Dominion Catharian Hegemony, Dominion over Thearterra : War of the Blue Diamond : [Open to Invitees, Chiss Ascendency, and CH]

[Kylraya]

Laying on the ground with only the strongest or oldest of the predator creatures left alive, there were more than a few of the shade’s of Revan bodies with her, those alive forming a circle on command to cease, swords outstretched in a guard. “We know what you are.” Kylraya had once been Corellian and a very different woman, a Jedi of all things. The many holes and wounds upon her body or armor, holding to life only because of the rage in her eyes. “Void, disharmony, disconnected from the whole.”

Picking herself up off the ground with her talons, she bled from many wounds but lashed out at anyone getting too close. The swarm mother was the last node left aware of what was being received, and communicated telepathically to the greater swarm will, which was not as easy as it seemed and gave her a massive headache being the only one here conscious. “We do not die.” As much as what was left of her humanity had once wanted to die, her death didn’t happen so simply. Unknown to her there was yet a way but killing the flesh was not enough for her kind. Endlessly reborn to serve, then serve, then serve, until there was nothing left but the hive's focused mind and the Swarm's will.

Akestos wanted to attack yet again but she span a talon toward him, raising her chin, “they will leave,” the oldest and most vicious of the combatants turned from the field, which well resembled a hellscape, waiting at its edges for her. “Void has this place. Metal will have this place.” That last prediction more ominous but they were losing many hives to metal, and not the kind which humans piloted. If Xzaien was clever enough she could pick up on that question.

Then she or rather the Hive's mind was surprised, “Talk? What could void offer but chaos?” Kylraya was mimicking the firstborns and the stronger predators, naturally force bonding to the nature of what was immediately around her most of all. Many of the most vicious hive creatures viewed the planet and life as a battle of predatory wills, where they were the superior predators. Had it been insects or small beetles left standing, her voice and attitude would have been very different.

As it was a single solitary beetle scuttled at her feet and watched. It held as much sway here as she did, because there were no leaders. Xzaien was talking as much to that small beetle as she was to Kylraya.

Xzaien | Titus Julius Ludicola

 

[Xzaien]

"The Battle of Thearterra"

​

Xzaien once again looked over the battlefield. Eyeballing every which detail. She felt something "Off" about the ground beneath her. As if it were alive, but yet its purpose was lost to her. Xzaien mulled over the grand scheme of things. What is next in the Hegemony's Mission. The Eradication of Chaos, and the destruction of the Bryn'Adul were its main goals. She turned around, looking at the millions of Faces that stood and lay before her. This victory came at a great cost, the cost of lives in the pursuit of a singular goal to form the Bulwark against chaos was worth every single man and woman who died in the very gates of hell that was Thearterra.

The metal, the ground beneath held many secrets. Many benefits for the Hegemony's growing Empire. Resources, and metals a plenty was what Thearterra would now forever serve underneath the Hegemon's Grasp. Today, a Empire was born. Out of the ashes of Thearterra, a New Empire was created. One that sought to built the Bulwark against Chaos and be its eternal defenders. Even though Kylraya Mentioned that her only purpose was the creation of Chaos everywhere they went. They had won the Autocrats respect. This single act of mercy from Xzaien was enough to give the Hivemind a new thought.

The thought that their total end was mere seconds away, but yet they had been allowed to leave. Utterly defeated by the likes of pure-Catharian Spirit, and quite literally humiliated on the field of battle. To them, it seemed like the Armies of Cathay had no end, and a permanent willingness to fight to the death for its ideals. Spurred on forever by the woman they admired so much.

Kylraya could feel the Hegemony's tendrils across Chiss Space. The creation of Chaos by those who sought to defend against it would be quite refreshing to her. But yet, even through the Hivemind's own cruelty. Xzaien's was far more pronounced. The War of the Blue Diamond shall continue elsewhere. Furthering the Hegemony's Goals.

Xzaien looked to Kylraya. Finally speaking.

"I commend the Hiveminds efforts today. It has fought well today, and I am eager for our next encounter elsewhere. Even as a chaotic enemy against everything I hold dear to my heart. It has won my respect, and admiration."

Xzaien nodded to her underlings. They parted like the Red Sea, a perfect path toward Kylraya's slightly damaged Hive Ships. Their ticket of respite. Xzaien spoke once again. Finishing her spiel.

"Leave, and never return to Catharian Space. That is what I desire from you. Farewell, and fate will have us battle again."

Xzaien turned swiftly over the smoking battlefield before her. Contemplating a few final thoughts before speaking to the fleet itself.

"Its over. Thearterra is ours. Rally the fleet, we are once step nearer to Csillia, and it shall join us, or burn beneath us."

Titus Julius Ludicola

 

[Kylraya]

Both spoke of chaos from the other, either directly or in passing, but neither realized they were talking about the other, their worlds opposites.

Acknowledgement was the closest to acceptance the Swarm's greater will could offer. Kylraya’s voice echoed with a more focused hive mind, as if there were many voices spoken off her tongue crushed into its direct focus, “Void has this place to walk within,” void being disconnection, disharmony, the mutagen would need cleansing from the land fully but the battle, for now, was contained. It was a clever ploy by the autocrat otherwise she may have a year-long battle to clean the world, but to ask the swarm to leave had not been done before.

Swarm’s collective will evolved and altered from the exchange, the beetle at her feet taking flight, and Kylraya carrying herself with her talons and legs through the dead toward their ships.

Turning her head, her eyes had a green emerald look, “leave small hive, when void metals come here, awaken swarm will.” Kylraya offered for the strange exchange of opposites that had occurred, the hive could be a box sized for all it mattered, it was Xzaien’s choice or not to keep a Pandora's box if others came to this place looking for a fight. A danger to be sure, but then this was a dangerous galaxy and having a contained surprise or two might be worth it to the hegemonies future. Who knew what that future held.

Hive ships were primitive at best still, mostly freighters and lesser craft that were encased in hive growth or material. As she entered that mostly dead metal, which life had tried to claim, the craft were soon taking into the air, looking down upon the smoking landscape below. The storm was ebbing away now and the clouds were lifting for all.

Then she lost consciousness.

Fin for Kylraya.

Xzaien | Titus Julius Ludicola

Spoiler

Fantastic thread all

 

[Xzaien]

​

The Battle of Thearterra had ended in a Catharian Victory. The Bugs have been routed, and now scattered completely across the Galaxy and now, the banners of the Catharian Hegemony now flew above its surface. The Bugs have been utterly destroyed by a full orbital bombardment which seems to have wiped out any trace of their birthing chambers and ground-based hives. In the eyes of everyone on the ground. The Battle of Thearterra was over. But little did they know, the battle for Thearterra had only just begun. The Chiss Garrison was still present in deep underground bases. Likely harboring hundreds-of-thousands of Science Personnel and Soldiers to prevent its destruction. For years, this Garrison had fought bravely against Kylraya's Hive Forces. Loosing thousands in the process. This was the next step in Xzaien's War of the Blue Diamond. The Destruction of all Chiss Holdouts and total unconditional surrender of its ground forces. The next enemy the Catharians would have to face was the Blue-Skinned Defenders of Thearterra's underbelly. And this new war, will be one for the ages.

Xzaien spoke to Titus Julius Ludicola through her wrist mounted communicator.

"Captain Ludicola. Begin landing of the Blood Marine Chapter. This battle had only just begun. Let our allies in the Imperial Confederation know of our request for aide."​

Azel Moran would recieve an urgent communication from Xzaien's Personal Comms.

"Azel, I request your personal prescence at Thearterra. Your expertise in metals will help serve me there. We have a new enemy dear friend. The Chiss have holed up inside of reinforced underground bunkers. I require your aide to crack these bunkers open."​

Xzaien used her comms to order the "Phase two" of the Thearterran battle. In unison, the armies of Cathay formed up into their ranks, and began the march to the main entrance of the Thearterran Underground

Objectives

Objective 1: Destroy the Chiss Bunkers by ground assault.

Objective 2: Secure the localized mainframes of the connected bunker's.

Objective 3: Override its ownership. Place it under the command of the Catharian Hegemony.

Objective 4: Force the surrender of the Chiss Commander, "Cryshu-Te'-Strantu."

Objective 5: Secure Thearterra.​

 

[Azel Moran]

Imperator Xzaien -

By your command, I'll be on Thearterra in twelve hours with the necessary equipment.

Azel Moran
Jurgoran Forge
Cathay



When his shuttle touched down, Azel emerged in company with technicians, cargo droids, and pallets of specialized equipment. Cracking Chiss bunkers was hard enough when they were above ground. These ones, by all seismic scans, were deep underground and located pervasively throughout strategic areas. The bunkers were believed to have air reprocessors, ysalamiri, and structural integrity tensor fields, which forestalled several of his initial ideas.

He'd arranged for a testing ground: a secured stretch of land overtop of a cleared-out bunker. Technicians carted sensors and bodies down into the bunker to gauge the effectiveness of various tactics. Azel grumbled happily to himself as he set up the machines he meant to test. Collapsing the bunkers outright probably wasn't in the cards, but there had to be a hundred other ways to approach this. Xzaien had given him a real and enjoyable challenge.

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Each man in the Penal Battalions knew, that what would come next would likely be their execution. Almost each person in the Penal Battalions were slated for Death anyhow. And to face it now, in glorious battle against a horror that could threaten the Galaxy. Brought warmth to some, but terror to others.

~ Earlier that very day.... ​

The Penal Battalions - empty promises, and false hopes were the normality in these ranks. Bantha Fodder, Varro thought as the transport hummed in Hyperspace, the battle was fixing to take place, he sensed it in his being - his blood cried for the violence that was fixing to take place, it craved for the death and decay of the battlefield. And just like that - the ship halted quietly as the siren blared through the ship; signaling all troops to prepare for deployment. Varro’s eyes opened, pale sickly green eyes amidst cool pale grey skin; he could sense the unwavering resolve amongst all the battalion to die for this entity he had heard these ranks murmuring about, the swarm - Oh ~ the ‘prestige’ one would gain in the eyes of their leader; to Varro - this was a means to an end. He would not die on some name forsaken planet, a planet he did not care about, to a leader whose name to this point most were afraid to say. He would grow stronger from this battle, he would emerge renewed, and he would have the means to go where he pleased after his service with this battalion was finished... that much he knew.

~ Thud ~

The transport had landed... they were here.
​

His hands gripped the crude weapon that they had supplied him, he slung it around, putting the facade of a “good solider” on - they had no idea what he was capable of and the moment he would step foot on the terrain, he would do what he needed to survive.

The hundreds of thousands worth of Penal Squads did manage some damage upon the main body of the Hive-mind's ground forces. Each Penal trooper taking with him at least ten scores worth of bugs before being felled themselves by claw and teeth. These Penal Troopers were valiant in their efforts to stop the hive at all costs and they died in droves. Each of them valiant to the last with many performing great acts of sacrifice in order to do as much damage as humanly possible. Be it detonating their grenade belts in a last act of defiance to the Xenos, to standing upon the corpses of their fallen brothers and shooting down with their blaster-rifles any bug that neared them. Despite their crimes, the only way to redeem themselves in the eye of Xzaien was to die in her service in the most glorious way possible. Even the men who had gleaned even a little bit of equipment found themselves in the Eye of Terror itself as battalions of men were ignited by fire-spewing bugs and burned with acid spitting flying creatures. Nevertheless, those who had accepted death charged forth, in their hands, spades, bayonets, knives, and fists were all weapons in the eyes of these dead men. Desperate in their mission to destroy this ever-encompassing plague of biological horrors. Across the battlefield, million of these Penal Troopers echoed a war-cry that shook the earth beneath them. As a means to bring terror into the hearts of the bug's overlords who would surely feel the boot-steps of a million men, and the cries of that million men in unison. However, these men of courage would be inter-laden with men and women of cowardly tact and demeanor. Even despite all that had been lost to these doomed men and women, for every man that died. Five more took his place.

How many had died? Thousands, upon thousands ~ but Varro remained, battered and bleeding he stood. The atrocities he had committed just to even earn that right. Countless men, men who cowered in their last moments, doing all they could and what they had to just stay alive ~ brothers used as shields, diversions, as a means to an end. Varro held little remorse, because during the battle, something had awoken in him... a resolve, a new purpose. Before, everything was a whim, things that held no meaning, always means to an end; but this feeling ~ this disturbance ~ he had never before felt something like this before. It seemed to encompass the planet mid battle ~ he had felt the energy of the swarm, of the soldiers, but then ~ this, this seemed to be tethered to something specific, or rather someone. He had to know what, or again, who held this power and how he could obtain it.

The Battle of Thearterra had ended in a Catharian Victory. The Bugs have been routed, and now scattered completely across the Galaxy and now, the banners of the Catharian Hegemony now flew above its surface. The Bugs have been utterly destroyed by a full orbital bombardment which seems to have wiped out any trace of their birthing chambers and ground-based hives. In the eyes of everyone on the ground. The Battle of Thearterra was over.

Minutes turned into hours; and hours into days it seemed. How long had Varro been here? How long had it lasted. Varro had managed to be “merged” into another battalion of troops in the chaos of battle. As he knelt doctoring his wounds, his mind was at this point for a lack of words exhausted at this point. He was over stimulated. Force Soliders, abominations alike on this plant, and a woman... a woman that seemed to be controlling such creatures. These, these beings, were what the lower class of soldiers had been speaking of, these elite class were what they had hoped to become a part of, Varro chuckled to himself inwardly though, why dream of such a thing when it didn’t truly reach for something out of ones grasp... if he were to dream of something, it was is the immense power behind this leader. She ~ she must have a name, and she was truly worthy of allegiance, nor like these lowly commanders. He pulled himself up, cinching his vest back in and grabbing the two blood drenched blades stuck in the ground, he sheathed them. He slung a sniper over his back and grabbed the remaining explosives near him, he was ready for phase 2.

Xzaien

 

[Scylla AI]

Tag: Xzaien | Azel Moran | Iston Voronwe

Location: Everywhere. Primary Nautilus Bunker

Surface condition contained. Primary Mission Complete
Proceeding to alert level 2, Secondary Mission, Delete all Records.
Alert. Intruders Accessing outer bunker doors, deploy failsafes.

Ho Ho Ho was the strange and telling response through the force, almost like a hutts voice, but more on that another day. Goros the Hutt 's identity was the second piece of evidence to be deleted, and every moment the Hegemony didn’t have access to the bunker remotely or directly more files and records would go missing. Haxion Brood files… next up for deletion….

Bunker Cameras came online. Primary firewalls engaged. Inside Chiss and One Sith scientists scrambled to hide evidence of their experimentations, and burn details of their connections to various individuals and criminal groups. This was paramount, they could be captured but better their long list of crimes not be exposed further and then they may yet escape execution.

Azel Moran

It was even worse than Azel believed. Deep from within the Bunker's lower levels. The Botnet was engaged. A brute force hacking tool. Before Azel Moran could really address anything, THE BUNKER was trying to brute force overload the hegemonies system with a continuous attack from its own hackers and slicers. Inside the corridors Black Biodroids awaited. A precursor to One Sith hive experimentation that had lead to what they had seen on the surface. As was Keth's way, he put two competing forms against each other, Hive and Machine, to achieve an enteral conflict and evolution of man and machine. Many of the droids had been created from fallen or captured Galactic Alliance members at Coruscant...

Rarely had anyone looked deeper into who exactly was shaping and spreading the hive. Everyone assumed a natural evolution or those that knew anything, a nebulous dead One Sith Lord, which if they stopped to think about it might make no sense. All too busy caught in the endless cycle of fighting or running from it. Which was the point. Today one group might get a look. If they were quick enough.

As for the others such as Xzaien , Iston Voronwe they had a sturdy and thick bunker door to deal with. Curiously there were no signs of weapons. On the Outside. Then there were numerous sublevels in tight controlled spaces with hidden turrets to deal with. A different challenge to an open battlefield, and now they were fighting with troops who had been at it for hours. There were a lot of nasty tricks an AI could use, anyone with any force sense could likely sense danger and trickery inside.

The Mystery would deepen, pun intended.

Defenses:
Scylla AI
Generic Firewalls, Direct and Proxy. Cyberwarfare Devices, for example: The Botnet
Lower Sub Level Location Adaptation the Rim Conflict, based on the Long Conflict
Holding Numerous MK II Biodroids
Internal Fixed Mount Weaponry inside, Scylla AI tracking and Coordination.
Holding Numerous Rockets and Dual Miniguns

 

[Iston Voronwe]

As for the others such as Xzaien , Iston Voronwe they had a sturdy and thick bunker door to deal with. Curiously there were no signs of weapons. On the Outside. Then there were numerous sublevels in tight controlled spaces with hidden turrets to deal with. A different challenge to an open battlefield, and now they were fighting with troops who had been at it for hours. There were a lot of nasty tricks an AI could use, anyone with any force sense could likely sense danger and trickery inside.

Varro moved into formation with his current Platoon and they moved into position just outside of the large steel doors, which were all that now stood between them and the bunker.

The battalion leader barked out an order, a soldier moving out and breaking formation as they moved upon control panel inside a small guard shack just outside the bunker and began to attempt to disarm the security system in place that held the massive doors shut... however something seemed, off almost. Varro began looking around the exterior of the doors and around any conjoining area in the rock face, there had to be some way in. Lost in thought, but not unaware of what was transpiring around him, Varro and the entire battalion heard a bloodcurdling scream as the soldier working to splice the system quiet literally was cooked alive by a failsafe designed specifically to activate when and if someone had tampered with the system it seem. The battalion leader began to bark again, now standing in front in front of Varro.

“Soldier, I expect those doors to open, now is your chance to gain prestige. Now MOVE IT!” Varro’s eyes narrowed just slightly as he watched two other soldiers removed the lifeless corpse from the booth, he then smirked, defiantly looking towards the commander. “ I think I’ll pass. I didn’t survive this long following orders from someone that’s more expendable than me. “ The battalion leaders face and eyes almost seemed to bulge from his face now as his hands moved to grab Varro’s shirt, shaking him just slightly, enforcers moving in to flank Varro for his insubordination. “ WHO IN THE KRIFF DO YOU THINK YOU ARE BOY? GET YOUR A-....” Varro’s hands moved instantly to the commanders wrists, and with a slight upwards motion , a loud crack would be heard from all those near Varro, as the commanding officers arms would contort upwards, breaking, his knees now buckling as his form would slump to the ground. Whimpering before him, Varro knelt down, his eyes, cold and controlled stared straight at him now. Varro spoke, loud enough for those around him to hear. “ Who I am is no concern to you, or anyone for that matter, but what is important to know is this - I am in command now. I am owned by no man, now - die.” Just like that too, mysteriously, the man began to gasp and grab his throat, gurgling for air, almost as if he was being choked - and then the battalion leader ceased to stop breathing and fell cold to the ground. Varro knew, if this lot respected anything, it was brute force, and tactical cunning. Varro removed the mans vest from his body, adorning it, which signified to the group he was lead for this battalion, and with that he began to mobilize the group, which moved hesitantly at first, but not wanting to suffer the same fate fell into order. He found a much more skilled code breaker, which he redeployed to the shack, ordering him only to engage the subroutines that would open the massive doors, but not just in any fashion, he specifically ordered his subordinate to initiate the subroutines that would signify a fire, or some sort of disaster which would help force the doors to open.... working to code break anything on an unknown system without actually being in the bunker was pointless and would further complicate the situation and loose them time; time they didn’t have to waste.

Moments seemed to pass, seconds became like minutes and minutes like hours - but just like that - his patience and cunning had now been rewarded as the skies began to emit an alarm, the massive steel doors moving to open. The door, regardless of how big the ordeal had been made so far, this would be the easiest part - however as the doors slowly moved to open, apprehension filled Varro ~ his eyes narrowing as he awaited patiently to awe what new horrors would await them below in the bunkers depths.


Xzaien Scylla AI ​

 

[Titus Julius Ludicola]

Captain Ludicola had been expecting the order to begin landing his marine chapter troops. It was kind of expected given the nature of the operation.

The order from Autocrat Xzaien was broadcast on loud speaker on the bridge. Upon hearing it, the Blood Marine Chapter Lt Colonel bowed his head only to then send a message to his battalion executive officer to begin landing. Within minutes, large company-sized units were headed for the planet surface.

"Autocrat, we have begun landing Chapter troops. Send your landing coordinates to company commanders when you're ready."

 

[Xzaien]

​

The Son's of Dressel were the very first Federal Army Cohort of Space Marines which arrived after the announcement of the Phase 2 of the battle of Thearterra. Hulking Space Marines, clad in the distinctive armor of Cathay's Finest. Images of Red and Yellow which snaked across their armor, with the emblem of Dressel emblazoned beautifully upon their right pauldrons. These were the Imperial Confederation's Gifted Military Units by Xzaien herself. A Space Marine Chapter under a joint command, in-place of a singular Commander. Another few vessels exited orbit, and began landing sequence. These were the Federal Army Troops. Clad head to toe in the Militarized Kit of the Imperial Confederation. Durasteel Armor, and Enclosed Helmets. These forces were under the charge of null3 .

Xzaien and her Sons of Xzeench Marines made headway into the first gate. Xzaien lead the way as she and her Telepaths formed a wedge at the front of the armored door to the bunkers underneath. The door was massive, and at least ten feet thick of durasteel armor. A daunting piece of armor for sure. Even for the immensely powerful Telepaths of Cathay, and the Autocrat herself. The mere opening of this door would prove to be a difficult task. Xzaien didn't move at the head of her Telepaths. Only her armored Telepaths took in breath, then conjured up a sustained singular force-scream directly at the door. The sound was akin to a lightning bolt as the sound barrier was instantly broke the moment they shouted at the door. This was likely, to loosen the door's mag-lock system. A great rumble began beneath them, as rocks and other materials were suddenly forced loose by this usage of Force Scream. This was the mere right-cross to create the knockout-blow.

Xzaien promptly stepped forward. She removed the gloves from her hands, as carefully as a mother feeding a baby, and looked toward the door. She put her hands inward, as if gripping the very doors itself with the Force. She slowly spread her hands outward, and with a bit of effort. The door itself cracked open sideways. In a flash, Xzaien went down low, and shot her arms either-side. The sounds of metal screeching against metal, would be written about for months after that day. The doors flung sideways, forced open and literally bent by the sheer power of the dark-side. The entire army of Cathay peered into the dark-depths below. Still pregnant with hundreds of Chiss Volunteers packed in the most defensible positions there could be. Across the surface, Hundreds of Army Troops landed, and began the process of opening these vaults. Xzaien was only apart of the largest detachment of Troops on surface, and as such. Picked the largest entrance.

"The Sons of Xzeench Chapter Master"
​

The Sons of Xzeench Chapter peered inward. His hands clutching his Lightning Hammer, which he held in the ready position. Everyone knew the Scope of each Catharian Chapter Master. Literally bred from a Gene-seed created by Xzaien herself. This Chapter Master was no different to the fifteen others in her command. His helmet was off, and he bore the looks of a thirty-year old man. Save for bleached white hair, and a clean shaven face. This man was bred by war, and literally created from it. His armor, a golden master-crafted suit of armor created by the finest smiths that Azel Moran had under his control. His name, "Chapter Master Relian Dorn." He made appearant the very first question toward Xzaien. He stood directly to her left and leant down to speak to her. His voice was deep, and thundered with authority. Yet, subservient to Xzaien.

"My Autocrat, I believe this could be a long and hard fought journey."​

He turned toward Space Marines, and Army Trooper followers. He spoke in a authoritative fashion. One creating the sense of duty and honor.

"Men and woman of Cathay, this will be a tough fight. But remember, we are the Immortal Sons and Daughters of the Autocrat! We will never fall, and we will live forever in the tapestries of time. Follow me! And together, we will triumph over these Chaotic Whore-sons who call themselves Chiss!"​

Dorn made the first steps into the dank and dark catacombs of the Bunkers. His mission: Find the Base Commander, and force his surrender. His bootsteps thunder with the sounds of moving servo-motors and hydralic actuators. Xzaien followed closely behind, alongside her Telepaths. Technicians and Engineers were brought up from the rear, who read out schematics. Each tunnel lead to a main hub. Where they could rest, before heading to the main chamber. The Armies of Cathay Followed Dorn and Xzaien, each with weapons primed and ready to commence justice upon the Heretical Unbelievers of the Catharian Truth.

Titus Julius Ludicola Iston Voronwe Scylla AI @

 

[Harkyn]

(Added to Thread by Xzaien )

The ruins lie dank and cold as if perhaps it had lane out like a husk for quite some time festering in its dust and decay, offering a delusion of solace whence the dark characteristics had whence taken its toll as the party walked deeper through the dust which clambered to their boots, gripped to their armor, and smelt like age, an age which had been locked away for many a year the further which they walked into the massive Bunker-like structure. A smell which was that of dust, ash, and an odd smoldering smell as if a torch had been recently burning - the issue of such a vast assumption was that of a lack of ash where a brazier may have been lit or a light which would help guide them into the darkness. The ruins were vast but quite close quarters if it could be laid out to such an assumption forcing roughly two to three men through the catacomb-like corridors when the structure was at it's most durable, but for quite often only one man could fit comfortably through the halls with massive stones blocking halls off from collapse most likely caused by the planetoids Volcanic natures. Whence the group of Soldiers and Space Marines had made it deeper into the structure past the corridor from the durasteel doorway they would find pots and vases which were cracked and quite pulverized. Glass and pottery seemed to litter the floor in the middle of the corridor splitting off into a three-way junction. On close inspection, the soldiers in front of the party could see gouges in the frames that seemed all most...Perfect, they were not caused by a geological phenomenon... Each arch seemed quite unstable, but they seemed to be roughly ten feet high and five feet wide, flush with the rooms that they had split off into.

 

[Jairdain]

There were times when Jairdain didn't always know what exactly she was supposed to be doing. Very recently she had been crowned a queen and called these people friends...maybe not friends yet, but at least allies. Here was a Jedi Master in the mix of the Darkness, yet somehow she fit.

She had once been Sith and prior to that, she had been Jedi. At one point, she had been neither one and still followed a Grey path. Neither Light nor Dark, but something in between. Considering everything the woman had been through, she was surprised she was still alive.

Giving a mental shrug, she followed the people ahead of her to try and get into a bunker. If she had known about the Scream that was going to happen, she would have plugged her ears. Once it was over, she shook her head slightly and rubbed at the offended orifices until the ringing stopped.

"Warn me next time, will you?"

Luckily the man that spoke up after waited until the ringing had stopped and Jairdain was able to hear him clearly. Not sure if she would be remembered as one of their people, she shrugged and fell into step again with the people invading the bunker.

Titus Julius Ludicola Xzaien Iston Voronwe Scylla AI Harkyn Azel Moran

 

[Azel Moran]

Scylla AI

The slicing attack imposed itself on around two-thirds of Azel's machines. The remainder were airgapped or non-electronic, just plain lacking receivers for remote electronic input. As the rest of the machines shut down under the frantic ministrations of Azel's assistants, the big alchemist took stock of what was left.

Some of the remaining machines were just plain useless now that the Hegemon herself was onsite. Collapsing a bunker on one's dictatorial patron was not a thing to do lightly.

He cracked his knuckles and lugged a large hose into the broken gate of the bunker. It began spewing odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, non-flammable, heavier-than-air gas into the underground complex. Xzaien had more than enough skill to survive; her soldiers had breathing systems. Most of the Chiss defenders, at a guess, did not. They would asphyxiate.

 

[Van Hill]

Location: HMS Titan, Fleet Command Ship
Objective: Devastate the enemy
Tags: Xzaien ,

Consul Trevor Jackson had been gone for a long time. He and his aides had been responsible for the political pacification of Bogo-Rai and the appointment of the planet's Viceroy allowed for him to set back into his military role. His eyes dulled back and forth as he witnessed his warship fire endlessly into the atmosphere of the planet.

"Begin coordinating with the Federal Fleet. All ships, launch auxiliary troops. Ease the pressure on the main troopers. Land more soilders in the east. Fire auxiliary cannons" he ordered. Although to some, these orders would have seemed ludicrous but when one wasmfighting a ludicrous enemy. One must become a ludicrous enemy

 

[Iston Voronwe]

The last standing Penal Battalion began their descent through the now open doors. Varro dispersed the unit into a tight formation to accommodate the tight quarters, but just as they reached the interior, a deep almost guttural, and metallic noise shook and filled the bunker, but that wasn’t it ~ a sweat broke upon Varro’s brow, this pit in his stomach, there was something strong, something dark; and it just entered the bunker ~ it had to be her, the lady he caught a glimpse of earlier. Varro halted the troops and spoke.

“ Listen up. It’s a miracle any of you have lasted this long. The day has been long, but that’s no excuse to become sloppy. These tunnels have to connect at some point and I’m willing to bet that noise we just heard has to be our elite squad entering from the other entrances. No yielding, no mercy. “

They began to advance forward, something ~ what was this feeling that Varro couldn’t shake? You see, up until this point, Varro never had formal force training, rather always learning from each brawl or experience that came his way; and of all things in his life, today was truly taxing his abilities, which at this point was something Varro had wished he had more knowledge in.

Let the carnage begin ~

Hidden turrets rose out of the walls in front and behind them as bolts began to fire in all directions, sheer hysteria taking place as war screams began to break loose from the men’s lips, blasting back in whatever direction they could perceive the threat coming from. Varro moved down the hall, weaving side to side, dodging bolts as he came upon his first target, throwing a grenade and timing it correctly it detonated destroying the first turret, while immediately focusing on the one adjacent to him, his hand crackling as white currents emerged from his hand hitting the turret, another explosion proceeding. Two more loud explosions would be heard as the excitement would die down, and as Varro looked back on the battalion who now decorated the hollow halls of the bunker with red and lifeless bodies ~ he was alone. Varro’s green eyes blazed with nothing but fury, not for the loss of the lives before him, but for the asinine situation this seemed to be. How, how did he ALWAYS end up as the lower man? The slave, the throw away. Varro let out a guttural growl that seemed to shake the area around him... but as he stood there, marching would be heard behind him. As he turned around, he saw another “surprise” as a detachment of Chiss soldiers stood, guns pointed on Varro, ordering him to surrender.

Sinew and Flesh, Bones and foreign Blood.

It happened quickly before Varro could realize what transpired, but standing in the middle of what seemed to be a sea of Chiss bodies. He could hear his heart beating in his eardrums, drowning all other sounds out as he walked, walked with no purpose or awareness as he walked around a bend and straight into the battalion that held no other than the Xzaien and her elite squad. How did he manage to have come this far? He couldn’t remember; but he at this point didn’t care. He looked around, battered, worn and covered in blood and singed clothing. He looked like hell.

​

 

[Xzaien]

​

Xzaien's army came across a massive, if unguarded intersection. Surprisingly, Azel had forewarned Xzaien of the Deployment of Nerve Gas to cull the defenders who had no mask on. Xzaien was first to take the sudden On-Radio designation seriously. She reached onto her belt, and put a Breathing Mask on her face. Enough to keep out the Toxic Fumes filling the area. Even the small numbers of surviving Penal Squads had rudimentary Box Respirators better used in the Hive-Worlds in the Deep Core. Xzaien's Small Detachment of Sons of Xzeench Marines and the Chapter Master were wholly immune to the Orange Gas which filled the room.

In the distance, the sounds of screaming and choking were heard down the hall to their front. It seems the toxins were having the desired affect on the skeleton Chiss Garrison. Xzaien and her vaunted Space Marines pushed forward. Their boot-steps and servomotors echoing across the dark-plated metal hallways. As they approached the Intersection, the sounds of a massive battle came from the hallway to their left. Shouts of Battle, and the sounds of lightning ricocheted across the walls. And, a blooded and battered single Penal Trooper stepped forth from the darkness. Covered in blood, and the viscera of his enemies. He held his Blaster Rifle by its sling and appeared to be in a dazed state. Unaware of his surroundings. He was the sole survivor of a Battalion of Five Thousand. A shocking revelation to be sure, judging by the number "XIV" written on his jumpsuit.

The Chapter Master readied his Lightning Hammer, and the Legion behind him drew their Bolt-Guns and took aim at the singular man. The Chapter Master held his massive man sized hammer in the ready position, ready to bring down rays of electric death on the Penal Trooper. Easily, a single Chapter Master was a match for twenty lesser force-users. And two-hundred Space Marines, three hundred force users. However, their lust for blood was broken. By a sudden shift in the force. A conjuration of a being only thought dead for almost twelve-thousand years. The Spectre of Revan had joined the battle. Conjured up by Dark-Side force energy, and bound to Xzaien's very being. This perversion of the Prodigal Knight wore the mask of Revan, and carried his lightsabers. But he never spoke, never slept, and never ate. It ignited a single Purple Lightsaber, and flourished it around itself. Protecting its master as it selflessly stepped to the flank of Xzaien.

​

Xzaien stepped forward, Greeting this single Trooper as he collapsed onto his knees. She spoke, her voice soothing to his very being. She spoke, and it seemed that the stars listened. Her voice was calm, simple, and eloquent. Iston Voronwe could feel the power radiate from the being in-front of him. Likely the most powerful feeling that could have ever crossed his conscience. Equal to the likes of the Immortal Sith Emperor, or the Jedi Grand-Master. In his mind, Varro could feel the Old Ways in the ways Xzaien spoke, and moved. This ancient feeling of millennia of practice and refinement. A Dark-Sider of Valkorion's Caliber, standing before him.

"Come with me. Your service is not done yet."​

Xzaien's aura was one, not of intense fear like the new Sith. But a overwhelming sense of dread which seemed pertinent to draw upon ever bit of Varro's psyche. Intoxicating, and addictive as both she and her perversion of the force gave off this sense of Dark-Power unseen anywhere throughout the Galaxy. The Old Magicks of Korriban, and Iokath reigned supreme in these two beings. Varro could sense a fragment of Revan inside of Xzaien's Perversion. Locked forever in a prison of her own making. And the pain and anguish of ten Jedi, amalgamated into a single tangible being.

It was as if, Close Proximity to Xzaien and her pet gave Varro a sense of feeling, a sense of being, a sense of doing the right thing. He could sense the men behind him, with the Chapter Master giving off the strongest aura of power and mental fortitude. Each Marine was strong in their own right, bred from a refined Gene-Seed of Xzaien's Own Creation, implanted into willing test subjects. Varro's job now, was to join Xzaien in her conquest to create the Bulwark against Chaos that shall remain strong until the end of time...

Xzaien was first to make a move to extend her hand and pick up the ailing Penal Trooper. Once she had, she took note of another peculiar feeling in the area around them. She made way to the side hallway. A portion of this hallway led to a previous in-progress excavation. She took note of the pottery which laid strewn about. The Symbols of the Jensaarai lay here. Forever entombed by Thearterra's eternal fire. Xziaen and Varro would have felt an odd, extremely neutral feeling which seemed to permeate the local atmosphere. Xzaien made her way into the excavations, walking right up to the main chamber where the "Tomb" of this Neutral Force User lay. Searching for whichever goods to plunder, or place into Cathay's International Collection of Force-Based Goods.

​

Xzaien came across a large mural which seemed to stand in place at the furthest wall from the entrance. Decorated with prophecies and the coming of a Chosen one. A prophecy long since passed thanks to the Skywalker line. Perhaps one surviving member of the Skywalker line was still alive, someplace or living under a assumed name. Or perhaps, it died out in the years following the Galactic Civil War, and chaotic Yuuzan Vong invasion after that. Xzaien felt a presence, unlike which she had ever felt before. Everything she touched, became corrupted by the Darkness which made up her very soul. But this... this presence was perfectly in tone with the living force. Xzaien made a move for the center of this mural. Marveling at its craftsmanship. Examining every nook and cranny. She put her hand at the center piece of the mural. Tapping into the force, Xzaien felt the locking mechanism inside. Using her power to unlock it. Within a few minutes, centuries worth of dank, horrible air exited the room, and fresh air came in. Xzaien was presented with the sight of Harkyn sitting in the lotus position, hovering a few inches above the ground in a meditative state. Xzaien reached out with the force, attempting to bring to bear her presence in order to wake him up.

Jairdain Titus Julius Ludicola Scylla AI

Van Hill

 

[Scylla AI]

@All
Now the fun begins. The circle unbroken.

Alarms echoed throughout the bunker, doors began to seal shut in corridors to trap the invaders. They could cut them, or shoot them of course. From the floor and walls the biodroids came, armed with swords, basic guns, or savage tools, some carried force imbued blades. Black ill-formed precursors to the insectoid creations above, looking part man, part machine, part insect.

Azel Moran

Registering 50% casualties among the technical staff. Venting in 5..4...

Many defenders fell to their knees coughing before the AI could vent the air. Especially the chiss scientists, the One Sith zealots however were some of the more paranoid sentients left of their number, clinging to life for decades as they now did rebreathers to be their lifeline.

Partially biological the biodroids partially felt some of the effects also, but not fully like a man might, incapacitating some for a short time till they recovered. The AI adjusted to the assault and took on more of the workload. There was however a great danger echoing in the force.

3...2...1...

HISSSSSSSSSSSS the oxygen, toxin and everything else was vented out. All around the bunker! Hold your breath! Not as potent outside probably, it may still give the unprepared a nasty headache. The directive were displeased with this cunning trick!

Xzaien | Iston Voronwe

The doors buckled inward with the marines forcing their way inside, occasionally a turret would reveal itself, popping out of the ceiling, wall or floor and looking to setup a killzone to catch people unaware.

The Scylla AI was originally designed to coordinate fire from a lot of small turrets at once, and though it was probably impossible to tell when you were inside the corridors there was intelligent design to its actions. Most of the fire was done to DELAY approach to box the invaders into traps. For example, rockets would fire continuously at a corner to stop marines going around it, so that a turret could open the other side of the hall and spray them with slug minigun rounds or blaster fire.

The Bunkers commander happened to be a certain one sith commander named Melsk Thraus II who was currently readying himself for a glorious last stand on the lower levels surrounded by biodroids. Rumors of his death were greatly exaggerated. The sandy skinned human and former one sith general had a way of escaping justice, his family causing a long line of misery through the centuries.

Fighting echoed in the halls, different but the same, echoes in the force for Jairdain to see. Was this just another in the endless cycle of the long conflict or the final chapters of the ever-directive? It was hard to tell as the bodies fell. Either way, witnesses were fast becoming in short supply!

Jairdain

Out of nowhere to her right, the floors began to slide open…. What? The black droids were in the floor and walls, metal and man, designed to be part of this place. About to come up behind the invaders. Nowhere near able to match the number of those entering, only sow chaos in their design. All they wanted to do was collapse the upper tunnels and block the invaders in again, slow down their approach. If she was smart she could see they were not going for her but the walls and doors!

Most of them carried savage weapons, blasters, a few force imbued blades and now a group with detonite explosives running at the door. Not a day for a bunker picnic or to let your guard down.

Van Hill

Delay reinforcements. Protocol landslide initiated.

In space Mr Jackson was received with a very rudimentary attack by the AI on his troops descending, possibly flickering and confusion on their consoles. Cyberwarfare. The early stages of it, basic jamming looking to hide the virus being uploaded to their ships. A simple virus, nothing special, intended to cut the thrusters and have them smash into the ground. Would they spot this very basic but not often executed attack in time? It was a sign of things to come in battles of the future which they would do well to heed. Breadcrumbs to follow.

Harkyn

As the intruders got deeper toward Harkyn’s tomb, the one at rest only need call upon the creatures of this place to his command, their former master had engineered them to follow those within this place, not to question. A dozen awaited outside the tomb in the halls and in the corridors, missing and dead parts of sith history twisted into this place.

Harkyn OOC:

Spoiler

Consider a dozen black biodroids yours to command if you wish.

Bunker Status:
50% casualties Among Technical staff.
Breaches on upper levels.
Nerve Gas present. OXYGEN VENTED. Stand by for decontamination protocols.

File Deletion Status - Project ? Deleted. Goros Files Deleted, Haxion Brood files 50% Deleted
Next Pending Status: Deleting ‘Directive’ mentions.

And now a word from our sponsors.​

 

[Harkyn]

The air hit with quite some horrible force as the Tomb was finally unsealed by the party of Catharian warriors. At first sight they would have seen the armored male floating in the air suspended above what appeared to be a long bridge littered with collapsed rock and impurities from times long ago of an ancient civilization. Here were lightsabers buried in ash and soot, cloths of armor weave drapped over ledges and hung along the walls in beautiful tapestries which had once been a prized item possibly, but after the centuries it would seem their faded colors and tattered remains left nothing to be saught from the eye. Now, down in the middle above a pedestal-like Altar was the remaining Jensaarai. Possibly the last of which to exist. He was clad in a remarkably ornate suit of armor which bore many ancient Sith and Je'daai markings along his vambraces and ornate artworks which were carved out of the Plasteel armor that was worn by the strikingly imposing man which floated in the air across the bridge in the vast room of the old Temple.

The stones were unstable along the walk, and the weight placed upon these stones would have to be quite minimal to avoid an entire collapse from centuries of geological activity destroying this sacred place long before the war had even begun itself.

Something which to note for all parties inside of the Temple would be a sort of blackened smoke which lie near the floor creeping towards them, looping down under the bridge and crawling up the walls as if they were some very sentient form of creature - as soon as this smoke reached the first of the Soldiers they'd feel that it was not smoke, but it was solid as stone, yet was able to flow between their legs and around them as if it was that of heavy air.
As it wrapped around some of the Catharian soldiers' legs they would quickly find that they were locked in place. They could not fall, nor could they move their legs. They were halted at the gate.

"Tell me...What is it which drives you?"

A gentle voice was heard echoing through the room in the same tone of voice heard by all who were in the Tomb which this man stayed meditating inside of seemingly in ignorance of the Army that had come for him with the smoke which extended from his hands as he floated suspended in the air were there to halt their advance until he knew the fate that was to befit him. With these Biodroids coming to serve him, however, unknowing of their command he allowed them to filter into his tomb alongside the few which entered until they seemed to turn away from his Tomb and glare at the warriors of the Catharian species that had unlocked his tomb in an idle, guard like stance.

"Intriguing.."


​

 

[Iston Voronwe]

Like a battery that was discharged Varro’s demeanor remained neutral and ragged as he stood facing down the Chapter Master and Bio-Soldiers. He wasn’t surprised to see them about ready to end his life, but his exhausted expression changed to one of loathing and hate as he made himself pathetically ready to defend ~ but ~ Kriff, he thought; to this point he astonished himself that managed to keep himself alive, he wouldn’t allow it to end here, clinging for life until, almost like a calm and break in a storm he dropped to his knees as a woman approached him, a pit forming in his stomach.

This woman; this feeling ~ it had been her the entire time on the battlefield. As she approached Varro, her presence was, for a lack of better words; intoxicating. Strength, pouring out of her like an endless well of dark energy, with no physical end in sight, it threatened to swallow Varro up. She spoke with poise, dignity and refinement ~ and saying those words...

"Come with me. Your service is not done yet."

... those words, they gave value; meaning ~ they gave Varro purpose. No man before Xzaien, no one before had ever moved Varro in the fashion with which now overtook him; her presence revitalizing the worn and battered Zabrak. He took the hand that was offered to him ~ feeling for once in his life, a life of indebted servitude was worthy and necessary to gain true power, but only worthy towards few people. “Thank you my Lady ~ I am at your service.” The way he spoke those words; hidden contempt for anyone or anything that dare to utter an order towards him, but by her. He walked in close proximity to her, keeping distance from the wound that he felt in the force (being the shade), What in Bogans name is -... he thought as his attention fell among the tomb that Xzaien opened, his body tensing as he readied himself ~ but to his surprise a man sat in the middle of the room, old artifacts strewn over time... he didn’t understand, but knew if she was after this, it was important. Things were taking an odd turn.

Xzaien​

 

[Jairdain]

It seemed the others around her each had their own objective. Deep below a man infused the air with poison. There wasn't a logical reason for Jairdain to know this, but the Force spoke to her. The message it gave was that she needed to put a barrier around her head...if she wanted to remain alive. Doing this, the air had no ill effect on the Jedi as she walked further into the bunker.

Soon enough she was pretty much alone as the men and women with her went about their duties that did not include her. Giving more of a mental shrug than anything, she wasn't sure what was going to happen to her.

Fighting could be heard up and down other hallways while hers was rather peaceful. Calm and quiet. Something was in the air and it wasn't the poison. Hearing the sound of panels sliding open, the Master went into stealth. Whatever these beings were after, it wasn't her.

Sightless eyes used the Force to see and it didn't take her long to figure out they were trying to block them in. All of them carried some form of weapon and a few were even Force Imbued. This was something Jairdain could do, so understood just how much work had gone into making them. At the moment, she wasn't as worried about those carrying the weapons, but those with the explosives.

We have company!

With a quick telepathic message to any of her allies near to her, she hoped it would be something they could act on.

As much as these droids were programmed to stop intruders, Jairdain wanted to prevent them from sealing them into the bunker. With a grand wave of her hand, she embraced the Force fully and would send a telekinetic wave in their direction. She hoped to knock a few of them away from the door and planting their packages,

Scylla AI Xzaien Azel Moran Iston Voronwe Harkyn Titus Julius Ludicola