Private Crimson Beginnings-DoS

[Alinor Veltrix]

The Bane of Heretics moved through space, circling around one of the largest asteroids in the belt. The Axeol Class Heavy Frigate was running on low power, limiting the risk of it being detected by the target it was quietly approaching. Only the vessels own advanced sensors were running on full power, allowing the vessel to broadcast a live image and data feed to the gathering troops in one of the vessels hangars. Normally these hangars were fitted with starfighters and bombers, but given the importance of this mission and the need for speed, changes had been made.

Gathered around two transport craft, specially reassigned for this specific mission, was a ragtag group of warriors. A single Claw, roughly fifty warriors of the Crimson Order were running their final checks on their equipment. Few of the warriors had any matching weapons or armor, with the only unifying feature being the symbol of the Crimson Order, blazoned proudly on their left shoulders. The Strike Leader, commanding the Claw was off to one side of the group when the hangar doors opened. Looking up, the officer snapped to quick attention before shouting a quick, snappy order to those with him that day.

"Commander on deck!"

---

Alinor Veltrix, Lord Militant of the Crimson Order, entered the hangar bay without fanfare. Dressed in his combat armor, more flashy than his troopers though no less functional, he made his way to the front of the gathering group. Each step of his armored boots rang out in the hangar, and he turned his eyes to gaze across those gathered today for the first mission of the Crimson Order beyond the bounds of Icarus. It was an important day, one that would be remembered long into the future. It was imperative that it was a success then, to start them off on the right foot. It was why he himself had picked each and every soldier present, rather than a single unit. Each one of them was a specialist, an elite warrior among elites.

Today, they would be put to the ultimate test.

"At ease. I will keep this brief." His words came out through the filter in his helmet, taking on a deep, resonating tone. "Ura Dax, former Scions of the Truth, now heretic and traitor to the Dominion, has been tracked to this space station at the edge of our home system. He has gathered a small band of followers; pirates and other assorted traitors to his banner. His heresy against our Dominion shall be brought to an end, in fire and agony. His death, and the death of all who would follow him will serve as an example to any other potential heretics." Turning, he tapped a gloved finger against a holo image beside him, showing the space station they had detected.

"Our entry to the station will happen in two phases. Priesse shall be on board the first transport. You will clear the hangar bay using your...talents. Once secured, the second transport shall move in and unload the rest of the Claw. Amnesia as the leading Force Hunter in this Claw, Ura Dax will be your responsibility, supported by Priesse once the hangar is secure. All other forces will spread out across the station, and eliminate every heretic they find. Are there any questions?"

 

[Priesse]

Location: Hangar Bay - Bane of Heretics
Tags: Alinor Veltrix Amnesia

"Commander on deck!"

Snapping to attention in tight, disciplined fashion, Priesse felt the air catch inside her lungs as the aura of the Lord Militant rippled through the currents of the Force, in tune with the corresponding deference and respect the soldiers lent to him, by virtue of his rank and experience. In his regal golden armor, he was a powerful figure that left a strong impression on the short-statured Phaseling, her gaze eerily transfixed on him as he initiated the briefing.

She was immediately struck by his presence.

While it was only her first mission Priesse felt a powerful sense of gravity surrounding the entire activity, the force of the Lord Militant’s words compelling her to rise to the challenge in a way that only the Seer had done before, during his speech before the Palace. Even so, a part of Priesse was aware of the truth, being that they were ultimately a small, ragtag group of soldiers who couldn’t hold a candle to the vast armies of the galactic superpowers. And yet, when it came to traitors and heretics of this nature, failure seemed almost impossible.

Within the hour, Ura Dax would be slain and his heresy purged from the galaxy.

"Are there any questions?"

“Your orders are understood, my Lord. Under Typhojem’s gaze, I swear to not let the Dominion down.” The Phaseling resolved.

“I am ready.”

Spoiler: Loadout

• Pulsiva Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Gauntlet Vibroblade (2) - L/R
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Utility
    
    • Supernal Infusion
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
• Mk. I Thunderbird Mandibles (2) - Short Sword
• KV33 Pulse Cycler - KV33-L Pistol
• Flash Grenade (4)

 

[Amnesia]

Spoiler: Post Music

​

Objective: Prepare
Location: Hanger bay - Bane of Heretics
Gear: All of it
Tags: Priesse Alinor Veltrix

All things had a proper place, a proper way to do them. Without the proper rituals, the proper order, they were no better than the heretics and the foolish Jedi and unbelievers. Being the lead hunter of force users for a claw had its benefits. One of these was a private room on the ship as they moved towards their target. The room was small, metallic, it had a small bed, a simple 'fresher, but it was private, which suited the changling much better than sharing rooms.

In the middle of the room on the floor sat a stone bowl, and a small stone figurine. Amnesia sat her helmet to the side, revealing pale skin, long white hair, and her bright green eyes. Then she pulled off one of her gloves as she knelt in front of the statue and bowl. A glass knife was pulled from an ever-present sheath, and she lightly pricked her finger and let the drops of blood fall into the bowl. Her hands clasped together, and her head bowed in reverence. Deep pink lips spoke the Sith language as she prayed to her God, Typhojem. <"Give me Strength. Make me swift. Bring me victory.">

After her prayer, a powder was added into the bowl. Out of her pouch she pulled out a match and struck it against the floor. As the flame flickered it was placed into the bowl. The flames spread and devoured the blood and the powder in its entirety. When the ritual was done, she stood up, cleaned off her knife and sheathed it. The bowl and figure were picked up, wrapped, put in a box and put away. By the time she finished cleaning up, the wound on her finger had already healed.

The changling carefully braided her silken white hair. While she could easily just change it to suit whatever she was doing, it helped to keep to these rituals. She didn't want to change endlessly, this was her face, a face that the Seer himself had helped her find. It should be well kept. Once her hair was braided and put into a bun, her helmet was clamped back down around her head. Her weapons were carefully cleaned and checked over as she hummed a hymn.

After her ritual was complete, the girl moved to the hanger to gather with the others. She saluted as the Lord Militant entered the hanger and went at ease when told to do so. After she had listened intently, she nodded to the Lord Militant. "Ura Dax's days end here. Typhojem has willed it. I have no questions, Lord Militant." Her voice was soft, beautiful, and yet firm. There was no hesitation, there was no question that she would succeed. She glanced at Priesse, admiring the phaseling for a moment before she nodded her helmeted head. "Sister Priesse, slaughter them all. It will be glorious."

 

[Alinor Veltrix]

Alinor looked over his small task force for a few moments before he nodded his head. He said nothing as Amnesia carried out her pre-battle ritual. In fact, he bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. Even if he himself had not been part of that ritual, it had been done in honor of Typhojem, and as such, held value to them all. Only when she had completed her ritual, and spoken to Priesse did Alinor turn to lean the Claw into the two waiting transports.

"Then, lead on Priesse. For the Dominion, and He Who Speaks Truth." The words were repeated by all the soldiers in the hangar bay, not in any battle cry or roar of approval, but in the solemn understanding of men of the faith. The fifty Crimson Order soldiers boarded the transports, only a small detachment joining Priesse on the lead craft, the rest cramming themselves into the second transport with Alinor. Once everyone was on board the vessels, the ramps were sealed, and the craft lifted off one after the other. Gripping the handrails inside the transport, Alinor opened up a display terminal, showing live camera feed from outside the transports.

For several seconds, both craft were engulfed in darkness as they passed the shadow of the Axeol Heavy Frigate, only becoming visible when they circled around the large asteroid they had been using for cover. Before them, built partly into the side of another large asteroid was the station. A single large opening towards the top of the station serve as the primary hangar, with dozens of smaller opening across the rest of the station. Even as the transports emerged from behind the asteroid, the stations defenses began to come alive. Flashing lights could be seen across the void of space, and large sliding doors began to close across the main hangar.

It was at that moment Bane of Heretics emerged from behind the asteroid itself. Before it had even fully emerged, a volley of missiles were fired from the frigate. Station defense turrets lit up the darkness of space, shooting down a few missiles, but many more were able to slip through. Explosions erupted across the station, and the hangar bay doors were blown off, allowing the transports to fly through the mayhem and straight towards their target.

The first transport would make a rapid approach once inside the hangar, its engines blasting away dozens of crates stacked haphazardly around the large chamber. Pirates and heretical soldiers were thrown back by the sudden wind rush that buffeted them, a few stray blaster bolts pinging off the transports hull as its landing ramp opened, revealing the horrors waiting within...

 

[Priesse]

Location: Hangar Bay - Bane of Heretics -> Hangar Bay - Ura Dax’s Space Station
Tags: Alinor Veltrix Amnesia

“For the Dominion and He Who Speaks the Truth!” The Hapan answered in chorus with the other soldiers in the hangar bay. Then, after drawing the symbol of Typhojem over her chest, Priesse stepped inside her designated transport, accompanied only by a small detachment. From here on—until she was inside the hangar bay—her sole weapon was faith. Faith not only in the Left Hand, but also in the pilot who was charged with the daunting task of flying through a variable gauntlet of point-defense fire so that she could reach her destination.

And yet, over the course of her short life, Priesse had come to believe that faith could be just as powerful a weapon as any.

The ramps sealed shut and soon, Priesse felt the interior of the transport lurch around her, indicating that they were in the void of space. All the while, the Hapan sang an ancient Kissai battle hymn, one she had been taught during training.

“Mine eyes have borne witness to the herald of His wrath
He is casting forth inferno from the blood of ages past
He hath unleashed the cackling lightning of His dreadful blade of wrath
His will shall overcome”

Armed with song and faith, minutes passed as seconds and before long, the transport was on its approach to the hangar bay. Pulling a pair of flash grenades from her belt, Priesse braced herself for the landing. Then, the transport rattled as it slowed down and with a short glance outside of the viewport to her left…

Priesse disappeared from the interior of the transport in a brief flash of light.

Not a second later, the Phaseling rematerialized on a gangway overlooking the primary area of the hangar bay. Diving behind a nearby bulkhead, Priesse lobbed her two flash grenades towards the main body of heretic soldiers, the two explosives going off in mid-air to stun a number of the enemy soldiers, personnel, and technicians.

Then, the Phaseling was on them.

Short swords in hand, Priesse manifested behind a pair of the stunned soldiers, one of her blades slashing through the neck of the one to her right, before the other bisected the one on her left, slashing him in twain from his right shoulder to left hip. From there, the Phaseling bent gravity to her will around a squad of six of reeling heretics, increasing the air pressure to the point that it was as if a massive invisible fist were crushing the soldiers, smashing bones and pulverizing organs.

And crush them, it did.

The result was violent and implosive, the soldiers’ bodies suddenly collapsing inward, one after the other, in a series of wet splats that coated the immediate area in piles of blood and viscera. Two of the soldiers who were lucky enough to be just outside of the field’s crushing embrace found themselves immediately blinded, not only by the flash grenade, but also from the blood splashed onto the visors of their helmets. Sparing them no mercy, Priesse ripped the two heretics to pieces, her short swords moving in a blur of motion before their wielder disappeared in a burst of light, rematerializing on the gangway in the process. All the while, the small contingent of Crimson Order warriors that had accompanied the Phaseling disembarked from the transport, quickly finishing off any remaining heretics before securing the area.

“Hangar bay secure, Lord Militant.” One of the warriors said. “We’re ready to receive the Force Hunter.”

Spoiler: Loadout

• Pulsiva Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/M-02 Energized Gauntlet Vibroblade (2) - L/R
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Phase III “Force Avenger” Energy Shield
  • Utility
    
    • Supernal Infusion
    • FAE/U-01 "Serenity" Anti-Signal Field System
• Mk. I Thunderbird Mandibles (2) - Short Sword
• KV33 Pulse Cycler - KV33-L Pistol
• Flash Grenade (2)