Dominion Closing a Cursed book | AC dominion of Korriban

[Spirit of Ashla]

Closing a Cursed Book - Ashlan Crusade Dominion of Korriban

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Korriban…. Again...A planet whose name is synonymous with the darkside and whose history matches any for bloodshed and foul taint. The surface of the cold, red orb is blasted and littered with the remnants of countless battles, and the space around it is a graveyard for hundreds of ships, not least from the most recent attempt by a light sided alliance to cleanse the planet.

With the encroaching Ashlan front, Korriban is like a dark rock breaking the waves of light as the cross the Stygian Caldera. The Ashlans wish to close this chapter and cleanse the world. Already Ashlan archaeologists are on site, consecration and resealing old tombs to prevent any more of the dark secrets spilling out across the galaxy. Thousands of dark texts have been gathered, and are being burned in holy pyres, there is sadness about the situation. Dark and neutral historians are sad to see historic texts burned, and the Ashlans are sad that far too much material escaped the light of Ashla before they arrived.

High in space, salvage teams and scavengers race each other to the remains of a dozen different navies that had clashed over the centuries, this maelstrom of debris made all the stranger by several ground based relics and tombs, lifted into orbit by the machinations of dark powers and now floating in the void smashing though military debris, potentially carrying their own treasures.

Objective 1 - Outbreak of Darkness​

​

It was orbital salvage teams that spotted the anomaly first, far in the northern hemisphere, near the site where Laertia Io tried to open a rift, there was a distortion in space and time, at first scientists thought it was an error, but then it grew and became visible from space, being fed by the millions of souls that had perished at the battle for korriban. Force sensitives would feel the raging torrent of souls swirling around and being drawn into the void…. But the force is always balanced, and for every soul that was swallowed, something had to come back out. The first attacks happened at a small settlement being used as a staging post by Ashlan scientists. A horde of Sand Demons, supported by lesser demons, struck hard and without mercy, leaving no survivors. Across the wastes, many such attacks are taking place as a dark tide sweeps landscape.

Most worryingly there are reports that a pair of Ri Akir, lover demons have infiltrated the old factories of Darth Prospero. Protecting themselves with packs of Ember Watchers they have begun to reactivate the old Sith spawn production, hoping to wrestle the planet from mortal control and turn it into a hellscape to rival the likes of Wgah'Ngal.

The first ranks of Legionem Mortis now form battle lines around the factories and are beginning to spread their influence, led by mighty angels of war older more advanced models that have been guarding the factories for years waiting for someone to take up the mantle of creator and continue their mission.

So the Ashlans have many choices, do they defend the small settlements from certain destruction as one by one they are overrun, do they attack the heavily guarded factories and slay the Lovers, ceasing the construction of their armies. Of dive straight into the anomaly, closing, saving the world and jusy hoping the collapse will take the spreading darkness with it.

Objective 2 - Scavengers Paradise​

How many fleet scale battles have blighted this place? Probably dozens. It is now a gold mine for exceptionally bold scavengers, pirated and raiders. From the orbital military debris there is many options for unused munitions, weaponry, and maybe sellable secrets. This debris has now been joined by several ground based structures that have been launched high into space, do you want to strap on an EVA suit and explore a rapidly spinning, potentially unstable haunted tomb in the vacuum of space?

Pirates now frequent this area to load up on supplies and have running battles with the Ashlans. Careful not to show too heavy a hand to opportunistic freebooters, just trying to survive, the Ashlans are generally content to chase them off with frigate sized secutiry forces rather than going aggressively on the attack.

Have a rummage, who knows what you may find?

Objective 3 - The Red Desert​

Korriban, need I say more? If you haven't visited Korriban with a personal and mysterious Objective, you haven't visited Korriban.

Thank you Ingrid L'lerim for your artworks, and both her and AMCO for providing some monsters.​

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Lady Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
The First and the Light of Ashla
Heiress and Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic Mascot and Representative of the Ashlan Crusade
Eternal Empire's Ambassador to the Ashlan Crusade; Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary and the Fjölkyngi Smiđr Guild​

Objective II.: Kill the Demons
Location: Surface, Korriban
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (swords) | Ljósspjót (spear) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m || Current appearance
Writing With: Open

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

Perhaps Eina was the first in the family who never visited this world, yet. Her father had countless assets on the planet, as did her mother. Although her mother's are more corporate issues than Sith cases. In addition, Adrian, the girl's younger brother, studied here, secretly under the hands of Telis Taharin-Zambrano . But for the Valkyrja, the red planet was an unknown territory. One thing she knew, though, was that she didn’t like this place.

A little prejudice, yes. She didn't like it because Geiseric had almost died here before. This was the place where the man was captured. When she was looking for him for a decade. Actually, she thought if that didn’t happen, they might never fall in love with each other. She was probably wrong, it remains an eternal mystery.

Before she came here, she talked to her mother, who won’t join now unless she really has to. She was still busy with the preparations for the coming war. And Gei was on the expedition in the Netherworld, she understood why her soul mate didn’t want to come here again. So Eina was alone, which is why she decided to join the sisters and knights in the fight and battle against Bogan.

She knew there were countless Sithspawn and demons on this planet. She didn’t consider all of the Sithspawns to be evil; but the demons could be sent home, at worst, the best solution if they can kill them all. Eina often had a bad feeling that she had to kill mortals, living things. But when she had to go to war with demons, she had no problem with it. She killed them at any time, but she felt bad as Valkyrja when she had to hurt the living. Even if she knew she had no other choice.

Eina arrived at the area where most of the crusaders and sisters were. She was not prepared to behave in the usual way, to redeem anyone today. The demons were from her real world, a fact that she had a hard time prospering among the living, but she knew the dead. And the demons knew only one thing… the fight!

Today Ashla will triumph here.

 

[Celeste Demici]

Lady Celeste Demici
Juror of Ashla, Crusader, Witch Elder | The Holy Eldritch​

Objective: Try to interpret the voices, penitence
Location: Surface, Korriban
Equipment: Lightsaber resistant sword | Light Armour || Empyrean gland || OPBC-01s
Tags: Open

[ Sanctus Dominus ]
<"U'ghft Aimgr'luhh (Dark words) or ur-Kittât"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Ahh ymg' ah mguh'e ya? ahh ymg' ah epgoka mgleth? | Lucis viam sequere! Sequere aeternam veritatem, viam deae.

Celeste, who had once lived under the name Hyrva for centuries, moaned painfully and reached for her head. Sounds, sounds… sounds that never pass. ShHe didn't know what they meant. Those were both completely foreign to her, not a minute's rest. She didn't remember her past. She did not know about the sins she had committed, not only against Ashlan Crusade but the galaxy. Celeste did not know that she had died at Ziost, and was later brought back to life by Valkyrja and Children of Ashla to atone for her sins.

Ahh ymg' ah mguh'e ya? ahh ymg' ah epgoka mgleth? | Lucis viam sequere! Sequere aeternam veritatem, viam deae.

Upon her return, she learned, she is a member of the Demici family that Lord Pietro Demici was one of her uncles. That she, Celeste, had an accident and then she lost her memories and almost died. Then in the accident she also suffered a serious injury near to her eye, but by the grace of Ashla, her vision remained and now bears the mark of the goddess at that area, and her eyes changed. The reality was this was her fatal injury when the former High Prophetess died in a fight against the Crusaders. She spent a lot of time in the infirmary learning about Ashla and Bogan.

Ahh ymg' ah mguh'e ya? ahh ymg' ah epgoka mgleth? | Lucis viam sequere! Sequere aeternam veritatem, viam deae.

She later started to learn to fight and fencing, for she did not understand it, and eventually, by the grace of Uncle Pietro, she was able to join the Holy Jurors. Celeste actually felt that the roles in the Ashla's Papacy and the church were better suited to her, but after all, the inquisitor was in most cases a church person, so she accepted to take on such a task. Her swordsmanship wasn't the best yet, she soon realised she had never really learned to fight with weapons because Force using went much better for her.

Ahh ymg' ah mguh'e ya? ahh ymg' ah epgoka mgleth? | Lucis viam sequere! Sequere aeternam veritatem, viam deae.

Celeste heard the voices from the first moment, they never left her alone, they were there during meditation, during sleep, various nightmares about tentacles and ungodly beings. All this barely allowed the woman to sleep and rest. Doctors were told her was probably caused by post-traumatic stress. In fact, no one knew why she could still hear them when she was no longer free. She was no longer in touch with her former dark god. In principle, only with Ashla. Nevertheless, under supervision, she was released to Korriban.

Ahh ymg' ah mguh'e ya? ahh ymg' ah epgoka mgleth? | Lucis viam sequere! Sequere aeternam veritatem, viam deae.

But now she was here… in this strange yet familiar place you might get answers to your questions and what those voices are and what they want from her… Maybe Ashla help her.

 

[Isla Draellix-Kobitana]

​

Location: Near Prosperos factories
Objective: smash a hole in the Defenses and destroy factories
Tags: Sister Mercy and open

Spoiler: Elements of the Ashlan Fleet

Command Vessel

Templar Class Star Destroyer
Forgiveness accompanied by Magnificence

6 x Dominion Class Escort Frigates

Even split complements of
Pegasus Interceptor Starfighters
Phoenix Multirole Starfighter
Knave Transports

Numerous
Ashla's Mercy orbital insertion shield generators

Infantry available

Ashlan Marines
Sisters of Ashla

Spoiler: Isla's Personal equipment

Admiral's Sabre
OPBC-a Bio-chip
Ashlan Rosary
Armor of Sanctity
LPD-31 stormshard
Sidearm

Ashlan Variable Geometary Comman Vehicle

Prelude to landing...

40 Phoenix Multirole Starfighters screamed through the skies over Korriban carrying heavy payloads of ordnance, miles behind them were dozens of
Knave Transports loaded to the brim with the Sister's of Ashla and carrying Ashlan armour including the Command Vehicle of the Grand Admiral slung under their bellies.

The squadron captain watches as the telemetry showed his destination approaching, but with the dark and omninous clouds up ahead he needn't worry. They were to saturation bomb a large staging area within reach of Prospero's factories, they would clear territory of demons and sithspawn, in conjunction with bombardment from the two star destroyers in orbit. The star destroyers themselves were systematically levelling every above ground structure in the factory. Not a single lifesign was detected, to shot after shot rained down from the Meteor Cannons. The true factories though were buried beneath the rock of Korriban and would survive such bombardment intact.

..30 seconds.. all of his weaponry automatically armed and SAINT determined saturation solutions were selected, all it needed was the human pilots to guide the star fighters in and release at the right time. Once unloaded they would circle as air support to try and prevent the sithspawn and demonic legions from forming an effective counter attack.

The multirole star fighters dropped down to low level and the pilot grabbed the stick his finger over the release trigger. 3...2...1... woooooooo!!!

...The landing

Grand Master Draellix, her chosen title for entering battle with her Sisters sat in her AVGCV watching a holoprojection of their landing, the first shuttles dropping armour in a perimeter around the landing site, Imbued Sisters quickly set up fire teams and already Torun Medium Mortar rounds were sailing forth into te enemies shattered battles link, "66 seconds" thought Isla to herself, from landing to first mortar launch. The heavier mortars would take longer to prepare, but she was impressed with the well trained efficiency.

Around her, Sister's prayed to Ashla, and she shut her eyes and said a short prayer herself. When she opened her eyes she looked across at Sister Mercy her commanders had said good things about her and her squad that had been chosen as part of her bodyguard, she felt honoured to be in the vaulted position amongst all these amazing women.

A crash shook the whole vehicle as it was deposited heavily on the ground, the driver cursed at the Knave pilot for the heavy landing as he steered his charge into position. Out of the currently open view ports, Isla watched as dozens of sister rapelled down from the Knave that still hovered above them. Deployment was going as planned, the enemy had no artillery and no air support, so a failed landing would be on the Ashlans, but even so, she swelled with pride as her holo settled and her preplanned battle line coalesced. They would continue the bombardment and then advance to the factory. Several Jedi were here to deal with the reported Command demons and her army was tasked with clearing a path and dismantling factory operations.

On her holo, a familiar Command icon appeared, that of Eina L'lerim-Vandiir . She had no need to ride around in shuttles, so Isla could only imagine the awe on her Sister's face when the nether opened and the angellic visage of their Saint unfurled her wings into realspace. Isla looked out the window and saw her friend, giving her a small wave that she was unlikely to notice in the reupulsor dust. Around her, Sister's had gathered, asking her to lead them in prebattle prayer. Isla was excited to see the warlord in action after hearing stories about the nether from Ingrid.

 

[Cass Gemini]

Objective 2 - Scavengers Paradise​

Spoiler: Gear and other links

Equipped: Calypso's Thunder, Harlequin sabers, Gravpack, Viper mk2 skinsuit
Ship: Midnight Kyber
NPCs: Crew of the Midnight Kyber

Location: Korriban Orbital Debris field
Objective: Steal high end military hardware
Tags: Open

Cass looked over at a Thrace as she unwound the umbilical for the stolen sensor crystals. These things were worth a ton gram for gram, but she was mostly out her for a little bit of quiet and to admire the view. How many people got to have this as a job. She stepped back as a hundred metre long white Varpeline cutting laser swept passed her, cutting through the hull in front of her and the tractor emitter from the Midnight Kyber drew a large engine component out past her into space.

The change in mass caused the derelict cruiser she was on to start twisting and its shattered hull began to break apart, it wouldn't be long before the after section headed into the atmosphere of the planet. "Hey Thrace, we better jump." She pointed at the bridge section that was slowly drifting away. The two women ran, deactivating their grav clamps and floating in to space holding each other hands. As they drifted silently through space there was a flash as two large ships appeared in the system, accompanied by several frigate. "Kark it! It's Ashlans" she pulled up her holo command interface and cloaked her ship, hopefully she had been quick enough not to show up on their scanners.

A dark shadow swept over the pair as the star destroyers entered orbit, she looked at it, seeing its heavy armament, and watched as fighters and transports dropped out of her hangars. Cass squeezed Thraces hand as her skin prickled, she sensed a presence she recognised aboard the lead ship. Why was she here, this wasn't even Ashlan space, she had been so careful since Mirial. She suddenly wished that Isidor Justeene was here, he didn't know the whole truth, maybe he should some some soon.

They finally landed on the bridge section and reactivated their grav boots. "You alright captain? Not like you to get nerves at a time like this?" Thrace asked Cass as the pirate pulled out her light saber and cut through the hull "Don't mind me Thrace, just, thought I saw a ghost, let's get in here and steal this cruiser's tactical database."

​

 

[Geiseric]

A world of the dead, returned to death where it belongs. Korriban was finally being put down after so many wounds. The red hot sands under boot parted and slid around, light and fresh, difficult to stride upon, only recently blown in from the dunes beyond the Valley of the Dark Lords. The holiest place in Sithdom, resting place of their oldest and greatest, was ruined. The high cliff walls could not have protected this place from the bloodshed it endured. The Crusade knew full well that the deepest crypts must remain untouched by the fighting, but the surface was ravaged beyond repair. The Galactic Alliance, the Warlords of the Sith, The Crusade, the Imperials... all had left their mark on this place, each successive battle adding to the desolation. The eerie whistling of the wind so often broke the dead silence, blowing the sand back and forth like a tide coming in and out of the canyon.

Perhaps one day the Sith would return here and make the effort to re-erect their statues, but that seemed so far off to Geiseric as he crested a dune and scouted off into the distance. The black mass at the far end of the canyon, the Sith Academy, was the last thing which jutted up over the sand. His macrobinoculars indicated no fortifications, which suggested no one was fool enough to still reside there. He would leave it be, his folly... the place where he had been captured by the Sith. What he sought was not within, and he had no inclination to relive the memories created in the academy's bowels. Those days of pain and plight seemed long gone, for their silver-lining outweighed all the torture. For all he had lost to the Sith in his life, he had gained so much more.

Eina L'lerim-Vandiir was elsewhere on the world, but never away from him. Though he travelled the desert alone, she was with him in the Force. She had asked him to accompany her north. He had declined. He had cleared out Sithspawn nests before, and he knew there would be more to clean out before their crusade was over. Perhaps his goal was not more pressing than hers, but it was more personal. He had kept quiet about his mission, though not that it mattered. The couple knew where eachother were, always. A condition of their dyad in the Force. If something went awry here, she was never too far to aid him.

His feet carried him lightly down the sand dune. The fresh sand was treacherous, below it rested ten thousand years of dark side energy. Geiseric did not want to know what else rested dormant below it, but going where he knew he had too, he was bound to find out. At the edge of the canyon's mouth he cut up a rocky outcropping and made his way up the cliff face. He was on a path, albeit a narrow one, ill defined and weathered, probably carved into the rock the same time as the tomb it trafficked towards. To his right was a sheer rock face going up, to his left was another going down.

Cautious footing led him to the dilapidated entrance of a tomb, wind and grainy sand having stripped it almost bare to the point where one could mistake it for a natural cave. The sapphire blue blade of Geiseric's lightsaber hissed to life, once again a torch in the darkness, the void that he stared into where the rising sun's rays could not touch...

 

[Darth Themis]

Wearing: Snakeskin

Armed with: Nothing:

Mission: CLANDESTINE RETRIEVAL (BYOO)

Earlier...


Darth Themis, Bright Lord of The Sith, a Heretical Light Adept by both Sith and Ashlan's standards, had for months now been in deep cover as a low level but powerful Healer named Moya De Lifte slowly gaining a reputation with the seemingly endless ranks of Ashlan Soldiers for her uncanny ability to pull all but the absolutely worst injured from the jaws of an early grave. It wasn't just soldiers seeking her out now: Other, highly skilled healers were now seeking her out.

Themis put on an air of aloofness, of distance, but the truth was, deep down, she held nothing but contempt and hostility towards them and what they stood for. To Themis, the Ashlan Crusade told nothing but lies about itself, to itself--to her, they used the Light Side as nothing but an excuse to be tyrants. She didn't see, or rather, outright ignored and refused to pay attention to, any possible merits they might have. She couldn't stand living amongst them. It was suffocating and depressing. More than once she had been tempted to kill everyone present who was cheering on a hanging or a crucifixion.

Instead, as requested by her Grand Daughter, Darth Xiphos, Themis was embedding herself deeper than ever. She had to build slowly, carefully.

She couldn't stand them. Even walking amongst Ashlan's for just a few minutes was irritating. But she hid it well, buried it deep. So deep it couldn't be felt. So deep even she couldn't feel it.

Themis had one advantage as a Heretical Light Side Sith--as long as she didn't fight anyone, no Force Adept would sense anything off about her.

It allowed for her cover as a healer who had taken an oath of non violence to be rock solid.

Themis strode off the Lambda Class Shuttle she often operated out of. The visions, thousands of potential futures hit her at once.

Laertia's actions on Korriban resonated on Korriban still. Laertia had once been one of the Sith's very worst enemies, for she had inherently despised bullies. Then she had chosen to become one herself when she realized it was the only way to get anything done without having to be under the thumb of the Jedi for it. Opening this deadly rift over Korriban, whose energy releases had destroyed dozens of large ships, killing thousands on all sides, as much to genuinely save Korriban from destruction as it was to punish the NIO and any Jedi present for doing all they could to destroy any hope of united response to the Bryn'adul.

Themis strode past teams cleaning up various debris. She saw the remains of a totally destroyed Model 1 Nuetralizer being hauled away in pieces from the wreckage, it's circuits damaged beyond hope of repair or recovery. It had claimed dozens at Korriban before it fell. They had found it surrounded by dozens of dead Crusaders.

She was here for a very specific reason.

There was a Stealth Knight from the Serpents of Ashla. At Themis's orders, more had come in under Beskar grade covers as healers and he apparently had uncovered a lost Text called The 35th Heresy.

It was not advertised as a Sith Text, of course. It was magically disguised as an ancient book on Light Side Healing Techniques (Which to be sure, the information was totally legit for the sake of maintaining cover. But The 35th Heresy actually covered Alkahest.

The Light Side version of Alchemy. Techniques created by Light Sith.

Alarm Bells had gone off in Themis's mind. Themis was the Whisperer of The 35th Heresy. One of her students from the Old Days, Darth Maxis had written this book based on her teachings. The Jedi had killed him, in the end.

Once upon a time in the west, Madman lost his damn mind in the west--

Wait, hold on, that came out wrong. Do over.

Coughs

Clears throat

So anyway, once upon a time in The Gulag Plague, Themis had actually tried to be a Jedi. It had ended in blood and fire...at the hands of Darth Phyre, who had killed both her and the De Lifte Family Jedi Order.

Being in the de facto partnership with the murderous cult that had done it via Xiphos was next to intolerable. Only the fact she knew Xiphos intended to destroy them in some way made her continue giving support. Plus, there was the unique (and horrifying) situation between Xiphos and The Amalgam.

Themis knew Xiphos's attachment to that beast could not be severed by any save Xiphos or Maple. And she foresaw they would both end up having to do the deed.

For now though, she waited, her tendrils digging deeper into the Crusade...

Themis, as usual, came upon the usual tents of the injured, but there was another.

The hooded Knight in the Golden Armor from Ession waited by one of the tents and Themis instantly tensed up at seeing the Motherfether again. What was he doing here?

Themis immediately searched the future. There were no deceptions he had planned. No inquisitorial endeavors he sought to undertake. But something was urgent.

Themis sighed. They were in the future where her Stealth Knight had gone missing.

Themis, wearing her skintight black catsuit with wide sleeves, immediately headed towards him, her tone even. Emotionless.

"The one from Ession. Why are you here?"

"To see you, Lady De Lifte." The Knight answered. "I'm afraid I have some bad news. I was admittedly rather surprised to learn you had a student. But I'm afraid I bring unfortunate news. He went missing near what appears to be the ruins of an old city in the Red Desert. Our priests are doing all they can to consecrate or destroy what they find but it's slow work. But given your precognitive visions, perhaps you already aware of this."

"I don't always get visions." Themis lied. "Just sometimes. News to me. Let me take care of these patients first..."

"As you wish, Lady De Lifte. I will accompany and defend you, as I am well aware of your oath of non-violence. I must admit, I am rather intrigued at the prospect of meeting a Student of yours..."

"I never got your name..." Themis pointed out.

"Master Horace Isidro, at your service."

"I need not resort to violence to protect myself from this foul world." Themis replied.

"But I would be remiss in my honor not to do everything in my power to aid you. Who knows? Perhaps your student might be more amenable to joining the Papacy than you..."

Themis didn't smile. Didn't say anything at this. She simply went over to one tent and concentrated.

The mass of Soldiers that had been injured by lingering Sith booby traps flinched, their bodies pushing out shrapnel, lacerations sealing up. In minutes they were up. Themis left before they could thank her. Horace waited with an armored speeder.

"Get out of the pilot seat...I drive better..." Themis told him.

Horace nodded, and Themis hopped in, putting the engine to max setting and rocketing off to the red desert, following Horace's coordinates...

 

[Kal-Channa]

Location: Approaching Prospero Factories - Korriban
Dialogue Legend: <"High Nelvaanian"> │ “Galactic Basic”
Tags: Isla Draellix-Kobitana Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

It was an open secret among the Wolfguards that the royal family had little need for bodyguards. Indeed, it had been that way since the ascension of the Eternal Empress, who was known not only as the galaxy’s most dangerous assassin, but also a demigoddess in her own right, with power equivalent to that of many Dark Lords. Such power was why the focus of the Wolfguards had shifted in recent years, veering more towards special forces and fully embracing their place as the Empire’s most lethal warriors. For Kal-Channa, who was poorly-suited for bodyguard duty to begin with, she would find her place as the hyper-lethal scalpel to the hammer of the Ultranauts.

And she would begin here, within the factories of the late Darth Prospero.

The Styx-class dropship howled through the air as the pilot guided the craft to the landing site, where already, the Sisters of Ashla were rappelling down from their dropships, preparing to advance on the hosts of reanimated cyborgs and Sithspawn defending the factories. While this wasn’t the Eternal Empire’s operation, a small contingent of Wolfguards had been deployed to serve in the capacity of advisors and special forces. And yet, for Kal-Channa, this deployment was something she had been working towards for years. First to become a Wild Huntress of the Agents of Chaos, then later, to become a Wolfguard. Now, she would finally execute the work she had been training to do, for virtually all of her short life. While she knew that the realities of war were often gruesome and unforgiving, Kal-Channa sought out the crucible regardless. Like the Sisters of Ashlan, she was a strand-cast made for war, even if she had been designated as a fleet technician before pursuing her own path. As such, her instincts called her here, on the very frontlines as a direct actor, not inside a hot engine room or the stuffy bridge of a starship.

“Equipment check!” Her commanding officer, Captain Skilis Jun-Gaz, called out. A chorus of voices answered one-by-one in affirmative tones, with each man or woman indicating that their loadouts were nominal, doing so before Kal-Channa, who was last in the arrangement.

“Equipment ready, Captain!” The Bimm sang out.

“Good. Pilot, take us down close to the command vehicle!” Skilis called out.

“Yes, sir.” A masculine voice answered back from the front of the vessel.

“Wolfguards, make ready. Let’s move out!”

In eerie lockstep, the Wolfguards disembarked from the dropship and touched ground. While she was the newest member of the squad, Kal-Channa did not reveal any hint of being such as her boot-clad feet hit the ground, then as she moved towards the variable geometry command vehicle. Seeing her commanding officer hold up a hand gesture to bring the squad to a halt and a subsequent kneel, Kal-Channa stopped immediately, quickly seeing why he had done so as she observed the Sisters of Ashla in devout prayer. As quasi-representatives of the Eternal Empire’s royal family, they were obligated to respect the Ashlan religious practices. Failing to do so could invite severe consequences, not to mention the diplomatic incident such an embarrassing faux pas could lead to.

Not wanting her career to end before it began due to a missed prayer, the tiny special forces soldier quickly lowered herself onto a knee and bowed her head in respect, then waited patiently for the Sisters to finish.

 

[Isidor Justeene]

​

Location: Space debris orbiting Korriban
Objective 2: Scavengers Paradise
Equipment: Captain Isidor Justeene's Blaster Rifle, Isidor's Sword, Standard Blastersx2
Ship: Blood Lightning
Tag: Cass Gemini | Open

Isidor recovered from his injuries, his shoulder was noticeably stiffer than it used to be but he was grateful it was still mobile and the bones were no longer grinding against each other. He put the whole thing behind him, he wouldn't dwell on it. Cass was wonderful, she got him out safely and he wasn't dead. He was not going to survive much longer in the Bucket Capital. He was in no condition to fight.

Still, he kept his hands away from Hutt valuables in the aftermath, at least for a while. They had far better loot to well, loot.

They did find a use for all the DIY furniture they pilfered a while ago. They didn't do a good job, the instructions were not read or heeded properly so they ended up turning the simple chest of draws and the other pieces into monstrous abominations and the angry arguments escalated into a physical fight, tempers had been frayed far earlier than the furniture building. Whoever decided flat packs were a good thing, needed to be airlocked.

The crew can understand their Captain, but his basic was very stilted and incomprehensible, he tried to instruct using it as he thought it would help. Now they had very poorly constructed unsellable furniture for all their troubles. He wanted to show Cass their handiwork but Nikita talked the Ubese out of it.

After months of nothing, rumours started trickling in that the AC and Korriban had treasure, Isidor's eyes sparkle at the prospect of going on a looting expedition. They need new hardware because tape and superglue can't keep the outdated computers together forever.

The mission was simple, get there and start to collect stuff that they can use, it's not like the previous owners need them. They were well underway to the location via Hyperspace. After 20 minutes the crack of a ship coming out of Hyperspace announced the Lightning's arrival into the mass of debris.

It was good to pirate again.

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Lady Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
The First and the Light of Ashla
Heiress and Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic Mascot and Representative of the Ashlan Crusade
Eternal Empire's Ambassador to the Ashlan Crusade; Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary and the Fjölkyngi Smiđr Guild​

Objective II.: Kill the Demons
Location: Surface, Korriban
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (swords) | Ljósspjót (spear) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m || Current appearance
Writing With: Isla Draellix-Kobitana | Kal-Channa | Open

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

When she heard what a building they were near, Eina had mixed feelings. She did not know that this task would be so personal. The Valkyrja looked toward the buildings and into the distance where the myriad demons were. She knew what her duty was, and yet somehow, she was reluctant to destroy the buildings. Her father's "oeuvre." And Darth Prospero was part of her. Or she was part of him. She was also born of the soul of the Sith Lord, not just from the Empress. She already understood why her mother hadn't come. She did not want to ruin the memory of the beloved man or see his property's destruction. She understood that. She knows the Empress still loved him.

For a moment a deep sorrow flooded her soul. Not even she really understood why. Eina didn't really have any attachment to his father, she only knew the soulshards, not the late Adrian Vandiir. But she recognized even in diplomacy and politics that those buildings were part of the Eternal Empire. After all, the girl's father was one of the Prince Consorts. If only for a few days, or for a few weeks. He didn't live that long to be there at the coronation, which was due a few days after his death.

But still, if the man didn't die there, Eina wouldn't exist either. Maybe not even her people…

A familiar feeling jolts her back into reality from her thoughts. Eina looked in the direction of the feeling, then smiled happily, true with little concern but love. The angel winged woman felt Geiseric farther away, but he was here on the planet. It wasn't a distance. Actually, the distance almost did not exist to them, thanks to dyad. Even if her beloved crusader was not physically here, in the Force he was. And it was only the awareness that she was here on the planet that gave her strength.

The Valkyrja reached out softly in the Force toward the man, sending him a smile and a feeling like a soft, kind caress on the man's face. Like a beautiful, warm spring afternoon when the soft wind kisses the flowers on the trees and continues to flutter, as the laws of nature dictate. Or, like the first warm sun rays of spring breathe a life-giving kiss into the winter's frost-dead landscape. The man's closeness was at least as natural to her, from Ashla's will. But…

Enough from tenderness. She had to fight a war today. Today, members of Ashlan Crusade will see a side of Eina they haven’t seen before. Not even Gei. That's why she's considered a ruthless warlord at the Netherworld, maybe she was happy, her beloved not here. However, she perfectly knows, due to the dyad, Geiseric will feel everything. She looked at the approaching hordes of demons. Eina flew into the sky over the Ashlan troops. The sun was behind her, the sunlight breaking between her wings and playing in a golden light, as if Ashla were there with her now.

<< Isla, I'll deal with the approaching demons while you do the same in the factory. >> she sent a message through a communication channel to the woman.

She didn't really wait for Isla to answer, but started flying towards the demons at full speed.

 

[Harmony]

Korriban

Location: Surface of Korriban
Gear: in Bio
Tags: Sister Mercy Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

It was the wait before the mission that Harmony found irksome. With a fist full of rosary, she often reexamined her weapon four times over, fiddled with her repulsor pack, and was met with utter silence when she tried to make small talk. No one seemed to understand her plight, and that was particularly annoying. Rifle positioned between her legs, she kept her head down, knowing that any attempt to make light of the upcoming assignment would earn her more marks on her already grief stricken record.

She wasn't a bad soldier, her superiors had made that much known, but they sure as hell knew she got carried away at times. In her mind, she thought that was a strength. Clearly the higher ups disagreed. 'We want discipline, not heroics.' Well joke was on them, she never aimed for heroics. She just wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. That's what they were meant to do after all, die for the glory of Ashla, and from their sacrifice spark the fervor in others to crush the enemy offensives. Then again, she had been told her programming wasn't aligned with the rest of her unit, so perhaps that was the reason for her not 'fitting in'. There was a violent shutter of the drop ship as it breached atmo, so Harmony thought now was the proper time for a joke. They were going in hot, so why not try and lighten the mood?

Looking to her squad, she asked a very simple question. "Hit or miss?" To her annoyance, she recieved no response. It was a simple joke. Would they hit the drop off, or not? Why didn’t anyone every answer. "Yea, I guess they never miss, huh?" Killjoys, the whole lot of them.

 

[Sister Mercy]

Tags: Harmony Isla Draellix-Kobitana Eina L'lerim-Vandiir Kal-Channa

The AVGCV rumbled slowly through Korriban's wastelands, an eyesore among eyesores. Sat in the troop bay with the rest of her squad, Serjeant Mercy did her best not to think about how slow they were going, how big a target they were. Clutching her rosary tight, she whispered a silent prayer, echoing the demure tones of the women around her. She prayed to Ashla, that she might preserve the lives of her squad, and the lives of those who fought alongside them. She prayed, wishing death upon the Bogan, and all those who supported them, knowingly or otherwise.

Mostly, though, she prayed for speed. Speed and...

"Mercy!" Looking up, Sister Mercy tucked her rosary back beneath her breastplate as Staff Sergeant Miria made her way through the troop bay towards her. Sisters in full battledress straightened as she passed, returning to their prayers only once they were certain she was gone. Coming to a halt next to Mercy, Miria, otherwise known as 'Sweet Sister', leaned in close. "A word?" She grated out, her voice made harsher by the close confines of the crawler.

Glancing towards Isla Draellix, Mercy nodded. It hadn't been a request.

Following Miria back down the length of the command vehicle, Mercy did her best impression of a boulder as the staff sergeant rounded on her, fury in her eyes. "Where's the new girl?" She demanded, and Mercy knew in that instant that things weren't going to end well. "Around," she answered vaguely. Miria didn't seem pleased. "Where's around?" She prompted, and when Mercy didn't answer, she leaned in closer, a hand coming to swat Mercy's pauldron. "Where's around?" She asked again, and this time Mercy did answer, albeit bluntly. "Away with the forward teams, making sure the fleet didn't miss anything."

"'Away with the forward teams...?'"
"Staff Sergeant."

There was a moment's pause as Miria studied her. A long time ago, Mercy thought, there would have been kindness in her eyes. Now, all she saw was doubt. And accusation. "Are you lying to me, sergeant?" Meeting her superior's gaze, Mercy shook her head, a loose bang the colour of driven snow poking out from beneath her arming cap to drape wetly across her forehead as she did. Even in the climate-controlled haven of the crawler, she found herself sweating. Korriban's dry, dusty heat, she figured. Couldn't have been fear. "No, Staff, I'm not." Mercy lied, feeling guilty for doing so, but knowing it was necessary.

Miria watched her, disbelief and annoyance twisting her tanned features into something far less pretty.

"I don't believe you."
"I know, Miri."
"Miri? Don't recall the last time you and I were on a first-name basis."
"Don't recall being given last names," Mercy replied just as quickly.

For a second -a single, sincere second- Sergeant Mercy saw Sweet Sister's lips curl into what could have been a smile. Turning, she opened the AVGCV's rearward hatch. Letting out a sigh of relief, Mercy watched as she leapt down into the dustbowl going on outside. "Ashla damn you, Harmony," she whispered, slamming the hatch shut on a group of advancing Wolfguards as the platoon sergeant went about haranguing another squad leader. "You and your god's awful timing."

 

[Harmony]

Korriban

Location: Surface of Korriban
Gear: in Bio
Tags: Sister Mercy Eina L'lerim-Vandiir Isla Draellix-Kobitana Kal-Channa

The shaking lasted for several moments, but soon it ceased. Harmony looked back and forth between the rest of her sisters and recoiled back when a voice began to fill the troop bay. “Alright ladies, get those repulsors warmed and ready to go. We are not stopping, so moment you feel the ship slow, you go and link with your unit. That’s all you get.” Almost on cue, everyone was on their feet, and Harmony quickly leapt up to make sure she wouldn’t miss her mark.

A loud ‘clang’ sounded off, and the side doors of the ship opened up to the rolling sand blasted realm of Korriban, as well as several small transports that seemed to be moving down below. It occurred to Harmony what was occurring after the first of the sisters dropped off. The sisters in front of her powered up their packs and leapt, disappearing under a sea of red dust in the process, and as the dropship circled around, she saw both woman stop their transports and working their way inside. “Next!” A sister up ahead called out, and two more sisters moved forward and repeated the process. Soon, Harmony found herself up next, and her stomach began to twist into knots. She caught sight of the transport from up above, and the dropship moved to align her drop with that of the transport. She just needed to not miss.

When she leapt from the ship, her repulsor flaired to life, and she fell feet first into the cloud. She closed her eyes, braced her knees, and clenched her rifle, as the first burst of power came from the device. She felt her descent slow, and her boots made contract with the top of the the command vehicle, as the dropship banked off overhead. She let out a breath of relief, and held on to the top for dear life as she tried to think of her next move.

Maybe if she stayed up here it would be fine.

Maybe no one would notice.

 

[Isla Draellix-Kobitana]

​

Location: Near Prosperos factories
Objective: smash a hole in the Defenses and destroy factories
Tags: Sister Mercy Eina L'lerim-Vandiir Harmony Kal-Channa

Spoiler: Elements of the Ashlan Fleet

Command Vessel

Templar Class Star Destroyer
Forgiveness accompanied by Magnificence

6 x Dominion Class Escort Frigates

Even split complements of
Pegasus Interceptor Starfighters
Phoenix Multirole Starfighter
Knave Transports

Numerous
Ashla's Mercy orbital insertion shield generators

Infantry available

Ashlan Marines
Sisters of Ashla

Spoiler: Isla's Personal equipment

Admiral's Sabre
OPBC-a Bio-chip
Ashlan Rosary
Armor of Sanctity
LPD-31 stormshard
Sidearm

Ashlan Variable Geometary Comman Vehicle

The massive vehicle smashed through an already badly damaged house as if it wasn't even there, only the slightest shudder went through the vehicle. What was more alarming was the tell tale hiss of automated missiles leaving the banks attached to the outside of the vehicle. "SAINT, identify incoming threads." The defenders were not meant to have any long range missile so why was the dome activating? "old ground to ground ballistic missile from a locations outside of the AO" The holo in front of her zoomed put and showed a small outpost in the mountains about 40 miles north. "minimal defenses, likely insurgent forces, suggest following fire solutions." Isla issued the orders to the fleet, they would be the last missile those opportunits fired, she watched as fighter bombers screamed overhead to engage their foe.

The advance elements had made contact with the sithspawn legions and heavy fire cracked through the radios.

<< Isla, I'll deal with the approaching demons while you do the same in the factory. >> she sent a message through a communication channel to the woman.

"Loud and clear Lady Eina, good luck out their, Ashla be with you." Looking out the window she saw her friend take wing and head into battle, she hoped she would be OK, she pitied those that would face her in battle. But stories or not, she still worried.

Isla's command vehicle followed jusy behind the main battle line, its gunners adding to the offensive attack, there was so many enemies ahead of them and they came wave after wave, the sithspawn pushed hard against the Sister's of Ashla line. Isla stood, placed her helmet on and lifted herself into the cupola chair to observe. The battle out here was raging, the command vehicle drove past a damaged and abandoned light tank, corpses of sithspawn littered the ground behind them and both medics and anointed sisters followed. medics for the fallen sisters, annointed with cleaning flame throwers for the corpses of the spawn she cursed as another tank ahead of then blew apart in a showed of sparks. The Sith spawn took the advantage and charged toward the command vehicle, defensive fire lashed out, cutting in to the onrushing spawn.

It had the looks of an advance scouting party, but they should not be underestimated. The command was given for the Sisters on board to engage. Isla pulled out her side arm and fired from the cupola.

 

[Solan Halcyon]

Obective: BYOO - Follow the rumors of light-sided force crystals among the ruins
Equipment:, Zeison Sha Warrior Armor
Tags: Open

Sala stepped out onto the plains of Korriban, feeling almost naked without her sword. Centering herself in the force, Sala reached out, using herself as a conduit for the light side to penetrate the darkness that surrounded the dead planet. As usual, the windstorms were whipping up the sand and dirt of the wasteland, and the echoes of battles past, as well as the one ongoing, could be felt throughout the planet. The last cries of slain Jedi and Sith, residual disturbances from Jedi attempts to purify the planet and the various rebirths and brutal destructions of the sith species and the many sith empires here, all of it scarred the planet, both physically and in the force.

Nonetheless, as the light side, channeled through her, spread through the tombs and ruins of the valley she had now found herself in, she could start to feel the force through them. Nothing too specific, of course, even for Jedi Master the darkness here was blinding and only through the light could it be seen through, but still she could feel dark presences where the spirits of Sith Lords long dead in their diseased state, and maybe, if she focused hard on it. She might just have felt a beacon of light. Removing her cloak, exposing her armor and head to the wind and sands of Korriban, she back to descend into the valley.

 

[Kal-Channa]

Location: Approaching Prospero Factories - Korriban
Dialogue Legend: <"High Nelvaanian"> │ “Galactic Basic”
Tags: Isla Draellix-Kobitana Sister Mercy Eina L'lerim-Vandiir Harmony

The Sisters prayed to Ashla with the devotion of saints, while the Wolfguards kneeled towards the rear, waiting patiently for their allies to recite their litanies. It seemed to last forever to the tiny special forces soldier and yet, before she could get restless, they were off to war. Staying within the protective bubble of the variable geometry command vehicle’s shield, the squad of Wolfguards marched towards the factory, along with the host of Sisters and Knights. All the while, Kal-Channa glanced up upon seeing one of the Sisters ( Harmony ), a Raptured, land on top of the command vehicle, before holding on as the massive machine rumbled forward. Offering the woman a respectful nod, ignorant of whatever circumstances were burdening her other than the battle at hand, the Kal-Channa followed up the gesture with a casual salute, before continuing on after her squad.

Soon, they reached the thick of the fighting.

Her GammaStreak, a weapon that had been procured on her request, whined as she brought it to life. It was a massive-looking weapon compared to her diminutive frame, nearly as long as she was tall. And yet, the energized polymers in her armor and years of strengthening her body allowed the tiny soldier to wield it with a seemingly effortless grace as she leveled it against the hordes of undead cyborgs.

She would not be found wanting.

The rifle unleashed its energized fury with a distinct whip-crack as Kal-Channa laid down a hail of fire, targeting one of the Reforged as it waited behind cover. Nevertheless, the disruptor found the protection lacking, disintegrating pieces of it in large chunks, before the undead cyborg was utterly exposed. Not a moment later, its upper body was vaporized in a searing, energized blast, rendering the thing as motes on the frigid desert wind.

It was her first kill.

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-02 “Kinnara” Energized Combat Armor
  
  • Undersuit
    
    • UL-14 "Virtus" Class Underlay
  • Thighs
    
    • FAE/MDW-01 Active Defense System (2) - R/L
      
      • Pink Vapor Nano Missiles - R
      • Seeking Anti-Warhead Nano Missiles - L
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
• AI-341 "GammaStreak" Heavy Weapon System - Disruptor Configuration
• Nelvaanian Longsword
• Concussion Grenade (2)
• Thermal Detonator (2)

 

[Heinrich Faust]

Objective: Find the survivors

Tags: Celeste Demici , Geiseric , Solan Halcyon

Heinrich wasn't present when the Crusade made their first attempt to quell the evil upon the dry sands of Korriban. His duties had kept him behind, forcing him to maintain things back home while the rest of the crusaders were trying to cleanse this ancient and evil place. Though he had wished to be fighting alongside the others, Heinrich understood the importance of maintaining the homefront while the others did their holy work. As such, he took it in stride, though there was always that calling of the battlefield ever-present in the back of his mind. Today, he would get the chance to make up for his absence.

The scanners of his speeder bike indicated that he was nearing his target destination, a small tomb located in one of the more remote places on the planet. Normally he would have joined the main assault, but reports had begun to trickle in regarding a group of crusaders that had been taken prisoner in the aftermath of the first battle for Korriban. He wasn't sure who was holding them; some reports claimed they were Sith, others claimed they were stranded Mawites. Whoever they were, they were holding the servants of Ashla, and such transgressions would not stand.

Heinrich slowed the speeder bike as he neared his destination, eventually stopping it atop a large cliff. As he dismounted, Heinrich could sense the strange darkness that loomed over the area. Many tombs were housing the long-dead spirits of Sith of old, and though this tomb belonged to a lesser known Sith lord, Heinrich found himself looking over his shoulder. He took a pair of macrobinoculars from one of the compartments on the bike, taking position at the edge of he cliff. This tomb had been largely unused, and was likely mostly hidden under years of accumulated sand. Nevertheless, whoever had taken up refuge in it would have left some sign of disturbance, and eventually he would be able to locate the entrance. Until then, he simply watched, waited, and listened.

 

[Cass Gemini]

Objective 2 - Scavengers Paradise

Spoiler: Gear and other links

Equipped: Calypso's Thunder, Harlequin sabers, Gravpack, Viper mk2 skinsuit
Ship: Midnight Kyber
NPCs: Crew of the Midnight Kyber

Location: Korriban Orbital Debris field
Objective: Steal high end military hardware
Tags: Isidor Justeene

The unmistakable silhouette of the Blood Lightning entered her visual field, she put up her thumb to judge the distance as it passed between her and another large piece of debris.

She opened the comm channel to its fearsome Captain Justeene, scourge of Uba IV, owner of the Heart of Gemini. "Good morning Izzie, good to see your ship here. The Ashlans seem preoccupied with something on the planet, I am about three thousand km to your 300° standing on the hull of an Ashlan cruiser." she blew a kiss, just in case he had visuals, and knelt to continue her work. Hoping to sell a few Ashlan command codes on the black market, her Mawite crewman was certain his people would pay for them, she was concerned he added "or extract it from cold dead hands" but that was his way.

The Transparisteel shattered unde a small Explosive charge placed by Thrace and the two descended into the bridge. Cass pushed the frozen corpse of a crewman out of the way as she did, sending it drifting into space. It was sad work this, one day that would likely be her fate, but she needed the score and he was already dead, so his loss.

"welcome to join me down her Izz! Or there tons of loot to go round, watch out for the Ashlan corvettes though, there is a few on patrol and I don't want you captured."

​

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Lady Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
The First and the Light of Ashla
Heiress and Princess of the Eternal Empire and Terraris; Angelic Mascot and Representative of the Ashlan Crusade
Eternal Empire's Ambassador to the Ashlan Crusade; Matriarch of the Valkyrja; Leader of Sanctuary and the Fjölkyngi Smiđr Guild​

Objective II.: Kill the Demons
Location: Surface, Korriban
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (swords) | Ljósspjót (spear) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m || Current appearance
Writing With: Isla Draellix-Kobitana | Kal-Channa | Sister Mercy | Harmony | Open

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

Eina could already hear the sound of fighting in the background as she flew towards the demons with her wings. Although she mostly saw Anubian Sand Demons here, there were many other kinds of demons among them and they were undead as well. Although the Valkyrja hadn't met the sand demons much before, she'd heard of them. Sanctuary is in the perma-frost area, the sand demons love a much warmer environment and climate. She knew them nonetheless. As long as there is sand here, newer ones may appear. And they can regenerate through the sand. The worst enemy in the desert.

The young woman saw a sandstorm in the distance, caused by demons. The more demons there are, the stronger the storm. And the winds of the storm could already be felt. Hell will be released soon. Eina hoped she could be prevented; she didn't want to lose anyone.

<< Lady Isla, in the distance there is a sandstorm towards our position. Caused by demons, it will probably be big and strong enough. >> she sent a message to the Prime Minister.

The demons, resurrected bodies, noticed her. The hollow hungerers were the bodies of dead soldiers and people, moved by necromancy. Without a soul. But a lot of people have died here before. And they even had a firearm, all of their equipment with them which they held, when they died. Eina activated her shield and flew higher. She began to concentrate and reached out to the Force as she closed her eyes. The Valkyrja was on aloft now, everyone could see her.

Clouds began to gather in the sky; she didn't use Force Storm, it would have been life-threatening here, just an “alter environment”. Golden lightnings began to flutter across the sky, close to where the woman was hovering. Several also slammed into the ground, turning the place of impact into glass. Eina was great and a powerful sorcerer. When she opened her eyes, in the Force, her aura and power of her strong Light side raced through the near and far area.

Her eyes glowed in a golden light, including the white iris, so not in a Sith way. In the light of Ashla. First, she spread her wings and then her arms in two directions, her palms up. Golden lightnings appeared around the woman, as they did in many places in the air. Force lightning, or emerald, is the Light side version. But for Eina, because of Geiseric, they were shone in golden colours; the colours of Ashla herself. She finally turned her palm down and made a downward stroke motion.

Above the battlefield, where only she and the demons were, and the storm clouds, thousands of golden Force lightning appeared, imbued with the power of the Light side. From a distance, it might have seemed as if Ashla herself had struck from the sky on the demons, among whom the golden lightnings had wreaked havoc…

 

[Sister Mercy]

Tags: Harmony Isla Draellix-Kobitana Kal-Channa Eina L'lerim-Vandiir

The Sisters finished their prayers and closed their visors as Mercy sat back down. If Harmony didn't show up soon, there was going to be hell to pay, and not just for her. 'Chit rolls downhill,' Miria used to say, back when she herself had been a sergeant. Having taken her place as second squad's leader, Mercy found herself agreeing with her once-friend. Someone, somewhere, had noted the Raptured Sister's absence from the first wave. As the leader of Mercy's platoon, Miria had no doubt been the one to catch the flak for it. And, as the saying went...

Chit rolled downhill.

Putting the thought aside, Mercy flicked down her visor, listening as it clicked into place. Her HUD sprang to life in the time it took to blink, the dark edges of her helmet retreating as sensory data flooded in. Once upon a time, Mercy would have found the sensation disorienting. Now, the reading and discarding of unimportant data seemed second nature to the young clone. Perhaps it was.

Sitting in silence, the squad listened and watched and waited as the Command Vehicle continued on. Under the Grand Master's direction, the Sisters of Ashla finished their deployment in good order, forming battle lines that stretched almost as far as the naked eye could see. Supported by friendly armour -tanks and troop carriers, mostly- the line began its advance. Low-flying, fast-moving fighter craft soared by overhead. Every now and then, there would be an explosion on the horizon. The fighters delivering their payload, Mercy figured.

The Navy's bombardment eased and shifted as the line got closer to their objective. Through the dusty haze of the CV's transparisteel viewport, the world burned. Pyres of black smoke and vapour trails filled the sky over the ruined Prospero factories. Beneath those roiling clouds, dark figures shifted amongst the rubble, picking at the bones of a thing long since dead.

"Enemy movement! Front and center!" One of the drivers called back from the cabin, his voice laced with nerves. All along the line, skirmishes had broken out, demons and undead rushing forth from the ruins to throw themselves at the Sisters and their allies. Met by heavy blaster fire and rockets, most died before they even got close. In the distance, beyond the demons and the dead, Mercy thought she saw lightning flash.

Looking to Isla, the sergeant nodded as the order was given to disembark and engage. About time, she mused, pulling back the charging handle on her assault cannon as she stood. Signalling to her squad, she joined the queue as Sister Pree reopened the rearward hatch. Piling out, Mercy patted Pree on the shoulder as she passed her by. Sand the colour of fresh blood rushed up to meet her as she jumped out. Pree was the last to leap; the hatch sealed itself behind her.

"Alright, ladies, let's go!" Leading her squad alongside the CV, Mercy looked up to see Sister Harmony perched atop the vehicle's cab. "Sister Harmony! So good of you to finally join us!" Mercy called up to her as the squad marched past. Sister Sabia ignited her flamer, gave the Raptured Sister a little wave. Pree did the same. So did Vala and Abela. They might have looked like a group of soulless killing machines, but Mercy knew them to be gentle and kindhearted.

For the most part, at least.

"We've demons that need slaying and Sisters in need of aid. You're welcome to join us, unless you've something more important to do?" As if on cue, the chatter of weapons fire grew, becoming more sporadic. The distant lightning flashed again and again, silent against the backdrop. "Well?"