Faction Counting Credits [OPEN TO ALL!]

[Ronhar Tane]

The whole galaxy runs on credits.

From the hallowed halls of the High Republic to the despotic worlds of the Sith, the entire galaxy requires that its citizens earn some sort of honest or dishonest living if they are to survive. No matter where you go, you will find credits in some form, and despite the multitude of difference between the different factions that call the galaxy home, there is but one thing everyone seemingly agrees on, no matter how rich or poor they might be.

One can NEVER have enough credits!

This facet of life has become painfully apparent for the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant as it seeks to continue spreading its influence throughout the Outer Rim. Unfortunately, creating, maintaining and expanding an army has proven to be a rather expensive mission for Mahporeem, and the Imperial Remnant currently finds itself rather short on funds. At the current rate, the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant will soon run out of credits to pay its soldiers and buy new weapons and equipment, and the last thing that the Imperial Remnant needs is any sort of armed mutiny against it.

Thus, the Imperial Remnant has hatched a number of schemes in order to secure that credits that it desperately needs for the future. Will such endeavors prove fruitful for the Imperial Remnant, or will Mahporeem be forced to "default" as it fails to secure the capital that it needs for the foreseeable future?

[OBJECTIVE I: JUST LIKE THE SIMULATIONS]
[PvP, PvE]

Right on the doorstep of Mahporeem is a little known planet called Doan, which like Mahporeem, is essentially a single product economy, though Doan focuses almost exclusively on mining. Mismanagement of the planet's resources by the Pyke Syndicate has caused the miners who call the planet home to rise up and rebel against their uncaring overlords. The Mahporeem Imperial Remnant seeks to take advantage of the chaos, by installing a new, more "understanding" government and securing as many resources for themselves as possible. Of course, the Pyke Syndicate and their mercenary forces will not go without a fight, and chances are that other outside parties may seek to take advantage of the ensuring battle to come...

[OBJECTIVE II: HERE COMES THE MONEY]
[SOCIAL]

The esteemed N&Z Umbrella Corporation seeks to hold an auction at their field headquarters on Mahporeem, as the company looks to part ways with a number of rare and exotic weapons and armor sets. Such weapons and armor sets are perhaps unlike anything every offered for sale to the general public, boasting exquisite craftsmanship and the highest possible quality of engineering. Such pieces are not expected to go cheaply, so it is recommended to bring large amounts of credits to the auction. Anyone who participates in the auction itself is automatically entered for a chance to win a particularly rare set of armor, a true one of a kind piece: Antique Trooper Armor! Socialize, sip and spend to your heart's content: if you want it, than the auction will have it!

[OBJECTIVE III: SPACE ODDITY]
[PvP, PvE]

Deep within the sector known as the "Ash Worlds" lies a derelict and abandoned research station. No one knows who created the station or what the research was being conducted on it, but rumor has it that whatever is stored on the station itself is highly valuable, worth more than a small fortune in credits. At the moment, the station seems to guarded by an automatic defense system, and anyone attempting to gain the research being conducted on the station for themselves will have to contend with droid starfighters and a small but potent automated defense fleet. But surely the risk is worth doing so, is it not? After all, what's the worst that the station could throw at anyone attempting to board it?

​

 

[R'ayne Asara]

here comes the money

[]

Queen of Hearts​

Tag > Liin Terallo

The skies of Mahporeem hung beneath my vessel like a shroud of bruised violet silk, veined with the distant glow of industry and ambition. I descended not as a conqueror, nor as a supplicant, but as a patient shadow drawn toward the scent of opportunity.

My midnight-black gothic dress swept across the landing platform like liquid darkness, its hem whispering against the durasteel beneath my feet, while a shimmering hooded silk shawl concealed much of my form beneath folds of darkened elegance.

The Imperial Remnant had gathered upon this world to swell their coffers through auction and commerce, trading relics and treasures beneath banners of authority.

Let them.

I had come seeking credits as well, though my methods were seldom as straightforward as theirs.

Wealth, like power, was often easiest acquired when others were too distracted counting their own.

The field headquarters of N&Z Umbrella Corporation rose before me in austere grandeur, its halls alive with merchants, brokers, and predators disguised as investors. I moved among them in silence, fingers drifting across display cases as I casually examined several auction pieces; weapons, armors, and several other curiosities, all fragments of forgotten histories whose true values were known only to a select few.

A server droid rolled past with mechanical precision, and without breaking stride I plucked a frosty fruit drink from its tray. The chilled glass gathered beads of condensation against my hand as I surveyed the gathering through the shadow of my silk hood.

Around me, fortunes were being wagered and legacies sold to the highest bidder. Somewhere within this marketplace of greed and vanity, I intended to leave considerably richer than when I arrived.

I raised the frosted glass to my lips and took a slow sip, the chilled sweetness cutting through the stale scent of ambition that lingered throughout the auction hall.

"You know," I mused to nobody in particular, my voice carrying a note of dark amusement beneath the shadow of my hood, "this night has the potential to bear the fruits of success itself; far less bitter, considerably colder, and infinitely easier to swallow."

A faint smile touched my lips as red eyes drifted across the assembled bidders. "Then again, the evening is still young, and success has a habit of finding its way into my hands eventually."​

 

[John Mahporeem]

Ladies, gentlemen and aliens...

The N&Z Umbrella Corporation is honored to present to you our Ambrosia Division auction, sponsored in part by the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant. We have selected on the finest and highest quality wares for this evening, and we are confident that you will find no better than what you see in front of you here tonight. Before we officially begin, we would like to remind our valued guests of just a couple of minor guidelines in order to ensure that tonight's auction proceeds as smoothly and easily as possible.

Tonight's auction is a silent auction. All current bids will be displayed on each item's matching Holopad, and anyone wishing to make a bid need simply write their name and the amount of the actual bid itself. At the expiration of the auction, those who have the highest bids on each of the items will be awarded with purchase of said item. All reserve prices have been removed for this event, and each item will begin the night at 1,000 Underworld Credits.

Though each participant has been thoroughly vetted for financial ability to pay, the N&Z Umbrella Corporation wishes to remind all here tonight that inability to pay winning bids will result in the harshest of consequences possible. Please ensure that you have the credits or credit line available to make a bid before writing your bid down!

All guests here today have automatically been entered for a chance to win a set of Antique Trooper Armor from the Mahporeem Imperial Remnant. The winner of our raffle will be revealed at the end of the event, so do make sure to stay for the entirety of the evening!

Complimentary food, beverages and music have been provided for tonight's entertainment. Socialize to your heart's content, and don't forget to place some bids before the end of our evening!

As of the beginning of our auction, the following items are available for bidding:
​

Item Name	Type	Quantity Available	Colors/Model Options
Merzoidian Rotary Blaster Pistol	Rotary Blaster Pistol	One	N/A
Nachtfalke Modell S Blaster Pistols	Blaster Pistol	Four	NZ/NS-0000, Donnerzorn (Thunderwrath) NZ/NS-0001, Falkenkrone (Falcon's Crown) NZ/NS-0002, Rosenlied (Song of the Rose) NZ/NS-0003, Ebendorn (Ebon Thorn)
NZ-Ambrosia LHEA Tyranis Armor	Combat Armor	One	N/A
Merzoidian Blaster Carbine	Blaster Carbine	One	N/A
Merzoidian Blaster Pistol	Blaster Pistol	Twenty	N/A
Merzoidian Hand-Cannon	Slugthrower Revolver	Five	Worn Duster Mossy Forest Rainy Day Forest Fire Rock and Rubble
The Grand Lion's Roar	Hybrid Blaster	One	N/A
Merzoidian Jezzail	Slugthrower Rifle	Two	Lowland Swamp Lone Lake

We thank you for taking the time to patronize our wares, and we hope that you have a throughly enjoyable evening. Remember, here at the N&Z Umbrella Corporation, your life is our business!

[CATALOGUE OF WARES FOR OBJECTIVE II]
[FEEL FREE TO BID AND SOCIALIZE]
[IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, DON'T HESITATE TO SHOOT ME A DM!]

​

 

[Dile Congor]

Location: Doan, a Pyke Syndicate outpost a few dozen kilcks west of the capital.

Objective: Just Like The Simulations

In normal circumstances, wearing his pressure suit was an uncomfortable (albeit necessary and useful) affair for Dile Congor. But today, it made him the most comfortable person on the dingy little outpost that served as his current worksite. While he enjoyed the luxury of a vacuum seal and air filtration system, everyone else had to deal with the indignity of choking through the dust cloud that had decided to stubbornly cling to the area. The outpost's Pyke Guards were able to make do by tightening their standard issue masks to their faces, but most of Dile's fellow "independent contractors" (i.e. mercenaries) were looking thoroughly miserable. But as annoying as it was, their biggest problem was not the dust, but rather the insurgents that it could be concealing.

As Dile understood it, the Pykes had occupied Doan around half a decade ago and had been squeezing its mines and miners dry ever since. Now, the miners had had enough and were beginning to mount a more organized insurgency against the Syndicate. This particular outpost was in their crosshairs, and so Dile and a few other contractors had been brought in to bolster its defenses. (Dile was there to install better defense systems, while most of the others seemed to be more simple hired guns.)

It also seemed that the insurgents also had outside help of some kind, but the briefing Dile had been given was frustratingly vague on what exactly this "outside help" was. For his part, Dile would be siding with the faction that would:
1. Pay him better.
2. Actually win.
3. Let him field test his defensive emplacements.

At the moment, Dile was on lunch break after a long morning of setting up his signature SG-68s at strategic points throughout the interior and exterior of the outpost. He sat with some of his fellow freelancers playing a half-hearted game of sabaac.

"Sssso…" started a wiry Trandoshan sitting directly across from Dile. "…you think thosssse rockssssplitterssss will have the gutssss to attack ussss?"

"Eh, maybe. Maybe not. If they don't, these Pykes better not stiff us. I've gotten too much dust up my gills to go home without somethin' to show for it." replied a crusty Mon Calamari to Dile's right.

"And they better not stiff us if they do show up." said a clearly displeased Pantoran on Dile's left. "Looking around us, I'm definitely not seeing the Syndicate's best and brightest." he continued, lowering his voice. "When the blaster bolts start to fly, I've got a bad feeling that it's us who'll be doing most of the work."

"Well, that might be so." said Dile in his distinctive, vocabulator-translated voice . "But really, [fzzzt] I welcome the opportunity. It ain't every day that I get the chance to be my employers' golden ticket to victory andgive my defense systems a good old [fzzzt] field test."

Not but a few seconds after Dile said this, the outpost's alarm system blared to life. A static-heavy voice on the intercom followed up, stating "Attention all personnel. Report to battle stations. We are under attack from insurgents."

Dile wasted no time in standing up and heading for the staircase leading up to the battlements. It seemed he would be getting his field test sooner than he expected.

 

[Liin Terallo]

The auction itself was little more than a fundraiser on paper; a carefully orchestrated evening where wealth, influence, and reputation mingled beneath the polite fiction of philanthropy. N&Z had always excelled at such things. They understood better than most that people were often willing to spend extraordinary sums of money if allowed to feel important while doing so. The field headquarters reflected that understanding perfectly. Soft lighting spilled across polished floors. Conversations drifted through the hall in measured tones. Laughter appeared at predictable intervals. Expensive clothing and expensive secrets moved comfortably through the crowd together.

Liin found herself studying it all with the detached familiarity of someone revisiting a place she once knew intimately. Some faces had changed, while others had not. A few she recognized immediately. None appeared particularly interested in her. That, more than anything else, surprised her. For years she had grown accustomed to being watched. Evaluated. Pursued. Now she found herself standing beside a display case containing an artifact of questionable provenance while two executives passed nearby without so much as a second glance.

It should have been reassuring. Instead, it felt strangely disorienting. Had that chapter truly ended? Or had everyone simply become better at hiding it?

A server droid passed, and after a brief hesitation Liin accepted a glass from its tray. More for appearances than desire. Her attention wandered across the room again. There were potential buyers. Corporate representatives. Collectors. The occasional individual whose wealth appeared considerably older than whatever business had brought them here.

Then her gaze settled upon a woman draped in midnight silk. Not because she stood out. It was quite the opposite. Because she appeared entirely comfortable standing apart from everyone else. That tended to be a warning sign. Liin watched her for only a moment before looking away again, lifting the glass lightly toward her lips. "You may be disappointed." The observation was delivered calmly into the space beside her, as though continuing a conversation already underway.

Her eyes remained upon the auction floor rather than the hooded woman. "Success usually arrives after convincing us it has no intention of showing up at all." Only then did she glance sideways. "And the people who claim otherwise are often trying to sell something."

Tag: R'ayne Asara

 

[Novac Lyrikal]

Novac originally wasn't even going to show up, he heard of some research station being found or what not. He was planning on heading there, finding some part, weapons, or maybe even droids if he got lucky. But there was something here that caught his eye, a set of four blaster, the Nachtfalke Modell s blaster pistols. A set of four was perfect for his unique biology and they looked as lovely as they where powerful. They'd be the sole reason he was here, he even made a request to not be included in the raffle or whatever it was for the antique armor, not that it'd fit him anyway. Yes he could have it on display but what the point in that.

He:d make sure to wear his best for the event as well, his bespoke robes. Unfortunately it seemed there where no seats fit for someone of his shape, oh well, not like it was the first or last time. For the time being novac was content to wonder around the place .

He'd already placed the base amount of 4,000 for the set of blasters

 

[Captain Charles]

CAPTAIN CHARLES
MIN Stryker | Orbit | Doan | Objective I​

---

"Mahporeem Intelligence to MIN Stryker. Allied insurgents have begun skirmishing with a Pyke Outpost a few dozen clicks west of the capital. They are under heavy fire from what seem like automated defenses. Coordinates Grid Six Seven Niner. Fire at will."

"Mahporeem Intelligence this is Captain Charles. Confirm no civilians in strike zone over."

"MIN Stryker, strike zone confirmed clear of civilians."

"You heard that?" Charles asked, turning toward his Gunnery Officer.

"Already on it sir." Came the rapid response. "Gunners open fire on designated coordinates. Single fire. Maximum firepower. Stand by for updated fire control."

Green turbolasers streaked towards the surface. Charles watched as they punched through the atmosphere towards their targets.

Observing the engagement through both his tactical displays and the bridge viewports he saw the outpost's positions light up before turning dark.

He reopened the comm channel to Intelligence.

"MIN Stryker to Mahporeem Intelligence. Confirm strike results."

"MIN Stryker, bombardment successful over. Insurgents reporting most of the defenses were knocked out. Hold fire for now, they are currently attempting to storm the positions."

"Roger, will be standing by until further instructions. MIN Stryker over and out."

Charles allowed himself a bit of satisfaction. This was easy work compared to what he and the crew had done before. Now was not the time for complacency though. The better things were going, the sooner something was about to go wrong.

Dile Congor

 

[T'zarna Khab]

Location: Outside Pyke Syndicate stronghold on Doan
Objective: Just Like The Simulations
Tags: Elyndrella Captain Charles Dile Congor

Strange reports had come from the mining camps in Doan's rocky foothills. There were rumors of the miners gathering at night, chants and prayers filling the underground shafter where they once worked. It was an upheaval to many in the sector, the vital mining operations ground to a halt. What previously appeared to be a simple unionization attempt slowly became something much more sinister.

Now the workers were amassing outside a Pyke fortress. A few had already charged the gates, the sentry guns making short work of them. Most of them were carrying military-grade blasters and wearing basic military chest plates. Most distinct of them was that black-as-pitch markings on their faces.

While there was variance among the designs, they all shared a black mark on their foreheads, a smear of what almost looked like engine oil. It was uniform among them, always the same place, and same general look.

T'zarna had sent envoys to the planet to spread dissention among the disenfranchised and the downtrodden. Now it was time to reap the harvest of willing cultists. However, there was the matter of their Pyke masters, the ones who held the reigns of Doan. It was highly unlikely that they would want to lose the work force they had spent so long ruling over.

It made no difference to the insectoid woman. She would free them, if only to use them for her own ends! They would make excellent servants and soldiers within her hive. Should they survive the uprising that is.

"They gather behind their walls because they fear us, our power," T'zarna said, looking at the fort in the distance. "They do not understand that fear is our power."

Slowly, carefully, she stood from the ground. Using telekinesis she pulled a lightsaber to her hand. She would keep by her side through the dust storm. Even for Dark Jedi, the lightsaber was a symbol with great significance. One that could make some retreat just at the sight of it. Maybe the mercenaries behind the wall would have a change of heart?

The next charge from the miners would be bolstered by a few men and women in black and gold armor. They were slightly better trained an equipped. It seemed they were barking orders at the rebelling workers. A sign that more was going on than the mercenaries had been told.​

 

[Elyndrella]

Location: Pyke Syndicate Outpost, West of Fintekan - Doan
Thread Objective: Just Like the Simulations
Tag: T'zarna Khab Dile Congor Captain Charles

Elyndrella pitied the miners for their desperate lot. She knew by instinct that their lives were neither comfortable nor easy. They faced the brutal choice of being worked to death in the mines or dying in a rebellion against their Pyke overseers, who were significantly better armed and equipped than the miners could ever hope to match.

She wanted to give them more. More manpower. More firepower. More training. And more supplies. However, the Fallen Order was small. With only limited numbers of cultist-soldiers, the hive could only offer a fraction of its strength to reinforce the miners’ insurgency.

And yet, with the Supreme Leader herself here, Elyndrella felt a flicker of hope.

Unfortunately, that hope slowly dimmed as the opening assault commenced. Her pale features flushed crimson as the sentry guns carved through the first advance, a searing stream of bolts burning lines of death across the killing ground. Veins pulsed along her slender neck, but the elfin Fallen maintained her composure as she silently catalogued the sentry guns’ positions on the walls. One by one, she marked them out on the map projected from her Gauntlet Comp.

The miners who had died in the first wave had made a noble sacrifice. Their names would not be forgotten. But now, it was time for vengeance. She would crush those guns.

"They gather behind their walls because they fear us, our power," T'zarna said, looking at the fort in the distance. "They do not understand that fear is our power."

“Then we must make them understand!” Elyndrella’s voice came as a sibilant purr-growl, edged with righteous fury. She moved after the Supreme Leader, before drawing her discblade into her grasp. With the dust being so thick, there was ample concealment for the approach, which strengthened the degree of stealth provided by her bodysuit’s photo-reactive coating as its photosensitive crystals warped light and color to meld her form seamlessly into the haze.

Elyndrella intended to emerge almost directly in the defender’s midst, to show them the true meaning of fear!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Assimilation Shroud
  
  • Arms
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Forearm Vibroblade Mk. II - R Wrist
• Unity Halo
• FAE/MDE-01-S1 Semiautonomous Seeker Thermal Explosive (4)

 

[Ronhar Tane]

CAPTAIN RONHAR TANE, TK-3301
DOAN, PYKE SYNDICATE TERRITORY
OBJECTIVE I: JUST LIKE THE SIMULATIONS

"Our target is Frej Thylvan", Ronhar remarked to his squadmates as the MIN Night Reaver continued descending toward the surface of the planet. "He's the direct supervisor of this planet, or planetary governor, if you will, and he controls it on behalf of the Pyke Syndicate. His oppressive policies and harsh economic quota system has earned him the ire of the planet's mining guild, and as of this moment, most of Doan is up in open rebellion against Thylvan. Our objective is to capture or kill Thylvan and replace him with the previously ousted king, who has assured us of his undying gratitude and eternal assistance should we be able to get him back on the throne. It is highly likely that Thylvan has bolstered his forces with mercenaries in response to the miner uprising, so expect heavy resistance once we land. Any questions?"

"Sir, no sir!", came the resounding reply from the men assembled from Salvage Team Six. Everyone understood what the mission was, and everyone knew what was at stake here. If the Imperial Remnant was to continue its galactic military operations, it was going to need additional sources of funding, which planets like Doan could provide. Of course, the Pykes were unlikely to just give up and leave quietly, which is why Imperial forces were being sent in to evict them from the planet once and for all.

As the Night Reaver landed, Ronhar and his team jumped out from the dropship, with a NCE-131/c "Stork" dropship landing not far behind them. The doors of the Stork opened up, and out came a single TIE Crusher and a pair of TIE Uniwheels, which began heading off for the nearest Pyke Syndicate outpost, the one that Dile Congor had been tasked with defending. Supporting them was a platoon of Stormwookiees, all carrying heavy weapons, as a number of Lambda-class YT-1760 Annihilators screamed overhead, laying down barrages of blaster, cannon and missile fire at any available target that they could find. The Night Reaver, once it had depleted its small reserve of soldiers, took back to the skies once more, so that it could provide Ronhar and his men with fire support as they made their way toward Frej Thylvan's last known position. It didn't matter how many mercenaries he had or where he had holed up, because the Imperial Remnant would find him sooner or later, and would deal with him in the harshest manner possible!

But first, they were going to need to secure the outlying areas around them, which were under assault from the disgruntled miners. As to how much they knew about the Imperial Remnant's intentions remained unclear, but at the very least, the local population had welcomed Imperial forces as liberators rather than occupiers, which meant that Ronhar could at least count on them not to interfere with his mission. He checked his holomap once more, and began making his way toward Dile Congor , though the armored vehicles and air support would easily arrive first before any of his infantry did...
​

---

---

---

Spoiler: Ronhar's Loadout

• Head
  • Helm of Authority
    • Rangefinder
• Torso
  • Tashai Coat of Coins
  • Mk 45 Protective Vest
  • "Kitetsu" Force Energy Cycler
  • Wampa-Pattern Industrial Exoskeleton
    • Miniaturized Smoke Grenade Launcher
    • Empty Automated Weapon Mounting Point
• Arms
  • Tashai Coat of Coins
  • Wampa-Pattern Industrial Exoskeleton
    • NZ Medpack Display
    • Retractable Vibroblade
    • NZ Pangolin Type 1/A Reactive Armor Plating
• Legs
  • Wampa-Pattern Industrial Exoskeleton
    • NZ MAM MkII Jet Maneuvering Gear
• Cybernetics
  • Mod V Cyberarms
  • Cyberlegs Mod III
• Weapons
  • Burnblade
  • Prototype Sonic Pistol
  • Mahporeem Acid Rifle
  • Model 216 "Big Game Hunter"
• Ordinance
  • Two Rhydonium Grenades OR Three Mk II Viral Bombs
• Medical Supplies
  • Carapace Knitters
  • ABC - Aerosolized Bacta Cannisters

TAGS:
Dile Congor
Captain Charles
T'zarna Khab
Elyndrella

 

[Dile Congor]

Location: Doan, a Pyke Syndicate outpost a few dozen kilcks west of the capital.

Objective: Just Like The Simulations

Tags: Captain Charles , T'zarna Khab , Elyndrella , Ronhar Tane

When Dile reached the top of the perimeter wall, he saw that a sizable horde of Doan’s miners had assembled beyond it. For the moment, they were keeping a healthy distance away from the wall. But based on their massed screams of rage, it was clear that this could change at any moment.

“How many do you ssssupossssse are out there?” hissed the Trandoshan mercenary with just a hint of nervousness in his voice.

“Enough that if we manage to kill ‘em all, I’m gonna cough cough ask for a bonus.” joked the old Mon Calamari through wheezed breaths.

“Well, here comes the first wave.” the Pantoran pointed out grimly.

Dile gave no visible reaction as he saw the first wave of insurgents approach the walls. Once they got close enough, the sentry guns he had set up whirred to life and unleashed a torrent of blaster fire that cut the wave down in short order. Dile allowed himself a faint smile behind his pressure suit’s faceplate. It seemed his field test would go without a hitch.

This thought barely had time to pass through Dile’s mind when he was knocked off his feet by a sudden explosion. The Skakoan engineer felt the sensation of flying through the dusty air as more explosions sounded from the ground bellow. Flying quickly became falling, and Dile hit the ground with a hard thud and everything went black.

Dile was not sure of how much time passed while he was unconscious. When he did finally wake up, the sound of explosions had been replaced with blaster fire. He blinked open his eyes and looked around to see that his body was resting on a pile of rubble that had been part of the outpost’s perimeter wall. It seemed his armored pressure suit had protected him from whatever had just happened, but that the perimeter wall (and likely most the defense system he had built) had not been so lucky. So much for things going without a hitch.

Dile got to his feet and primed his suit’s blaster pistol and blast cannon. A nearby insurgent noticed this and opened fire at him. The shots glanced off his armored shoulder, and Dile returned fire with a well-placed shot to the head from his own blaster pistol. Dile similarly fought his way past a few other foes before he spotted his Trandoshan colleague firing away at the insurgents with a scatterblaster from behind a ruined section of the wall.

“I thought you were dead for sure, Sssskakoan.” the Trandoshan exclaimed as Dile approached.

“Well, not yet anyhow.” he replied matter-of-factly. “Now, can ya tell me just what ‘n the Hell happened here?”

“Orbital bombardment. The minerssss musssst have better outsssside ssssupport than we thought.”

“Orbital— [fzzzt] If they’re pullin’ out a damned bombardment, this here outpost is probably the least of the Syndicate’s worries today.”

Just as he said this, Dile’s suit-installed commlink chimed with a message from his point of contact in the Syndicate, a Pyke known as Colonel Vermisite.

Congor, your presence is required at the capital. Retreat from the outpost immediately. Three Prosperity-class Medium Cruisers have been dispatched from Oba Diah to Doan which will indiscriminately bomb your current location once they have dealt with the hostiles in orbit.

Dile sighed, and turned to his Trandoshan colleague. “Well, change of plans, buddy. I just got a message from the Syndicate saying that they’re gonna bomb this outpost indiscriminately pretty soon. You know if the vehicle garage is still intact?”

“Yessss, but itssss on the other sssside of the outposssst.”

“Then I s’pose we’d best get a move on.”

 

[Captain Charles]

CAPTAIN CHARLES
MIN Stryker | Orbit | Doan​

---

"Mahporeem Command to MIN Stryker. Captain Ronhar himself has landed. He will take out the outpost before leading the advance on the capital. Stay in orbit to help maintain orbital supremacy over."

"Roger that." Responded Charles before cutting the channel.

His Sensor Officer reported.

"Sir, we have company. Our sensors have detected three large cruisers coming out of hyperspace from Oba Diah. Most likely Prosperity Class."

Charles sighed. This was going to be tough. He analyzed the situation. Three Prosperity Class medium cruisers against his light cruiser. Not good odds at all, at least in a conventional sense.

He issued his orders methodically.

"Hangar, launch TIE Defenders. Have them maintain defensive formation for now."

"Sensor, get us their approach vector and formation."

"Comms, notify Command. Have them send reinforcements to this sector."

"Helm, get ready for some serious maneuvering."

"Aye sir!" Came the unified response.

He checked his tactical display. The cruisers were approaching head on in a standard V-formation. Perfect, he would use that against them.

"Here's what's going to happen." He announced to the Bridge Crew just loud enough so everyone could hear.

"They probably think we are going to attack the lead ship head on because that is the most exposed ship. Or simply try to run. We will be attacking the lead ship just not in a way they expect."

"You see it is dangerous to fly in between the wing ships and the lead ship due to overlapping fields of fire. You got that?" He said to the TIE Defender pilots in particular.

"We know sir don't worry." Came the confident responses.

"First we are going to draw them closer to the planet using our maneuverability."

"Then we are going to use a thing called line of sight. Helm, be ready to charge the lead ship head on until my mark. That's when we are going to duck under and rake the vulnerable underbelly."

"The Prosperity Class is well known for their powerful tractor beams. They will most likely activate them as soon as they get in range and try to lock our ship. When they do so our TIE Defenders will fire proton torpedoes into their tractor beams to target their emitters. The torpedo's own propulsion plus the gravity from the emitter will accelerate the torpedo enough to the point where even if they shut off their beams or try to jam it will be too late."

"Then we will have to get away from the lead ship rather quickly as by that point Doan's gravity will finish her off. By dragging her to the surface of course. We don't want to go with her."

He heard the Bridge Crew chuckle.

"Once the lead ship is out of the fight the wing ships will break formation to try to pursue us leaving them vulnerable to incoming reinforcements."

"Comms, do we have an estimated time of arrival of the reinforcements?"

"They will be here in 7 minutes sir."

"Perfect, Helm execute." Said Charles settling back into his command chair.

"Oh and always remember gentlemen — you are only constrained to the 2D realm in atmosphere. Once you are in space that's when the real fun begins."

The Stryker lurched as it began its dive towards Doan. Charles checked his tactical display. The cruisers had taken the bait and were pursuing trying to get in range to lock up his ship. Firing long range turbolaser shots as they slowly closed the distance.

"Helm, some basic jinking please. We want to save our shields for the charge."

"Already on it sir." Came the methodical response.

A few seconds passed. The four ships accelerating down towards the planet which filled up more and more of the Stryker's viewports.

"Sir, they are gaining on us!" Said a young Sensor Lieutenant, panic rising in his voice.

"Don't worry just a little longer." Responded his Sensor Officer looking back at Charles with a confident smirk.

A moment passed.

"Tractor beams active on all three ships sir." Reported his Sensor Officer.

"Let them get a little closer." Responded Charles calmly.

A few agonizing seconds passed.

"Slasher, Bruiser, they are all yours."

Six glowing white streaks shot towards their targets. Two per tractor beam. More than enough if both hit but all Charles needed was one.

He turned back towards his tactical display. He watched the small triangles representing the torpedoes crawling towards the enemy cruisers.

They briefly faltered. Those crews are good thought Charles. But only for a moment. Charles saw them regain their trajectories. Too bad it's too late.

Another agonizing wait.

Then six explosions lit up the surrounding space.

"This is Slasher reporting. All hits sir!"

"Good work boys! Maintain defensive formation and prepare for enemy fighters." Responded Charles with a hint of satisfaction.

Looking back at his tactical displays he observed the damage. The lead ship received two hits right on target. The left wing ship took an emitter hit with the other torpedo veering slightly off course hitting the hangar. The right wing ship was hit on both emitters taking heavy damage to the bottom hull.

"Helm, turn 180 degrees to port. We are going in."

"Aye sir."

The Stryker began a dramatic turn to port its engines pushing themselves to full power.

The lead Prosperity Cruiser came into view right off the Stryker's nose turbolasers flashing. Charles could see the damage with his own eyes. If what he was about to do worked this ship was done for.

"Charge, flank speed. Gunners concentrate on enemy fighters."

Two squadrons of enemy fighters swarmed in lining up attack runs. His Gunners responded in kind throwing up an accurate barrage of fire. TIE Defenders sweeping in to cover gaps in the fire coverage.

Two enemy fighters were hit almost immediately exploding into flames. His Gunners continued their deadly work. But as they closed the distance enemy turbolaser fire was finding its marks.

"Shields down to 80 percent." Reported his Tactical Officer.

"Hold on, just a little longer."

"There are so many of them!" Charles could hear Bruiser's chatter over the comms.

"That just means more kills for me!" Responded Slasher with a laugh.

"Shields down to 60 percent… 50 percent…"

"Mark. Slasher, Bruiser get ready." Ordered Charles. The lead Prosperity filling the bridge viewports completely.

The Stryker lurched as the ship dropped almost vertically down under the lead Prosperity.

"Gunners fire at will! Maximum firepower." Ordered his Gunnery Officer.

A hail of green turbolasers traced a line through the bottom of the Prosperity cruiser. The secondary explosions started as the Stryker emerged from under the cruiser.

Trailing flame and smoke the lead Prosperity began to lose altitude plummeting down towards Doan's surface.

"That's one down two more to go!" Remarked his Tactical Officer.

"Not necessarily." Said Charles pointing out the bridge viewport to a collection of ships. "Our reinforcements are here."

"MIN Stryker this is Admiral Smith, Commander of Task Force 3. Nice work out here."

"Admiral Smith, this is Captain Charles of the MIN Stryker. Thank you for your timely arrival. We are breaking off from this engagement."

"Understood, we will take it from here."

The ships from the Task Force began firing and launching fighters forcing the enemy fighters to break off to concentrate on the new threat.

He opened up the hangar comm channel.

"Hangar, recover the TIE Defenders. We are heading back to conduct repairs."

"Aye sir."

With the TIE Defenders back onboard the Stryker jumped into hyperspace back towards Mahporeem.

Charles walked over to the Gunner positions sharing his congratulations with the crew. He then made his way to the hangar where he could hear his two pilots chattering with the rest of the hangar crew.

"I had just shot down my 3rd fighter when all of a sudden one was on my tail. I tried jinking hard to the left but he was still on my six." Narrated Slasher.

"Then I had to come and save his ass like usual." Said Bruiser with a laugh.

"What? No you did not! A few more seconds and I would have reversed him." Responded Slasher defiantly.

"Attention on deck!" Said Bruiser noticing Charles.

"At ease gentlemen. Just wanted to congratulate yall on your efforts out there. You too." He said gesturing to the hangar crew. "For the fast launches and recovery."

"No problem sir. It's our honor to be out here serving you." Said Bruiser and Slasher simultaneously.

"Hey! That was my line." Exclaimed Slasher.

"Read the room dude." Came Bruiser's tired response.

"The honor is mine." Responded Charles warmly. "Keep up the good work. I'm going to retire to my quarters. Let the XO know if you need something."

"Aye sir." Responded the assembled group.

With that Charles turned and headed back up to his quarters. He felt good today — the mission was successful and there were no casualties. It couldn't get any better than that.

---

Out of Character Notes:
MIN Stryker — Charles's personal ship, Arquitens-class Command Cruiser
Slasher and Bruiser — TIE Defender pilot callsigns

 

[R'ayne Asara]

here comes the money

[]

Queen of Hearts


I let my gaze drift toward the woman standing beside me, studying her with the same measured fascination one reserves for an unfamiliar constellation glimpsed through a storm-torn void. Medium grey eyes regarded the proceedings with quiet vigilance, while hair the color of tarnished grey mingled with dirty blond strands framed pale skin untouched by the harshness of lesser worlds.

There was something intriguing in the way she carried herself; she appeared entirely within her element amidst the rumblings of commerce and ambition, yet beneath that composure lingered the unmistakable tension of a predator listening for movement in the dark.

Such contradictions had always fascinated me.

In a galaxy governed by masks, she wore hers comfortably, though not so comfortably that she forgot the abyss was forever watching.

My attention wandered from her to the gathered bidders and auctioneers beyond, a congregation of hungry souls circling unseen currents like deep-sea leviathans drawn toward some submerged and terrible beacon.

A faint smile touched my lips as I observed their expressions; hopeful, greedy, anxious, triumphant, each convinced they understood the game being played before them.

"Disappointment wears many faces," I said in a corrective tone, my voice slipping through the air like mist on a cold, chilly evening. "That is the fun in the game. One never knows which face it shall choose when the final bid for success is spoken."

My eyes returned to the woman, and my voice softened into one of rare agreement. "There is no fault in your logic. True words, if ever spoken." For a moment I simply regarded her, sensing the subtle gravity of a mind worth measuring.

Then I inclined my head slightly, my crimson eyes gleaming beneath the shadows of the auction hall. "And who might you be?"​

 

[Hunchun T’vok]

PRIVATE FIRST CLASS HUNCHUN T’VOK
DOAN, PYKE SYNDICATE TERRITORY
OBJECTIVE I: JUST LIKE THE SIMULATIONS

The interior of the Frankentrawler shook violently as the patched-together vehicle rolled down the loading ramp of the transport.

Most tank crews would have found the noise concerning. Hunchun found it reassuring. It meant things were still attached. Mostly.

The Devaronian leaned forward in her command chair, one gloved hand resting on a bundle of exposed wiring that should have been inside a maintenance panel rather than hanging beside her head. Through the forward viewport she watched Captain Ronhar Tane's forces spreading out across the dusty terrain.

"See?" she told the vehicle. "Real battlefield. Just like I promised."

The Frankentrawler answered with a grinding metallic groan somewhere beneath the hull. Hunchun chose to interpret that as enthusiasm. Reports were already filtering through Mahporeem channels. The miners had engaged the Pyke outpost. Orbital strikes from the Stryker had crippled much of the defensive network. Fighting was ongoing inside and around the facility. Which meant there would be wreckage.

Potentially valuable wreckage. The best kind. The oversized scavenger vehicle lurched forward, belching dust and smoke as its mismatched engines pushed it toward the battlefield.

"Captain Tane," Hunchun transmitted over the tactical net, "Engineer T'vok reporting. Armored support has arrived."

A brief pause followed. "Also salvage support." Another pause. "Mostly armored support."

The Frankentrawler crested a ridge overlooking the battered Pyke position. Sections of the perimeter wall had already been reduced to rubble. Blaster fire flickered through the dust clouds while insurgents and defenders fought among the ruins.

Hunchun's amber eyes widened. "Oh, this is beautiful." Targeting systems flickered to life. Not because she was particularly eager to shoot anything. She simply wanted to make sure nobody damaged all the good scrap before she could get to it.

TAGS:
Ronhar Tane
Captain Charles
Dile Congor

​

 

[Jolly Walker]

Ronhar Tane | OPEN
​

The pirate never considered himself an Imperial.

Yet, when Ronhar made mention of an abandoned space station deep within the Ash Worlds, he knew he had to take the opportunity. The two men had entered into a working agreement. Jolly would be granted access to Mahporeem as another launching point of his operation, as well as be granted access to a variety of gear from the Imperials. In return, Ronhar would receive a partial payout from the Black Market's sales, as well as first pickings as new gear that passed through his shop. Overall, it was a win-win.

In order to negate suspicion from any Imperials within the surrounding space, Jolly tried to keep his raid as secretive as possible. Get in, grab the cargo, get out, bathe in credits. It was as easy said as it is done. However...the crew was not upon the station just yet.

Three Sepulcher-class Strike Carriers dropped out of hyperspace in a flash, soon flanked by a squadron of TIE/SK Elite Starfighters. Within one of the carriers sat another squadron, standing by for possible engagement. Inside of the second carrier sat a half squadron of TIE Cargo Loaders, accompanied by a large number of cargo crates. In the final carrier, a squadron of Reaver-class Boarding Pods, which were now ejecting and on approach for the research station.

Jolly was in the first pod to launch, along with a small number of soldiers. Intel suggested that the station had automated defenses waiting for them, so he would not take any chances. The TIE/SK starfighters flew alongside the boarding pods, scanning for any enemies that may try to attack. It would only be a matter of minutes before they were within boarding range.

 

[Liin Terallo]

Liin's gaze lingered upon the auction floor for a few moments after the question was asked. The bids continued rising and falling in measured increments. A rare artifact changed hands. Applause followed. Somewhere nearby, someone laughed a little too loudly at something that was probably not very amusing.

The evening carried on exactly as it had before. For once, she found that comforting. A faint smile touched the corner of her mouth as she lowered her glass slightly. "There was a time when that was a much longer answer." The words escaped before she could reconsider them.

Her attention drifted briefly across the gathering again. Executives. Investors. Researchers. Collectors. A few years ago, some of them would have recognized her immediately. Now most simply passed by. It was strange. Not unpleasant. Just strange.

At length, her eyes returned to the woman beside her. "Liin." No title accompanied it. No credentials. No carefully constructed list of accomplishments. Just a name. "Liin Terallo." The simplicity of it settled comfortably between them.

For a moment, she found herself studying the woman in return. Not openly. Not rudely. Merely with the same quiet curiosity being directed toward her. The crimson eyes were difficult to ignore. As was the sense that their owner spent considerably more time observing people than participating amongst them. That, too, tended to be a warning sign. "You seem remarkably relaxed for someone surrounded by individuals attempting to outbid one another." A slight tilt of her head followed. "Either you've already found what you came here for..." Her gaze flicked briefly toward the auction floor. "...or you are not interested in anything being sold." The latter possibility seemed far more likely.

Liin took another small sip from her drink. "And since you've asked who I am," she continued calmly, "it seems only fair that I ask the same." There was no challenge in the question that she had posed. Only a curiosity. "Who might you be?"

Tag: R'ayne Asara

 

[T'zarna Khab]

Location: Outside Pyke Syndicate stronghold on Doan
Objective:Just Like The Simulations
Tags: Elyndrella Ronhar Tane Captain Charles Dile Congor Hunchun T’vok

The orbital fire from Mahporeem's forces was a boon to The Fallen Order, creating a breach in the outpost's defenses. Soon their advance would be unstoppable, but that begged a question. What would come next? That answer was simple enough, the capital of the planet lie just a few kilometers past the outpost. All that stood in the way was the forces of the Pykes, gathered mercenaries and thugs, nothing that couldn't be routed with the proper application of force.

"Seems the hive of Mahporeem has this outpost well in hand. The people of this planet will soon march on their capital like an insatiable swarm," T'zarna remarked, advancing slowly towards the outpost, her body meshing with the others chaotically amassing at the outside of the fortress.

In an instant gold-tinted hands were raised, debris began to levitate from the ground. T'zarna cleared some of the fallen duracrete stones from the entrance, tossing them aside with The Force. She harnessed her rage, casting aside whole pillars before climbing atop one of the piles of stone. She then revealed her presence to the screaming mob.

"Workers of Doan! We must rally, we cannot stop now! Join The Fallen in our push towards the capital! The Pykes shall know soon the power of our hive, when we tear theirs apart from the ground up!!"

Her buzzing words filled the air as she raised her lightsaber up and ignited it, the hellish red plasma of the beam casting light upon her carapace. In a single movement she leveled the blade to point into the fort, and like ants rushing to a bowl of sugar, the mine workers filled the inside of the encampment.

"Elyndrella, gather a strike force when you can. We must follow The Mahporeem Hive before The Pyke's can rally a proper defense..."​

 

[Ronhar Tane]

CAPTAIN RONHAR TANE, TK-3301
DOAN, PYKE SYNDICATE TERRITORY
OBJECTIVE I: JUST LIKE THE SIMULATIONS

By the time Ronhar and his forces arrived at the outpost, there wasn't much of it left to capture. Captain Charles had done his job quite well, it seemed...perhaps a little too well, as Ronhar took note of all the rubble and collapsed buildings surrounding what had once been a Pyke Syndicate outpost on the planet. Still, there were a least a few stragglers that had survived the bombardment, and Ronhar and his men quickly went to work hunting them down and cleaning up any enemy forces that still remained.

Dozens of dead Pykes, miners, mercenaries and even a few Smog Troopers littered the battlefield, though by all accounts, Mahporeenian casualties had been relatively low, and the enemy had broken down and fled without too much extraneous resistance. NCE-131/c's, Lambda B-TIE Gunship/Transports and Imperial U-Wings began landing troops and vehicles unopposed as Mahporeenian forces continued their march across the planet. Dozens of All Terrain Modular Artillery Platforms and Taurus Missile Artillery Tanks were being amassed at this location to start bombarding the planet's capital, and if things continued to go like this for the Imperial Remnant, then they would be done in a mere matter of hours.

Still, not everything was completely going their way, as was evident when Captain Charles found himself engaged by reinforcements from Oba Diah, the cruisers coming at him much larger and more heavily armed than his single ship. Still, thanks to some creative flying and unconventional tactics of his own, he had managed to hold out long enough for his own reinforcements to arrive and begin turning the tide of battle in favor of the young Captain. Ronhar would have to recommend that the Imperial Remnant accelerate the time table for upgrading Charle's ship as soon as possible, since losing him in battle would be a substantial loss for Imperial forces.

For the moment though, that could wait, as Ronhar's own reinforcements began arriving in force.

"Engineer T'vok reporting. Armored support has arrived. Also salvage support. Mostly armored support."

"Solid copy Hunchun T’vok ", Ronhar replied as his comms flared to life. "This position is being used as a staging ground for our artillery bombardment of this planet's capital. Maintain this position and protect the artillery at all costs. Assist in recovery operations when possible, but keep your focus on protecting the artillery from any counterattacks. Good luck out there."

Further away, Ronhar could hear the cries of the frenzied miners that T'zarna Khab was leading against the other defenses that the Pykes had erected to stop their advance. It was only a matter of time before they fell to Khan's armed contingent, and Ronhar and his group was likely to meet up with Khab sooner rather than later as they continued to push toward the capital. Still, Ronhar would prefer that the Imperial Remnant be the ones leading the charge, which meant that there was no time to waste.

"Ride's here, Cap'n!", someone called out to Ronhar as he turned his head in their direction. A single STR - "Rancor" was currently waiting for Ronhar's squad, and would take them all the way to the capital of the planet. Without wasting anymore time, Ronhar boarded the APC as Imperial forces continued their advance across the planet unabated...
​

---

---

---

Spoiler: Ronhar's Loadout

• Head
  • Helm of Authority
    • Rangefinder
• Torso
  • Tashai Coat of Coins
  • Mk 45 Protective Vest
  • "Kitetsu" Force Energy Cycler
  • Wampa-Pattern Industrial Exoskeleton
    • Miniaturized Smoke Grenade Launcher
    • Empty Automated Weapon Mounting Point
• Arms
  • Tashai Coat of Coins
  • Wampa-Pattern Industrial Exoskeleton
    • NZ Medpack Display
    • Retractable Vibroblade
    • NZ Pangolin Type 1/A Reactive Armor Plating
• Legs
  • Wampa-Pattern Industrial Exoskeleton
    • NZ MAM MkII Jet Maneuvering Gear
• Cybernetics
  • Mod V Cyberarms
  • Cyberlegs Mod III
• Weapons
  • Burnblade
  • Prototype Sonic Pistol
  • Mahporeem Acid Rifle
  • Model 216 "Big Game Hunter"
• Ordinance
  • Two Rhydonium Grenades OR Three Mk II Viral Bombs
• Medical Supplies
  • Carapace Knitters
  • ABC - Aerosolized Bacta Cannisters

TAGS:
Dile Congor
Captain Charles
T'zarna Khab
Elyndrella
Hunchun T’vok

 

[John Mahporeem]

[??????]
[REDACTED]
[OBJECTIVE III: SPACE ODDITY]

<"How predictable these flesh bags are!">

<"Each and every one of them is always the same. Searching the galaxy for riches and glory. Unconcerned with their own wellbeing. Completly OBLIVIOUS to the fact that they only continue toward their own impending doom!">

<"I was able to detect them long before they could detect me. At least these flesh bags brought a bigger fleet then most. I count three Sepulcher-class Strike Carriers and numerous starfighters and boarding craft, though I can't say I recognize those particular models. How unusual. I must be getting complacent in my old age as my circuits remain firmly rooted to this place. But no matter. Soon I will have all the data I need to learn about my next set of test subjects. Should I send out my fleet now? Should I activate my defenses and destroy every last one of their ships? No, I'll wait. I'll stay patient. After all, where's the fun in revealing my hand too early? Let these fools think that I'm an easy mark, that they can just waltz in and out like they own the place. By the time they understand the gravity of their situation, it will be far too late for them!">

<"I know! I'll open my cargo doors for them! I'll invite them inside! They'll say to themselves: 'wait, I thought this station was abandoned? How are the doors opening up for us? That doesn't make sense'! But then they'll disregard what they see and come aboard anyway, because their greed compels them to do so! There burning curiosity must be sated, and I will provide them impetus for them to try. Oh, I can hardly wait! I've been running out of test subjects to monitor lately, but these flesh bags have so many to provide me with!">

<"Oh, but what am I saying? I can't let me guests see me like this! I'll need to cut the lights, of course, and clean up all the blood and skeletons lying around. Oh, but there's no time, they'll be here any second! I guess it’s ok, and I'm sure they won't mind the mess. After all...">

<"They'll be joining it soon enough.">
​

---

---

---

TAGS:
Jolly Walker
OPEN

 

[R'ayne Asara]

here comes the money

[]

Queen of Hearts

Tag > Liin Terallo


I watched in silence as two ambitious wretches descended into a fevered bidding war over a thing that, to my eyes, possessed all the allure of a preserved nightmare.

Beneath the pale glow of the auction hall's chandeliers, the object sat upon its pedestal like some malformed relic dredged from the forgotten trenches between stars, an abomination masquerading as treasure.

Yet my attention lingered less upon the grotesque artifact and more upon the woman's words beside me, her observations drifting through the murmur of raised paddles and swelling prices. A faint smile touched my lips, neither warm nor cruel, merely patient. "Why would I not be at ease?" I said, my voice settling into relaxed tones.

"Those fools hurl credits into the void not for beauty, nor even for utility, but to parade their wealth before one another like peacocks draped in gold," I said, my tone soft, with a gentle nod of my head toward the two men.

"They purchase applause, not value. I, however, find beauty in objects of genuine worth, in relics that possess purpose, history, and power. Let them pillage their coffers upon the mundane and the hollow."

I turned my head to fully look upon the woman, to fully gauge the magnitude of our conversation. "When the true holy grail of this auction finally reveals itself, I shall remain financially positioned to claim it," I said speaking as if fact, as though denial was not an option, "a patient hunter does not waste her ammunition upon shadows when the beast yet lurks in the dark. Patience is the game, and unlike them, I intend to win."

"Assuming, however, you are correct," I said in cryptic tones, each word measured like pieces upon a dejarik board, "then perhaps it is fortunate that my credits are not what I have brought to this gathering for exchange. Coin is merely one currency among many, and there are agendas that cannot be weighed upon scales nor counted within vaults."

The severity faded from my expression as I offered a small, unexpectedly cordial smile. "But where are my manners? It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Terallo. My name is R'ayne Asara."

The name felt strange upon my tongue, an ancient relic unearthed from a tomb long sealed beneath the sands of memory; it had been countless years since my lips had spoken my birth name, and odder still to hear it spoken aloud once more.​