Dominion Ash, Rock and Steel: MIR Dominion of the Ash Worlds!

[Ronhar Tane]

Ash is defined as the powdery residue that is left after something is burned.

The Mahporeem Imperial Remnant, being something of an industrial juggernaut, is quite familiar with the sight, smell and feel of ash, and the substance is quite prevalent throughout Imperial held space. Yet, for all the ash one can find throughout Mahporeem's territory, there is still one location where the namesakee substance has left an even larger mark than it ever could on Mahporeem: the Ash Worlds. Devastated by ancient wars from thousands of years ago, the enigmatic Ash Worlds have sat on the doorstep of Mahporeem ever since their destruction, and now that the Imperial Remnant is enjoying a resurgence of power, they wish to investigate just what exactly remains in the sector. If there experience for Rusito has taught them anything, its not to judge a planet by its initial appearance...

OBJECTIVE I: PERFORMANCE REVIEW
[PvP, Fleeters]

Commander. Admiral. Imperial. Traitor. Though their are many ways that one might describe Marlon Sularen , what is not up for debate is his impeccable naval record as a military officer. His victories speak for themselves, and after Marlon's pivotal role in destroying the Third Death Star, one one can doubt his military acumen and penchant for defeating his foes, no matter how the odds may be stacked against him. Yet, a series of political blunders during his tenure with the Imperial Confederation have caused some to doubt his ability to lead, and these voices have only been magnified with Sularen's promotion to Grand Admiral. Today, Marlon Sularen seeks to silence his critics once and for all. On the uninhabited world of Cophrigin V, the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant has established a simulation chamber for Marlon to show off his skills and experience as a seasoned naval commander. Though his enemies are fake, the stakes are not, and Marlon's performance will determine his future with the Imperial Remnant going forward. Will he rise to the occasion as he's done so many times before, or will the pressure crack him like Alderaan being destroyed by the original Death Star?

OBJECTIVE II: VIEWING GALLERY
[Social]

In addition to the simulation chamber itself, the Imperial Remnant has constructed an entire base around Marlon's test, complete with a viewing gallery and all the amenities one might expect on any civilized planet. Particularly interesting is the fact that members of the Iron Covenant and High Republic have been invited to observe Marlon's progress as he navigates the intricacies of the challenge he faces before himself. Yet the question remains why? Is the Imperial Remnant trying to up the pressure on Marlon even further by having outside observers take note of his progress? Or is there something else going on here, something that no one knows about besides the Imperial Remnant? Regardless of Mahporeem's intentions, visitors are encouraged to eat, drink, socialize and observe the simulated battle.

OBJECTIVE III: THAT'S...A LOT OF MOONS
[PvP, PvE,]

Much like the former Supreme Commander and now Grand Admiral, the planet lego can be described in as many ways, though it is most commonly called the "Planet of a Thousand Moons". Each moon is just as unique as the next, almost as if a separate planet, and there is no telling what one might find when landing on any man. The Mahporeem Imperial Remnant has begun surveys of all these moons and the planet lego itself, sending its naval and ground forces to take control of the system, though doing so remains a time consuming and lengthy process. Still, the potential rewards are more than worth it, though no one knows for certain what kind of creatures lurk throughout the system, or whether or not such creatures are sentient. If rumors are to be believed, there is no shortage of potential hostiles that will need to be dealt with upon landing in the system...

​

 

[R'ayne Asara]

viewing gallery

​

weapon: Draconic Scourge
outfit: X™
tag(s): Open

I entered the viewing gallery within the newly erected base, the heavy doors sealing behind me with a hydraulic groan that sounded disturbingly like the closing of a tomb.

Beyond the reinforced transparisteel, a naval simulation was to unfold around Marlon Sularen , warships moving through the artificial void like carrion insects circling some unseen corpse.

Naval combat had never settled well with me. Too many variables. Too many trajectories, distances, sensor ghosts, command delays, and meaningless little calculations that could turn victory into catastrophe with the twitch of a machine.

I preferred certainty.

I preferred proximity.

Get close enough to smell the enemy's fear, close enough to watch the life leave their eyes. Combat should be personal. It should have weight. It should scream.

I continued along the gallery, watching the simulation preparations with only passing interest, when a familiar voice emerged from behind me. “Good evening, Minister Asara. We met at Carida.” I turned, finding an Imperial officer of distinguished bearing approaching, his uniform immaculate and his expression carrying the faint confidence of a man who had survived a tremendous trial to become comfortable with death.

I smiled.

“Well, fancy seeing you here, Captain.” My eyes dropped briefly to his insignia. “My apologies. Major Varhase.”

Major Varhase offered a polite bow. “No apology necessary, Minister. High Command saw fit to promote me to Major after my heroics on Ruisto.”

“Did they?” I replied, my smile widening just enough to become dangerous.

I gestured toward a server droid gliding silently along the gallery, a silver tray balanced upon its head and carrying an assortment of dark liquors, pale wines, frosty fruit drinks, and crystalline Imperial spirits on it. “Come. Join me for a drink before the piirayas get here.” Major Varhase gave a low laugh as he fell into step beside me.

“It will be an honor, Minister. Though, if you'll permit me, when I first met you, you struck me as a piiraya.”

I stopped.

The amusement vanished from my face with such suddenness that even the simulated preparations beyond the glass seemed to become quieter. I turned my head toward him, my eyes settling upon his with the cold patience of something ancient deciding whether a creature was worth eating.

“Major,” I said flatly, “I'm much worse.” I allowed the silence to linger for a heartbeat before turning toward the approaching droid. “Now, let's have that drink.”

 

[Augustus Tassar]

STATUS	Strike Force Lions of the New Order	Exploring - Moon 33/V "Tristram"​
IMPFOR	Lothar Braeyek Ash Cobalt Open	"Lion-Actual"​
OPFOR	None

Augustus Tassar had arrived with the Imperial forces in the Iego system merely hours before. He had spent the better part of the last day up to mere minutes before they translated from hyperspace back into realspace planning and coordinating the invasion of the system. Now the Grand Marshal of the Mahporeem Imperial Army, his Central Command needed swiftly establishment in its processes or it would not function to his satisfaction. And he strongly opposed anything that dissatisfied him which was under his control.

The arriving army was transported by naval assets, coordinated by his navy liaison and entered the system unopposed. Silhouettes of Star Destroyers, escorts, cruisers and troop transports hurried out of hyperspace, quickly assuming a formation that proceeded forward as planned. As far as Augustus knew, there was a delegation of diplomats that would attempt contact with the local inhabitants, but the overall operation was focused on making the system and moons compliant and ready for Imperial operations. The planet and its sentient inhabitants were secondary in priority.

Therefore efforts were focused on several moons at the outside of the system and a few further in to monitor the locals and prevent any further curious incidents. The latter was also the reason that ships were strictly instructed to follow predetermined vectors of approach and remain in formation at all times.

The biggest moon that was targeted, was designated as 33/V or as it was picked up from local traffic Tristram. It hold a spacer outpost that seemed abandoned, but had a working minor port, basic life support and some other amenities that would make operations far easier.

The issue was: the moon had not been abandoned several days ago when probe reports showed its activity and picked up its name in comms traffic. Now, there was nothing, no noise, no signs of life from distant scans.

Augustus originally intended to go towards the inner system himself, but this oddity undid that plan and he, together with a expeditionary force, moved to Tristram to inspect its mysteries.

 

[Victport Graras]

HIGH COMMANDER VICTPORT GRARAS
COPHRIGIN V SIMULATION CHAMBERS
OBJECTIVE II: VIEWING GALLERY

"And you're quite sure I can't change your mind?", Victport Graras asked Fleet Admiral Vorin Zonill as the two men peered over at the display that would allow them and anyone else in the viewing gallery to watch the battle that Marlon Sularen was to participate in in real time.

Admittedly, as impressive as Marlon Sularen 's naval and military record was, he had NOT been Victport's first choice for Grand Admiral of the Mahporeem Imperial Navy. His achievements on the field of battle were second to none, and Marlon Sularen had racked up naval victory after naval victory during his tenure as Supreme Commander of the Imperial Confederation, going so far as to have made himself integral to the destruction of the Third Death Star over Atrisia. He should have been the perfect choice for Grand Admiral, had it not have been for his...less than stellar political record, including an incident that had nearly brought the Confederation to war against the High Republic and had certainly accelerated its decline and disbanding. That was why Victport had initially offered the position to Zonill, but he had for some unfathomable reason declined the position. Granted, Zonill was still quite young, and the position would have come with an immense increase in responsibility, which is why Zonill may have declined.

"I'm afraid not, sir", Zonill confirmed in response to Victport's question.

Thus, Sularen had been dutifully appointed Grand Admiral, to the chagrin of many within the Imperial Remnant. Victport had been forced to have Sularen prove that he deserved the appointment, which was why he had invited a select group of people to watch Marlon fight his simulated battle. The idea was quite simple: Sularen would be given a certain number of points to build his fleet with, and when he entered the simulator, he and his fleet would be transported to a empty section of space where he would be tasked with engaging and destroying the enemies sent after him. The more forces he brought with him, the stronger the enemy fleet would be, though he was not told o this. In fact, all he was told was that he had a point total to work with: he wasn't given any specifics as to his mission parameters or the type of enemy he would be facing. He would have to come up with a strategy on the fly, and Victport was curious to see what he would come up with.

Farther down, he could see Science Minister R'ayne Asara engaged in conversation with another officer, and Victport couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of this situation. How did such a highly decorated and competent naval officer force himself into this position of somehow having to prove his worth? Why wouldn't a native Mahporeenian take the position in his place? Was this an indication of things to come, or just an unfortunate holdover from Sularen's Imperial Confederation days?

Only time would tell for certain...

TAGS:
R'ayne Asara
OPEN

​

 

[Shae'ri Mor]

That's...a Lot of Moons

Equipment • Junkyard Saber {Borrowed}
NPCs: x2 Battalions of Imperial Stormtroopers
Interaction{s} • Open

The upper ramp of the transport hung open behind Shae’ri Mor, its machinery humming beneath her boots as she stood against the cold winds of Iego. Beyond the landing site, the horizon stretched beneath an angry and unforgiving sky, barren terrain disappearing into distant haze.

Her gaze settled upon one particular direction; the Boneyard. Even from this distance, the legendary graveyard seemed to stain the horizon, a vast expanse of enormous bones belonging to creatures that had once ruled the world beneath their feet.

Their remains had endured long after flesh, blood, and memory had surrendered to time.

Imperial reports called it an ecological anomaly, local accounts called it sacred ground, and the oldest stories called it something far worse; a place where the fabled Demons of Iego emerged from the subterranean depths to rest among the dead.

Curiosity waved its banner within Shae’ri’s mind, and she had never been particularly skilled at ignoring such things. Demons or superstition, ancient predators or nothing more than frightened tales passed between scavengers, she intended to see the Boneyard with her own eyes.

She descended the ramp only long enough to secure her equipment, her expression hidden beneath the quiet severity of purpose. There were dangers in the galaxy that deserved respect, and there were others that deserved investigation.

The Boneyard was both.

Whatever waited beneath those colossal bones, if anything waited at all, would not keep her away. Shae’ri Mor had faced Jedi, Sith, monsters, and the countless ugly consequences of Imperial ambition.

She was not about to let a pile of dead creatures frighten her into staying aboard a ship.

 

[Ash Cobalt]

Tags: Augustus Tassar Lothar Braeyek

​

Cobalt obsessively checked and rechecked his gear, passing time until they finally got a move on.

This was the part he didn't like about working for larger states, and in particular their military organizations.

The "hurry up and wait" attitude suffused every part of the process, but these new scrap-Imps had their virtues, virtues that more than made up for the headache.

The first was that they had money, and weren't particular about spending it to get results. He'd found his way into Mahporeem's orbit because they needed expert scavengers, guides, survivors, and appraisers. He was all four at once, a specialized skillset that was apparently highly valued in these circles.

The second was that they didn't ask questions. Cobalt suspected he was still a wanted man in certain parts of the now-High Republic. Not too many scrappers shot Jedi for money and got away with it.

In truth, he found bounty-hunting distasteful. He'd killed before, both men and beasts, and would likely do it again. The galaxy was a violent place, and it couldn't always be avoided, but doing it for money was not normally his style.

Still, money had been tight, and the job had paid. Jo'Han Felcado was worm food, but that cash had long since dried up. At least the Imps gave you three hots and a cot as long as you did good work.

Today, they were expanding their reach, as Imperials always seemed to. Not his fault, not his problem. The target of today's expansion was a local moon where advance forces had apparently gone dark, refusing to respond to hails.

Cobalt had been across large portions of the galaxy, and knew well that space got... interesting out here on the fringes. Could be pirates, or it could be something else. Something less easily given a name and a face.

He shuddered, checking for the fiftieth time that his shotgun was loaded and not sticking in its holster.

Not everything out there could be felled by hot lead, but in his experience, a few rounds center-mass would do the job to ninety-plus percent of the galaxy's various horrors.

He hoped it was pirates, raiders, slavers, something conventional, but he'd doubtless find out the hard way soon enough.

Ragged and clad in semi-militarized civilian clothes, Cobalt didn't quite fit in with his regimented surroundings. A hooded jacket obscured much of his face, and a dusty old half-mask respirator did for the rest.

Glowing white eyes, devoid of visible feature or pigmentation, marked him out as a non-human. In yet another point in these new Imps' favor, they didn't seem to give a shit about that, either. No questions, no examinations, no judgement, or at least none voiced directly to him. Just money and food.

For that, he'd do their dirty work for a while.

 

[The Lord of Hunger]

It was to be expected for the Lord of Hunger to not participate in too much open activity, even when it pertained the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant, where he technically had little issues to fear in regards to his 'situation'. people vanished in Mahporeem daily, so a couple dozen more on a weekly basis literally wouldn't raise a flag. Still, as he had sent Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory to go with the delegation to investigate the moons of Iegio on behalf of the N&Z, he himself would represent the company and its assets in the private box where the rich and the powerful would look over and observe the performance of Marlon Sularen 's simulation.

It was going to be a show, that much was certain. As they were using the simulation deck made by the N&Z, it would also include the possibility that Marlon would end up having to face the simulation version of the Lord of Hunger, which would mean facing the same tactics which had beaten Marlon at Schesa, but had also saved the man's hide at Atrisia. It was going to be interesting to see just how good the good old Sularen truly was and how rusty he had gotten with age. If anything else, there was a possible person to take up the mantle in place of Marlon if Mahporeem wished to have experienced naval leadership, but for now the Lord of Hunger held this particular individual on a short leash as a trump card.

from his seat, he could see Victport Graras and Zonill, the High commander and one of the TIC's former top-admirals, no doubt both quite keen on making sure their choice to allow Sularen to head the admiralty wasn't yet another blatant mistake. A bit further up ahead was R'ayne Asara , minister of science... an interesting figure who despite having built up an impressive laboratory and powerbase within the Mahporeem government...lacked actual backing and who seemed a plausible candidate to be recruited to section C.

for now, the socializing had to wait, all Credius wished to do for now was to observe his surroundings and watch the actual show...

 

[Zesiro]

Objective: 2
R'ayne Asara Victport Graras The Lord of Hunger

Zesiro had spent enough years around politicians to know that observer rarely meant merely watching.

There were always conversations taking place beyond the obvious ones, alliances being measured in glances and carefully chosen words while aides quietly moved information between people who pretended not to be paying attention to one another. She had once known how to read rooms like this almost instinctively. Years spent serving at the side of a president had taught her to notice exits before decorations, hands before faces, and the subtle difference between someone approaching because they wanted to speak and someone approaching because they wanted something.

Apparently, those habits had survived retirement better than she expected.

She entered the viewing gallery without ceremony, dressed simply enough that she had no intention of competing with whatever collection of uniforms, formal attire, and military decoration awaited inside. Dark trousers, comfortable boots, and a fitted blue blouse were enough for her. She carried no visible weapon and wore nothing that identified her with any particular government or organization. For the moment, Zesiro preferred it that way. She was here to observe, to listen, and perhaps to reacquaint herself with a world she had once understood remarkably well.

Her blue eyes moved briefly across the gallery before settling upon the displays dedicated to the naval simulation unfolding elsewhere. She understood enough about military operations to follow what she was seeing, though fleet command had never been her specialty. People were. The officers, dignitaries, representatives, and observers gathered around the exercise interested her considerably more than the ships themselves. Without consciously intending to, she found herself studying posture and expressions, watching who stood together, who remained apart, and who seemed more interested in the reactions of the room than the performance being presented before them.

A faint smile touched her lips when she realized what she was doing. Some things apparently never changed.

Perhaps that wasn't entirely bad.

Zesiro found an unobtrusive place with a clear view of the simulation and allowed herself to settle into the role she had supposedly come to play. For once, there was no president standing behind her who needed protecting, no security detail waiting for instructions, and no responsibility resting upon her shoulders beyond whatever she chose to accept. She could simply watch and decide for herself whether any of this still held the same appeal it once had.

For now, that was enough.

 

[Aurelian of Vandemar]

Aurelian

Hegemon · Lord Indomitus · Dragonknight

✠ Griffin of Vandemar ✠

✠ Directive ✠

Objective I
Performance Review

✠ Sector ✠

Cophrigin V · Simulation Chamber

✠ Wargear ✠

Armor II · Sword

It was certainly not common for the Hegemon to engage in a simulation outside of his own refugium. The opportunity and privilege though to engage Marlon Sularen in a complex simulation to verify the man's suitability and capability to become Grand Admiral of Mahporeem was something Aurelian would not oppose and deny. Last time he fought against an Imperial he would call comrade prior and later, it was Aximand Sicarus fighting alongside Romul Saxon .

Clad in his golden armour, with Valoris at his side, he entered the simulation chamber. Bareheaded, he did not require a helmet in this faux grande bataille, the grey eyes primarily observing and taking in the construction that no doubt N&Z had furnished for this occasion. It certainly had seemed more impressive before he had set foot in it, suddenly making its well sized interior seem oppressively small. The imposing figure, clad in his finely decorated gilded battle-plate, blue tabard falling in perfect folds. The man never felt or looked like just a man, there was something else about him, something beyond the granite-like surface of his face, something deep inside the chest and beyond the heart that moved him.

Aurelian's gaze moved to towards the viewports and outside, hard grey eyes watching, measuring, marking. A gallery for spectators and dignitaries had been erected together with this whole hall just for this occasion. There was a modicum of disapproval in him for this waste. Both could have been arranged in a warships hangar with less pomp and circumstance, but new Imperial realms needed their grand moments or they would not feel validated.

Both Aurelian and Marlon had served more than one, more than a handful, standing on opposite sides of the greatest war in recent memory. They had never crossed blades, neither figuratively, nor literally. The latter in Sularen's favour no doubt. Today would be unique, something equally entertaining and instructive.

✠ Dispatch Directed To ✠

Marlon Sularen

Eternal Duty · Eternal Loyalty · Eternal Order

 

[Lothar Braeyek]

Objective III - Moon Exploration
Augustus Tassar Ash Cobalt

Vehicle used -

Approved Vehicle - AT-AAW (N&Z Umbrella Corporation Production Model)

https://wallpapers.com/images/hd/purple-grunge-aesthetic-32hvq46j5txno9ip.jpg'[/URL]) 30; font-family: Courier New; font-size:100%; color: #c0c0c0; overflow: auto;"] OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION Intent: To update the original All Terrain Armored Assault Walker factory entry with N&Z Umbrella...

www.starwarsrp.net

The first thing Lothar noticed about Tristram was the silence. It wasn't the natural silence of an empty moon. He had spent enough time around industrial sites, transports and military machinery to know that even abandoned places usually made some kind of noise. Generators. Atmospheric processors. Cooling systems. The distant hum of something that had been left running long after its owners had gone.

Tristram had none of it.

The All Terrain Armored Assault Walkers stepped down from the transport with a heavy metallic thud, its reinforced legs settling into the dusty surface as Lothar brought the walker to a halt. The machine was an imposing sight even among the Imperial expeditionary force, its additional armour giving the already squat assault walker a heavier appearance.

Lothar remained inside the cockpit, one gloved hand resting near the controls as the walker's sensor array swept across the settlement ahead. Keeve sat at the gunner controls.

Nothing. He ran the scan again. Still nothing.

"That's not right." His voice was quiet over the internal comms.

The viewport offered only a narrow slice of Tristram's surface, forcing him to rely heavily on the walker's instruments. Structures stood in the distance, apparently intact. There were no obvious signs of bombardment. No burning wreckage. No defensive positions. No bodies. Just an outpost that looked as though everyone had simply decided to leave at once.

Lothar adjusted the walker forward, its weapons remaining cold as he advanced with the rest of the expeditionary force. He wasn't going to be the man who fired first at something nobody had even identified.

His eyes briefly moved toward the strange figure of Ash Cobalt The man looked like he'd spent more time surviving the fringes of the galaxy than serving alongside Imperial soldiers. Lothar didn't particularly care what the man's history was. If Augustus Tassar considered him useful, that was enough.

Lothar switched his attention back to the outpost.

"Braeyek to Lion-Actual." Augustus Tassar

A pause.

"Area's quiet. No visible signs of combat or forced evacuation from this distance. I'm moving in with the walkers and keeping the sensors running."

The AT-AAW continued forward.
Its sensors swept across the abandoned structures again.

Nothing.

Lothar's grip tightened slightly around the controls.

Whatever had emptied Tristram, he had a feeling they hadn't gone very far.
And he intended to find out where they had gone before whatever it was found them first.

 

[Ronhar Tane]

CAPTAIN RONHAR TANE, TK-3301
LEGO SYSTEM, LEGO
OBJECTIVE III: THAT'S...A LOT OF MOONS

Within the cold void of space, the MIN Fool's Errand sat ready to assist in any capacity possible.

Being on the fringes of known space, the planet lego and its 1,000 moons remained something of a mystery to the forces of the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant, despite the fact that both Mahporeem and lego were relatively close by to one another. Prior to Mahporeem's political and military ascension, the Imperial Remnant had no reason to investigate lego and its numerous moons. But now that Mahporeem had successfully pulled off OPERATION: HOMECOMING, lego and its moons had taken new priority for the Imperial Remnant.

That meant that EVERY moon around lego now needed to be checked, catalogued and put under some form of Imperial presence, in order to ensure that their weren't any threats lurking that might harm the Imperial Remnant in the present or future. Of course, checking every single moon orbiting lego was going to be time consuming work, and the manpower to check each location within the planetary system was not as comprehensive as might be desired.

That meant that men like Ronhar Tane would be responsible for dealing with any emergencies, contingencies and general problems that might pop up during a survey like the Imperial Remnant was conducting. Simply put, the Imperial Remnant couldn't be everyone at once, nor could they afford to have multiple units converge on a single location without having a damn good reason for doing so.

If everything went smoothly, which it wouldn't, Ronhar wouldn't have anything to do during the duration of the mission, and would find himself simply being bored within the confines of the Fool's Errand. But no matter how well thought out, planned, or executed a mission was, difficulties were bound to arise in one form or another, and Ronhar didn't doubt that his services would be needed sooner rather than later...

TAGS:
Ash Cobalt
Lothar Braeyek
Augustus Tassar
OPEN

 

[Shae'ri Mor]

That's...a Lot of Moons

Equipment • Junkyard Saber {Borrowed}
NPCs: x2 Battalions of Imperial Stormtroopers
Interaction{s} • Open

The two battalions advanced across the bleak landscape of Iego in disciplined silence, white armor moving in ordered ranks through the alien terrain. Boots struck the hardened ground in a steady rhythm, rifles held at the ready as the formation pushed deeper toward the Boneyard.

Shae’ri Mor walked at the head of the column, her pale features hardened beneath the sky. Something was wrong. She could feel it; not through any obvious disturbance, but through the instinct that had kept her alive when logic had failed. The landscape seemed too still.

The wind moved, yet nothing else did. Her eyes swept across distant ridges, broken stone, and the immense silhouettes of ancient bones. Finally, she turned her head toward the stormtroopers nearest her. “Keep alert,” she said quietly. “We’re being watched.”

The order traveled down the formations, and immediately the soldiers tightened their spacing, weapons angling toward the surrounding wilds.

Ahead, the Boneyard rose from the horizon like the remains of some colossal graveyard, its enormous skeletal structures becoming larger with every passing minute. Shae’ri stared into the maze of weathered ribs and vertebrae, trying to separate shadow from substance.

Then she saw it, a brief movement between two massive rib bones belonging to some long-dead creature. Gone before she could properly identify it. Her hand moved instinctively to her belt, unclipping the battered lightsaber hilt she had borrowed from a fellow Junkyard Knight.

She closed her fingers around the mismatched metal casing but did not activate it. Not yet. The stormtroopers continued forward, unaware of precisely what had caught their commander’s attention. Shae’ri kept her eyes fixed upon the Boneyard, her thumb resting against the activation switch.

Whatever waited among those ancient bones had seen them coming. Now she intended to make certain it understood that it had been seen in return.

 

[Amalia Visconti | Mira Rhory]

Lego system, Lego

TAG: OPEN
​

Like a silent shadow, the massive battlecruiser Gluttoneria slid through the many moons of the Lego System, not to act as a threat, but to effectively catalogue them as part of the Mahporeem Remnant's and ofcourse the N&Z's desire to know exactly what they'd be getting their hands on if they managed to take control of the system. However, even if its mission in and of itself was peaceful, this did not mean that whatever was lurking within the moons or beyond would be of the same mindset.

The Battlecruiser was big and intimidating, but the fall of the Imperial Confederation had taken its toll on the mighty vessel, as it had been out on patrol around the former TIC-controlled hyperlanes and trade-route sections nigh continuously, meaning that it had been quite some time since the ship had last had a full overhaul on Bescane and with Mon Cala in turmoil, there was little choice left than having everything maintained rather than repaired and overhauled. While most of its electronics were still fully functional and perfect for the job of scanning and collecting data, at least one of the massive Appollyon canons was out of commision due to a ruptured cooling tank, the auto cannons were also out of commission because of the severe lack of replacement parts., a functional...but no longer the perfect vessel.

"Why did we get this job?" Amalia looked down at the holographic display, so far so good as no anomalies were being detected. The on board AI...which already had some speech glitches now operated by utilizing direct messages through the datapads on board.

//: DATA NOT FOUND

"Ofcourse you can't find any data, you're a glorified ship's log at this point..." The governor of Corvus, still retaining that rank and the title as long as the N&Z managed to retain control of the former TIC territory, shook her head and walked over to the communications officer. "Has anyone or anything reacted to the low frequency communication request yet?"

The officer nodded and pointed at the schematics on his screen, making notice of any contact they had, a number which unsurprisingly remained at 0. Still, it could be worse... there could've been harassing pirates, smugglers being pests, heck...even monsters perhaps, but for now...just slowly processing data seemed not the worst thing to do. Not the worst, but no less boring otherwise...

​

 

[Erve Kozzit]

Location: The Boneyard, Iego
Objective: Investigate signs of previous scavengers within Iego's Boneyard and discover what they found before they disappeared.
Tags: Shae'ri Mor

Erve Kozzit had heard Boneyard and decided that whatever came after it was probably going to be worth the walk. The fact that two full battalions of stormtroopers were making that walk with them complicated the experience somewhat. There was something almost unnatural about watching that much white armor advance through a landscape like Iego's. Ordered ranks and identical helmets belonged aboard polished Imperial facilities, parade grounds, and the corridors of warships. Here, beneath an alien sky and surrounded by a landscape that looked as though someone had forgotten to finish killing it, they stood out like freshly manufactured parts tossed into an old scrap heap.

Erve fit considerably better. She walked several paces behind and to one side of Shae'ri Mor, chains and equipment shifting softly with every step. Her armor lacked anything approaching Imperial uniformity. Dark leather, salvaged plates, straps, battered metal and weather-beaten burgundy cloth had accumulated into something that was unmistakably hers. Orange markings painted across her brown skin provided considerably more color than the army accompanying them.

Her eyes weren't on the soldiers. They were on the bones. "You know," Erve remarked as another enormous skeletal silhouette rose more clearly ahead of them, "when somebody said there was a Boneyard, I figured they were exaggerating." She squinted at a distant rib jutting from the ground. "That's at least a whole workshop."

One of the nearby stormtroopers turned his helmet toward her. Erve caught the movement. "What?" The helmet turned forward again. She grinned. The amusement faded when Shae'ri stopped. Erve knew enough about the other woman to recognize the change before the warning ever came. We're being watched.

The stormtroopers reacted immediately. Rifles shifted outward. Spacing tightened. The disciplined rhythm of their advance became something more deliberate as hundreds of soldiers began searching the landscape for a threat they couldn't yet see.

Erve didn't reach for her saber. Instead, she looked at Shae'ri. Then followed her gaze. Nothing. Broken stone. Dust. Ridges. Bones large enough to make Erve wonder what in the Nine Hells had once needed ribs that size. Then—

Movement. Barely anything. Something passing between two enormous bones. Erve's smile disappeared. "Yeah." Her hand drifted toward the heavy saber hanging at her side, but like Shae'ri she left the weapon dark. "Got that one."

She couldn't say what she'd seen. Too quick. Too far. Could've been an animal. Could've been a person. Could've been one of the demons the locals apparently believed lived beneath Iego. Erve wasn't especially concerned about which. If something wanted them dead, a name wasn't going to make much difference.

The column continued. Erve's attention changed with it. She still looked at the Boneyard like a scavenger approaching the greatest pile of potentially useful material she'd ever seen, but now there was calculation behind the curiosity. Places like this had rules. Junkyards had rules. Wrecks had rules.

Rule one was that anything worth taking had probably attracted someone before you. Rule two was that if nobody had taken it, there was usually a reason. And rule three—If you thought you were alone, you weren't.

The gigantic remains gradually swallowed the horizon until the Imperial formation was moving toward a maze of weathered ribs and shattered vertebrae. Erve slowed. Something had caught her eye. Not movement this time.

She stepped away from the column. A nearby trooper immediately turned. "Knight?"

Erve waved him off. "Didn't say stop the army." She crossed several meters toward one of the enormous bones protruding from the hardened ground. Its surface had been worn smooth in places by centuries of exposure. But not everywhere.

Erve crouched. Her fingers brushed dirt from a long indentation. She stared at it. Then scraped harder with her thumb. There. A straight edge.

Erve glanced toward Shae'ri before following the groove farther. Another cut intersected it. Old. Very old, perhaps. But weather didn't do that.

"Mor." The humor had left her voice. Erve moved farther around the skeletal remains and found another incision. Then another. She knew the difference between something broken and something harvested. Somebody had cut into this creature.

She knelt beside one of the marks and examined its depth. "Industrial cutter, maybe." Erve looked along the bone. A scavenger taking useful material would've worked from the easiest point. Take the largest intact sections, minimize effort, maximize what you could haul away. These cuts didn't make sense.

"Whoever did this wasn't after the bone." That bothered her more. Erve stood and began looking around properly. The thing watching them remained somewhere among the skeletal maze. She hadn't forgotten that. If anything, knowing something was out there made the evidence beneath her fingers more interesting. Her eyes caught another mark farther along. She followed it. Then another. Then—

"Huh." Erve stopped beneath the curve of an enormous rib. Something had been scratched into it. Three rough lines. A hooked symbol beneath them. Then another mark partly hidden by grime. She wiped it clean.

Erve knew marks like those. Not the exact hand. Not necessarily the exact crew. But every junkyard eventually developed its own language. Salvagers needed quick ways to tell each other what had been stripped, what belonged to someone else, where something valuable had been found, and—most importantly—where something would kill you if you started cutting without knowing what you were doing. Erve stared at the symbol for several seconds.

"Well." She looked back toward Shae'ri. "Your creepy friend ain't the first visitor we've had." She gestured toward the markings. "Junker signs."

Erve crouched again. Now that she knew what she was looking for, other details emerged. A sliver of corroded metal beneath the dirt. She dug her fingers around it and pulled. It didn't move.

Erve cleared more debris. Not scrap. An anchor. A length of ancient cable disappeared beneath the overlapping bones. Someone had established a route through here. Or down. Erve followed its direction with her eyes. Between the immense skeletal remains was an opening that looked natural until she noticed the edges. Old pieces of metal had been driven into the earth to reinforce it. Almost everything had been swallowed by dust and time. Almost.

Her hand finally closed around the hilt of her saber. Still, she didn't ignite it. Not with Shae'ri already convinced they were being watched. Light announced exactly where you were. Erve looked toward the gap. Then toward the place where they'd seen the movement. Then back to Shae'ri.

"So." A crooked smile returned. "We've got something watching us, somebody's been cutting pieces outta giant dead things, and whoever did it left a trail going underneath 'em." She nodded appreciatively. "Good trip so far."

Erve took a few steps toward the opening but stopped short of entering it. For all her curiosity, disappearing underground while something unknown stalked the surface was the sort of decision that turned Junkyard Knights into interesting things for other Junkyard Knights to salvage. Instead, she crouched beside the cable and examined the dirt around it.

Tracks would be nice. Fresh disturbance would be better. Anything telling them whether their watcher had come from the darkness beneath the Boneyard would be considerably less nice. "Think we oughta find out if your friend came through here before we go chasing it."

Erve glanced up at Shae'ri. Her grin widened. "Unless you wanna chase the demon first." Her thumb settled comfortably beside the activation switch of her heavy saber. "I'm good either way."

 

[Felix Yorwell]

Tags: Marlon Sularen | Aurelian of Vandemar

Felix entered the simulation room to find that he had company.
​

It was not Marlon who stood across from the commodore, but a massive, gold-armored man he quickly recognized as head of state of the Hegemony of Vandemar. It seemed as if, like Felix, Aurelian had made the long trek from the Unknown Regions to Maphoreem territory.

Now was likely the best time for him to introduce himself before Marlon could enter the equation.

“Lord Aurelian Sigsimund.” began Felix. “I am Felix Yorwell, commodore in the Mahporeem Navy and naval attache from the Caragachi Commonwealth. It is a pleasure and honor to meet you."

“I suspect our Grand Admiral to-be will arrive soon.” continued the commodore, turning to glance at the door from which he had entered the chamber.

“I assume you have your battle plan, as I do mine. Though this simulation may be Malron’s coronation, I have no intention of yielding victory short of suffering grievous losses in the simulation."

He paused to take a sip from the ivory white tea cup in his right hand, soaking in the flavor of the rich Darjeeling.

“I will provide you documentation of my simulated forces before the battle starts. They are a combination of Maphoreem and Caragachi warships, intended to demonstrate to Marlon the strengths and limitations of both his own forces and those of his allies. Just as we work together now, he will undoubtedly find himself drawing on the strength of other factions to achieve a shared goal neither can reach alone."

With his left hand he reached down into the pant pocket of his white suitcoat, withdrawing a portable datapad. Using only his left fingers, he activated the device and swiped to a large file containing the forces he had downloaded onto the simulator mere minutes earlier. Felix then extended the datapad out towards Aurelian, letting him choose to copy the file or simply borrow the commodore’s device.

“I wish you luck, Lord Aurelian.” remarked the commodore. “May the odds be in our favor."

 

[Sae]

---

---

Tags: R'ayne Asara | Victport Graras | The Lord of Hunger | Zesiro

---

OBJECTIVE II:

" Viewing Gallery "

Sae stood there at the viewing port with the air and grace of a woman that had a military background. At one-point-in-time she had been living in Melford: a former prestigious Imperial academy where Sae had been training to become an Imperial Stormtrooper. Although politics had since become her career, specifically in the Mid-systems, there were somethings that couldn't be driven out of you. Her pose was rigid, up right, and the hands clasped behind at the back as she waited for the simulation to begin. However, it wasn't the performances of the military brass on show, or the promotion of Grand Admiral Sularen, that had brought Sae to this function. She had simultaneously been invited to attend as a diplomatic representative and also instructed to by way of an associate that she had recently courted to assist her politics in the Trailing Sectors.

Therefore the long journey from Naboo to Mahporeem had been charted and navigated. She was still getting used to smell in Corrox. At least the sterilised, artificial air from the overhead scrubbers was pleasant by comparison.

There were three pins attached to the sleek, black tunic that she wore. They each reflected Sae's interests and who she represented.

The Kenari Resource Compact are a minor mining consortium (and a representative of the Kenari system in the Republic Senate) who had assigned an Ambassadorship to Chommell Minor as they sought to bring Sae's ideas out of the fringe and into the spotlight. As an Ambassador, Sae represented the groups interests and politics while simultaneously representing her own ideas that they were, at least for moment, in favour of bringing up for debate and speculation amid the powers from the Mid-systems.

Next to the K.R.C's pin hung another that held the emblem of Vūm. This peculiar investment hedge fund had taken great interest in funding and supporting Sae's politics regarding Imperialism in the High Republic. It was through their connections on Kenari that Sae had been elevated from a fringe and unpopular politician in the Trailing Sectors to an Ambassador sent to Chommell Minor. Sae represented both the K.R.C's interests and desires there, on her homeworld, and now also today, as the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant courted a diplomatic relations on Naboo for reasons that Sae had yet to learn about.

The last and obvious group represented by Sae was the High Republic itself. It was a proxy representation by way of her official capacity and role as an Ambassador via the Kenari Resource Compact. It's majestic symbolism of peace and democracy glistened beneath the artificial lights of the gallery next to the curious and sinister red, spiral patterns of Vūm as well as the yellow eye of the K.R.C. Sae had been sent here to observe and talk with the other invitees in accordance to the invitations sent to Naboo by Mahporeem.

In a way the Ettian was like the other Imperials here and in other ways she was not. Like any politician there were her own motives for being here as well. Having a relationship with the likes of Vūm had been useful in acquiring the role of Ambassador but the influence of that discreet hedge fund paled by comparison to the might of a fully established, functioning and rejuvenated Imperial remnant. What if Sae became a strong political voice and ally of Mahporeem as they attempted to engage Dominique Vexx and her High Chancellorship going forwards?

---

 

[R'ayne Asara]

viewing gallery

​

weapon: Draconic Scourge
outfit: X™
tag(s): Sae ... Victport Graras

The gallery had acquired another shadow, and I noticed it the moment the newly appointed High Commander, Victport Graras , entered beneath the vaulted arches. I watched him through the rim of my glass, studying the man with the quiet curiosity one reserves for weapons whose purpose has yet to be revealed.

Yet he was not the only familiar presence to draw my attention. The Lord of Hunger had arrived as well; a figure whose name had crawled through the darker corners of Imperial shadows and into the whispered recesses of my own mind. I had heard enough of those whispers to know that, beneath the titles and obscurity surrounding him, there might exist a valuable ally.

Then my gaze shifted again, settling upon Sae , who could have been nothing less than some representative, or spy, of the High Republic itself. The juxtaposition was almost amusing; old powers regenerating, new commanders, ancient hungers, and ghosts of a Republic that have endured more changes than one cared to count.

I finished my drink, lowered the glass, and turned toward Major Varhase. "A pleasure, Major. I shall finish hearing your exploits on Ruisito another time. Until then, have a good day."

I crossed the gallery toward Victport Graras, my footsteps whispering against the polished floor while the great windows beyond us stared into the abyss of the simulation. When I reached him, I offered the newly appointed High Commander a measured smile, the expression carrying neither submission nor challenge, but the faint courtesy owed between dangerous individuals.

"High Commander Graras," I said, inclining my head. "Allow me to introduce myself. R'ayne Asara, Minister of Science." My eyes remained upon his for a moment longer than etiquette required, quietly measuring the man beneath the rank.

"Congratulations on your appointment. I suspect the position will prove, how should I put it, considerably more interesting than the title suggests."​

 

[Augustus Tassar]

STATUS	Strike Force Lions of the New Order	Exploring - Moon 33/V "Tristram"​
IMPFOR	Lothar Braeyek Ash Cobalt Ronhar Tane Open	"Lion-Actual", Post II​
OPFOR	None

"Lion-Actual to all. Braeyek and armour, fire support. Keep your walkers behind my position. We advance slowly. Knight Companies Faerryr and Oraeius, take the flanks of the station. Company Vitellion in reserve. Cobalt, take point, vanguard on you. I will be directly behind you."

It was not a small operation. Hundreds of bodies dispersed as they started acting on their orders. Almost in its perfect center, was the figure of Augustus, tall, clad in golden armour with a red cloak, he stood like a warrior-god with blue lenses of his helmet giving him a cold appearance. The Lion's Talon stood upright next to him, he wielded the venerable weapon like a standard.

The man in front of was a mercenary, now offered to give some Scout Troopers commands and prove his worth. Literally. Augustus did not mind sellswords, nor what they were. As long as they honoured their contracts and brought the abilities they advertised, he welcomed them amidst his ranks. Nevertheless, he did not build a foundation on their presence.

"Lion-Actual for Cobalt Vanguard, keep close, keep sharp. Report any lifeform. Arms free, but watch what you shoot."

He did not particularly care about casualties among spacers or runaways, but it was not necessary to cause more stir than necessary, plus a shot might also trigger more shots and he did not want a panic.

They started advancing, Stormtroopers of the 181st Legion were with him, for this operation, Augustus deemed it prudent to predominantly make use of Imperial assets, rather than his own and by extension, of the Hegemony. The new Imperial realm had to prove itself.

"Lion-Actual for Braeyek. [...] You need a proper callsign. Walkers behind the main line. Spread out, evenly. Fire only on command and confirmed targets. Minimal destruction of infrastructure. Copy."

The outpost ahead was dead and dark, neither power nor life forms were showing up anywhere. There were food stands with freshly prepared ingredients, coals which were still hot, now having grilled the meat to a crisp brick. Objects lay here and there, a cane, glasses, a coat, a suitcase. Objects people carried in their every day lives just laying about.

Stormtroopers moved, their blasters pointing calmly around, lights on their helmets turned on to give some illumination, though this only added to the eerie atmosphere of the place.

The Grand Marshal and Lord Imperatant carried his weapon with both hands, ready to be fired and to be swung. He was honest with himself, he did not know what has happened here that so completely could empty the place in such short time. But it was concerning, highly alarming. Towering more than a head and usually more than a feet or two above most of the troopers around, his presence anchored the soldiers, he felt their nervousness increasing with every step they took further into Tristram.

 

[Jessica Bowers]

OBJECTIVE III: THAT'S...A LOT OF MOONS
[PvP, PvE,]
​

Spoiler

Iego. A world said to inhibit both angels and demons. To anyone religious among their ranks, it must have felt like they were about to go through both heaven and hell. Preferably ending up in the first of the two. Jessica considered herself to be an atheist, though. She did what she were supposed to do in accordance with the protocol, and would go out of her way to keep her teammates from leaving this life for the next, whatever the hell they believed in. That she had honored ever since she graduated the police academy on Coruscant, transitioning to a civilian rescue operative and eventually finding herself in full beskar-flavored Corellian Bloodsteel armor. Months of training had made it easier to get accustomed to the fully-integrated helmet to name one thing, even though she had some help from using the Coruscant Police Departments riot gear before and already being accustomed to full space suits ad work in zero gravity, it was an experience of its own to have everything artificially projected before her.

The eight operatives out of Inferno Squadron had been briefed of the upcoming mission. Now, they were gearing up and checking their weapons in the locker rooms aboard one of the carriers that was quickly bringing them to their drop point. Jessica attached the last strap tying her crimson red armor together. As soon as she would put the helmet on, the only thing distiguishing her from one of her male counterparts was a slightly thinner waist and the... well, obviously custom made chestplate. Afterwards, they were equals in every sense of the word. They were soldiers. A part of a team. One unit. Then, nothing else mattered except the unit and the mission. The alarm sounded that they were supposed to board the landing craft, and Jessica secured the helmet and gathered her gear for the docking bay where they would launch from. This was something entirely different than catching criminals on Coruscant, or fetching survivors from a stranded space craft. But she felt ready for it, and something with the thrill were reminicent from the police work.

The group of identically clad - except for rank insignias - Inferno Squad operatives disembarked the landing craft just after the AT-AAWs. Sensors at high alert from the second they stepped onto 33/V ''Tristram''. Little intel had been provided, so they would have to take height for anything. Not exactly the best of conditions, but they would have to do.

"Braeyek to Lion-Actual." Augustus Tassar Augustus Tassar

A pause.

"Area's quiet. No visible signs of combat or forced evacuation from this distance. I'm moving in with the walkers and keeping the sensors running."

They picked up the transmission on the intercom and and divided themselves four by four on each side of the walkers, keeping sensors and muzzles on the flanks. They activated the No-Show Sensors Scramblers, and due to their drawbacks relied more on their short and natural visual and audial senses. Behind every boulder, rock and ridge the enemy could await them. It was in the Inferno Squadrons genes to operate in smaller groups, far away from any large deployments.

Tags: Augustus Tassar , Lothar Braeyek , Ash Cobalt

​

 

[Ash Cobalt]

Tags: Augustus Tassar Lothar Braeyek Jessica Bowers

​

Cobalt, take point, vanguard on you. I will be directly behind you.

It didn't take too much longer for the orders to come in.

It seemed he'd be scouting ahead on this one. Rather than be put off by the increased risk, Cobalt simply responded "Acknowledged. Moving now."

This was what he was here for, after all. Poke his head in before the rest, see how karked the whole place was, and let the troopers hose down anything that didn't need to be there.

Simple.

Except for all the times it hadn't been.

Probably best to be quick and quiet on this one. He was faster, more agile, and probably a good bit more resilient than the average trooper, but he was no soldier. His armaments and gear were lightweight, made for ease of transportation over power or protection, so he had no intention of getting drawn into a protracted fight. If trouble reared its head, Cobalt intended to break records reuniting with the main contingent.

Such were his thoughts as he screwed a suppressor into place onto the threaded barrel of his compact slugthrower.

So far, it was a ghost town. No signs of a struggle, either. He peered into one or two dwellings as he moved through the empty corpse of this once-thriving little population center, and the evidence wasn't pretty. Food still moldered on tables. Holodisplays still crackled with life, running news broadcasts. It was like the entire town had collectively vanished.

A prickle of superstitious fear ran along Cobalt's spine. Many of his people were highly spiritual, and highly wary of the unexplained and unexplainable. Out here, where the light of civilization was dim indeed, they were right to be. Terrors aplenty lurked in the older, less patrolled parts of space.

He'd seen things like this before, knew what kind of attention they tended to attract.

"Nothing so far." He reported back to Tassar. "Everything's perfectly in order, except for all the uh, people. No blood, no blaster burns, no nothin'. Not even a rat in sight."

Cobalt scurried further ahead with the nervous, uncanny energy common to his species. Typical humans would have to sprint for their lives to keep up, but for him, it was a brisk trot.

Row after row of empty dwellings stared accusingly at him, like the skulls of long-forgotten giants. He hastened his pace. Before long, he could no longer hear the noise of the Imperial advance.

Unnerving as the silence was, it didn't last long. The rad-counter at his side began to click ominously. Cobalt removed it and held it up, studying the dusty, dated device with rapt attention.

"Read anomalous radiation." He reported. "Moving to investigate."

Cobalt deftly vaulted a half-collapsed fence, peering cautiously towards the source.

A small but brightly-glowing fissure was open, carved through the streets as though it had every right to be there. The scavenger lifted his weapon, approaching slowly and carefully.

He didn't dare get too close, of course, but from what he could see, there was no visible bottom. Past a point, the sheer heat emitted made it uncomfortable to approach further even had he been willing.

"It's some kind of..." he paused. Radio etiquette was not his strong suit, but he was a scrapper, not a Stormtrooper. "Kark, I dunno what you'd call it. A hole? Pit? Seems to be emitting heat and radiation, though. I don't think it being here is a coincidence."