Faction Objective 1: — Securing the Bridge

[Laphisto]

Mission Briefing: Objective 1 — Securing the Bridge

As the strike team speeds toward the looming silhouette of the Mandalorian warship, the comm crackles to life once more. The voice of the mission commander comes through, a tone of gravity and urgency laced into every word.

"Listen up, team. I want to be perfectly clear about the ship you're heading toward. This isn’t just any ancient wreck floating in the void. This is the Tracyn—the personal warship of High Commander Laphisto himself, lost for millennia in the Unknown Regions. It’s not just a piece of history—it’s part of his history. A warship from an era long before the Lilaste Order was even conceived, sent on a mission that has echoed through time. Now, after all these centuries, it’s been found. And it’s our job to bring it back. This ship represents far more than its value as a Mandalorian relic. It holds a deep connection to the High Commander, and retrieving it isn’t just about gaining a powerful asset for our Order. It’s about honor, about reclaiming something that belongs to The High commander, something that was lost but never forgotten. We cannot afford to let this ship slip through our fingers. For the High Commander and for the Order, we have to bring it home."

The commander pauses for a moment, letting the weight of the ship’s significance settle in before continuing the holographic display being still for a moment before the Advisor began again.

"Now, the mission is as critical as it is dangerous. The Tracyn is still armed, still operational in parts, and, as far as we know, the droid crew that Laphisto left behind centuries ago is still active. Those droids don’t care who we are—they’ll see us as intruders, and they’ll defend the ship to the death. You’ll need to fight through the droid forces, neutralize security systems, and secure the bridge as fast as possible. Once you’ve got control of the bridge, we need those systems back online—navigation, propulsion, weapons, and comms. This ship is designed for war, and it won’t do us any good if it’s just floating out there like a museum piece. We need it back in action."

The tactical display flickers, showing the warship’s layout and enemy positions. The commander’s tone shifts to a more tactical edge. several red zones have been amrked and a pathway to the bridge has been mapped displaying possible danger zones where the security of the ship is most tense

"Now, you’ve probably noticed the other problem: the Dusate Pirates. They’re already moving on the ship, and they’re not here to admire the craftsmanship. If the Dusate get their hands on the Tracyn, they’ll either strip it for parts or worse—use it against us and anyone else who stands in their way. The Tracyn is a symbol of power, and in the wrong hands, it becomes a weapon we can’t afford to face. Expect the Dusate to hit hard and fast. They’re likely to send boarding parties right into the ship, trying to secure critical areas. Your mission is to beat them to the bridge, lock down control, and prepare for their assault. The Dusate Pirates are known for their brutal tactics—expect them to use close-quarters combat, breaching charges, and sabotage to disrupt your progress. But you are the best we have, and I trust you’ll hold the line."

The commander briefly checks the tactical map again, ensuring the details are clear.markign several possible entry points from airlocks to damaged sections of the ships hull that the Dusate pirates might enter in from

"Here’s how this is going to play out:

1. Phase One: Get aboard and make your way to the bridge. You’ll need to fight through both droid resistance and possibly pirate forces. Expect the droids to be heavily armed and entrenched in key corridors and access points. Take them out fast and secure a clear route.
   
   
2. Phase Two: Once you’ve reached the bridge, bring the systems back online. We need full control of the ship’s navigation, propulsion, weapons, and communications. The faster you do this, the sooner we can secure the entire ship.
   
   
3. Phase Three: Prepare for enemy boarding parties. The Dusate are on their way, and they won’t be far behind you. Set up defensive positions around the bridge, seal off access points, and stop them from taking control. Hold the bridge until reinforcements arrive.

Remember, this isn’t just about reclaiming a ship—it’s about honoring the High Commander’s legacy. This warship was once his flagship, his pride, and we are reclaiming it for him and for the Lilaste Order. The High Commander has entrusted you with this task, and I know you won’t let him down.

Environmental hazards are likely to be an issue as well. This ship has been drifting for millennia, so expect decompressed sections, low gravity, and possibly damaged hulls. Stay alert for any sudden changes in the ship’s integrity. If anything looks unstable, proceed with caution. The last thing we need is to lose people to an unexpected hull breach or environmental failure.

Final threat update: The Dusate Pirates have deployed a small fleet and are sending in boarding craft. We’re doing what we can to delay them, but they’ll be in range soon. Time is not on your side. The faster you secure the ship, the better our chances of holding off the pirates.

Mission success means securing the bridge, activating the ship’s systems, and holding it until we can reinforce you. Failure isn’t an option—if the pirates take control of the Tracyn, it could be catastrophic. We can’t let them use that ship as a weapon. If the situation becomes too dire, disabling the ship might be your last resort, but that’s a call you’ll make only if it’s absolutely necessary.

You’re almost there. I know this isn’t just another mission—it’s personal. The High Commander has waited millennia for this moment, and you’re the ones who’ll bring it to him. Now, get in there, secure that ship, and bring the Tracyn home."

The comm goes quiet as the team makes their final approach, the Tracyn looming ahead, waiting to be reclaimed. gunfire from the fleet battle has already began to rock and smash against the oncoming shuttles as stray missles and turbolasers began to streak past the Lilaste fleet . with some star fighetrs even on approach. it wont be a easy landing.

 

[Diarch Reign]

When Darth Reign had received word from Laphisto about this mission, he did not hesitate. Honoring the alliance the men had formed and the friendship they had been fostering Reign was immediately prepared to join the fray. Bringing with him a squad of Diarchy Stormtroopers, the Dark Lord stood, waiting for the boarding craft to finish its docking procedure. The Sith Lord would lead the charge.

Laphisto

 

[Trace Xyston]

​

Spoiler: Equipment

Main weapon: LO-44R
Secondary weapon: LO-12S
Tertiary weapon: LO-09M
Armor: LO-90A MKII
Utilities: grappling hook gas grenade

Trace performed a final equipment check, tapping his vest pockets and his holster on his hip. His main weapon, the LO-44R, was in his other hand. He knew his team was ready and had done the same. The Twi'lek glanced out of the corner of his helmet's multi-purpose goggles. Stormtroopers were standing at attention behind their leader. Trace swept his eyes to the Sith next. Laphisto had made some dealings with the man, for all he knew. Trace didn't like this idea of a Sith leading his Elghaseki team. However, he did trust Laphisto, so by extension... I guess I'll have to trust him.

He felt a jolt as the boarding craft latched onto the Tracyn. This was it. Going into a situation without knowledge of what was beyond that hatch was nothing new to him, but something was different about this mission. It was scarier going into this derelict ship that had been drifting for hundreds or thousands of years. Who knew what horrors awaited them?

Trace swallowed his fear and readjustedh his grip on his rifle. Whatever was waiting, this Sith Lord could handle it. Probably.

Diarch Reign Laphisto

 

[Casaana]

Equipment: Lightsaber, Blaster, Flight Suit.

What was she doing here? Between the obvious Sith and the special forces, Casaana was feeling very small and out of place. Maybe who ever had put the team together had thought to balance the Darkside with her Light. She eyed the man up by the hatch, they could use a few more of her if she was being honest. Still, hopefully everything would work out, he didn't seem to be a psycho or parading around monstrosities. Those still sent shivers down her spine on sheer creepiness alone.

She caught one of the Lilaste special force's eye and gave him an upwards nod. "Nice armor." Not like her in the slightly too big flight suit she'd been given for this mission. At least this time she'd been fully briefed and trained on all of its systems, something she'd made sure of after fighting through Tython while only knowing some of her armor's most basic functions. And given the likely damage and age of the Tracyn there were likely to be atmospheric problems, on account of there not being any. It really was some good-looking armor though. Something else caught her eye and she looked over Trace's gear more closely. "Why do you have gas grenades? There's not likely to be anything living on that ship."
Trace Xyston Diarch Reign Laphisto

 

[Laphisto]

GM POST

The hatch groaned as the boarding craft latched onto the starboard side of the Tracyn, its hydraulics hissing as the door slowly opened to reveal the ship's cold, dark interior. A dim red glow from emergency lights pierced the darkness, casting long, wavering shadows down the corridor. Overhead, a few ceiling lights flickered sporadically, struggling to stay lit. Sparks crackled in the distance, momentarily lighting up patches of the metal walls.

Dust swirled through the stale, freezing air, drifting like ash in a tomb. The atmosphere was thin, life support systems operating at a bare minimum. It was breathable—for now—but every breath felt shallow, as if the ship itself was suffocating. The team's scanners flashed with alerts, showing rolling blackouts across the ship, the power surging from one section to the next as if guided by an unseen hand.

The moment the team stepped inside, the ship's intercom crackled to life, filling the hallway with a harsh, static buzz that resonated in their ears. A sudden blast of wind surged through the corridor like a storm, nearly knocking the soldiers off their feet as the already-thin air vented, escaping into the void. Klaxons blared, their wails echoing down the metal halls, while bulkhead doors slammed shut—though some barely moved, blocked by debris that jammed the mechanisms.

Then came the unmistakable sound of steel clanging against steel, a heavy metallic rhythm that reverberated through the ship. The vibrations spread through the floor, growing louder and closer. From around the corner, ranks of Sentry Droids emerged in a tight formation, four wide and seven deep, their mechanical limbs moving in perfect sync. The droids' glowing photoreceptors fixed on the intruders, and as one, they raised their arms, letting loose a furious volley of blaster fire.

Red bolts streaked through the air, their brightness searing through the shadows as the front rows of droids opened fire. The formation was staggered, allowing the first two rows to shoot through the gaps, while the ranks behind prepared to step forward and continue the onslaught as soon as the front line fell. The metallic clang of the droids' synchronized march blended with the hiss of energy weapons, creating a chaotic symphony of combat.

Trace Xyston Diarch Reign Casaana

 

[Diarch Reign]

As the hatch had opened, Reign affixed a breather to his mouth. He hadn't worried about his troopers as their helmets would manage that for them.
Stepping into the derelict ship, his troopers fanned out behind him. He could feel the distrust from the Jedi and Commando behind him, but he was here to uphold an oath.

The clang of droid feet brought him out of his reverie, "take defensive positions" he said quietly to his men, looking about, there weren't many places for cover in the hallway. But as one, the Stormtroopers split into two lines of four, line one kneeling, and the rear standing so as to have clear lines of sight and overlapping fire, with a gap in the middle where the Dark Lord stood.

Darth Reign ignited his lightsaber, and turned to the commando "I won't presume to command your men, save by your word, but.. we have company, I hope they are ready." as he finished his sentence, the droids came into view and immediately the hall was lit with blaster fire.

Reign's men returned fire, with the Dark Lord batting bolts away as they came near, utilizing an old Jedi "sword and shield" maneuver to protect the lives of his stormtroopers.

Casaana Trace Xyston Laphisto

 

[Trace Xyston]

The hatch unfolded to reveal a hangar bathed in red light. Trace and his Elghaseki stepped out, following the squad of stormtroopers behind Reign. They had barely created some semblance of a formation and gotten into the dark hallway ahead before the clanging of metal against metal filled the air. Around the corner came security droids to defend their home. He heard the Sith say something about not commanding the Twi'lek's men, but the elite Lilaste soldiers had already taken positions behind the stormtroopers, aiming over their shoulders at the approaching threat.

As soon as the droids appeared, both sides opened fire as a unit. Luckily for Trace's team, they had a lightsaber up front deflecting most of the incoming fire. He could get used to this. He sprayed laser bolts into one droid after another, but more enemies came up to take their fallen comrades' places. If they kept this up, though, the droid numbers would be depleted in time.

Diarch Reign Casaana Laphisto

 

[Casaana]

Equipment: Lightsaber, Blaster, Flight Suit.

Talkative bunch. Right Casaana, they were professionals, she should be too. She sighed and popped the visor of her flightsuit down as the door finally opened to a rushing of wind. No way she wanted to breathe it and all the dust it was kicking up, a moot point once the oxygen levels began dropping. A classic anti-boarding maneuver. At least the lack of air lowered the sound level of the alarms to a more muted level as the clanking of droid feet began to reverberate through the corridor.

As the Darth moved up to provide cover, so too did Casaana, drawing her lightsaber into a two-handed grip as she went. It wasn't the first time she'd provided cover, but the number of opponents was still daunting. Hopefully they'd be splitting their fire. The green blade joined its red counterpart in the defense, Casaana carefully not moving from an imagined square about a foot across. Her movements were restricted, but that allowed those behind her to fire either side of her without worrying about her stepping into the blast.

Laphisto Diarch Reign Trace Xyston

 

[Laphisto]

[you are at marker 2]

With Diarch Reign and Casaana providing a formidable defense, the team managed to cut through the first wave of sentry droids. The combined green and red glow of their lightsabers was an intimidating shield, deflecting a rain of blaster bolts that ricocheted off walls, searing scorch marks into the metal. Behind them, Trace Xyston and his team poured precise volleys of laser fire into the advancing droids, hitting vital points with practiced accuracy. Droids exploded in bursts of shattered metal and smoking circuits, some collapsing with sparks spraying from severed wires, while others fell backward, limbs twisted and lights flickering as their systems failed.

As the last droid went down, a strange, static buzz echoed through the corridor in an unfamiliar dialect of binary—a haunting, disembodied voice, as if the ship itself were communicating or sending signals to the droids deeper inside. The lights overhead flickered, but the corridor remained dim, as though power was being deliberately rerouted away from their path, casting long, eerie shadows that seemed to cling to the walls.

Pressing forward, the team moved cautiously, the tension palpable as they traversed the cold, dark corridor. Scattered along the way, they encountered the remnants of other sentry droids, but these were different. Some had been stripped apart, components missing, wires torn out, and limbs disassembled. The distinct carbon scoring across these droids indicated recent activity, no more than ten minutes old. The scene suggested another presence within the ship—a scavenger or another force operating with ruthless efficiency.

After several meters, they reached a square junction, with three branching hallways stretching out before them. The left hallway was faintly lit, casting a reddish glow, while the right was pitch black, its darkness thick and impenetrable. The middle corridor flickered sporadically, its lights sparking erratically as if struggling to stay active. A low hum reverberated through the hallways, hinting that something was still active nearby. But which direction to take remained unclear, each path holding its own potential dangers.

The quiet was broken only by the distant clanking of droid feet from somewhere down the hall, the rhythmic metallic sound growing louder, as if reinforcements were on their way. The team had a choice to make, but time was running out.

 

[Diarch Reign]

Clearing the last of the droids, the Dark Lord paused a moment at the junction of the three corridors.

Turning to the Twi’lek commando, he said “excellent work, you and your men are quite efficient”

He loathed splitting up without knowing what he was walking into, but their best chance of success would be to do so.

Eying the young Jedi, he asked aloud “I can take the darkest path, if you are alone? I can spare some of my men. You need not worry, they will not harm you”

The Sith was determined to take the route that he had spied the most treacherous. But could be persuaded otherwise if the group decided.

Casaana Trace Xyston Laphisto

 

[Trace Xyston]

Trace lowered his rifle as the last of the droids went down in a smoking wreck. He listened closely for any more approaching clanks, but detected none. The Sith looked at him and congratulated the Elghaseki team. Trace nodded in thanks and responded, speaking to the Darth and the Jedi, "Couldn't have done it without both of you in front blocking the shots."

The Twi'lek looked ahead. A predicament awaited them. There were three hallways branching out from here, seeming like they grew more ominous the more his head turned right. It looked like they would have to split up. Trace sighed, and a collection of horror holos appeared in his mind. When had splitting up in a dark, abandoned ship ever been a good idea?

Tension left Trace's shoulders as the Sith offered to take the darkest path. Who would've seen that one coming? It seemed like the middle path was calling him...

"If you're okay with taking the left, Jedi, we can take the middle," Trace suggested. He couldn't help but notice the symbolism. The Sith taking the darkest path, the Jedi taking the lightest, and the special forces of the neutrally aligned Lilaste Order going down the middle. Or maybe that was what the defenders wanted. Maybe each path contained defenses that were catered specifically for their expected attackers. Trace hadn't noticed any cameras so far, but he was sure the droids could watch in other ways.

Casaana Diarch Reign

 

[Casaana]

Equipment: Lightsaber, Blaster, Flight Suit.

Briefly she considered turning him down, instead she nodded. "I couldn't imagine them doing that." See? She could be diplomatic. Really she could picture it quite well, especially once away from the other team. But she also knew going off alone would be a foolish thing brought about by false bravado. If a Sith Lord had brought back-up, she should have some as well. The others seemed intent on splitting up too, and she wished Laphisto had given her a better map. As wrecked as the ship was, it didn't seem possible. A thousand years did all sorts of things to a ship and the information left behind about it.

"Left is good with me," She confirmed. "First ones to the bridge gets security under control and guide the others in." Nodding at the space between the two experienced warriors to include them both, she turned and headed down the brightly lit corridor with whatever soldiers she was getting on loan.

Working at a fast walk, she was still cautious, checking cross-corridors and open doors before exposing herself crossing them. Lightsaber at the ready but unlighted. After a bit, she let the troops take over, wanting to see how they performed and their techniques compared to those taught in Jedi classes.

Laphisto Diarch Reign Trace Xyston

 

[Laphisto]

As Diarch Reign ventured deeper into the dark corridor, the dim emergency lighting barely cut through the oppressive shadows that seemed to press in around him. The silence was eerie, broken only by the occasional hiss and pop of exposed wiring that hung from the walls, sparking briefly and casting fleeting flashes of light across the ancient metal surfaces.

Without warning, a low, metallic skittering echoed down the corridor, growing louder by the second. From the shadows ahead, four-legged spider-like sentry droids emerged, their segmented limbs moving with unsettling precision as they clung to walls and ceiling alike. Their photoreceptors glowed a menacing red, casting an ominous light that seemed to pulse in sync with their movement.

The droids paused only briefly to assess the intruder before springing into action, advancing with sharp, staccato movements. Blaster barrels extended from their front appendages, humming to life as they unleashed a barrage of blaster fire down the narrow corridor. The confined space filled with the high-pitched whine of blasters, each shot echoing off the metal walls in rapid succession.

---

As Trace Xyston and his Elghaseki team pushed further down the middle corridor, the blaster fire and clicking of droid limbs gradually faded into an unsettling silence. The flickering emergency lights cast long, shifting shadows that seemed to dance along the walls, lending the corridor a haunted, almost sinister quality. The metallic tang of old machinery was tinged with something sharper, more pungent, that grew stronger as they advanced—a scent reminiscent of charred metal and singed fabric.

Around a bend in the corridor, the team stumbled upon a grisly sight: the bodies of several Dusate Pirates lay sprawled across the floor, their armor scorched and torn in places. Blaster wounds pockmarked their chests and limbs, and a few had helmets knocked askew, revealing faces twisted in shock and fear. It was clear they hadn't been dead for long; the blood on the deck was fresh, pooling darkly under the dim, flickering light.

One of the pirates clutched a blaster in a lifeless hand, the weapon's charge indicator flickering erratically, while another had a jagged tear across his chest plate, as if something had slashed through it with brutal force. Scattered among them were signs of a desperate skirmish: burnt-out blaster cartridges, the shredded remnants of makeshift barricades, and dents in the walls where they'd clearly tried to hold their ground.

The quiet now felt heavier, almost oppressive, as if the ship itself was holding its breath, waiting for the next encounter. Ahead, the corridor stretched further into shadow, but the stillness was unnerving. It was as though something had swept through here and left the bodies in its wake—a silent, efficient force that had torn through the pirates and continued its path deeper into the Tracyn.

Yet the way forward lay open, with only the ominous remains of the battle to mark their path.

---

As Casaana and her borrowed soldiers moved swiftly down the brightly lit corridor, their steady footsteps echoed off the metal walls. The corridor felt almost untouched by time compared to the rest of the Tracyn—clean and well-lit, as if preserved intentionally.

The troopers swept through the hallway, moving in a tactical formation as they checked open doors and cross-corridors. Their efficiency was impressive, their techniques sharp, reminding Casaana of the structured training she'd received in her own classes.

Eventually, they reached an open doorway, the faint hum of machinery filtering through. Inside, the room was bathed in the glow of console lights, each flickering irregularly in the dimness. Stepping inside, they encountered an unexpected scene: an injured Dusate pirate slumped against a wall, his side badly scorched and bleeding. He looked up at Casaana and her troopers, fear mixed with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

The troopers immediately raised their blasters, ready to fire, but the pirate raised a trembling hand, his breathing shallow. "Please," he gasped, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I was... I was left behind." He grimaced, his gaze flicking between Casaana and her soldiers. "I know the way to the bridge… just… just don't leave me here."

Beside him, a few data slates lay on a console, half-buried under debris, with the dim outlines of maps and system codes flickering faintly on their screens. The troopers kept their weapons leveled, their gazes locked on Casaana, awaiting her command.

The pirate's plea hung in the air, his weak gesture toward the data slates suggesting he could be of genuine help… or a risk. Casaana could spare him and perhaps gain a valuable ally, someone with insight into the ship's security and layout. But sparing him could be a liability, especially if he tried to turn on them. The silence weighed heavily as she considered her options, the troopers prepared to act on her next words.

 

[Diarch Reign]

​

Location: Objective 1 | Dark Hallway

---

The Droid's spider like bodies unnerved the Diarch, their spindly limbs and skittering forms seeming purposefully designed to cause discomfort.
When the blasters unleashed hell, Reign was not prepared enough, two of his men dropped before he could even bring his saber about.

Rage filled Reign, clouding his vision. Reaching out with the force, he crushed the first wave of droids, then he launched himself forward.

Red blade flashing in the dark, he cut through the next row of droids.

The focus of the enemy on him, his remaining storm troopers opened fire, a couple of the droids that were behind the Diarch crashing down in a mountain of sparks.

The Hallway was alight with red blaster fire and the constant red glow of Reign's lightsaber, a cacophony of noises threatening to deafen the Diarch.

After what felt like ages, the final spider droid was defeated, though not without the loss of two more men. Leaving Reign with just a final two that he had taken with him.

 

[Casaana]

This whole situation was making Casaana feel uneasy. Her mind went back to Tython, and a similar situation with a Sith soldier. Then she'd stunned him and moved on. Now, she couldn't do the same. Her blaster stayed steady on him, "Show us your other hand." Once she was sure he was unarmed, she told the others, "Bind his hands and give him first aid. Check him for weapons, a grenade now would be very bad." An understatement.

While they worked, Casaana went to the data slates to check them over. "Tell us what happened and we'll drop you off on a neutral planet. Help us, and you'll get better." She looked back at him, "It's BTAD, but your pals already left you to die. And this ship wants the same for everyone on it. Don't Boba-ize it and we can all get out." She dropped into deal-slang to offer him the deal and not to mess it up, hoping the lingo would make her more trustworthy in his eyes and that it didn't come out awkward in her mouth. Though her helmet's vocabulator probably helped with that. She didn't use the Force to try and persuade him either, not liking the thought or trusting the persuasion to last. Reading his emotions however, yeah, no way she was trusting a pirate no matter how chill she tried to appear. Any advantage to make sure he wasn't going to stab them in the back.

Laphisto Diarch Reign Trace Xyston

 

[Trace Xyston]

As he and his team moved down the corridor, emergency lighting cast long, ominous shadows on the deck plating. Every second or two, the lights would flicker momentarily, leaving them in darkness. The moments of pitch black weren't long enough to switch on night vision and maintain maximum efficiency, so Trace left his sight alone. All they could hear now was their own breathing, as the noises of clanking machinery faded away. He wondered how the others were doing on their paths. Alive, certainly. The Sith and Jedi were both capable warriors; they wouldn't go down easily to something like a security droid.

The Elghaseki reached a sharp right turn. Trace beckoned Garz to follow him as he slowly crept away from the wall, leaning to the left to see around the corner. Blaster scope held up to his eye, he swept his sights through the entire corridor. He froze when he saw several bodies slumped against the walls. Trace gave the clear signal, and the rest of his Elghaseki swept into the corridor. Three of them moved further ahead to secure the rest of the space, while the majority of the squad stayed with Trace to observe the dead bodies.

The Twi'lek moved closer to the corpses, holstering his rifle on his back. He spotted something on the shoulder of one of the men that made him grimace. They were part of the Dusate boarding party. He looked closer at their wounds, but it wasn't necessary to see the brutal way in which they were killed. Slashes and tears through their armor, and carbon scoring where blaster bolts had hit their marks. From their facial expressions, it was clear that the enemy's strength had surprised them.

Whatever had killed them had moved on, certainly, but the question was: how far had they moved? The enemy could be just down the unlit corridor for all he knew. Trace pointed forward, silently telling his men to continue their march to the bridge. He flicked his secondary lenses down over his goggles, activating night vision. There were glowing figures ahead (the forward force of the Elghaseki) aiming down their sights and staying vigilant. They would really need that vigilance in these tight halls where a stampede of red photoreceptors could tear them to shreds. The good thing about this, though, was that the droids were easy to hear, and the Elghaseki were not. Usually, defenders would be the ones to ambush their attackers, but that might not be the story today, Trace knew.

Laphisto Casaana Diarch Reign

 

[Laphisto]

Diarch Reign

The hallway was a graveyard of shattered metal, sparking wires, and charred droid fragments. The spider droids, relentless and numerous, had fallen one by one, their glowing red photoreceptors fading into dim lifelessness. The scent of scorched metal and burnt circuitry clung to the air, thick and oppressive, as if the Tracyn itself were bleeding out its defenses. The once-dark corridor was illuminated now by the flicker of dying sparks and the glow of carbon scoring streaked across the walls, each mark a testament to the furious battle fought there. the path forwards was silent, and still up untill a light began to shine at the end of the tunnel, leading the diarch and his men into another squared open corridor.
Each step forward echoed ominously, the sound swallowed almost immediately by the oppressive stillness. The faint hum of the ship's failing systems was a distant, unsettling backdrop, as though the vessel was alive and quietly observing their progress.

At last, the corridor opened into a square chamber. The room was stark and functional, its walls marked with ancient controls and inactive panels coated in dust and grime. Whatever purpose this place once served had long been abandoned, but the air within felt charged, carrying an odd sense of foreboding. Faint beams of emergency lighting flickered weakly above, their dim glow casting long, unsettling shadows that seemed to stretch unnaturally along the walls.
As the Diarchy forces stepped cautiously into the chamber, the silence was broken by a faint, rhythmic beeping emanating from the far side of the room. It was a sound that immediately set them on edge. Occasionally, the unsettling echoes of distant screams or sporadic blaster fire reverberated through the walls, a haunting reminder of the chaos unfolding further ahead.

Near the passageway leading deeper into the complex, a satchel charge sat primed, its blinking light betraying its deadly purpose. Whether the pirates had placed it out of desperation to hinder whatever was pursuing them or as a grim attempt to seal their own fate, the intent was clear—this was no simple deterrent. It was a message, and a threat, urging caution for anyone daring to follow.

---

Casaana

The soldiers kept their weapons trained on the injured Dusate pirate, their movements tense and calculated. The leader among them barked orders in a low voice, "Check him thoroughly. No surprises." One of the troopers leaned in, patting down the pirate's armor and pulling out a hidden vibroblade from his boot sheath. "Found this," the trooper muttered, tossing it aside.

Another soldier began binding the pirate's hands, the restraints locking with a sharp click. "He's clean," the trooper announced, stepping back to cover the hallway while another began administering basic first aid. The hiss of a medpack spray filled the air as the pirate groaned, his breath rattling.

The injured man looked up at Casaana, his face pale and slick with sweat. "You... you shouldn't have come here," he rasped, his voice raw and barely audible. "This ship... it's cursed. It doesn't want anyone here." His words faltered, his expression twisting into one of pure fear as he turned his gaze toward the corridor beyond.

The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, their grips tightening on their blasters. "Cursed or not, this isn't the time for ghost stories," one muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.

At the console, the data slates flickered faintly in Casaana's hands. The first slate displayed a partial schematic of the Tracyn, highlighting areas with severe power fluctuations and designating several sections as "Unstable—Containment Breach Risk." One area labeled Central Systems Hub pulsed faintly, suggesting a possible point of control for shipwide systems.

The second slate contained fragments of a log entry, likely from one of the pirates. The garbled text read:

"—system failure… droids aren't responding—something else is here—crew missing—hallways shifting—can't escape—"

A sudden glitch erased part of the message, but the remaining lines painted a grim picture:

"...tried shutting it down… central core... alive... it's hunting us."

The final slate showed fragmented data recordings, briefly displaying surveillance footage. The feed glitched and stuttered, but the brief moments it captured revealed mechanical shadows moving through corridors, their forms just out of focus but clearly large and predatory. The timestamp was recent—within the last few hours.

The pirate coughed harshly, his breathing shallow as he spoke again. "You think you're in control?" His words were laced with bitter sarcasm. "This ship... it'll kill you, just like it killed my crew. We thought we could outsmart it, take what we wanted... but it's no ordinary derelict. It's alive."

One of the troopers turned sharply toward Casaana. "Ma'am, what's the call? This place doesn't feel right, and staying here too long seems like asking for more trouble." The tension in his voice mirrored the unease filling the room.

The pirate chuckled weakly, the sound low and hollow. "Go ahead," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "March forward... and meet it for yourselves."

---

Trace Xyston

As the Elghaseki team advanced down the narrowing corridor, they came upon a small, reinforced chamber that seemed untouched compared to the decaying surroundings of the Tracyn. The air in the room was cooler, almost sterile, and a faint blue glow emanated from a central console. The walls bore faded insignias of the old Republic, though much of the detail had been obscured by grime and corrosion.

The console itself was active, though flickering erratically, with a faint hum that hinted at its instability. Above it, a holo-emitter projected a distorted schematic of the Tracyn, showing highlighted pathways in faint amber. The routes led to several locations: the Central Bridge, the Reactor Core, and a section labeled Droid Core Processor. This last designation stood out, as it wasn't marked on any of the mission's known schematics.

Nearby, scattered across the floor, were security access cards, dulled by time but still intact. One of the cards bore an insignia that matched the crest of Laphisto's family, a possible key to restricted areas on the ship.

The room itself was quiet, save for the faint hum of the console and the occasional creak of the surrounding ship. There were no immediate threats, but the sense of unease lingered, as though the ship was watching, waiting.

 

[Casaana]

Equipment: Lightsaber, Blaster, Flight Suit.

The whole situation was creepy and sent shivers down her spine, but she had to hide it. The sith special forces guys were already getting unnerved. Her loosing it would extra bad in front of them. Instead she turned back to the pirate, bringing her eyes level with his. "Good to see you're feeling better after the stims. We know about the Tracyn and its rather creative defense protocols. And we're prepared for them, already fought through the first ambush." This was as much for the troops Reign had lent her as it was the pirate. Corporal Barca also got a pointed look to mind his men from behind the glasteel of her helmet's faceplate.

Comparing the slates to her own map, Casaana was quick to pick out about where this 'Central Control Hub' should be and keyed her comm. "Casaana here, we've located a pirate survivor. He's only interested in sharing ghost stories, but i may have found the location of a Control Hub. Heading there now." She hoped the others got that, would be just the thing is some malfunctioning power conduit was scrambling the comms. Quickly sharing the updated map with the others in her group, Casaana took a moment to extend her senses out with the Force into the corridors beyond. Feeling nothing for the moment, she gave the signal to the squad's point men to head out again. The chill of the thin air didn't do much through her suit, but the dead hallways, flickering lights and dead sections gave off an all too eerie feeling even without the ominous ramblings of the abandoned pirate.

Laphisto Diarch Reign Trace Xyston

 

[Trace Xyston]

Trace and his team flooded into a chamber that seemed to be the main destination of the ever-narrowing corridor. Immediately, Trace noticed what good condition this room was in compared to the rest of the ship. Seemingly untouched by decay and time. Across the ground he noticed little cards. Upon further investigation, he saw the High Commander's family crest etched on them. Probably key cards to some more restricted sections of the ship? With a quick gesture, he ordered his men to pocket one.

The Twi'lek then crept closer to the console in the middle of the room cautiously, like it was a dangerous animal. It was a holoprojector, and a ghostly image of the ship floated above the table. There were amber lines diving throughout the vessel, emanating from this room. They were routes to other rooms, seemingly. The central bridge, the reactor core, and...the Droid Core Processor? That last location wasn't mentioned in the briefing.

Trace grimaced, wishing in this moment that they could have some ultra-encrypted communication line so he could contact Laphisto about this. However, if he risked a transmission from inside the Tracyn, there was a chance the droids would catch it and find the Elghaseki. Trace didn't want any more heat on them at the moment, especially considering their last encounter with the defenders and that onslaught of laserfire. There were no Jedi or Sith protecting them now, and at the end of the day, they were just men in armor. Highly trained, yes, but that wouldn't matter if a laser bolt hit any one of them in the chest. No "normal" person would be able to shrug that off and keep operating at 100%.

So, he had an executive decision to make here. Trace considered the other two on the mission that had split off on different paths. They might be unaware of this new location that had just come into the equation, and just head to the bridge. And the opportunity to explore what was in the processor might be very rewarding. Trace had decided. He pointed along the amber path to the core processor, and waved his men along, tucking the keycard into his vest pocket.

Casaana Diarch Reign Laphisto