Capitalist with a Gun: Mandalorian Invasion of Roche (Mando vs Republic)

[Commander Lusk]

Location: Republic Garrison
Objective: Low G ground battle baby!
Allies: The People's Republic of the Republic [member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Dish"]
Enemies: Mandalorians [member="Elijah Rekali"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Popo"]
Invasion gear:

Spoiler

Weapons/Grenades: Equalizer Pulse Rifle, Sith Killer Rounds, Kalso's Revenge thermal detonator, flash bangs, smoke grenades.
Armor/Gear: Exo Suit Olympian armor

NPCs: Unspecified amounts of clone soldiers, more than likely a little less than 250 but strictly background noise for PVP

Spoiler

Clone Trooper
Combat Engineer
Combat Medic
Snipers
Comm operators
Naval Personnel

"Good to see you too Keira! We gotta move, and move now! Incoming mando forces are storming Nickel One." Lusk said as he slammed a magazine into his rifle.

"We can talk later." Lusk said as he his mood shifted and he put a hand on Keira's shoulder, giving her a nod from behind his helmet.

"Move out!!" Lusk said to his clone brothers and sisters as everyone moved into the drop ships.

With everyone inside the ships Lusk loaded himself into a separate ship from Keira and Dish. The doors closed in front of him and everything went silent.

[media] https://vimeo.com/57832093 [/media]​

The ships lifted off with the clone forces aboard and there was a silent tension between everyone. Where normally there would be jeers, small talk, private pump up rituals, speeches, there was none of that. There was only silence as the ships ventured out into the black void of space. Only silence inside and out knowing what was about to happen.

The blackness inside the dropship ceased and a dull red light flickered on above them. Each clone there knew they were about to go fight the men and women that trained them, and while they could certainly handle the situation they didn't want to. They didn't want to fight those who cared for them, the ones they held in such high regard. Lusk felt it more than anyone, he had fallen from the righteous path of battle by having loyalty to the republic. And now look at what was happening, he'd have to slay the people he knew and loved.

The shuttle around them shook and soon dove down hard, the clones inside shifted and bounced around. Lusk fell and hit the ground hard as the dropships punched forward avoiding fighters and escorts to other mandalorian drop barges.

"Get us on Nickel One now Lieutenant!!" Lusk yelled into his mic to the pilot.

"I can't get you in the base! Too much heat for a landing! Gonna have to touch and go two hundred meters from the base!" The Isard pilot said with a grunt.

"Keira! Dish! Get your squads ready for a touch and go! Make sure all suits are sealed!" Lusk said as the light turned green above head.

It was already time to go. The doors of the ship unlocked and the clones thankfully had magnetic boots allowing them to quickly and orderly touch down on the surface of the massive asteroid a good two hundred meters away from the republic base. They were the quick reaction force of the battle and they were going to set up the first line of defense towards the base.

"INCOMING DROPSHIPS!!" Lusk said towards said ships [member="Vilaz Munin"] and company were coming from.

The clones quickly scattered out and began to open fire on the ships with blasters, rockets, and whatever else. Mandalorian drop ship shields could take it for a bit of course, but the idea was to pull forces towards them and make sure the other clone forces who were preparing had enough time to make it over to the station to make sure it was hardened.

 

[Gabriel Sionoma]

Medical Relief Efforts
Location: Medical Aid Station - Roche Asteroids (Not located on Nickel One)
Medics: [member="Vaet"], [member="Kana Truden"], [member="Avalore Eden"]
Protectors: @Jason Voidstatham [member="Julius Sedaire"]
Injured Party: N/A

He stopped in his tracks, his jovial expression darkening at the call of his brothers name. As if it were his own. How long, he wondered, would he have to bleed and sacrifice for the lightside before the stain of that existence would be washed away. The answer was likely as simple as the question, never. Because each old face, lost to some corner of the galaxy or crossing the lines of good and bad, would recall the travesties of the life that preceded this one. But as soon as he was inclined to turn and face the woman, to respond to what he might interpret as an accusation, Ava piped up to remind him of all the work he had done. It reminded him of the accusations by other members of the faction, as misguided as this blonde woman was now, in thinking he was anything like Reverance. The two couldn't be further from each other, the physical space now between them as much as a literal thing as it was a symbolic spiritual chasm.

Having tensed at the name, he lowered his shoulders and clicked the lift back on, as he heard the words of the captain. Turning his head to Kana, he narrowed his brown eyes. "That's not my name. A lot has changed since Kashyyyk." Of course, he remembered her. And he remember that man that was killed along side her, the mercy given for the recovery of his body. Perhaps the fleck of influence he had to prevent the destruction of that mortal coil, so that it could receive proper burial. Turning back towards the lift, he revved it back up and pushed it towards the belly of the ship. If the woman was looking to not make friends, she was doing a wondrous job.

His form receded even further, intent on being out and ready to receive the injured.

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Location: Hyperspace En-route for Kashyyyk
Allies: [member="Gir Quee"], [member="Abigail Selonna"] [member="James Justice"] Republic Fleet and its Alies
Enemies: [member="Captain Larraq"], Mando Fleet and its alies
Objective: Fleet
Fleet: 6975 meters

Spoiler

Champion-class Star Destroyer 1,505 meters
Arendal-class Heavy Cruiser 800 meters
Arendal-class Heavy Cruiser 800 meters
Annihilator-class Fire Support Cruiser 750 meters
Annihilator-class Fire Support Cruiser 750 meters
Kantos-class War Frigate 300 meters
Kantos-class War Frigate 300 meters

Kantos-class War Frigate 300 meters

Marksman-class Frigate 270 meters
Marksman-class Frigate 270 meters
Marksman-class Frigate 270 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters


Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters

Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters

Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters

Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters

Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters
Intersector-class War Sloop 55 meters

Reshmar drank from the liquid supply tube to his command chair and looked over a letter from fleet command concerning the latest operational fleet deployment. Since Contruum the fleet has undergone retooling and reorganization. Many of the old commanders and ships had now been assigned to rear posting awaiting re-evaluation. Reshmar had been asked to develop a new rapid deployment force by the newly crated JFOS, Joint Fleet Operations Services. Admiral Que had requested his assistance in person at their last meeting. The two men had been working closely as of late, working towards a partnership between Lucerne Labs and The Mon Calamari Shipyards. The endeavor had been proceeding well, and the two organizations were about to start their first joint project. The Republic Losses at Contruum and Balmorra had severely delayed the project, and Reshmar had felt obligated to assist his new friend if not for any other reason than to get the joint project underway. Tian currently looked up from his reading as the ships of the 31st rapid response fleet dropped out of hyperspace en-route for Kashyyk. The group had been tasked with transporting the last of the defensive garrison forces to the newly reclaimed world. materials, supplies and over ten thousand engineering personnel. The lay over would olny take a moment as the ships of the battlegroup redeployed and began moving into position for the final jump to Kashyyyk.

"Admiral, You have a message marked urgent. Fleet Admiral Que sir." said a squat human standing at the comm station. Reshmar nodded and the call was sent to his command chair. Reshmar opened the message and read over it in silence. A grim expression began to creep in over face as he finished the message and closed it. Reshmar swung his chair around to address Captain Rynol. The Duro captain turned and waited what ever it was the Admiral was about to say.

"Captain, Break off the Hansly and Rouke to escort the Engineering team to Kashyyk. Then plot me a course to Roche. The fastest one possible."

 

[Arrbi Betna]

Location: Roche asteroids
Allies: Mandalorians
Enemies: [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Sannika Brynn"], [member="Oddball"]
Objective: Engage and destroy enemy starfighters


Betna kept his approach low and slow; that is, he made sure not to move too quickly and to avoid any clouds of dust or debris. Just because you couldn't be seen didn't mean you couldn't be spotted.

He ran the fighter through a quick diagnostics check while he flicked through his sensor data. Nothing outside of the usual was coming up, the fighting hadn't technically started just yet, and all looked about as well as it should. Once he was done with the sensors on the ship, he started flipping through his helmet scopes while looking around through the canopy. Infrared turned up nothing nearby, which was good so far. He was a bit away from the rest of the fleet and while he was able to get quick support should he need it, it wasn't like he was flying in the safety of a formation.

He swapped to the thermal vision on his helmet and, while it lacked the refinement of the longer ranged scanners on board his starfighter, his starfighter didn't have thermal scopes... at least, not yet. What his starfighter didn't have the ability to spot, his helmet did.

Space was a constant menagerie of extreme heat and extreme cold, which made thermal imaging a fairly easy way of detection. That said, some areas had an odd mix that made thermal imaging, while easy to do, hard to consider reliable or even readable. Asteroids made it even harder, what with some sides being hotter, others being colder, and the constant spinning and rotation here and there. It was almost entirely impossible to discover anything inside an asteroid field short of something causing a massive heat bloom.

Or moving in formation.

He almost passed it up, but decided to watch the smaller signatures for a moment or two. He wasn't sure if they were just an odd assortment of asteroids moving in a similar direction or if they were actually someone sneaking about.

A few moments more of watching confirmed it. It was either the most unlikely and ludicrous assortment of small asteroids moving through an asteroid field, or it was enemy ships moving to flank and engage the main fleet.

He kept the stygium cloak on and the engines low, but brought the ship around in a slow banking maneuver. The goal? To flank and maneuver behind the enemy activity, half to confirm they were, in fact, starfighters and half to place himself in their blind spot to attack from an advantageous position.

 

[Travot Ravenna]

Location: Muurian transport Osprey, near Nickel One
Objective: Link up with Legionnaire Squadron
Allies: [member="Cuan Kunn"]
Enemies: [member="Jack Raxis"] | [member="Anija Betna"]
Gear: Muurian transport Osprey, various items found in bio

Chaos unfolded across the belt as outright war threatened to engulf the asteroid belt. Travot and Rami listened to the various broadcasts. Travot focused on flying the Osprey in the sometimes tumultous belt while Rami attempted to figure out their situation by fiddling with the comm system. The cerean briefly held the transmission on one channel.

"According to this, those ships over there...they are friendly," said Rami, pointing out at a cloud of gray specks, "I feel that we should work with them."

He's clearly more attuned to people's attitudes and the thread of fate than I am...but just to be on the safe side...Travot toggled the HUD to briefly sweep over those ships, which to Travot's surprise were a squadron of X-wings bearing Galactic Alliance transponders. Legionnaire squadron...sounds heroic and dedicated enough...Travot deftly pushed down the yoke just enough to take the Osprey in a gentle descent that would eventually allow the transport to swoop in to join their formation. Ravenna spared a sidelong glance at Rami.

"Go ahead and tell them that we'd like to join them," said the beefy man, "I didn't understand a word of their transmission."

"You've never been to Sullust then," replied the cerean, before he spoke into his comlink to announce their intention to [member="Cuan Kunn"].

As the cerean talked to Legionnaire squadron leader, Travot toggled his own headset to broadcast over the freighter's intercomm system, "Listen up everyone. The mandalorian clans have decided to attack Roche. We're going to help defend the Verpine from this aggression. Get ready to give us some help up here in the cockpit or wherever needed. But for starters, I need two of you in the gun turret wells."

Travot hated to thrust the younger ones into combat. He knew that many of them had experienced some form of it already, and even if they hadn't, they had been mentally preparing for that encounter for years already. Yet he felt that in some way, he was responsible for stripping away them of their innocence by taking the Osprey into combat. Yet at the same time, he knew that both he and Rami felt an obligation to defend the Republic just like the thousands if not millions of Jedi before them. As long as the Republic stood, it would have enemies that the jedi would have to fight. Enemies they would fight not for the Republic's sake, but enemies they would fight for the sake of the common man and their own sense of morality.

 

[Popo]

Location: Nickel One reactors
Allies: Mandos, [member="Vilaz Munin"], [member="Elijah Rekali"]
Enemies: Republic, [member="Ali Hadrix"]
Objective: Parade Raining

So far, nothing had bothered the reactors much. Sure, the place was swarming with Republic soldiers and the occasional firefight broke out from time to time among the prepared positions, but nothing major as of yet.

Popo sat in the red-tinted emergency lighting, waiting for the storm to come. So far, nothing. It was simultaneously disconcerting and enheartening. On one hand, perhaps the Republic had bigger problems on their hands than dealing with him, meaning the Republic was on the edge of defeat already. However, it could also mean that the Republic forces had no need to deal with him, meaning that there was power generating from somewhere else entirely.

The thought nagged at Popo, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. After a few minutes, he pulled out his datapad and moved to a dataport nearby. He plugged the jack into the port and booted up the datapad.

A few minutes of basic slicing told him which side of the scales he was on. Sure, it was a civilian station, but it seemed that at some point a secondary main reactor had been installed. Frowning, Popo realized he couldn't push out of the reactor with the small amount of troops he had.

Frustrating, but ultimately the Hutt knew that he didn't need to leave the room to do something. Immediately, he began setting up a proxy chain on his datapad, bouncing around and between various computers throughout the station. He crossed and recrossed the proxy sources, making it harder and harder to follow the route back. It took a few more minutes than he would have liked, but he knew it was necessary to prevent retribution. A few last minute firewalls and pitfalls set into the data stream secured his trail even further.

It wasn't impossible to follow the chain back to Popo, but it would take a skilled hacker more than just a few minutes to counter slice.

With that done, it was time to get straight to work. There were lives hanging in the balance...

 

[Lord Gaius]

Location: The Central Hub
Allies: Mandalorians
Enemies: [member="Sofia Annesley"], Republic
Gear: Vibroknucklers, CZ-835, CZ-839, CZ-840, Beskar'gam
__

The clip went empty. He jumped from cover, striding across the battlefield. His hands expertly pulled a clip and loaded the stun rounds into the pistol. The sniper wasn't distracted for long. He saw the beam slash across space. He prepared himself, sending his legs stiff. The blast washed over his plating. The outer layer boiled and a thin film peeled like a bad sunburn.

He stumbled and staggered, but kept running. As he was closing the distance to the building, he leapt. A flame burst to life, and then fire exploded from his JT-12 jet pack. He was instantly propelled into the air, homing in on the sniper with a three-second blast from the JT-12. He fired along his trajectory, making sure to sweep low. A full clip would rain down around her, peppering the area with 5mm stun rounds.

The jetpack sputtered and deactivated. He was starting to fall. Gyro-stabilizers applied counterthrust for maneuvering and landing as he slammed down on the roof. "Stand down, love, I'm not here to kill," he ordered.

 

[Valkren Calderon]

Location: The Central Hub
Allies: Saber Team and Republic Marine forces.
Enemies: [member="Katalyn"] + Mandalorian forces
Equipment: Armor + Communications pack | Rifle | Voice | Side Arm | Rotary Cannon + Thermal detonators. (Valkren's team of five men currently posses the same armaments that he does.)

Sergeant Valkren Calderon stood there, checking his 'Valor' assault rifle's settings before the battle at hand reached his unit. He knew that the Mandalorians would have breached the hanger easily, making that their main point of attack. Knowing that he had pulled back the main force of marines and his own team of Republic Commandos that he had known for so long into the corridor beyond that. They had set up three barricades along the three corridors, with a casualty collection point in the messhall a few meters behind them. The Central Hub was their main HQ, and they weren't about to let it fall. Even if the few forward scouts had fallen in the hanger, he wasn't about to let the Mandalorians even advance past the next corridors. He had the three units of marines form around each barricade, making ample defenses to keep the OPFOR forces at bay. He also had two of his own men on the two outer most corridors, O'Riley and O'Connor, wielding their Z-6 Rotary cannons to suppress any forces that came around.

Valkren stood there, amongst all of the Republic forces in the middle corridor. They weren't leaving the Central Hub unless it was after the assured safety of the location, or in a body bag. Valkren lifted his own Z-6 Rotary cannon, spinning it up, his Valor assault rifle hanging from his side just in case he needed to make a fast switch. His team had remained in constant contact with the scouts in the hanger so they all knew what was coming, and they were sure as hell prepared.

"Sir?" Michaels, their demolitions expert spoke up as he finished with a little 'project' he was setting up behind them. Himself and three other Republic marines were doing some very important demo work that they would use as a back up plan incase they needed to fall back directly behind the second line of defense.

"Watcha' got, Michaels?" Sergeant Calderon responded swiftly.

"Ready to kick some Mando ass?"

"You're damn right, son."

"The damn few, sir."

"Damn few."

As the mandalorian forces came around the corner, Valkren signaled for the Republic forces to unleash hell of them. With the tight corridor-style fighting, there would be almost no way they could advance at this moment with their constant fire along all three corridors. They'd have to wait until a break in the fire would happen. Valkren simply smirked as he held down the trigger on his cannon, a smirk that was commonly seen on commando's faces, one that was dreaded, one that had only been seen by those close enough to see through their dark visors. He simply hoped for the sake of the Mandalorian warriors that they would not get that close, or he would truly have to bring down the pain.

 

[Kamon Vondiranach]

Location: Nickel One
Objective: Verbal Combat
Enemies: [member="Vorhi Alestrani"]
Allies: Pubs
Gear: yada yada, same as before...

"Outcomes are rarely determined prior to battle. Only the foolish believe in predetermined winners. Sadly there are many fools in this galaxy."

This man was a curious one, but nonetheless he was clearly presenting himself as a danger. To Barrien that meant he was a threat, although a peaceable, seemingly honorable, one. As such, he would respond in kind. Truthfully, he would have responded the same way regardless of the opponent, but at least with this one it felt both warranted, and likely appreciated. Much better than dealing with mindless Sith drones. The galaxy was a much bigger place than the petty squabbles of two individuals could make a difference upon.

As the man introduced himself, a nod of greeting was given. The man was not yet worthy of a bow, but a nod was formal enough in the right circumstances. At the same time, he gently reached around and withdrew his lance, planing the business end on the floor in front of him and not making any aggressive moves. He had no intention of making any hostile move if he could avoid doing so.

"Curious you seek knowledge of the Republic from a Jedi that does not directly serve it," he says when the man has finished. "Forgive my manners, I will explain what I meant in a moment. My name is Barrien Siegfried. I am a Knight of the Jedi Order and Baron of House Siegfried of the world of Oaken Dawn. Under normal circumstances I would say it was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Alestrani, but I dare say that these are not normal circumstances."

He smiled a little beneath his helmet and drummed his fingers along the shaft of the lance as he did so.

"As for what I said before, I don't directly serve the Republic, though I do choose to aid it as the lone representative of my world to its Senate, though I dare say I am quite negligent in my senatorial duties. That comes from the fact that, first and foremost, I serve the people of this galaxy. My life is dedicated to protecting all life, regardless of whom it belongs to, even if they are an enemy of my ideals of peace and freedom.

"This is a goal passed down to me from my father, a man who failed to live to these goals, but whom wanted me to be better than he. He was a grandmaster of the Rogue Jedi Order, a people bent on freeing this galaxy from evil, regardless of the cost. Many things jaded him in life, including the loss of his parents, and his separation from his siblings, as I now know. He possessed a good heart, but did not have the willpower to follow it. In the end that led to his downfall, but gifted me purpose, and a greater vision for this galaxy.

"You see, Mr. Alestrani. I do not wish to fight you because the risk is too great that I might accidentally take your life and this galaxy would be a worse place for it. I will, if forced, defend myself, as I too am a member of this galaxy, but I hope you will consider what I have said and see that there is no reason for us to fight here. There is no reason for any of this fighting that's taking place, or about to, to happen. We can all walk away from this, and all of us live, or fight, and many will die for nothing more than these rocks floating in the midst of the vastness of the universe. What good does that do for anyone?"

[OOC: I didn't get your previous tag so you might want to PM me when you post. Sometimes tagging me doesn't actually work, for whatever reason.]

 

[Marcus Lok]

Location: Nickel One Incoming
Objective: Hack Security Terminals to ensure easier access for landing troops.
Allies: Mandalorians
Enemies: Over Confident Republic Henchmen
Gear: Beskar'gam, E-11 Blaster Rifle, 2x T-6 Blaster Pistols, Wrist Mounts, 2x Frag Grenades, 2x Anti-Force User Grenades


Marcus' breathing staggered slightly as a nearby blast rocked the dropship that he had been placed on with so many other vod. From the small viewports on the side of the vessel, he could see the occasional streaks of missile trails and sporadic laser fire flying between the other ships, and every so often one would receive an impact. The impacts themselves were not all that disconcerting, as the superior shielding of the dropships allowed them to survive most hits, but that still did not help the fact that the occasional ship would be hit critically and spiral out of control and out of view. He felt the lone bead of sweat drip down his spine beneath his armor and layers of clothing beneath, and he yearned for the door to open so that their great undertaking might begin.

Soon, one of the higher ranking of the drop ship's crew stood and announced their target destination was just ahead and that final preparations would be taken. His grip came firm around his rifle and soon he stood and grabbed hold of the assault chord so as to not stumble during the final approach. On his back, he carried a new assortment of equipment that he had kept with him ever since originally leaving the capital. Hacking equipment mostly, but he could also feel the extra ammunition and small amount of medical equipment that he had been able to stash jostle in yet another muted blast of anti aircraft artillery. His breathing had steadied now, and it was all about to begin as the shuttle finally jostled to a halt.

There are few strange quiet moments in the heat of combat, and waiting for the doors to drop was always one moment that he dreaded. Would they all be cut to ribbons in mere moments?.. No, not him. Not his vod. They had trained too long and too arduously. They would soon be rushing to a hail of glory in battle. A few heavy impacts on the door reverberated a dull thud throughout the compartment and all of the sudden, the door began to open.

Stay low... Stay low...

As the door opened, a few blaster bolts rang into the compartment as the multiple armored soldiers rushed out. The firefight was already underway, and multiple bodies of republic soldiers that had been likely caught and trapped in the initial assault lay dead at the ever increasing waves of invaders. The defenders were at a distance now, and Marcus ran forward off the ramp and used his rocket pack to escape the mass of mandalorians that were now flooding onto the platform. He landed some distance from the firefight, and began to fire from a more covered position amongst a pile of debris that likely had come from a landing strut of one of the landing ships. The Republic soldiers on the opposite end of the fighting either hadn't seen him, or were too preoccupied with the coming onslaught of other warriors to notice him, and it was there that he began to score his first kills against the Republic troopers.

One...Two... Three... Is he down?.. Doesn't matter, keep shooting.

These thoughts were interrupted as a small contingent of enemy combatants looked upon his position and let loose with a flurry of laser fire. He was mere inches from having a scorched helmet when he ducked back behind the rocks and began to flank along the small artificial ridge. He had his taste of combat, now it was time to cause havoc.

The landing platform that had been secured earlier was now a high point of the fighting, and the entire area was engulfed in blaster fire of an array of different colors and hues. The battle raged on as a dropship managed to fire off a few of its higher caliber rounds into the republic defenses. The blast crippled a machine gun post that Marcus hadn't noticed before, and he smiled as he thought they were gaining the upper hand. He, however, had to get into the mainframe and see what he could do from the inside.

He advanced along one of the smaller auxiliary landing pads that had been likely ignored during the battle for it's non-tactical position in reference to the actual hub. Soon, he had reached it. The docking hatch to the maintenance corridor that this pad was likely used for. Maintenance would likely use these passages to service their own vessels or bring cargo to and around the different sites on the asteroid, and now it would serve as a most vital entry point... If he could manage to get the karking door unlocked. He immediately set to work with his pad, and soon found the locking mechanism for the door rather standard and it appeared to have been sealed rather quickly, more so in panic than in preparation. With a few tweaks and code scramblers, the door slid open to reveal a dark and narrow pathway. After gathering his things, Marcus moved in. The eerie quiet of the hall surrounded him, and he could hear soldiers yelling from further on. This wouldn't be a safe way to infiltrate through, but he had very little choice. Soon however, he found what he was looking for. A security terminal that likely controlled a few nearby systems. Nothing major of course, but it was a start. He set to work on this too, and although it had a much more complex locking mechanism that had obviously been prepared in advance warning of the invasion, he managed to crack open a few security doors on the lower levels that would be helpful to any Mandalorian reinforcements that wished to join the fighting. With a sigh, he jammed the doors with scrambled codes once they had opened and stepped away from the console. That part of his work was over, and it was time to rejoin the fight.

 

[Farryn Loragwyn]

Location: The Central Hub
Allies: The Republic
Enemies: [member="Lord Gaius"], The Republic
Gear: In Sig + 4 frag grenades

By the time Sofia had recovered from being stunned, the Mandalorian was quickly advancing on foot. This was not good. Sofia threw her sniper rifle off the roof, grabbed her blaster and slung it across her and quickly drew her shot gun. She was not going to be a sitting duck. She was going to wait for him inside the building and launch a suprise attack on the man. However, this was not to be, the Mandalorian activated his jetpack and fired at her in mid air. The pain from the pellets and the shock from the attack caused Sofia to fall and rolled to the edge of the roof.

"Stand down, love, I'm not here to kill," the man attempted to order Sofia but her pride as a soldier would not allow her to do so.

"No," was her firm reply as she rolled off and landed with a 'thud'. There was a pain in her ribs but she had to ignore it. She had to keep running. With a quick burst she ran to her sniper rifle and quickly fired another round at the man without looking through its scope and pulled out a grenade, ready to pull the pin at a moment's notice.

 

[Kana Truden]

Medical Relief Efforts
Location: Medical Aid Station - Roche Asteroids (Not located on Nickel One)
Medics: [member="Vaet"] | [member="Avalore Eden"] | [member="Julius Sedaire"]
Protectors: [member="Gabriel Sionoma"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Spoiler

...She wished the fallen soldier peace regardless of who he was. In the end all of these men and women would be the millions that history forgot the names of; soldiers whose sacrifices had either been in vain or for the greater good. The uncertainty of it had a slightly bittersweet aftertaste to it, which perhaps was what made these men the heroes they were.

An opening appeared up ahead and a ship flew above her and without giving it much thought she let her hands reach for Flint’s saber. She lit it up in a beacon to signal the ship. She could hear the men cry out as it slowly descended upon her position.

“Master Jedi?” A heavily modulated voice called from underneath the soldier’s helmet.

“Yep.” The very apathetic Master responded.

“Get in, we’re falling back.”

The memory was still as clear as the day she had experienced it all on Kashyyyk. It was the last time she had seen Gabriel’s face outside of any official Alliance business, and the last time she had ever seen Flint Dexen alive. As much as Kana wanted to believe what Avalore had to remind her of there was still the matter of the psychological scar that Reverance had left upon Kana’s mind and how it was quite possible that it was where the descent of it all had begun. Just one of the many cumulative battlefield experiences that caused her to break down and give up.

“Right, sorry.” Kana offered an apology. “I’ll focus on the wounded and try to stay calm. For the sake of team spirit.”

Half-sincerity. She had the right to not trust him until he could prove otherwise to her.

 

[Katalyn]

Location: The Central Hub
Objective: Prove Myself
Allies: Mandalorians
Enemies: [member="Valkren Calderon"] and the republic
Equipment: In bio
Squad Eq: 5 man team, 4 have Heavy Repeating Ripper, Ripper MkII, Beskad, 1 Forcebraker Grenade, 2 Frag Grenades, Clan Skin, Nutrient Tube
The last one has same expect for the heavy repeating ripper, instead a M-29

Katalyn and the rest of the squad she was with, where moving down corridors, with little or no resistance. Only the odd computerized gun, which was of no real effect, as they where designed to stun civilians. They knew at some point the republic would mount a defense, it would be long corridor most likely, this would give them some ability to retreat. Katalyn was always first to poke her head round a corner, even though the guy in charge kept telling her Put your gun out first and fire, you idiot! She soon got the message as they moved round to final corner. She put her guns round, checked for a target, and then fired rounds straight at some republic troops, they where behind some barricades. She then turned to guy in charge, he was called Arkrad, I think I saw six, and some barricades. He grinned under his helmet, it actually could be a challenge, he had been disappointed so far.

He asked Katalyn Can you see what they got in weapons? She fired a few more shots to try and keep their heads down, and then replied I think one might have a chaingun. She saw the Arkrad getting to her position at the corner, he was getting ready to fire a few explosive shots down the corridor. He did not care if their was breach in atmosphere, as the armour they wore would protect them. While he did that the rest got ready to charge the position using jet, as soon as they closed the gap, as soon as they could advance......

 

[Ali Hadrix]

Location: Nickel One
Allies: Galactic Republic | Verpine Government | Civilians
Enemies: [member=Lisette Kuhn], [member=Keira Ticon], Mandalorians
Objective: Defend Nickel One, evacuate civilians, arrest Keira Ticon
Equipment: Full duranium beskar'gam, EM protected helmet and weapons. Verpine Assault Carbine, 2 x DL-44 blaster pistols, wrist rocket, wrist-cable, various grenades (lethal and non-lethal), beskad, stun gauntlet, small-jetpack, bacta injection system.
NPC's (for narrative): Geft, Tresler, Abram, Funke, Vitor, Aulx, Astor, Umlar, Wolcraft

"The Mandalorians, as always, have no hostilities towards the Verpine." He said simply. "But the Republic can no longer be trusted to guarantee the safety and neutrality of the Roche system or the Verpine people. Their failing political system is turning against itself and moves have been made to consolidate the rightful properties of corporations and free governments under the control of their political and military leaders. I fear that even now, the Republic moves to bring Roche under thumb through military force." He continued, adding weight to each word. "It is for that reason that the Mandalorian Clans have come. We will annex this system into our protection before the Republic has the opportunity to bring the Verpine people under heel."

One of Nickel One's Primary Control Stations...

Kol'k Oto listened to the transmission returned to them from the Mandalorian representative. The man's words seemed sincere, yet their meaning confused. Oto was not the only Verpine representative on Nickel One at the time, but was only one of four present in the control station. Oto looked back at them now, the other three representatives, and communed with them silently for several long moments. "The man sees himself as a liberator, a defender." Kol'k observed. The others considered this before Trilik Arta confirmed, "The Mandalorians have long been friendly allies of the Verpine. We harbor no ill will toward them."
Another, Virkit Kot chittered, their antennae flicking forward and back nervously. "Then why do they show in force? Our alliance with the Republic is formal and of our own choosing. There is no neutrality because we do not choose it."
Arta clicked her antennae together as she interjected swiftly. "They are not here to liberate us from tyranny...the phrik! They wish to possess the phrik!"
Kol'k Oto chittered angrily in response. The thought was repulsive, as the Mandalorians residing upon Nickel One had always been friends and beloved allies of the Verpine. Yet it seemed likely that the Mandalorians they new and those that hailed from the homeworld itself were of different breeds. Oto turned back to the control panel, wishing to speak back to the man who had professed to be their savior. Oto ensured their broadcast was made available to all functional channels, hoping their people would hear it and follow Republic personnel to safety.
"The Verpine people choose membership with the Republic willingly. It was already decided by our government. You cannot free us from an alliance of our own selection. Even if the Republic were here against our will, annexing our world by force to prevent another from doing the same is...illogical. It is suspected that the Mandalorian presence here is intended to secure the phrik sources. While we are unclear as to the legalities of such an act, we are sure that the Mandalorians intend no peace for the Verpine that does not come attached with their acquisition of the phrik. Your interests are selfish, for which we do not fault you; your businesses are important to you. Yet as such, we cannot condone your course of action, which has clearly placed Verpine lives in harms way. We of the delegation urge the citizens of Nickel One to secure themselves transport via the Republic's evacuation vessels. Any peaceful Mandalorian citizens residing on Nickel One are encouraged to do the same, for you are clearly not of the same people, and are still welcome within our homes."

Oto ended the transmission with a somewhat heavy heart. The complication that this act on behalf of the Mandalorians would wrought on the Verpine would take much time to be resolved. The two peoples had been business partners for decades, and their histories were rather closely intertwined. Oto wanted to believe that there were other, justifiable, motivations behind the Mandalorians' move against Roche, but at the moment they could not see one that they would accept. The unrest within the Republic was palpable, yes, but they comprised larger portions of the wartime economy than any other government in this region of the Galaxy, which was a boon to the munition-oriented businesses of the Verpine people. And as far as Oto was aware, the only clones that had arrived on Nickel One were invested in defending it, not harming the Verpine. As Kol'k pondered this turn of events, a technician from across the room signaled them down.
"Sir, we have faced an issue with the back up reactors. They possess neither the power, nor the arrangement to reintroduce power to the entire station. It seems there are individuals running interference within our system as well, but I possess neither the skill nor the knowledge to usurp them. We will have to decide when and where to apply the power that they have given us."
Oto stepped passed their Republic guards persons and made their way to the technician's station, glancing at the readouts through compound eyes. The main generator seemed possessed by a small group considering no disturbances had been identified in the immediate area. "I am curious who they are, and if we may be able to abolish their presence." Oto noted, preparing a report for the Republic command. "In the meantime, ensure the atmosphere throughout the station remains steady to facilitate the civilian evacuation, and retain power to the medical sector."

Oto made to return to the command console in case Commander Hadrix attempted to reach them, but something caught their mind. Turning to another technical station, Oto flagged down the personnel there and folded their hands together politely. "Do we have access to the hangar bay control systems?" They asked with a chitter. One of the technicians nodded. "We do, sir. Top level overrides can only be used from one of these control centers."
Oto rubbed their antennae together briefly in thought. "Mandalorians wear vacuum-sealed outfits typically, do they not?" One of Oto's Republic guards persons spoke up. "Aye, sir. It's not uncommon. Couldn't speak for their fodder, but many do, yes."
Kol'k glanced to the technician once more. "What about civilian presence in the hangars?" The technician shrugged. "The working shifts ended some time before the Mandalorians arrived; if there are any personnel remaining there, they are either worker clones or remain by choice." Oto nodded. "Seal the hangar entrances if possible and deactivate the shields. Vent the hangars overtaken by Mandalorian forces. At the very least we can slow down their advance through the rest of the station by scattering them into the wind." The technician nodded and got to work, looking down at their console and clacking away at keys whilst inputting commands.

Moments later, within the hangar bays taken by the Mandalorian military, any entrances leading further into the station that were not physically secured into the open position began to slide and locked closed with top level overrides. Then, without warning, the shields keeping the atmosphere and pressure suitable within the hangar bays would flicker and shut off, venting the large, occupied chambers into open space.


Meanwhile, during the evacuation...

Even before Kol'k Oto's broadcast urging the Verpine to seek refuge with their Republic allies, civilians from non-Mandalorian population centers had been following the emergency alerts sending them to the shuttles for evac. Many of the civilians were confused as to who was attacking or why, and all Republic personnel were able to tell them were that Mandalorian forces had shown in great strength and had not yet initiated any hostilities. Their presence within Nickel One was disturbing, as were the issues with power management throughout the station; further causing anxiety amongst the civilians being shepherded into safety transports.
After Kol'k Oto's broadcast, however, the mood had shifted amongst the general population. Non-worker Verpine clones consulted with the Verpine Hive and reached distinctly similar conclusions as Kol'k Oto and the delegation had. Many volunteered to remain with Republic forces and take up arms, accessing the Verpine's own munition supplies and equipment to bolster their ally's. Civilian volunteers began acting as scouts throughout Nickel One, forgoing evacuation in favor of providing early warnings on Mandalorian movements and activities via the ubiquitous communication of the Verpine Hive.
Mandalorians living and working on Nickel One were similarly sympathetic. Long-term residents in particular were uneasy about taking up arms with their recently arrived fellows, and many opted for simple evacuation. Others remained in staunch defense of the Verpine people, choosing to fight alongside their fellow residents than join the Mandalorian invaders. More recent Mandalorian transplants to Nickel One joined the Mando'ade cause readily, for which their neighbours did not resent them. Entire populations began to organize and separate, joining opposite sides of the impending conflict.

[member=Popo] | [member=Aaralyn Rekali]​

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

Medical Relief Efforts
Location: Medical Aid Station - Roche Asteroids (Not located on Nickel One)
Medics: @Vaet, @Kana Truden, @Avalore Eden
Protectors: @George Simons @Julius Sedaire
Injured Party: N/A

There was a deep chuckle as Kana rolled her eyes at him. “You know, your sense of humour is getting increasingly dark,” he replied with a smile. The humour melted from his expression as they discussed Gabriel and he moved a few steps closer so he could speak just to her.

“I trust you Kana. You wouldn't be here if I didn't,” he said quietly. He met her silver-grey eyes and gave her a quick nod to try and make it abundantly obvious he wasn't joking at this moment.

Turning on his heel he called out loudly: “Alright, simmer down people. Auresh fire team, break left, Besh to the right. Gabe and Julius with me straight on to the doors. Rifles down people. They're expecting guard duty but don't go starting a diplomatic incident.”

Jacen left his rifle slung over one shoulder. His saber stayed clipped to his belt. Two fire teams of four commandos didn’t seem much, but they were all good men. Eight experienced soldiers could hold out against a large force with the right weapons.

The ramp came down slowly, revealing the interior of a great cavern within one of the larger asteroids in the field. As he stepped down the ramp, soldiers moved out on both sides of their vessel. Rifles were kept pointed down as ordered. Stretching out with his senses he could detect no hint of danger. There was a lot of noise to try and press through though. Fear was rampant. Civilians bustled back and forth as sirens blared.

[member="Kana Truden"] [member="Avalore Eden"]

 

[Mantic Dorn]

Location Nickel One
Objective help secure area for the GR
Allies GR, Locals
Enemies: Mando & co - [member="Aaralyn Rekali"]

The damp air rushed past Mantic as he came around a final corner.

There was a group of people, seemingly leaving the area in a rush.
The Verpines had begun their evacuation due to the expected Mandalorian invasion and naturally the civilian population was in a state that no one wished. War did that, the innocent got stuck in the middle.

Mantic stepped to the side allowing them to pass. But he knew that danger could rest even among those that appeared innocent and his senses were on high alert.

Then she appeared, a verpine child speaking mandalorian on her back. This was a good sign, [member="Aaralyn Rekali"] carried an honorary title of the jedi order and her being here would surely give them a morale boost and hopefully a mental edge over the attacking forces.

Mantics first reaction was to wave to her as he jogged up next to them.

"Greetings, master Rekali, I am Mantic Dorn. I will try and have this area cleared until the troops made it here." he stated to her.

He was assuming that he addressed an ally but there was definately a tingling sensation that told him that something was terribly off with the scene though. His mind was prepared for that combat lurked around the corner, anytime now.

 

[Jessica Justice]

Da's Ship.
Enemies: What?
Allies: [member=James Justice], [member=Brooklyn Justice], Justice Shipping
Objective: Live, learn, and preferably not karking die.

From her seat, on one of the more elevated levels within the bridge, Jessica could clearly see the various crew-members working hard at their given tasks. In her hands, a vibroknife was held, being absently rotated and fiddled with, her empathy going nuts with the anxiety bleeding off of her father. This was not good, this war they were riding off to. She didn't like this, not one bit, but it was what he did. He helped, and often helped by doing things others would be unwilling and/or unable to do.

She knew she needed to learn to do this. She needed to be able to do what her father did. She needed to be able to carry on, to help him achieve his dreams, his goals, because they were very much akin to her own. Her name... his name... their name... was more than just their name. It was who they were. Justice. And Justice cannot coexist with Injustice. So, sometimes, some eggs needed to be cracked to make an omelet. And that is what they were there to do it seemed. Crack some eggs. Do some potentially terrible things, hurt some people who they didn't really want to hurt, for the greater good....

At least, that is what she was struggling to convince herself of.

So many questions ran through the young woman's mind. She knew she didn't dare ask them, not right now at least. She knew, somewhat, how damaging it would be for moral should she question her fathers orders and intents in front of his crew, the men and women who serve him loyally. Perhaps at some point between now, and their eventual exit from Hyperspace near the point of contact with the 'enemies', she'll get to ask him why the 'enemies' were such....

She realized, deep down, it really didn't make a lot of sense....

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Location: Nickel One, Mando Quarter
Enemies: [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] ish, escorted by [member="Ordo"]
Allies: None nearby
Objective: Welp

Account after account of mass decompressions filtered through Ember's comm in the ensuing minutes, as the Republic's policy became clear. He'd faced a lot of weight in his time, Ember had. Lost a lot of good people to the Sith, and to Republic stupidity -- most of his immediate family included. He'd done a lot of bad things on the Republic's behalf, back in the day. But even so, he'd tried to be fair, despite repeated accusations that he was more Jedi than Mandalorian. He'd pulled himself back from the brink of the Dark Side after rescuing his last child from the One Sith and fixing the brainwashing they'd imposed on her.

But you couldn't fix death. And as the numbers of Mandalorian civilian dead mounted -- hangar workers, people who happened to be wearing beskar'gam near Republic soldiers, people who hadn't decided where they stood, incidental deaths from arguments as Republic supporters became dar'manda -- a little numerical estimate ticked upward in the corner of his viewscreen. That had probably not been a good choice on his part.

"Field Marshal-"

"Master Rekali-"

"Field Marshal Rekali-"

"-just sitting there-"

"-help us."

"We're lost."

Sitting on the folding chair, guarding the front door, he took off his buy'ce and wiped his eyes. The weight of his history was against him -- the things he'd lost, the Vahla blood in his veins, the Nightsister and Dark Jedi education that had been all he'd known as a boy, his youth as a Darksider slaughtering Darksiders. The trust he'd once placed in the Republic, and disappointment after disappointment, atrocity after atrocity.

The Dark Side wanted his attention. He refused, but the choice seemed stark, unavoidable. He could sit here and meditate his way back to equanimity of mind, or he could save lives and damn the consequences. He couldn't think his way around that dichotomy.

I will not be what I was.

Thinking, though, wasn't always the answer. What was the old line? Serve until you feel like serving? He wiped his eyes again and stood, arms aching from the injuries he'd suffered against Nolan Detta. The beskar'kandar mask slid back into place, augmented reality lenses gave him the strategic and tactical situation, and that number just kept rising.

"Hi, Dad."

Ember was out of his chair in a heartbeat, sabre ignited. The outline was blurry, wavering; the figure lacked tangibility. Transparent, it gave the blast door an ugly purplish-red.

"Rach," he breathed.

A suggestion of a smirk beneath shadowed eyes. "Alec set me loose in the Maw. Karking Odium. Look, Dad," said the Dark Master's shade, "I don't have much time. Force knows there's things you've done that I don't like. The Clan deserves to chart its own course; you're trying to hold them to the Light like a dictator, Vahla and all, and the Light Side doesn't work that way. I've told a lot of lies, but that's not one of them. There's a difference between your family and your children, and even then, children grow up. Make their own choices. I'm sorry I pushed you so hard when I was young. I'd have made the same choices, but I wouldn't have shoved them in your face."

"Rach, people are dying."

"And you don't feel like you can be on the Light and fight the Republic. Well, I've got news for you, Dad. There is no perfect government. Not theirs, and not yours."

"I'm not a..."

"Sure you are, Dad. You've spent a long time making that of yourself, all the way back to when you were Lyn Beorht's right-hand boy. And that's fine. It is one hundred percent fine to have power. But we'll never agree on that, so here's something we do agree on. Something you taught me in the Tyus Cluster." A humorless smile. "Something you even taught me intentionally."

Ember flinched as his lowered blade brushed the deck in a flurry of sparks. He deactivated the bell-hilted sabre. "What's that?"

"Whether you've acquired power on your own initiative or had it thrust upon you, either way, you're responsible for what you do next. You're responsible for what you do with that power. And I'd humbly submit that you're focusing too much on the Force, and not enough on your family. We disagreed on everything, Dad. Politics, sex, violence, the nature of freedom. But I died trying to save Keldabe." One pale finger levelled itself at him. "And don't you fething tell me I was the better man that day. I played the hand I was dealt and I accepted it when I lost. You don't have to lose today, but you do have to play your fething hand. If you stay sitting here, you'll be the kind of Jedi you've always despised. Someone who's more concerned with personal righteousness than with helping people who need it. Who're begging for it. Oh, and if you see Anaya Fen...tell her I'll see her in Hell."

The shade rippled from sight. Jaw sagging, Ember took a shaky breath and turned.

The blast door was open. Behind it was a crowd of Mandalorians.

"Field Marshal," said one, voice muted by vocoder and shock, "was that the Martyr?"

Beneath his helmet, Ember closed his eyes. The lure of the Dark Side had faded from him, or perhaps it had just taken a subtler form. Either way, conscience demanded he act, and act now. "Who's the ranking defender?"

"I am, sir. Rally Master Warsaw."

"I need communications gear. I need to talk with the Mando Quarter."

***​

"This is Field Marshal Ember Rekali to the mando'ade of the Quarter. We're facing five immediate and unacceptable situations.

"The first and most pressing is that the reasons for this conflict are hotly contested. I confess that I've held back so far because my comfort level with this incident is not high. I believe that the Republic has put its own interests above Verpine sovereignty and your right to your homes. I also believe that the Republic has its uses against the Sith. I don’t blame any mando’ade who've sympathized with the Republic today, or with their faction of Verpine.

“But then we come to the second unacceptable situation: the conflict has escalated into violence, Mandalorian against Mandalorian.

“The third unacceptable situation is as follows: the Republic is offering all Mandalorian non-combatants a ride off this asteroid in their transports. Speaking as a former Jedi Council member, I don’t trust the Republic and I don’t trust their sneering little commander Hadrix. But I do trust Senator Faith Balor-Organa, who has a voice in Republic leadership and is a Mandalorian. I believe that if Senator Balor-Organa is informed, she’ll be able to make sure that any non-combatants who leave with the Republic will be kept safe from immediate danger. Even so, I suspect in-depth interviews and protective confinement will be the order of the day.

“Because the fourth unacceptable situation is the Republic’s condescension. Their commander has publicly insulted your training, your technology, and your culture. They’ve infiltrated an entire army into Nickel One in the inane belief that you, who live here, wouldn’t notice. They’re proceeding on the assumption that our friends the Verpine will just fall in line with their colonialist, expansionist nonsense.

“None of those, of course, hold a candle to the fifth unacceptable situation. Right now, the Republic is actively venting atmosphere from Mandalorian-held sections of the station, presumably on the theory that anyone who stays in those areas is there by choice. Right now, Clan Vereen is fortifying the Mando Quarter’s atmospheric controls and has engaged the enemy.

“Faced with these circumstances, I am assuming command of the mando’ade of Nickel One. Rally Master Warsaw will be assembling a mixed-loyalty team and enforcing internal discipline on violent arguments about allegiance. The Republic has shown us nothing but contempt, going back to when we were their shield against the Sith, and more recently the long years of cold shoulder treatment from the Lasedri regime. Clearly, for all their protestations, this is what we’re dealing with: the Republic, based on their misunderstanding of our culture and the actions of a few mercenaries, have decided that we are the enemy. Not one Clan, or the armed forces -- the people. All of us.

“From this moment forward, I will personally consider any Mandalorian who supports the Republic, to the extent of taking violent action against other Mandalorians, to be dar’manda. Soulless, and a traitor. We are going to take and hold every part of the Mando Quarter, and we are going to protect the Verpine who live among us as friends. And if they, or any of you, want to take advantage of the Republic’s offer and leave in their transports, feel free.

“But when I stop talking, I expect all violence between Mandalorians to halt immediately.”

***​

Silence fell across the Quarter. The mando’ade got to work. Right now, that meant three things.

First priority was securing the most defensible areas for the use of the noncombatants who’d chosen to remain rather than risk the Republic’s historically dubious justice. Second priority was a series of fortified points at the main entrances to the Quarter. Third was surrounding the few Republic fireteams in the Quarter’s contingent of hangar bays, and crushing the life from them.

 

[Fen]

Nickel One, Near Atmospheric Controls for Mandalorian Quarter
Allies: [member="Zak Dymo"] | [member="Nefertari Sovint"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Vulkan"] | [member="Abigail Kallisto"] | [member="Mirshko Betna"]
Equipment:

Spoiler

http://starwarsrp.net/topic/32271-korrs-combat-armor/
http://starwarsrp.net/topic/64072-korrs-lightsabers/
http://starwarsrp.net/topic/64093-the-sentinel/

Their muted laughter came in mocking answer to Korr's question. He grit his teeth, muscles writhing in his jaw as the Dark Sider spoke once again. Twice fools then, had they forgotten all the bloodshed between Sith and Mandalorian? Had they forgotten the betrayal of Ordo, just as the Jedi seemed to have cast out of recollection the treason of Daella Apparine?

A broadcast issued from their helmets as the Dark Sider let him listen in on the Mandalorian transmissions. Again, no hint of a lie could he detect in these words. These Mandalorians believed that their children and wives were threatened, but by who? Who had given such orders?

"No, I..." Korr struggled to find the words, "That can't be true. The Jedi Order would never allow it."

He stared at the ground, eyes moving rapidly back and forth as he stretched out in the Force, searching. Ember Rekali's voice came over the loudspeakers to the quarter. Korr barely heard him. He could feel them dying. Dozens of them. In pockets and in parcels. Vented off. Asphyxiating. Men, women, children. Unable to scream. Unable to say their last goodbyes. Korr did not shield himself from their cries in the Force. He stretched out, wanting to help them, to save them. Grey eyes stood wide, staring into nothing.

Spoiler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxaQprOtJuA

Tidal waves of confusion and fear rolled from them. Ryan forgot how to breathe, almost forgot how to stand.

"No, this isn't possible," he gasped.

The coldness in his chest quickly turned to ice. He squeezed the hilt of his lightsaber, knuckles bleeding white. Korr quivered, resisting the roiling storms within, the sheer hatred. There was only one commander with the sort of absolute authority to approve of such an act. And he thought they had already rid themselves of one tyrant.

A Dark Sider might lead these soldiers, but Ryan would deal with him some other time, when civilians were not being asphyxiated by a mad woman. If the Republic ever wanted to be seen as a bastion of democracy and righteousness, then it would have to carve out the cancer within.

Ryan held a hand up to his headset. "Ar-Nine, what is the location of the Supreme Commander?"

The reply came quickly and in binary. The Jedi Master turned his eyes on the Mandalorians assembled before him.

"I will find the one responsible for this, I swear. You will have justice."

He pointed at the Dark Sider, the apparent leader. "Accompany me, if you wish. We are not faithless as you might think."

Remembering Quinn, Ryan reminded himself that not all those in the grips of that power were truly evil. Hopefully, he would not receive a lightsaber in the back for his trouble.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Medical Relief Efforts
Location: Medical Aid Station - Roche Asteroids (Not located on Nickel One)

Medics: [member="Avalore Eden"] | [member="Kana Truden"]
Protectors: [member="Gabriel Sionoma"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="Julius Sedaire"]

Injured Party: N/A

The revelry, jokes and quips were lost to the little, green Vaetling as he trundled into the station alongside his companions. He was deep in thought, his focus shifted away from the here and aimed at the there, something was happening on Nickel One. A development that made him pause, turned him concerned, before trying to shake it off. There was business to do, wounds to heal and minds to set at ease. Truden and Gabriel seemed to have a little conflict brewing stemming from a shared past, but it was resolved quickly through the usual Eden intervention.

That was worthy of a smile. If only a little one. At least until the little Jedi felt a sudden shift in the Force. It came quickly. Without any forewarning, no time to acclimatize to it - one moment the Galaxy had dozens of lives, thriving, struggling and trying to survive... the next they were suffering. Suffocating as valuable air was denied to them. Their death was slow, no screams came, just the mindless struggle of body and mind unaware that their fate was already decided for them.

Cruelty. Vaet leaned heavily against the cold durasteel, his gaze was pulled back to Nickel One. He tried to do something, do anything. Make them feel less pain, ease their suffering, but it was all for naught. He wasn't powerful enough to act, not fast enough, all he could do was close his eyes and try to distance himself from the pain.

"Removed, they claimed the dictator to be." he finally spoke. Softly, maybe the rest wouldn't hear, maybe they would. "Untrustworthy, our supposed allies are."

It changed nothing, of course. They were here to provide healing and sanctuary for those that needed it. But Vaet wondered if this would change anything or if it would be ignored just as all the other transgressions the Republic had been allowed to commit.