Dominion Blood On The Sand | DE Dominion of Ord Cantrell

[Alicia Drey]

Tags: Xochilt Amena Kader
Objective 1: Smoke in the Water

In the black tapestry of Ord Cantrell's ocean the Initium continued it's propulsion towards the mining facility. On the viewing port the emblem of the Initium signified it's location while Alicia navigated the dotted line that the relay was displaying which would lead her and the strike team towards it. Behind her Amena asked an important question that the Sith had already foreseen. "I have someone on the inside. If they hadn't of done what I asked we would be blown out of the water by now."

Ahead of them the Initium drew closer to the facility as strobing lights that signified an emergency danced in the horizon. Months ago- well before the events of the day- Alicia had traversed the Galaxy all the way to Lianna to meet with Vyllia Santhe to arrange the reacquisition of assets that had been lost during her incarceration on Coruscant. After the meeting handlers from the New Imperial Security Bureau- the spooks of the Imperial Remnants that had formed the Empire of the Lost- had recruited Alicia into joining the NISB as one of their Field Agents for the purpose of fixing and rearranging an agreement between the Empire and Mecetti Nationalized Industries.

During her time in the organisation Alicia had made headway in corrupting it to her own schemes and designs. Without the Director of the NISB being aware of it Alicia had recruited several other agents from across the organisation to join her. They were plied with money in some cases, others had been coerced, or blackmailed. In this particular case the Rodian that had infiltrated the mining facility that Alicia, Amena, and Xochilt were about to assault had a family that Alicia had threatened if he didn't agree to infiltrate the Ionite miners which manned the facility and initiate the evacuation procedures when the Dark Empire begun their invasion of Ord Cantrell.

"I told my man to begin an emergency evacuation when we were in orbit of Ord Cantrell," Alicia explained as the Initium drew closer to the facility. "If anyone is looking at us right now then it is already too late. Most of the evacuees are already on their way to the surface."

Alicia called up the schematics of the facility on the viewing port and triangulated the position that she should land the ship on to begin the assault. Selecting a nearby corridor adjacent to the control centre of the facility Alicia engaged the landing clamps onto the structure and they magnetized themselves too it. Next, Alicia engaged the Initium's shield generators to create a protective bubble around the ship. The surrounding ocean water was pushed away from the ship, so that when the landing ramp was extended, Alicia and the others on board would not be destroyed by the sea.

Drawing her curved Lightsaber into her hand Alicia marched out of the ship as the shield formed a cocoon around her and the others. They were so far down that not even Ord Cantrell's starlight could be seen at this depth. Activating her weapon Alicia drove it into the wall below her and begun carving an entryway into the facility. After thirty seconds a man sized hole had been carved and with a loud thud below which was left of the wall fell into the hallway.

Leaping down Alicia landed in a squat and turned to survey the hallway as the strike team took up positions around her. A siren blared accompanied with an automated voice which spoke from the facilities intercoms: "Emergency evacuation protocols in effect. Please head to the nearest exit." As the voice continued too repeat itself Alicia brought up her commlink and contacted her spy while rising to her feet. "We are on board. Head to the control centre immediately."

"Yesssss..." replied the thick accent of a Rodian on the other end.

 

[Meii-Nu Suu]

Jin Kyrel Marlon Sularen Ibaris Varanin Aerarii Tithe Onrai Zethran Cott

The Trade Federation's viewpoints received a significant boost at the Tribunal when the Former Chancellor Aerarii Tithe expressed unwavering support, in no small part due to the fact that they had built quite the retinue of factories and vaults on those worlds which had fallen under the preview of renegade Imperial Forces left over from the NIO's collapse. Using the Dark Empire as a pawn to take back those assets would be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

As they walked into the room, a look of disinterest was directed at the Grand Admiral Marlon Sularen . A swift evaluation revealed him to be someone consumed by a desire for revenge against his enemies, making him a hindrance to the progressive minds of the Tribunal.

"Your viewpoints are noted, Grand Admiral. I do hope you don't intend to pay for the shipyard's operations through magic?. We are currently sitting on economic capital that is considered defunct, out of circulation since the issuing faction has collapsed meaning the value has plummeted by at least 30.68%. In order to restore the confidence in the currency's value, we have to take a key economic planet so they can be the issuing authority backed up by reputable creditors who can attest to its value. Only then can we have a safety net for future expansion" She responded in her typical no-nonsense fashion, not wanting to delay the response otherwise the other members of the Tribunals would take a similar line of thinking. It was only logical that they restore the currency's value in the eyes of systems by having a issuing authority to back it up.

"In the words of Admiral Firmus Nantz, "Control space and you control any battlefield you can imagine. Unfortunately, you cannot control space.". While controlling the Hydian Way would allow us to stranglehold the Galactic Alliance, Executor. There is no way to prevent enemy shipping through those lanes without stationing a static fleet in being, a fleet which will cost money to maintain, money that will not flow because we blocked the trade lanes. Do you see the problem?" A dismissal of the idea by quoting a New Republic Admiral, directed lazily towards Ibaris Varanin whose proposal was acceptable to the Gossam but was unfeasible.

 

[Onrai]

Objective 2
Adeline Noctua Maestus Donne Toulemonde
Ord Cantrell Ground, Above Enemy Position

"Mine are mine. Theirs are yours." Such were Onrai's words to Keres regarding the fate of the deceased. The Darktroopers belonged to her, mind, body, and soul. Any who fell would have their spirit taken into her embrace, absorbed and used to empower her ability to continually provide supplication to her followers. It was deliberate - their memories, their essence became a part of her, the ultimate reward being for them to know all she knew - and, perhaps, to be another face to provide comfort to the grieving in time.

Donne's silence wasn't surprising, but Maestus's agreement with her need to make loyalty a two-way street proved surprising. Here was a student of the one who now ruled the Dark Empire admitting such - someone who had been more steeped in Sith belief than the vast majority of Dark Side users within the Imperial sphere, and for her to make such an admission was remarkable. "Wise words, truly."

Then the drop happened.

The bottom doors of the transport gaped wide as Onrai plunged towards the earth. At the same time as the commencement of the drop, a horrible scramble of tones and tunes played, a deliberate few seconds of jamming meant to obscure and disrupt the soldiers below in the security complex. As the woman landed, the bloodtroopers joining her activating their shields and lightsabers, her direct attack on the complex command center began. Darktroopers and bloodtroopers would engage in an aggressive conflict with the stunned and surprised ex-Imperials, shooting and slashing at them from point-blank range. In the Chaos, Onrai looked around until she identified the command tower - this was the lynchpin of the fortifications here. From there, it would be possible to deactivate shields, reprogram turrets... to throw the entire position into chaos.

"That's our objective. Let's move."

-

Objective 3
Meii-Nu Suu Zethran Cott Aerarii Tithe Jin Kyrel Marlon Sularen Ibaris Varanin
Cademimu V - The Tribunal

Elsewhere, thrilling discussions regarding the economy

"Economic growth will occur naturally as time passes." The woman said in response to the Trade Federation representative's initial inquiry as she pulled out a datapad. "I have here records from over half a dozen worlds - Nathema, Malachor, Kinoss, and Ool among them - showcasing accelerated economic growth upon the planet's initial reacquisition and development. These figures are, of course, available if anyone wishes to take a look." Her eyes crossed all those in attendance, for a moment giving sympathy to Detritus Ren as she could tell the last thing he wanted to do was to figure out economic inveiglements.

"If the issue is investment capital to pursue the growth, salvage, and use of this infrastructure, I would be more than willing to provide such. Stockpiling for the long war has been a critical part of my operations since the days of Decimus and Voracitos, and there is more than enough in the way of credits saved from the collapse of empires, alliances, and confederacies to be infused into our coffers." Ships, vehicles, arms, and manpower were not the only things she had taken charge of. Quadrillions of credits had been saved over the course of decades, taken from the mad scramble for resources in the wake of repeated galactic collapse. The standard of the galactic credit, having neither appreciated nor depreciated, ensured that these pilfered funds were of equal value now as they were back then. Proof of valuation of the aforementioned credit accounts had been included along with the figures, were anyone to ask.

The comments Ibaris made were intriguing as they were neither focused on Yaga Minor's acquisition as a shipyard world nor on further expanding the Trade Federation's holdings. The rebuttal by Meii-Nu to Admiral Sularen was a basic economic ploy - the former NIO and Maw capital was, as credits, worth no more and no less than the Galactic Alliance's own. They were called galactic credits for a reason, after all, and devaluation was universal among the system - if there wasn't unity, the entire galactic economy would be disjointed and fail to function. Onrai chose to ignore the ploy and instead put forward a solution.

"You say that we would need a fleet to control the hyperlane and prevent enemy shipping. I have that, I have skilled naval staff with decades of service behind them, and I have the fuel and resources to sustain their position at the nadir of the route for several years." Of course that depended on how big of a fleet was needed, but antimatter and provisions were hardly an issue. Fuel for starfighters and transports was also stored away and safely in a place where the Alliance would have a difficult time retrieving it.

"In short, if we are wanting to commit to pursuit of control of the hyperlanes as opposed to initially acquiring and restoring manufacturing infrastructure, I am willing to directly commit resources towards that effect. The Grand Admiral knows my committal will be sincere and the resources I have will be enough to offer such as we press for our own growth of commercial trade along the route, presuming we cannot simply turn the worlds we now control into net exporters to generate effectual revenue for the faction."

 

[Donne Toulemonde]

OBJECTIVE 2

Maestus | Onrai | Adeline Noctua



There was a focus that Donne had mastered long ago, before she had joined the Knights Obsidian. Long before she had embraced the Sith or the Anti-Force or any other machination of power that she could study and absorb willingly. With her psychometric powers as strong as they had ever been, there was something about forcing herself to be present, when her natural talents felt and heard the past so readily. She listened to the small talk between Onrai and Maestus and nodded, trying once again to focus her powers where they would be needed. She could subdue the whispers around her if she chose to think on the now, the task that would need her attention.

Her hair was tied back in a small ponytail, almost girlish in her womanly visage. She was fine figure, still a beauty with her half-Echani features growing in maturity and refinement as she aged. However, the practicality of the drop would mean she did not need her thick hair blowing about her. She would surely remove it upon landing, no doubt.

She looked at Maestus and allowed her thoughts to wander for a moment. A storm of conflicting emotions brewed within her. The anticipation of battle coursed through her veins like wildfire, yet alongside it, a tangled web of uncertainty and unease loomed. Beside her stood the apprentice of her former master's enemy – a fact that in the past would have ignited nothing but bitterness and resentment.

But time had a curious way of reshaping the contours of their hearts. Donne and her former rival had reconciled, burying the hatchet that once divided them. Yet, as they prepared to face the imminent chaos of combat together, doubts gnawed at the edges of Donne's resolve. Would their newfound truce hold under the pressure of battle? Could they set aside the ghosts of the past and fight as one?

She was all too familiar with the ghosts of the past...

She stole a glance at her companion, catching the glint of determination in their eyes. Despite their tumultuous history, Donne saw a reflection of her own resolve mirrored back at her. They shared a common purpose now – to emerge victorious from the crucible of war. But still, she couldn't shake the shadow of doubt that lingered in the recesses of her mind. She looked to her Mistress and was awed. She had not felt admiration before meeting Onrai . Though she feared her, there was a trust. Perhaps it was ill-placed but she had, in her weariness, given over to daring to find some warmth in their companionship.

In the heat of battle, cooperation was not merely a choice, but a necessity. Every move had to be executed with precision, every decision made with clarity of purpose. Donne had to trust in her companion's abilities, just as they had to trust in hers. Their lives, and perhaps the fate of countless others, depended on their ability to synchronize their efforts seamlessly.

As the moment of reckoning drew near, Donne steeled herself for the trials ahead. The battlefield knew no allegiance to past grievances or newfound alliances – only the relentless march of conflict. In the crucible of combat, they would forge a bond stronger than any enmity that once divided them. Together, they would face the storm, united in purpose and resolved to emerge victorious, no matter the cost.

They dropped.

She fell, gasping a little as the shock of the air stole all hope of focus. She strove to regain her resolve, her legs sure that they would find their target, a feeling she had known since she was a small child. The Force would catch her step.

She landed, no more heavy than a street cat and looked about. She kept her sabre at her side, the blade not yet drawn. She called out after Onrai and Maestus.

"Shall we get this over with then?"

She followed her companions, in hope if nothing else.

 

[Marlon Sularen]

B L O O D_O N_T H E_S A N D
Objective : The Tribunal

DARK EMPIRE
CADEMIMU V, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

After Sularen spoke, the members of the Tribunal were soon joined by Executor Varanin who proceeded to sit down right next to the Despot's Chair, before proceeding to speak. As she spoke, she made mention of the emerging Mandalorian Protectors and how they would inevitably turn their sights against the Sith Order before further suggesting that they moved southwards to secure the Southern border and secure a supposed trade hub that lay near the Southern terminus of the Braxant Run.

Once the Executor finished, Councilwoman Suu stepped in challenging Sularen's idea that they had enough capital to begin building up the foundation of the Imperial War Machine before responding to Executor Varanin's statements, pointing out to the potential complications that attempting to blockade the Hydian Way would bring to both the Military and the Economy. Then it was Onrai's turn who offered to add her own financial and military assets to the growing arsenal of the Dark Empire in order to alleviate both issues, which would most certainly fix the issue regarding financial affairs but woudn't be enough to realize Executor Varanin.

Once the other members of the Tribunal had finished speaking, the Grand Admiral proceeded to speak up once more, this time offering his input on the Executor's proposal. "Securing control over the Braxant Run would be very beneficial for the Imperial economy yes, however there are some flaws with Executor Varanin's plan." Sularen began. "First, is the fact the Mandalorian Protectors control the junction between the Braxant Run and the Hydian Way thus giving them the ability to cut off any sort of trade flowing in and out of the Braxant Run through the Hydian Way, which would most likely happen once they become more aware of our presence nearby. Next, there is the issue regarding the possible deployment of Naval Assets to seize control over the Hydian Way in order to cut off enemy shipping." The Grand Admiral continued. "While on paper it is a sound strategy, we will be operating in enemy territory and the Protectors will most likely receive the support of the Alliance on top of that."

"I do believe that Councilwoman's Suu's original proposal would be more feasible both in the short-term in the long-term, but it would also be important to begin laying out the foundation for what will eventually become the Imperial Military-Industrial Complex that will fuel our war effort." The Grand Admiral would then shift the map towards the northern border of the Empire. "That being said, it is in my opinion that we move north and secure the worlds of Yaga Minor, Prefsbelt IV, Scipio, Mygetto, Entralla and Muunilinst first in order to consolidate our position before concerning ourselves with the Mandalorians" the Grand Admiral proclaimed.

"Let those Mandalorians waste whatever little resources they've gathered fighting the False Sith while we build up our Industry and Economy. By the time we end up fighting the Protectors we should be able to sweep against them with relative ease."

Tag | Jin Kyrel | Onrai | Aerarii Tithe | Meii-Nu Suu | Ibaris Varanin ​

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

THE TRIBUNAL // CADEMIMU V
Jin Kyrel | Marlon Sularen | Ibaris Varanin | Meii-Nu Suu | Onrai | Open

The members of the Tribunal each presented their case, an outwardly public show of support for the Dark Empire concealing a personal grab for power and influence. Tithe knew the only thing that could be trusted in these halls was self-interest - to think otherwise was folly. Each and every one of them, Tithe included, would turn on the others without hesitation if it brought them closer to their goal. And if there were any too weak to act, Tithe did not wish to work with them. Nothing short of insatiable hunger would drop the new Empire.

“You know, it's quite the unexpected turn of events, but I find myself in agreement with the Grand Admiral,” Tithe explained as Marlon Sularen proposed expansion to the galactic north. “And trust me when I say, no one is more astonished by this revelation than yours truly!” The Aargauun manipulated the holomap above the conference table to isolate the area described by Sularen.

“The Braxant Run, my dear friends, serves as a vital trade artery, granting seamless passage to the esteemed banking worlds, as well as the historically Imperialist bastions of Yaga Minor and Prefsbelt IV. It is through this intricate network that we find both the means of production and the abundant coffers necessary to sustain them.” The region had been a stronghold for the New Imperial Order, and the Sith Empire before that. Tithe had himself ruled over the area as a Sith-Imperial Moff. While not every inhabitant would welcome another Empire, allies would be more abundant than elsewhere in the galaxy.

“And yes, while there are those who advocate for a bold strategy of aggressive expansionism against our adversaries, I must caution that exercise prudence and urge restraint. Our standing in the market is precarious at best. It is imperative that we first secure a firm foothold before we embark on a campaign to outpace our competitors.”

 

[Jon Hojkstra]

Objective II
​

As Jon emerged from the tunnels, he found himself faced with the imposing facade of Warlord Andren's palace. The structure loomed before him like a an edifice of all that had gone wrong with the Empire, of the corruption and greed that had led to the death of his unit.

Rage burned like fuel.

The guards outside never stood a chance. Blaster shots rang out like thunder, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. Blood sprayed across the ground as bodies dropped, littering the courtyard with the fallen. Inside, chaos erupted as Jon unleashed his wrath upon the warlord's lackeys. His blaster spat fire and fury, tearing through flesh and bone with savage brutality.

Screams echoed through the halls as he cut down anyone standing in his way; room after room, the killer left a trail of carnage in his wake. Bodies piled up as he moved like a tempest through the palace, his thirst for vengeance pressing him on and on.

 

[Meii-Nu Suu]

Jin Kyrel Marlon Sularen Ibaris Varanin Aerarii Tithe Onrai Zethran Cott

Meii-Nu couldn't help but grimace briefly before resuming her usual empathetic expression. Her clever tactic of using complex economic jargon to complicate the meeting was swiftly countered by the outspoken Onrai , who effortlessly dismantled her arguments like a skilled politician in such a way to paint herself as a valuable commodity amongst the ranks of the new regime.

This unexpected turn of events presented a challenging obstacle to the Trade Federation's plan to monopolize the Dark Empire's future industrial sectors much like they had done during the New Imperial Order, with Onrai having significant resources that could contribute to their cause without the risks of entrusting a singular corporation with such an operation.

She analyzed the points of the rebuttal - adjusting the reading glasses as the information on her personalized data pad confirmed such reports of accelerated growth across those worlds.

Grand Admiral Marlon Sularen further added to the discussion by pointing out several complications that they might encounter in the aforementioned operations such as the threat of the Mandalorian Protectors nearby the Hydian Way - Braxant Run Junction. The proposal to capture, Yaga Minor, Prefsbelt IV, Scipio, Mygetto, Entralla and Muunilinst was acceptable to the Gossam.

The Snake - Aerarii Tithe made sure to voice his opinion of support for the Grand Admiral's revised proposal, pronouncing himself
as a useful ally in any such endeavors due to having extensive knowledge of the New Imperial Order and Sith Empire's economic networks, and potential information about new resources hidden during the height of both of those empires which could be utilized for the new government.

"It seems we have formulated a policy of selective expansionism with corporate characteristics, combining both outlines into a singular vision will ensure a solid economic and industrial foundation for ourselves. I'm sure we are all in agreement that our priorities at the moment should be the occupation of Yaga Minor, Prefsbelt IV, Scipio, Mygetto, Entralla and Muunilinst in the following months once the adequate fleets have been gathered for such a monumental assignment." - She explained in a more bureaucratic tone to direct the conversation into one more favorable of the Trade Federation's open-market viewpoints with imperial additions to not upset the Imperial Bloc of the Tribunal entirely.

"I want to divert the topic away from economic fair towards one of more military matters, with the expertise and guidance of our military officials. It seems our naval construction efforts are built around ISD Class Vessels in the more traditional imperial stylization, which come with a wide range of weaknesses. Weaknesses we can ill afford to have when going up against the large arsenal of the Alliance."

 

[Onrai]

Objective 3
Tags: Jin Kyrel Marlon Sularen Ibaris Varanin Aerarii Tithe Zethran Cott Meii-Nu Suu

"The Mandalorian Protectors will not be an issue long-term, Grand Admiral." Perhaps it was Onrai's presumption that, as a more mercenary faction, their loyalty to the Galactic Alliance could yet be broken. Already she sought to appeal to them through the proffering of long-forgotten knowledge and artifacts, the remnants of the society the Mandalorians had once forged. When Notron was acquired by the Empire and integrated into its territory, she knew where to dig and what to search for in the vein of Taung relics from the war with the Thirteen Battalions of Zhell, to give the Mandalorians a piece of their long-forgotten history in exchange for agreements - perhaps one to not work with the Alliance, or perhaps one to more directly serve her interests.

The flattery of Aerarii to Grand Admiral Sularen was almost choking in its insincerity. Yes, he wanted a piece of the Imperial economic pie. This wasn't surprising, but whether it would interfere with Onrai's economic side of things was another question. She had particular reasons for wanting to reinvigorate the economic structure of both her corporation and her people in the decades of harsh living in Otherspace they had undergone. To his response she merely gave a nod - the short-term growth schema of the Empire had apparently been concurred upon by the Tribunal, and thus there was no reason to linger on the topic longer. Expansion would happen as it happened.

It was fortunate for Onrai's avatar present at the meeting in question that, in her prior mortal life, she had worked in the corporate world as the head of a particularly tenacious starship manufacturing corporation. Having dealt with governmental assaults, embargoes, and the general nonsense of people, she had been able to effectively unravel the attempt by Meii-Nu to over-leverage the Trade Federation's actual assets in order to gain more influence within the Empire. And while the Trade Federation had been around for many years, she had as well - including past interaction within multiple iterations of the old Confederacy itself. The shift towards the structure, or rather, the restucture, of fleet assets then came to mind.

"The designs of my shipwrights have served powers across the galaxy for decades. My flagship itself is a testament to that, a veteran of the old Confederacy of Independent Systems, of Sith Empires, of warlord and schismatic factions, and a survivor of a thousand battles." The last comment was in part allegory - she had lost track on how many clashes the Ablution had been through. "I have crippled everything from the old Alliance fleet to the dreadnoughts of my enemies, and the lives slain at the hands of their weapons could populate an ecumenopolis or two. But above that, my designs were intended for ease of retrofit and manufacture." A hologram of the Pluton-class battleship came into view. It was showcases to the attendees that the ship had been made of cast prefabricated duranium modules that were assembled and fitted out at a significantly cheaper and faster pace than other comparable warships. The hologram also showcased the ease with which outdated systems and armaments could be removed and replaced with new technology through partial disassembly of one or more modules and reassembly therein.

"Reprocessing the mothballed hulls of past warships and modernizing them with the latest in arms and armor is, fiscally speaking, the most appropriate option we can pursue - I've done the calculations myself, and they are on full display here. We have little if any reason to build a new fleet from scratch when there are so many spaceframes for us to use. Additionally, the hardware is familiar enough to many among us - I certainly have more than my fair share of personnel who can help train Imperial pilots and naval officers on the use of any vessels upgraded and returned to service."

 

[Jon Hojkstra]

Objective II
​

Jon kicked open the door to Warlord Andren's chambers, his blaster gripped tightly in his hand, ready to mete out justice. The warlord's eyes widened in terror as Jon advanced towards him, his footsteps echoing ominously in the grand chamber.

There was no hesitation in the veteran's movements as he closed the gap between them. With a swift motion, he grabbed Andren by the collar and slammed him against the shatterproof window, the glass vibrating with the force of the impact.

With a savage fury, he smashed Andren's head against the unyielding glass.

"You can't break this glass." he said. "But you hit it hard enough again and again—maybe twenty-five or thirty times—eventually you'll bend the frame."

Again.

Again

And again.

Each blow reverberated with a sickening crunch of bone colliding with unyielding glass as blood sprayed across the window.

When the ex-storm commando left Andren's lifeless body to crumple to the ground, he stepped back, chest heaving with a mixture of adrenaline and exhaustion.

You reap what you sow; the same protective walls Andren had erected now became the instruments of his own demise.

 

[Jin Kyrel]

Location: Imperial Ruling Council
Tags: Ibaris Varanin Marlon Sularen Onrai Aerarii Tithe Meii-Nu Suu

Detritus would remain silent as the proceedings of the meeting took place. Next to the Emperor was he told that this Council would deal with all matters pertaining to the Emperor's plans. He had a grand vision in place, it was fair that even he couldn't deal with every matter that requires much ruling. Detritus knew little of his own place, for he represented the spiritual matters regarding the Maw, and here he was granted a seat on the council. Though he lacks in politics did he make up for in religious fervor and bloodlust. Perhaps he might have had insight into matters of politics within this Empire.

He listened closely to the words being said. Talks of taxes, Hyperspace Lanes, and any that might oppose the Empire. His attention was then directed to another shadowy figure. A woman who was said to be the head of the Emperor's mysterious Dark Side Elite. Detritus saw her as another Force Wielder although not particularly Sith, no she was something else. Detritus would give her a nod of respect as she went inside and made herself known before the Council. There was much planning, much to take care of if one was to secure the future of this very Empire.

Detritus would finally clear his throat, as a way for him to interject himself into the conversation. "The Braxant Run, Hydian Way. Best tool I can think of next to navies, is to use fear to keep our enemies in line. They submit to the benevolence to the Empire, or they suffer the full might of our wrath. Blockades or navies will not do this, but perhaps to use the persuasive methods of our ISB will make sure that the citizens know which lines to follow. "

He rested both of his hands together on the desk. He was shaky as he looked to the others, before he managed to continue. "The Alliance, and even the Mandalorians are considered a threat. Make no mistake of that, if our Emperor's designs are to be fulfilled then we must watch our foes with great care. No one is ruled out as foes against us, for our Emperor seeks glorious rebirth. Many would not take his plans lightly, we must be vigilant in our advance. There are also long standing Imperial worlds that will flock to our cause." He said as he remembered how many across the galaxy truly wished for an Imperial resurgence once more.​

 

[Marlon Sularen]

B L O O D_O N_T H E_S A N D
Objective : The Tribunal

DARK EMPIRE
CADEMIMU V, OUTER RIM TERRITORIES

Sularen listened as the members of the Tribunal brought forth their case, with Tithe agreeing with his proposal to expand northwards to incorporate the six planets that the Grand Admiral had mentioned earlier while also urging caution and restraint in order to ensure that the Empire's Economy could properly develop before seeking to aggressively compete with their rivals such as the Galactic Alliance. Councilwoman Suu was next to weigh in her opinion, once more agreeing with Sularen's proposal before moving forth to shift the topic towards military affairs, questioning the use of the traditional Imperial line of warships, whom were known to be long plagued with design flaws that were often exploited by enemy forces.

In addition to this, both Onrai and Detritus Ren would further add their own input, with Onrai rebuking Sularen's belief that the Mandalorians posed a threat to Imperial plans while also suggesting that the Imperial Navy would make use of her own ships retrofitted with modern weapons and equipment rather then building their own fleet - something which on paper would be a good strategy but would be terrible in practice given the versatility of the GADF Navy. Ren on the other hand would reinforce Sularen's concerns about the Mandalorians and instead move forth to propose methods from which the Empire could use to keep them at bay and reduce the threat the Protectors posed to the Empire.

"I will agree with the Master of Ren here. Not only do we have the Galactic Alliance and the Mandalorian Protectors to deal with, but we also have Rival Sith and Imperials in the form of the Sith Order and the Empire of the Lost who will most certainly challenge our legitimacy in the future. As Ren has suggested, in order to keep these threats at bay it would be wise to use our Intelligence and Special Forces assets to subvert them and slowly dismantle their influence or at least halt their growth in order to ensure our own continued growth so that we may one day eclipse them in power and claim our rightful place as the one true empire." Sularen proclaimed in response to Detritus Ren's statement

"As for the Navy, i can assure you all that our new warships will be far superior to the older generation of ships once fielded by both the Empire and the Maw, combining all the strengths with none of the weaknesses." Sularen continued, now addressing Suu's concerns about the future of the Imperial Navy. "As for your proposal Onrai, while it is somewhat sound, the priority of the Imperial Navy is to focus on Quality and Innovation over Quantity and Renovation. I believe that a Fleet with fewer ships equipped with advanced technologies and exotic weapons will be far superior to a larger fleet that would only use standard technologies and weaponry and as such it would be best to prioritize the construction of newer ships such as the Zero Corporation's Despot-Class Star Destroyer" Sularen added in response to Onrai's statements.

"In our current situation, we lack the industrial or economic capacity to even rival the vast armada fielded by the Galactic Alliance Defense Force but we also can't just focus on retrofitted older ships whose quality compared to their Alliance counterparts would be on par at best and inferior at worse, none of which would be desirable as we need to be able effectively project our power with smaller fleets if we are to even stand a chance against our more established foes."

Tag | Jin Kyrel | Onrai | Aerarii Tithe | Meii-Nu Suu | Ibaris Varanin | Zethran Cott ​

 

[Xochilt]

​

Objective One
Alicia Drey | Amena Kader

​

With a fluid grace, Xóchitl took her place along side the strike team, her movements as silent as a whisper. As the strike team fanned out around Alicia Drey , taking up strategic positions, the Zeltron surveyed the dimly lit hallway with a steely determination.

The piercing wail of a siren echoed through the facility, accompanied by the monotone voice of the intercom, urging evacuation.

As they made they way into the facility, Xóchitl wondered what sort of trouble would find them.

It didn’t take long for fleeing workers and a few guards to unfortunately stumble across them Enroute to the control center.

“Wait— who are you? Guards?!” A flurry of blaster fire was shot at their direction from two guards. With three workers cowering behind cargo crates.

Xóchitl took her blaster and immediately took aim, the strike team already sending a volley towards the guards to dispatch them.

Their bodies fell in a thud.

Now only the workers were next.

 

[Alicia Drey]

Tags: Xochilt Amena Kader

Lightsaber in tow Ayra assumed the opening stance to Soresu as she guards came around the corner. The cacophony of turbolasers fired, with the flow of green and red streams of light dancing between the hallway, overshadowed the siren which blared over head. Raising her weapon and allowing the Force to flow through her Ayra predicted the incoming volley fired in her direction. The crimson light at the tip of her hilt intercepted each blast that would have caused severe injury, or death, to redirect it away from her into the nearby walls and ceiling. Some even reflected back in the direction of the guards that were firing at herself, Xochilt and Amena.

Darth Ayra was no Jedi. Instead of using her blade to defend herself and the strike team that she had transported to the facility, Ayra only focused on her own self-defence. Her body weaved in between the members of the strike team and there she used them as shields in the face of the incoming turbolaser fire. In these actions Ayra showed that she really was a devout follower of the dark side. She focused inwards, and was only about herself. The strike team- this attack on Ord Cantrell and it's people- were mere means to an end.

 

[Vora Kaar]

TAGS: Jin Kyrel | Onrai | Aerarii Tithe | Meii-Nu Suu | Ibaris Varanin | Zethran Cott | Marlon Sularen | Zethran Cott |

It was rather bold of the individual garbed in light armor, and a Mask to obscure his face, showing up in the middle of a tribunal for the Imperial forces minds could muster together. However, the rather tenuous invitation by former comrades of his from years ago had drawn the Sith Lord out of his little hole in the galaxy. Vora Kaar had been an individual who many Sith in the past had despised for his views upon Sith, Jedi and the force. More over, his actions taken against other former Sith Factions that had failed to produce results. For him, it was a necessary evil to let go of personal gain, in order to survive in this new generation of warfare for the Imperial Nationalist factions that had sprung up. One that drew his mind to it, was the Dark Empire. One in which a few of known faces had joined with. One individual in particular had voiced very highly of their Emperor and his vision. Thus, why he joined.

However, the distance had taken some time to fill. Hence his tardiness. Entering the room, just as who would be the Grand Admiral was speaking, speaking of the Galactic Alliance Defense Force, Vora Kaar knew just enough from there to fill in his own.

"The Defense Force has amassed such force by only defending their own space. Slowly growing via integrations of diplomacy. Current Imperial and Sith regimes have not been able to catch up purely due to lack of preparedness. When was the last time any of you have accounted for the Alliance for going on the offensive with their full might?"

Sure, Vora did not directly argue against what had been said, but was more so pointing out to the Grand Admiral as well as others in the room that if they wanted to be on the same power bracket as the Galactic Alliance, there was more than just pushing out ships with new technology, or retrofitting older ones. His vision turned to the Master Ren. One who he had heard of in the past, but not openly met or spoke to. Mostly due to Vora being on one side of the galaxy, while he was on the other. A simple nod was thrown his direction as acknowledgement of his presence. Onrai he had heard before as well, however, her reputation preceded her. One that he was not personally fond of, and thus did nothing to. The others? New faces, and introductions personally would have to be done at a later time.

"Having been invited by an old comrade of mine, tardiness it not a common occurrence of mine. Vora Kaar, Last Sovereign of the Warlords. My intentions here are to introduce what little remains of my people to the Dark Empire. Questions of that can be sorted later after the premise of this tribunal has been adjourned."

 

[Amena Kader]

VIPER
MINING RIG | ORD CANTRELL
TAG: Xochilt | Alicia Drey

AGE OF AQUARIUS​

It was too easy.

The middle-aged Inquisitor knew better than to expect everything just falling into place. Knew better than to trust a Sith with anything. She knew somewhere, something will go wrong.

They managed to enter the rig easily enough, but sure enough, it wasn't completely empty yet. Some guards and workers rounded the corner just as the women were about to move forward.

The Viper's argent blade sprang to life before they realised what they were seeing. She instinctively moved in front of the group to fall into a defensive stance. A good thing, too, as the firefight erupted in the hallway. The damnable Sith did what Sith did best - used their own men as fodder.

Instead of engaging any of the guards, she just ignited her second blade of the saber and kept any blasterfire from breaking through to the non-Force Users behind her, giving the Zeltron Spook and the rest of the task force the chance of making quick work of the small threat.

When only the wail of the alarm could be heard again, Amena straightened up, disengaging the double blade, disgust written all over her Kandaran features. Hatred for the Sith sat thick in her throat. They were lucky just now. Next time might not go so smoothly.
"Stuff your Sith pride for when you are alone on an op. Here and now, we need everyone on this team alive for it to be successful against these traitors. If the Bureau doesn't snuff you out after Xochilt reports back what transpired today, I'll do it if you continue to be a liability for the Empire." she hissed at Ayra, hazel eyes flashing. "Now, let's meet up with this contact of yours and get this job done."

With that, she marched ahead.

 

[Xochilt]

​

Objective One
Alicia Drey | Amena Kader

​

It took all the Zeltron could to ensure she did not telepathically or emotionally relay the annoyance she felt regarding the situation. That they hadn't lost anyone due to Amena Kader assistance was a miracle.

Xochilt's eyes would glitter in veiled aggravation. She had barely managed to dodge a shot redirected in her direction, the Zeltron whipping her white head over towards Alicia Drey . What she couldn't state aloud, Amena Kader managed to perfectly dictate that all had to work together with this mission. The last thing they needed was for this to fail due to friendly fire.

This was one of the reasons why the Special Agent preferred to work alone or with others of her kind. Let the Sith and the Force users deal with things on their own.

While they argued, Xochilt bent down, checking for any clearance cards and the like that might be useful. Thankfully, one of them had a datapad that appeared to provide a map of the facility. Using the pilfered access card and a thumb biometric from the workers, she pulled up the map.

"The control room isn't too far off. We will need to take a lift to the second level where it lays. I can check to see if any of these access cards allow us entry --" a pause looking at Alicia, "Unless your contact will be providing us the way, my lord."

 

[Alicia Drey]

Tags: Xochilt Amena Kader

Darth Ayra stood up to her full height as the fire fight ended. A faint stench of smoke and ozone filled the hallway. It was extremely hot here, with areas of the hall caught on fire from where stray turbolasers had failed to land on their mark. Sweat clung onto Ayra and made her clothes feel heavy. Thumbing the activation button on her hilt Ayra deactivated the Lightsaber blade and lowered her arm as Amena berated her. A look of pure disgust crept over the blondes face as the former Imperial Knight turned Inquisitor spoke. Her gaze averted from Kader to Xochilt as she asked her question, and Ayra felt the eyes of what was left of their strike team staring at her. It was a tense situation.

"Our associate seems to have a handle on things," Ayra replied to Xochilt while turning to stare back at Kader. "Take the lead, Inquisitor."

With a gesture of her right hand Ayra indicated that Amena should run the OP now. She had done her part getting them into the facility. As Ayra glared back at Amena she made note of her threat and would remember it going forwards. After all, to underestimate your opponent was an invitation to catastrophe, and Ayra never underestimated anyone.