Compliance (Zenithian Imperium Dominion of Kothlis)

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Assets: Battlefleet Mara, Imperium's Chosen, ZMI

System: Kothlis Sector

Objective: Bring the Kothlis Sector into Compliance

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The Geonosian threat was not one that the Zenithians had forgotten. It had been some time since the initial invasion of the homeworld -- a standard month or so on the galactic spectrum. That month was spent birthing great titans of war and training entire legions of men for the conflict to come.

Every man, woman, and child on Zenith Prime was working for the betterment of this crusade. Though untitled as of yet, the people knew that no military campaign had ever dared to be so ambitious. The causality estimates were in the upper millions for the initial series of planets without taking into account the later battles that had been planned by the Tribunal.

To ask so much of his people was both humbling and horrifying all the same. Above all came the pride. To have so many answer the call made his heart thunder in his chest and his voice heavy with emotion.

Zenith Prime would be avenged.

To this end, the first Zenithian war fleet, Battlefleet Mara was tasked with bringing the Kothlis sector in line. Already, the Kaminoans had aligned themselves with their former allies, as had the loyal Bothans. It was from these two worlds that Mara began a pincer move of a galactic scale to claim the entire sector.

The majority of the worlds within the system were old Techno Union loyalists. When they came to see the Zenithians, the descendants of their old allies, they had jumped to speak on a diplomatic council.

It was there on Kothis that this council would come to speak. Alexander was clad in his battle-plate and stood a full two feet higher than the tallest soldier in his retinue. A handful of the Imperium's Chosen, clad in their regal golden war-gear had accompanied him. At either of his side were [member="Xil Nevin"] and [member="Strask Ak'lya"], the former for his diplomatic skills, the latter for his understanding of the sector at large.

Across the sector, Imperial kill teams were being deployed to effectively wipe out whatever remained of the Obsidian Order. They had been servants of the Sith Lords that had seen to the corruption of the union from within, and judgement would be meted out accordingly.

With some measure of pride, Alexander had assigned [member="Finger"] to assist the Warmaster on one of these teams. He certainly would have preferred their assignment over his own.

Drawing in a deep breath, the Imperator stepped through the doors into the council room on Kothlis.

What an evening this would be.

 

[Laman Ress]

1/20
Laman stood in the dropshop preparing for the mission that was about to begin. Laman and [member="Finger"] had been tasked with clearing out the remains of the obsidian order. Those mudcrutches were central to the corruption and fall of the techno union, and Laman would be perfectly willing to take out every last one of them. Laman stood in prototype power armor, as the scientists working on it used him and his men as a sort of testing bed, the power armor would be useful in fighting the knights. The other tool Laman had at his disposal was a prototype bolter, if the knights attempted to block the bolt as they did a blaster it would explode in their face, opening off multiple possibilities for attacks.

The dropships were coming up on the dropsite, an Obsidian Knight base a few miles outside the capital city. Strask had tipped them off to the bases existence, and they would use this information to raid the base. Strask had requested that they retrieve any strategically important information, and after that they were free to do whatever they wanted.

Laman planned to burn the place to the ground.

"10 minutes to the drop site." The pilot shouted back as the cabin lights turned red.

 

[Kairus]

Posts made: 1

The battle at Zenith Prime was an unexpected event for Xil Nevin. The Muun had not anticipated such heavy casualties for the people which he would have hired to escort his shipments of Hypermatter. However, in Xil Nevin's mind the reward for his assistance in the battle outweighed the losses. Upon becoming Viceroy of the Zenithian Imperium, he gained influence which he could have only dreamed of attaining.

Xil Nevin holds the utmost esteem for Alexander and all those who embody the purpose of the imperium. He hopes his aid in the political and financial undertakings of the imperium will strengthen the cause.

The Muun paces himself beside [member="Alexander Ontonas"]. "As Imperitor, I presume you will lead the negotiations with the Kothlians. Naturally, I will interject when i believe it would bolster our position. Unless you have something else in mind.." He would state to Alexander before stepping into the meeting chambers.

 

[Ak'lya]

1
Mineth Sez'ala sat in a raised chair, her hands templed in front of her. She wore a regal gown and a scowl with equal practice, a look she did not change when Alexander entered the room. The Counciler of Kolthis was none to pleased about this development, and seemed to wish she could simply refuse the Imperium outright. As he watched his old rival glare at them, Strask couldn't help but feel uneasy. He knew she wouldn't roll over easily, espically when she saw him. He looked around the table. Kamino, Rishi and Roon had all sent representitives he didn't know. He was getting out of touch.

Manda's representitive was an old friend, a Twi'lek by the name of Alask Komad. He had run the trade between Bothuwai and Roon. The old Spymaster nodded to the man. The Twi'lek smiled at him. Strask paused, waiting for the others to speak their pieces. He was an advisor here, after all, not the man in charge.

That was Alexander's role.

[member="Alexander Ontonas"] [member="Xil Nevin"]

 

[Placeholder 0133]

2/20

Politics was something Alex understood. It was not something he enjoyed. He fought the urge to sneer as Xil brought up his place in the negotiations. In truth, he had hoped that the Muun would find some way to make it to where he would lead the talks all on his own. As much as the Imperator believed in the Imperial Purpose and wished to bring planets into the fold by peaceful means, his place was on the battlefield.

"Let's hope I don't kark up then," he replied to the Muun in a moment of quiet humor. For but a second, a smile touched his lips. "I'd like to avoid fighting a war on two fronts if we can help it. The bugs are bad enough. Don't need the Kothlians breathing down our necks too."

Mineth Sez'ala was an intimidating figure. Even in his power armor, Alex found himself growing rather small under her gaze. It was by his will alone that he stood tall to her scrutiny, his patrician visage naught but stone as he spoke.

"Esteemed friends and comrades," he thumped a fist to his chest and bowed his head forward, "It is to my great honor and pleasure that this council has been established. I am Imperator Alexander Ontonas. To my sides are the Xil Neviin and Strak Ak'lya, my equals."

He paused for a moment.

"Let us begin."

 

[Ak'lya]

2
Strask watched, almost amused, as Meneth's scowl grew at the mention of his name. "The Imperator has equals?" She gave a smile for a mere second. "I thought that was a contradiction." A tense laugh entered the room. No one seemed willing to fight, but they would need some convincing to join. The Minister of Intellegance made a mental note to keep tabs on her. She wouldn't roll over. Kolthis had always been stubborn that way. He watched her stand, noticing the effort it seemed to take her. We're all getting old.

"Kolthis has struggled in Bothuwai's shadow for long enough. Now that we are free, why on earth would we simply roll back over?" Her eyes focused on Strask. Neither of them seemed to like each other. She sighed. "What do we stand to gain for the loss of our independance under the Imperium's thumb?"

[member="Alexander Ontonas"] [member="Xil Nevin"]

 

[Kairus]

Posts made: 2

Xil Nevin bowed slightly. "I valid question, Ms.Sez'ala. I can also understand how you would be hesitant to understand the concept of equality under the Imperitor. We are here to dismiss your doubts and portray to you that The Zenithian Empire is worthy of your service. The imperium is just and has invaluable assets. You are a lady that radiates wisdom and inspires courage amongst your people. An alliance would behoove us both."

The Muun maintained a firm posture as he spoke, his hands folded together. "Independence is not something to boast about in this volatile era. Survival requires alliances. I assure you, there is nothing more pressing than unification."

 

[Placeholder 0133]

3/20

If Alexander had any emotional response to the woman's jest, it did not show. He regarded her with a lofted brow and thin lips, his gaze passing from one member of the congregation to the next. He remained utterly silent as Xil attempted to persuade the woman with honeyed words and optimistic promises. Alex lacked the subtleties required for that sort of talk. To him, the Imperium was the truth.

When Bothuwai was mentioned, his attentions momentarily shifted to Strask. The slightest of smiles crept up along the side of his lips. "You are not free," he rumbled, nodding to Xil in silent thanks. The Muun had helped to ease things somewhat. Now he would speak.

"The southern sectors tear themselves apart. The Obsidians have free reign over whatever they wish. The Geonosians construct private empires and commit genocide as they will it. How long until their eyes turn upon you?" He lofted a brow. "Whatever pride you have is dust in the wind. Your world will burn when the Geonosians arrive. It will be raped when the Graug come for the aftermath. It will be forced to bow to a Sith Lord and call him a god when their ilk come to claim whatever might be left."

Alexander settled a hand on the pommel of Worldbreaker and sighed. "As Xil has said, your people have a great strength to you. Bothuwai is wise. Its people have joined the Imperial charge. They are safe. They are secure. They are valued."

Though his words were meant for all, his intense gaze rested solely on Sez'ala. "What are you, but a lone system desperately trying to light a match in a blizzard?

 

[Ak'lya]

3
There was a dead silence in the room after Alexander spoke. "Are you threatening me, Imperator?" She asked, ice in her voice. "Are you saying that this is a certanty? That any who don't join you are doomed to be conquered?" She frowned, looking to the others around her at the table. "Are we simply going to accept this? This... King?" She spat the last word out, as if to be an insult. "How do we know this saftey you offer is worth it?" She paused, seeming to think something.

"Who says we stand alone here?" A smile crept onto her face. "We represent the Outer Rim Coalition. We can protect ourselves. Roon is unreachable behind the Cloak of the Sith, and..."

"I'll have to debate that point, Madam Sez'ala." Strask stared the woman down, noticing the glare she gave him. "The Manda-Roon Merchant Route is not a secret, and the Cloak of the Sith isn't the impenetrable wall you believe. I could get there without you realizing at all." The glare he recieved could curtle milk. He knew she didn't believe a work he was saying. He was the enemy, after all.

"He's right." It was the advocate from Roon who replied this time. "Roon is not impenetrable, especially not nowdays." He nodded to the Imperium. "I will talk to my regent, but I, at least, believe you are are our last chance."

[member="Alexander Ontonas"] [member="Xil Nevin"]

 

[Kairus]

Posts made: 3

Alexander Ontonas was even more crude with his words than the Muun anticipated. His silver tongue would barely nullify the audacity that the Imperitor displayed if he kept this up. The Imperitor's strengths were unmatched, but his strengths lied elsewhere. Alas, it is why he and Strask were brought to this meeting. Xil Nevin took a deep breath and began to speak in an attempt to diffuse the tension in the room.

"Mr. Ontonas does not mean to insult your sovereignty. I assure you he is merely passionate about our purpose and the safety of your people. Our proposal is simple, yet powerful. If you choose to join us, you will see yourself as part of a much larger cause in the galaxy; a just and righteous cause."

His eyes shifted along the group of people across from him, tactically shifting his focus away from Mineth. He hoped the others would be persuaded by his words and thus soften Mineth's position. "Everyone here possesses the qualities which makes The Imperium strong. We have a resilient moral compass and a drive to do what is right for the galaxy. Together, we do not have to worry about the Sith. With a strong alliance, the scarce elements of peace and security can finally be bestowed upon our planets."

 

[Placeholder 0133]

The Outer Rim Coalition.

Alexander had to fight the urge to snicker. How naieve they were; playing with their tiny alliances as if their universal friendships could preserve any kind of safety for their people. Alex knew the truth. He had seen what was to come -- what was already here. It was all he could do not to offer the uppity woman a short and blunt reply that would have made Xil curse the day he had ever sworn to serve the Imperium.

Fortunately, Alex was a man of restraint. "It is not a threat, but a promise. The southern systems are the most dangerous part of the galaxy. The war ravaging the inner rim is violent, but entire systems are going dark out here. Whole worlds are disappearing. Those that we've managed to reforge lines of contact with are rarely anything resembling what they once were." His tone was softer now, a hint of pain lingering in his voice.

When the ambassador of Roon spoke, Alex bowed his head forward. "We will do all that we can to serve, my friend."

Cloak of the Sith?

He made a mental note to ask about that when he found Strask away from the politics of this place. Clearly, he had not done enough research before coming. He fell silent as the Bothan worked to salvage Alexander's claims, and then Xil's impassioned plea to keep things civil.

The Imperator felt his heart swell as his comrades worked to make up for his deficiencies. He understood now -- this was as much a battlefield as any other.

"Mister Ak'lya and the Viceroy are correct. We only seek to protect. The only way to keep the systems safe is to unite under one banner. The Imperium can provide you with whatever it is you might need."

 

[Ak'lya]

4
Meneth sat back down, stunned. She glared at Alexander and the Roon ambasador and sat in a stunned silence. As the moments passed, Alask looked around the room.

"Manda stands in a unique position. We control access to Roon, and are a jumping off point to the sector and nearby areas." He frowned. "So we stand to gain from traffic from the Imperium, as well as their protection." Turning to Strask, he smiled. "I know some of you." He looked at the others, seeming to study them. "We don't seem to have anything to loose here." Strask gave a smile. He had missed working with Alask.

The Rishi ambassador quickly excused himself. He had a report from his homeworld.


[member="Alexander Ontonas"] [member="Xil Nevin"]

 

[Kairus]

Posts made: 4

Xil Nevin nodded. "Not only do we possess invaluable locations within our sector, but we have large quantities of hypermatter which would be available to you during your campaigns to spread the influence of the imperium across the galaxy. Whether it be through negotiations or.. Less amiable methods, your ships will never run empty on fuel. To us, you are equals and we will give you all that we can in return for your allegiance."

The Muun's holopad began receiving a transmission as he finished speaking. "If you'll excuse me, I must make sure the other ambassadors arrive here safely. I leave you with the best company the galaxy has to offer." Xil Nevin then proceeds out of the room.

 

[Finger]

Post 1

Finger blinked as the inside of the dropship is illuminated in red, shrouding the faces of his comrades in relative darkness. Clad in the prototype power armor that their Imperator had decreed he and his men would be provided with, he took in slow, steady breaths as he tuned out the unecessary thoughts running through his mind, he had ran through the scenario a thousand times already, now was the time for action. Behind him stood a small squad of his men, each clad in power armor and carrying bolters as with Laman.

One day all of his men could be donning the armor, those that were in the dropship with him had undergone training in its operation during the month of rest they had been afforded after the Geonosian attack on Zenith Prime. They would be the instructors of those that followed amongst his men, should the power armor prove to be fully functional, Finger had few doubts in that regard.

This would be their first live combat situation with the armor, he would lead his part of the strike force on a flanking manuever, helping to wipe out the enemy force and to provide cover to those retrieving information, as Strask had requested.

Finger spares a glance in the direction of Laman, offering a small nod in the man's direction, before he looks back to his own men. He thumps an armored fist against his chest, each man behind him does so in turn, just as they had once done in the slave pits. Now was the time for battle. Finger looked back to the doors of the dropship, settling in for the wait before the drop.

[member="Laman Ress"]

 

[Laman Ress]

2/20
"5 minutes" The pilot said

Laman checked everything he would need before the battle, he had ammuniton, grenades, his pistol, his chainsword, he had everything he needed.

"60 seconds" The pilot shouted back

The six dropships were coming up on their location, at any moment the AA gunners would see them coming and start firing missles and flak into the skies, it would take skill on the part of the pilots to get them through, luckily they took the best available. The ships shook as the flak exploded nearby, and from inside the dropships you could hear the flares being released to get rid of missile locks.

This was quite the drop.

Laman readied his men and his gun as the pilot swooped down to let the soliders out. The doors opened and the lights turned green, then the men flooded out of the dropship, man by man until they were all on the ground outside the craft.

"Sir! How are we going to get over those walls, we dont have any sort of climbing rope!" A solider said to laman

The base was an old stone castle, with high walls. Stone walls were no match for the brute force of power armor, however.

"Where were going, we dont need ropes." Laman said back to the solider.

They were dropped off about 75 yards from the base, and Laman charged straight for the wall, running at full speed inside the two ton suit of power armor. He shoulder charged straight through the wall, knocking a hole inside the ancient stone structure, and as his men saw this they did the same, eventually all of his men were on the other side.

Laman had three squads and at the moment Lamans objective was to clear the outside and create a defensive perimeter, then he would move inside and start downloading the data. One squad would be dedicated to the outer perimeter, one to patrolling the inside, and one guarding the slicer, atleast that was the plan,
[member="Finger"]

 

[Finger]

Post 2

Stepping out into the air of Roon, Finger casts one, searching gaze over the area, eyes scanning over the emplacements and the positioning of the enemy troops. First things first, then.

He raises a hand, making a number of simple motions with his armored fingers. There were three squads under his command, he had plans for each.

One squad splits off from the group as they leave their ship, moving off to the left side of the compound, whilst another of the squads moves off to the right side. Each one is equipped with explosive satchels, they would be taking out the emplacements so that air support could be provided later, and so that those that would remain outside were not gunned down. The men knew what they had to do, so now they moved with deadly focus.

Finger then splits the last squad in half, directing them to provide covering fire upon the base as they would circle around each side, moving around back. The more things that the enemy had to deal with, the less organized their defence would be, and the covering fire would hopefully protect both his men as well as Laman's. The bolter's were not a weapon with a high-rate of fire, but with numbers they would make due.

The first of the emplacements explodes in a shower of fire as one of his men throws and detonates it, Finger kicks into action, moving around the back of the compound, preparing to breach. He did not move in immediately, however, continuining to cover the others as emplacement after emplacement goes offline. He didn't want to make things inside too erratic, friendly fire was never pretty.

[member="Laman Ress"]

 

[Laman Ress]

3/20
Laman heard the familiar snap-hiss of a lightsaber, except it was not just one, it was many. Multiple obsidian knights went in to attack lamans men, but they proved little match to the bolters. A few of them went down quickly, as they tried to block the bolts, only to have their faces singed, and their bodies subsequently torn apart by the destructive bolts. The lucky ones had enough time to put up a force barrier to stop the bolts in their tracks, but not even those could stop dedicated men with chainswords and heavy armor.

It was a slaughter the knights may have had lightsabers, but Laman's men had heavy phrik armor, and massive chainswords to boot. The knights were lying dead within 10 minutes.

Now it was time to breach in, his plan was to kick down the front door while [member="Finger"]'s men breached in from behind. Laman expected a fight, and he would definetly give them one.

 

[Finger]

Post 3

In due time the emplacements around the base were eliminated, the perimeter taken control of, all of the enemies outside lying dead. The two squads that had been trusted with the elimination of the emplacements rejoined Finger around the back of the base, as he helped place explosives on the back wall. He could breach through with the merits of the power armor itself, but he preferred for something a little more... jarring, to take the enemy off guard.

Each man stepped back before detonating the explosives, blowing a hole in the rear wall. Finger leads the charge into the base, whipping his chainsword out to the side as they come into contact with some knights. He rips straight through one of the knights as he runs by, the others streaming through the breach behind him, overwhelming the knights with their momentum as they move in, finding them already distracted by Laman's force.

"Ross, Farren, sweep and secure the area, my squad, we're moving in to assist Laman." Finger would say, speaking to his men through his comms. They follow his orders without hesitation, two of his three squads moving to secure the outer area of the base whilst Finger steps towards the buildings as Laman breaches through the front. He'd drop another explosive satchel, blowing a hole through the back wall. "Move in." Finger says calmly, watching as his squad streamed in.

[member="Laman Ress"]

 

[Laman Ress]

4/40

Lamans men burst through the doors guns blazing, one squad stayed behind to guard the perimeter the rest were with Laman. The men gunned down the helpless infantrymen, the Knights were defending their precious artifacts in the center, but that was not what Laman came for, but he would take it anyway, force artifacts could be extremely valuable, so they would be taken as well. When all this was done, the base would be burnt to the ground.

Laman and his men pushed closer and closer to the archives, that is where they kept all of their information, and that is where the slicer needed to be. The halls were cramped enough that melee combat reigned supreme. The chainswords ripped through foes like a knife through butter, and before they knew it they were at the bulk of the ramshackle interior fortifications. The cover was made up of turned over tables and other cover objects. None of this would matter, they too would fall, just like the others.

Just beyond the archive door, lay the bulk of the Knights, Laman had to break through.

[member="Finger"]

 

[Finger]

Post 4

The men under Finger's command were not dormant, sweeping through the halls of the building, cutting through those that stood in their path. There had been no casualties among his men as of yet, their new armor was doing its job and then some, he could only hope that it would remain that way.

Casting aside his thoughts for the time being, Finger threw himself into the fight alongside his men, the other squads finishing up outside. Time was a precious commodity in the game of war, and he had little intention of wasting any of it. Rearing up his bolter, Finger fires a few rounds into the nearest knight as another of his men engages him in in melee, the knight goes down, clearing the path out into the area with Laman.

Their timely arrival allows them to raise their bolters, raining down fire upon those in Laman's path. Finger sends two of his men around the flank with an explosive satchel, providing steady covering fire as they plant it and then pull back before detonating the charge, blowing the archive doors wide open, killing anyone standing behind them.

Laman's remaining opponents are taken apart, leaving the way clear for him to move into the archive. Finger casts a glance about the room, covering his advance, "Chainswords!" He'd call, watching as his men pull theirs free, watching the blades jerk into action. They didn't want to damage the archives, things were going to get up close and personal.

[member="Laman Ress"]