Blood in the Snow [TSE Dominion of Rhen Var Hex]

[Darth Carnifex]

The Battle for Rhen Var​

​

It had been months since the Silver Jedi Order had retreated from the Sith Empire's closed fist, their failed attempt to wrestle Mirial away putting their inadequacies square in the limelight. Now that they had gone, many worlds were left abandoned in their scrambled retreat; Voss, Ossus, Dac, and Rhen Var just to name several. Some worlds had readily capitulated to avoid destruction, and others had welcomed the encroaching Sith armies with open arms.

But always there were those worlds that resisted, and put up a struggle.

The icy world of Rhen Var, so long a bastion of the Jedi, was one of those to resist. They allied themselves with the remnants of the Silver Jedi Order that yet lingered in the system, such as the League of Voss, and proclaimed to all other systems that they would not bow before the tyranny and oppression of the Sith. They would fight the conquerors with every fiber of their being, and until every ounce of breath was driven from their lungs.

The Empire would oblige their desire for death.

To obliterate these vermin the Empire dispatched the Sith-Imperial Thirteenth Army to Rhen Var, ferried by the Expeditionary Squadron Spear. Five Harrower Mk-III Star Destroyers paved the way for the army's descent into the atmosphere, their powerful guns and fighter escort making quick work of the cobbled together defense flotilla that had boldly stood against their charge. The Thirteenth Army was divided into four corps, each of which was housed on a single Ferrata-class Assault Carrier that could weather any manner of surface-to-air defensive emplacements the rebels might've installed.

Sadly, this course of action was only taken after it was revealed that the rebel's main base of operations, an ancient Citadel overlooking a frozen harbor, was protected by an energy shield that could deflect any bombardment.

Now they would have to be rooted out with the sword and the spear and the blaster, eradicated to the last man.

​

​

​

Emperor Zambrano peered through macrobinoculars towards the distant Citadel, an initial skirmish breaking out at the higher levels between Imperial gunships and the anti-air cannons that riddled the Citadel's ramparts. The Imperial Legion was made some headway, but otherwise they couldn't get a strong enough foothold to launch a more aggressive attack on the rebels hidden inside.

In the canyon below him assembled the first wave that would crash against the Harbor's defenses, consisting of four AT-PATs with an assortment of smaller walkers that would escort a single AT-SP to the Citadel's base. An arrangement of Artillery Walkers would remain behind to provide a creeping barrage to soften up the Harbor's defenders.

"Milord, we've detected a squadron of Scimitar-class Fighter Tanks moving out from the Harbor. Our calculations put them on a direct intercept path with our walkers, shall we scramble the CATs?"

The Emperor nodded, "Let them come, we will tear them to ribbons."

​

​

​

Objectives:
A: Assault the Harbor and advance on to the Citadel, eradicate the Jedi and their allies still holed up there. [Primary Objective]
A.b: Plunder the tomb of Ross Mysliwiec for artefacts of the Force. Defeat any lingering spirits.
B: Secure the Jedi Monument and defeat the spectral guardians protecting Ulic Qel-Droma's burial site.
C: Deface or bury the various Jedi temples and idols scattered around Rhen Var's surface.
D: BYOO

 

[Nan'eth'illa]

D. BYOO:
Fort Mekhis

Darth Filiae had one great, fundamental divergence from her csen'ai: An interest and strong interest in the benefits of technology. Some assumed it was her Chiss blood that made her so keen on the workings of machines. Yet, the Chiss herself knew better: As a young girl, she had been given the best education the salary of a planetary governor could scrape together, it was there her interest in machinery had begun; it was also there she had learned the value of proper research.

It had taken her months to piece all the clues together, working with off-hand mentions, exaggerated accounts and deliberate falsehoods, she had pieced together a positive and fairly waterproof recipe to locating the fortress of one of her forebearers in the art of dark mechu-deru.

The hike was long and cold, even for a Chiss. They had to be quiet, had to move quick, lest unwanted eyes follow them and thwart their effort. She wanted to be there before the attack started at its fullest. Darth Filiae and engineers from Andromeda Incorporated had smuggled themselves in through a stygium cloaked ship to bypass the occupied Citadel and wandered through the snowy mountainscape to their field of investigation.

"Chairman!"

Filiae's head turned sharply and a snow-crusted finger pulled down her scarf to unveil her mouth in response and preparation to speak, but rather than offering her a request, the Mirialan simply gave her a pair of macrobinoculars and pointed up at a snow-covered ridge. The cyborg took the binoculars and peered through, up at the ridge. At what had formerly looked like a mere protrusion of rock, one of their scouts was waving his hands in wide motions, seeking their attention.

Flares would have been more visible, but also far more dangerous given the situation.

 

[Onrai]

Objective D1 - Test the Conqueror-class Heavy Cruiser

Five heavy cruisers entered the system. They were of an unknown type - though they resembled the old Imperial Star Destroyer, albeit with some heavy modifications. For one, they were split down most of the middle, similarly to the Harrower Dreadnoughts that already floated in orbit over Rhen Var. The Void Irregular Fleet was still mostly in mothballs, though the four Massassi corvettes had emerged from the yards, joined by their three reserve counterparts to make up for a lack in fleet strength. Vanessa was not on board any of the ships in question, though she did have direct communication with them. The reason for these enigmatic ships being here was known only to Vanessa herself - though they were officially here to deal with any League of Voss ships that showed up, leaving the Harrowers to wage a ground assault as the Conquerors lacked any such capabilities. But they were also here to test the weapons that would be going onto the Ablution​, powerful beam cannons capable of devastating even enemy Star Destroyers. Each Conqueror - there were 5, the ​Hydra, Manticore, Basilisk​, Gorgon, and Scylla​ - possessed a single prototype of these beam cannons, and together they would have the rough equivalency of the ​Ablution's​ beam weaponry when all fired at once.

The ships floated some distance away from the Harrowers, mostly spread out so at least one would intercept any incoming Voss fleet from whatever trajectory they attempted to engage from. Vanessa was particularly eager to watch the explosions of enemy ships in orbit.

-

Objective B - Defile the Jedi Monument

Vanessa desired to do but one thing here on the surface of this icy, forbidden, and otherwise insignificant world. That was to break into the tomb of Ulic Qel-Droma, the 'redeemed' Sith Lord and fallen Jedi, and acquire not his lightsaber or robes(which were likely long gone), but his bones. She would physically remove the last vestiges of the long dead man from this place, doing... something with them. She honestly wasn't sure. But assumedly defiling the remains of one who had been redeemed in the eyes of those Lightsiders would be a good thing. Maybe she would rig his bones up and mount them in her laboratory, a lasting reminder of what weakness could be.

She looked over the ridge she was standing on - the temple was right there. Waiting. Begging for her to come and defile it. Hopefully soon those pickings would be hers.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Objective A. Assault the harbour!
Nearby: [member="Thyne"] Others!

Steady hands, they clicked the magazine into the old SK2 Ripper. It was not a Sith Imperial weapon, but a vestige of another time, laquered in the dull black and sharp orange detail of the Ember of Vahl. Turned in the hand, back and forth, feeling the familiar weight, then holstered in a worn synthetic sleeve at her hip. Joycelyn Zambrano's brown eyes looked down at the other troopers, her white-armoured shoulders towering over them as the metal monsters of Sith-Imperial war towered over all. The legionaries could feel the shake of steel feet around them as they prepared their weapons.

This was war - Fire and fury - Where she belonged.

Her primary weapon next, checked for flaws, magazine planted in. The Chimera blaster rifle was common in the hands of the Blackblades, but these were Sith Imperial troops, the Legion, not a house Zambrano retinue. She would garner no special favour here, none beyond what her strength, her fury, and her aptitude with the blaster gave her. It made her feel 'in place'.

"Private."

She felt the force of the voice calling to her and turned sharply, Chimera firmly against her shoulder. The Vahla had few such formalities in their forces, but it had been drilled into her through service long before she joined the Sith Imperial ranks.

"Yes'sir!"

Joyce sensed the lieutenant eyeing her blaster rifle, but choosing to ignore it. He knew well enough that one could not always enforce uniformity in weaponry, even in the Legion. He also recognised the weapon for its make and typical carrier, adding to his existing presumptions about 'private Joycelyn Zambrano'. He had also noted the cylinder on one of her grenade hooks; the lightsabre she carried.

"At ease. You are to be assigned escort duty during the attack. One of your kin."

Joyce's lip curled in displeasure, but no word of protest crossed them. She knew he did not speak of the Vahla side of her. No, he only knew her name, not her story. Most of her other kin were less than useless, and those who were worth half their salt had heads too big to fit through a door. They did not remember that the pride of their house built itself from ruin and nothing.

"Yes Sir."

 

[Thyne]

Throughout the course of his assignment, Thyne offered nothing but the occasional two-word phrase and a short nod of understanding every so often. He had a tendency to lean more towards the quiet, knowing obedience before questioning those who would give him orders. Perhaps that and his general distance were what set him apart from his apparent kin.

And yet he would serve just as well as the rest of them. That's why here was here now, wasn't it? Adorned in armor that he'd have to grow into, lightsaber on his belt, an unfamiliar blaster within his grasp. The person who'd dressed him had commented on his size, in comparison to his siblings, going on to chastise his distaste in the helmet. It'd save his life one day, they'd told him. And sure, that was possible, but it was also uncomfortable.

So he waited for his escort, helmet begrudgingly placed in the seat next to him, the boy more focused on the blaster in his hand. What was he to do with such a weapon? Hit someone with it? The lightsaber was certainly more suited for that and he sincerely doubted his aim would be of any note. Why was he assigned to this, of all people? Oh, well, one does what they're told. When at last someone did approach him, he fixed them with his typical blank gaze, waiting a beat before speaking. "Hi."

[member="Joycelyn Zambrano"]​

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Objective A. Assault the harbour!
Nearby: [member="Thyne"] Others!

A child in war, that was what she saw. Not that it was a sight she was unaccustomed to. She could not have been much older herself when she saw her first battles. Then again, she was taller then. The Vahlacanthix narrowed her eyes as she approached her ward, blaster now slung over her shoulder, ripper at her side, sabre at her hip, and helmet under her left arm. Her lips thinned sternly.

"Hi" It spoke to her.

Joycelyn responded with a half-assed salute, side-eyeing the lieutenant who was momentarily distracted.

"Private Joycelyn Zambrano, sir. I am to be your escort."

Compared to Thyne, Joycelyn was positively enormous. She seemed to sort of bend down over him, like a tree. However, she was not much older. Her eyes brown with a honeyed shine, tainted with a certain scorn; her cheeks crossed each with their scar. Her black hair cropped short, save for the braid wound around her head like a flower wreath long since dead, and a facial structure so sharp it would cut what attacked it. She looked much like her father some said, in bearing, in body, but most definitely in the cheekbones.

In an effort to un-sour herself she looked down at his blaster - At least he was armed. Oh, and a helmet, good! Perhaps he wouldn't be shot through the head. Would hate to singe those perfectly tumbling black locks, wouldn't we? She was at least - genuinely this time - relieved to see he carried a lightsabre. That could be proof he was capable in some capacity.

Her last shred of formality broke.

"You have never fired a blaster before, have you?"

 

[Farah]

Objective: C | Show the temple some love
Location: The Temple of Ice, Rhen Var
Post: #1

Rhen Var, world of ice and former protectorate under the Silver Jedi who had since retreated from their sphere of influence. From what she’d been told, they were the oldest surviving cohesive group of Jedi in the galaxy. Recently they’d abandoned the worlds under their protection to start anew, something that Farah could not understand.

These were the basic facts she had gathered about Rhen Var after filtering out all of the words of blatant hatred for the Jedi group.

It had been reiterated over a thousand times to her that they were the enemy, a blight that needed to be purged from the galaxy. Each time she heard that, Farah grew even more disinterested. What irked her the most was why such a renowned group of Jedi with military prowess would give everything up so suddenly. Was the growing Sith threat on the horizon too much, or were there internal pressures causing a collapse? Farah didn’t know, but perhaps the Temple of Ice could shed some light.

A chill ran thought Farah and she cringed, clutching the fur of her coat tighter around her neck and chest. She’d decided a thousand times since leaving the warmth of her transport that she hated the cold. Moving carefully through the temple, she marveled at the crystalline structure of the arches and how they gave the Jedi sanctuary a whimsical vibe. To some it would be satisfying to smash to bits, but Farah felt no such urge.

If there was something worth taking here, she would take it. In particular, the doctor had read that Nakfet crystals were used in rituals by the Jedi of old. A sentient crystal, she decided, was certainly worth investigating.

 

[Matt the Radar Tech]

Objective B:​

Secure the Jedi Monument and defeat the spectral guardians protecting Ulic Qel-Droma's burial site​

Nearby Allies: [member="Vanessa Vantai"]​

Post: 1​

​

​

Darth Excidium remained silent during the initial flight and troop movements, simply observing and pondering to himself as the Sith Empire's forces moved down onto the planet Rhen Var below. A seemingly desolate place, covered in endless snow and ice, it was a surprise that there had been any kind of technological development amid the blizzard winds and freezing temperatures. Still, centuries past, someone had bothered, which now meant that interest of Rhen Var was piqued by certain parties. As it was, Excidium had mostly disinterest in the troops roaming around, moving in their ordered ranks and files, with the Sith Lord instead turning his attention to the Citadel in the distance, and the Jedi Temple that was said to be near it. Beneath it, technically, in caverns filled with ice and crystal.

Disembarking his transport, sneering as a line of troops rushed past, almost bumping him, Excidium began walking toward the entrance of the tunnel system that would lead to the Jedi Monument. Thankfully reports had indicated that numerous natural - and some unnatural - caves had formed over time, allowing the Sith Lord to avoid the far heavier battle taking place closer to the Citadel and its surroundings. Still, Excidium doubted the caves would be without incident, especially as he was certain they could be used to flank enemy positions; and the likelihood of running into enemy combatants, if only because they sought to flank the Sith Empire, remained a reasonable probability.

The enemy were rebels, little more. Filled with hope, optimism and drive to overcome the odds, just like other little rebellions of years past.

Unfortunately for them, the Sith Empire took a more direct approach to dealing with dissent, and small groups unwilling to see things their way. They didn't sit idly by and allow groups to grow, they didn't ignore collusion between unified opposition, and they certainly didn't rely on planet destroying weapons platforms with impunity. No, the best method was to ensure any uprising was handled directly and quickly, cutting the head off the cub before it had a chance to grow into a beast to be reckoned with. And so it was that the pitiful rebels of Rhen Var held strong against an overwhelming foe, dedicated and resolute in their decision to overcome the oppressive regime of the Sith, to prove it could be beaten, to prove... that they could perish, just like the rest. The rebels were in for a slaughter, and that brought a faint smile to Excidium's lips.

The distant thuds and explosions were soon but a faint reminder of the battle beyond, as the Sith Lord stepped into a cave opening. The tunnel was brightly lit, despite the lack of natural light, as though the walls and ice floor were being illuminated by some otherworldly force. Perhaps it was. Perhaps not. It didn't matter. Stepping carefully along the uneven and slippery ground, Excidium ran his fingers along a nearby stalactite, glancing up at the natural formation of water, ice and crystal with some interest...

"Quite stunning, in its own way."

Darth Excidium was vaguely aware of others nearby, and looked to them with bright green eyes as allies assembled for the task of reaching the Jedi Monument began to arrive...

 

[Onrai]

Objective D1

In orbit, the ships continued to patrol the zone for any League of Voss presence. Vanessa had designed the Conqueror to engage enemies from long range, and engage enemies well before fighters could be launched or enemies could start firing. Silently they waited for an opportunity to test their weapons against an actual enemy target.

-

Objective B

Vanessa looked over at [member="Darth Excidium"]. "Of course. It'll be even more stunning when we taint the presence of the Force, drive the guardian spirits mad, and I have Ulic Qel-Droma's bones rigged up as a trophy I can occasionally smack around." She answered. "Or maybe... Oh, I have a _much_ better idea." What if she had a way to rig the bones up as the structure for some sort of droid? Something that could seemingly be alive, a form of necromancy based in technology - techromancy. Wouldn't it be horrifying to send a creation made of the bones of a long dead Jedi against his own kind?

She sure liked the idea.

 

[Thyne]

He stood, staring up at his escort with a slight tilt of his neck. She towered over him, like so many did. And, like others of the Zambrano line he'd come across, there was hardly any familial connection to be spoken of. Odd, disappointing even, but not unexpected. Still, he stood as tall and propper as he could, hands falling to his sides.

"Thyne. What am I to call you? Private? Something else?" A pause. "Sister?" That last word came with a hint of hesitance. As if it were coming from someone not entirely certain on its definition or proper usage. He spoke carefully, with an awkward formality, eyes never so much as blinking in their unearthly stare.

In comparison to Joycelyn, Thyne was absolutely tiny. His person, save for a couple nicks and scratches of previous training sessions, was left relatively untouched by time and its wear and tear. One could say he matched the Zambranos only in hair color, the mop of black lining his otherwise round face, slightly obscuring those eyes of a bright yellow-green. Where she appeared tall and strong, he would small and scrawny.

Her question brought his attention back to the present, causing him to give himself a once over. Of course, he'd never used a blaster before. All his training had been dedicated to melee, namely lightsaber, combat, with a focus on outmaneuvering his opponents, making use of the flexibility he had over others. For what seemed like a lifetime, mastering such skills were all that had mattered. That seemed the quickest way towards anyone's, or more specifically, his father's approval. He looked at the blaster with a certain level of uncertainty, still getting used to its weight in his grasp. Her question was answered with a shrug.

"Never had any use for them. Well, til now, at least."

[member="Joycelyn Zambrano"]​

 

[Ignatius]

Objective: A.b
Nearby: [member="Thyne"], [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"],

Rolling my neck, The pops that erupted were rather loud and annoying to me. Yes I did do it, however I felt as though something were jabbing into my neck. I readied myself for the time in which would take for us to reach past this Harbor so that we could search for the remnants of some long lost Jedi Hero. Hell, even the Jedi themselves didn't know what he had done to earn such a place in history. As such, there was no real reason to keep it there right?

Wrong.

For the Sith Empire to become more powerful over the League of Voss, one needed to know how they fought. First learning if they really were going to protect this place, and secondly to see why there were guarding it. If it was so important to them, I wanted to know why. Even more so that I could catalog it. While many Sith thought it was best to rid the galaxy of the Jedi, I didn't believe so. Respect for an enemy who we have been fighting for eons could only be earned through their dedication up to and including their death. Why did they fight so hard? Keeping this in mind, Lucem was floating just over my left shoulder and kept silent. No need for him to speak up.

Having a single squad of troopers with me, they were all armed and prepared to fight Jedi and their "rangers." I wore all of my necessary armor and carried both my pistols, sword, and even a lightsaber. Kinta and Caleo were back home doing other stuff. Not sure what with the distance, and I didn't care to wear a ring to ask them. Instead, I stayed in the dark.

Nearby others were preparing to actually attack the harbor. While I and my crew would be taking a drop ship and zooming past them to read this sacred burial ground. Walking into the dropship, I turned around to look behind me and saw two individuals who seemed to be talking about something. I shook my head. We needed to get this done. Now. What was with the jibber jabber.

The bay door closing, As soon as the rest of the ships released, we would as well. Now, the waiting game.

 

[Vora Kaar]

Objective: C
Location: The Temple of Ice
Nearby: [member="Farah"],

What is it with the Sith and the Jedi always fighting. Sure, they had their little qualms of who was right and who was dead, but at the end of it, all the other people around them got weaker. You would think that by them working together they got stronger, however that is sadly wrong.

Anyone could kill one of these fools. A simple blaster shot, or stab into the chest with a knife. The difficulty was their little space magic. Seeing as how they had these powers many chose not to face them for this fact alone. Even the sign of a lightsaber or someone using the force could turn someone off from the fight. For me? It turned me on. Quite literally.

Having to search through this place and find relics that once belonged to the Jedi, we then had to bury them. Why bury them when they could be corrupted and then used against them? Sure maybe some would destroy them, but I'd at least like to take one to feed off of the force energies. Looking over to the Temple as troopers, doctors and others went inside, I prepared myself for a fight. One that was likely to come of an ambush. Walking underneath the arches, I could hear the shivering of someone. Looking around me, I then realized they were below me. Almost having to look down to see this young woman in a rather furry coat, I chuckled.

"A bit cold eh?"

Looking around, I then lowered down and jokingly whispered to her. Wishing so much to do what I spoke.

"Need me to cut open a tauntaun to warm you up? All the blood might look good on that jacket you are wearing."

I hearty chuckle without caring to listen to what the woman stated, and I took a few more steps into the Temple. Looking up and around should anyone attack. No need to dwell upon those who I can't feed on.

 

[Olrunn Darr]

Objective: "B". Secure the Jedi Monument and defeat the spectral guardians protecting Ulic Qel-Droma's burial site.
Location: Near Ulic Qel-Droma's tomb.
Allies: [member="Darth Excidium"], [member="Vanessa Vantai"].
Post Count: 1.

​

​

​

Unlike many around her, Olrunn sat quietly and patiently in the corner of the cockpit as the freighter descended into the atmosphere of Rhen Var, awaiting for the definite landing of the ship so that she could disembark and head towards where she was supposed to be: alongside her Master and the Sith in charge of securing the burial site of a man that had been to weak for what the Darkness had to offer. She did not feel agitated by the promise of battle, merely expectant and reflexive something which in truth was to be expected considering the type of temperament she most often displayed. Olrunn took greater gratification in silent seething, twirling the feelings within her in a calm yet excruciatingly painful way that still allowed her to think and keep an objectiveness about herself. Icy hate, cold fury, lacking the energy of savagery but not the ferocity.

The ship landed and everyone began scurrying about, readying themselves for battle. Not many aboard this vessel shared her objective. The battlefront was their destination and the dark though of how many of them would see the end of the day come with their lives intact could not help but cling for a moment to the Gurlanin's thought. If the rebel revolt was just that and no surprises became them, she believed today they had the better luck. In no way would they all survive, yet this could be a day with a relatively low life cost for the Empire. Soldiers could never be wasted, not when the light was still far from being extinguished. As the ramp descended, Olrunn was among the first to exit and set foot on ground. Excidium was not to be kept waiting any longer.

Olrunn took a deep breath, allowing the coldness of the air to fill and burn her lungs. She liked coldness, much better than heat in her opinion. Without loosing any more time, the Gurlanin lunged forward, adopting her original, wolfish shape. This figure was faster and better adapted to the icy and snowy climate of Rhen Var. Orange eyes scanned her surroundings, ever cautious of any impending or incoming threat. Yet the thickness of the battle was not focused on her general area at the moment, and she managed to make her way to her destination quickly and uneventfully. Her eyes met with Excidium's back. A woman, another Sith Lord if she judged by the strength of her presence in the Force, stood besides him. Before reaching them the acolyte morphed back into the skin of a relatively tall, thin and blonde girl, her eyes matching the bluish shades of the land around her.

"Master" she saluted in her characteristic monotone yet smooth voice, bowing her head in respect before addressing the unknown female, "My lady." the same gesture was offered before she straightened her posture, awaiting for the command of her Master.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Objective A. Assault the harbour!
Nearby: [member="Thyne"] [member="Ignis Imura"] Others!

When he said "sister" there was a visible twitch in Joycelyn's face. She had many of her kin, but only one sister: Only [member="Evaelyn Zambrano"] . There were none more dear to the Vahlacanthix than her blue-haired twin sister. Yet, Joyce released an exasperated breath.

"Whatever you please, sir. You will know if I disapprove."

She took his blaster from his hands -Courtesy of her own much larger hands- and checked it. She looked down the sights, checked the safety, secured the magazine, and weighed it back and forth in her hand.

"You any good with that sabre?" She offered the blaster back, offering the grip of it and being careful not to point the muzzle at herself. "If so, focus on that. Use this as a backup."

Joycelyn looked over her shoulder as the ships and walkers began to move. It was time for the advance; time to get their hands dirty and paint the snow red. A half-cocked smile grew on her lips as she looked down at Thyne again, bloodlust evident in her eyes. Joyce grabbed her helmet in both hands, lifting it up to put it on.

"Time to go, sir."

On the helmet went. She offered him a hand to get off his arse, then shifted the Chimera into her hands and followed the walker into a plasma hell.

 

[Nan'eth'illa]

D. BYOO:
Fort Mekhis

Darth Filiae ran through the snow and jumped on the back of one of the speeders. The driver keeping it warm for any emergency.

"Go, there. Go!"

Her hand pointed up to the ridge, and the speeder took off. The more she stared, the more clearly the vertical lines stood out from the natural rock-face. Behind them, the other engineers trotted after and signalled for the other scouts to follow after. The Chiss grinned under the scarf, which had now slipped back up over her face. It was all too simple, and at the moment she was not looking the gift-horse in the mouth.

The speeder was just turning up at the base of the ridge when.

cra-BOOM-ck

A flash of light, pieces of flaming jacket, metal and bone flew to every side, pulling tails of smoke behind. Filiae ducked down in the speeder, which veered to the side and lodged itself in a snow bank. The driver's head banged mercilessly against the dashboard, leaving red soaking his fur cap.

With a groan, the Chiss climbed out of the speeder and looked up at the smoke trails. Something had happned, but what? Down below, the speeders were stopping and people stepping out. Their guards were stepping up front. Filiae reached inside her coat and pulled out the hilt of her lightsabre.

"Fine."

She started her march up the mountain, quiet and determined.

 

[Xevek Nekonis]

Objective: B​

Allies: [member="Olrunn Darr"] | [member="Vanessa Vantai"] | [member="Darth Excidium"]​

Post: 1​

​

The hoard of soldiers might as well as not existed as far as Xevek was concerned. Such a thought wasn't born out of arrogance or disdain but, instead, complete and total apathy, a feeling that whatever names these men and women might possess simply did not matter and, for many, soon would not matter to anyone apart from whoever would be given the responsibility of carving out epitaphs and words of condolences. Such a fate hung heavily around the shoulders of every soldier that was sat with the Acolyte aboard the transport ship, to the point that Xevek could swear he could see the separate strands of the future curling around them and being expressed through nervous shifting, muffled talking and the heady stench of stress and anxiety that clouded the air. Still, even when realising that this day might be the last day for many of the being gathered around him, Xevek made no move to offer comfort or a kind word. What use would it be upon someone soon dead, besides, what use did he had for those not strong enough to pull themselves together in the face of death and march in the jaws of fate?

As such, unlike the rest of the group that had been crammed into the transport shuttle, Xevek did not move to imitate them in desperate attempts to strike up a muffle conversation, a desperate attempt to have one final memory of normal life before every word that passed from their lips was hurried and desperate admits the sounds of battle. Instead, he simply sat off to one side, barely moving if not for the steady rising and falling of his chest, the skull mask he always wore fastened into place and his robes drawn tightly around him. Next to the bulk of the armour the soldiers wore, he cut an odd figure - silent, secluded and abnormal, just what he was use to.

When the ship finally landed and the soldiers scurried of in a swarm of barked orders, leaving behind the stench of lingering sweat and fear, Xevek finally rose from his seated position to stride out of the shuttle, diverting away from the main force, turning away from where the sound of battle were already beginning to resonate from. Drawing the folds of his robes around him all the tighter as a particularly piercing streak of cold wind speared through him, Xevek began to hiss quiet threads and curses beneath his breath. He was use to the deserts and blaring heats of Iridonia and, as such, the cold and he were by no means friends. Still, one benefit that came from Rhen Var being encased in so much ice was that civilisation was limited and, as such, he did not have to deal with the taste of toxin fumes and simple foulness on his tongue.

Striding down to where he could already sense a fair few Sith gathering, Xevek shook all thoughts from his head, focusing on the task lay before him. He was a Servant of the Magus, even as the submissive nature of the title made his hackles raise and a low growl form in the back of his throat every time he thought of it, and if he wished to progress through the ranks, earn the knowledge and power that he sought so as to reawaken his lost memories then he was to serve the order in whatever manner was necessary - even if it meant standing upon a world of ice when he much preferred worlds of sand. He was nothing if not a survivor and, as such, he would pull himself together and hold firm in the face of the pain that sparked along his skin with every rush of cold air, drawing upon it and holding it tight within his chest, using it to fuel his connection to the Darkness.

Bowing his head to each of the gathered Sith - Darth Excidium and Olrunn Darr of the Magus and one unknown - Xevek maintained his silence even as a twisted snarl pulled its way across scarred lips, hidden beneath this privacy of his mask. With every step forward he was one step closer to casting of the shackles of service.

 

[Thyne]

Judging from her reaction, that was a solid no for his final suggestion. Again, a twinge disappointing but not unexpected in the least. The Zambranos didn't exactly fit the textbook description of a family.

"Noted. You can just call me Thyne."

She'd find no resistance in taking the blaster, his unfamiliar hands more than willing to be rid of the thing. Even if that wasn't the case, there was little doubt that she'd be able to overpower him without much trouble.

At the mention of his skills with a saber, the scarce beginnings of a grin appeared for a moment then disappeared entirely. "I've been lead to believe so, at least." With her suggestion of switching the two weapons, he was eager to holster the blaster and forget about it completely. "Who knows? I might be better than you." It was an attempt at comedy. A bad one, probably, but he was trying.

Pulled to his feet, he straightened himself, accidentally (or more likely, intentionally) leaving the helmet where it rested. "What exactly are we doing?" He wondered, biting down on his lip as it came time to move. "Are we to leave survivors?"

[member="Ignis Imura"] | [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"]​

 

[Eldaah Aderyn]

BYOO: Passing along a message or two

While the Dark Lord was commanding his forces to crush those fools at the ancient Citadel, and others went about desecrating a tomb of some long dead Jedi because... she wasn't sure, her Master had instructed Eldaah to pass along a message or two to the Dark Lord as she was too involved with her preparations for the Alliance's Varonat campaign to do so herself. That was how Eldaah found herself on this frozen ball of a planet. Rhen Var... was not her preferred type of planet.

Waiting patiently for when the Dark Lord had a moment, staying away from the bustling military commanders and other servants of the Dark Lord so she did not impede the operations in anyway, she reviewed the files her Master had sent her with... and felt her Master's presence in the back of her mind. Always watching she was.

[member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The battle was going as was expected.

The ground assault had begun with the CATs smashing up against the rebel's Scimitar tanks in a glorious melee of flashing cannons, and screeching missiles as they flew through the air with brilliant trails of smoke and fire following in their wake. Walkers advanced on the enemy positions like the ancient titans of folklore, destructive hate pouring down upon the enemies of order with unflinching brutality. Ruins that had stood strong for millennia were reduced to flaming slag, stone and metal were vitrified or melted by the unimaginable temperatures of the barrage.

Carnifex watched it all through the sights of his macrobinoculars, and had been preparing to joint the fray once the initial defenses had been laid low. However, his attention was diverted away from the battle by the arrival of [member="Eldaah Aderyn"]. He handed his binoculars off to one of his servants and made his way to meet with the apprentice of [member="Taeli Raaf"].

"Knight Aderyn, this is an unexpected pleasure. I assume the Lady of Secrets has something for me?"

 

[Eldaah Aderyn]

Bowing her head as the Dark Lord addressed her, Eldaah produced the datapad her Master wished the Dark Lord to have.

"Indeed, my Lord," she stated. "An incident recently occurred in the Outer Rim Coalition's space that she felt would require your... direct attention. You shall find on the datapad the purchase records of one Avata-class Infiltrator by an Anaya Hawkens, an alias of Knight Ovmar."

She would hand [member="Darth Carnifex"] the datapad in question for his perusal.

"Apparently the ship was involved in a skirmish in ORC space that involved some Mandalorians, and a Captain Jorus Merrill contacted my Master for information on the engine signatures they scanned from the ship involved when it jumped to hyperspace."

There wasn't too much to go off of here, but much could be inferred.