Nightmare in Stampa: A Protectorate Story

[Roman Cadriaan]

OBJECTIVE 1: Kill as many rakghoul as you can. Don't let it spread.

OBJECTIVE 2: Save the last villagers from town hall.

OBJECTIVE 3: Discover how they got here and why.

There was only silence outside the city. The darkness of the night hid the footprints on the ground, the footprints of the people who tried to run from the creatures through the plantations outside the village and now were being eaten. On the streets there was a pool of blood besides the body of the victims, being torn apart limb from limb by creatures of the size of a human, some even bigger. Rakghoul they were called. A vicious race famous in Taris, not in Kaikielius.

Inside the market of the village, some of the rakghoul broke through the door that leads to the deposit. The owner of the place managed to hide himself and some of his customers inside, where they stood in silence, daring not to speak or breath, hoping that they could stay there until help arrives. When the beasts broke in they torn apart even the young.

On the bar just a little further from the market five of the creatures were fighting between themselves for the prizes that were the people inside.

But it was on the center of the village that the plague really hit hard. There, most of the people where already turned into rakghoul, but some still survived, and you could even hear they screaming out of panic and pain while some of then were found and eaten by the creatures or turned into the monster that killed their families and friends, one sended a distress call for the police in Kaikielius asking for help. On the town hall, the rakghoul had just broken into the last true defense of the city and now were killing or turning everyone.

Just in front of the town hall there was a shuttle half destroyed because of the crash.


OOC: I shall be your guide on this wonderful jorney full of dreams and hope. Hope you guys have fun, and let's just jump into it.

 

[Prince Larsa Solidor]

Larsa was dressed in a black hazard suit for this occasion, as Rakghoul were extremely dangerous and their blood and DNA could kill anything.

He came prepared, though. Hazard suit and his blue lightsaber, already in his right hand, and he was crouching, near a corn plantation in the city, to avoid detection, and he was good at it. He made little to no noise, and awaited further instructions.

[member="Duke"] Roman Caldriaan

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

Gear: Armor, Wishblades (lightsabers; sidearms), SAW (primary)
Allies: [member="Prince Larsa Solidor"]
Suspect: [member="Duke Roman Cadriaan"]

After this successful Sithspawn-hunting trip on Manas, Janick would have realized by now that whenever Sithspawn were suspected, she had to fight at range, because most Sithspawn, while dangerous at point-blank, are effective only at point-blank. Thank the Force for that suit of armor! Yes, she knew a few dark-siders whose suits of armor are much more exposed, but she knew that, in this context, just about any amount of exposure was a liability. Here a SAW is a much more appropriate choice for a primary than a lightsaber; however, if the need for pinpoint precision was present at range, she could always try using bolts of hatred, feeding on her hatred of these foul beasts. It's just not the same to fight Sithspawn without Griet: she used to be on overwatch on the ground, even though she was much better in an airborne capacity. She may have saved my hide on multiple occasions, such as Shusugaunt, but here I'm not sure who I can actually trust to keep me covered, or for me to cover for them. I'd rather have a lightsaber as a sidearm than as a primary weapon, she thought, while realizing that one of the forward spotters only brought a lightsaber to this operation. She, too, was crouching near the forward spotter (Larsa) in a corn field, standing ready to fire, but she couldn't fire without compromising their position.

 

[Brent Smith]

[member="Duke Roman Cadriaan"] [member="Janick Beauchamp"] [member="Prince Larsa Solidor"]

The Interstellar Protectorate Intelligence Agency, IPIA, was young. Very young. For all intents and purposes, this was just their second mission. And as had of the agency, where he went from here and how he handled this would set the tone for the rest of the IPIA's existence for who they were and how they did what they did. He took this case very seriously.

He slid the clip for a shatter gun pistol in place, storing it in one of the many holsters in his ShadowZal. With it, he added another pair of fully automatic blaster pistols, a sawed off barrel Flechette launcher, a trio of knives, a compact blaster carbine, a mauser pistol, and two slug throwers. The agent buttoned his trench coat closed before donning his sun glasses and walking out of the Celestial Bishop into the field.

All around him the grain rippled as the wind caught the stalks in an golden sea of crops. He waded forward through the waist-high crops, to anyone who would have seen the head of the agency would have been underwhelmed. There was almost nothing distinguishing him from any other all black-clad, sunglasses wearing pasty near human that wandered the galaxy.

Eventually Brent reached the edge of the quiet town. Ordinarily a small village like this would have been nothing, they were quiet and tiny and there were trillions of them across the galaxy. But the IPIA had picked up some strange activity in the region, and that was where he had to come in. It was quiet, too quiet. Brent's head moved slowly as he took in all of the evidence in. To any ordinary being, they would have heard nothing. But Brent could hear the distant sound of footsteps pattering through the muddy streets. He could hear the distant final gasps of beings desperately trying to stay alive. He could hear the crunch of bones between teeth and the sickening sound of wet flesh between mandibles. He could see the footprints in the soft mud, the horrified flights and the frantic fleeing. By the depression and space between them, he could tell there was a mad dash by the locals. He could see the imprints where several tracks ended with what looked like figures being dragged away. Many of the tracks were human, and many more were clearly not.

Brent reached into his trench coat, withdrawing one of the pistols.

"Why can't I just ever have a normal day like everyone else?" Brent muttered to himself slowly moving forward into the village of death.

 

[RC-0883]

The gunship shuddered beneath Bunker's feet, he knew they had entered the atmosphere before the Commando's trusted pilot called out. "Making our final decent now. Prepare for fast rope deployment." Bunker opened the sideport of his transport and looked out over a scene of carnage, cries of death matched with the overwhelming stench of blood that even his suits advanced systems couldn't disperse met his senses. Hordes of beasts tore through buildings and homes, quickly followed by more screams.The veteran soldier was used to the sickening sounds of war but this was far worse. This was no battle between equal adversaries, it was wholesale slaughter. Bunker opened his comlink to relay his orders to the pilot.

"Drop us as close to the distress beacon as you can, then keep a tight perimeter around the city. Stand by for air support and emergency evacuation. I don't want any surprises."
The former Iron Major turned to the rest of his team, a small band of the 81's vanguard. Some were close personal friends while others were just here for credits and glory, but all of them were battle-hardened and under Bunker's care.
"You all know the plan. We drop in, fight to the beacon, and set up a defensive line. We need somebody alive if we expect to be paid."

"The beacon mentioned sith-spawn. Creatures imbued with the power of the Dark side. Do we really want to get mixed up in the business of Force Users?" The question came from the team's young sniper, Duke. Along with the large scruffy man in the pilot's seat, Drama, they were Bunker's oldest friends on the assault team. The comment didn't sit well with the Clone, Duke knew his commander's unstable relationship with the Force and made a point to bring it up on the edge of combat.

"Yes and I refuse to allow the Force to take hold here. These people deserve the right to choose their fate, not to have it thrown on them by a Jedi with a bad sense of humour. These Rakghoul they are called, most of them were once human and hold the same weaknesses. They spread like a plauge through the smallest scratch, so button up your armour and use caution when engaging-"

Drama called out, "-10 seconds to dropzone. Tighten your boots, fast ropes away."

Bunker clenched his DC-17 close to his chest and dropped to a tall rooftop overlooking a cornfield. Eight sets of boots fell behind him and fireteams were formed across the building. Blue streams shot in all directions, uncaring who or what caught sight of them. Bunker put a blaster bolt into a Rakghoul who had strayed to far from its pack and smiled as the creature reared its head in defiance. Soon the rest of the pack noticed that new meat that had arrived and set upon their location.

Nearby:
[member="Brent Smith"]
[member="Janick Beauchamp"]
[member="Duke Roman Cadriaan"]
[member="Prince Larsa Solidor"]

 

[King Iedolas Solidor]

To: [member="Prince Larsa Solidor"]

Connection came through the comlink, all outside calls were blocked or jammed by order of the Sanctum. Panic was not a option in that situation, since the rakghoul would spread like a plague in Stampa if not dealt properly, within a fortnight, the moon would fall.

“Stand by…”, the voice said and not long the image of old and well dressed man appeared, it was the steward of the Solidors. Marquis Halim Ondore. “Prince Larsa, it is good to see you under the circumstances.”, polite as always, Ondore went on with his business. “I’m here under the authority of your lord father. His Majesty wants you to deal with this plague alongside the troops. Don’t let it spread, my prince, that is what your father asks of you.”

That said, the connection suddenly stopped. Signal was lost.

To: [member="RC-0883"]

This was a matter of calamity. Rakghoul were one of the most aggresive and deadliest beasts in the galaxy, a species ‘native’ from Taris, those monsters were capable of turning every single lifeform into one of their own. Before the gunship landed all the ‘commandos’, a call came for the one in control of this operation.

“Stand by…”, the voice of a trooper said and not long, the image that apparead was that of Iedolas Solidor himself for the newly appointed ‘commander’ called ‘Bunker’. .

“Commander...”, his face had a smile in his lips, a incredibly calm one. “It is my greatest pleasure to wish good luck to your and your soldiers. Cleanse this area in the name of the gods, show them that the hand of justice can take down anyone in this path, destroy these rakghoul and the accursed ship that brought them to our peaceful moon. For justice, for the Protectorate!”

After saying as much, Iedolas raised his arm to incite the soldiers with bravery and raise their moral in this fight. After all, this was a deadly task for capable and experienced soldiers. Saying as much, the call ended as swiftly as it had been received.

To: [member="Brent Smith"]

Connection came through the comlink, all outside calls were blocked or jammed by order of the Sanctum. Panic was not a option in that situation, since the rakghoul would spread like a plague in Stampa if not dealt properly, within a fortnight, the moon would fall.

“Stand by…”, the voice of a trooper said and not long, the image that apparead was that of Iedolas Solidor himself for the newly appointed ‘director’ of the IPIB, or PIB.

“Director Smith…”, the Primarch calmly said, “I apologize for assigning for such task, but let us consider this as a proof of ‘fidelity’, one might say. I need you to gather all the data from the video footage in the town hall of this… ‘attack’. Do what must be done. Do no hesitate and show no mercy, for these are but mindless monsters.”

That said, the connection suddenly stopped. Signal was lost.

[A post from [member="Duke Roman Cadriaan"] will follow shortly. All others are still welcome to join.]

 

[Roman Cadriaan]

To: [member="RC-0883"]
When the group of soldiers were dropped to the ground, the noise made was enough to attract the first creature, the creature jumped from the broken window of a bakery. Howling and growling as she rushed to face the soldiers. Killed fast by the troops, the air, the heavy and silent air, was soon filled with the sound of howls and the growling from other rakghoul

A group of eight creatures charged at the group without caring for bullets or protection, their only goal was blood, and they attacked with fury. Despite the lack of strategy, the randomness worked as a advantage for the monsters. They attacked from every direction.

Leading the pack was a Rakghoul way bigger and stronger than the others, stuck in one of his bloody teeths one could see the finger of a person. Then suddenly the creature screamed while his pack attacked. The scream was horrifying, resembling a dying person.

TO: [member="Janick Beauchamp"]
At the same time just beside the person who had just arrived, four creatures raised their heads above the corn field, searching for a second the source of the scream and noises. And then, without making any type of aggressive noise, they just start running in the direction of the gunship, dashing through the witch without notice her presence. The creatures left behind a scene out of a nightmare.

Two adults butchered so bad that one could hardly recognize them as people. Just beside the body of the adults there was a children. A dying children still turning to a rakghoul. He was barely alive and was in too much pain to be aware of what was happening around him, but he must have seen the attacked from the beginning, maybe even watched where the plague started.

TO: [member="Brent Smith"]
The more the agent came close to the city, the higher were the screams. Meaning that a lot of people were still alive in some places. even at the Town Hall some people managed to survive by barricade themselves inside the main hall, where they could not just watch the creatures trying to break through the door, but also watch as the creatures butchered the ones that were left behind.

One of those people managed to hide himself under a table as the monsters rampage through the building not far from where the agent was. The survivors at the Town Hall watched in horror as this person turned slowly into a rakghoul, deforming his entire body. A grotesque sight, and the same thing would soon happen in the Security Room, for the mayor of the city was hiding the little cut that he suffered when one of the creatures jumped in his direction as he tried to escape before. Agent Smith had one and only one job, to retrieve info on the attack. But the screams of the survivors could be ignored?

 

[Tiali Orazio]

Tiali's KDY patrol craft bursts through the planet's atmosphere on a quick approach to the village "R9 take us in close drop us at the north edge of the village we'll launch the attack from there." stepping away from the bridge he moves down the corridor quickly making his way to the cargo bay were approximately 20 Cartel heavy enforcers are squeezed in ready for duty, most preparing their weapons and armour for the incoming combat. "Alright boys we'll be there 2 minutes, get your stuff ready before the big door opens." Tiali ends his sentence with a thumbs up as assurance they understand whether they do or not he continues anyway collecting extra gear for the job.

Tiali is wearing his custom made Urban camo suit Mk-I (UCS) his visor covering his face. A midnight black and blood red dyed worn woolen cape that rests on his shoulders over the top of his UCS. A wrist mounted sonic pistol rests on his right under forearm, and a shield gauntlet rest on his off hand. The tikulini leather covering most of his body with durasteel helmet, shoulder pads and chest guard. His belt had an assortment of grenades and a JT-12 jetpack attached to his back. To the lower region he has magno-grip boots equipped, with two LL-30 pistols either side of his thighs. A Tazi VibroSword Sits across his back in a sheath under his jet back ready to be used for combat. Adding an extra vibroknife in a sheath across his chest a spare LL-30 pistol above his backside attached to his belt.

Finally he picks up his X-202 battle rife loading a fresh clip before heading to the cargo bay door console, his HUD lighting up with a count down for the landing with an ETA of 30 seconds. "30 seconds guys be ready!" The ship rumbled and produced a light shake coming into position 10 meters above the ground on the north edge of the village. Tiali slams his hand on the console, with a loud hiss the door opens wide revealing the view of the village for Tiali and all his men to see.

While Tiali's concentration was on operating the computer it was interrupted by a loud scream, one sneaky rakghoul managed to jump into the cargo bay latching itself to one of his men. In quick thought he raised his rifle firing multiple rounds into both the beast and soldier uncaring of whether the beast penetrated the enforcers armour or not, both go limp as they fall from the ship hitting the ground with a solid metallic thump. Ignoring the deathly silence from the rest of the men he continues as if nothing happened "Alright lads let's go!" Stepping out he jumps from the ship landing easily with steady feet, the rest follow behind landing with ease.

Immediately the enforcers spread out their Vonginators at the ready, "Hunting season has started lads lets go get em" The enforcers were trained usually hardened criminals hopefully perfect for the job, though low in numbers they should deal some damage.

 

[Janick Beauchamp]

"Your Highness, there are four rakghouls that flashed past us and are making for the gunship" she told [member="Prince Larsa Solidor"] before charging up every ounce of hatred she could.

Hatred for being this late to effect an attempt to save the villagers. Hatred for this entire rakghoul business. But she needed to be quick in exploiting this hatred: the window to exploiting this opportunity to hit the party of four rakghouls in their behind was soon closing, and with more precision than a SAW would have given her. Plus she had to be mindful of other parties hunting down those foul creatures in the village, as the Rakghouls are about to contamninate one of the precious few witnesses she feels is necessary to get a better understanding of this disaster. That is, a child that is about to suffer. [member="Brent Smith"], [member="Tiali Orazio"], [member="RC-0883"] may as well be elsewhere in the ravaged town, presumably as reinforcements sent by either [member="Duke Roman Cadriaan"] or [member="Primarch Iedolas"], and it was not one moment too soon. Once she was fully charged with hatred, she then released it in one radiant sphere of pure hatred, in hopes of catching those beasts off-guard before they could contaminate the child. And then... the spell. That radiant sphere of pure hatred, thrown in the direction of those Rakghouls like a repulsor ball, was headed towards them like one, threatening to break their bones upon detonation and maybe even kill the beasts.

 

[Roman Cadriaan]

( PLEASE DELETE THIS )

 

[Prince Vayne Solidor]

[SIZE=10pt]This whole thing was a big mess, how the rakghouls managed to spread their plague to stampa? And what if the plague is spreading to nearby planets right now while their lost time in this already doomed town? Vayne shake the to thoughts out of his head while four creatures sprint through him and [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Janick[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]. “I see them.” He said just as something started to change in the woman, he could feel her pure hate for the abominations. [/SIZE]It was clear the intent of the woman and that she was very capable of doing what she had in mind, so Vayne slowly crouch to where the child was, ignoring the dead body’s of the adults, all torn to pieces. “It’s okay, child. It’s going to be…” The sound of his voice died in his mouth as his eyes passed through the boy. The skin of the child was of pale white, almost as pale as his own skin. There was a great open wound on his right leg, almost hidden by his bloody pants. They boy was turning, and there was no cure with Vayne.

Duke Roman Cadriaan
Janick Beauchamp
Tiali Orazio
Primarch Iedolas
RC-0883
Brent Smith