leave you and your ward alone for the moment, let the boy rest up and think on what he's learned. Goodnight Exarch Limont." He gave the woman a respectful nod and she was quick to bow in response.
"Goodnight High Priest, a pleasure as always." With that the two Sangnir parted ways, one to tend to the boy and the other to head towards the nearby cathedral that lay in the center of the settlement. Alisteri made his way inside the quiet structure and up to the second floor where the meeting room resided, taking a moment to sit back in his chair with a relieved sigh before tapping on the control panel of the table.
The call was quick to be picked up and soon enough a holographic display of Decurion Thetbye stood on the table as he bowed. "High Priest, it is done. The last of the dissidents and resistance have been dealt with as per your orders." Alisteri sat up and laced his fingers together as he listened to the report, nodding after a moment. "Excellent news Decurion. Tell me, how did the Legion handle their task? Was it a burden for them? Did they hesitate?" The soldier shook his head, quick to dispel any concerns that his leader may have held. "No sir, they all understood the necessity and followed orders without question or hesitation. Just like the Sith Imperial Legionnaires taught us to."
The day just kept getting better and better it would seem. Never before had Alisteri asked his Legion to fire upon unarmed individuals, even if they were criminals. He normally handled such grim tasks himself in order to spare them of it but his Legionnaires were more capable than he had hoped. "This is great news! I knew that the Legion was prepared, you have my thanks Decurion for carrying out this execution." The Decurion bowed his head in response. "As a reward you and your Legionnaires shall return to the Dresuoti and rest from your time in the garrison of Levstrom. With the city in compliance we have no need of two Decurions there anyway, Dellwild can handle the integration process."
The soldier appeared relieved at the news and nodded quickly as if he was afraid that the Sith would change his mind. "My soldiers will be glad to return home High Priest, I thank you for this reward." Alisteri waved off the thanks and shifted to a more relaxed posture. "No thanks is needed, you and your Legionnaires have earned a rest. I shall expect you here in the morning for a full report of your time in the garrison though. You are dismissed Decurion."
With a bow from the soldier the call ended and the masked man was left alone in the meeting room to contemplate on the day. Things were going very well for the cult, their newest settlements brought into compliance and their soldiers unquestioning and united in their mission. A smile crept across his face as he tapped another button to summon a holographic display of the planet itself.
"Today Formos..." Another press and the map switched to one displaying the various worlds and sectors that the Sith Order had conquered. "Tomorrow, Jutrand and the Malsheem."
Formos, Formos Dresuoti
5:22 PM
[ERROR] / [ERROR] / 878 ABY
[ENDING RECORD PLAYBACK]
