Between the dawn and the dark of night (Black Imperium Intro/open)

[Tszao]

@Draich@Colap Ticon

Tszao Radulov touched down planetside along with a number of Helltroopers. He watched them rush down the ramp, arms crossed while he still sat in the bucket seat. He gave them a silent count of twenty before releasing the harness and standing. Let them deal with any local security, he thought, he had specific targets. Besides the usual considerable sum, half already in his account, there was killing to be done and that excited him.

In contrast to the Helltroopers' haste, Radulov casually made his way down whilst drawing his blasters. In the distance, he could hear the sounds of a gunfight. The security forces had been engaged, all to plan. He strode across the empty palazzo towards his part of the plan.

His boots clicked as he approached a side entrance of a grand dwelling down an alleyway. This particular door had nothing of the main entrance's granduer with it's gates and gold leaf. It was a servant's entrance, obviously, but he knew that from their informant inside. The Twi'lek female, for a surprisingly modest sum, had also told the six digit access code to this door.

6-0-2-9-6-1 he punched tapped in on the number pad. A moment later there was a short beep and a click. He smiled as he turned the handle and the door opened. Thankfully, he didn't have to brute force the lock, something he could do but would take precious moments. As he stepped inside he closed the door with a soft click behind him.

Some idiot could blunder in after him as he had had happen once. Since then, he closed the door behind him. He saw a shape move in the dimly lit corridor and raised a pistol.

"Who's there?" a female voice called out. "It's Darvish," he replied giving the false name he had provided. He lowered the blaster and holstered it.

"What's going on outside, Darvish?," the Twi'lek said as she stepped forward into better light "I heard blasters and shouting outside."

"Don't worry about that, probably just some local hoods and the cops," he said with a grin. She, Belia he thought, was a Rutian and quite attractive. "So, where is the family?," he asked. She thought he was here to steal art so she said "They're in the private dining room with their bodyguards. The paintings are where I said they'd be."

He smiled, pretending avarice and nodded. "Good, very good. Okay, lead the way."

As she turned, Tszao couldn't help but notice her very shapely rear end and sinuous walk. He wondered if the master of the house had enjoyed Belia. Probably, and probably against her wishes hence why she was willing to sell the family out. It was a shame he wouldn't get to enjoy her, thought Radulov, sliding a holdout pistol down his sleeve and into his right hand. She would've enjoyed it much more; he raised the pistol and pulled the trigger....

 

[RC 212]

Location: Above the City

The bombardment continued. As the defenders scrambled to reinforce their own posistions Colaps fleet was whittling them down with abandon. No doubt the other Royal houses had discovered their moves now and the element of surprise was lost. Still they were like sheep to the slaughter.

Blast after blast incinerated buildings and sent fire and smoke hazing across the city. Great pillars of noxious black rose into the skies like fingers of doom. The screech of TIE fighters and the roar of the fleets engines rocked the citizens to their core. Fear was rich in the air.

"Admiral, they're sending their fighters out now!"

"Excellent, launch all fighters, intercept them."

The screech of TIE fighters was joined by a thrum of heavy engines as the fleets Longhammer Heavy fighters pushed out in droves. A hundred fighters poured from their flanks, heavy missiles armed. The defence forces ran into their formations head on and the battle was joined. Pilot chased pilot in the deadly game of cat and mouse. Point defense cannons roared to life, spatting rounds into the tangled mass.

Fighters plunged to their dooms, contrails of emerald and crimson streaking the newborn day. Fireballs marking their departure from this galaxy.

"Shift fire to the airfield, wipe it out!"

The fire shifted now, ceasing to pound the city. Whilst Colaps orders took hold the bombardment came to a slow halt, trubolasers slowly swivelling to lock onto their new target.

 

[RC 212]

[member="Alisa Kalor"] [member="Draich"] [member="Tszao"] [member="Count Morcus"]

Location: Morellia, House Wrothgar

The compound was aflame and the skies were split with the din of battle. Titus took a deep breath and used the force to amplify his voice, that all troops may hear him.

"Halt! Set perimeter, prepare to assault!"

The massive sword swung high in the air, a smirk across his grizzled face. He was simply a man but these fools believed him a god. His careful planning was paying off now. Behind him the banner of his house flew proud in the winds, untouched by the battle. He slammed it down, sticking the haft of his herald into the ground and setting it firmly in place.

The Legions spread out, slowly surrounding the compound with the palace inside. Their black armor plates clacked and their boots rattled the ground. Weapons clicked as rounds were loaded and heavy missile team came forwards, preparing rocket launchers for the golden gates. Each Legate rode up and down the squadrons on their speeders, braking orders and overseeing the operation.

"All units in place my lord," A voice crackled in his ear.

Another voice came through now, his intel officer briefing him.

"We have two new developments Lord Titus. A Jedi by the looks of her on the South flank is attacking our forces. We also have an assassin inside the Palace."

"Legate Arcturus."

"Yes my Lord."

"Order Sixty additional Helltroopers to the south flank, send two of my Black Knights. Word has reached me of a Jedi dissenter. I want her alive."

"At once!"

The orders were relayed. In the chaos Two Black Knights and two squadrons slipped away, traversing the streets quickly to Alisa's location.

"Heavy weapons set."

"Destroy the gates!"

 

[Vexxtal]

Alisa breathed a sigh of relief, a victory having been achieved, however small, by wiping out the last of this Imperium squad. However, upon looking back at her own soldiers she realized that the victory had come at a great cost. Only two men remained, and even they were injured. Any hope that had existed moments ago was gone, as they realized resistance was futile. The squad they had just defeated was but a scratch on the war machine that now besieged the planet, and she had a feeling the worst was to come.

When the bombardment of the city ceased, Alisa did not feel any better. She knew that they were merely readying to fire on another target, there was no optimism in this battle. Nevertheless, the Jedi pushed forward alone, hoping to save as many lives as she could, even if she could not save the planet from whatever fate the Imperium brought. However she did not get far, as just ahead there came two groups of enemy soldiers, alongside two different looking people who seemed to be their leaders. However, she then saw them draw out swords. In her experience, anyone who was brave enough to use a blade, lightsaber or metal, in combat had to be some sort of force-user, and that didn't bode well for her.

One on one blade battles were easy for Alisa, as Makashi was well-suited to Lightsaber duels. However, the fact that their were two of these 'Knights', as well as the soldiers backing them up, meant Alisa stood absolutely no chance. She deactivated her lightsaber, holstering both it and her pistol, awaiting her death. The friendly soldiers behind her were killed with swift, accurate shots from the enemy, yet the Knights approached Alisa slowly, and no blaster fire came near her. She stood dead still, feeling scared inside yet not wanting to seem it. A moment later, one of the Knights was infront of her, and instead of raising his sword to strike her as she expected, he hit her across the head.

The resulting force sent her to the ground, knocked out cold...

[member="Colap Ticon"]

 

[RC 212]

[member="Alisa Kalor"]

Character: Black Knight Tyran

Location: Southern Flank

The Knight looked over the woman’s fallen body. She was out cold alright, but just in case he stepped back and nodded to his fellow warrior. They locked their gazes upon her and spoke ancient arcane words of a spell. The force thrummed through their bodies and slowly two mirror images appeared, black and liquid, like ghosts.

To the normal eye it would appear there were now four Knights.

Tyran knelt now, scooping up the woman in a massive metal gauntlet and slinging her over his black armor. The city continued to shake with the roar of battle and he desperately wished to join his brethren. Alas it would not be so this day. Today they had to watch the captive, however unfortunate that may be.

"Where will you take her?" The Helltrooper captain asked, an inqusitive tone in his voice.

Tyran rumbling reply sounded hoarse and grating from beneath his helmet.

"To the Citadel, return to the battle Captain, we have no need of you anymore. Inform Lord Titus his orders are complete."

The captain was obviously relieved and quickly turned motioning in circle to rally his troops, and disappeared.

"Come on lets move."

The two Knights trudged back in the direction of the Citadel, package secure over their shoulders. Their senes were sharp and eyes on the swivel, looking for any rebel forces that might attempt ambush.

 

[Tszao]

Tszao stood over his targets, blasters still in hand. He took a moment to survey his work whilst his weapons cooled down. Around the room lay the bodies of the former masters, servants and bodyguards. One of the guards had his head and right shoulder missing. He had made the mistake of leaning on the door where Radulov had placed breaching charges.

Slightly farther away, a Zeltron female had been impaled with a chunk of the door. Shock had set in and killed that one. Shrapnel had damaged everyone else to some degree. His blasters had done for the three other guards, the four servants and the family. He had saved the middle-aged Lady of the House for last. Her horror at watching the deaths of her husband and two children had been almost palpable. She lay with a smoking hole through her heart.

Through his earpiece he heard a call for an update. He replied by pressing the transmit button twice, two beeps to convey success. He holstered his pistols as the call came to return to The Citadel. Turning on his heel, he strode past priceless valuables. They held no interest for him. To be totally honest, the credits in his account weren't even all that important anymore....

 

[RC 212]

[member="Tszao"] [member="Alisa Kalor"] [member="Draich"]

The pounding continued. As the airfield crumbled away report flooded in from the battlezone and Colap drank it all in. He sifted through different holo screens moving data rapidly and reading as fast as his eyes could carry him. The battle overhead the Palace still raged, fighters mixed in a hail of missiles and lasers.

Stray rockets impacted buildings and shields of the fleet, dampening them a bit and raising carnage.

"New report, house Wrothgar leadership has fallen!"

"Excellent, continue the bombardment, get me reports on the other houses."

Now the iron was red hot and it was time to strike harder and faster. To accelerate the advancement of their plans. With one house fallen the others were sure to flee. Whether or not they did would determine the Imperiums next course of action...

 

[RC 212]

[member="Tszao"] [member="Alisa Kalor"] [member="Draich"]
Location: House Wrothgar

The word had spread quickly that the Wrothgar royal family had been killed. One of his Spectres had done their jobs well and the Emperor felt a wave of pleasure wash through him. With the guards under attack inside their own compound and the house in disarray their destruction was imminent.

"Fire!" Titus roared, pointing his massive sword towards the gates.

Twin rockets streaked in smashing their steel frames. Explosions blossomed like deadly lotus flowers of flame and smoke. Shrapnel sent high and wide added to the mix of crashing fighters and stray bolts. The House was surrounded so none could flee. The Legions were massed, Black Templar at the fore and eager for blood.

But the gate hung on, barely closed and badly damaged.

Seizing the moment Titus charged forwards imbuing his limbs with the will of the darkside and bringing his massive blade down upon the gates. The sound of clashing steel rent the air and the weight of his strike sent the twin doors sailing across the courtyards, flattening friend and foe alike.

"Take the palace, seize her riches, kill all that resist!"

The Legates roared orders behind him and through the Chaos the Black Templar and tidal wave of Helltropers charged the steps, destroying the remaining guards and blasting the doors to the royal halls wide open. They flooded in en masse, Titus following. As he moved his blade clove bone and flesh, eliminating the last of the guards as they fled inside...

 

[Taa Nul]

Meanwhile, in the Rebel capital, The conflict between Paecian and Rebel forces had erupted into a massive full scale battle for control of the city. Citizens screamed in terror as they were caught in the crossfire, as The Count's Stormtroopers mercilessly cut down all who resisted or got in their way. His personal Legion were known for such ruthless behavior, as all they were trained and conditioned to care for was fulfilling their objectives as quickly and efficiently as possibly, removing anything that got in their way.

The Rebel Noblemen desperately tried to rally their defenses, but fell in droves to the firepower of the massive Star Destroyer turbolasers firing down on their positions below. The city was eventually in flames as the battle raged on, bodies piling the streets. The Count wanted to send a message, one that would prevent any future rebellions due to fear of the consequences. Morellia's people would soon learn to fear the Black Imperium and it's Paecian allies.

[member="Emperor Titus"]
[member="Colap Ticon"]

 

[Draich]

Wood splintered up Draichs boot heel as he kicked in the next door. The six occupants of the room jumped while returning fire on their enemy. Draich had caught them off guard, and lobbed a thermal detanator inside before anyone had time to even register the breach.

Draich fought the forward momment of the kick and pulled himself back behind cover momments before the detination. Draich winced hard from the concussive blast, his ears rung. It felt like someone had just hit him in the gut with a sledgehammer. He gasped for air and sputtered, bringing the buttstock of his carbine to his shoulder.

He entered the room clearing the corners rapidly, putting two rounds in a soldier who was busy dying. One more struggled to his feet, reeling from the explosive. Draich granted him mercy as well. A quick death. As clean as he could have given him.

The building was secure, thirteen enemy combatants killed in total. A squad plus. Poor bastards hadnt seen it coming and Draichs active cammo had helped add to the confusion. You couldnt kill what you couldnt see.

"Colap, this is Vandal." Draich opened the commlink to his employer. "We got a sizable breach for follow on forces. Update frontline trace. Two hundred meter buffer zone established around initial DZ. Fighting is dying down here. Advise follow on missions."