Faction 55 Days in Mantell City | Dark Empire

[Aridius 'TK-1575']

ARIDIUS TK-1575 'CRIMSON'
HEAVY TROOPER
TAGS: Sinestra Onrai Kazian Blackwood

"Those who ask for mercy are too weak to deserve it."
― DARTH BANE

​

Crimson's internal communications of his helmet continued to click and burst with radio chatter. In the beginning, the radio was organized as it was precise. Now, it is sporadic- with very few remaining leaders to guide. Yet, finally, a transmission that came from someone is worthwhile. As the Imperial Treasurer spoke to the Seer behind him, Crimson pretended not to pay attention. 55 long days trapped in this damned planet, Crimson knew that there might not be a 56th. "TIME TO LANDING ZONE SPARROW AT FIVE POINT THREE TWO HOURS." The Stormtrooper spoke in the background, continuing to clear the path as they walked forward.

In the distance, they could see the illumination of blaster fire as the Landing Zone, which guarded the VIP bunker, was aflame with combat. Yet, they could not see the situation from so close. Yet they could hear the thundering war drums; how the Dark Empire's position, routinely attacked by both infantry and artillery alike, was truly a theatre of war.

Crimson, flicking through the several vision modes of his helmet, thought out the plan in his head. "RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION AS FOLLOWS: CREATE BREAKTHROUGH TO VIP BUNKER, ESCORT KEY PERSONNEL TO ESCAPE CRAFT AWAY FROM HOSTILE ANTI-AIR DEFENSE PERIMETER. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT IS KILL ON SIGHT." Like a robot, someone devoid of ego or attachment to life.

While more fellow allies [or perhaps not] followed them, Crimson paused- turning over his shoulder to scan over the additional reinforcements they had received. The Droids will come in handy, but Onrai freaked him out. It made him twitch almost, reminding him of the Dathomir Campaign long ago. Things that cannot be extinguished with a blaster freaked him out.

Focusing forward, Crimson's hand went to his belt- feeling underneath to ensure that his lightsaber was still there. Stolen off a Jedi long ago, Crimson pretended like it was a memento. But he himself knew better. It was a key to unlocking what he's kept secret for most of his life. How hilarious it would be that a routine diplomatic security mission would be the time he might have to use it.

"SION IS ENTRENCHED. LETHALITY IS IMPERATIVE. COGNITIVE WEAKNESS IS NOT TO BE TOLERATED."

What happens if you have to use your lightsaber?
Scared?

​

​

 

[Onrai]

Sinestra Kazian Blackwood Aridius 'TK-1575'

Vanessa's lightsaber was at the ready as the remaining troopers gathered up with them. Their hoi polloi of weapons would provide the necessary firepower if needed to kill whatever rebellious Imperials they came across. This was a personal fight, and one she intended to see through to the very end. Her eyes caught the darktrooper fiddling with his lightsaber, likely some token of a battle long passed. Yes, he had more than his fair share of secrets, but right now those were not worth being dug up.

Not until they were no longer under fire.

"Well, let's get a move on. We have enemies to kill and smarmy ex-chancellors to save."

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

VIP BUNKER // OLD MANTELL
Sinestra

Tithe let out a loud sigh as he rubbed his eyes. Yes, these were challenging times, but he still expected his men to exercise a degree of initiative. The only thing on the line was the lives of a few thousand men—it wasn’t as if they were closing a multi-trillion credit deal or faking their way through a compliance audit. The Imperial Treasurer handed his cold cup of caf to an aide and crossed the small bunker to the holo terminal.

With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the comtech and took their seat. “Good help is indeed difficult to find, as I’m sure you can attest to my dear,” Tithe explained to Sinestra, his trademark glint rarely visible in his sunken eyes. “Now, what my esteemed compatriot was attempting to articulate is this: have you, perchance, stumbled upon a viable means of departing this desolate rock? Time is of the essence, you see, as I'm a man of considerable duties and cannot bear to be parted from my noble endeavors in the esteemed service of our revered Emperor for even a fleeting moment longer.”

The bunker Tithe and other members of the leadership were encamped in rumbled as another battery of enemy rockets fell on their positions. “Expedidiance,” he added to the Dark Jedi. “Will be most highly rewarded.” He reached forward and tapped the command to end the call before leaning back in the chair and giving another audible sigh. He didn’t know how much longer he could do this; he needed to get back to the markets.

 

[Sinestra]

More Imperial survivors flocked to the ragtag band, Sinestra noticed, before her attention shifted to her vambrace's display, where a new figure flickered into view. Shaggy and unkempt as the previous man, but that was where the similarities abruptly ended.

His presence seemed worn out, faded even. But the nonchalance and confidence he exuded seemed to clear the flickering static of the connection. The eyes behind the glasses held a serpent's glint of certainty. She knew this man; she'd seen his face in the past on electoral holo-posters in the Core Worlds. But more importantly, she had seen him in the future--a key piece to the Emperor's Grand Design.

Aerarii Tithe.

The snake that eats its own tail.

The seer glanced up ahead at Crimson, his voice growing more and more robotic and purposeful with each passing moment. <<"We have the means, Treasurer.">> she replied. The bureaucrat has to make it out of here alive. <<"Send your coordinates to this frequency and--">>

Her sixth sense flared and instinct snapped her hand up, a translucent Force barrier materializing above her.

"Cover, NOW!!"

And for a few, long seconds nothing happened.

Silence.

...

Then hell rained from above as artillery shelled their position.

Aerarii Tithe Onrai Aridius 'TK-1575' Ellayina L'lerim Kazian Blackwood

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Torture and Interrogation Officer and Agent

Information

Objective: Escape from the Planet
Location: Mantell City, Ord Mantell
Equipment: 2x Sunfury Pistol | Light Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | 2x Vibrodagger || Cloaking Device | 5x ASBF Probe Droid || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tag: Kazian Blackwood [direct tag] | Sinestra | Aridius 'TK-1575' | Thomas Barran | Amun | Aerarii Tithe | Open

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

"It's a matter of point of view, I just have to be careful with the moves." I said, I was going to add that I've had worse, but well... it wasn't worse.

If I'd had some skin regenerator, or some clean cloth to bandage the wound with, or stop the sweat from dripping on it, I would have been fine. I quickly tried to think of the best solution. We'd already seen the guards going out at night, or sometimes only in pairs, ours were so tired that a pair was too much to kill. But my plan did not require us to kill them. At least one of them had to survive. But it was something I couldn't do alone. If I hadn't been so exhausted, so tired, I might have made it. And then, if I hadn't been injured, but I was injured...

"I've got a better idea... looks like you're going to get a little demonstration of what I do and why the Empire keeps me around after all." Despite the fatigue and pain, a wicked, predatory smile appeared on my lips for a few moments. "It'll be a bit dangerous, but we'll probably end up with some supplies, food, water, bandages and even the codes to one of Sion's safehouse or similar place... and maybe a safe night's sleep."

I said to my companion. It was a dangerous idea, but really, in this place, any damn dangerous idea or thought was. That was the plan, as well as going after the other two Imperials. I thought for a few moments about how I should tell him all this. Granted, I wasn't a very skilled Force user and within the Force I was mostly known for "tricks" on the mind, evoking worst memories, manipulating memories if I had to, creating fear and the like. Even against a simple Force User, the things I can do would be ineffective, but they are just soldiers.

And the Force has great power over the weak-willed...

"But I need you for this, I can't do it alone. So, if you don't want to do it, we'll go after the others... The plan requires us to lure one of the two-person patrols and split them up. We need one alive, the other could die. Can you do that, or do we not even try?" I asked him.

Still, at this point, neither choice was better than the other and either one could cause our death.

 

[Kazian Blackwood]

TAGS: Ellayina L'lerim

As she spoke her plan I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder. She was right, we needed better than this. As I crossed into the center of the room I looked out again to the street. The Dark Jedi's group had run out of sight. We could still get after them if we needed to, but what Ellayina was saying had me interested in at least seeing what other options we had. Her confidence was rubbing off on me.

"We've taken on those patrols before. I think we could pull it off again, if you think so." In her condition, I wondered if she was that desperate, but I was verging on it as well. We had to get off this messed-up world.

From outside the ground rocked and explosions roared, a plume of fire and smoke going up over where Sinestra 's group had departed to.

"Feth." I had to keep my weary jaw from dropping to floor, clenching it hard, and my fists along. As if things couldn't get worse, the movement of Imperial survivors hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Want is not really in the matter is it?" Because I wanted to go home, and that want gave way to need immediately. We needed a way out. "If posing as Sion's people avoids us getting blown up by those gun emplacements, I'm game."

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Torture and Interrogation Officer and Agent

Information

Objective: Escape from the Planet
Location: Mantell City, Ord Mantell
Equipment: 2x Sunfury Pistol | Light Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | 2x Vibrodagger || Cloaking Device | 5x ASBF Probe Droid || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tag: Kazian Blackwood [direct tag] | Sinestra | Aridius 'TK-1575' | Thomas Barran | Amun | Aerarii Tithe | Open

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I glanced at Kaz as he picked up his bag and went to the centre of the room. Since I didn't even try to sense his thoughts, I had no idea for a few moments why he did it. Could it be because he wanted to go after the other Imperials, or could it be because he liked my idea and was already on his way to find a patrol team. I looked at him questioningly for a few moments, not wasting my energy speaking up. Whichever option he chose, I would need all my strength, as would he. When he finally spoke, I raised my eyebrows for a moment. I let him choose, and he threw the ball back. Now I would say men... but I imagined he still thought of me as his boss.

And in this place, for our survival, rank had long since ceased to matter, only working together.

"I said the suggestion because I'm ready." I confirmed my words and my resolve.

The explosions were happening outside at that moment and even the building shook. I could not stand on my feet and fell; I groaned in pain and for a moment everything went completely dark. I think I also lost consciousness for a few moments. The next thing I heard when I was able to sense my surroundings, it was Kaz and he saying something. I opened my eyes, the world spun a little. I moved carefully and sat up on the floor. To tell the truth, it was good to have that attack outside, it came handy. Sion's men must not think there were others around.

"You will be Sion's man and one of them will help us, whether he wants to or not." I corrected Kaz.

I haven't tried to get up from the ground yet. A minute or two of sitting will do me good now, I'll gather my strength in the meantime. I think it was time I finally told him what I was capable of. I hadn't used a lightsaber, so there was no way to really know I was a Force User. If only because I wasn't a member of the Inquisition - Dark Side Elite - or the Church of the Sith. I had to wait a while for my breathing to normalise because of the pain.

"I'm a Force user, my abilities are mostly mental... I can manipulate others, make them see things, bring out their worst fears, hurt them, mentally and physically, without touching them. And of course I can make them do things they don't want to do..."

Here I had to stop for a few moments to catch my breath. Finally, leaning against the wall, I got up off the floor with difficulty and pain. Meanwhile I tried to think as fast as possible.

"Let's go underground, through the tunnels there, back to the area that Zion's people might think they already own. There the patrols will be smaller and less frequent. If we're lucky, we'll be able to catch someone underground. Most of them will be hunting for fugitives now anyway. It's the best time to act and then maybe we can contact the Empire." I told him, and if he agreed, I started off tired but if we were lucky we would soon be able to eat, drink and rest properly.

And it was something that was worth the effort...

 

[Kazian Blackwood]

TAGS: Ellayina L'lerim

As the building rocked and knocked L'Ierim down, I went and took a knee next her as she recouped. Whatever she had planned had to be good, because my skepticism of her condition was rising fast.

"I'm a Force user, my abilities are mostly mental... I can manipulate others, make them see things, bring out their worst fears, hurt them, mentally and physically, without touching them. And of course I can make them do things they don't want to do..."

"You? Are a Force user?" The shock in my voice was apparent, and I nervously fumbled my fingers around the strap of my bag. It kind of all made sense now, why she was an interrogator. Hell, next I'd find out she was an inquisitor or something. I wondered if she'd used it on me at any point. I was stunned for a moment, but she continued right on to business.

"Let's go underground, through the tunnels there, back to the area that Zion's people might think they already own. There the patrols will be smaller and less frequent. If we're lucky, we'll be able to catch someone underground. Most of them will be hunting for fugitives now anyway. It's the best time to act and then maybe we can contact the Empire."

"Well, if I can pass as one of their men taking a force-sensitive prisoner into custody we may have our ticket out of here. Or are you going to just... zap one of their minds so they don't even know you're there?" Could she even do that? The words sounded stupid coming out of my mouth, but with the things I'd heard about Jedi and Sith, and the Empire's own secular knights, I had to ask.

 

[Aridius 'TK-1575']

ARIDIUS TK-1575 'CRIMSON'
HEAVY TROOPER
TAGS: Sinestra Onrai Kazian Blackwood

"Those who ask for mercy are too weak to deserve it."
― DARTH BANE

​

The God of War. Artillery, even during the age of kinetics, dominated the field. The decimation of infantry and armor alike. While artillery's relevancy lessened due to orbital assets, one cannot deny the killing power. Quickly, Crimson slammed into the rubble of a building- allowing the rockcrete to absorb the incoming blast that would have otherwise eviscerated him. He huffed, the irritation gargled through the helmet, "Blast it!" He shouted out, his heart beating from the close call.

His armor's cybernetics kicked in, instantly stinging him with adrenaline boosters and cognitive blockers to hyperfocus him. Being a veteran, he didn't need to become a Darktrooper—he could have progressed as an Officer or even more—but a side effect of the cybernetics is that it kept his Force Sensitivity at bay, allowing the Dathomiran Witch to continue her prolonged stay before the afterlife was able to take her soul.

Crimson's helmet phased through multiple visor settings, attempting to find the spotter. Switching to a more advanced IR, Crimson could spot a straight line from a laser designator—the Spotter.

"HOSTILE SPOTTER LOCATED, MOVING TO ENGAGE!" Crimson burst to action, the hulking Heavy Trooper moving to stand. Rather than moving from door to door, he burst through the concrete. The artillery explosions during this blitzkrieg advance only masked his approach as he sprinted from building to building. Caring not if those followed or died around him, the Heavy Trooper moved closer and closer to the target.

The Forward Observer, alongside his two compatriots, spoke into their radio as they observed the artillery rain down. It was a small team; forward observer, radio operator and a marksman in a rag-tag team to maximize lethality. They spent the past few weeks spotting Imperil targets from a skyscraper that overlooked several highways through the city. They were invincible, and they expected victory to arrive soon. "We got them zeroed, good job. Prepare for next fire miss-"

Down the stairwell, they heard movement. "Hey, go check it out." The Observer said, and the Marskman was forced to oblige. He picked up his rifle, and began to walk down the stairwell from their window. Crimson was waiting. His Heavy Blaster Cannon was aimed at the entryway to their fire poison, only the red illumination of his energy pack visible through the darkness. As soon started to walk down, -THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA- A lifeless body dropped on the staircase, and the engagement was on.

Crimson charged up the stairwell, and both the hostiles within the room shouted- "FUCK! SHIT SHIT SHIT! TYLER IS DOWN, GET ON THE RADIO!" The Observer ran up and shut the metal door to the staircase, only for Crimson to burst through the wall next to it. The Blaster Cannon aimed at the Radio Operator first, then the Observer last.

-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-THWA-

One obstacle down. He raised his forearm, sending a transmission to the Dark Jedi, Sinestra << "ENEMY ARTILLERY TEMPORARILY SILENCED, RECOMMEND MOVING FORWARD." >>

 

[Onrai]

Kazian Blackwood Sinestra Aridius 'TK-1575'

"Well, you heard him."

The remaining Darktroopers followed up and moved forward with the duo, ever closer towards where the VIPs were. Vanessa herself began to focus, seeking a greater level of situational awareness over the area. She swore the next time she came to this damned world - these people would pay for the blood of her fellows that had been shed. Her focus would perhaps provide the party with a greater level of clarity against the threats involved - and only furthered her sense as to something unusual with the Darktrooper in question.

"I swear to the Maker, the next time we have to pull Tithe's ass out of the fire, I'm going to kill him myself." Vanessa grumbled.

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Torture and Interrogation Officer and Agent

Information

Objective: Escape from the Planet
Location: Mantell City, Ord Mantell
Equipment: 2x Sunfury Pistol | Light Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | 2x Vibrodagger || Cloaking Device | 5x ASBF Probe Droid || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tag: Kazian Blackwood [direct tag] | Sinestra | Aridius 'TK-1575' | Thomas Barran | Amun | Aerarii Tithe | Open

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Luckily I didn't have to focus too far away because Kaz was right next to me. As soon as I looked up and saw his face. Maybe it was the fatigue or the surrealism of the situation, but I started laughing. It was a real laugh, which was completely out of character and not fit to our situation. Many times in torture, I have found that suppressing pain or fatigue can cause people to laugh in the most unexpected situations... and then cry.

"You should see your face... that look is worth everything!" I laughed sincerely. "Sorry, I know it's not funny..."

Luckily, the laughing stopped quickly and I was able to suppress the crying that followed. However, Kaz's look said it all, as I could see fear and worry in his tired face, eyes and gaze. Instinctively I wanted to shake my head; I didn't need to be telepathic to know what he was thinking at that moment. I've seen it happen to quite a few people when I've revealed to them that I'm a Force User. When I spoke, there was no trace of the laughter or to any good mood, just tiredness in my voice again.

"I know that look... and my answer is no, I have never used Force or telepathy on you. I don't abuse it and I don't use it on anyone unless they are in the interrogation room with me." I told him, I don't know how much he believed it or not, but it was the truth.

If I used it on our own people without a warrant, I would probably get fired or killed. I wasn't risking either because I had plans for what I wanted to accomplish. And I wanted to carry out my ambitions. I nodded appreciatively at how well Kaz had deduced. However, I would have been happy to have been able to be invisible to non-Force users or Force Users; I knew such a thing existed, but I would probably never be able to do it.

"Unfortunately, I don't have nearly enough power to be undetectable. Which is why we need to get rid of one. You're gonna put on that dead man's clothes, and take their code cylinder. And yes, it is dangerous, but I will be the prisoner. And the other one, I'll give him orders to think you're his partner and do what we tell him. He'll think everything is his own ideas and plans. That's all I can do. But it can be enough... It will be enough" I knew there was a chance I wouldn't succeed, nevertheless my voice was determined and encouraging because I wanted this plan to succeed. I put my hand on Kaz's shoulder for a moment now. "When you're ready, let's go! Before we get more exhausted and tired."

Time was still working against us... and we were slowly running out of it.

 

[Kazian Blackwood]

TAGS: Ellayina L'lerim

Damnit, this endless battle was getting to us for certain. My own desperate paranoia, plus whatever the hell was going on with Ellayina, was bound to get us killed. It was nice of her to say she'd never mindtricked me, but I still wasn't certain. Hell, if she actually had done so it had helped us get this far. We were alive, and that counted for something.

I did my best to help her up, which amounted her using me to stabilize herself as she stood.

"Lets get the hell out of here."

As the door slid open and we hit the street, my immediate thought was how long it would take for us to be spotted and shelled. The last group had made it what? four, maybe five blocks? I couldn't tell from where we were, what with all the smoke and ash beginning to billow through as the wind picked up. I didn't think we'd have to get that far to reach the underground. Mantell's subway system was extensive, and largely undamaged last we'd been down there, but that also meant it was secured to Sion's soldiers.

"Hey is your AI still running? You got the fastest path?"

 

[Ellayina L'lerim]

Torture and Interrogation Officer and Agent

Information

Objective: Escape from the Planet
Location: Mantell City, Ord Mantell
Equipment: 2x Sunfury Pistol | Light Armour | Viper Mk. I Skinsuit | 2x Vibrodagger || Cloaking Device | 5x ASBF Probe Droid || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01m
Tag: Kazian Blackwood [direct tag] | Sinestra | Aridius 'TK-1575' | Thomas Barran | Amun | Aerarii Tithe | Open

"Galactic Common" | <"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

I wasn't happy that I had to accept Kaz's help, because without him I wouldn't have been able to get up off the ground on my own. As for my injuries and other health problems, I had instructed MANIAC weeks ago to only display these on my retina if I was near fainting or in a life-threatening condition. Otherwise it would have been too sensitive to this situation. I didn't need to have a red light flashing on my retina throughout the day indicating that I was exhausted, I had bruised, pulled a muscle, and I could go on for days. For now, I've had enough of knowing what will be fatal if I'm not careful.

I nodded at Kaz's words when he agreed. I couldn't have agreed more. As soon as I was on my feet, I could walk on my own, although my side was aching and throbbing. But in this case the pain was good, it was a sure sign that I was still alive. If the pain goes away, it means I'm saved or dead. At the moment, death was the closer option. But that might change in a few hours. Out on the street, the wind started blowing just as we got outside. At other times I would have been glad for the wind,, but now we needed the smoke and dust to stay us hidden.

"Yeah, still have it. Sensors and everything else are working, except off-world communications. So I can detect life signs within a hundred metres and we'll know if they're moving. Just like before." I assured the man quietly.

While a hundred metres isn't a lot, it's enough to make it easier to stay alive and not have the enemy strike us by surprise. Of course, at that moment, I immediately instructed the AI to find the fastest route to the part where we could get down to the subway lines. Unfortunately, the map wasn't really updated, thanks to the lack of an outgoing signal and the inability to connect to satellites and beacons in orbit. This meant that the system could only work with data from 55 days ago. But even with that, it was able to find an easy route.

"We have to go across the ground floor of the house across the street to the other street, which is on the other side of the block. We need to turn right there, turn into the alley after about thirty metres. Go in the back entrance to that building, it's a restaurant and kitchen area, where the back entrance is. Go through the restaurant and we'll be on the street where the subway exit is another forty metres to the left." I said quickly, it was the quickest way.

I glanced at Kaz for a moment longer, and then, under the benign cover of smoke and ash, I started walking and crossed the street. The windows on the ground floor of the house across the street were broken, so it was easy to get in. Inside it was dark and quiet, with only the noise outside filtering in. The system showed no sign of life or movement nearby. I waited for Kaz and then continued on my way, soon reaching the other side of the building, where we were greeted by the open street. There was no ash and dust on this side, so it would be a much more dangerous manoeuvre until we got into the alley and into the restaurant...