Skirmish Fall of an Empire | EE & Maw

[Laertia Io]

Wearing: Resistance Epidermis

Armed With: Champion's Blade (Synthetic Crystal Lightsaber)


Objective 1 Support: Black Knights of Io (Adam and Burt)

Nuetralizer Model 1 (4)

Siren Corps (21)

Ships: Leviathan of Ingrid (Guarding the Planet)

Basic Battle Cruiser (2) (Cruiser 1: Blood of Rebecca) (Cruiser 2: Blood of Lancelot)

Cruiser 1 Starfighter Compliment: Nuetralizer TIE Model 1

Cruiser 2 Starfighter Compliment:
Nuetralizer TIE Bomber Model 1

Oyokai Class Cruiser (2, Combination of Nuetralizer TIE's and Nuetralizer TIE Bombers)

House Io Heavy Bomber (7 Squadrons)

House Io A-Wing (7 Squadrons)


Ground Forces (Objective 3):

The Battalion

Io Warriors in House Io Powered Assault Suits (1000)
Armed With: Type 2 Energy Sword, Stouker Concussion Rifle, Type 007 Thermal Detonator, (2)

House Io Mercenary (3000)
Armed With: DC-15S, Type 2 Energy Sword, Plasma Grenades (3)

Nuetralizer Model 3 (1000 Units)
Armed With: Laufey 21 Cryonic Assault Disruptor
Type 007 Thermal Detonator (2)

House Io Stormtrooper Corps (2000, a mix of Infantry, Sappers, and Sniper Units)

Butterfly Corps (1400)

Siren Corps (1000)

Nuetralizer Model 2 (700)
Armed With: T-7 Ion Disruptor
Electrohammers

Support Nuetralizer Model 1 (400)

Cult of the Brain Demon (14 Cultists)

Fortress Nuetralizer Model 1 (7)

Worm Nuetralizer Model 1 (500)


24 hours earlier.

The Intel was grim, and quite clear.

The Eternal Empire was going to fall.

The Parliament supposed she shouldn't be too surprised. When one calls themselves Eternal one usually turns out to be just tempting fate.

Still... unfortunate. The Eternal Empire was one of the only factions still friendly to them.

It would simply mean an adjustment in strategy going forward. The Maw would prove troublesome. But they were cultivating other agents in other factions. People who could harass them directly.

The Parliament's intelligence network was growing more and more formidable. She had convinced the government to let her station troops near Wulfengard. There she had ordered certain key positions in the streets to be fortified and traps to be set. Civilians had been evacuated from the areas attack was likely to occur.

The Parliament reclined in a bubble bath, an Electrum Goblet of Red Wine in her hand in an old, abandoned Wulfengard skyscraper she was fortifying. Her previous medical condition had made the consumption of alcohol extremely dangerous to her medically. But since her full conversion to a Force Spawn, Her migraines had vanished. All the physical pain that had served to drive Xiphos over the edge as much as anything else in her life had was finally gone.

She was still getting used to not worrying about the next migraine.

This was Wine native to the planet. The Parliament had sample various alcohols since her resurrection trying to see which one she liked.

So far, she had taken a liking to this particular blend.

She was still searching for Galahad Io since his fleeing of the House. The Battalion was especially keen in knowing his whereabouts. The Galaxy would never show mercy to Pacifists. The Jedi had been busy trying to convince everyone otherwise. They would no doubt twist the boy against the House, feed into the quirks of his programming. Then betray him at the earliest convenience. Shuffle him off to some outpost perhaps where he'd be a second class citizen, if he could be recognized as a citizen at all. And they damn sure wouldn't ever take their eye off him. Or let him forget where he'd come from.

The Parliament hoped Galahad would see reason eventually, and come home. But that was subject for a later event.

Right now they had to prepare for an extended siege.

There was a knock at her door.

"Enter." The Parliament said, body mostly obscured by her bubble bath.

A Model 1 Nuetralizer, his chassis painted a deep crimson, entered.

"Yes, Sweetie? What is it?" The Parliament asked.

"The Cultists have been preparing rituals all across the City in anticipation of Mawite attack. Boobytraps are mostly installed, both inside and outside the Wall. Rituals have been especially prepared near the wall itself. Our troops are in the process of finishing reinforcement of the major paths the enemy is most likely to take in an attempt to breach the city. Underground routes have been accounted for."

"Excellent." The Parliament hissed in a deliberately Mr. Burns--like manner due to a now raging insanity allowing her to break the Fourth Wall.

"Mother...may I ask a question?"

"Of course..."

"Why are we committing our forces to defending Wulfengard?"

"Because any chance to inflict massive casualties to Mawites is a bonus. Plus I'm fairly certain the ship Ingrid is being held on, The Devourer, is going to be present...they would want the Red Empress to see the Destruction of all she has built. We shall attempt a rescue. Plus, if we can cost them enough of their veteran soldiers here...we may hurt their offensives elsewhere."

"She's not gonna be an Empress of jack chit after what happens next..." The Model 1 joked.

The Parliament chuckled.

"No." she said with a smile. "No she won't."

House Io had made the usual overtures to the isolated, the ones who hadn't profited within the EE. They had snagged a few thousand from more than a few planets fleeing the Maw's rampage. On the surface she could understand. With the Alliance pushing back hard and forcing the Maw back, a collapsing empire could greatly revitalize a failing war effort.

On the other hand, dividing their forces could prove disastrous.

The Parliament had very carefully selected her forces for the defense. Had even more carefully selected how best to defend it. She had chosen her House Io Merc Droids as the latest test of their combat prowess. They had done wonderfully at Panatha, and they were to be aided by her newest daughters, The Support Nuetralizers.

For her Organic Forces, she had selected a thousand veterans to wear her power armor designs into combat, and to head up the defense of the wall, aided by her Siren Corps and Butterfly Corps and a smattering of Mechanical Nuetralizers, all armed to the teeth.

The Maw had come to conquer Kalidan, but House Io was here to party. They had had a long time to prepare.

They might fail to hold Wulfengard, but they would make the Maw bleed for every centimeter.

The Parliament believed in honoring her partnerships. That was the biggest reason she would be trying to rescue Ingrid: Ingrid had been one of the House's most powerful allies. The "Eternal" Empire had provided a wealth of money making opportunity, recruitments.

It would have been rude not to assist...

"Will that be all, Son?"

"Yes, Mother." The Model 1 replied.

The Soldier Droid turned and walked out. The Parliament then called in her Consort telepathically while exiting the bath and dressing.

The Battalion floated in after phasing through the wall, wearing her black and white armor.

"Yes, my Love?" The Battalion inquired.

"Has the..."special" been fully..."installed" for lack of a better word?" The Parliament asked.

"Of course. Those Mawites are in for a rather nasty afternoon..." The Battalion answered, still floating with the Force before touching down on hard marble.

"But you hardly need me to confirm that."

"True." The Parliament said, teleporting to her, wrapping her arm around her wife's waist and pulling her close, teleporting the goblet of wine she had left by the bathtub to her hand, offering her a sip, which The Battalion accepted.

"But who would I share my wine with?"

The Battalion slid a finger teasingly under The Parliament's chin.

"I think you just wanted an excuse to hold me close."

"That too."

Their lips locked together a few moments.

"I'm worried about Percival." The Battalion confessed. "I think his Parish is about to leave him. And this House.

"They do not understand the blessings The Brain Demon granted Rebecca. Let them. We'll get him a new Parish. One he can mold to his liking."

"What about the ones who will leave us?"

"I don't compel others to serve me if they don't wish to. That would only breed resentment. Besides, if it screws with them even a little that I let them go without incident, when no other Sith would have, then I think it's worth it just for the sheer psychological effect that realization will have on them when they try and go back into the Galaxy, and watch all the people they ran away from prove me right about them. I'll happily take them back."

"And if some try to fight us?" The Battalion questioned.

The Parliament blinked.

"Good Luck..." was the reply.

The Parliament offered another sip and The Battalion took it.

"Are you ever going to tell Percival the real story behind his creation?" The Battalion asked.

The Parliament shook her head.

"No..." she answered. "It would destroy him. He would never understand why I did what I did. That fethin' theory about me deliberately making him resemble a friend of Starlin Rand is just a smokescreen, one I never bothered to clear. He would hate me more than he already does if he knew the truth...but...once he pulls himself back to the top... it'll all be forgotten. But he must never know the circumstances under which he was created."

The Battalion nodded.



Present...


Ted Forrest, a Soldier of the House, had dawned his Powered Armor just five minutes before the invasion had touched down in the surface. Him and a hundreds of others. He had been placed in command, just second to that of the Consort herself on the ground surface.

He had witnessed the Cultists in the hours before, including The Battalion, confer blessings on those House Personnel who asked it. Ted had not been among those who asked. He had seen the House Stormtroopers, their armor of a non standard design in comparison to other Stormtroopers, carefully concealing the last of their traps, preparing treacherous stratagems for however deep the Maw got into the city. Standing orders were attrition based hit and run for the most part. But the wall was a major Priority. Which is why the Cultists had lain incredibly specific curses in that area. The area he was now standing on, flanked by multiple other soldiers in power armor, as well as Nuetralizers.

The Battalion smiled as she saw the invading scar hounds and bloodsworn come from above. Drop Ship invasion. Classic.

The two Fortress Nuetralizers they had expertly concealed outside the Wall rose from a hill of dirt, the tall Mech model having not been seen in action since the first battle of Panatha, unleashing vicious, devastating Railgun and Disruptor barrages while the defensive wall lit up with defending fire. Artillery, Mortars, rockets, chain guns. Ted saw members of the arrogant Butterfly Corps streaking across the sky, providing better intel for artillery to target even as they were fired at. They would occasionally divebomb into a crowd of Mawites, eviscerate a bunch of them with their bladed gauntlets, then fly off before any real retaliation could be mustered. But the night was still young

"With me, Forrest!" The Battalion called out, flying off into the sky. Ted took that as his cue and he gave the orders over comms. And he and one hundred and fifty others would activate their jetpacks and fly over the wall into the thickest combat and he immediately started getting pelted with impacts that would have killed a person in lesser armor. He was perfectly comfy, a sense of power he had never known as he used his massive Concussion Rifle as he flew to the thickest fighting, the blasts on the alternate fire mode turning Mawites to gibs. Power Armor equipped House Io soldiers engaged and dealt fatal damage to a tank, The Battalion a lithe demon with her red blade shearing into scores of Mawites...

Ted used the sheer weight and power of his armor to bully his way through crowds as he charged into them, firing his rifle only to soften them up as fourteen of his comrades joined and proceeded to make an advancing albeit small wall of death on the Maw, artillery and missiles raining down on them.

In space, a different battle commenced, the Squadrons of the House waging war on the the Maw Navy, hoardes of Nuetralizer TIE's using hit and run swarm tactics, while the few large capital ships they brought assisting the EE navy when possible, as an IPV-2C corvette, the presence or energy of those aboard hidden by the Dark Side, slowly approached the vessel of Kyrel Ren



Darth Mori

Zachariel Steelblood

Ingrid L'lerim

DECEASED Aron Gowrie

 

[DECEASED Aron Gowrie]

2nd post

-AN AGE OF STRIFE STORY-

WILDCAT_ONE
TRIBAL-CHIEFTAIN OF AN-TUATHA
MAJOR-GENERAL OF WILDCAT DIVISION
SWORD OF THE WINTER

Tags (Friendlies): Eina L'lerim-Vandiir Belisarius Vactovion Laertia Io
Nukth Kelga'an Davin Votan
Maijan Paisea Corbin Vasher

Tags (Hostiles): MANIAC Darth Mori Mercy

TRIBULATIONS OF THE WILDCATS IV: A REALM AFLAME - PART 2

FORT WULFNGARD, ARCENON-ESCHATE DISTRICT,
ARCENON PROVINCE, KALIDAN-LYSENIA (SPRING 878 ABY)

'Never ask me again why my Sons are callin' ya 'Nanny', Lieutenant-Colonel. We're headin' for Major-General Gowrie, from the Galidraani Free-State -- so lemme talk t'him, I know him very well. In a more general way, don't speak and lemme hold the talk, please.'

Hmmm.... Intriguing development to say the least, I wonder if thats for Panatha.

If so, I may just pay Nukth's superiors a little visit when all is said and done here.
​

Unimpressed that the Captain in charge of the Banshees was being punished for his efforts, the Major-General would turn at the greeting of a voice he didn't recognise as the Anaxsi overseer said,'Glad to meet you, Major-General Gowrie. I'm Lieutenant-Colonel Delmas, from the 2nd TodHusars Regiment, and this is Captain Kelg-...', already getting on the Tuath's nerves by the time Delmas was finally interrupted by a voice Gowrie was familiar with. Though it normally went against the strength of Lord Aron's charismatic aura, as it was the habit of the Kellas to judge those on the merit of first impressions, something about the assumptions made by the Lt. Colonel just didn't sit right with the Major-General, somehow thinking Gowrie was cut from the same cloth as the Generals and Marshalls of the Governate's high-command.

A horrid start for Kelga'an's supervisor.

A poorly researched start for one who was to observe Nukth in the field, and especially for who knew the battle-hardened Captain was so closely linked to those of whom with combat-record and prestige alike being subject to ignorance. Not a good start at all for Delmas, and that never boded well in the company of one as volatile as Lord Aron was known to be by then, and to shockingly ubiquitous extremes - always proven especially true whenever he was found in deployment zones like Kalidan-Lysenia.

'He already knows me, Delmas. Don't mind him, Gowrie, he's... Anyway -- happy t'see ya, my dear fella.'

'Likewise, my young friend.', Aron replied, reaching out to shake Nukth's hand as a brother instead of in the formal greeting form, grasping over the thumb and raising slightly for the supervisor to see more clearly. Not to incite jealousy or ire of any form, nor to illustrate the fact they did in fact know each other personally, but to show what they both went through to warrant such greetings as he jokingly continued,'From the death of a planet to the death of an entire realm. Where next will they throw our ilk to weather the storm, I wonder?', with a dry-sounding, though warm-hearted chuckle. As despite the situations that soured and cracked the surface of the soul, there was no reason to pass on such sourness to those the Kellas still had high hopes for, understanding the slow progression of the petty-officer's ladder, starting as a 2nd-Leftenant in a rivals' contingent before he was ever trusted to take on the task of forming his own contingent.

And all it took was exemplary service under the pressures of Galactic warfare, but the Governate's high-command was holding out on Lord Aron's young friend, keeping Nukth from progressing as a legend in his own right.

'You need a bigger rank-strip, Br'er.... But in any case, it's good t'have ye here - welcome back to the Crucible.'

Then after silently turning towards Delmas, shaking his hand in a business-like handshake in contrast to that shared with Kelga'an, Gowrie then nodded curtly before turning to the wooded mountains in the west, looking to the midway point of the same peak where the Eternals' IEDs had been triggered. Their enemies were on the attack, but contrary to the nature of the forces often representing the Maw at the time, they were approaching with the intent to consolidate every metre of high-ground to utilise against any potential attempt to sally out and break through the Mawite envelopment. Eventually coming to this realisation as he stared out into forested snow-scape beyond, the Tuath saw that his window of opportunity was narrowing with each passing moment of inaction, and much to Lord Aron's credit, he relished the challenge all the more as a result of the adverse conditions he so willingly weathered every time.

Well, 'mon then.... Show yourselves, bastards.

I want to find yer weak spots already.
I need to know if I'm right to exit through the south gate or no.

 

[Asaaj En Kelsani]

​

Location: Aboard ENS Bloodknight
Objective: Engage in defensive operation
Tags: Onrai
Loadout

NOTE - reply specifically for Felmorante L'lerim , no advancement in fleet actions.

A security alarm went off in time for Asaaj to see a streak of light for Felmorante L'lerim leaving her ship's defensive permiter. The captain scowled and looked at the report before turning the nearest holo screen. "Night queen, please can you tell me why you allowed the Princess to exit the hangar after incapacitating two of our marines?"

"Apologies captain, after calculating your performance record and disposition, I concluded you would most probably support the actions of Princess Felmorante."

Asaaj pursed her lips in a mild smirk, trying to think of a comeback to her AI, "Yes..." she waved her hand and dismissed the avatar before walking back towards the center of her bridge. She patched herself through to the Comm on the bike. <Princess Felmorante, this is Captain En Kelsani, may I remind you that the laws of the Eternal Empire still apply to members of the Royal family. Please return to the ship, or pass mission details to my AI for us to provide protection.> If the woman complied, several of the ENS Bloodknight's droid starfighters would move to intercept and escort the Princess.

The witch then gently shut her eyes, outwardly in quiet contemplation, attempting to connect telepathically to the young woman. <<I am impressed by your boldness, Princess, and wish you the best of luck finding your mother if that is your goal. I only wish you had spoken to me so I could send my warriors to stand by your side. Ancestors protect you.>> If Felmorante chose to send a telepathic thought back she would listen, otherwise she would return her senses to the room and continue her battle with the mawite corvettes.

Spoiler: tldr

ENS Bloodknight enters battle stance and opens fire with most of its weaponry on the Keeper while the starfighter complement begin to put pressure on the shields of the Claw along with several in arc weapons from Bloodknight

​

 

[Belisarius Vactovion]

Belisarius Vactovion
Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud | Imperator of the Eternal Phalanx | Field Marshal in the Ultranaut Corps
The Black Knight of Vengard

Objective: III Last Man Standing
Location: Wulfngard, Kalidan
Equipment: Sk-SH Mark 7 Power Armor, Rex Imperator, Lancer-Blaster, Shroudsaber (concealed)
Tag: Eina L'lerim-Vandiir , DECEASED Aron Gowrie , Nukth Kelga'an , Darth Mori, Davin Votan

Wulfngard Defense Command:

• Vactovions Winter Division
  
  • 28th Regiment [x]
  • 42nd Regiment [x]
  • 82nd Regiment [x]
• 1st Armored Division [x]
• Six Ultranaut Regiments
• Ten Voluntary Infantry Battalions

{✠} The Eternal Crusader {✠}
<"High Nelvaanian"> | " voice " | << comm. channel >>
​

Major-General Victoria Chubar, 82nd Ultranaut Regiment
Main Gate Command Center, Gates of Ghul, Wulfngard

​

The so called Arcenon Patricians were not arrogant from their perspective. Not at all. Their ancestors had fought hard to gain their standing. Their parents had fought hard to gain their position. And they are fighting hard to gain their rank. To defend it. To expand their glory and honour. There was no arrogance in it, they were good. Not just some local militia, not even comparable to the quite elite soldiers of the Ultranauts. They were just better.

From her command center, the freshy appointed Major General could feel certain dislike, especially from the locals. They were drafted and despite their upbringing in the heart of the Empire, they were not happy about it. Pathetic creatures not deserving citizenship even if it was thrown after them, she thought. But they would fight. And they would die. The locals for sure.

On a more important note: With every look at the defenses, she disliked them more. She had nearly 15.000 Ultranauts under her command now and about five battalions of militia. The heavy defenses of the gate were multiplying these troops, the thick walls, the improvised trenches and ditches in front of the walls, artillery positions near the tunnel entrance. They had enough heavy weapons and artillery to beat up a hundred-thousand raging cultists within an hour. But, there were no hordes.

No hordes. Indeed STRATCOM reported a lot of activity of various Maw tribes all around Kalidan who had gone through the defenses in orbit and now ravaging, but why were they not attacking the heart of it? It was making Chubar sick. She knew how to fight an enemy which was there. But one who wasn't?

With a sigh of relief the proximity warnings and alarms starting going off. Finally!

But when she checked. It was worse. 25. Twenty-five signatures identified as non-imperial with visual confirmation on ligthsabers and a single individual, Darth Mori. The immediate file response was not at all helpful or promising and she look at her senior Warden Lord Commander. She saw the concern on his face.

"Any recommendations, Lord Commander?" She asked bluntly. She never cared much for manners and fine words.

"We will take care of this, Major General. I will take my men and remove this issue for you. Our scans do not pick up more troops and I doubt it is a trap. It seems more like hubris. The Wardens will eliminate this threat."

"Gladly. Proceed."

With that the Lord Commander headed out and called his fellow Wardens and would head out of the gate towards the forward trenches. They were fourteen. Five of them initiates, the rest Knight Wardens. The Wardens of the Shroud were militaristic, well trained and focused Force users, founded by Darth Tacitus and with a purpose nobody would comprehend or understand. They are much more inbound into the daily activities of the military and therefore much more combat-oriented than for example Jedi, discipline and devotion their main traits. Would it be enough in this battle?

 

[Felmorante L'lerim]

TOTAL WAR

Equipment: Aspara Armor over Viper Mk. I Skinsuit, Dark Purple pair of Wrist Dazzlers, 4 Whimsy Knives, 3 Terminus Shivs, 4 Explosive Knives, 1 Scherezade Blade, 2 Sticky Glitter Grenades, 2 Giggle Grenades, 2 Pink Vapor Grenades, 4 Microdetonators
Ship: The Die Nasty
Objective: Distraction
Location: Leaving ENS Bloodknight towards the Ablution
Tag: Onrai Asaaj En Kelsani

Post for Asaaj En Kelsani specifically

She had barely put a dent in the distance when the comm buzzed in her ear. The woman on the other end could likely hear the frown that appeared when she mentally activated the link in kind.

<Mission details. Board enemy ship. Make my way to the captain. Take enemy ship.> She informed her matter of factly, weaving the bike through the empty space as fire between the two groups began to dart across her lanes.

"Hey! I'm driving here!" She wailed, dipping low to avoid a potentially fatal shot.

The mental link to her bike engaged as the mine system prepared to drop seismic charges at high speed.

The tingle of Telepathy made her frown once more.

<<Naw. I know someone is gonna get mom. I make a better distraction than savior. I don't want anyone seeing what I do. Thanks though. Ancestors protect you as well.>> Felmorante reached back, the force centering itself around her, her eyes closing as the unseen tethers of the force became visible in her mind.

The bike taking dangerously close paths across the avenues of fire and avoiding shots directed at her by yielding her control to the force in flight. It was liberating, allowing her mind to slip away as her body engaged in its own sort of force guided autopilot.

Twists, turns, loops, and rolls that brought dazzling beams across the hull of the bike and highlighted her against the void.

Her manic laughter ringing out through the force with pure joy.

 

[Kurineth Cull]

LOCATION: Onrai
TAGS: Onrai

The parasite slumbered, as one could expect such an entity to do. Contemplating much and nothing in the same breath of time as she remained within Onrai for the time being.

She was to observe. Act when enabled. Expected to make her presence known with some great feat as her benefactor and a number of others moved to strike at a group that had banded together to secure their control.

To secure their safety.

The Eternal Empire.

A name familiar as she dabbled in the memories she had stolen from her mother Sasmay Cull . Friends. Even to an extent a family of sorts. Found but not blood. A place of safety. Of welcome.

She was sorting her own feelings on the matter when laughter drew her attention.

Nothing close by. No. This resounded in that strange fabric of existence that most did not understand in any true sense. The essence that bound every being to the eternal cycle of exchange. One gives, the other takes. The One takes, the other gives.

All was made equal when it returned to that fabric and dispensed in such a way to make all things follow the path of what was to be, what was yet to be, and what was being made.

Her eye opened, her form manifesting and splitting itself from her host to find that strange source of chaotic jubilation.

<That being. I want it.> Her mind touching Onrai's with a desire to find that strange note in the Force.

It intrigued her. The want to understand that strange facet of existence overpowering the sense of duty she had been entrusted with for the moment as she turned to face Onrai.

She shared these feelings as only they could, her coiled form writhing with a touch of excitement to catch sight of the strange little being.

 

[Eina L'lerim-Vandiir]

Lady Eina L'lerim-Vandiir
The Light of Ashla
Champion and Avatar of Ashla || Empress Regent of the Eternal Empire​

Objective: Try to found information about her mother and help the souls.
Location: Wulfngard, Kalidan
Equipment: Sverð Fyrstr (swords) | Ljósspjót (spear) | Skrúð Engill Fyrstr (armour) || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m || Current appearance
Units: 267th "Ragnarök" Ultranaut Regiment | The Empress' Gloom | Hellhounds groups
Tags: DECEASED Aron Gowrie | Belisarius Vactovion | Davin Votan | Nukth Kelga'an | Darth Mori | Open

[ Valkyrjan ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ["Essonian"] | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

Eina flew into the air to get a better look at what was happening; so the former Valkyrja hovered above the area, but still within the shield. She calmly flapped her wings to keep herself in one place. In her hand was Ljósspjót, the Spear of Light. In addition to the ground units, there were also airborne TFQ-72 "Ergjandi" Air Support units to cover the soldiers, and if the Maw attacked with fighters, they would try to attack and neutralise them as well. Maybe dropships.

The woman was listening to the conversations on the communication line, not only what was happening here on the planet, but also what was happening in space. While she was busy with this, she also received the report that the Infinity droids here, which had been deactivated underground, had also been activated. It was something few people knew about. This project began when the woman's mother became the former emperor's right-hand man and HPI began to expand. It was the Infinite Droids that prevented the empire from collapsing the day Ingrid became regent. Eternal Truth struck that day, but they didn't know about the droids and this saved the Empire from the military putsch.

She basically wanted to send the droids into battle, but she also didn't want to offend the Ultranauts by not letting them fight. She knew what it was like to insult a soldier or not allow patriots to fight. Thus, the droids will be emergency reserves, if it is necessary to send them into battle, then MEIPOC or MANIAC will launch them.

And Eina felt a familiar aura. She had felt this presence once before, the day the Eternal Realm defeated the Bryn'adûl. However, she now knew that this presence belonged to Darth Mori. So the current official leader of the Maw, the "heir" of @Dartht Solipsis, was also present to take part in the fall of the Eternal Empire. This meant to her that the Maw really wanted to deal with their southern enemies so that they wouldn't have to fight multilateral wars.

In the meantime, the woman was also informed about what her adopted brother was doing. Eina, via MANIAC, opened a channel towards Felmorante L'lerim .

<< Fel, take care of yourself and don't get into trouble! Be careful, please! >> she asked her.

Since the fights weren't too intense, she even opened a channel to DECEASED Aron Gowrie .

<< Thanks for the help again, General! How is Lord Barran and you? >> she asked him too.

 

[Kyrel Ren]

​

Location: The Devourer
Nearby: Zachariel Steelblood
With: Ingrid L'lerim
Enemies: Open

Kyrel in some way felt a twisted Force Bond between the Maw’s Wrath and the red Empress. He would express much on the daily meetings he would have with her, at times he was the only one speaking to her while he had kept her trapped within the core of bled Kyber crystals. Sentient as she was with the pain that was constantly fed to these crystals would be sent to her. She couldn’t speak much, that was done purposely for she was hanging just so she could experience excruciating pain. His plan was to use her as bait to draw any would be rescuers to him, only then would the true game would begin.

She would mutter a word that made Kyrel burst out in violent laughter. “Zach… Is that all you can say to your host… You are a very rude guest you know… I’ve shown you kindness, hospitality, hell you are an excellent battery for my destroyer… And that’s all you can say?” He said almost mockingly, he feigned his anger only to calm himself seconds later. “Oh well guess you’ll just have to keep hanging around I suppose.” He said his claw like digits would constantly poke, and prod to the nearest handling of bled Kyber crystals just to watch her squirm ever so slightly with only the gentle touch of his. He knew her, and she knew him for only a short time, and still she had learned more of him than he ever could want, for he liked that not many would ever know of his past entirely but the red woman was a unique case.

Kyrel could sense the Warlord Steelblood on board his ship. Likewise Crimson Hand troopers weren’t to touch him, nor did the Knights of Ren were supposed to cause trouble. Instead they had all shown the way to the Kyber core of the ship, to which by the time the door opened and he saw the brute of a gen’dai Kyrel was seen with his hands clasped behind his back, his blackened eyes staring the Warlord down. “Ah Steelblood so happy of you to join us.” He said as he removed one of his clasped hands just to send another jolt of pain through the Empress’s body, and all the same Kyrel would fix him a hard stare.

“Now my brother I hope you don’t intend to do anything stupid… I don’t exactly intend to let her go to anyone, and that includes you.” His tone started off as warm, and courteous but had taken an icy turn. “I know all about you two… So I ask now Steelblood where does your true loyalty lies? Remember War, Death, Rebirth…” He would ask him wondering how would things transpire next.

 

[Zachariel Steelblood]

Objective: Free Ingrid
Equipment: Weapons
Tags: Ingrid L'lerim | Kyrel Ren | Closed

Zachariel's progress was quick and unhindered, a mix of his stealth and those who could detect him, if barely, were ordered not to interfere or was already at his target. The warlord of the Bloodsworn knew that Kyrel would detect his presence, the man was far more skilled in the Force than Zachariel. Despite this, he was also confident that he held more actual combat skills. Should they come to blows, it would make for an interesting fight.

But that fight wasn't yet, with any luck, it wouldn't come, though there were always doubts. Some of those doubts were calmed as Zachariel's mind brushed with Ingrid's, sensing she was alive. The woman was wounded, still in pain, and weak as a result of all she was undergoing. What that was, he couldn't imagine, but it must've been powerful to hinder her so. As he continued deeper through the ship and towards her, nothing stopped or even hindered him, and if she had been strong enough to send her warning, he still would've come, uncaring of what his fellow warlord knew.

As the gen'dai approached the final door leading to the Kyber core, he stopped concealing his presence to all. Zachariel knew that Kyrel either already knew he was on board, or would know as soon as he stepped through those doors. The outcome was the same, so he let himself bleed into reality as he stepped through. As he crossed the threshold and the door shut behind him, the warlord took in the sight before him, noting the glare leveled at him and the state Ingrid found herself in.

Nodding slowly as Kyrel spoke, Zachariel crossed his arms over his chest as the Master of the Ren zapped Ingrid once more. He said nothing as Kyrel spoke, merely digesting the information he divulged and glancing at the bled Kyber crystals.
"I never expected you to give up your most prized possession, my friend."

Chuckling dryly, he kept his gaze level with Kyrel's.
"You know well where my loyalties lie. Nothing and no one will change that." Looking past him to Ingrid, the warlord continued. "You may know what she believes to be true, or perhaps you do know the truth. It doesn't matter. Either way you know how valuable she is to me, the opportunities and resources she has afforded me. She may be useful as she is now, but there are more uses for her than as a mere battery."

 

[Maijan Paisea]

THE TRICKSTER
KALIDAN | CAPITAL | ART MUSEUM​

---

​

Frankly, Maijan couldn’t see the appeal of the artefacts. Aside from being heavy, they didn’t look too precious. Ornate design had been discarded in favour of provocative harshness, and nothing the pair of self-indulgers had salvaged so far stood out as desirable.

“If you say so..” The ex-Fallannassi murmured and tilted her chin up to observe the painting.

This was perhaps the most ostentatious of the art, even if it wasn’t particularly artistic, and she decided that out of everything else so far, she liked it the most.

Deft as ever, she scaled a suit of armour beneath the painting, stood on its shoulders, and relieved the frame from its perch. For half a second, she caught her balance, and then shimmied back down to smooth the artwork into the giant hovercart thing they’d been using to load up the treasures.

The excitement of looting and banditing again was enough to forgo the kick of the drugs she’d been hooked on for a while. She was saving the doses on her person for if they really needed them. If she really needed them.

If was a bad qualifier.

When she needed them.

Need was a worse qualifier.

When she wanted them.

“Rrright, rrright.” She agreed, and started to take the gloves off the armour she’d just climbed up. Esoteric lookin’, and carved with insignias that regaled feats lost to history.

“We’rrrre getting close to full.” Maijan observed, peering over the edge of their containment contraption. “I’ll find us anotherr haulerrrr orrr?” Mercy's transport could maybe fit one or two more of the crates, right?

---

ALLIES | THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE MAW | Mercy
FOES | THE ETERNAL EMPIRE | Corbin Vasher

 

[Aeshi Tillian]

THE REQUIEM
Mnoi Akûti Asaaj En Kelsani Felmorante L'lerim
Onrai

"Are they Sith?" Aeshi frowned for a moment, trying to sort through the countless number of groups in the galaxy. "I don't know anymore. First, they were like pirates. Then there were Sith. Then there was some sort of cult thing going on? And imperials?" She shrugged, letting her eyes half-close. "Probably though, yeah."

She could feel the movements of the system around them and leaned over, tapping into the command console, to pull up the cargo coordinates. Aeshi marked it on a holographic map as Mnoi activated shields and weapons, opening fire on the nearby Maw fighters.

The ship pulsed slightly as the light turbolasers opened fire. "Because if I feth up, you're going to get vaporized too. And a co-pilot gets a vote on how things run."

It would be instinctual flying once they were truly in this mess. It would be easy enough to bail, but she'd made a deal. Shaken on it, even, which may not matter much to people in this part of the galaxy, but it did to Aeshi. Her life depended on her rate of cargo deliveries.

"And I have to deliver the cargo. Once we do that, we can do whatever we want. But we need to plan ahead."

 

[Laertia Io]

Objective 1 Support: Black Knights of Io (Adam and Burt)
Armed With: Black Knight Set (Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto)
Zenji Needles (Poison Tipped)
Equipped With: Black Knight Heavy Armor


Nuetralizer Model 1 (4)
House Io C.D.M.D.C.
Citizen Energy Sword, Type 3
Fragmentation Grenades

Siren Corps (21)
Armed With: Viper Blaster Rifle
Scherezade Vibro Blade
Class A Thermal Detonator (2 each)
Det Charges (1 each)
Equipment: Apsara Combat Armor

Space Support (Assisting on Assault from exterior)


House Io Heavy Bomber (7 Squadrons)

House Io A-Wing (7 Squadrons)


The Stealth Corvette stuck close to the Devourer, The Parliament sensing Ingrid, and the bled kyber machine she was attached to.

"Big sonovaschutta..." The Crimson Model 1 called James called out as the Corvette stuck by the giant battle cruiser.

"Yes, my Son. Tharrrrr she blows..." The Parliament hissed.

"Big 'ol blindspot in the back..." James noted. "Perfect for Starfighter Attacks..."

"Exactly..." she replied.

She had procured multiple det charges filled with a whole quarter bricks worth of Type 1 Explosive Compound, and covered them in runes made of her own blood, marking her team with blood runes to give them better protection from the Dark Side Use of the enemy. It wasn't foolproof, but they would almost certainly be more difficult to defeat with such methods than they would be otherwise.

The Parliament had had time to think out the approach, and suspected someone like Kyrel Ren had something up his sleeve. It wouldn't do to just make a direct go at Ingrid, when she was being used to power the vessel, it seemed.

Not too direct, anyway.

After all, what use would Ingrid be if all the essential stuff she was being used to power was wrecked? Or the ship crippled?

With that in mind The Parliament mentally called out to the Brain Demon, and a black, boiling portal of eeeeevil appeared.

Burt, one of the two Black Knights that had accompanied her (And the same ones who had rampaged with her on the Avatar of War) was taken aback.

"Holy Spellwork, Adam!" he exclaimed to his fellow Black Knight, Adam.

"No, old chum, decidedly not holy..." Adam replied as though he was some sort of pulp comic character. "As long as we all remember that what's important is rescuing the Red Empress so she may continue to lead her people to prosperity on fair Kalidan, than our means of reaching her are no cause for consternation."

Adam also drew his black katana as he said this.

"Plus, we'll probably get to pull a few spines out and chit, so that's always a bonus."

Burt clasped a hand enthusiastically over an armored fist.

"Goshdarnit, Adam, you're right as always!"

One of the green skinned dark blue armored members of the Siren Corps raised a hand sheepishly. Like the other Sirens, she was dressed in Dark Blue Apsara armor with white capes depicting their unit symbol, a red chalice that a black liquid overflowed out of. These were marines. Trained to assault ship interiors.

"Yes, Major?" The Parliament called out politely and cheerfully.

"Um, Boss? Where did you find these two?"

"Does it matter? They're adorable!" The Parliament replied, using her new shapeshifting abilities to make her visage mimic an Atrisian anime face with pink hearts for eyes, resting a cheek against comically clasped together hands.

Seeing this caused one of the Crimson colored Nuetralizers to leap in the arms of a brother, who caught him by instinct.

"AHHHHH! It's so creepy when you see it in 3D instead of 2D!" he exclaimed.

One of the Sirens seemed taken aback by their reaction.

"You would question The Matriarch's right to make Anime Faces?!" she asked in a hushed, nigh scandalized tone. (It should be noted that The Parliament had not dropped the Anime face, nor her pose, for some reason.)

The Model 1 pointed at the face. "Look at that chit. That is disturbing."

The Siren glanced at The Parliament.

"Yeah, that is pretty creepy, now that I think about it."

The Parliament resumed her previous appearance.

"All aboard the choo-choo!" she said trollishly, going into the portal, even as she signalled the Corvette Pilot to summon the star fighter assault as soon as it was away.

The others followed rapidly, blood runes left on the floor. Once the team had entered, the stealth corvette pulled away.

The team crossed through a black void, on a trail of stone. Adam and Burt said nothing. They had been here before. A lot of people had. Too many. Some bargaining to escape a killing blow, others for great powers or lost treasures. Old secrets. New ones. Some just needed to go somewhere.

No matter what, they all bargained with The Brain Demon as to the price for such things, which could be terrifyingly random. Sometimes it was a mortal soul. Sometimes it was your soul. Sometimes it was something seemingly as innocuous as a thumbtack...and all prices could be collected just as randomly. At the worst possible time.

The Parliament, since being remade by it, found the safest (for a given definition of "safest") method was a solid contract. It was the most surefire way to avoid getting too played.

She had bargained away an entire village of innocents to be able to open portals in and out of the Brain Demon's realm. Not ridiculously far...those distances required special contracts...but enough to be worth it if a ship was in close range. And if that was not available...there were other methods of exfiltration.

A Siren Corporal spotted The Brain Demon, an emaciated, purple skinned Togrutan woman with no face or clothing, sitting on a throne of bloodied stone, observing them from across a sea of purple flames, gigantic in size. The Siren suppressed a shudder but kept walking, hoping she would never have to lay eyes on the horrible creature The Matriarch worshipped ever again.

The Portal manifested inside of a currently empty repair bay, The Parliament's Force technopathy (Retained from her mortal self) immediately overloaded the security cameras and local sensors with an energy loop, her horrible, rotting aura could be felt by Kyrel Ren and Zachariel Steelblood no doubt. She would make no attempt to hide. She despised the idea, even. She was not far from the core of the ship.

She exited out of the bay very casually, and her purple blade, signifying her rank in the Cult, went active.

The Parliament smiled as the response teams poured in, all heavily severely armed.

"I got this one, friends..." The Parliament assured, blowing out the nearby lights with a surge of invisible power from her body.

The others fell back into the repair bay as she descended upon the first security teams like an avalanche, grinning cruelly as she swatted aside their blaster fire, or redirected it back upon their shooters. A clench of the fist strangled two as a Lightsaber passed through their midsection.

The hiss of another Lightsaber alerted her to a Knight of Ren.

Their blades flashed against each other, and The Parliament smiled as he didn't immediately die, holding his own against her pure Form One. She relied on a more particular mix most days, but Form One was the style she had mastered the first and more than any other style, and she knew it to such a degree she had won with it against even Makashi Users.

She sank deeply into it's unpredictable qualities, her style no longer having any hint of Jedi restraint to it. Her Form One was now always set to kill. If a limb was taken, it was for the purpose of torture. Her savage use of it was amplified by her naturally immense strength. Her body restored to its prime from nearly a decade prior. No need to rely on heavy armor to protect from the consequences of her headaches. No need for Lightsaber blades that were borderline abominations in of themselves.

Now she was the abomination.

The Parliament got the rush of challenge as the Knight of Ren desperately held her back with form two, her nigh-unpredictable slashes and stabs all kill strikes aimed at center mass, delivered with such crushing strength, that each blow threatened to make the Knight buckle to his knees.

Contemptuous, he snarled, using Telekinesis to rip a power conduit away from the wall and hurl it at her, along with a few panels from the floor and ceiling. She savagely sliced through the objects, but he kept pulling more and more down, inflamed with rage as he hurled objects at her, but she moved the blade around her body, her own rage and pride twisting the Dark Side to her bidding, whispering to her when to dodge and when to cut with the blade. He scored a wound on her shoulder and cheek with the shrapnel, white blood leaking out, a hint of spoiled yellow muscle tissue underneath that.

There was nothing human left about the former Laertia's body, save exterior appearance.

He lunged, his telekinetic barrage having taxed him greatly as he managed to drive her back while she was distracted by the wounds somewhat. She snarled as he managed to score a slight cut in her side and the rage took over in her.

He was soon back on the defensive in Lightsaber combat, her savage strikes and his own Telekinesis having exhausted him greatly, before the next strike came down so hard his own blade was driven into his shoulder. He screamed as he was driven to his knees, his mask reflected in her sulphur orbs that had no pupils, face still grinning as she began to drink in his life force, feeling his spirit weaken as he desperately tried to keep her dark power from reaching into his spirit and flowing into her, which caused him to mummify in the span of thirty seconds, her own wounds healing rapidly as she fed on him, her flesh wriggling like sacks of rats were underneath. The death of his soul as it was devoured, torn to shreds by every witch inside her to be digested, was agony.

"Alright..." she called out to her team as her flesh reset on her Skeleton, then switching to a sign language self developed for her society.

I have taken care of the welcome wagon. The rest will be up to you. Fight your way to the key structural sections near the center of the vessel...destroy any major structural section you come across with explosives.

The Black Knights nodded and took off, ahead of the pack as the alarms sounded.

House Io squadrons were on the approach as well, their target was the ship's biggest blind spot, the engines...

The Parliament, in the meantime, began a short walk, heading for where she sensed the strongest concentration of the Dark Side, occasionally forced to deal with increasingly large numbers of security teams desperate to stop her from reaching the heart of the ship. The Parliament's blade corrected this, viciously cutting down teams of very well trained Soldiers. She had fought the Bryn'adul, Tathra Khaeus himself. She had triumphed over creatures many times the size of these Soldiers, who had wielded far more devastating hand held weaponry. Back then, it had been about thinking one step, ten steps, a hundred steps ahead.

Crushing these Soldiers was her idea of a coffee based wake-me-up.

No extravagant Force Powers were used, just her mastery of the Lightsaber and her Force Sense, enhanced by the Dark Side as she fought her way to Kyrel Ren...she would be there within minutes.

Meanwhile...

A Butterfly Soldier (Peace Walker vibes intensify) streaked over the battlefield in her cutting edge Aeshima Propulsion System.

She streaked low, firing her Gauntlet Particle Blaster at scores of Mawites, exploding some of them, drawing her Type 2 Energy Sword, beheading a bloodsworn about to kill an Ultranaut. As she flew, she relayed the current enemy movements around Wulfengard to the EE military. She saw some of the traps set up by House Stormtroopers go off, shrapnel from directional mines and such, taking the legs off enemy troops. Her name was Kirri.

An enthusiastic engineered variance clone grown for House Io, Her purpose was to be the eyes and ears and sword of the sky. Extensive, intensive training had occupied much of her time alive. Bred literally from birth to serve in House Io's now disturbingly varied war machine, this current conflict was meant to be her Corp's shakedown run. True combat, against vicious odds were what made or broke a warrior of the House.

She saw a flare light up overhead from one of the House Mercenary Droids, and immediately flew overhead. They were an advance unit outside Wulfengard, there to harass warbands however possible.

She came across the heavily modified B1 units, their black and blue color scheme typical for when they officially represented the House. Without this color scheme, they were immensely difficult to distinguish from ordinary B1 units...

She flew low and hovered. Above the seven Droid squad, all damaged, but surrounded by dead Mawites.

"So, the National Guardsman of the House actually are useful..." Kirri mentioned in a near sneer.

"You're one to talk caterpillar..." The lead Merc Droid called Max replied in the voice of a Fett Clone (Morrison, not Baker) like all Merc Droids did.

"Is this important?" Kirri asked, hovering.

"The Mawites are setting up artillery pieces. Get a couple of your sisters. Because me and the boys kinda got our hands full, area is crawling with these degenerates."

"Why of course would you like some Hutt fries with that?" Kirri asked.

"Only if I want the opinion of one fresh from the Cocoon..."

"Hmph!" Kirri snorted, pouting as she flew off.

"Stupid Mud Moles..." she muttered, spotting a bulky Model 2 overrunning a hastily dug foxhole by Mawites and brutally killing the inhabitants with a giant Electrohammer. She recognized this one for the hockey mask worn over his skull face, Vorhees-style. His name was Tom. He had been doing this for about fifteen minutes and had left a moderate length trail of dead Maw behind him.

"HEY TOM!" Kirri yelled, using her gauntlet blaster to plug an enemy chaingunner in the chest, blasting him open.

Tom turned upward.

"Yes, Little Monarch?"

"I'm gonna hit some Maw artillery. You in?" she asked.

"I have watched every cheesy action horror film. Sign me up!" he replied, strangling a Mawite casually.

"Race you there!" she said, flying off.

Tom sighed.

"She would pick the one contest I can't win..." he muttered following her dizzying patterns in the air as she evaded ground fire, returning it with the same zeal. Tom, in the meantime, was ripping people open with his shoulder mounted charrics...

DECEASED Aron Gowrie

Ingrid L'lerim

Zachariel Steelblood

Darth Mori

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Lady Ingrid L’lerim Ragal Terassi Vandiir
Eternal Empress of the Eternal Empire, Lord Commander of the Wardens of the Shroud, Archon of the Primyn Group
Empress of Terraris, Supreme Commander of the Terraris Command, Head of the House L’lerim, CEO of the HPI Consortium​

Objective: Survive (?)
Location: The Devourer
Equipment: N/A || Empyrean gland | OPBC-01m
Writing With: Kyrel Ren | Zachariel Steelblood | Closed
Allies/Enemies: Open

[ Incense and Iron ]
<"High Nelvaanian"> | ~ telepathic communication ~ | << comm. channel >> ​

More and more stimuli and external influences began to reach the waking Ingrid. The woman didn't even notice the pain at first, since pain had been her friend since childhood. The training of Shadow Company and Frost Company was extremely cruel and painful. So for her, pain was mostly just a reminder that she was still alive. She was trained by torture to withstand torture. Every day they tormented the little girl with stronger and stronger pain. She was raised to never be break under any torture. She knew why this was necessary and did not blame her parents, who were not happy about it anyway, they didn't want to hurt their first-born child. But survival requires a lot, and it was much more about, than their own survival.

Ingrid tried to be a better mother than that, she tried to protect her children, but they were taught by Shadow Company and Frost Company to do the same. Although she didn't let them torture them like they did to her. She was the best, but she didn't want to dictate what kind of life her children should have. The woman managed to get so high that her children could be who they wanted to be. They don't have to be without anything, even though they will always be in danger...

Although she welcomed and felt the pain as an old friend, she involuntarily moaned as Kyrel began to deliberately torture her. Right now, this was great for waking her up even more. She already felt Kyrel's presence, not just Zach. She heard the sounds that were the words, though she did not yet understand their meaning. Even everything was infinitely slow, even the words flowed together and seemed too fast or too slow. The point is, she didn't understand them. She instinctively tried to move, but she couldn't. That's when she felt the needles and spikes piercing her body in countless places and the straps through which she was suspended.

She still wasn't fully awake, but she was very close to being fully awake. She could feel Zach, even though she didn't know how close he could be to her, or how far away he was. However, she was already able to understand that he was in danger here, and she never wanted anyone to risk their lives for her. Ingrid always thought she was replaceable. She was just a cog in the machine, replaceable at any time. Most of her acquaintances disagreed with her, but she was adamant.

"Zach… run!' she whimpered half unconsciously, not knowing if anyone heard her at all, she just wanted to protect the Gen'dai man…

 

[Mercy]

Maijan Paisea | Corbin Vasher
​

Mercy's main issue had always been her lack of self-control.

From starting a feud with a teenager because she didn't submit to trying to tank a Sithspawn creature the size of an apartment building on her own. It didn't exactly make her smart and got her into quite a pickle or two. Every fiber in her body told her they ought to clean this museum out. Leave it entirely empty.

It wasn't like the museum would be able to make any use of it.

Not when it was glassed.

But Mercy knew they didn't have the time for that. Younger and less experienced Mercy would have demanded not one or two haulers, but a whole flotilla of them... so to speak.

"Ugh. I waaaaaaant to." It almost sounded like whining. Don't tell Mercy that or she'd rip out your throat though. "But no. We already took the most valuable pieces." The ones that were feasible to carry off anyway. The statue of a Leviathan that was standing in the lobby? Yeah, no, they weren't going to haul that one off any time soon.

Damn shame, because it would have looked nice..... somewhere.

Hell, it wouldn't even have fit in her ship.

Still Mercy felt petty, because she was denying herself what she wanted. So she grunted and walked on over to office on the other side of the hall without any explanation. Maijan wouldn't need long to find out what was happening. A particularly powerful surge in the Force (strong enough it might alert Corbin to this location) sounded before Mercy came out the office.

On her shoulder was a safe that was about half her size.

"Okay, now we can go."

 

[Vesta]

Jambi​

Location	Outside Wulfngard, Kalidan
Enemies	Eternal Empire - Belisarius Vactovion, DECEASED Aron Gowrie , Nukth Kelga'an
Allies	Brotherhood of the Maw
Equipment	Lightsaber
Accompaniment	Two Dozen New Sith Zealots

In the eyes of a 'soldier' she was just that; another body, another combatant that was only slightly more capable than the rest. It was what the Imperials of the galactic north had thought before she'd nearly separated one of their dear emperor's head from his shoulders, it was certainly close to what the Mandalorians had thought of her too - before she had vaporized one of their leaders in the heart of their own territory. Leaping into the jaws of the terentatek was anything but foreign to her, it was practically all she chose to do anymore, and the approach towards Wulfngard wasn't any different.

"Are you confident?"

She hadn't asked the question with an expectation of receiving an answer she cared about, though she was certainly expecting all of the affirmations she immediately received from the two dozen men and women that kept their loose circle around her. Like questioning a young adult on their resolve before they set off into the world, it seemed as though putting their preparation, their skills and their training, into question was necessary to push those in the Brotherhood just a step further than they would have been willing to go on their own. She likened it to her own relationship with her father, growing impassioned and finding resolve in proving herself to them when she was younger in a way that she would never have been able to with mere determination alone.

"Cute words coming from a woman who thinks she is going to kark-all after making contact with the enemy without actual support."

She felt her brow knit itself together in irritation as the familiar static-accompanied voice reached her ears. In an instant the gap between her and warriors with her widened, the area between she and they now unbearably oppressive - a change in mood at the obvious slight all it took to cause her tightly held control over her hunger to slip just a little bit further from her grip. Before she could manage to string together a series of expletives in retort, however, the Wardens of the Eternal Empire drew close enough on the field of war that their respective presences in the force disturbed her senses and reigned in her attention. "Shut up," she hissed under her breath as she changed the grip she had on her lightsaber.

"Slow your pace, let them come to us - to me." She said, louder this time, to the various men and women with her. Wordlessly they followed her instructions to the letter, letting her bridge the gap first to make first contact. 'They will not realize I am far better equipped for many than I am for one, continue towards the first gate the moment I have them on me.' Her voice rang out, though her lips refused to move, through a telepathic link momentarily established seconds before. She had never directly engaged with any of the men and women employed by the Eternal Empire, though that was of little importance given that not a single soul in their fabled imperial tapestry had experience with what she was going to bring to them.

"Myrkr was quite a long time ago, wasn't it?" She asked, mainly to herself but to the voice on the other end of her earpiece as well.

"Myrkr? That was.. you?"

She could have laughed at the genuine confusion, if not for her lack of humor in that particular moment, given its juxtaposition with the sight of the Eternals in the distance quickly approaching. "Yes." She answered as she felt the muscles in her shoulders loosen.

"And so will Kalidan."

 

[Mnoi Akûti]

Aeshi Tillian
Felmorante L'lerim
Onrai Asaaj En Kelsani​

"Are they Sith?" Aeshi frowned for a moment, trying to sort through the countless number of groups in the galaxy. "I don't know anymore. First, they were like pirates. Then there were Sith. Then there was some sort of cult thing going on? And imperials?" She shrugged, letting her eyes half-close. "Probably though, yeah."

She could feel the movements of the system around them and leaned over, tapping into the command console, to pull up the cargo coordinates. Aeshi marked it on a holographic map as Mnoi activated shields and weapons, opening fire on the nearby Maw fighters.

The ship pulsed slightly as the light turbolasers opened fire. "Because if I feth up, you're going to get vaporized too. And a co-pilot gets a vote on how things run."

It would be instinctual flying once they were truly in this mess. It would be easy enough to bail, but she'd made a deal. Shaken on it, even, which may not matter much to people in this part of the galaxy, but it did to Aeshi. Her life depended on her rate of cargo deliveries.

"And I have to deliver the cargo. Once we do that, we can do whatever we want. But we need to plan ahead."

"Are Sith, call themselves Sith, aligned with Sith; it all works for me." He managed to shoot down a Maw fighter. He grinned, first kill.

"That... is a very good point. Wouldn't it have been wiser to choose someone with more experience? We haven't known each other long, and this is my first time doing this." Another fighter opened fire on The Requiem. The blue-eyed Sith hybrid shot a volley of laserfire to intercept, allowing only two minor shots through. Those two shots were deflected easily by the ship's shields. Another quick volley saw that fighter going down as well. "Though, I gotta say, I might be pretty good at this."

"Well let's get that whatever cargo to wherever it goes. I'm learning as I go, but I think I can keep most of 'em off us. Get some Credits, shoot down some Sith-wannabes. I call that a perfect day. Might even get enough money to finish gathering materials for my sword."

 

[Corbin Vasher]

Mercy Maijan Paisea​

Corbin had arrived at the wall surrounding Wulfngard. He did not want to take the main entrance. That would lead to where the main fighting was. Well, the main fighting on the surface. He could feel a lot going on out beyond the planet's atmosphere. There was a lot of... Darkness... that he wanted no part of right now. Right now, was the matter of getting inside the city. Easiest way of getting in without being noticed would probably be to simply flow over the wall. The city probably had defenses to shoot down unknown aircraft, but he wouldn't register. He'd only go just enough to clear the wall anyway. The only problem was that using Force Flight took concentration and was fairly exhausting. Still, it was the best and quickest option at hand.

---

Corbin landed safely on the ground inside the city walls. He took a moment to remove his helmet, pop an energy capsule, and replace his helmet. That would help the exhaustion somewhat. He made his way through the city, making sure to avoid anywhere fighting was going on. He did not want to get caught up in of it before he reached the capitol building. Keeping to the shadows, which his armor would absorb and seemlessly blend into, he made his way along, when he felt a surge of Darkside energy. It came from what seemed to be some kind of museum or gallery. What was going on there? He made his way toward the gallery. He stopped and felt out with the Force, sensing two individuals inside, both Force-users. One was obviously a Darksider, but the other he wasn't so sure about. He jumped up to a balcony and climbed inside. He could see a large, burly woman that was obviously the Darksider and another smaller woman. The second woman gave of a grey Aura. And they appeared to be looting the place. Why would a grey be helping a Sith? It was certainly peculiar.
He really shouldn't take any detours and should go straight to the capitol building, but he really couldn't stand the looting of a people's culture and history. Plus, neither seemed to be wearing any kind of defensive armor. He could take down both before they even knew what hit them. He had no qualms about taking down the Darksider. And if the Grey was aiding a Darksider, she might as well be one herself. Weaving sound so that he was completely silent, he ignited his saber, the purple and black blade springing soundlessly to life. Holding it in his own modified Rek-Dul style, with his right hand on the long handle in a reverse grip and his left hand on the pommel, he lept off the balcony toward the larger of the two. He'd take out that one first, then quickly dispatch of the other. He delivered a searing, downward strike across the Darksider's back....

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Spoiler: EQUIPMENT

STARSHIP: Tra'tena SPEEDER: Burbr ARMOR: Gar'Katya Mk II
WEAPONS: Ravenfire - Burbr'sacitr - Burbr'sacitayr - Nuhaatyc'bedtr - Gaan'sacitadr

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[Thurion Heavenshield]

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Objective: Reach Kalidan
Location: Kalidan space
Equipment: Sword | Shield | Armour | Ship
Allies: Open | Eternal Empire
Enemies: Open | Brotherhood of the Maw

"Coming out of hyperspace in 3... 2... 1..."

That nagging sensation had lingered well past the destroyed remains of Panatha, even as the Oathkeeper lept into hyperspace with a course set for Kalidan. The moment the imperial capital came into view and the swirling bits of wreckage from a fallen cruiser clattered against his main viewport, he was made aware of the reason it had stayed with him. Kalidan was under siege.

"By all the gods..."

Having jumped straight into the middle of a war, Thurion veered left and right to avoid incoming fighter squadrons, resorting to his Jedi reflexes to squeeze between a Maw battleship and one of its victims seemingly split in twain from a devastating ramming manoeuvre. He passed by one of the larger Mawite vessels, dwarfing anything in its immediate vicinity.

It had been some time since he last participated in dog fighting. Still, after a couple of missed shots, his aim regained their focus enough to allow the destruction of two Mawite fighters, one of which spun out of control before crashing against the hull of the vast behemoth, barely leaving a mark.

"Enough of this, we need to reach the capital and find Ingrid. I did not foresee this war progressing so heavily in the Maw's favour."

Teetoo chirped in response as the astromech helped navigate their way through the space battle, allowing the Oathkeeper to cut through the atmosphere. More enemy vessels patrolled the skies, challenged by the Empire's stretched airforce.

"Find somewhere a bit out of the way; we needn't advertise ourselves to the entire Mawite invasion force."

Scanning the ground below, Teetoo located what appeared to be a deserted hangar a couple of miles south of town.

"That'll do," Thurion nodded as he got out of the captain's chair to head for the back of the ship. "Prepare to drop me off on the way." Within a sealed compartment within the Oathkeeper's armoury, a weapons rack appeared bearing his personal artefacts of war.

As the bay door opened, the High King peered down at the city in turmoil. Off in the distance lay Wulfngard, the impressive headquarters for the entire Eternal Empire command structure. It was the heart of their empire and his best bet to find Ingrid or someone close to her.

Taking a deep breath, Thurion leaned forward out the door and allowed himself to fall, guided by the Force. He made his landing atop a rooftop, surprising a Mawite sniper team.

"Hello there."

A slight motion of his hand caused the pair to slam into one another, knocking them out. From atop the building, he would plan his route further.

 

[Kyrel Ren]

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Nearby: Zachariel Steelblood Ingrid L'lerim

Kyrel would look at the Gen’Dai with uncertainty as he had entered in the Kyber chamber. The Master of Ren knew Steelblood, and wondered what this being would do for the red empress. He surely didn’t tolerate failure nor did he suffer betrayal of any kind. Kyrel stood in front of Ingrid as she muttered out her words weakly. “Run?!?! Where can he run to? You think I’m letting either of you walk out of here you are mistaken.” Kyrel snap back harshly to the woman turned into a battery, fueled and powered by the dark side. To silence her he would start clawing the bled Kyber crystals again, and what followed was a howl and a screech that came forth from the crystals.

The Gen’Dai had tried to reason with Kyrel, to which Kyrel’s face had hardened. “Friend? You know where your loyalties belong… With the Maw until the end of it all… Besides what would you have me do to her, I think it’s fitting that the dark side has made quite a use out of this so called demigod… Her power has a use to fuel an extension of my will… Beyond that what would you have me do?” His tone while once courteous almost seemed hostile, for he knew the bond these two shared and at this moment he couldn’t help but question it all.

“You are testing my patience… You come here as a friend, but the bond between you and her is weakness in the eyes of the dark side and the Maw… So friend.” He spat out almost in a mocking gesture, his rage was ever increasing fueled by the locus of the dark side the crystals had created around the chamber. “Tell me what shall we do with my trophy…. Release her? Simply let her walk out of here?” He asked pointing one of his claw like fingers in his direction, as he took a glance beyond the door to sense what was going on around the ship, while his black dead eyes started to focus on the woman he used as a battery for his behemoth of a warship. The tension reaching a boiling point.

 

[Laertia Io]

The Parliament savagely ripped open a Stormtrooper, even as two more tried to gun her down. Resistance was growing more stiff. More fierce. She welcomed it. Anything to slake her thirst for battle.

Her purple Lightsaber dashed through the face of a Stormtrooper, a pair of Ren Knight's joined the fray with saber staffs, and the Parliament delighted in schooling them both, dodging and weaving out of the way of their initial strikes, though their attacks were fierce, relentless, and hate filled. She adjusted, her Form One meeting their savage attacks with equally savage responses, wide, lethal slashes that transitioned flawlessly from one to the other always going for center mass, which they expertly defended against.

Hmmm...upgrades she thought to herself idly, parrying a powerful slam attack from one twisting away from the other's stab, driving the blade of her first opponent towards the path of the second, throwing both of them off their attack. But they rebounded immediately, which impressed her, each trying to use the Dark Side to crush her body, flesh shuddering as she felt their will press down on her flesh, with experience, command, and sheer hatred. Metallic shrieks escaped her bubbling mouth, white blood leaking from her eyes and nose. She focused, fighting back their hatred of the universe with her own boiling hatred of the Jedi Order and every single past Trauma, each unique in their particular brand of unpleasantness.

Her own hand out stretched the minds of every witch feeding on the darkness in the air to bolster her retaliation. Her fist clenched and both Ren Knight's screamed as their hands were violently broken, down to the fingers--

The Dark Side hissing of danger from behind led her to break her concentration, teleporting away from a slice from behind, and hissed in pain when a moderate gash was scored on the back of her shoulder and part of her arm, leaking out white blood and spoiled looking yellow muscle tissue.

Cold fury made her feed on the pain, bolstering her self, flesh rippling as she countered his next savage strikes in the Djem So style, getting into a blade lock with her. The others were recovering, one trying to strangle her with the Force again, the other trying to get in her mind to try and ravage it. The Parliament forced back the Djem So fighter, lifting him with the Dark Side and breaking his neck, hurling him at the other two, who both caught him with telekinesis...just for in time for her to teleport behind them, violently slashing at their heads and cutting them both down.

She was then immediately opened fire on by dozens of Stormtroopers from surrounding passages, and she savagely charged in their direction deciding to take her time trying to reach the center as she teleported behind and to their sides, grinning as she saw their armor resist the Lightsaber strikes. They were now using sonics and Disruptors, anything they could think of to kill her without accidentally blowing a hole open in space. Meanwhile, rumbles from elsewhere in the ship indicated the fight against her boarding team was just starting to take off, The Black Knights and Model 1 units leading the charge, viciously slaughtering defending soldiers with their own eclectic brands of death dealing, from illusory serpents of fire to built in Disruptors to poison needles, all supported by the crack aim of the sirens picking off straggling threats and such. The Parliament cackled as she grabbed another Stormtrooper, a captain, and beheaded him.

"MORE!" she yelled tauntingly as she swatted aside more and more blaster fire, took off more limbs, or simply crushed someone with the Darkness. "GIVE ME MORE!"

Ingrid L'lerim

Kyrel Ren

Zachariel Steelblood