Invasion Blood Debt | Mandalorian Enclave invasion of Eternal Empire-held Panatha

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Location: Shrine of Darth Vornskr II
Enemies: Mandalorian Enclave, Andras Garon Eternal Empire, all who stand in her way.
Equipment:

Spoiler

Armour, Spear, Zaudraka, Firearm.

Force-breaker grenades were instantly familiar to many a Sith, particularly those who had engaged actively in the various wars of the previous decades. Joycelyn knew them well, and so did her most trusted attendants. The two who stood by her: One clad in purple and one clad in red, sprang forward to the edge of the high dais on which the once Sith Empress had performed her act of sorcerous sacrifice. The noxious gas of the mandalorian grenades did spread into the room, affecting many of its inhabitants, but then suddenly seized as if meeting a sheer wall before reaching the bottom of the stairs.

The dark smoke welled up against the wall like waves upon a dark ocean lapping against an invisible shore. The bubble then moved, pushing back towards the door from whence it had come. Joycelyn herself approached the edge, observing the assault of the Mandalorians as if she was watching a game. The phrik of her sabatons gave an audible click with each step as they cut through the dark smoke still welling out of the burning sacrifices. The silver pike under her arm gleaned in the crimson firelight.

Slugs ripped through the invisible barrier and tore through the purple attendant, causing him to fall over and clutch his chest. But the red one redoubled their focus on pushing some of the gas back against the Mandalorians with a gust of summoned widn. The black smoke surged with the wind, pulled along like a sudden river of darkness that cut through the grey smoke of force suppressant. There would be some affected by the gas, but others were spared.

Darth Vornskr replied to the Mandalorian's bid as she stepped down from the top of the dais, drifting down the long stairs in a steady stride.

"Yet, I have not heard of you." "Who am I about to kill?"

Joycelyn's voice was dripping with disdain, but there was also a layer of curiosity. Behind the faceshield of her black plate armour, she was watching him and his troops with great interest. Her attention radiated down like a floodlight.

The pike remained inactive in her hand, but the weapon was well known. She had carried it into battle many a time, yet there were few stories of her prowess with it. The sword she had used to sacrifice the bound men, however, was infamous; Zaudraka was a sword sworn to Vahl and dedicated to the extinction of the Jedi Order. Even so, it did not mind shedding blood elsewhere. It was a cruel blade.

"Perhaps I will add a new clan to my collection."

Under the cover of the smoke, dark things soon turned and twisted. The dead and dying who tasted the smoke felt themselves beginning to change; a perversion of life and the Living Force coming to be and awaiting the word that would finish the spell.

 

[Kuben Woods]

Location: En-route to power generator
Equipment: Jackal ACR, Sk-RS Mk. IV, backup DXR-6, four fragmentation grenades, four flash bangs, lightsaber (concealed)
Mission: Stand by for Orders
Allies: Lyssa Io , Alessandra Io , QEMD-15 Echo , @Tovald Kahmen''a , Baron Reinhardt Ström , Eleena Salwa ,
Enemies: Kranak Vizsla , Sergeant Omen , Thonn Rokkal , Gwyneira Vizsla , Domina Prime , Runi Kuryida , T.E.X. , Open

Spoiler: THEME

Damian watched the tank roll over the side of the crumbling wall as it assaulted into the courtyard. The fighting was picking up, and they needed to get inside. With reinforcements now bolstering his platoon, he had little doubt they'd retake the courtyard. For now they needed to get inside and stop the enemy for as long as they could, buy their comrades time to finish the enemy outside and get into the building. As they climbed over the side of a gap in the wall, Damian spotted a side door to the facility, one probably used as an emergency exit. He raised a fist to his team and then threw a knife hand at the door. They were to breach there and not a word was uttered in response as they rushed forward. Sounds of battle were picking up, and as two of the men pulled security, Damian and another reached into the Ultra's breacher kit. Pulling out two crowbars they would wedge them into the door frame, working quickly to generate space as they bent the door and frame apart with sheer leverage. With that done, Damian jammed his crowbar in finally to catch on the inside of the door and pulled hard. The simple mechanism would struggle briefly to hold the door in before finally giving and the door swung open. He slowed his breathing down as he returned the crowbar to the kit, and then waved his men into the hallway counting them as they passed. One, Two, Three, Four.... on and on until he finally reached Nine. He then subconsciously pointed to himself counting ten as he pulled the now useless door shut behind them. The men formed into a double column in the hallway as Damian walked between them before taking point. He would pat his chest softly to signal to the rest of the squad to ready, before doing a slow wave forward. The double column would now move as a unit, keeping security up in all directions as they pressed forward. What it would look like was an elongated diamond formation, three on each end, with doubles spacing between the trios. Damian kept his rifle high as he pressed forward, they had to find the enemy and take the fight to them. The voice was grinning wickedly in his mind as it watched him, measuring his every heart beat, every breath. It could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins. The rush as his body dumped a natural concoction of pheromones and endorphins as it prepared for combat. Every muscle, every nerve on high alert as it searched for threats prepared to respond. It looked for the fight. Damian could feel the small beads of sweat go down the side of his face, taste the salt on his lips. He couldn't hear anything yet, but he knew that the Mandalorians wouldn't waste any time in letting anyone know exactly where they were.

MEANWHILE OUTSIDE​

The forces of Spartan Platoon were closing the gap on the enemy positions. They fought for every inch as they pressed the attack. As the Mandalorians would start trying to pin fireteams, they would find their positions being targeted by other teams. Non-comms would press their men forward as they pushed the assault ever forwards. What might catch the Mandos off guard however, was when the first sniper would finally claim the life of an Ultra Sergeant, was the response from the squad he was commanding. Without a slightest hint of hesitation, another would step up and take over command of the squad. This was due in part to Ultras being practitioners of a life time of true war. Non-commissioned and commissioned officers were always big targets on the battlefield, so each Ultra had to be trained to not only understand his job two levels higher than himself, but also be trained to fight at two levels lower. From the lowest of soldiers you could find a squad leader in heartbeat. To falter in the field, was to die. And when the road to victory is paved with the blood and bodies of your friends and enemies, each soldier was expected to step up. They couldn't stop fighting, there would be no retreat. Their orders had been simple when they touched the ground.

Give no quarter. Accept no reprieve. Kill them all.

The radio operator would grab his lieutenant's sword as he stepped up and ran towards the platoon sergeant's position. He got maybe twenty feet before the basilisks would start their assault raking the column with their weapons fire and the one looking to looking to disable the lead tank by landing on its barrel. The man would see the situation, picking up his rifle and reaching for the grenade launcher. With a yell of defiance he would start pulling the trigger on the grenade launcher, firing 20mm micro grenades one after the other as he shot into the mechanical beast's torso. The smaller explosions would only be dwarfed by the much larger explosion from an Anti-Tank Rocket launcher from the platoon's weapon squad. As the radioman would look to its source, he would see the gunner wave him on as his assistant would reload. Nearby the heavy repeaters from the squad would lay down a suppressive hail of maser fire, the weapon's squad leader directing his two guns engaging the main point of the enemy defense. The radioman would simply turn about and go back to sprinting towards his platoon sergeant. He would fly past several fire teams that were set up in support by fires leading up to the main point where the breach was going to be.

"Danvers! Where the kark is the PL?!"

"Dead Sergeant! Sniper got him!" He said passing sword to the platoon sergeant.

"Karking Mando dogs! BUDDY! FIND THAT SNIPER AND BRING WHATEVER BUILDING HE'S HIDING IN DOWN AROUND HIS EARS!"

"AYE SERGEANT!"

"Danvers, what's the status on support assets?"

"Command fires sent us a fire mission, not tracking any more air assets on the way,"

"So it's by blood and steel then! Get the-"

The sharp whistle through the air however would interrupt the platoon sergeant as they looked forward at the gates. In less than a second before the whistles had started, three massive explosions would rock the ground as the airburst munitions detonated. This would be followed as two much brighter showers of phosphorus would detonate right behind them. The radioman would reach back and fumble with the hand mike on his pack before keying up to command again for a second.

"Command fires! Spartan 1 Romeo! SPLASH! I SAY AGAIN, SPLASH! BDA to-"

"Belay that Danvers! It's now or never!"

With that the platoon sergeant would stand and unsheathe the late lieutenant's sword, speaking into the platoon wide comms.

"SPARTANS! THE TIME HAS COME! FIX BAYONETS! FOR OUR FALLEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS! FOR THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE EMPIRE! MAY WE APPROACH THE AFTERLIFE, BE MEASURED AND FOUND NOT WANTING! SEIZE YOUR BIRTHRIGHT!"

"CHARGE!"​

As he'd spoken each rifleman in the platoon would immediately pull out their bayonets and fix them to their rifles, a few undoing latches on pistols or readying shotguns. And when the platoon sergeant spoke the fateful word, when he uttered the single phrase that would let loose the dogs of war, to drop the leash and let them do what they did best. As one they would rise and start firing their weapons madly at the line as they all rushed forward. And as one they would let their war cry howl through the air.

"FOR THE EMPIRE! HOORAH!"​

A mass of over twenty men would rush the line as the supporting infantry and tanks would follow them, either by setting up support by fires and covering them, or running alongside them. And at the front the platoon sergeant would lead, the officer's vibrosword shining brightly in the light of the battle, twinkling with light of blasters and rockets and absolute fiery hell. And as the tanks would slam into the gate, men would rush up the surrounding rubble piles. Ultranauts would die from shots from the beleaguered defenders. But they would not stop them. The weapons squad would hold its position as it continued to suppress the enemy position and fire anti-tank rockets at the basilisk war droids trying to smash them from the sky. Between the flak, the concentrated anti-air fire, and the rockets trying to get a clear shot on the attack now would exceptionally difficult, and a clean one impossible. The Ultranauts would dive forward into the jaws of death not without fear in their hearts, but despite it. They would attack not on the faith of their war gear, nor because of a belief of self, but because of each other. They would stand shoulder to shoulder knowing that death came for them at each moment of each day. Theirs was a life of sacrifice, a life of service to a greater cause. They would fight so that others would not. So that it was they who would stand here and face the Mandalorian aggressors and stop them, not their civilians. They would lay their one singular claim on life being the honor and glory for dying so their greater people would not know such evil.

And should the road to victory and peace be paved the bodies and blood of Ultranauts and the enemies of the Empire.

So be it.

 

[Sergeant Omen]

Omen paused as the Giant rebuked him and listened to orders. No this was not a time to go off doing speeches, it was time for action. <"Its kinda hard to focus on this battle when your friend has a daughter he hasn't told you about but I'll certainly do my damnest."> The Clone caught the bag of what was sure to be explosives. <"Don't worry, we will get this thing done faster than meeting a friends daughter. Oh wait..."> Before the Squad Leader could fight back against his retorts, Omen hurried after Thonn on their personal quest to save the day.

The Clone let Thonn have all the fun as he used some devices that he had "borrowed" from Aren to find the electricity source of the generators. The complex's walls were so thick that Omen didn't know the device's power would be able to penetrate them. It was better than searching in the dark though but from what was about to happen, he would rather be in the pitch black rather than see his opponent's sicking faces.

Omen felt a tingle on the back of his neck, like something was wrong... Something he couldn't place... <"Thonn, I think..."> It was then that the portals burst open and creatures so distorted that Omen could even describe what they were started to run out with only killing in mind. Weapons, even Thonn's rotary cannon might not be able to keep up with these things and Omen had to think on his feet before it became too late. Wait... That just might work... <"Cover your ears Vod!"> The Trooper then plugged in that same ear-splitting alarm that Aren had used to wake him up into his suit's speaker system. Cranking it up to the max setting, the ARC unleashed a sound so harmful that it made the ghouls quiver in as they tried to plug their ears. <"Thats right! Not music fans are you?!"> Omen started to shoot with his repeater, mowing every creature down to put them out of their misery.

<"We need to push on. The generators close!"> Omen pushed past the Witch's dead creations towards the source of electricity, only to glance around the corner and spy a company of House Soldiers marching forward, trying to hunt him and Thonn down. Yeah, that wasn't going to fly... Quickly getting out a couple of frag grenades and cooking them to the exact time he needed to. <"And Mereel's up. First throw of the night... Let's see if the rookie has it in ... Andddd..."> Omen quickly stepped out of the protection of the corner and bowled the grenades right into the chanting circle, causing the cackles to become oh sweet cries of agony. <"It's a strike!"> The Clone stepped past the bloody remains of the troops only to get ambushed by something else coming out of a newly created portal. Canting words that Omen could have a clue of understanding, the Witch bound him to the wall and held him in place. Unable to aim his weapon, the ARC could only hope Thonn was alert enough to save him from whatever horrible fate this amber-eyed witch had planned.

 

[Tyr Mereel]

Objective II: Defeat Foes
Location: Iron Mountains, Panatha
Equipment: Si'kahya Beskar'gam | Rekr Variant, Beskar Spear, ENCL-14 Patronage Precision Rifle, ENCL-12 Repentance Blaster Pistol
Writing With: Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
Allies: Open
Enemies: Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

Helping Eina to her feet he looked upon her and listened to her words, she talked of her people and how they gave eternal peace to those who passed on. How her people were bearers of those into the afterlife. It all seemed so surreal, but he knew her words to be true. The thought of an afterlife did little to soothe Tyr, for there was still much of life ahead of him.

"I thank you for your offer, but if my soul was to rest then every single thing I've fought for would have been for naught. But we still have much to do dear Valkyrja, for there are many still to pass on today that I wish to meet a restful peace. You and your family have your jobs cut out for you."

The snow continued to fall upon the pair as Tyr looked off the hill, the world coming back to him now like a fresh wind. The sounds of battle raged just inside of earshot of those who hid here from the warzone that had become of the planet. He knew that his mission there was done and that his duties now lie elsewhere.

Tyr turned towards Eina and let out a soft sigh, "The best I can do is aid those who have been wounded in the fighting for now until I get a better sense of what I shall do moving forward. Mayhap this whole business we have placed ourselves on is karked anyways... but that is a path I must continue on alone, I do not know what you plan to do now but I bet any hands that can aid those inside would be appreciated."

He sounded less like the warrior he had been mere minutes ago, he did not lose the sternness of his voice but it seemed softer in a way, the anger had faded to the bottom of his soul, he would forever hold the rage for all those he had lost but this wasn't the time to unleash the anger within.

Peace would come.​

 

[Runi Kuryida]

Kranak Vizsla 's response came after a particularly loud bang, which suggested the Alor'ad had a personal encounter with an explosion. Something the man unashamedly confirmed moments later. Well, the Manda had given the man gifts to survive in the face of such adversity, and so the mission continued. Runi was grateful for the Manda's protection of those that walked the field.

A while later, after inscribing the runes, Runi contemplated whether she should beat Sergeant Omen 's ass after the fight was over for removing his helmet on a battlefield, or accept his gratitude and merely strongly advise and remind that a Mandalorian should never remove their helmet where the enemy could see them. There hadn't been any enemies in the immediate area, but that didn't preclude one suddenly rounding a corner. For the time being, the Shaman accepted her vod was simply grateful that on top of everything else being blind wasn't hampering their ability to engage in battle.

With Omen darting off and quick as he'd come, the avian-helmed woman resumed her journey toward the gathering of Witches.

As for the 'debate' among the group, Kranak handled that swiftly and decisively as the commander should. Runi would save any spiritual lessons and guidance for another time. They had more than enough to discuss what should or shouldn't be done or said in battle between them, not during them.

When Alessandra Io found the inscribed runes and destroyed them, Runi's helm pivoted to the side, but the Shaman's steps did not falter. The tip of a wooden fighting stick touched the wall to her left and slid across the flat surface as she moved. Meanwhile, the wall opposite of the magic circle had new glyphs form that spelled out the message, In battle, one moves ever forward. Follow if you dare. An arrow pointed in the direction Runi had gone; in fact several arrows sprang up along the way if the HRD chose to follow them.

The tip of the stick lifted from the wall as the Shaman turned to face a door near the heart of the facility. Runi slowly knelt on one knee and cracked the wooden sticks against the floor. As she rose, the stick then struck one another while she chanted, "Mhi oyacyir at drashaar dral par Manda. Mhi narir va tarja Jupayr be katktas navilyr. Mhi crulr akaryu an ibac chaavla sa shebs be'striili cuun Jupayr at Manda. Mhi chaab va ca; va, Ca chaab mhi." «Spoken in Mando'a: We live to grow strong for the Manda. We do not seek the Path of least resistance. We brush aside all that bar our Path to the Manda. We fear not the night; nay, the Night fears us.»

A portal among many from Elsewhere appeared behind the Shaman. It stood from floor to ceiling; a churning, sickly swirl of energy from which emerged two massive hands that seemed to pull the bent over beast from the Depths. Their height was not made for these corridors, but then Runi did not need them for their ability to intimidate alone. The Shaman pointed at the door before them before she turned to face two Togrutan 'constructs' that had emerged nearby. ( Lyssa Io )

Thunder that could sunder entire worlds filled the air as the conjured creature's massive hand crashed into the door that separated Runi from the offensive coven. Its work was as a moon-sized gong being struck to herald the End of All Things. One slam after another it would shake the door free of its frame to reveal that which was sought for in this place.

Meanwhile, Runi faced her opponents. "Be'chaaj ti gar." «Spoken in Mando'a: Away with you.»

The creatures were fast, but they had the misfortune of facing an opponent that was far from slow. Many Mandalorians were hardly what one would call acrobatic, but a warrior did not neglect their reflexes in the pursuit of bulking up. Most did spend their time on improving their upper body strength in particular though; a natural necessity since long rifles, heavy repeaters, and even their very beskar'gam could put quite the strain on the physical body in drawn out engagements. Runi, however, didn't wield heavy ordinance. In fact, the Shaman didn't carry so much as a pistol. Just a woman and her sticks there to beat sense into Mandalorians, or relieve her enemies of the burdens of this life.

Runi was forced to dart from one side of the corridor to the next as the constructs came upon her. Her foot planted on a wall, and with a twist she launched herself to one side away from a swipe by their talons. They were a formidable opponent within arm's reach; one that kept the Shaman from making short work by getting inside their guard or easily landing a shot to the head.

One made the mistake of trying to sink their talons into the summoned beast, however. It paused its efforts with the door showing its brutal work, then swiped one trunk-sized limb at the pest to send it into a nearby wall. The gong resumed its sounding in the deep of the complex though the pitch changed as the door suffered under the blows.

An attempt to sweep the remaining one's leg was unsuccessful, and had the creature bend over to lash out in retaliation. Runi shoved herself back across the floor out of reach before she jumped back to her feet.

With a drawn out hiss of air, Runi lowered her center of gravity with both sticks held out to either side and the green flames of her helmet fixed on the Thing before them. The Shaman shot forth toward the stationary creature; it stood poised to strike and move to meet Runi's strikes. It would have done so admirably as well were that her aim. Instead, Runi slid between its legs, jumped to plant a foot on the Beast's leg, and then spin about to bring both sticks down atop the Construct's head.

Slowly, the Shaman rose from where she'd landed in a crouch. Her helmet remained lowered for a second as she admired the scratches in her breastplate from a final swipe by the horrific thing in their last moment.

Runi then turned to bear witness to whether the Beast had blown a hole straight into the hold where the Witches kept their council along or near the Generator. Now for a matter that needed dealt with... Unless Omen and Thonn already beat her to it.

Allies: Kranak Vizsla , Sergeant Omen , Gwyneira Vizsla , Thonn Rokkal , Domina Prime , T.E.X. , Morgan Keldau
Adversarial: Kuben Woods , Lyssa Io , Alessandra Io , QEMD-15 Echo , Baron Reinhardt Ström , Lilanna Kelamvor , Sophia Bergen

 

[Aximand Sicarus]

Spoiler: Important OOC Note - Please Read

Due to real life and other important obligations, Cypher Rage (AKA Race Tolsen) will be dropping off from this invasion. He was going to field a 15km fleet as part of the Eternal Empire’s total of 60km.

After securing agreement from Enclave staff, Eternal Empire staff has approved adding a total of 5km worth of ships to the three currently active fleet commanders within this invasion (Aximand, Malanves, Dasmi).

Additionally, with the departure of the CIS fleeters, the EE fleeters will add another 5k to their fleets, for a total of (3) 25k fleets to match the Enclave Coalition’s and Vandamaran fleets.

Spoiler: Fighter Deployment

(Deployed/Destroyed/Total)

• Lancer Fighter Squadrons: 24/0/49
• Haxor Interceptor Squadrons: 4/0/12
• Hornet Bomber Squadrons: 8/0/19

Spoiler: Battlegroup Stygian - 25k Total

• (1) Callides-class Heavy Carrier
  • ENS Retribution - Rear Admiral Sicarus (20th Heavy Assault Line Flagship - 4km)
    • Shields 73% | Armor 82% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (15/15) I-3A Lance Squadrons (180 Fighters)
    • (8/8) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (64 Bombers)
    • (7/7) INT-1A MK.I Haxor Interceptor Squadrons (56 Interceptors)
    • (5/5) Shuttlecraft (20 Shuttles)
    • (5/5) Gunships
• The ENS Crimson Empress (Osborn)
  • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons
• (2) Eternal Class Star Destroyer (20th & 56th Heavy Assault Line - 4km)
  • ENS Bastion
    • Shields 89% | Armor 93% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (3/3) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (2/2) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) INT-1A MK.I Haxor Interceptor Squadrons (8 Interceptors)
    • (2/2) Shuttlecraft (8 Shuttles)
  • ENS Vargur (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (3/3) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (2/2) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) INT-1A MK.I Haxor Interceptor Squadrons (8 Interceptors)
    • (2/2) Shuttlecraft (8 Shuttles)
• (3) Demeton-class Heavy Cruisers (20th & 56th Heavy Assault Line - 3km)
  • ENS Braccus
    • Shields 69% | Armor 81% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) INT-1A MK.I Haxor Interceptor Squadrons (8 Interceptors)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Oberon
    • Shields 73% | Armor 84% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) INT-1A MK.I Haxor Interceptor Squadrons (8 Interceptors)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Molloch (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) INT-1A MK.I Haxor Interceptor Squadrons (8 Interceptors)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
• (4) Vikaander -class Light Cruisers (31st Assault Line - 3km)
  • ENS Foray
    • Shields 92% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (1/1) I-3A Lance Squadrons (12 Fighters)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Cutlass
    • Shields 92% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (1/1) I-3A Lance Squadrons (12 Fighters)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Bogan
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (1/1) I-3A Lance Squadrons (12 Fighters)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Sigoula
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (1/1) I-3A Lance Squadrons (12 Fighters)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft (4 Shuttles)
• (4) Ashkelon-class Escort Frigates (20th Heavy Attack Line - 1.6km)
  • ENS Crucible
    • Shields 90% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft(4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Magnate
    • Shields 89% | Armor 96% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft(4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Palisade
    • Shields 92% | Armor 98% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft(4 Shuttles)
  • ENS Shield of Salvation
    • Shields 93% | Armor 99% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
    • (1/1) RX-4 Hornet Bomber Squadrons (8 Bombers)
    • (1/1) Shuttlecraft(4 Shuttles)
• (4) Coda Assault Frigates (20th & 56th Heavy Attack Line - 2km)
  • ENS Dreigo
    • Shields 86% | Armor 93% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
  • ENS Blood Knight (Player Owned Ship - Damage will be allocated by them)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
  • ENS Macabre (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
  • ENS Haske II (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
    • (2/2) I-3A Lance Squadrons (24 Fighters)
• (5) Retribution-class Heavy Missile Corvettes (20th & 56th Heavy Attack Line - 1km)
  • ENS Manticore
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Vulture
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Malice
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Fangorn
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Brolan
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
• (4) Disruptor Mk. III Corvettes (31st Assault Line - 0.4km)
  • ENS Haska
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Jotun
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Jicaoa (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Rehl (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
• (6) CR90 Mk. VIII Assault Corvettes (31st Assault Line - 0.6km)
  • ENS Vekt
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Y’varra
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Galatine II
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Iganic
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Bosun (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Concord (Osborn)
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
• (4) DP20 Mk VI Siege Corvettes (56st Heavy Attack Line (Osborn) - 0.4km)
  • ENS Mavan
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Maulus
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Prenom
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  • ENS Hestian
    • Shields 100% | Armor 100% | Power 100% | Subsystems 100%
  
  

Objective: III - Key Escort
Location: Panatha System, approaching blockade
Tags: Vemric Keldra Verin Oldo Malanves Lagrange Dasmi Lindervale Asaaj En Kelsani Aurelian Sigismund Romul Saxon

So the battle had commenced, and as expected - Aximand’s retort to Marshal Keldra’s initial message wasn’t met with anything other than a return volley. The ordnance used by the Coalition was what one would expect, save for the orbital autocannons. Their sheer power would be evident to the Admiral when the report came in. But from the shudder of the impact, Aximand almost didn’t need to wait to get an idea: ”Admiral, shields have dropped ten percent with that volley plus some bleedthrough to the armor paneling! We are currently holding steady just below 80%” Aximand knew well that had it not been for the Retribution’s dual-layered shielding system, the damage would have been a lot worse. The follow up volley from the rest of the Requiem would rake against the armor plating for the brief exposure period of the Retribution’s own shield systems compensating from the sheer power of the impact, along with the aforementioned Braccus and Oberon, who alongside the Dreigo suffered from the withering fire from the Requiem and the remainder of the Marshal’s fleet. Virtually all of the ships except the nimble corvettes of the formation would suffer from the volley at varying degrees, with some ships experiencing shield strain and minor hull damage, to more severe damage destabilizing systems throughout.

Based on the trajectory of the volley, it would seem some of the firepower would be directed into Battlegroup Endeavor as well, but Admiral Lagrange was equally as capable as Aximand if not moreso. Yet, the Rear Admiral would not waste any time pondering over the damage sustained - he trusted Lt. Commander Aierka to do her duty and see to what needed to be done. That said, he saw the need to adjust ”Maneuver the Retribution out of range of those cannons, but direct the rest of the fleet to continue their advance. Launch the second fighter & bomber group and deploy them against the main Vandamaran Line.”

He paused as he returned his attention to the Coalition lines: ”Keep up the pressure! I want their Escort Frigates and Flak Corvettes taken down post haste. Spare no quarter! All weapons live!” Although Aximand would have the head of any of his ship officers who would dare to spare any firepower on his last volley, his orders were clear nonetheless. The full might of Battlegroup Stygian’s firepower would unleash itself upon the Murkhana Frigates and Flak Corvettes who doggedly remained in formation. Despite the intention to cause the fleet to fall back, Aximand’s battle group remained on its trajectory, intent to wedge itself between the two Vandamaran battlefleets and push through, with Vemric’s fleet on Aximand’s far starboard side.

Normally, this would be a very bad proposition, but the Rear Admiral had an ace up his sleeve. With a nod, Lt. Aierka punched a button on her console, sending a signal to the ENS Crimson Empress to emerge from its cloaked position a short way behind the main group. Shortly thereafter, a reinforcement force of additional ships emerged from lightspeed alongside the Battlecruiser, in the form of (1) Eternal-class known as the ENS Vargur, a Demeton Cruiser from the 56th Heavy Attack Line known as the ENS Molloch, with two Coda frigates and a flotilla of DP20 Siege Corvettes, Disruptor Corvettes, and CR90’s flying as escort. Admiral Osborn stood aboard the command deck of the Empress’s flagship, his orders ringing crystal clear throughout the command deck: ”All starboard weapon systems are to target the Requiem, I want a targeting solution on those Orbital Autocannons and I want them disabled as quickly as possible. All port weapon systems are to focus on the Vandamaran flank, targeting the flanks of the Omnia Vicit and her escort ships. Instruct our escorts to focus fire on our targets.”

Within moments from the orders going out, all of the Crimson Empress’s armaments moved in concert with the rest of her contingent, namely the Eternal Class’s Ripple Cannons & Disruptor Batteries, the Demeton’s Mass Drivers and the Coda Class’s Shield Disruptors and Beta Starshot cannons designed to disrupt shield systems, and the DP20’s combined hypervelocity cannons. In all, with the combined might of Aximand’s fleet and even the diverted fire of Admiral Osborn’s, the impact of the volley would be imposing to behold.

To support the diverted fire tactic being adopted by Admiral Osborn, the skirmishing detachment of Vikaander Cruisers and corvettes met the vanguard force deployed before them, using their speed and massed fire to waylay the Velites-class frigates set before them with surprisingly forceful firepower, largely from the Macro Cannon batteries of the cruisers and massed turbolaser fire of the CR90’s. As the cacophony of interstellar firepower coalesced before them, Captain Praxxis stood next to his Admiral and said: ”Sir, do you think we need more firepower?”

A sheepish smile threatened to crack across the Captain’s lips. Aximand’s wolfish demeanor glowered back in return, but his response remained unsaid. The Captain already knew well what The Axe’s policy was - you could never have too much firepower..

Spoiler: Fleet Actions

• The Retribution weathers the volley of the Orbital Autocannons, taking moderate levels of damage, with its dual-layered shield array preventing a far worse situation. It turns to retreat beyond the range of the Orbital Cannons, breaking away and slowly shifting out of formation. The Demeton cruiser/Coda frigate screen weathers the storm of ancillary fire from the Requiem and some of its support vessels.
• The entire battleline has opened fire once again upon both Vemric and Verin’s picket ships, with firepower being added by the newly arrived Admiral Osborn and his contingent.
• Aximand’s flotilla continues moving to divide Aurelion’s two battlefleets, attempting to increase the wedge between the two formations.
• The second fighter & bomber formation has been launched, barrelling toward the Vandamaran Legion Fleet. They will arrive on my next turn unless another fighter force is dispatched to meet them.
• The skirmishing force comprised of Aximand’s CR90s, Disruptor Corvettes, and (2) Vikaander Cruisers is attacking the Vandamaran Vanguard force.
• The flotilla’s Ashkelon frigates continue with their flak bombardment to waylay any enemy voidcraft.
• Admiral Osborn’s firepower is being divided - with the starboard half targeting Vemric’s flagship specifically (even more specifically, the autocannons), and with the port half targeting the Vandamaran flagship and her escorts.

OOC note: I believe that is everything, but if i have missed something please let me know.

Spoiler: Edit Notes 11/24/2021 7:12AM Central US Time

• Added more damage to the Demeton Cruisers and two Vikaander Light Cruisers
• Launched the fighter swarms targetting the Vandamaran Fleet, comprised of 12 Lancer Squadrons, 4 Haxor Interceptor Squadrons, and 8 Bomber Squadrons.
• Adjusted positional errors - Aximand’s battlefleet is advancing to the gap between the two Vandamaran formations in lieu of wedging between Aurelian and Vemcric.

Spoiler: Edit Notes 11/24/2021 1:47PM Central US Time

• Spread out more damage across the fleet.

 

[Siv Krayt]

"I Like These Guys"

Spoiler: Equipment

Siv's 2nd Shield
M.I. Model 6 hybrid pistol
Siv's Beskad
ENCL-JR5 Striking Falcon Jetpack
MAA-001 HjCBg
MAA-004 HjFIP

Well, orders were orders, and sadly the chump who was now fast asleep at her feet was only enlisted. "Sorry, pal," was all she said before she unceremoniously shot the unconscious man before her a few times in the chest. Enemy helmet in hand she and her small gang of troops moved to link up with the main force as they moved on to the generator complex. She fiddled with it, even managing to patch its comm system into hers, but it didn't take her long to figure out they'd switch channels already. "Karabast, they already know we're getting into their comms. Someone else is gonna have to figure this out."

She passed the enemy helmet onto one of her comrades with a bit more know-how and joined the others, joining the wall of beskar that was fortifying them at the singular entrance to the complex, stood right next to Shai as she barked her new orders, and the roaring shout of the Sixteens. Siv would give a gentle laugh and nod, "I like these guys, Shai. I should work with you and these Sixteens of yours more," She'd chime with a smirk behind her visor.

Her beskad was already being drawn from its scabbard as Shai mentioned it, getting another laugh out of Siv. "You know it, it's ready to help some Eternal bastards on their way to eternity." She'd quip back, giving the weapon a flashy spin in her hand before flicking her shield into full deployment and getting it lined with the rest of the shield wall. She was more than glad to wet her blade today, and to do it as part of such a cohesive and well-organized unit? What a treat. On top of it all, the shield wall was being utilized just as Siv would have dreamed... defending a point via a very tight entrance. They could hold off a whole army if they wanted to. Hell, she hoped a whole army would come for them. They'd win.

"Let em, come."


ENCLAVE TAGS: Vulcan Krayt Eliz Krayt Alora Vizsla Shai Maji
BADDIE TAGS: Corin Autem

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

[Alessandra Io]

Location: En Route to Generators, Power Generator Complex, Canthar - Panatha
Objective: II - Not One Step Back
Allies: EE ( QEMD-15 Echo Ingrid L'lerim Kuben Woods Baron Reinhardt Ström ) │ HI ( Lyssa Io )
Enemies: ME ( The Operator Morgan Keldau Sasha Kryze Volo Dragr Obran Andras Garon Siv Dragr ) │ Sith ( Darth Carnifex Joycelyn Zambrano )
Direct Engagement: Kranak Vizsla Gwyneira Vizsla Thonn Rokkal Sergeant Omen Domina Prime Runi Kuryida

It was too close.

The sounds of fighting within the complex were growing ever closer to the generator with each second that she waited. As such, failing to sense the presence of the enemy Witch or Shaman in her midst, Alessandra quickly left the briefing room behind, leaving the now-destroyed glyph in her wake. Programmed as she was to fight Force-wielders, the Chaplain knew instinctively that this mysterious Forceful individual had decided not to answer her challenge, perhaps sensing her artificial nature and opting to avoid an entanglement with one such as her.

Coward.

Hovering through the halls at dazzling speeds via her repulsorlift organs, the HRD flew past the fallen bodies of Ultranauts, House Io Citizen-Soldiers, and Mandalorians, her engineered senses analyzing each without need to cease her progress towards the generator. In much the same way, she processed the glyphs inscribed on the wall, her language matrices deciphering their meaning and forming a message that very nearly made the HRD stop in surprise.

In battle, one moves ever forward. Follow if you dare.

Quaint, Alessandra thought. Perhaps following the mysterious Shaman’s advice or alternatively, walking directly into a trap, the Chaplain continued moving towards the generator. However, her progress was briefly stymied when she processed the signatures of more Mandalorians ahead. Pulling a sharp, sudden hover-turn into an adjacent room, Alessandra waited silently as the quintet of warriors approached, each failing to notice her presence on account of the stealth systems integrated into her bodysuit. Then, just as they moved past the room, the HRD emerged from the shadows with a sudden, banshee-like shriek, the organ in her throat generating a wide beam of intense, invisible sound that seemed to shake the walls within the area, saying nothing of the devastating effects it had on the group of Mandalorians.

The three closest to the HRD were subject to the brunt of the attack, their organs suddenly liquefied and bones shattered as they went down, perhaps not yet dead, but disabled to the point of being no longer capable of fighting. However, the other two, caught at the edges, were stunned, but not incapacitated. They responded to the sudden attack with the typical furor and honed discipline of a trained Mandalorian warrior, their slugthrowers suddenly barking out salvos of explosive projectiles that very nearly caught Alessandra off-guard, forcing the Nuetralizer to launch herself over the Mandalorians just before they could line up their sights on her center mass.

Just as she moved, one of the Mandalorians shouted a warning, his voice shifting into a pained scream as the Nuetralizer leveled her hands at him, electricity shooting forth from the organs contained within and engulfing both of the warriors in a deadly, galvanic surge that quickly boiled the men within their beskar suits.

But not before one managed to activate a plasma grenade, in a last, bitter act of defiance.

The ensuing explosion consumed much of the hall, throwing the Nuetralizer back as she made to fly herself out of the blast radius. Landing on the ground with a sharp thump, Alessandra floated back onto her feet with an eerie synthetic grace, but could immediately sense that her organic processors were slightly scrambled, suffering the Bio-Organic HRD-equivalent of a mild concussion.

Onto the next fight.

Soaring through the hallways with a silent quickness, the HRD made a beeline towards the generators, processing the presence of a pair of enemy signatures in the next hall as they closed in on the same location. Photoreceptors narrowed in lethal intent, Alessandra came up on the two Mandalorians from what was likely the rear, her bodysuit’s stealthy construction potentially masking her presence in the process. A little more than twelve meters away from both, the Nuetralizer hurled a single chakram at the rotary cannon-wielding Mandalorian ( Thonn Rokkal ), enhancing its speed and precision with one of her tractor/pressor organs, intending for the circular blade to cut through his neck in a single, decapitating strike. Then, immediately after her initial attack, she leveled her arm at the second Mandalorian ( Sergeant Omen ) to deliver a powerful galvanic discharge from the electricity-generating organ in her right hand, aiming to strike the soldier in the chest as he was pinned to the wall and possibly, boil him inside his armor.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Eversor Bodysuit
  • Gauntlets
    • FAE/MDW-01 Active Defense System - R
      • Pink Vapor Nano Missile
    • Hekler'Kok WMMW-01 - R/L
      • Shotgun (2) - 10 Gauge Explosive
    • LPD-42 ParticleJet Miniaturized Maser - L
  • Energy Shield
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Droid
    • IBIS Drone
• Eversor Rings
• House Io Citizen Energy Sword
• Mini-Drone Explosive (4)

 

[Andras Garon]

Location: Canthar, Panatha; Shrine of Darth Vornskr II
Allies: The Enclave
Enemies: Joycelyn Zambrano , Sith, Eternal Empire
Equipment: Neo Crusader Armor, Mando'ade Phase-Blade x2 , Blaster Rifle, Force Breaker Grenades​

---

It went as expected.

The ForceBreaker Grenades would prove effective in the short. Andras had not doubted that a Sith Lord the power of Darth Vornskr the Second would be able to insulate herself from them. Even if she had not been in the company of her Attendants and so many sycophants her armor was likely sealed to the point that toxins introduced from the outside would be ineffective.

The Black Smoke lining the floor like a malevolent haze would be of some concern as well. Even if didn't appear to affect him or his comrade now Andras wondered with dark magick was at work here.

He'd challenged her and raising the Phase-Blade defensively, the hum it gave off subtle and its glow playing off his armor Andras watched as Joycelyn Zambrano glided down the stairs from the dais where she'd been....

"Just a Mandalorian."

...he answered in the crackling metallic of his comms...

"My name is synonymous with my people today."

...then he charged her. Andras was not always one to wait for battle to commence, impatience could be a flaw of his on occasion. She was larger than him having at least several feet on him, probably weight as well and looking at her weapons it seemed likely she would have a reach advantage. Seeing all of this Andras it could be a boon to attack first and quickly.

As he came at her Andras would fire his armor integrated Slugthrower again, this time at the Attendant in Red. He'd empty his entire clip again hoping to cut the 'creature' down. Then he leapt when he was closer to her.

The Jump Servos in his armor activated then, lifting Andras into the air and to such a height that aided by his forward momentum he could leap up and over Darth Vornskr II while the Phase-Blade in his right hand flashed downwards in a swift stroke. As he leapt over her the Phase-Blade, swinging down meant to clip her over the left shoulder close to where the shoulder begins to transform into the neck. He knew his Phase-Blade couldn't penetrate such heavy armor directly but Andras was an experienced duelist, he knew the places where armor usually had gaps to promote mobility.

Jumping over her it would be Andras who came down closer to the top of the dais then, swinging around in the process to face her from a now higher elevation.

As for the Commando that had accompanied Andras inside. He would do his best bring the fight to the others inside the Shrine.

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Eina L’lerim-Vandiir, the First
Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic mascot and representative of the Ashlan Crusade
Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary; Liaison of the Fjölkyngi Smiðr Guild​

Objective II.: Help others, accompany the souls to the Nether
Location: Iron Mountains, Panatha
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (weapons) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m || Current appearance / form
Writing With: Tyr Mereel

[ Preliator ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Eina basically thought and looked at people, mortals, with faith and trust, so it never occurred to her that the man might be helping her with malicious intent. When she was already on her feet, she spread her wings and shook her hair to make the snow fall to the ground. The blizzard was still strong and the wind was blowing a lot. It was true that the cold didn't bother her, but too much snow could cause discomfort. The Valkyrja looked up at the sky, and the Eternal Empire and Mandalorian ships could be seen below and above the snow clouds. The fighting was still over their heads. In the end she smiled kindly at the man's words.

"The effect would not last forever, but I accept your answer, I apologize for the offer." she lowered her head for a moment.

As the man called her "dear Valkyrja," Eina blushed and her whole face turned red. No one back home gave her such a kind name, and here in Realspace it was only Geiseric who called her to dear, his dear. Now it could be obvious again that she does not live in this world and does not always understand human thinking and behaviour. And yes, she typically takes everything literally. Eina didn't know if the man thought that the same way Gei used to. The thought became even more confusing for her and she blushed even more.

"My mother, the Empress, is currently fighting Lord Carnifex in the capital. If you have come and attacked us because you believe that the Eternal Empire supports the Sith, you are wrong. They... we have been at war with them for some time." she said, trying to divert her thoughts.

She also looked down at the place below and into the air. Eina saw the Valkyrjas as they were upstairs or just on top of the buildings. They were not invisible to her even in their invisible state. As the man turned to her again and told her plan, the red-haired woman smiled kindly. Her blue eyes now showed happiness and gratitude, not grief and resignation.

"Thank you, champion!" she said with sincere gratitude. "I was looking for a way to take them to a safe place. As you can see, there is a fierce battle going on above our heads. I am worried that some of the ships will fall and crash into this area. And then a lot of people would die."

She said her concerns, which was actually a perfectly legitimate assumption. The Valkyrja wondered who might be the best at this, the best for help. Or who to contact, even though she didn’t know if they were here right now. After all, most Mandalorians did not want to fight their own people. Eina understood all this perfectly.

"There are many Manalorians who work for or help the Eternal Empire. The Clan Tal… they are mainly healers and doctors, Alor Taozi Fuyuan leads them. I don't know if she's here, but she and her clan could help rescue the wounded. I don't think they would be attacked by either side. What do you think?" she asked Tyr.

 

[Malanves Lagrange]

Spoiler: Fleet Composition

Capital Ships

1 x Instigator-class Star Destroyer
-ENS Audacious[SHIELDS HEAVILY DAMAGED. HULL WEAKENED]

5 x Demeton-class Heavy Cruiser
-ENS Hornet
-ENS Wasp
-ENS Furious
-ENS Leviathan
-ENS Ranger[DESTROYED]

3 x Tyrant-class Missile Cruiser
-ENS Illustrious[SHIELDS HEAVILY DAMAGED. HULL STRAINING]
-ENS Unbreakable
-ENS Eternal

4 x Gravis-class Heavy Cruiser
-ENS Venerable[SHIELDS DAMAGED]
-ENS Challenger[SHIELDS DAMAGED]
-ENS Gravestone[SHIELDS DAMAGED]
-ENS Terminus[SHIELDS DAMAGED]

Frigates

6 x Skirmisher I-class Frigate
-ENS Sunset
-ENS Dawn
-ENS Midnight[DESTROYED]
-ENS Gulveran
-ENS Yskiria
-ENS Olegrade[SHIELDS DAMAGED]

4 x Loth-Wolf-class Patrol Frigate
-ENS Gale
-ENS Blizzard
-ENS Cyclone
-ENS Tempest

2 x Ashkelon-class Escort Frigate
-ENS Whirlwind
-ENS Hailstorm

2 x CR90 Mk VIII Assault Corvette
-ENS Atallan[HEAVILY DAMAGED BY ENEMY FIRE]
-ENS Grivelle

5 x Retribution-class Heavy Missile Corvette
-ENS Forrest
-ENS Beniko
-ENS Delven
-ENS Shaw[SHIELDS DAMAGED]
-ENS Agride[SHIELDS DAMAGED]

​

[ENS Audacious - 13th Assault Line Flagship]

"Damocles batteries-- Two confirmed impacts!" The captain's announcement spurred Malanves into motion, drawing up a fresh set of data courtesy of the Audacious's scanners. "Target's shields are severely weakened. They won't be able to take another hit. Shall I inform the gun crews to fire again?"

"No. We'll switch targets." The rear admiral took a brief pause afterward. "How long until the batteries are ready to fire once more?"

"Thirty minutes, sir." Audacious's captain reported again, then was met by a nod from his superior.

Once more, the duty of weakening the enemy's lines fell in the hands of the flagship's turbolasers while the power-hungry Damocles cannons were left to cool down.

"Heavy incoming fire-- Brace for impacts!"

At the same moment Malanves' hands gripped the arms of his chair, the Audacious rumbled, and from deep within the bulkheads the rear admiral heard the anguished cry of its reactor. Sounds of missiles slamming into the shield bubble and boiling capacitors caught in the violent discharges became all too apparent when resonating through the hull. Two of the heaviest impacts finally threw him forward, with the rear admiral just barely managing to grip his command seat before his body could contact the floor.

"Divert power from the Damocles cannons to our shield generators! Call forth the Gravis cruisers to form a shield around us!" In a series of loud barks, Malanves called out over the sounds of chaos seeping into the bridge. "Get a lock on whatever ship's firing upon us and turn our flak guns and plasma cannons upon them!"

Cries of officers rang out through the Audacious's quaking corridors, ordering the eight vessel's quad plasma cannon turrets into sharp swiveling motions that led their lines of fire to converge on the UES Grande Deceptor. Then came new rumbles, this time from the star destroyer itself. Plasma rounds escaped the frames of the ENS Audacious and the four escort cruisers that had formed around it, at times colliding with the fire of the persisting Deceptor.

"Gravis cruisers are in position... They're absorbing most of the incoming fire."

"What's the Audacious's sit-rep?" Malanves asked, unaffected by the relatively refreshing news from his subordinate commodore.

"Shields at 50%. Seven casualties, primarily in engineering and around our gunnery decks. Moderate hull damage." Monidev consulted the console to her starboard. "Sir. Our other ships are reporting similar damage from the Enclave's blockade." The commodore took a frightful pause, blinking rapidly at the data rushing in from the line's sensors. "Orbital Autocannons are firing at the Retribution! Their courses are coming dangerously close to Ranger!"

"Order Ranger to begin evasive maneuvers now! Advise Admiral Sicarus to brace for impact!" Malanves' eyes scanned over to his own displays, watching the Plan Position Indicators intensely as Coalition fire slammed against the hulls and shields of his line with greater adamancy than before. The Eternal fleet had crossed the threshold, careened into an event horizon for which the forces of the Coalition would guarantee they never escaped. At their lead, ships from Malanves' own task force were pulled violently into the abyss.

For the crew of the Ranger, the warnings hadn't come swift enough to redirect the Demeton cruiser's course. Rounds from the hostile autocannons, aimed with intention to cripple the far more durable Retribution collided with the lighter vessel's targeting silhouette as well, and tore first through its shields, then its hull... cutting through the Ranger's reactor with the effort a knife cuts through bread. The vessel's armor, a flaking layer of crust, would only slow the plasma so much.

At the rear of the formation, the death of the Ranger coincided with scattered damage across the missile lines and their escorts. Illustrious, the lead missile cruiser, bore the brunt of the salvos. The support structures clinging to its engines cried against the strain of a desperate swerve, melding into a cacophony of anguish with the screams of its shields.

And with the screams of its crew.

---

{Tags: Aximand Sicarus , Aurelian Sigismund , Vemric Keldra , Dasmi Lindervale , and somebody else?

Spoiler: Fleet Actions

-Audacious is heavily damaged under fire by the UES Grande Deceptor. Shields are reduced to 50% before 4 Gravis cruisers can move in to shield it against the brunt of enemy fire.
-Audacious targets the Deceptor with its quad plasma cannons and redirects its flak guns.
-The heavy cruiser Ranger is destroyed when a salvo of autocannon rounds meant for the Retribution make contact with its primary reactor.
-Heavy damage throughout the fleet as enemy fire begins to approach in higher amounts

 

[Siv Dragr]

S I T H B A N E
T H E M E​

Objective: Eliminate High Value Targets
Allies: Obran | Volo Dragr
Enemies: Darth Carnifex | Ingrid L'lerim

Volo laid covering fire while Obran zeroed in on the Eternal Empress, leaving the dethroned Emperor of the Sith for Siv alone. His boot connected with the Sith's skull -- and although it didn't cave, it at least seemed to unfocus the Sith scum, even if only for a moment. But the Sith Lord had quick reflexes, and Siv felt fingers trying to wrap around his lower leg.

He instantly reversed the angle of velocity of his jetpack's propulsion, but the time needed to change his momentum was enough for the Sith Lord to get a firm grasp. With a strength belayed by the appearance of the man, Siv was slammed into the ground. Fortunately, his ablative inertial damper under his armor plating absorbed most of the kinetic shock, but it still was enough to knock the wind out of him. But the Sith Lord had erred, and now Siv was within close range.

In a fluid motion, Siv sheathed his blaster pistol, transferred his knife to his right hand, and leaping to his feet back-handed slashed at the throat of the Sith. The Mandalorian hunter quickly reversing his grip and came down for a strike at a percieved weak point in the shoulder plating, should his original cut not find purchase on the Sith's throat. He flexed his left arm at the same time, and beskar-plated vibrospines extended, tipped with Devaronian blood poison capable to sending excruciating pain. He would have to wait for an opening to be able to use if offensively, though. "You should have killed us all when you had the chance," he retorted back as he aimed a sweeping strike with his foot at the Sith Lord's ankles, before hitting with a one-two combination punch at the Sith's torso and head. "Because now we're back. And the Sith's days are numbered."

He narrowly ducked to avoid the throw of the Sith's sword, and made to counterattack when he saw the Sith prepare to pound the ground with what seemed to be a force shockwave. Siv's reflexes were, somehow, faster -- with a jetpack-assisted jump he avoided the rippling shockwave that shook the floor emanating from the epicenter of the Sith's body. Darth Carnifex then turned to lunge at the Empress, but Siv wasn't about to let him off that easily.

The Tarka'yayr electrowhip extended crackling from Siv's right vambrace. A flick of his wrist was all that he needed to send it arcing to curl around the fleeing Sith's torso or hand; once it connected, it would send a violent, continued pulse of electricity, and the beskar-cortosis filament would not be easy to cut through with blade or lightsaber. "I'm not done with you yet," Siv spat as he pulled on the whip to stop the Sith Lord's retreat.

 

[The Operator]

Ida Saxon|Enclave|Panatha
Tags: Sasha Kryze , open to opposition or other allies.

​

Ida might've mouthed shut the f*ck up to Sasha after the seatbelt comment, but instead, she'd rather devote her energy and anger to the situation at present. Choosing to preload an AP round into the loading bay of the tanks forward facing turret, waiting in tense anticipation of whatever else lay ahead. She'd rather be loaded and ready to catch the Eternals off guard if they deemed it wise to send another tank after them.

She turned around and tilted her head at Sasha, who seemed fazed by what had just happened. Ida knew killing wasn't an easy thing, but then it had all become so normalised to her life. She remembered the first time she saw men burn to death, and the lingering smell and smoke imprinted in her mind for years to come. The very same tanks that protected the crews became literal ovens when their tanks were hit, and the ammo within exploded.

"The smell is strange, isn't it? If I didn't know it was people cooking, I'd of thought it to be a BBQ."

Ida morbidly chuckled, knowing it likely unnerved Sasha a lot. Such humour got her through the army; it was the only way to distract from the constant trauma and carnage she saw daily.


"I wouldn't count your luck; gingers dropped half the dam army on this planet."

 

[Rath Nihro]

Objective: Search and Destroy
Gear: Empire’s Shadow | Nelvaanian Sword | Shroudsaber x2 | Shroudshoto | KC-95 Ace of Spades
Writing With: Jenn Kryze | Eliz Krayt

Beskar was truly a work of wonders that it begged to differ on how it’ll perform if anything made out of said Beskar was to be imbued by the Force? That would certainly be a terrifying thought, but it was definitely one Rath considered. Perhaps this was by the will of the Force? Was it finally giving him a nudge that he needed? If there was one thing Rath knew about this chaotic entity that has a twisted sense of humor. It would be the fact that it tends to turn something that seems good into a bad thing or a bad thing into a good one. Sort of like reverse psychology in a different form. At least that was what Rath both witnessed and dealt with in the past.

The Mandalorians were quick to recover as Rath figured they would. After all they don't become elite over nothing, and the fact that they're Mandalorians too? No one could really find a better warrior than them. Despite most not using the Force, they could still give both Jedi and Sith a run for their credits. That alone was impressive to which Rath gave them props and respect. It was through that respect to which Rath couldn’t half ass any attempt, and while he was protecting this establishment he couldn't afford to get carried away with his own powers.

The head of the trip voiced out that they've spotted movement, and Rath had to guess that they're using thermal senses as well. Given that they've seen him and knew his general direction. Really the only escape was through the west exit which led deeper along the mountains. However there was also a small cluster of mines warding off intruders of that entrance, and if they were to go off it could collapse that exit. But it could injure him too if he wasn't quick enough. Then he would be out in the open with little to no cover, which would have left him vulnerable to any attacks especially from a marksman.

This unfortunately led up to one conclusion. The only conclusion rather, and as Rath felt the heat wave pressing against him despite the jet of flame scorching the air and concrete. Hiding was no longer an option.

With Ace of Spades drawn, Rath leapt high and above the very building he sought cover with half a back flip. One hand was stretched out towards Brass before a bolt of electricity shot from the tips of his fingers with the intention to stun Brass. In the same motion Rath took his pistol to fire a bolt towards one of the trio to the north. Specifically towards their own blasters to disable them. Mind the recoil was very nasty with the blaster pistol as it was indeed a powerful small arm. However Rath used the recoil to swiftly twirl his body around to where he fired a second bolt to the other member of the trio’s blaster.

Of course this wasn’t before the two who had their blaster’s trained around the general location. They managed to fire about half a dozen bolts of thermal energy at Rath. Only two managed to strike against Rath, but they witnessed the thermal energy dissipated as flames licked around his armor. That was until Rath shot their own blasters from their hands.

Brass, ever the watchful one, managed to duck and roll away from the bolt of electricity. But with two loud bangs later Brass turned her attention up to find Rath had spun himself around again due to the recoil. Then a third bang echoed throughout the complex as a third bolt leapt from the barrel of his blaster pistol. This one came at Brass’s direction, which under normal circumstances would not warrant caution. However the bolt specifically struck the fuel tank of her flamethrower with a fiery explosion of rapid chain reaction.

The explosion reverberated throughout the mountain as a plume of fire and smoke rose above the complex. A shockwave had also erupted which threw Rath back due to being mid-air and such. The other two endured the shockwave and the kissing heat from the large fire that seemingly replaced Brass. They weren’t given time to recover and register as Rath leapt off the side of the storage building over great distance towards one of the remaining Mandalorians. With a longsword of phrik drawn, Rath made a powerful downward swing at the Mandalorian. Luckily the warrior managed to spin away from the strike with a trusty vibrodagger in hand. The Shadow tumbled forward as he slowed the built up momentum, but with a strong foot on the ground Rath leapt towards the Mandalorian once more to slash across the Mandalorian’s chest. Not so much in hope that his blade would somehow cut through Beskar, but rather a prompt. A taunt even. The blade skid harmlessly off the chestplate to which the Mandalorian reacted by thrusting his dagger at Rath’s ribs.

He barely blinked as Rath not only stepped back to create distance away from the dagger, but with one decisive slash of his sword. Suddenly the head of the Mandalorian began to separate from the rest of his body. Blood coated along the edge of his blade as the body began to fall. All Rath heard was the war cry of the only Mandalorian standing and was charging at Rath. Unleashing a rocket at Rath from his rocket launcher. Of course, The Shadow leapt away and tumbled from the initial explosion that took the corpse. However, the Mandalorian realized too late that Rath had another plan in mind as he threw his own sword with the tip aimed directly at the Mandalorian. Most would probably think Rath was a lunatic, but the sword flew straight as an arrow with far more velocity than it should’ve. The sword pierced straight through the neck, body glove and all.

With an unseen hand, the sword was pulled back from the dying man as he collapsed to the ground. Clutching at his throat as a pool began to form around him. The blood coated sword flew back to Rath’s expecting hand as he flicked the excessive blood away from his blade.

Surprisingly, Brass did manage to survive, and shouted words of bolster, honor, etc. Rath truthfully didn’t care as Brass was stepping out of the ring of fire as she wreathed in smoke with her armor scorched. Rath was certain she suffered burns underneath that armor. There appeared to have been a decent sized shrapnel that pierced her side, and yet she still remained strong through the pain and blood. His body became a blur as Rath focused his force energy into his own body. Which of course burned through a lot more energy than most of the other core force abilities. However Rath only used it briefly as he moved with incredible speed towards Brass. Who just as quickly began choking on her words as Rath in the midst of his momentary inhuman speed buried his sword into her neck before he coldly said.

”Your people coming here have only dug themselves an early grave. This is war, and in war there is no such thing as glory or honor. Just who lives, and who dies.” Then a sickening wet pop of bone and tearing of flesh. As Rath turned away from Brass, lacerated the rest of her neck on the way out, her head was nearly severed. Held only by a thin mass of flesh as her body collapsed as well. Rath felt himself sigh as he didn’t lose control of himself this time. It appeared as long as he focus on a precise point or on himself the Force would be fine. As to how much Rath doesn’t know, and frankly he would rather not test it that far.

 

[Obran]

F O R C E H U N T E R
Theme​

Objective: Eliminate High-Value Targets
Allies: Siv Dragr | Volo Dragr
Enemies: Darth Carnifex | Ingrid L'lerim

Spoiler: Equipment

• Sundering Magcharge Pistol
• Deathrattle Hard-Sound Carbine
• Miit'beviin - The Orator's Spear
• Suyar'gam - Poet's Armor
• Resa'car - The Shield of Light
• Hunter of the Manda - Obran's Cloak

Ingrid took most of the attack and did well to dodge or minimize it, and was right back up gunning for... Carnifex?

This took the Hunter aback, and he steadied to watch for a moment, brows furrowed under his helm in confusion. But only a moment. Legs took him up in a jetpack assisted leap as he fired just in the range of Carnifex with the flechette rifle with a cloud of projectiles, throwing his bones on a gamble as they say. If Ingrid would take that much punishment and still focus on the Dark Lord... Then there could be an advantage to this situation...And so he called out...

"You bring him down with us, you live. For the moment."

They were here to strike for Vengeance. They were here to pay back for the Ghost of Mandalore. The Eternal Empire had done nothing to directly attack the Enclave, or Mandalorians. If they would take the invasion and retribution and turn a new leaf? Then they could sue for peace and atonement for harboring them in the first place. As his descent came down, he gripped the spear in two hands and heaved, throwing for between the Dark Lord's legs to tangle him as a knife clicked out from his vambrace and he swung a haymaker at the back of the Dark Lord's head. Cased as he was in voidsteel, it shouldn't be detectable by the precognition and intellect of the despicable warrior who had slain his kith and kin.

"KINSLAYER! Ni cuyir ga'yusr be Gar'yaim! Ni ganar olaror par gar runi! Face me, bastard!"

Spoiler: Translation

I am the Ghost of the Iron Home! I have come for your soul!

 

[Eliz Krayt]

PANATHA | IRON MOUNTAINS MINING COMPLEX
ENCLAVE |ENCLAVE | SI'KAHYA | TEROCH SQUAD
Tiri Brass (Alor'ad) | Kal (Blade) | Naast (Destroyer) | Bavar (Calvary) | Senaar (Missile)
ALLIES: Enclave | Vulcan Krayt | Shai Maji | Siv Krayt | Open
ENEMIES: Eternal Empire | Sith | Confederates | Let's just kill everybody
ENGAGING: Rath Nihro
GEAR: In bio

There was an issue with the HUD. Had to be. Eliz stopped where he was, staring at the heartbeat sensors of the squad. They all had it, a simple way to tell if their allies were in trouble, dead, or dying. Bavar had flatlined. It had to be a glitch. He opened his mouth, about to ask the other two if they saw what he did when Naast followed after. Panic gripped his heart. He started to run, barreling forward a couple of steps. They needed to get there, to Brass.

Only, Kal stopped him. He stared up at them, gritting his teeth behind his helmet. Brass's signal flat lined next.

Senaar and Kal said nothing. Eliz turned his gaze between them. Why didn't they say anything? Anger welled up in him. He wanted to scream. But.. The grip Kal had on him gave him pause. They were trembling. Ahead he saw more movement. More rebels going through the mine they were in, trying to find enemies. Eternals. Mandos. Didn't matter to those Epicanthix.

But because of them, the trio couldn't move. They stayed where they were, waiting. Preparing. They knew what killed the other three. The darjetii. They'd handle that.. Thing. Soon.

The plan was simple. Eliz was the ace in the hole against Force users. Dead, he could hide where the other two couldn't. So hide he did. Eliz stayed in the shadows, pistol in hand. His fractal pattern kept him out of sight while Kal and Senaar took the lead. The pair of Mandalorians rushed in, guns at the ready. Though, they weren't here to find Rath. Not yet. They needed to confirm their losses first. Still, they kept on a swivel just in case the threat remained in the room.

One could never be too prepared.

 

[Thonn Rokkal]

Allies: Sergeant Omen Gwyneira Vizsla Kranak Vizsla Runi Kuryida Sasha Kryze Domina Prime
Enemy: Lyssa Io Alessandra Io Kuben Woods QEMD-15 Echo Baron Reinhardt Ström

---

Omen had arrived with him, and even had a solution in mind. He had some sort of circuit analyzer in hand that could detect the source. It didn't seem certain whether it would, but it didn't require the two to stop and any hint towards the direction of their objective would be great. Thonn sure didn't know where he was going, not that it stopped him.

Continuing down the hall, he soon approached another junction in their search for the generators. The sounds of combat could be heard, though muffled by distance. Thonn quickly but carefully cleared this intersections like he had the last one; sans blaster fire, since he didn't find anyone to shoot this time.

<"Thonn, I think...">

"Yeah?" He responded. Finally. He'd been hoping that device of Omen's would pick up something sooner or later; Thonn assumed it did and was the reason for his words. Thonn had just cleared the immediate area of potential enemy, and he didn't expect much misfortune in the immediate future.

"That reader pick anything up?"

He was very wrong about that assumption.

His risen vode had been a far more disturbing sight; but these... things Thonn saw when he turned around were far more threatening, and just as numerous. Despite the preparations he took otherwise, Thonn found himself caught off guard. Time was a precious resource, and lacking any better immediate plan Thonn hit the trigger and the barrels of his cannon began to spin with a menacing whir. A burst of blaster fire erupted from the barrels a moment after, but he was barely able to shoot one of the creatures down before another swiped at him. The strike missed, but served well enough to knock his cannon to the side and disrupt his aim; without blaster shots to keep the creatures back, Thonn soon found himself overwhelmed.

He fell backwards to the floor with his cannon to thes side, spun down and out of reach. He was unarmed and moments away from death. He still didn't quite know how he'd deal with the latter problem, but he he had an answer for the former. He'd be karked if he was going to die without a weapon in his hand.

With a deft motion of his hand, Thonn reached to his hip and drew his scattergun, both chambers already loaded. In an instant the weapon was pointed up, erupting twice in flashes of light that lit the hall and blasts that rang through it. He had two shots, and he used them both on this thing. He didn't know if he'd killed it; but he sure took the fight out of it for the moment.

But there were still plenty more, with intent just as malicious. Thonn didn't have a response, but Sergeant Omen did.

<"Cover your ears Vod!">

He had no idea what that response would be, but there was no questioning it or the urgency of Omen's call. Instead of reaching for his carbine, Thonn cut the sound fed to his ears through a switch on his helmet just as a creature was about to swipe. He could still hear the noise it made, although greatly muffled; the effect it had on the enemy was clear and Thonn watched them cease their attack and cover their ears. Seizing the oppertunity and his dropped rotary cannon, Thonn sprang back onto his feet and unleashed a long sweeping burst to take out as many as he could; something the Z-6 did with efficiently.

Thonn continued with Omen once all had been taken care of, placing two more shots in his scattergun as he did. Omen organized an impromptu ambush, and his thrown grenade had ended the fight before the enemy even knew there was one. Stepping through what remained of them, he could clearly see the last thing that went through their minds in their final moments: Shrapnel.

<"We need to push on. The generators close!">

They were making distance, and the news Omen spoke of was exatly what he hoped to hear. The portal that spawned was exactly what he'd rather not see, and from it a witch reached out to bind him to the wall. He had to do something, his cannon wouldn't be apt; it was far to heavy and awkward to aim at the witch, without also hitting Omen. His carbine was tucked away and would take too much time to draw, but his scattergun suffered the same problem as his rotary cannon in that it would likely strike Omen from this distance as well.

The problems of distance however, was something he could fix with a graceless, but desperate maneuver. With a quick burst from his jetpack, he soared towards his vod with the scattergun in hand as Alessandra Io levied a chakram towards him, steadily gaining distance on but not quite catching the Mandalorian with it yet. Once close enough, he unloaded both barrels as rapidly as he could at point blank range; crashing hard into the wall the next instant.

The chakram found purchase soon after, striking not his neck but slamming into his slung rotary cannon with a clang. It was snug between the barrels, and rendered the weapon completely unusable unitl it was removed; and that would take some effort. With the cannon out of commission and his scattergun spent, Thonn found himself using his last resort; tossing away the archaic slug thrower to pull out his carbine. He was unarmed again, and the sooner he could fix that, the better.

The situation's never good when one has to use their backup weapon.

 

[Domina Prime]

Location: Generator Facility
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Generator powersource OBJ
Secondary Objective: Subdue Advanced Droid
Equipment: None
Vode: Kranak Vizsla
Allies: Sergeant Omen | Thonn Rokkal | Runi Kuryida | Gwyneira Vizsla
Enemies: Alessandra Io | Kuben Woods | QEMD-15 Echo | Baron Reinhardt Ström
Engaging: Lyssa Io

​

'Stay back' they said...

Dima did not know why the words stung as badly as they did. After all, she was not supposed to be here and given how all this chaos was playing out it was only natural they'd respond as they did. There were mishaps in battle, things outside ones control yet despite all this Dima not feeling as one of the tribe was perhaps more damaging to the hive mind than any blade. Still, Dima hid herself away, that long scorpion-like tail of hers shifting and twisting about as those many eyes peered out towards Kranak Vizla as he called out to her from his position.

<”Stand up with your hands above your head, slowly! No sudden moves!”> ​

Dima's many eyes swirled about as the girls mind rattled in anxiety, feeling as if she had gotten in trouble the four armed creature slowly stepped out from the crate. Hands lifted awkwardly up to her head meanwhile her lower arms lingered at her chest as those clawed fingers twiddled and fiddled about nervously. Dima not fully understanding what it was her Vod was telling her exactly.

"I-is..." Her eyes scattered to everyone as her ears lowered and Dima shrunk with all their firearms pointed at her. "Is Dima in trouble? Should this one return home?" She mused nervously, her face twisting with a number of negative emotions when suddenly a voice rang out towards her.

"Hey Vod!"

The phrase made Dima's ears lift, all her eyes shifting to her side where what appeared to be a Mando approached the distressed Foundling. Dima's arms lowered from her head as they collapsed around her face in excitement as Dima's eyes swelled in delight. "Cousin?" Dima grinned, her focus completely pulled from the others who had shunned her as the young hive drifted slowly towards the friendlier Vod.

And within moments of Dima uttering the word a bolt of fire whooshed by Dima and struck the Vod in the chest. However, unlike beskar which would simply absorb most fire, the one in front of her simply split into what appeared to be liquid silver. The Droid suddenly showing some of its True form as the sudden display of violence towards kin caught the hive off guard as her face swelled in horror. "V-vod!??" She gasped, taking a step back in visible confusion when suddenly what Dima thought was an ally reacted with sheer hostility.

In all this chaos, Lyssa, still disguised as a Mandalorian had her chest blasted open by the bolts of Kranak Vizsla , gobs of silvery Nanites blasting out of her back as she resumed her own form, sprinting towards him at superhuman speeds as she fired with her blaster at him and Dima

Dima's eyes focused on this display as the impersonator shifted its form. The disguise having been effective Dima's luminescent blue glow shimmered and flicked with anger, crimson flooding her azure visual as those teeth chittered and that tail of hers rattled furiously. This thing had lied to Dima, convinced her they were Kin. Such a lie caused Dimas claws to shine with fury as suddenly those tendrils spilled from her back and SLAMMED into the facility floor angrily, shattering the floors as tears swelled in the mysterious lifeforms eyes. "No cousin of Dimas~" She hissed as those eyes all focused on the quickly moving droid.

It moved at superhuman speeds, shifting about and blasting its fire towards Kranak and the others. But in the end despite everything it was still just that.

Superhuman.

As if being human alone was some kind of blessing. Bags of poisoned blood and eroding, rotting meat. Dima watched them for so long and after all this time she had come to know only one thing.

She was not impressed.

Talons clenched the surface tightly and with a sudden blur of motion faster than the human eye could even track each tendril lashed out, gripping onto the nearest solid surface and yanking Dima through the air at speeds faster than most speeders. That natural-repulsor organ alleviating most the weight needing to be carried and drifting the spider along extremely quickly. And just as those bolts from the droid shot out Dima would rush to intercept, running alongside the droid by scuttling up extremely quickly one of those tendrils lifted up and aimed at the droid from above. Churning up enough energized silk the spider quickly began spitting net-like silk webs down towards the droid while another tendril, closer o the ground and following behind the droid would begin shining brightly before emitting a highly disruptive electromagnetic, radioactive light from her own natural biology. While it was designed to effect force sensitives the most, part of its electrical field could possible slow the droids composition of micro machines down to allow her to be caught int he spiders web.

Those tendrils swiftly drifted the talons along the floor as they changed their method of travel. No longer carrying Dima in an elevated position, after her attempt to 'subdue' the foe Dima would immediately pull herself down closer to the ground. Tendrils no longer acting as massive back legs but now mimicking the behavior of serpents and snakes. Slithering back and forth and granting Dima even higher speeds in the open, smooth Area as Dima prepared and waited to see how the machine would respond, it's many eyes glued to it as if analyzing the artificial creature with just as much efficiency.

And Dima could not wait to learn this droids methods inside and out~

​

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Location: Shrine of Darth Vornskr II
Enemies: Mandalorian Enclave, Eternal Empire, Andras Garon all who stand in her way.
Equipment:

Spoiler

Armour, Spear, Zaudraka, Firearm.

The Mandalorian's slugthrower was fired again, but the Red was quicker than the Purple, and managed to avoid the brunt of the slugs. The slugs ripped open the polished stone surfaces and smashed through the ornate glassteel image behind the grand Idol of Darth Vornskr. Where the slugs impacted, the window fractured in the pattern of spiderwebs that glinted in the flashing lights from the Battle for Canthar.

Joycelyn did not appear phased by the slugs passing her by. Whether she had faith in the skills of the Red or simply did not care if they died was up to interpretation.

"Then, like Mandalore, you will break."

He launched himself at her, and the giant instinctively braced her feet on the stairs.

His choice of target was wise, as there would be a gap for his phase blade to slip through from above should it land. However, Joycelyn had experience and the Force to aid her response. The silver shaft in her left hand flashed as she whipped it out in response to his first strike, knocking the blade off its course. Upon contact with the phase-blade, the songsteel shaft rang out in a clear, high pitched tune. With him taking the high ground, he came closer to her head and arms, evening some of the playing field.

This all reminded her of Kashyyyk, a feeling that fanned the flame in her gut.

With a swift half-turn, the Darth Vornskr flashed out with Zaudraka where she calculated Andras to land. The sithsword's keen tip moved like a scorpion's tail as she stabbed at his lower abdomen, where the armour often had a gap for movement. Following up with a twist of her hips and a turn of her heel, she brought the silver shaft down from above like a long club. While it might not punch through or break the beskar, the silver shaft packed immense concussive force.

A one-two combo, aimed high and low to stretch his defences.

The dark smoke crept further and further, spreading faster yet never seeming to thin or fade, certainly not while the sacrificial flame was still burning. It hugged the walls and posts, and climbed in the corners where the shadows clung most dearly. She whispered a single word:

Dradzia
Ḑ̷͔̲͇̱͔̼̜͍͙̊͒͜ͅr̵̢̪͖̫̝̰̝̒͋ä̸̧̢̨̛̞̦̼͔͔̣͖̭̖̗͊̍̓͘ͅd̶͔̦͎̠̯̩̺̣̰͈̈̿̋̄͌̅͒͆͋̂̚͠z̷̨̠̭̗͍̠͎̗̿̎̿̌̽͒͛̓̔̌̿͆͠i̶̲͇̦͔̹̞̼̤͉̳̯̋͑́̍͛̃͜a̴̺̼̯̪̞̰̩̦͖͒́̈̉̓̾̉͆̚
Rise​

A ripple passed through the smoke.​

 

[Kranak Vizsla]

G R A ‘ T U A
C U U N!

Location: Eternal Empire Space, Panatha, Streets of Canthar
Local Time: 23:12
Date: -DATA CORRUPTED-
Primary Objective: Knock Out Powersource Powering Canthar’s Defenses
Secondary Objective: Eliminate Eternal Empire HVT’s
Equipment: Loadout 1 + Goran’s Stand, No Medical Backpack. Crushgaunts Swapped With This.
Vode: Sergeant Omen | Thonn Rokkal | Gwyneira Vizsla | Runi Kuryida | Domina Prime | T.E.X.
Aruetiise Allies: N/A
Aruetiise (Hostiles): Kuben Woods | Alessandra Io | Baron Reinhardt Ström | QEMD-15 Echo
Directly Engaging: Lyssa Io

HOLD THE LINE!​

Receiving their Platoon Leader’s command, squads Three and Four revealed their positions on the rooftops and unleashed all fury upon the Imperial forces advancing towards the power generator complex, hitting them from the rear. In sudden flashes of lights, the jetpack missiles slammed into the enemy armor; clouds of dust whirled up around the tanks struck with the rocket propelled explosives, but the Imperial armor weathered the storm. Their sturdy armor had withstood against the rockets, even against the missiles hitting them from the side and the top, where the armor was usually the thinnest.

The same could not be said for the infantry using the tanks as cover in their advance towards the facility, however. The deafening blast had blown away some of the Ghost Ultranauts near the tanks. Those that survived the initial attack were then dispatched by the storm of blaster bolts raining down upon them from the rooftops. Ultranaut after ultranaut fell on the rubble and mud strewn street as their ambush went unopposed for a few moments.

But it would not be for long until their ambush went unanswered. After recovering from the initial shock of the brutality of the ambush, it did not take the Ghost Ultranauts to realize the Mandalorian threat on their rear on the rooftops. Several squads of soldiers had positioned themselves accordingly to lay down suppressing fire on the two squads.

<”Ah, crap!”> Vixen shouted in protest as she ducked behind the ferroconcrete parapet wall to take cover from the brutal suppressing fire. Blaster bolts ripped chunks of ferroconcrete off the parapet as some penetrated the walls, striking some of the Mandalorians taking cover.

<”Haar’chak! I’m hit!”> Trapper groaned in pain as he hit the deck. His right bicep burned in terrible pain, with the smell of his burned flesh wafting in the air. The warrior quickly reached for his IFAK and began applying self aid on his wound as energy bolts flew over head, cracking and whizzing past them. Vixen crawled away from the edge of the rooftop as the rubble and grit from the ferroconcrete parapet wall bounced off her armor and helmet. Their piece of cover was slowly but surely collapsing under the unrelenting suppressing fire of the Ultranauts!

They were effectively pinned down on the rooftops.

<”Hey! We got to reposition, and fast!”> Blades shouted amidst the deafening sounds of battle, shooting a glance over his right shoulder at his fellow squadmates on the rooftop before peeking over the parapet to return fire. The warrior ducked his head as soon as several bolts hit the edge of his cover. <”Osik!”>

<”Yeah no chit, vod!”> The whip-smart Charger sarcastically retorted at Blades as a blaster bolt whizzed past merely an inch from his helmet. In a flash, the young warrior crouched and ran away from the parapet wall. <”Damn we must have pissed them off badly!”> He said as he took a glance at the blaster bolts flying overhead.

The Fourth squad on the adjacent rooftop was not faring any better than them, but not for long.

<”Okay, listen up!”> Thinking quick on her feet, Vixen shouted over the two squad’s comlink after coming up with a game plan, adapting to the ever changing and increasingly difficult challenges of the battle. <”We fire and maneuver! Jump from rooftop to rooftop! Make ‘em think they’re engaging a larger force!”> The warrior shouted as she pushed herself off the ground and broke into a sprint towards the opposite direction from the incoming fire. She drew her pistols from her thigh holsters as she leaped off from the edge and activated her jetpack; it's thrusters howled to life as she flew westbound to pop out from an unexpected angle against the Ultranauts. The others were quick to follow, as they joined her a few seconds later.

Adapting to the situation, the squads Three and Four would dart from rooftop to rooftop and occasionally between buildings in an attempt to catch the Ultranauts by surprise, in hopes of finding and exploiting an unguarded flank to wreak havoc in their ranks and draw their attention from the complex and onto themselves to alleviate the pressure on their vode.

Noticing the enemy's heavy weapons teams setting up on the center and right flank as the squads took it to the skies, the Fourth Squad would attempt to neutralize the weapons’ crews with blaster fire and a few thermal detonators thrown at them from above.

Meanwhile, as Dax was in the midst of issuing the next set of orders for his platoon elements, the young platoon leader felt someone’s firm grasp on his helmet from his right. At an instant, his helmet was whipped off. Taken aback in confusion, the Mandalorian was denied to voice express his bafflement as his face was slammed on the ferroconcrete wall before him at an instant. Grimacing from the pain, he started to bleed from his nose.

”Listen, kriffer, I’m in charge here!”

Morgan’s retort was soon followed with another slam of his head against the wall. He let out a muffled pained groan, slumping to the ground beside his helmet after the last blow; his ears rang in pain as his surroundings blurred for a moment. He would recover from Morgan’s strike a few moments later and push himself off the ground and crouch behind his cover as he pinched the bridge of his nose for a few seconds to stop the bleeding.

He was a recent replacement for this platoon, not aware of the fact that his vod outranked him. But he was now quickly made aware in quite a Mandalorian fashion. He could already imagine the reprimand coming from Morgan and maybe even their Commanding Officer of the Company, the Shistavanen, when this was all over. If he could survive the ordeal.

Without a word raised in retort against Morgan, the young warrior grasped and slipped on his helmet and reached for his blaster rifle from the ground, and continued the fight. He wasn’t going to be petty about it and try to get back at Morgan in any way, shape or form. The thought of it did not cross his mind. Arguing in the middle of combat would have vode end up dead. Carefully peeking from his cover, the young Platoon Leader began returning fire against their adversaries, occasionally ducking into cover as the Ultranauts returned fire in kind.

Changing the power cell magazine of his rifle with a fresh one, the Mandalorian would take in the battle unfolding all around them and assess the situation swiftly, as Morgan barked orders over the platoon net amidst the strafing run of the Basilisks.

:: One shot, one kill! Save your ammo! ::

:: Howlers, new orders. I need three of y’all! One go around their rear! Drill a hole through their column if you have to! Howler Two and Three, grab hold of the tanks and fly them off! They ain’t a danger if they ain’t here! ::

The shriek of the laser cannons and missiles of the Basilisk gun run drowned out the intense blaster fire for a few seconds as they commenced their pass, leaving small to large smoking craters on the streets in their wake, where several Utranauts had once stood. Although the warriors operating the flying war machines were incredibly gifted and highly trained, a few of their passes were uncomfortably close to their position nonetheless. Morgan had declared ‘Broken Arrow’ in the command net, after all. Every close air support and fire missions were ‘danger close’ in their vicinity as a result.

<”HAAAHAHAAA! YEEEEAH!”> As several blaster bolts whizzed past him at a hair’s breadth with distinct snaps and cracks, Hock’s assistant machine gunner, Luzz, cheered at the sight of close air support from the Basilisk War Droids cutting down infantry. The CAS was certainly a relief to them. It would help alleviate the immense pressure on all of them.

<”Oh you beautiful babies, yeah!”> Hock rejoiced as several Ultranauts disappeared from his sight amidst a cloud of dust in a gory fashion from the gun run. Several warriors would join Hock, expressing their gratitude in the form of cheerful whistles and encouraging shouts for the pilots with each gun run and with each armored vehicle swooped up from the ground by the massive talons of the Basilisk War Droids, all the while responding in kind to the incoming enemy fire.

Adhering to Morgan’s orders, all men and women of the Sixteenth defending the compound against the onslaught of the Eternal Empire would start conserving ammo, as soon as he had given the order. The long winded salvos of blaster fire would leave its place to short, controlled bursts, with the riflemen shooting at what they can reliably hit; the machine gunners doing just the same, only firing in long salvos on a few occasions to halt the advance of squads approaching the compound from the center and the right flank.

In the meantime, just as Corr was about to send a missile aimed at the tank that had went up and over the berm of debris on the right flank, the Mandalorian would stop himself from doing so as his helmet’s heads-up display lit up with four friendlies descending on the tank and began hijacking it. <”Hoooly chit!”> The anti tank gunner let out a sigh of relief. If he hadn’t seen them last second and went through with pulling the launcher’s trigger, he would have been in a wooorld of pain right about now. Quickly, the Mandalorian switched targets from the hijacked tank to the lead tank in the street that he had engaged before. Much to his annoyance, the first missile had failed to knockout the hunk of steel out of action. The missile he was firing seemed to be not enough to punch right through its thick armor.

Instead of going for the armor plates of the tank again, he aimed the tube at one of its tracks and pulled the trigger as soon as his backblast was clear, hoping to immobilize the tank. He might have lacked the firepower to take out the tank outright, but immobilizing it and making it an easier target for the Basilisk War Droids to destroy it or swoop it up with their armored talons were their best bet in dealing with the heavily armored tanks, it seemed.

<”Hey look! They’re pulling back!”> one of the Paratroopers indicated. The infantry that had pushed into the right flank in coordination with the tank was starting to fall back under cover fire from their friendly elements. Unknown to them at the time, it was to get out of the way of the five round artillery barrage about to be unleashed upon the Mandalorians’ position.

As the young Platoon Leader continued to return fire in the form of single fire, his superior crouched down beside him behind cover.

:: We need to draw ‘em in. :: Morgan spoke to Dax as he crouched down behind the wall. :: Bunch ‘em up and draw ‘em in, let the Howlers take ‘em out quick and easy. I doubt this is all they got in store for us. :: Another explosion from a shell sent another Sixteen flying through the air in roaring pain. ::Check what reinforcements we got. And get us some ammo! :: He ordered Dax before peeking over the wall to fire at the approaching enemy.

Crouching behind cover after returning fire, Dax gave a curt nod of his head at Morgan. <”Roger! I’m on it!”> His voice sounding croaky thanks to his broken nose, the young Platoon Leader acknowledged his orders and began calling in for resupply and reinforcements from command, all the while forming a tactical retreat in his mind to lure their enemy into the courtyard that’d be a killzone.

<”Command, this is Acklay actual we’re taking a heavy beating over here at Objective Teroch! We need more boots on the ground and more ammo!”>

Realizing Dax was getting in touch with Command for a resupply, their combat medic shouted through his helmet annunciator as he dragged away a wounded warrior to safety while under fire. <”Hey I’m runnin’ low on plasma and bacta over here! Get me some of those as well!”> Phoenix shouted as he began treating his wounded comrade behind cover. The wounded paratrooper was peppered with shrapnel embedded in her flesh. Her chestplate protected her vital organs, but thanks to his medisensor, the medic could see she had several broken ribs from the overpressure resulting from a high explosive tank shell, rubbing against her lungs. Besides her, there were a few more injured Mandalorians unable to return to the fight due to their injuries at that time. Those that had received minimal injuries were healed on the spot by Phoenix, but those that were severely injured were in need of an evac.

<”We need medical supplies as well!”> Dax would quickly add as soon as Phoenix notified him that he was starting to run low on medical supplies to treat the wounded. A few seconds passed in silence from Dax. His face grimaced underneath his faceplate as he was told they could not receive reinforcements from command, but a supply drop was approved. The Platoon leader designated the drop zone for the supplies at the rear of the compound towards the north, also mentioning the Anti-Air batteries dotted around the city for the pilot providing the supply run to take into account.

<”Roger that, Command. Out!”> The Platoon Leader replied to the transmission from up the chain. There would be a hint of frustration in his voice. <”We’re not getting any reinforcements any time soon! Company’s either stretched too thin, or the units are not close enough to be diverted to assist us,”> He said as he peeked over his cover, shooting a short controlled burst at one of the Ultranauts dared to push up closer towards the courtyard. Three blaster bolts slammed into his chest, sending the soldier tumbling down on the ground on his back. The Platoon Leader crouched down behind cover shortly afterwards. <”Though at least they’re sending us ammo and medical supplies! E.T.A five minutes.”>

Hearing the sudden grumble over in the distance, Dax would turn his visor from Morgan’s and look towards the west; his ears pricked up at the sound. His eyes widened in dread, realizing the familiar sound of artillery fire. He could hear the faint whistle of the shells drawing nearer and louder as the artillery shells came closer as seconds passed. Sprinting out of cover towards the north, Dax repeatedly waved his left hand in a front and side, sweeping motion as he shouted. <”ENEMY’S GOT ARTY! DISPERSE, DISP-">

His words would be cut short as the remainder of his sentence would be drowned out by the three air-burst shells detonating in mid-air, showering the Mandalorians in shrapnel. Two white phosphorus shells followed right behind the air-burst shells, covering a hundred meter square area within the courtyard with a thick white blanket of white phosphorus.

After the short artillery barrage, the remaining Eternal Empire infantry charged towards the center, some in a bayonet charge under the support of their tanks towards the facility’s courtyard in a coordinated assault. The Mandalorian side of the frontline however, plunged into an eerie silence. Only the loud rumbles of the tanks’ engines, and the screams and cries of the wounded from both sides broke the silence.

Spoiler: Summary of Actions

• Squads Three and Four adapted to the overwhelming suppressing fire on their position, relocating rapidly from one rooftop to the other to keep the Ultranaut infantry guessing in terms of estimating their numbers, all the while attempting to alleviate the pressure on the Mandalorian defenders outside the compound.
• Squad Four noticed Ultranaut heavy weapons teams setting up a heavy repeater and mortars. They have engaged them with blaster fire and thermal dets, hoping to neutralize the Ultranauts manning the weapons.
• Seeing their missiles are not powerful enough to outright destroy the tanks, the anti-tank gunners have opted to try and immobilize the tanks by blowing up their tracks, in hopes of the Basilisk War Droids to pick off the stationary vehicles.
• The Platoon Leader calls in for reinforcements and resupply. Reinforcements unavailable at that time, but resupply is on the way.

Spoiler: Forces

• 2 Machine Gun Teams (2 Paratroopers per team)
• 2 Anti Tank Teams (2 Paratroopers per team)
• 9 Paratroopers
• 1 Platoon Leader
• 1 Platoon Medic

Casualties:

• 9 Wounded Mandalorians
• 5 Paratroopers Killed In Action

B R E A C H!​

The Si’kahya squad of six warriors walking the path of the Rekr, led by their Alor’ad had regrouped despite the foul demonic incursion of Sithspawns emerging from portals all around the facility, on top of the undetectable traps, the mercenaries and the Ultranaut defenders still holding out in the facility.

<”Go, go!”> Blasters shrieked as several Ultranauts fell to the ground on their backs in the spacious hallway as Adenn Squad made their advance towards the auxiliary power generator room to their front. <”Confirm kills.”> Hank ordered as he walked past the fallen soldiers in a brisk pace with the blaster rifle raised. The blasters of his fellow squadmates howled with each pull of the trigger as they confirmed their kills while following their Alor’ad’s lead.

<”Breach that door!”> The Alor’ad said as he gestured towards the door to their front with his left hand.

The Si'kahya assumed a breaching formation on either side of the sealed door, with Kath and Vortex watching the rear of the formation. <”Placing breach charge,”> Kom’rk said, their resident Demolitionist. The magnetic clamps of the breaching charge clicked and clattered on the door as Kom’rk prepared the charge. <”Clear!”> The Demolitionist shouted as he moved away to the right while the charge’s countdown ticked down.

The charge detonated with a deep boom and blasted open the door a moment after Kom’rk was out of the way. A flurry of blaster bolts poured out of the blasted door from the defenders hunkered down inside the auxiliary generator room.

Umber swiftly produced a Flash Grenade from her utility belt and threw it into the room after pressing on the red, plastoid trigger at the top of the grenade. A bright flash of light and a deafening loud boom followed soon after the grenade was thrown. Blinding and disorienting the defenders inside, the team executed the breach, pouring into the room and fanning out with the last man, Vortex, holding the entrance to the auxiliary generator to keep the squad’s back clear from hostiles.

<”The auxiliary generator’s dead ahead! Kom’rk, destroy it!”> The Alor’ad ordered while he helped mopping up the dazed Ultranauts alongside his squadmates. The pained groans and yelps of the soldiers echoed in the room as they cut them down.

<”On it, cover me!”> Kom’rk acknowledged. His primary hung on his chest plate as he let go of it and pulled his PLX-1 launcher from his back. The warrior rested the tube on his shoulder and aimed it towards the generator up ahead. After making sure his backblast was clear of any friendlies, he fired off the missile in the tube at the press of its trigger, hoping to destroy the auxiliary generator.

They would not be aware of the foul, hideous blood magic protecting the generator.

Spoiler: Summary of Actions

• Adenn Squad located the Auxiliary Power Generators deep in the facility.
• Adenn Squad executed a breaching maneuver and breached the generator room.
• The squad’s resident demolition expert attempted to destroy the Auxiliary Power Generator with a rocket launcher.

<"Its kinda hard to focus on this battle when your friend has a daughter he hasn't told you about but I'll certainly do my damnest."> The Clone caught the bag of what was sure to be explosives. <"Don't worry, we will get this thing done faster than meeting a friends daughter. Oh wait..."> Before the Squad Leader could fight back against his retorts, Omen hurried after Thonn on their personal quest to save the day.

The Fett Clone's sarcastic comment would not go unnoticed by the giant as blaster bolts struck and tore chunks of ferroconcrete from the column he used as cover. Turning off his annunciator with a pre-recorded movement of his eyes, the Alor'ad would open up a private channel between him and Omen. <"Hah, tell you what,"> The giant said as he leaned to his right and peeked from his cover to return fire. <"If we survive this ordeal --and I mean all of us-- I'll tell you all about it over a couple of beers,"> The intense blaster fire from both Kranak and his foe would resound into the transmission as he spoke. <"How's that?"> He proposed as he rounded the corner of the now battered pillar and countercharged his foe.

Much to Kranak’s surprise, the blaster bolts shot out from his Paranaor overpenetrated the hostile wearing Mandalorian beskar’gam, ripping silvery chunks of matter from her as the enemy contact began sprinting towards him at an incredible speed. <What in the kark are you?> The thing began changing form as she sprinted at him! Locking onto her, the Alor’ad’s MSTA in his helmet’s heads-up display analyzed the target swiftly, providing the giant the necessary data to lead his shot. His brows furrowed in response as he took a few steps back and raised his right arm towards his exceedingly fast opponent. Utilizing the data from his target assessor, the giant aimed the whipcord launcher installed on his right vambrace at her legs, and fired off the clingwire, hoping the wire would tangle around her shins and ankles to trip her face first onto the ground.

The giant would catch rapid movement at the corner of his eyes from the left in the meantime. His heads-up display indicated it was the odd creature from before. Dima. Her trajectory shown to him by his MSTA suggested she was rushing the hostile from her right flank at an equal or at a greater speed than the shapeshifting being that opposed the Alor’ad, in hopes of intercepting Lyssa, midway before the enemy could reach him. The giant would assume Dima as a friendly throughout the engagement until he would be proven otherwise.