Dominion Kingdom Come (OPA Dominion of Council)

[Zark San Tekka]

Our efforts to liberate Anoat have not gone unopposed. The Dosuun Hegemony, a proxy regime of First Order remnants supported by Darth Carnifex and his insidious Sith Empire is currently engaged with OPA guerillas on more than half a dozen worlds. With the Ivax Nebula now fully under Alliance control standard Hegemony pacification tactics are far less effective. Instead the Imperials have pulled back and massed their forces over Varonat for a decisive space and ground engagement to determine the fate of the still active naval base there and thus the entire region.

Meanwhile on the nothoiin world Council both Knights of Ren and Sith Inquisitors seek forbidden knowledge within the famed temple archives of Candlekeep. They are searching for a ritual which might banish the Alliance from the sector for good. A call in the Force reaches out to all those nearby who can sense it. The peaceful Advisers believe that their temple is haunted by a ghostly librarian they have named the Watcher in the Dark.
​

// ACCESSING ALLIANCE UNDERVINE //
// UPLINK ESTABLISHED //
THE BATTLE FOR VARONAT - [Space/Ground Conquest] An Imperial armada has assembled over Varonat to drive out the Alliance insurgents once and for all. Captain a rebel ship of the Allied Fleet, participate in boarding operations against the enemy flagship, or launch for the surface along with other strike teams to destroy or capture key ground installations.

THE GREY LIBRARY - [Investigation/Artifact Hunt] Candlekeep is currently under sanction by dark forces bent on prising any powerful secrets from its dusty old tomes. The monks there are academics not warriors. If they are to drive this evil out they will need outside aid. A powerful disturbance in the Force draws you to Council to investigate.

BYOO - Bring Your Own Objective!

 

[Shira Varanin]

BATTLE OF VARONAT - SPACE

Given the choice, Shira would much rather have engaged in this fight from the helm of a capital ship. But needs must, and today circumstances dictated that she was piloting her own ship, the Higher Love. A heavily modified CST Kessel-class Armed Courier, its main contribution to the Battle of Varonat would be its compliment of Naboo tactical probes.

The enemy forces were still massing, new ships arriving every couple of minutes. TRUL probes' ten-kilometer-wide weak interdiction was making that difficult. Already a couple of Sith vessels had collided upon arriving a few dozen or hundred metres away from where they intended to arrive. A SIARC probe was scanning the nearest Sith vessels and had picked up at least one stealth ship. A trio of lightspeed-capable SUREC probes were attempting to track down the incoming ship's points of origin.

Tied into the ship's systems and probe readouts by her iBorg Liberation neural interface, Shira was happy as a clam.

 

[Atlas Drake]

BATTLE OF VARONAT - SPACE

"Telemetry is coming in from the Higher Love, Captain."

"Understood," Atlas nodded and gritted his teeth as the holotable before him populated with an array of First Order model star destroyers.

Despite its size the KRV Beyond was a match for any Imperial Vanquisher one on one. Unfortunately the Hegemony had enough resources to field several plus accompanying support ships. Meanwhile his star cruiser was one of the largest ships in the fleet. They would have to rely on their superior numbers and canny tactics like those of Captain Shira Varanin if they were to carry the day. One thing he knew for sure was that no matter what that Resurgent was going to be a serious problem.

A message came in from the Absolution, just a single word. Advance.

"Load all warhead launchers and get me beam targeting solutions. Open a channel to the fleet."

His comm officers dutifully complied and before long Captain Drake's regal features were projected on holoemitters across the OPA strike force.

"We'll try and draw the attention of the Resurgent. Take heart my friends. Stand as one for the Alliance!"

 

[Sinestra]

​

BATTLE OF VARONAT - SPACE
ABOARD THE BEYOND

He had been given a small quarter where he could be alone with a fair amount of sound insulation keeping him fully focused on the task ahead. Jude needed that. Tapping into the ethereal was already something he tried to avoid, let alone throwing himself into it.

Beggars can't be choosers, right?

Gradually, the agent touched the Force that bound all life and death together. Slowly going further into the cacophony of thoughts and emotions aboard the OPA ship. Waterboarding couldn't compare. He tensed at the massive burden crashing on his shoulders. But he kept on going further inside and with each step the sensation of weight itself decreased. The 'lighter' he became, the further detached he was from his body and crossing that rift, he knew, there might be a chance he might not make it back.

...Stand as one for the Alliance!" he heard himself say. Or was it someone else?

He carried on.

Jude Falkrowe's mind softly touched those of the Beyond and Higher Love. Still a barely recognizable touch of grace fueling courage in their rebellious hearts.

Shira Varanin Atlas Drake

 

[Shira Varanin]

Atlas Drake Sinestra
Falkrowe's modest battle meditation took root in the few OPA personnel aboard the Higher Love, Shira included. And they'd need it. A starfighter contingent was coming this way, and the Love had no rear-facing weapons. Shira spun the courier to run, forsaking the possibility of firing back. She needed to get the Love back to the relative safety of the OPA fleet, and the fighters might well catch up first.

Behind the Love, a TRUL probe smashed into a couple of enemy fighters, but that kind of sacrificial work wasn't a durable solution. At minimum, it would hurt the probes' work, and the Love carried only a handful of replacements.

"Captain Drake, this is Captain Varanin. If you could put some pain downrange for us, we'd appreciate it."

 

[Cathul Thuku]

Battle of Varonat - Space
Allies: OPA Sinestra Shira Varanin Atlas Drake
Enemies: Dosuun Hegemony

"Admiral, it appears the Dosuun Hegemony has committed to an all-out battle to retake the Ison Corridor!"

"Any idea of the forces there?"

"As per usual for Imps, they seem to use more capital ships than they would escorts. And, of course, we need to get aft of the enemy!"

As soon as they reverted inside the Varonat system, it was time for Therapy Command to finish unfinished business in the Ison Corridor: on two occasions did the First Order defeat Therapy Command in the Ison Corridor. Varonat was the more Pyrrhic of the two, however. With all the fighters that had the ability to outfit the humongous Deathball-IVs, and the old Skor line of monitors refitted to Skor-III standard, it was time for Therapy Command to acquire firing solutions and get aft. Humongous targets, these engines were. On both the Vanquishers and the enemy flagship, a Resurgent. Whereas the old Skors could only get three 420mm shots in, here they could get nine 305mm shots at a much higher muzzle velocity, but here there were some interdictor carriers in tow, so that interdictor gravity wells could be centered on the targets of interest, and, of course, some escorts to protect those ships. And so these bombing runs were launched in earnest, with the craft unleashing these heavy proton bombs on a straight line towards these ion engines, at least for a few seconds, and pulling up after the bombs were dropped. For now, anyway, Therapy Command was still well beyond standard turbolaser range of the enemy.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Varonat Space Battle
Allies: OPA Zark San Tekka , Shira Varanin, Atlas Drake , Sinestra , Cathul Thuku
Enemies: Imperial and First Order units, Dosuun Hegemony

"Commander Takami, ETA one minute to Varonat space. Alliance vessels already engaged! Recieving latest SITREP."

Chika grinned, a grin that had not graced her features since...it had been some time. This day however, she found herself in charge of the largest Sakuran fleet to date. The months and years of buildup and training had been precisely for this, and the Empress was pulling out all the stops.

"Open channel to FleetCom...all ships, prepare for battle. As soon as we transition, raise shields and prepare all weapons. Launch all fighters and hold the assault ships outside of range. The Alliance is already engaged in orbit, so pick your targets and get in close. This is the day a lot of us have been preparing for. So remember your training, aim true, and let's accomplish a victory here that will forever be remembered...For the Empress...and for the Alliance!"

The SIN Nagato transitioned first, followed closely by dozens of vessels bearing the White Sakura logo, and accelerated towards the battle ahead. Weaponry from multiple ships lanced forward towards target in the cluster of belligerents. Fighters and bombers streamed from opened hangers and formed their respective squadrons.

The Sakurans had arrived.

Spoiler

Sakuran Empire Fleet Composition:

• Nagato-class Battleship x 2
• Akizuki-class Heavy Destroyer x 12
• Shimusu-class Destroyer Escort x 18
• Cyaron-class Destroyer x 2
• Hashidate-class Gunboat x 24

 

[Kyrel Ren]

Objective: Candlekeep, Grey Library

Weeks after Kyrel's journey to the mystic realm of Mortis... An experience that changed his life for better or worse he couldn't say. While the Battle of Varonat raged, the Master of Ren was brought for a different purpose. He was afraid, with the Alliance already at Varonat, he couldn't say when Mustafar's time would come. Yet all he knew was that if the Candlekeep had a unique set of dark knowledge. Knowledge that would be enough to turn the tide of the Alliance spreading across the Imperial territories. With the First Order scattered and broken into remnants and warlords. It wouldn't be long before the enemy claimed the majority of First Imperial worlds.

He had arrived, The Upsilon Class shuttle had all but landed upon a rocky cliff side. The dark clad warrior looked to the horizon and saw a bright white spire. It stuck out like a candle with a lit flame. He watched, staring closely and all he thought. All that came to his mind was how he wanted it all to burn. To destroy it all... Perhaps that may happen, and even if not he was after a bigger prize than wanton destruction. It was special use of the dark side that would help drive back the enemy.

He moved forth, climbing down from the cliffs to approach the citadel. Beginning the long trek towards what he desired. To what he wanted, and he would kill anyone who got in his way. Sensing the great energy in the Force. He walked with determination. Determined to take what he wanted from who was inside. By any means.

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

TAGS: Zark San Tekka | Atlas Drake | Shira Varanin | Sinestra | Cathul Thuku

COMMANDER SUN-SHIN
F.I.V. CONCORDIA
VARONAT SPACE BATTLE

"Pity." Sun-Shin remarked as she examined a pair of black leather gloves, "that so many former members of our regent would continue to bow to the Sith." Her voice was cold, calculated as she lifted her gaze from the gloves and set them into a box. She waved off a servant and called forward another who presented her with a pair of black woolen gloves. "They have one choice, return home to Dosuun or perish."​

​

Varonat was once part of the First Order, and yet - it seemed the Dosuun Hegemony those who had survived Ariel Yvarro's culling had fled here. An old Resurgent-class would revert from hyperspace with plenty of holder First Order vessels, most of them hailed from when Fiolette Raaf held an iron grip over the First Order's navy. An encrypted communique would be issued, return to Dosuun or die. Sun-Shin pulled the black woolen gloves over her hands carefully as she waited for their replies.​

​

Guns laid silent for a moment.​

​

Several members of the fighting element would take the chance to return to Dosuun. The others?​

​

"Kill them."​

​

The Concordia opened fire on the Hegemony-loyal ships. "Bolts to swarm, Daggers front and Raskovas commence bombardment - Muhktiars on the escort, deploy all starfighters." Quietly she rose from her seat and headed toward the command trenches. ​

​

Flanked by Yage-class escort carriers, even older model First Order TIEs deployed from the hangars. The ultimatum was simple and Commander Sun-Shin aimed to become the new Grand Admiral of the First Order. Thus her allegiance to Yvarro and subsequently any of the Fortan legacy would be cemented. Seoul once enjoyed a rather comfortable position before, but Sun-Shin's ambitions perhaps eclipsed those of her forebearers. "Message Commander, the Hegemony wants answers."​

​

She stopped short of the stairs and looked toward the poor Ensign manning the communications console. ​

​

"Answers?"​

​

"Where were they when the Grand Moff perished for our lives?"​

​

"Where were they when we pushed the Ssi-Ruuvi from our borders?"​

​

"With their heads stuck so far up the Sith Empire they could not see their own noses, and by refusing to return to Dosuun they've made their position clear." Commander Sun-Shin explained. "Our dealings with the Sith Empire will not be as their lapdogs content to lay at her master's feet and do his bidding."​

​

"We are the First Order, it is time they remembered this."​

​

"Fire the cannons." She ordered, and then descended the stairs to walk the command trenches. ​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

[Atlas Drake]

BATTLE OF VARONAT - SPACE

"Captain Varanin is requesting assistance, sir."

Another punishing salvo rocked their shields and overloaded the Beyond's inertial dampeners. Atlas braced himself against the bridge's tactical holotable.

"Understood," he nodded, "Tell her we'll do what we can."

A little busy right now Shira.

So far the Hegemony Resurgent had leapt to their bait. Its commander was too clever to roam afield of their defensive formation but even at long range Imperial artillery hammered into the star cruiser's robust deflector screens at a punishing rate. However true to his word Captain Drake ordered his gunnery crews to concentrate their port ion cannons on blasting a wall of disabling fire in between Shira Varanin and her pursuers.

Atlas was still a little wary about trusting in hokey religions but he had to admit from the way they were fighting there may be more to the promises made by Sinestra than simple mysticism. They were going to need that edge. Even now a small wedge of Vanquishers was moving in on the Alliance battle lines. Once they begun focusing their fire even the Beyond's shields wouldn't hold out for long.

"Captain, we're being hailed. Its the Sakuran Navy sir. Empress Kimiko Taiyou sends her regards."

"And not a moment too soon," he breathed out a sigh of relief, "Request that they take our place on the front line until we've recharged our main deflectors. Inform Admiral Cathul Thuku we may have casualties."

"The Higher Love's probes are picking up another hyperspace reversion. Sir, Imperial reinforcements."

All the hope drained from Drake's face at the sight of another Resurgent-class on his holotable (Resurgent Narrative). With the Sakurans on field they still might carry the day but this would be bloody work and there was no assurance of victory. Then something strange happened. The new arrivals began to fire on their erstwhile comrades. One of the flanking Vanquishers erupted in a cloud of fire and massive debris, its shields overwhelmed by concentrated salvos where they were least expected.

"Sir?"

"I see it," the captain nodded tersely, "One problem at a time. First the Hegemony, then we figure out how to deal with our new arrivals."

 

[Zark San Tekka]

CANDLEKEEP - ATHENAEUM

"You have sensed it as well then."

"I have," the Grand Mentor nodded solemnly, "There is a great imbalance. Shadow blinds my foresight."

"We are under attack," Senior Adviser Veil deduced.

"It is possible," Grand Mentor Tybalt Forthwind was forced to concede.

"We have no defense."

"We have one defense," Forthwind reminded him.

"But we do not yet understand his motives," the senior adviser protested, "We cannot even be certain he will help."

"Then go and ask."

Senior Adviser Veil replayed the conversation over and over for his head wondering what he could have said to dissuade the grand mentor from this folly. He couldn't even be certain that Candlekeep's alleged haunting was anything more than a myth to frighten prospects. Veil had only seen the phantasm once, or so he believed. Now when his life may very well depend on a ghost story he was beginning to question the validity of that memory.

"Hello?" he called out, "I seek the Watcher in the Dark."

No response. Veil wandered the darkest depths of the library with his torch held aloft, its light reflecting off his bronze nothoiin features. He repeated his invitation several times to no effect. Just when he was about to give up and report back to the grand mentor that all hope was lost his torch flame danced over a grey robed figure mostly obscured by the shadows.

"You've found him."

Elsewhere at the zenith of the temple's grand stairway Grand Mentor Forthwind was there to greet Kyrel Ren as if he had been expecting his arrival.

"Come in, my lord. Come in," the old bearded human gestured Kyrel inside, "Let us get you out of this rain. The halls of Candlekeep are open to you."

Forthwind glanced up at the evening storm clouds nervously. Had they been there before?

 

[Sinestra]

Jude, or more specifically his presence, navigated through the thousands of life threads each one unique to the other. All these minds and emotions would drown him in the timeless and infinite ethereal cosmos., if he was not wary. Recalling the fading memory of his force disperser talisman solidified his connection with the real-world. Losing himself here was an easily achievable feat that the agent vigilantly avoided.

Everything around him shook and Jude realized something was occurring back where his physical body was. That proved that his connection was not interrupted. Yet.

So far, so good.

He sought diligently the minds of those aligned with the goals of Atlas Drake . The naval officer's mind was what Falkrowe used as an identifier, as a compass to guide him in his quest. Losing that life thread bore great consequences such as accidentally supporting the minds of the imperial enemy.

The agent's presence expanded, the memory of the talisman and Drake faded even more. Jude indulged the minds of allies with a heightened perception revealing previously invisible small details in the bigger picture. Details that could potentially bring the allies slightly closer to victory.

Shira Varanin Kimiko Taiyou Cathul Thuku Resurgent Narrative

 

[Shira Varanin]

Atlas Drake Cathul Thuku Kimiko Taiyou Resurgent Narrative Sinestra

The Beyond's ion cannons gave the Higher Love the cover it needed to withdraw to a safer position within Therapy Command's formation. Thuku, Drake, and another Imperial-themed force were hitting the enemy from three directions. Enemy reinforcements appeared to be slacking off.

Being largely useless now, the interdiction probes soared back to the Higher Love or died in the attempt. Right now the scanner probes were the optimal choice. The Naboo had designed these probes for customs enforcement via impressively detailed scans, better than most capital ships could match. Just now, Therapy Command got the best of the Higher Love's targeting telemetry.

 

[Cathul Thuku]

Battle of Varonat - Space
Allies: OPA Sinestra Atlas Drake Kimiko Taiyou Shira Varanin
First Order remnant: Resurgent Narrative
Enemies: Dosuun Hegemony

"We're being hailed! It's Atlas"

"Patch it through!"

"We may have casualties"

"Stand by for medical emergencies! Repeat!"

Blazes, these First Order remnants fought each other! she thought, however tempting it is to fight the First Order remnant that just arrived, but they would need to deal with that remnant later, especially since the Higher Love began retreating towards Therapy Command. Under concentrated fire from several directions, the first Dosuun Hegemony destroyer was destroyed, with debris from it being attracted to the remaining Hegemony ships, causing the other ships in that wedge to be showered in debris, potentially even causing mobility and/or firepower kills. Also, with the Sakurans' two battleships being at the front, Therapy Command would simply order repeat to the extent repeat could be ordered; the escort elements would finally get within standard turbolaser range of the Hegemony's aft escorts, at which point their aft escorts would come under fire. Turbolasers and even these Umbaran electromagnetic plasma cannons, which were mostly turbolasers with ion effects (due to the gas being hotter and more ionized than in a regular turbolaser) were fired at the aft escorts while the enemy fighters were still screening the fleet, being kept in a defensive position. Meanwhile, the wounded that required medical attention began to flow in, and brought to the nearest kolto tanks.

 

[Resurgent Narrative]

TAGS: Atlas Drake | Kimiko Taiyou | Cathul Thuku | Sinestra

COMMANDER SUN-SHIN
F. I. V. CONCORDIA
VARONAT SPACE BATTLE

Commander Tae Sun-Shin stood now on the deck of the Concordia, where a picture of the late Grand Moff stood illuminated above a shrine. This Concordia had been built with what little supplies the First Order could muster. A hatred stirred within the Commander, the Seoularian's lips turned into a sneer and her teeth gritted against one another. The Yage-class escort carriers opened fire and unleashed hell upon the Hegemony ships, Bolts, and Daggers joined them as they pushed forward and then the Raskovas flanked by their Muhktiars, supported by old Vindicators that just now reverted from hyperspace. ​

​

There had not been much left of the First Order in the wake of the Ssi-Ruuvi and after four years they were only just now able to lick their wounds. A wounded creature was to be most feared especially when they felt cornered. The Dosuun Hegemony certainly made them feel cornered and the First Order struck out with a vengeance. "No one lives." She ordered, "none of the Hegemony lives - they will suffer. They will suffer the fate of Dosuun, of Seoul and of the entire sector over and over again." ​

​

The First Order was properly pissed off with claws to show for it. "Dispatch the 181st, and where are the White Wolves?"​

​

"The pilots of the 181st are now in the hangar, the White Wolves are assembling, your orders?"​

​

"Take the Hegemony's flagship, we'll make it a trophy."​

​

"Of course Commander."​

​

It occurred to the Commander that there were other fleets present. "Concordia to the Home Fleet, keep fire concentrated on the Hegemony forces. Do not, and I repeat do not engage the other fleets. We'll deal with these miscreants at a later date." For the time being, the enemy of their enemy was an ally of convenience. ​

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Varonat Space Battle
Allies: Zark San Tekka | Atlas Drake | Shira Varanin | Sinestra | Cathul Thuku
Unknown: Resurgent Narrative
Enemies: Dosuun Hegemony

The Sakurans smashed head long into the Hegemony lines, almost eagerly. Fighters and bombers screamed and strafed in and out between vessels.

"Commander, Captain Altas is requesting us to relieve the Alliance ships currently engaged, your orders Ma'am?" all the comms officer got was a nod before sending her transmission.

Chika watched with skepticism as the 3rd party in this fight fired only on their common foe. This didn't sit well with her. She kept an eye on them for the time being.

The Nagato pressed her advance, guns roaring as fast as they could cycle. Other ships along the Sakuran advance began taking over engagements and the lines shifted slightly. Chika looked at her display, taking mental notes of friendly and enemy locations. She turned to the viewport as the crack of the rail gun shook the superstructure, just in time to see a fighter streak past bearing the emerald sakura flower.

Hope your hunting is going good Princess...

 

[Atlas Drake]

BATTLE OF VARONAT - SPACE

"Deflectors back up to seventy five percent capacity."

"That'll have to be enough," Atlas nodded grimly.

With their shields somewhat replenished and critical wounded routed to Cathul Thuku Captain Drake ordered the Beyond to push forward alongside Empress Kimiko Taiyou . Now struggling to adapt to a battle on two fronts what had once been a concentrated Hegemony push into their lines broke down and the Imperial wedge began to scatter. Another Vanquisher's shield collapsed and started to drift its engines disabled.

"There's a gap in their formation," he zoomed in on the holotable to a clear orbital vector, "Status on our party crashers?" (Resurgent Narrative)

"Still nothing, captain. They seem to be going out of their way to avoid us."

Interesting.

"Very well," Drake decided it was worth the risk, "Inform Captain Varanin and the others we're pushing ahead to initiate the second phase."

Communications were dispatched to Shira Varanin and the rest of the fleet even as the Beyond accelerated towards Varonat's surface and deck crews swarmed around the star cruiser's complement of Albatross gunships loaded with Kathol Marines and OPA rebels. Seizing control of the planet's orbit was only part of their mission here today. This battle wouldn't be over until the naval base planetside was in Alliance hands.

Atlas called up a direct line to Sinestra , "Sorry to distract you. I'm not sure how any of this works, but if you could do anything about the ground defenses it'd save a lot of lives."

 

[Shira Varanin]

Atlas Drake Cathul Thuku Sinestra Resurgent Narrative Kimiko Taiyou

As the Dosuun Hegemony formation crumpled, the Higher Love reoriented around Therapy Command. Shira heard the comms notification from the Beyond and nodded grimly, though comms couldn't transmit a nod. The little ship belched another probe, this one an EXPARC, tailored for prospecting worlds - identifying ore deposits and weather patterns and so forth.

And the enemy positions looked an awful lot like high-quality ore deposits.

The probe zipped ahead of the OPA forces, down into the atmosphere and around the base that had to be taken. In her mind's eye, through the Liberation neural interface, Shira tagged the locations of metal concentrations. They might be walkers, they might be hidden tanks or turrets, they might be concealed bunkers, they might be civilian sites - the OPA capital ships would be able to compare that telemetry with other available data and make educated guesses before the fire rained in.

 

[Kimiko Taiyou]

Varonat Space Battle
Allies: Zark San Tekka | Atlas Drake | Shira Varanin | Sinestra | Cathul Thuku
Unknown: Resurgent Narrative
Enemies: Dosuun Hegemony

"Widen the gap! Make sure nothing stands in the path of the landing forces!" Chika yelled as the Nagato and the Nigata pressed forward ahead of the landing forces. Assisted by the numerous smaller vessels, the gap began to clear of enemy ships,"Someone get the assault ships moving now and join Captain Drake's landing." all around the exploit in the line was sheer chaos as Hegemony forces attempted to stem the flow of Alliance forces.

"Nagato, Emerald Six, Katana Group is phase line green and breaking off to support landing forces, how copy?" came the familiar voice of Princess Tsubasa as she reported the shift in forces. Chika quickly looked at her display, and indeed, phase line green was commencing as Sakuran and Alliance ground assault forces pressed towards the surface. She quickly glanced over Katana's composition: two squadrons of fighter (including Emerald), four bomber squadrons, the Cyaron and Lily White, along with eight of the gunboats, would descend to support the landing forces.

She nodded to the comms officer,"Emerald Six, solid copy, cleared to redeploy. Good hunting down there and tell your mother we say hi."

A unprofessional chuckle could be heard,"Emerald Six out!"

Chika's head shook, her former student had become such a confident fighter pilot, one of her best honestly. Outside the view port, the landing forces descended towards the planet.

 

[Eldin Daine]

Waiting around doing nothing was not Eldin's thing. It was not until his gut churned did he realise the transport had began it's descent to the surface. Around him, there was an assortment of Marines and Rebel members all prepared to face whatever would be encountered once they arrived. He checked his guns, the rifle on his back bounced with shudder of the ship, and he stood up holding onto the over hang to steady his position. Although the sound of the ship was muffled, he could hear the surge as the pitch changed an soon enough they would punch through whatever defense where in place. A young kid, looked like he was still learning how to shave, stood close by nervous. "Right there kid?", all he got was a look, his eyes enough to tell Eldin he was scared shi*tless. Eldin gave a sharp nod toward the kid's weapons, "Keep 'em ready and keep 'em close".

Voice over the comms informed them all that they would land in about five minutes, the marines shifted in place, orders shouted from one length of the transport to the other. A chorus of 'Sir, yes Sir', went up around them as Eldin pulled the kid close to him. "Stick with me out there, keep outta their way".

This was not going to be a picnic, and it was clear the kid was inexperienced, but ya gotta learn sometime.

"Ya gotta name?", Eldin trying to steady his own nerves as well as the kid's. Anyone that says they are not afraid in these situation is more than likely a complete nutter. "Me name's William, but everyone calls me Billy".

Eldin introduced himself, just as the transport's engines surged and he could heard the landing struts prepare for landing.

Atlas Drake