Dominion A Walk Through History | SJO DOM of Katarr

[Valkren Calderon]

Katarr

Situated in the Vensori sector of the mid-rim, between the planets Onderon and Dantooine, is a planet with a mysterious history. Katarr, a once beautiful location thriving with life, now sits practically lifeless. Once home to a large group of Miraluka colonies, it was soon wiped out. Now all that remains are just echoes of what once thrived. Generations later, a small forward fleet consisting of Silver Jedi Order ships and civilian transports jumps into the space surrounding the planet. The operation to secure the old colony home of the Miraluka has begun.

As two dropship groups descended onto one of the reported colony areas, several Jedi and Rangers made up the strike teams. While the larger group went for a known droid battalion location in the nearby ruins, a smaller team advanced on an old Sith base, aiming to secure an ancient artifact that was known to be last located there. The smaller strike team is well-aware of the dangers of their mission, as the sith left behind a number of traps and glitched out alarm systems within the compound walls that could pull a legion of droids upon the unlikely heroes if tripped.

Above the planet, a different conflict would rage. Among the Silver fleet are a party of Miraluka diplomats, eager to discuss the terms of the re-colonization of Katarr- if the operation proved successful. Silver Jedi ambassadors and allies are currently set to meet with the party on a ship of their choice.

*****​

Objective 1: Combat - The Sith Empire’s previous presence on Katarr has left behind a number of outdated droid battalions. Send out your strike teams on a search and destroy mission to clear out the ruins of a decaying city. This will also provide a distraction to open up a window for our second team to advance into the droid base and find that artifact they’re looking for. Find as many pockets of droid resistance as you can, and be sure to keep the heat off of team 2’s back.

Objective 2: Diplomacy - While the operation continues planet-side, stay with the fleet to meet with the groups of Miraluka that wish to step in as the first to recolonize the planet . Discuss details and planning with the party and decide the Silver Jedi’s involvement with the rebuilding and hence forth afterwards. Will they need a military presence for security? Perhaps just a Jedi counterpart for counseling. Confer with our allies and make a decision that could build a lasting relationship.

Objective 3: Stealth - Team 1 is providing a distraction in the form of a firefight- Reclaim a Miraluka artifact, the miracle of sight, from a sith research base close by. Intel suggests the site is the location of a droid research facility as well; reports suggest that TSE forces might have been working on a large droid unit. Exercise caution. Take a single shuttle and strike true into the base. If you can extract the artifact without raising any of the old alarms, do it. We wouldn’t want to give the sith any ideas or make first team’s life any harder.

Spoiler: Tags

Erika Garter Sin Ilwynog Cysgod Lex Del'Fino Jesrix Aevin Aaran Tafo Beltran Rarr San Caelag Vass Josh Dragovalor Jason Killiance Jessica Med-Beq WelshGuy Kyra Perl

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[Beltran Rarr]

Objective 3
Location: Ranger dropship, enroute to Sith Research Base
Ranger Attachment
Callsign: Icarus-1-1
Allies: 4 x Rangers, others in attendance
Enemies: Sith Droids (potentially), Sith booby-traps (potentially)
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Armor: Katarn Mk. II Combat Armor
Primary Weapon: OS-109 Variable Strength Assault Rifle (chest rig)
Secondary Weapons:

• OS-105 Stalwart Light Blaster Pistol (drop holster, right hip)
• OS-102 Wrist Mounted Hold Out Blaster (right wrist)
• OS-101 Retractable Vibrosword (on utility belt)
• Krath Itak Sword (back scabbard) Note to Force Users/Force Sensitives - this blade emanates a strong Dark Side aura
• 4 x stun grenades (chest rig)

Misc Gear:

• OS-112 "Valkyrie" Jump Jet System (mounted to Katarn armor)

"Five minutes!" Called the pilot as the dropship banked roughly to the right, separating from the group of ships that it had entered the atmosphere with. Lieutenant Beltran Rarr, looked over to the four Rangers who in a row to his left. These were his men. It still felt strange, being able to say that. It wasn't as if he'd never led others before.

He had.

On Roche, he led a small group of Obsidian Star security officers on a frantic retreat from an oncoming Sith assault. On Saleucami, he had rallied a small batch of planetary militia and led them against a group of slavers. On Myrkr, he'd commanded his own squad of Antarian Rangers, supporting Commander Valkren Calderon and Jedi's Josh Dragovalor and Riamah .

Following Myrkr, he'd been promoted straight to Lieutenant, something he'd neither considered pursuing or ever asked for. He suspected Commander Calderon's hand in it, but he'd not yet asked the question. He'd then somehow managed to negotiate, through intermediaries of course, a number of contracts between his personal arms company Obsidian Star and the Rangers to update their equipment-including the upgraded Katarn Mk. II Combat Armor, both he and the men next to him now wore.

Finally, he'd written a classified memorandum to Command, suggesting that they create a unit specifically detailed to test out new and advanced equipment on the field. One part, R&D and one part black ops. Once more, he'd been surprised when not only had Command agreed, but they ordered Beltran to take command of the unit personally.

Thus, Icarus Platoon had been born.

This would be the unit's first operation-a five man (including Beltran) unit, ordered to support a small Jedi strike team in a stealthy raid on a, presumably, abandoned Sith research outpost. The objective, an ancient artifact important to the Miraluka. While not testing any brand new equipment, each operator would be putting the new version of the Katarn armor and a few of Obsidian Star's weapons, through their paces.

Using the vox modulator on his helmet to make himself heard over the noise of the dropship, Beltran spoke to his men. "Alright, you should know all the details of the op from the briefing, but here are the basics: Our job is to support the Jedi strike team and infiltrate the Sith outpost, preferably without activating it's security systems. Our primary objective is to locate the artifact and acquire it. Secondary objective is to keep any other members of the strike team alive."

As he finished speaking, he glanced around at the other, non-Ranger personnel on the ship, not wanting to overstep himself by preaching to them. He figured the Jedi would have their own methods for briefing their people and the Rangers were there to help-not take over the whole operation. Settling back, Beltran began a quick weapons check and waited.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective 2: Diplomacy
Allies: SJO

Last Jessica went on one of those trips, she was going on Yurb, which, by now, became a major source of clari-crystalline for SJ worlds. Now, it was about Miraluka, and she knew that Miraluka were a race of Force-sensitives. However, she also knew that most other Jedi tended to focus on security matters which, while important, were not the end of the story when consideration of their needs took place so that they won't feel exploited. All too often, I feel that trade considerations are pushed to the side by other Jedi, yet, security alone is not the end of the story for proper integration, nor is ideology, she thought, while trying to read up on Miraluka customs. To ensure that the Silver delegation would be able to get work done on Katarr, where the Miraluka government would soon host them. On the other hand, she needed to be cautious of not offending them. The question being: what goods could they provide, and what goods they needed the most.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Objective 1
Location: Ranger dropship, en-route to known droid pockets.
Callsign: Raider 1-1
Allies: 10x Hades Platoon Rangers, 40x Devildog ranger attachment, 4x Gweld-class CAV
Enemies: Any droid resistance.
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Commander Valkren Calderon cursed under his breath as the 'tin can' they sat in shook violently during their descent. The commander had been on hundreds of insertions involving dropships plunging into a planet's atmosphere- but never while Valkren rested within the APC that was attached to the bottom of their dropship.

It was certainly a new one for the commander, infact it almost made him sick- not being able to look out a viewport and determine their location during the plunge into combat. It felt like being in a drop pod, but the size scale was much larger in comparison.

Plus, there was more of a chance that some loose equipment could go flying around inside the CAV.

Good thing they all had helmets on.

Valkren, being patched into the command channel momentarily, could only hear a flurry of words and transmissions going back and forth between the team leaders and pilots of the four dropships in their group- each carrying their own CAV and a handful of rangers. Finally, the familiar voice of their own pilot spoke up.

"Two minutes before insertion! Just barely beating team two on time."

"We'll have to make up for it with a bigger distraction then. Everyone prep for a hot landing!" He shouted, before moving to tap the crewman of their CAV on the shoulder, making sure he'd be ready to put the pedal to the metal when they disengaged from the dropship.

As the dropship group finally leveled out and continued to race along the outskirts of several decaying ruins, bright red bolts soared past the transports, causing them to rock to avoid enemy fire. The bolts were large, but closer inspection from the pilots revealed that the first-thought blaster bolt was actually the tracing line of a missile.

"Hold on! Seems like there's some old emplacements around our drop!" The pilot yelled into the immediate team's communications as the transports prepared to unload their cargo wherever they could

 

[Kat Decoria]

Objective 1: Fighting baddies!
Allies: Kyra Perl Valkren Calderon

Kat looked over the notes that they had on the mission, so they had to distract the droids and other Sith constructions from the infiltration team. Tapping on the datapad, Kat was interested in the ancient tech, perhaps it could be reused, altered and create machines that could be useful for the Silver Jedi. Though they would have to stop the droids. Working with renowned Ranger, Valkren, would be interesting. He was legendary in the SJO which was more impressive considering all the legendary Jedi that had been part of the SJO. Kat looked over to Kyra and gave her a nudge, leaning over and whispering in her ear in a low tone. "Hey, so that's Valkren Calderon, he's a Ranger in the SJO and a pretty big deal. This mission must be super important if he is here!" There was an edge of excitement in her voice.

Adjusting her armour, Kat was ready to fight some droids and have some fun with Kyra while they did. Her Lightsaber strapped to her back as she looked around. Gripping the handle on the dropship as it avoided some missiles from an old emplacement. She steeled herself from a rough start to the mission but she was confident that the Rangers with a couple of Jedi would be more than able to cause some trouble. Even if the two Jedi were Padawans.

 

[Kyra Perl]

Objective 1
Valkren Calderon Kat Decoria

"Uuuuuuh," Kyra murmured, pulling her hair out of her pony and letting it fall over her face. Her padawan braid flopped out with the mass of waves. Her face flushed red from behind the curtain.

"Yeaaah, is that who he is? Wouldn't-a-guessed it," she murmured quickly. The ship rattled at their descent, the commotion crazy enough to keep most eyes off the set of paddies sent in to help them. Most days Kyra would be itching for the chance at experience. But see, the thing was. ... She had already gotten some with him.

Accidentally.

"Oh Force above," Kyra groaned, head going into her hands for a moment. Lil paddie here needed to build up her flying stomach. Or maybe she was just thrown about from embarrassment. "Don't draw attention to us," she hissed. "Let's just-- stay in the back or something. It's safer, right?"

 

[Caelag Vass]

• Objective 1
• Location: Dropship En route to ruined city
• Callsign: Ferrum 1-1
• Allies: Valkren Calderon :|: Kyra Perl :|: Kat Decoria :|: Captain Qyerg Atlan :|: 13 113th division members
• rifle :|: sword :|: lightsaber :|: personal armor

This was... home yes?

Caelag looked out the window of the dropship as it plummeted through the sky, meaningless considering she could not physically see the world but it kept the others from speaking to her a moment longer. Katarr had a meaning for Miraluka, it was supposed to be home. A place to call their own, even after being dead for so long. Today was a homecoming for the species, a chance to rebuild in totality what was done to them. Or as total as could be, she could see the darkness that lingered in the soil even now, even so far away. The entire planet was a black spot to her vision, something the buildings could actually contrast against. This was the start of a new life for the planet, for her species.

She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see one of her troops beckoning her up to the dropship's still closed loading ramp. She gave him a nod and stepped up, bringing everyone's attentions to her. Again she was breaking uniform today, choosing to separate herself from the others with her personal arms and armor, but rather than contempt there seemed an odd understanding with her fellows here. They had all fought and survived so long together, bonds forged in fire and death behind enemy lines. They seemed to know what she felt, what she needed here today.

That didn't stop her from giving a briefing.

"Alright listen up. We're heading down to one of Katarr's old cities close to the research base the infiltration team will be searching. Your jobs are to be the biggest, deadliest, and most obnoxious distractions this sector. You see a droid you shoot it, you see more droids you shoot them more. Every bit of attention we take is something the infiltration team won't have to worry about, and every one we break is another one not shooting our friends. I want no heroics out there, I want to see you all drunk off your asses back home. We clear?"

The troops' affirmation was almost deafening in the small space, almost as bad as the shaking of the dropship. After a brief few moments the pilot's voice came in clear. "We're heading in hot ladies and gentlemen, just how you like it. We'll be trying to cut in line but no promises, watch the landing and make sure the others are kind enough to not land on your heads."

The troops made their way to the start of the ramp, preparing for the drop. It might be a tad unnecessary, but the troops would feel much more comfortable in freefall than in waiting quietly. Besides the point, what good was having older suits of armor mounted with jetpacks if you didn't jump into combat with it?

Eventually their ship rocketed close enough to the ground, and from what it looked like when the doors opened they were somewhat ahead of the others. "We've got old emplacements folks, look alive and have fun. Dinner's at 8 so be home by then."

Not that anyone heard him, the dropship's troops were already taking the plunge, each member streaking through the sky as they made aim for the ground below. They were all used to this, the AA seemed to be primarily missile based so they would have an easy enough time avoiding them. Assuming the systems were automated, the shuttles would ironically be a more priority target for them. Which left most free to aim for a landing point not far off from their intended destination, just far enough they wouldn't run out of fuel for their packs.

Caelag always wondered what it looked like from other shuttles when they jumped. What did they see, bravery or foolishness? She had to mount her own jetpack over top of her armor, taking a valuable few seconds before taking her own plunge, giving her the time for these idle thoughts. Perhaps they saw both, she couldn't rule that out entirely either. She shook her head, to try and clear her mind as she took the step off, and felt nothing but air around her. There was one thought she couldn't shake though, as she felt the ground rushing towards her and heard the roar of her pack as she made way towards the rendezvous point.

If this was home, why did she feel nothing?

 

[Ilwynog Cysgod]

Objective: 3
Allies: Beltran Rarr
Equipment: Armour, two blaster pistols and a white bladed Lightsaber.

Any mission involving stealth or espionage usually had a Silver Shadow or two working with others. Ilwynog decided that it had been too long since they were in the field, having to work with the Assembly and being around the Temple for training. Ilwynog was getting a little itching for some action so they weren't too sure on the full details but it was a mission off-world and didn't involve teaching classes to a large group of Padawans. Ilwynog looked around and crossed their arms as they listened to the Ranger. He was taking charge and Ilwynog wasn't looking to take over, they were happy to follow. Hopefully there wouldn't be too much trouble from other droids and that they would be able to do their mission without making problems for the other team.

Sith base should have some interesting secrets and tasty treats for them to inspect and perhaps take. Moving over, to Beltran, they could sense the Dark Side ebbing from the sword on the Ranger's back. They tilted their head and looked over to them. "Do you know that your sword is tainted with the Dark Side? Curious weapon to have when working with Jedi." Their statement was indifferent not judgemental, they were grey in the Force, able to use both the Dark Side and the Light Side. "I shall stick with you for now but the Force might guide me elsewhere."

 

[Mythos]

Objective 1- Location B.

It wasnt just droids that Sith left in Katarr...

"Please do tell me you are making some progress down there Doctor" The Sith Lord was getting rather impatient, they had all the time in the galaxy before but as of right now there was an entire detachment of Jedi coming their way. The best Sith Archaologist in the galaxy or at least the one with the most digs and artifacts under his belt was here and he wasnt alone.

With him the Sith Imperial Archeologcal Ministorum was here along with some of their best curators and one Chiss Doctor plucked from the University of Bakura in the Eternal Empire. Doctor Tthra'dul.

"I'm afraid this is old tech my lord, the artifact you seek is heavily guarded and secured by detonation primers"

Mythos had never heard anything more annoying, especially here. Usually Sith Artifacts were protected by Sith Magic and rituals, foul forces and spirits of the dead. Those things he could deal with, a Giromax Code of thirteen trillion possible characters and a power sealed lock primed with several megatons of Baradium Tipped missiles, not so much.

"That's unfortunate. Need I remind you that Jedi and force knows what is coming to this very location doctor? You have roughly a standard Galactic hour to pry this gate open. I can probably hold off Silvers for a day alone but then you will have to work under plasma and explosions as your background noise"

The doctor scoffed and turned his head for a millisecond in response. "You mean like that time in Cadia?"

Mythos groaned and turned around, he wasnt hearing this, not now. "Oh don't start..."

"Or that time in Frisial? Or the time in Atrisia? Or that whole debacle in Cato Nemodia"

"I'm leaving now" Mythos picked up his Legendary Axe, shook his head and hid the smile on his face. The doctor however, kept reminding the Old Sith of various locations.

"Coruscant, the Sii Ruuvi, that whole planetary bombardment of Angramarr..."

"Good bye doctor. Force's sake... I'm leaving!" On his way out four figures flanked him, one of each of his paramilitary groups. One Molok Legionarre, One Comenorri Marino, One Nubian Special Operator and One Mercenary from the Sii-Ruuvi.​

 

[Syd Celsius]

Wearing : Phyre's Armor

Armed with: Wind and Fire Wheels (Split-Saber)


Objective: 1


Syd had been hesitant to go to Katarr, given its history of being ravaged by The Dark Side. But if she was ever going to stop being a weapon, and learn to live as an organic, it would mean having to live with the reminders of her past, no matter how awful.

Syd channeled her inner disquiet into battle against the machines of the Sith. It was mostly droids, so she would not get too distressed. And if it helped her fellow Jedi, so the better.

She had literally flown in on her own power, an act that took actual exertion as opposed to her natural state, where it was effortless. As she landed close to another group of Jedi a few streets away in the ancient ruined city that Darth Nihilus had laid waste to. All except for one.

As an archeologist, Syd was stunned by the beauty of what architecture was still intact. She got genuinely angry at the fact a good portion of it was going to be irreparably harmed by todays events. She got it under control after a moment but it still was not easy.

Her white and gold chrome suit reflected the debris and ruins around her as she drew her Split-Saber, dark blue blades shooting out as she gave an experimental spin and began the search for enemies.

Syd sensed the darkness everywhere. But she sensed it in particular in what looked to be some sort of ancient, crumbling chapel. Steeling herself, she ventured inside, beheld an interior carved purely from stone, with crumbled pews. It was mostly dark inside, except for the strange pool of purple lightning arcs at the center.

Syd frowned. A collection of Dark Side energy.

It was time to test herself. Syd drew on her still new connection to the light while organic and knealt within the pool, trying to banish the presence. Her flesh, enchanted still even though technically human while wearing the armor of her old self, wriggled on the bones everywhere as the dark energy collection attempted to surge through her.

She tried to focus on the good she had done so far, fighting alongside the Order, her recent efforts at that prison, containing the riot. Especially killing the Witches on Yurb. She felt the nature of the dark pool. Ancient suffering and agony tried to call out to the remnants of Darth Phyre within her. Syd fought back the strange hungers stirring, repulsed by her old self drawing amusement and delight in slaughter for its own sake. Syd sent her own positive emotions out into the blackness, piercing it. She felt the small nexus weaken. She did it again, ignoring the hisses of Phyre's dead mind in the darkest parts of her own, sending the light out.

The nexus began to recede, and weaken further. Syd, still concentrating, felt her sense of self growing. She felt like her mind was defining itself more instead of it simply being 'there'.

She felt the anger and pain of this particular area vanish, a calm node in a maelstrom. Her flesh rippled and warped more severely and she staggered upward, green arcs of electricity dancing everywhere on her distorted frame.

Finally, her flesh reset itself and she stumbled away and out of the chapel, though her flesh still rippled occasionally. She had gained some insight into the light for her efforts. As she gained her footing she spotted what looked to be an ancient Sith assault droid team, marching through the streets, and her blades erupted as she flew to them, blood red hair whipping through the wind as she spun with her blades in mid flight, becoming a dark blue propeller that sliced through four before landing and immediately being engaged with vibroswords by the remaining droids.

"Ashla, make me swift as the wind" Syd whispered, her speed massively increasing as the incantation was spoken, her enemies seeming to become slugglish from her persepecrive, though she did not hesitate to meet everyone of their attacks, retreating from the lethally swift strikes or parrying as necessary, as the suit limited her physical strength, making Soresu or Makashi all but a necessity as she split her staff in half to meet multiple attackers, finally striking one down, then another, and finally a third. Only one then remained, this one carrying an energy shield, which it activated.

On instinct, Syd's mouth opened and the droid shuddered as electricity erupted from its surface, flowing from its body and into her mouth, which warped and bulged everywhere as she fed off its energy. The droid clattered lifelessly to her feet. Her body went back to normal, and it was at this point Syd realized she had sustained a few wounds. They all bled bright green blood, and were rapidly sealing themselves, much faster than the enchanted suit she wore should have been capable of. The energy she had absorbed was speeding up the process...

(Plasmid Acquisition Theme plays)

(New powers learned!)

Power: TUTAMINIS

Spoiler

Light Side ability used to absorb or drain energy from non living sources. Said energy can be used to greatly accelerate wound recovery, or enhance the strength of already learned Force Powers

Power: CLEANSE

Spoiler

Cleanse areas tainted by the Dark Side of corruption. Power grows with character

Syd continued looking for targets, intent on massive aggro of the enemy. She engaged in this as she found another tesm of drouds, trying to hold off friendly forces and engaged them, breathing massive plumes of flame from her mouth ...

 

[Lex Del'Fino]

Objective: 3
Equipment: Lightsaber, Blaster Pistol

A short rumble of the shuttle caused Lex to spill a few precious drops of Corellian whisky from his flask, eliciting a short string of silent swears, before he put the container to his mouth and took a long draw. He shuddered at a bit, as the warmness of the booze overtook him, seemingly waking him up from a tired stupor. This was now the the fifth mission in the last few months he'd participated in for the Silver Order, a number that already surpassed what he'd down in the last five years for it. It seemed his closeness with his adopted family was becoming permanent, with his ability to travel outside their space becoming more and more restricted as the coming conflict with the Sith heated up.

Whoever named this artifact, must have had a sense of humor. The Miracle of Sight. He really hoped that it was a symbolic name, and not just some kind of helmet or visor that allowed the naturally blind species of sentients to see on spectrums similar to most other beings in the Galaxy. It would be hilarious if it was, but then that'd probably fade as they were confronted by a defunct droid army and probably some Sith. The briefing said the site was supposedly abandoned, but..... he had high doubts for their luck being that good.

He scowled as he looked over at Beltran Rarr , though not out of dislike for the man. It was the weapon he had strapped to his back. It emanated a sickly Dark Side presence, the feeling being almost physical. He noticed as Ilwynog Cysgod moved over towards him, the faceless Jedi Master making a comment about it. "Ah, leave him alone, Ilwynog. He knows how to handle his sword... probably.", he shrugged, "And if he gets possessed by it, we just leave him behind. No big deal."

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective 2: Diplomacy
Allies: SJO

"Welcome, Force-using ambassadors. We are pleased to extend you welcome to our brothers on Katarr" the Miraluka delegate told Jessica.

There was a reason for Jessica to be there: Miraluka was an entire race of Force-users, and they did not seem to like NFUs much for high-level deals. However, it was a question of what they needed beyond security: security was a concern for all parties involved. And also of what they could offer for the construction of hydroponic farming facilities because food was a critical factor for the Miraluka. Some of the potential concessions to give them could also be in the area of social programs, such as having the Order only intervene in crises, including but not limited to, Sith assaults. Yet, this also carried some military implications for the Order's ability to garrison the world, and access to reinforcements in an emergency. For now, however, she was to be brought to a boardroom containing the proverbial negotiation table, along with the rest of the delegation.

 

[Beltran Rarr]

Objective 3
Location: Ranger dropship, enroute to Sith Research Base
Ranger Attachment
Callsign: Icarus-1-1
Allies: 4 x Rangers (Icarus Platoon), others in attendance
Enemies: Sith Droids (potentially), Sith booby-traps (potentially)
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Armor: Katarn Mk. II Combat Armor
Primary Weapon: OS-109 Variable Strength Assault Rifle (chest rig)
Secondary Weapons:

• OS-105 Stalwart Light Blaster Pistol (drop holster, right hip)
• OS-102 Wrist Mounted Hold Out Blaster (right wrist)
• OS-101 Retractable Vibrosword (on utility belt)
• Krath Itak Sword (back scabbard) Note to Force Users/Force Sensitives - this blade emanates a strong Dark Side aura
• 4 x stun grenades (chest rig)

Misc Gear:

• OS-112 "Valkyrie" Jump Jet System (mounted to Katarn armor)
• OS-107 "Hermes" Sensor Drones

Beltran held onto one of the overhead drop-handles as the dropship began to descend. The pilot once more came over the intercom, calling out. "Landing in two minutes!"

He regarded the two Jedi, Ilwynog Cysgod and Lex Del'Fino , his expression masked by his helmet. Had they been able to see him, they would have seen an expression every bit as stony as that of his helmet. As Ilwynog Cysgod asked him about his sword, Beltran resisted the urge to reach up behind him to feel the handle. He liked the way touching the blade made him feel, but never before had he thought to link that feeling to the Force.

"I had not realized that," He told them. "That explains....much."

Many times in his life, Beltran had wondered at the strange feelings he got from time to time. The knowledge that went far beyond his species' natural ability to read people, to just somehow know what a person was going to do next. On the battlefield, it had saved him more times that he could count. And on his contracts, it had made him an assassin of deadly talent. Now he wondered if, perhaps, he might be sensitive to this Force that the Jedi and Sith wielded.

As Jedi Del'Fino spoke up Beltran could see his men begin to stir in their seats at the perceived disrespect to their commander, and held out his hand to steady them. "I suspect," Beltran replied. "That anything in the blade that might try, would quickly find what already inhabits my mind is far more dangerous."

It was at this point that the pilot came on once more, shouting: "Hold on! Touch down in 10..."

A few seconds later, the dropship landed with a powerful thud and the ramp opened. His men jumped from their seats and Beltran led them quickly passed the two Jedi and down it. "Establish a parameter, standard formation." He ordered and the four men each moved out from the dropship in a separate direction, crouch-walking quickly with their rifles raised at the "high-ready."

Once each man had moved approximately ten meters from the ship, they went to one knee and began to survey their surroundings. Beltran for his part, had only moved a few meters from the ramp, remaining roughly in the middle of the formation.

When nothing immediately opened fire on them, Beltran called out over coms. "Deploy drones."

Each man, including Beltran, then pulled a fist-sized circlular object and released it into the air. Immediately each of the drones began to float and moved rapidly out from the group. Using his helmet HUD transmitter, he sent the drone telemetry to each of the Jedi's datapads. "The outpost is approximately 200 meters to the west. The drones will be able to give us the lay of the land as we approach. We're here to support you, so you decide on how to proceed."

 

[Ilwynog Cysgod]

Objective: 3
Allies: Beltran Rarr Lex Del'Fino

Shaking their head, Lex might have pushed the issue a bit too far, they too noticed the concern on the other soldiers. "No, I trust that the sword isn't going to possess the man, it would have done so already by now. But in future, you might want to have the sword inspected. To ensure there were no hidden dangers to it." Ilwynog explained to the soldier, hoping to support the soldier in that he can use the sword without fear of risk. Surprising that the Dark Side of the sword didn't have a cost since that was often the Sith way though it could not be a Sith artifact. "Anyway, I am not one to judge, I have dabbled in Dark Side things too often in my life." Ilwynog admitted as they stepped off the ship, looking around, the Ranger organised his troops and Ilwynog watched as the soldiers listened and obeyed.

Looking to the horizon and towards the outpost, they thought carefully, traps and trials laid ahead of them. "It is going to be difficult, Sith love to leave traps and the droids will be tricky to destroy but shock attacks might work most effectively." Crossing their arms as they look over the area. "I think we should follow your lead Ranger, I am here to find the artifact and keep it secure, this kind of fighting is more your speciality." Ilwynog explained, he figured it would look good to the soldiers as well that the Jedi is deferring to their commander for guidance.

 

[Syd Celsius]

Objective: 1

Post: 2


Syd's blades whipped around her frame, blaster fire coming from all sides as the ancient droids advanced on her. There were piles of destroyed droids around her already.

She had sure as hell aggro'd them alright. They were responding in full force to her. But the more she drew of them to her the less they focused on the SJO teams already on the ground. The less those teams had to deal with.

Her blades were discs around her person as she spun them, repelling bolts that seemed to rain down upon her like actual drops of water. The dark blue discs of plasma reflected dozens of bolts into buildings and the very droids that fired them, Syd twitching or parrying as much as was necessary, sinking deeply into form 3, starting to get a feel for not only how to deflect the bolts back at their source, but deflect them accurately, at specific parts.

It was in this organic state that Syd began to understand how truly little she had understood the Force before. As The Geist it had just been...there. Something to be used.

In this instance, danger all around her, she had never felt so alive before. She had to actually suppress her eagerness for more battle, for greater challenge.

All the same however. She wanted a challenge? She had it.

She barely had time to spray a stream of fire from her mouth to hit a rocket fired at her. The blast was still powerful however, and flung her backward with shrapnel in her body.

It was agony. She felt like her insides were about to be torn out. She could not move, could barely breath as she felt the droids advance.

It was strange. Up until now she had never really considered what it was like for those she had killed. Phyre had taken pleasure in killing for its own sake. Syd had not. But neither had ever really considered what it would be like to be a regular grunt, having to face some one like her. To be in pain. To be in excruciating pain. And then, silence.

It was actually quite sobering, when she thought of it that way.

As the droids advanced through the smoke, firing on her position, Syd conjured with the desperation of a dying creature for the first time, her innate fire ability.

Birds of flame coalesced, descending on the droids, splashing and creating more fire that the wounded, near immobile Syd used to send into the exposed parts such as the photo receptors...

And the barrels.

The blast was severe, swvere enough to send more shrapnel into her leg, leaking green blood and exposing green muscle. She finally managed the strength to move. She had to get the suit off...the wounds she sustained would be healed too slowly by the suit on its own.

Slowly, painfully, she ripped it off her bleeding body, crying out in even greater agony as her emotions dulled and her flesh vanished into living flame spurting from a psychic shell. She needed to feed. The nude creature staggered up, her psychic shell rippling, on the verge of destabilizing. She staggered to the large swath of fire she had made hand reaching out to feed.

She felt the charric bolt rip through her and she screamed as her psychic shell broke down completely.

She had caught who had done it. A smirking, curvy woman in an armored red body glove with dark bronze skin and brown hair, picking her off at range. An assassin.

Syd was now nothing more than a weakened, slowly dying plume of flame that barely managed to float behind a pillar before it was fired on again. The shot barely missed. Syd, already finding it harder to think and desperate for fuel crawled low on the ground and into a building, knowing her next shot would kill her if it hit.

The woman who had fired from a third story roof, smiled again and jumped down from her patch, landing from a height that clearly indicated she was not normal as she sprinted, pursuing the dying flame...

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Objective 1
Location: Ranger dropship, en-route to known droid pockets.
Callsign: Raider 1-1
Allies: 10x Hades Platoon Rangers, 40x Devildog ranger attachment, 4x Gweld-class CAV Caelag Vass Kyra Perl Kat Decoria
Enemies: Any droid resistance. Mythos
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The dropship directly to the left of their own suddenly burst into flames, blue and white light shining all around as a secondary explosion rocked the transport: the loadout the dropship seemed to have was now going off, making for quite a sad lightshow as it plummeted into the ruins below as the other three dropships went nose-up for landing.

All together, the remaining three Gweld-class CAV's dropped from the dropships, letting their transports burst away with as much speed as possible as blaster fire peppered the underbellies of them. Valkren felt the own Gweld-class cav they were in hit the ruins at an angle, probably resting on awkwardly on a boulder.

He tightened his grip on the handles within the tin can as its crewman initiating the tracks, tearing into the ground beneath them as it carried them forward. Blaster bolts could be heard bouncing off of the outside of the troop carrier as the now three CAV's tore through as much of the ruins they could. Eventually, their own would come to a halt. The sounds of the APC's returning fire now over the ridgeline made purely of ruins and debris were clear. This gave Valkren the go-ahead sign to get his men moving.

Turning around, he'd see the ten men and women of Hades Platoon, prepared for their first operation with Commander Valkren. Two other faces he recognized, one Kat Decoria was familiar to him. She had been in several missions with the commander back when he was instated as a colonel by Arisa. The two had actually known each other for a time if Valkren thought about it more in depth. The second face-

Oh..

Kyra, was it? A troublemaker to say the least. He admired the fire that so obviously pushed her, but after sneaking aboard one of his operations recently, a mission which success was a priority on, he wasn't exactly her biggest fan. He'd simply blink behind his visor racking his head if he should honestly just call the dropship back down to get her off the damn planet.

To avoid a possible headache? Just suck it up, Valk..

After a second-long glare from behind his emotion-less visor, he'd quickly sigh. He began to bark his orders once more.

"Let's move rangers! Off the transport, weapons at the ready!" He checked the charge on his own assault blaster before the rear bay of the transport dropped. The rangers piled out, and as soon as Valk's boots hit the dirt, he'd turn immediately to the right of the transport, running up the slight incline to the edge of their cover. The other three transports unloaded their own cargos, the rangers from each squad moving to support their APC's gunner. Past the ridgeline, the signs of these droids hailing from sith forces were apparent. Even with their paint well worn and rust covering some sections- the droids were very well moving..And there were a lot.

Some aimlessly patrolled, their sensors fried, others fired their weapons wildly in the direction of the transports. Many still advanced slowly towards the ridgeline, their age-old orders of 'attack' still active.

 

[Caelag Vass]

• Objective 1
• Location: Dropship En route to ruined city
• Callsign: Ferrum 1-1
• Allies: Valkren Calderon :|: Kyra Perl :|: Kat Decoria :|: Syd Celsius :|: Captain Qyerg Atlan :|: 13 (2 incapacitated) 113th division members
• Enemies: Droids :|: Mythos
• rifle :|: sword :|: lightsaber :|: personal armor

Caelag never felt as free as she did during drops. It might just be the planet making her think but she always felt liberated in these moments. Especially alongside such familiar Force signatures, it made up for...

She cleared her mind as she felt the ground rushing towards them. Falling in line with Captain Atlan and a pair of her Rangers, she prepared herself to land on the Dark ground beneath them. One of the rockets launched at the transports missed, rushing past them and connecting with one of the ruined buildings, far up above where Caelag and her soldiers finally touched down. "Scatter!" She gave the briefest of warnings before reaching up in the Force. She wasn't good enough to stop the rubble but she could direct its fall, and keep them from getting crushed. When the first dust began to settle, she was already making her way to cover alongside the three she landed with. "Any casualties?"

"No deaths but Marc and Henson got trapped under some rubble. They seem to be alive but pinned down."

That was fine, they could do with less. "Understood. Others have made landfall, en route to the ridgeline. We get a lil' support today boys, don't let it get too comfy. We'll be back behind enemy lines in no time. Conserve fuel we probably won't be getting a refill anytime soon." Speaking of packs, she unstrapped her own and let it fall to the ground. She had no use for it personally.

Reaching out with her senses, she could feel the Jedi and Valkren. The attack must be going in full swing then. "Ferrum 1-1, we've got boots on the ground. We'll be making our way through now, do try to avoid shooting me in the back." She closed her comlink and motioned the three others to follow. They made their the edge of their cover, the ruined building, and paused. Across the way were another two batches of troops. 6 in one, 5 in the other. Their destination was across the open, which meant the droids would have all the advantage in the world...

Caelag used the Force to quickly jump up the ruined building to the second floor, managing to find a good angle at an opening. Unslinging her sniper rifle, she set herself up, and began to take aim. There was someone else she could feel, a faint light in the distance, and though she couldn't particularly see it in the distance there was a feeling of greater darkness to come. Beyond that, only those in the attack force were present to her, and the faint little impulses from the droids. Not much to aim at, but it would do. The 113 began their planned, systematic approach. The trailing teams, Caelags and the 6 man team, began to open fire and draw attention off the leading team. The intent was to ensure the movement of each team forward with as much security as possible.

Caelag herself would be last, even Atlan and the three rangers opening fire below her would go ahead. Unlike the others, she was confident in her ability to take a shot. It had only happened a half dozen times.


Caelag squeezed the trigger, causing one of the droids to find itself blasted apart by her high powered blaster. She managed to bring the recoil down, and take another shot. The iconic sound of her weapon split the air around her, calling out to friend and foe. Home or not, Caelag intended to make Sith pay for touching foot here, leaving their machines behind. The vile things deserved the shots themselves, but even if it wasn't a Sith, breaking their things still brought a growing smile to her lips.

 

[Mythos]

Objective 1: Counter Sniper
Post: 2
Gear: Golden Armor Legendary Axe Wampa Sniper Thermal Detonator Machine Gun

They were a special team of four, no more and no less. One transport to get them out, a few specialized weapons to hold off the advance. These old droids were putting in the work but they would not hold, Mythos set up a sniper nest and a machine gun nest outside the gates in a perch of the old fortress. He used the old entrenched fighting positions of the ancient civil war and as the jedi set down He set up his emplacement with the massive, particle beam powered rifle.

First thing was first, he needed to survey their attack and they were doing quite well at showing what they had. A few Jedi rangers, one shiny Jedi using very familiar fighting styles and as he lay there in the prone saw one sniper nest.

Caelag Vass cut through a droid like butter with his weapon and using the C.A.R.G.S system relay on his weapon Mythos was able to not only see where the shot came from but tag it so that his entire team could see it too.

"Clocked in, Sniper at nine hundred. Altitude Clock Six"

The knobs on the powerful rifle turned, the power cells in the weapon began to charge and Mythos drew a bead on the support beam below the nest of his adversary. He jumped into a ruined second floor, these old buildings would give way at the mere sight of pressure and the Wampa X-99 was designed to annihilate heavy armor as well as defended and entrenched positions.

Mythos' plan? Shoot the core of the support beam with the particle weapon and bring down the building on the 113th and cut off Valkren Calderon and Syd Celsius from the rest of his reinforcements. It would buy him some time. The rest of his team began setting up a nest before the underground gate with a thermal detonator machine gun and several plasma pulse land mines designed to take out entire tanks.

"Specter Alpha engaging structure at ninehundred."

Across the battlefield a blazing particle beam would fire and inside his nest the ground would shake with the sheer power of the anti-tank sniper rifle. It was a red streak of plasma and a detonation that would deafen ears and shake the ground, searing anything it it's way.

​

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Objective 2: Diplomacy
Allies: SJO

"We both mutually acknowledge that we need as much defensive presence on this planet as is feasible, but do you have a plan for our dwindling food supply?" the Miraluka official asked.

"Yes: we will supply agricultural equipment, and provide training to operate the equipment if it is not equipment you already operate elsewhere, but we will require some plot of land to build our garrison on it"

Given the planet's terrain, this meant hydroponic farming. There was no going around that on a desert planet given Miralukan nutritional requirements. And also some Miralukan paralegal continued to type out, on a special device with a keyboard in Miralukan script similar to the one Jair owned for years, potential terms of the accord in plain language. The question being: what sort of plot would be big enough to play host to a military base that could hold both ground vehicles and aircraft? There needed to be at least some flat patches because of the need to use vehicles on such a base. Even if the base was just some plain old IM-456. For an IM-456, however, the requirements weren't that large. Not compared to those larger bases on more heavily populated planets: Katarr was somewhat sparsely populated, so the amount of agricultural equipment was well within the AgriCorps' budget from which the equipment would be borne.

 

[Beltran Rarr]

Objective 3
Location: Ranger dropship, enroute to Sith Research Base
Ranger Attachment
Callsign: Icarus-1-1
Allies: 4 x Rangers (Icarus Platoon), others in attendance
Enemies: Sith Droids (potentially), Sith booby-traps (potentially)
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Armor: Katarn Mk. II Combat Armor
Primary Weapon: OS-109 Variable Strength Assault Rifle (chest rig)
Secondary Weapons:

• OS-105 Stalwart Light Blaster Pistol (drop holster, right hip)
• OS-102 Wrist Mounted Hold Out Blaster (right wrist)
• OS-101 Retractable Vibrosword (on utility belt)
• Krath Itak Sword (back scabbard) Note to Force Users/Force Sensitives - this blade emanates a strong Dark Side aura
• 4 x stun grenades (chest rig)

Misc Gear:

• OS-112 "Valkyrie" Jump Jet System (mounted to Katarn armor)
• OS-107 "Hermes" Sensor Drones

Beltran nodded to Ilwynog Cysgod , and his respect for the Jedi increased. In his time as a Ranger, he hadn't often worked alongside the Jedi directly, but when he had he had often found them to be arrogant. His mind flashed back to Myrkr and the blaster bolt he had taken when their Jedi commander had decided to get cute with the Force rather than hold the line. This one, it seemed, recognized the skills of the Rangers and Beltran respected that.

The other Jedi, Lex Del'Fino for his part, had gone quiet. That worked just fine for the Lorrdian Lieutenant. He held no animosity for the man, though his demeanor did seem to lend itself more to the type of Jedi who'd gotten him injured. He'd keep an eye on Jedi Del'Fino as the operation continued and ensure that he didn't foul anything up.

Keying his com, he spoke to his men. "Alright, let's move out. Icarus-1-2 and 1-3, spread out to our left and right flanks respectively. Use your sound dampeners and adaptive camouflage to keep from being noticed. If we're engaged, circle around and catch them in a crossfire."

A pair of double-clicks sounded on his comlink, informing him that each Ranger had acknowledged his order. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as two men peeled off from the main group and began to make their way toward the Sith research station. Their katarn suits changed colors to match their surroundings and with their sound dampeners activated, there was no noise as they approached.

To Jedi Cysgod, Beltran spoke. "Myself and Icarus' 1-4 and 1-5 will take point. If you and Jedi Del'Fino could bring up the rear, it would be appreciated."

With that, Beltran and the two men still with him began to move toward the research base. They moved quickly through the underbrush, utilizing their own camouflage and sound dampeners to keep from being spotted by anyone the Sith might have on overwatch. Beltran trusted that the two Jedi would have methods to keep from being spotted, so he did not worry about them.

They group traveled the distance quickly and efficiently, and while doing so, Beltran keyed his com and spoke-his only causing sound within the confines of his helmet-due to the sound dampener. "Icarus-1-1 for Raider-1-1. We've landed without incident and are enroute to the research facility. I will let you know when we've acquired the package and are on our way back out. Icarus-1-1 out."