Once more into the Byss

[Coren Starchaser]

The New Jedi Order had a lot of work to do. The Sith and First Order had the rim of the galaxy, well, the area where the Confederacy and Coalition weren’t, under their control. A veil of darkness. And the light side needed to be pushed forward. That was why they were here, on Byss, to help clarify and heal the world. A few Sentinels had gone ahead and started surveying the new world that the Alliance had under their control. And with the large feeling of the dark side on the world, it needed to be repaired.

The first few Durron-class carriers had arrived in orbit of Byss and begun landing ships and crews to the world. A small forward operating base was set up, with non-Force users, but the base was merely there to provide a beachhead. Jedi and other Fringe users were landing and receiving their duties. The ones who could help with combat were welcome to take the fight to the dark side installations. Others would be welcome to work with the locals, and politicans, securing more landing rights to the world, and maybe local assistance in removing the dark siders that were dug in.

Coren though, he knew what he was here for. Lightsaber on his hip, Vanguard armor offering protection, he looked at the gathered, including his new apprentice [member="Mishel Noren"]. The task his team had was focused on the combat. That meant heading up the path from the FOB and into the installation they found. One Sith Remnant were about, and there were still reports of Sithspawn on the world.

“That is our goal, folks. There are reports coming in that ahead of us, Sithspawn are still being created, other species are being tested on. Byss, by its nature, hides the dark side. Our scouts have located the facility, and gotten a few views of the outer defenses. It seems that it is depending on secrecy as a primary defense. We can get to the door, but we’ll need to break into the system, and then once we’re inside…” He shrugged.

Was the team ready? Even if they weren’t, he was.

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Byss, Deep Core
NJO Misson
~deployment
___

Into the deep they went as the New Jedi Order ships made their way along the Byss Run towards the hyperspace lane's namesake. Byss had an eerie blue-green glow looking upon it from space said to be caused by its sun, which only added to the peculiarity of this Deep Core World.

Cambria had not been to Byss before. The Jedi Knight only knew of the mythic paradise world that had a rich history of being enshrouded in the dark side of the Force, and more recently the great loss of Grand Marshall Omai Rhen when he led the Galactic Alliance's campaign against the Sith cultists and their Sithspawn that were plaguing the planet.

It seemed the Jedi's job was never done as new reports had surfaced that the Sithspawn facility was up and running again... Time to end it for good.

The Twi'lek Guardian stood thoughtfully while listening to Jedi Master [member="Coren Starchaser"] give the sitrep and mission parameters. There was much work to be done here, but with the light side of the Force guiding the way, they would rout out the darkness on this planet hopefully once and for all.

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Sentinel Forward Operating Shrine
Byss, Deep Core

---

At almost three meters tall, riding in a U-Wing was an uncomfortable experience for him to say the least. It was one of the reasons Knight Varex vastly preferred to make use of his Order issued personal transport. On Byss it was a luxury he could not afford, space was at a premium as far as their recently established surface outpost and the situation here was still unstable enough that attempting to land outside the Galactic Alliance's established green zone was a potentially dangerous proposition.

Finally the shuttle's passenger bay hatch released on contact, and those few unfortunate souls that had been shoved in alongside a fully armored Vaemath warrior spilled most gratefully out onto a makeshift landing pad. Although he did not show it, the Jedi Inquisitor was also quite relieved to be free of such a confined space. He paused briefly beside the U-Wing to take in this moment, before immediately proceeding to analyze his surroundings, particularly the state of the outpost's defenses.

His mission on this world for the most part aligned with his brother and sister Jedi, but where the Sentinels and Justicars sought to purify the surrounding landscape one Sithspawn at a time, Varex was hunting bigger game. He was after the ones pulling strings, an organization so elusive that there were many in the New Jedi Order that quite simply did not believe in its existence. Despite hunting this Order of Shadows for some time, even he had to admit that he had yet to discover any conclusive evidence that these Sith interlopers were anything more than a myth, but it was his sacred responsibility to reveal what was hidden in darkness and so he persisted.

He started to march towards the shrine's perimeter, at first intent on passing Master [member="Coren Starchaser"] and his assembled strike team by with a simple nod of courtesy, but the Vaemath found himself lingering on Starchaser's words when he spoke of a recently discovered facility possibly connected to the creation of these unnatural products of Sith alchemy that yet roamed the surface. One holdout was normally beneath his interest, as an Inquisitor he was concerned with preserving the balance on a far grander scale, but there was always a chance something or someone at this black site might lead him to his true foes.

One way or another, Varex would drag these Shadows into the Light.

[member="Cambria Zadira"]​

 

[Gabriel Pryce]

Oren had been here for weeks prior to the NJO's decision to assault the Sith Spawn facility came through. Her and a small team of New Jedi Scouts were in and around the city and facility the Sithspawn were still being created in. It twisted her stomach every time she saw or witnessed the tests these monsters conducted on their subjects. Recent reports said the GA was here now, and ready to take control of the facilty. She only hoped they could get there before it was too late.

She sat pressing herself between two durasteel beams and swallowed hard in veiled horror as she watched what looked like a monster being reborn before her eyes.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Oren"] [member="Varex"] [member="Cambria Zadira"]

Trextan had faith in his abilities now. He had come a long way from the frightened youth who had lost an arm on Kaeshana. Yet he had been on Byss before and had fought the sithspawn alongside Grabriel Sionoma's son. One foot in the wrong place and those beasts would have been capable of tearing him into pieces in a fraction of a second.

That possibility definitely focused the mind. His demeanour was particularly calm as he tried to find his centre and ready his mind.

"If there are too many of the beasts, fall back and call for fire support," Trextan chimed in after Coren's outline. "They'll charge towards a repeater nest and wipe themselves out quite happily."

 

[Coren Starchaser]

This world had cost the Jedi a lot. Traditionlly and recently. The fall of the Grand Marshall was the first and last thing on Starchaser's mind. Creating a Jedi citadel here was what was needed. To protect the light in the deepest dark. Looking around, the older Sentinel smiled.

"For those with me, Sentinels, Justicars, Guardians. We are moving in. And focusing the fight on us. Alliance support teams will anchor in our wake. Those are the fall back points. But we keep moving. We represent the light side. And this planet needs cleansing."

The Force was alive and sparking around him. Not physically but anyone sensing him would feel it. "We keep the fighting on us. Allow our Shadows to do their thing. And we will accomplish our mission."

He looked at his lightsaber. Igniting it, he grinned. A twirl and pointing towards the installation. Teams had begun moving out. And the former Commander, now Marshal, extinguished his saber and caught a carbine tossed to him.

Step one was to secure the door.

 

[Arcane Syn NPCs]

NPC Commander: Lord Crucia​

Location: Primary Sithspawn Facility​

"My Lady, it would appear the New Jedi Order have returned to Byss in force. It is likely they have discovered the reactivation of the facility, and our secondary laboratory risks exposure."

Prostrated before the cloaked and masked Lady of Secrets, Lord Crucia relished the challenge ahead. The Order of Shadows had clandestinely reactivated the Sithspawn facility on Byss that the Grand Marshal had died in. Lord Crucia had gained command of the facility, replacing that fool who died as part of their deception. He had no intentions of dying today, or allowing the valuable work going on to fall into New Jedi Order hands.

"Keep the Jedi occupied, Crucia," the distorted female voice replied. "Order the secondary facility to begin backing up all data for transport and then deleting the primary servers. I will be expecting you at Site Artorias in short order."

"As you command, my Lady."

The transmission ended, and with a grin behind his own mask, he issued the orders. The New Jedi Order would once again have to fight against soldiers of the Shadow Legion, augmented by Ravagers, Wyverns, Cobras, Blighters, Festerers, Behemoths. The numbers were definitely not on the level as the first offensive, but it was still a force large enough to pose a good challenge for the Jedi and their Alliance allies. At the very least, they would slow them down long enough for the secondary facility to complete their tasks.

[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] [member="Oren"] [member="Varex"] [member="Cambria Zadira"]

 

[Cambria Zadira]

Byss, Deep Core
~Moving out from FOB towards the cloning facility
w/[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] [member="Varex"]
in vicinity [member="Oren"] [member="Order of Shadows NPCs"]

How did he even get into that U-wing to begin with alone out of?! Cambria thought awestruck as her pair of gold-speckled hazel orbs watched the armored Vaemath stretch up to his full height of three meters tall after the massive Jedi exited his transport with the others. The Twi'lek Guardian felt like a dwarf standing near the other alien. She had not met him yet and wondered if the Shadow was a gentle giant underneath all that might.

The blue-hued Knight offered a small smile and a friendly twitch of her lekku to Varex, then brought her eyes forward as the young Voidstalker spoke up. Yes, the beasts... They would have to work together to stay ahead of them otherwise the Jedi might be overwhelmed and then the mission would be for naught.

Cambria gave a nod of understanding, then dark lashes closed for a moment as a deep breath was taken in through her nose. Eye lids reopened and the air was let out slowly through her mouth. The feeling of being centered in the Force was comforting and gave the Jedi Knight confidence the Light was with her.

With a flourish of his lightsaber, Master Starchaser led the way as the troops moved out from the Forward Operating Base towards the cloning facility where the Sithspawn were being made.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

[member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Oren"] [member="Varex"] [member="Cambria Zadira"] [member="Order of Shadows NPCs"]

He could sense the growing darkness ahead. All life was connected with the Force. It broached the gap across species and cultures. A Jedi could touch any mind no matter how alien. But this wasn't normal, natural life. Horrific creatures forged in pain and alchemy. They were beyond redemption. They very existence twisted the Force.

All life was connected. What would the Galaxy be like if all life ended up as twisted as the creatures ahead of them.

Trextan didn't know the people he would fight beside today. Starchaser he knew the best. He had been nearby during several alliance missions. Jacen said he had been with the Alliance back in the early days. When it had been just a rag tag fleet. When Trextan was being taken to the Sith academy.

There was a twilek. Her species would always bring back memories of that very embarassing encounter with [member="Choli Vyn"] in a military hospital.

His focus snapped back to the door. Their first objective.

Their objective was launched thirty feet out of the facility as a horde of creatures poured forth. In truth Trextan would rather fight them out in the open than deep inside a sith facility.

His lightsaber snapped to life and he planted his feet. Better to draw their attention and let blaster fire whittle their numbers down.

 

[Mishel Kryze]

Byss​

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@Coren Starcasher | [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] | [member="Varex"] | [member="Oren"] | [member="Cambria Zadira"]​

[member="Order of Shadows NPCs"]​

​

Mishel stood beside her master quietly appraising the situation. Her thoughts went back to G'Rho and her time as a Ren, she absentmindedly flexed her hand - the one she had lost but had since had restored. Byss called the small part of the darkside that still resided well within her heart the black spot she yearned to be free of. Sithspawn, One Sith - the growing darkness was there. She could sense it and as others joined their cause she took sight of them and at least one of these faces, Trextan's had come across the home of the Knights of Ren. He like Coren had been on their kill list for quite some time, and so here she stood at his side ready to slay whatever the Sith had left behind.

She took hold of the training saber from her back, a willing choice. Mishel felt that if she were to walk the path of the Jedi then she needed to do it honestly and as Master Starchaser brandished his lightsaber. The padawan dressed in smuggler clothing followed behind him her blade went forward as her other hand extended with a simple force push to keep the creatures at bay. Where there was darkness there would be light she thought to herself as her training saber cut through one beast, in particular, a Ravager. The former Knight of Ren with the training saber extended sidestepped using force speed, moving one way and then back again creating a blurred effect with the hopes of confusing the blasted thing.

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Varex barely acknowledge a small smile offered to him by the twi'lek [member="Cambria Zadira"]. Even if he had been personally inclined, the Inquisitor had no mouth with which to return the non-verbal pleasantry, and most humanoids were incapable of detecting Vaemath micro expressions. He was not here to make friends, the Knight lived a life of ascetic solitude punctuated by occasional violence. His species were some of the most naturally competitive and hierarchical creatures in this galaxy, all save for those like him. The Tranquil, mutants who had been cursed with selflessness and the compulsion to serve others.

Perhaps it was why he had chosen this path, serving the Grand Marshal almost reminded him of the occasional fierce all out clan wars from back home. Any other of his kind would not have been able to help themselves but join [member="Coren Starchaser"] and [member="Trextan Voidstalker"] on the front lines of their frontal assault, if only to prove their superior combat prowess. With his imposing height and ornate power armor, Varex was by no means his team's most capable stealth operative, but as a Shadow he knew enough illusion work to close the distance at least.

He knew [member="Oren"] and her fellow Scouts would be in the area, and dispatched one member of his team to link up with them and extract a telepathic layout of what had been mapped so far from any scout willing to consent to a brief mind meld. Kyber gauntlets ignited for just long enough to eviscerate a nearby ravager sentry. By now he expected Master Starchaser would be just about ready to gather their attention in a big way, by the time anyone inside noticed their patrols on the far side of the facility had gone dark it would be too late.

We are in position, with a quick telepathic burst he alerted the main assault force to their state of readiness.

Ultimately there was little doubt they would all end up fighting alongside one another, but while Coren's team initial task was to batter their way through the rogue Sith's frontal defenses, it was the responsibility of Knight Varex and any who accompanied him to infiltrate and identify high priority targets. The New Jedi Order had been hunting Darksiders for a long while now, if everything went to plan they would ensure Byss' leadership had no opportunity for escape this time.

[member="Mishel Noren"] | [member="Order of Shadows NPCs"]​

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Always work to be done. And the fact that they were still chasing people within their own borders made Starchaser a bit nervous. Not too much, no, he wasn’t that smart, to get really nervous, everything was a game to the man, but he still worried. He had people under his care, he had for a number of years. But that was what chased him away, pushed him back into his wanderlust mode. Now he was back and the galaxy was going to be reorganized, and restored. Looking at his team, and the weapon in his hand, he nodded.

They were going to move out, and he was taking his small squad out towards the bunker. Getting that door secure meant that they could keep working on getting deeper and taking the time to get rid of the sithspawn. He looked down the barrel as he started walking. A few others, the more vanguards of his team, ran ahead, some with blasters, others with lightsabers, leaping into the fray. He grinned as he watched Mishel run forward, and Coren tossed up a small shield, of pure Force energy to get behind.

Looking over, he squeezed the trigger of his rifle, and took a few shots at incoming. He could feel the call from the Vaemath and a grin crept across his face.

“Tiburons, we need a distraction.” He grinned as he popped in another power cell. He’d get the distraction the rest of the group needed. Standing up, he extended the shield and the hum of Y-Wings was heard overhead. Laser paint came from two of his squad as the ships entered the atmosphere. The Force was giving Coren what he needed to secure the attention on him and his own.

And that was when everything around him started to glow.


[member="Varex"]
[member="Mishel Noren"]
[member="Trextan Voidstalker"]
[member="Cambria Zadira"]
[member="Order of Shadows NPCs"]
[member="Oren"]