First Strike: Thyferra

[RC 212]

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Thyferra, Beachfront Aurek​

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Thunder boomed all around him. Stray bolts skimmed off the water, and somewhere to his left an LAAT flanked by a pair of J-96 Fighters careened into the water exploding. The air thick with flak shells, and laser fire, the water, deadly as the currents ripped and tore at the Silver Suns.

At the fore Raze lead the charge, slogging through the mud, waist high water and obstacles strewn along the beach. What was supposed to be an easy landing for the Suns had turned into a nightmare. Their mission had been to take the beach, and then push into the enemy line, cutting trench works around the central facility.

That facility in question was a Large Citadel ran by Blazing Chains, and Bando Gora assassins.

Something the Blue Jedi were eager to claim in a first strike.

Farther up ahead he saw Master Goldmane, clad in her heavy plate amror, and grey cloak. Her hands went up and out, forcing a bubble of bluish tint into the air to protect her men. It was rare to see the Grandmaster of a fledgling Order on the field of battle.

But that's what they were about weren't they?​

"Push! Take the beach!" She roared over the din.

Raze glanced through his HUD.

About five hundred meters to go until they were out of this damned water, and to the seawall. They could begin their assault as soon as they mad it.

A round of repeater fire smashed into his shoulder. he roared in pain, but kept a white knuckle grip on his Heavy Revolver. In the other hand his Lightsaber swung to and fro, weaving a teal cage around him, warding off bolts from the column of men he had amassed.

Another laser artillery round smashed into the beach, sending bodies flying.

A silent wave of sorrow swept over the force, as sand and flesh were turned to glass under the plume of an acrid black cloud.

"You heard her Suns! Push on, follow me!" He roared.

They charged forwards, splashing through the surf. Guns blazed, bolts zipped to and fro.

Their first strike was proving t be a very very long day....

 

[RC 212]

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Thyferra, Beachfront Aurek​

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They raced for the seawall, using the force as their ally. Up ahead Master Goldmanes force bubble shimmered and dissipated. Raze found himself with his back up against a concrete barrier, breast heaving. He glanced down at the smoking revolver in his hand, horrified at the sight of dead bodies strewn across the beach. When the scout had signed up for this, he hadn't imagined so much death and destruction.

Looking left he spotted her again. This time she was standing straight up, Warhammer in her left hand, casting force energies into the gaping wounds of a nearby trooper. Slowly his bones began to mend, and his blood ceased to squirt forth. Then she turned and caught his eyes. She had that weird look, and sharp eyes. They pierced the face-plate of his helmet.

She approached as the battle raged, blue eyes locked with his under the Cowl of her blue tattered robe.

"Padawan Raxis, what troubles you?"

Raze tore off his helmet, as another laser arty round smashed the beach.

He was disheveled. Hair a mess, brown beard shaggy and untrimmed.

"I hadn't imagined we'd be slaughtering so many Master!" He roared over the sound of battle.

She nodded. In a solemn voice she replied,

"Sometimes violence is necessary to uphold the Light. To your feet now, and do not grieve. For every fallen man and woman here has ascended to the force."

"But is it truly necessary?"

"We need this Fort, and good citizens of Thyferra need the forces of Darkness cast out. Since the fall of the Galactic Alliance this space has been lawless, ready to fall under the dark pale of the First Order. We must not allow that to happen. Tython is lost to us as of right now. But here....here will be the beginning of a new order. One uniquely crafted to fight off the Darkness. We must not allow our feelings to get in the way of the Unifying Force."

As she spoke her felt a renewed Valor. Something in him stirred.

He jammed his helmet back onto his face and flipped the cowl on his grey cloak back up.

With a flick of his wrist the cylinder on his revolver opened, hungry to receive the .45 rounds he fed it.

With another flick he snapped it shut holding the massive Revolver at the high ready.

"Where to next?"

"We have to penetrate the Courtyard to reach the stairwells/. From there we'll push up into the Tower, and remove the leadership. After they fall, the Fortress falls."

"We don't look to have a major advantage in men."

"Agreed. We'll have to use the Force to protect the one whom we do posses. Stay close."

He nodded, just as she raised her hammer, imbuing it with a mighty wall of force energy.

The hammer swung at the wall, impossibly blasting a hole large enough for them to fit into with ease.

"Into the Breach! Forwards! For the Light!" She roared.

Raze was in there right beside her, firing heavy rounds, as his other hand rose, and channeled the force into a wide but weak barrier wall before them.

Taneya Goldmane raised her own hand to the sky, reinforcing the wall, protecting them from the myriad of rockets and heavy repeater bolts that flew their way. They slid off and to the sides now.

They pushed forwards, cutting down the middle of the courtyard. Somewhere deep in the tower darkness stirred, and he felt a new emotion begin to ash over the battlefield.

Someone was projecting a deep aura of Fear....

 

[RC 212]

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Thyferra, Beachfront Aurek​

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Through the breach of twisted stone and into a courtyard of blasted spires they pushed. Rounds still slid off their combined effort to hold the shield. From all angles they took fire, an impossible fusillade. The two of them persevered. Raze gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of energy he had into the bubble. The encapsulated warriors returned fire, the Silver Suns banner was waving high.

Finally they made it a set of heavy doors.

These proved no match for a second Warhammer swing from the Paladin Master Taneya. She wrought steel from frame with a mighty swing, and stepped through into the smoky hall.

"Fan out, hold the door! Raxis, with me!"

"Aye Ma'am." Was all he replied, reloading his Revolver and flicking it shut.

"Draw your sword, this will require some tricky maneuvering."

He followed her up the stair way. As they moved she swung again and again. Breastplates caved in, heads smashed to bits. Bodies and Light-sabers tumbled down the steps, and he ducked and jumped and dodged over them as they made their way to the top.

No sooner had the double doors opened then he found himself beside her, and facing down twin Dark Jedi, each with a double-blade saber.

They charged, and were swept aside like grass under scythe by the Master. Her cloak fluttered in the wind of the battle, an almost impossible blue aura emanating from her with streaks of gold.

The fear here was now crippling and he caught sight of exactly whom was propelling that dank emotion onto the fields below.

A masked, black robed figure rose from his solemn meditation.

"Taneya Goldmane, of the now defunct New Jedi Order."

"Sorlis Gravitas. I knew I smelled something foul," She replied with an even tone.

"With a new apprentice I see?"

"Padawan. We are not profane Darksiders like you."

Sorlis chuckled and moved to the center of the room, two metallic cylinders smacking into his outstretched palms.

"I see your spirit has not been broken. Neither has mine actually. I've gained even greater power."

She placed the hammer before her in a two hand grip and growled.

"We'll see."

"We certainly shall."

Two fingers lifted off one of his saber, and she dropped the hammer then flew back against the stone wall. Raze glanced back and then leveled his Revolver on Sorliss.

"You see, Jedi power is no match for me anymore."

"Let her go." His gravelly voice said from behind the mask.

"I think not. Come, let me see what you've learned."

Raze shrugged, flexed his hand around the grip and then squeezed the trigger.

Meanwhile below the battle to clear the ramparts of the fortress were ongoing....

 

[RC 212]

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Thyferra, The Citadel​

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Sorliss was quick.

With an outstretched hand he reached out and deflected the round. It smashed into the stone wall beside him, and then he lunged.

That was a fatal mistake. For as good a swordsman as the Dark Master might be, Raze had been taught by Jack, whom was a Master of the blade.

And he demonstrated it.

With ease he drew his Beskad and swung up and away, knocking the blade off it's path. He stepped forwards, putting his hips up against Sorliss, jammed the Revovler into his thigh and blasted a chunk free.

Pain ripped out in a scream from him.

He tried to back away, but tripped over Raze's ankle locked behind his own.

A quick open hand chop to the throat.

A quick Pistol whip to the chest, and Raze beat him down to the stony deck.

His body slithered into smoke, breaking the spell over Taneya.

Raze backed up, sliding his left foot forward, and right foot back. One hand held the Beskad in a cross-guard, and his cloak whipped in the wind behind him.

"He's not gone!" Taneya roared.

She surged forwards in her heavy armor, balls of glittering golden light shimmering around her closed fists.

Just as the shadow materialized, she was there, unleashing a blast of the Eldritch Force Light into it.

Sorliss fell back stumbled and staggered.

Raze surged forwards, letting fly another volley into his chest.

Just as he went to swing, his blade met the steel square head of his Masters hammer with clash.

"Stop! He's beaten!"

Raze growled.

Then the Hammer swung once more, dipping, spinning and whipping up. The crack to the jaw hit Sorliss dead under the chin, and the Dark One was out.

"You just killed him!" Raze exclaimed.

"No not quite. There is a difference between a killing blow, and incapacitating. You of all people need to learn the difference Raze. You lost your head, you let passion get in your way. This is not the way of the Jedi."

Raze grimaced behind the helm.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Relax you did fine."

Then her gauntlet raised up to her mouth.

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"We've taken the Citadel. Raise the flag. The fort is ours...."​

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