Operation Silent Night

[D'vok Windroamer]

D'vok emerged from one of the many crew decks of the Laras, Equipped with full Mk.II Purple marked clone trooper armor. He wasn't sure why exactly he agreed to this. Sure, he wanted to fight sith, get better with lightsabers, get glory, all the fun stuff, but this was death. The ship hit a large bump. D'vok jumped. He wasn't expecting it. He noticed a lot of people throwing up. Scared? No, just nervous. D'vok was too, but he could control it, at least to an extent.

 

[Greifen Ren]

Onboard the FIV Vindicator
During a routine sweep of Panathan Space

"I know what it is you feel, my friend."

A black-silhouetted figure appeared behind [member="Actakos"]. Greifen Ren rarely announced his presence audibly. When he wished himself to be known, others would feel him without him so much as saying a word. His face was barely visible behind the black cowl and cloak that signified him as a Knight of Ren, and somewhere beneath that cloak, the metal hilt of his lightsaber occasionally peeked out. The anger billowing off this young soldier was palpable, and perhaps that is why Greifen decided to engage him.

"I hear you practicing with your droids," Greifen Ren mused, as he circled slowly around Actakos. "And you do not hide your impatience or anger at all. What is it they call you? A Jedi hunter? Hm," The Knight of Ren let a small smile slip across his lips.

"Tell me Jedi hunter, do you think patience is a trait exclusively for Jedi?" Greifen moved his hand upwards as he spoke, noticing the remnants of one of Actakos' discarded droids on the ground. A small piece of durasteel floated up to his fingers and spun above them placidly, being manipulated by the Force.

 

[HK-36]

[member="Ryan Korr"], [member="Aela Talith"], [member="Zark"],

The droid was among the insertion team picked for the mission to penetrate Zembrano's dark, twisted, secure loins. That sentence went a weird direction, either way the droid jumped like all the others, calmly spreading and tucking his arms and legs in whenever he needed to adjust his speed to keep up with the others, his scanners calculating any dangers that could pop up on their trajectory, any miscalculations his partners would make so he could alert them ahead of time and allow them to correct their course.

Wind whipped at him but he did not falter, unlike Aela who was seemingly close to throwing up, the machine did not had any stomach to puke out while diving through the orbit. While he was slightly rattled by the wind resistance he looked to Korr, the droid was glad the GA agreed to take him along on the mission, he felt like they were starting to bond. Would it be weird if he reached out and took Korr's hand right now?

Yeah, it would be probably weird, although no doubt Korr would like that, this was not the time or place however. The droid cast his head downwards to watch over the landscape as they broke through the clouds, always scanning, always vigilant.

Briefly he would glance up again, this time to look over Aela, Zark, and others as well while they plummeted down with him, he was going to save the image for later, probably turn it into a commemorative painting or a post stamp on Abregado.

Although he followed the orders and kept the radio silence, he wanted to tell them really badly, that they looked pretty fething wizard right now.

 

[Tydeus of Tion]

Korr was celibate.

The flames of atmospheric entry licked around him. Korr's heart fluttered, a frantic beat to accompany the gasping breaths - the only noise inside his helmet. Closing his eyes, Ryan sucked in a deep breath and went through the ritualistic 'mind quiet' taught to every Jedi when they were padawans. Korr calmed his thoughts, quieting doubts and fears until his breath became steady and his heart a slower drumbeat.

The deflector shields held, just as the Special Forces scientists had assured him they would.

For what seemed an age, he fell in the dead of night, then he caught the outline of a mountain's ridge and the dark shape of land below rushing out to meet him. Suit repulsers kicked in automatically, buoying him up with enough magnetic repulsive thrust to downgrade Ryan's impact with the ground to merely bone jarring instead of bloody smear.

A few minutes later, Korr peeled himself free of the suits smoking ruin, made sure his lightsabers were in place, then pulled up the cowl of his robe and made for the designated meeting zone.

A castle domineered over the surrounding landscape, a fortress by the name of Vain Hollow. Many prisoners of import were kept here, for torture or pleasure - though in the case of the Zambranos it seemed to be one and the same. This was their target.

Ryan waited for the others to join up with him.

[member="Aela Talith"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="HK-36"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Aela Talith]

[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="HK-36"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

"Never. Again." Aela said as she stepped up behind Ryan.

Her hair was frizzled, her eyes were bloodshot, and her face was a shade of white that one would assume was generally only found on ghosts. Her lips were a thin blue line, her fingers still curled into tights fists as she tried to prevent them from shaking.

It was clear that the fall, and the subsequent landing had been rather rough on Aela, though she did seem mostly intact. Her lightsabers were still in their holsters on her thighs, her light-shield glove was in place, and the usual artifacts she wore were all still with her. Yet a part of her seemed rather out of sorts. The fall really hadn't been a pleasant experience for her, and her expression told that story rather well. She stepped up next to Ryan, gaze flicking up towards the castle that seemed to dominate the sky.

The others would be along shortly she imagined.

A heavy breath passed through her lips.

The assault itself didn't bother her. Waltzing into the last Sith Stronghold in the galaxy didn't bother her, but that fall? Descending onto a planet in something as little as that tube with absolutely no control of where she was going with her families curse? It had been the worst few moments of her life. Aela inhaled a deep breath, calming herself.

She had attacked Coruscant twice. Driven into the heart more than a dozen times.

This was nothing.

 

[Kira Vaal]

Of course it had to be First Order held space.
Kira wasn’t prepared to have returned so soon, not since that whole situation with the Supreme Commander but it was funny how causes changed the way people went about things. She has pulled some favours to get in on this Silent Night deal, favours she was stockpiling from within both the Alliance itself and the SIS. However the rumour of potential recruits held in one of the final Sith strongholds would be worth the payoff. She hoped.

The jump itself had been, interesting, and to say that she was not ready to throw up would be concealing all forms of the truth. Yet her she stood among Jedi Masters and Infiltration agents. Out of her league? Possibly, but she would make her presence count.

She adjusted her belt, making sure her blaster was still secure as well as the cylindric hilt of her lightsaber, which was as always tucked away behind her away from prying eyes. To most she was still simply Kira the smuggler, Kira the agent and Kira the nobody. Very few knew that she had started taking on proper training in that latent Force ability, let along the respectful title offered by others within the Kathol.

Making her way closer to those already assembled she gazed upon the citadel target, measuring it up. Years ago, before Omega and before the Alliance she would have looked on it and wondered what treasures it may hide, how much profit could be made from them and what the easiest way in would be. Now she could only concentrate on the terror.

[member="Ryan Korr"] | [member="Zark"] | [member="Jacen Voidstalker"] | [member="HK-36"] | [member="Aerion Ivelisse"] | [member="Darth Prazutis"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"]

 

[Kuzo]

Panatha
Pacanth Reach

Irajah padded through the outer doors of the Lab sector only a couple of minutes before the order came down to put the whole area on lock down. It would have irked her greatly to find door unwilling to open for her- instead she was blissfully unaware of the goings on as she continued her hunt for caf. The other labs in the wing had been empty and rifling through the drawers (except in those two rooms, they gave her a bit of the creeps, though she didn't know why an empty room would do that) had yielded exactly bupkis.

Despite the nature of the castle, she moved through it without serious concern or discomfort. Sure, the first impression had been impressive to say the least, but she wasn't particularly uncomfortable in this place. It wasn't homey or anything. Just, not alarming either.

It surprised her when, a couple of minutes later, she was stopped by a pair of guards. Ludicrously tall, as they tended to be, they loomed over the petite woman.

"You can't be here, Doctor."

Offering them a bright, if tired grin, she hoisted the empty mug.

"Just trying to track down some caf," she assured them, "I'll be out of your hair in a minute."

One of them shook his head. "No, we're going to have to ask you to return to the labs."

Irajah didn't really have time to get offended or invoke her particular right to be here. His com link buzzed just then, and a flash of annoyance crossed his face.

"Already on lock down?" His partner asked, receiving only a curt nod in return.

She arched an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Lock down. Something was going on. What in the world could threaten a place like this?

"We're going to have to ask you to come with us, Doctor."

"As long as I can get a cup of caf and maybe a sandwich on the other end," she said with a shrug, staying deliberately casual now, but her attention was piqued.

[member="Samka Derith"] [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Darth Prazutis"]

 

[Kyrel Ren]

https://youtu.be/-C2wCcuKmLI

On board the FIV Vindicator.
During a routine sweep of Panthean space.

Kyrel had arrived on board the Star Destroyer for reasons he was unaware of. Though he had come because he had heard of a plan that the Ren were supposed to be crucial , and if it was against his enemy the FIrst Order's enemy the GA. Than he was willing to take part in some way to stand against them. He sat in his quarters that he was assigned and read datapads of the early days of the Galactic Empire hoping to past the time. He read of the conquest of the Outer Rim,and the fighting against Separatists holdouts in the Western Reaches. He found the accounts interesting,but all in all he was still bored with waiting.

He made his way out of his room and ventured forth towards a nearby turbolift ignoring the stares from both stormtrooper and officer alike. He had grown used to those looks that he received all the time on board Imperial vessels,so he shrugged it off. He picked one of the training rooms and quickly after the destination was picked the turbolift descended rapidly. Upon arriving at his destination he walked in a brisk pace almost in a mechanical like way towards the room.

Upon arriving he saw what looked to be a droid like figure,and a fellow Ren he had encountered before on Endor not so long ago. The room was littered with scattered pieces of Durasteel which he had guessed was the newcomers doing. They looked to be engaged in some conversation,so he had approached the two and spoke announcing his presence before them . "Greetings Griefen. Who might i ask is this newcomer?" His vocabulater boomed his curiosity as he gestured his forefinger at @Actakos

[member="Greifen Ren"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Location: Panatha Outer System

Laira sat in the asteroid ring sitting comfortably in her cockpit, legs up on the dash while her passive scanners watched the system. On her sensor board she could see the routine patrols of several Star Destroyers and heavy cruisers moving about, but they weren't terribly dangerous. She was sitting in an asteroid field in stealth mode with the Starry Night paint-setting on the Explorer. She was more or less just enjoying the view and show while she watched. The First Order was one of the governments her father itched to fight and had struggled to stay retired and at home while she was growing up. He had wanted to erradicate them in his time, but had restrained himself and stayed at home, raising his children instead. Kaine Zambrano was a Sith Lord the Vereen family had uneasy dealings with and kept a watch over just in case.

"Well Ee-eight. What do you think of those Star Destroyers?" She asked cradling her head in her hands as she stretched out and leaned back in the pilot's chair.

::They are big pizza slices in space and about as useful as such. The only solace I gain from them is that their turbolasers would evaporate us.:: The engineering droid that was her companion had been originally programmed without a personality, but Laira had made some modifications when she had first gotten him years ago. Over the past five years, he had developed quite the personality, and interesting contrast to her mischievous side.

Laira laughed at the melancholy droid standing behind her. "Not necessarily. Depends on how big the weapon and how clean the hit." The Millennium Falcon had survived a turbolaser strike through its hull and its central column, under extremely lucky conditions, but the Explorer was beskar-plated and had military grade shielding. It was theoretically possible it could survive a turbolaser blast, though not something Laira was excited to test out.

::Great. The First Order can't even guarantee me a quick death with a Star Destroyer. What fresh hell is this in which I walk?:: The droid threw his hands up and left the cockpit muttering about how horrid his life had become in just a few short years and how terrible the Galaxy was, getting another chuckle from the redhead.

Now alone, she just sat starring at the stars and the tiny pinpricks of light that were the planets in the system, whistling to herself.

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Location: Panathan Space
First Imperial Star Destroyer Vindicator
Objective: Patrol of the Bakura Sector
Status: Routine patrol of Parnatha

"Sir, fighters requesting take off permissions," The TIE ops officer reported.

"Give them the all clear," Carlyle said, as he watched the victory-x star destroyer jump away, "What are our bombers doing?" Carlyle asked.

"Sir, they're fuelling up, preparing for launch." The TIE ops officer replied.

"I think I might have them perform their own exercise. Scanning," Carlyle called.

"Yes Commodore?" The scanning officer asked.

"How far away is that asteroid field scanning?" Carlyle asked.

"A few clicks, why do you ask?" The scanning officer replied.

"I think they'd be the perfect target of some bombing runs," Carlyle replied, "Nothing too strenuous, just targetting the outermost asteroids." the Commodore said, "Alert all bombers that's their goal, understood?"

"Crystal clear Commodore," TIE ops replied, "All bombers, prepare for launch and bombing drill at point nine, dash three seven."

[member="Laira Vereen"] | [member="Sara Lee Jones"]

 

[Michael Wainford]

Location: Panathan Space
FIV Warlock, Victory X-Class Star Destroyer
Objective: Follow the Imperator Battlegroup
Status: Waiting for orders
Carlyle Rausgeber

Michael looked outside and saw tie fighters exiting the Vindicator . Michael would order his fighters to scramble, but his ship did not have fighters, only two transport ships. By then, the Warlock fell into formation of the battlegroup. The comms station was tuned into the Imperator Battlegroup frequency. Now the officers on deck waited on Michael orders who was waiting for [member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] 's orders.

"Lieutenant, open a line to the Imperator and ask for our orders."

"Aye commander"

The XO walked back to the comms station and talked to the ensign in charge of the communications. A few minutes later, the Ensign sent this message to the Vindicator:

: This is FIV Warlock. Commander Wainford is requesting orders. :

Michael saw the officer end the transmission and looked out of the window again. He saw the fighters flying towards the asteroid field.

 

[Laira Darkhold]

The Asteroid Ring was in the outer most edges of the star system, a few billion kilometers away from the jungle planet of Panatha sitting in the habitable zone of the system where the ships had been deployed in defense arrangements. Laira shrugged as a handful of bombers pinged coming out towards the ring well away from her position, for what were the odds that they had just happened to be redeployed from deep inner system to her exact location? "Oh, nice. We have some bombers breaking away from the main group all alone out here with us." They would be almost an hour flight away from their compatriots all by their lonesome, dumping their ordnance into rocks.

"Once they dump most of their ordnance and warheads, we can comm jam them and take them out pretty quickly, salvage one or two and go back to GA space. I'm sure those guys will pay to get to examine a First Order bomber. By the time the big ships realize they've lost contact and make it out this far we could have mined an asteroid out." She bet a couple people would pay pretty nice for an actual ship to tear apart and she had big nasty Ion Cannons and Conner Nets for disabling vessels. "Ee eight, go jump on the turret."

::Oh of course. Misery finds me no matter where I hide.:: The Droid ambled away down the corridor to the turret ladder where he disappeared, his voice barely audible as he muttered about his misfortune.

She had a while to wait, though if objects that small had been pinging her passive sensors they had been in the cockpit for a long time heading in her direction. She started going through a combat system's check, keeping the sensor signatures hidden and drifting along with one of the larger asteroids in the ring that surrounded the entire solar system. TIE fighters were notoriously more cramped than her own armed freighter and sitting in for a long flight to the far reaches of the system for a training exercise would certainly increase the likelihood they were tired, grumpy, and sloppy. Easy prey for a young pilot.

[member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]

 

[D'vok Windroamer]

As the ship plummeted, the realization of what was about to happen hit him like a brick wall. D'vok quickly sobered up and the ship landed. D'vok had been watching those who seemed in command, [member="Aela Talith"],[member="HK-36"], and [member="Ryan Korr"] from afar, but he now walked over to them, removing his helmet and placing it at his side. As he walked over to them, he quickly looked at [member="Kira Vaal"], who looked familiar to him, although he couldn't remember where he last saw her. That was besides the point to him as he now was in front of the group. He looked at the droid, whom he recognized as famous. He then looked at the two jedi. He assumed they were jedi, at least, as they had lightsabers.
"So, what's the plan?"

 

[RIP Carlyle Rausgeber]

Location: Panathan Space
First Imperial Star Destroyer Vindicator
Objective: Patrol of the Bakura Sector
Status: Routine patrol of Parnatha

"Sir," Comms said, "Wainford requests further orders." The technician said, "What are they?"

"Order the Commander to fall into line with the rest of the fleet along with the rest of the fleet." Carlyle said, "Helmsman, prepare a microjump, defensive array pattern delta." The Commodore ordered, within seconds, the fleet jumped halfway across the planet and reformed itself into a defensive pattern. The Commodore pulled out a pocket watch, and began to time it. "Now, prepare for imminent enemy arrival!" Carlyle commanded "There is an invasion fleet inbound, and we are the first line of defence, act like it!". The bridge exploded with a flurry of activity, over an imaginary enemy.

"Are our turbolaser batteries online?" Carlyle asked, looking at the clock. A little over a minute had passed.

"All batteries are active and online." The Chief Gunnery Officer replied.

"Shields?" Carlyle asked. There was a distinctive, awkward pause between the two.

"Shields up Commodore!" The Shield Operator called from the starboard crew pit.

Carlyle clicked the watch closed, "Two minutes, three seconds gentleman." He said, "To say I'm disappointed is an understatement." The Commodore said, "We are Supreme Leader's men, and hold an oath to this Empire. We must be ready each and every day." Carlyle looked down at all of them, "We will, and I swear on this we will do better, and what we're going to do is we're going to-"

"Sir," It was the Bomber officer, "Sir, we have a situation."

"What situation is that Ensign?" Carlyle asked.


"Someone messed up fuelling, two squadrons are nearly out." The Bomber Officer reported, "They won't be able to make it back, perhaps even make it to the target zone."

Carlyle breathed out slowly, "Find the dunce who buggered that up," He said "And put him on sewer duty."

"What about the bombers sir," The Bomber Officer continued, "Surely we-"

"Comms, order the Menace to return to the asteroid field, they'll act as a fuelling station." Carlyle said, "Lieutenant Margs is to operate independently of this exercise and assist the bombers in anyway deemed necessary. However, he is not to enter the asteroid field."

"Understood sir," Comms said, "FIV Menace, you are ordered to report to defence sector thrirty three dash four seven. You are not permitted to enter the asteroid field."

"Now," Carlyle said, his face a dark, deep scowl, "Find me who karked the fuel!"

The large forboding figure of the Menace peeled off from the main star destroyer pack, and micro jumped to the asteroid field. Within in five minutes it was sitting not fifty meters from the field, the bombers still some time away behind it.

[member="Laira Vereen"] | [member="Michael Wainford"]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

Conveniently, a Capital ship was needed by the bombers as a fuel depot. At every turn when the First Order ships walked into something they didn't even know was going to happen, some convenient happenstance occurred to save them. First, they targeted the farthest reaches of the system for a bombing run despite the numerous lifeless planetoids that required mining and excavation in which bombers could be useful and good practice, which conveniently was also Laira's hiding spot. But now, after having bombers travel for ages to get to the ring of asteroids that surrounded the entire system, several of them hadn't been fueled properly and didn't realize until now, requiring the presence of a cruiser or frigate or corvette or Star Destroyer to refit and refuel them.

Poor Laira couldn't catch a break with the convenience of the First Order Navy's blunders. Luckily she was enough out of the way of the bombers and capital vessel sitting at idle in stealth mode that she could just watch as they continued to save themselves from her wishes to kidnap one of their bombers.

"Aw, too bad Ee-eight. Probably no hijacking today. They have a capital ship out here now. Unknown type. Broadcasting itself as the Menace." She kicked her feet back up on the dash and leaned back in the comfortable pilot's chair. The droid manning the Conner Net Launcher turret sighed audibly.

::Blasted Ship. Do this, no, don't do this. Can't a droid get a moment's peace.:: The engineering droid mummbled making its way to the prisoner hold for some unknown reason. Laira just sat and watched the freakishly accurate Micro-jumps. Mandalorian vessels had to have seriously advanced navicomputers to manage that without the assistance of an interdictor or planetary body to pull it out, so she could chalk that little spicy piece of info up on her wall. All First Order vessels she'd recorded were either Force User piloted or had advanced navigational suites. Or they were just exceptionally lucky, yet again.

She sat back, continuing to let her passive sensors record whatever they could, no Naboo probes, but good enough to record some strategic data or information on the First Order.

 

[Sara Lee Jones]

All fighters took off, Sara out first as space greeted her, then the rest fell in formation behind her, she looked to the bombers

OK folks I want 8 of us to stay with the ship, rest of you with me, we are gonna practice bomber escorting I want to stress that keeping these safe in battle could give the fleet or ground troops relief they go down we can lose a battle entirely

She got all green lights, she gave a smile

Alright I want two on each side box formation!

Quickly the 7 got in formation, Sara leading the way as she gave a smile looking forward however as she listned to flight comms she watched the bombers lagging

OK guys looks like we have a problem, bombers are almsot out of fuel seems a ground crew is gonna get some serious hell, this isn't no training now I want eyes peeled this is a serious escort now

Sara got to comms to the menace

Meanie this is captain Jones, we will escorted the fighters to you and patrol around till they are full iver

She looked around and forward least it wasn't anything serious

[member="Carlyle Rausgeber"]

 

[Kenrath]

FIV HammerShot, Inflictor Class Heavy Cruiser​

Location: Northern First Order Area of Operations​

Objective: Sector Patrol Bakura/Pantha/Firrerre​

Status: Patrolling Sector/Conducting readiness drills​

[member="Carlyle Rausgeber"] [member="Aran Piett"] [member="Michael Wainford"] [member="Sara Lee Jones"]​

​

​

Norin and the FIV Hammershot continued on it's patrol with navigation giving regular updates of their progress. They were currently nearing checkpoint charlie. Norin was watching the fighter and bomber runs when his XO walked up beside him.

"You were a fighter pilot once were you not Sir?"

Norin turned to the LT and nodded with a smile.

"I was.................a long time ago. Though it was not TIE Fighters."

The XO smiled.

"You miss it Sir?"

Norin chuckled looking at the man.

"Only when I'm awake, or asleep, when I am eating, when I am drinking, when I am looking up at the sky, when I am looking out into space...................."

Norin let his comment trail off as he turned back to watch the drills. Sure part of him wanted to be back in the cockpit but he was happy where he was. Besides a heavy cruiser could be much more effective than a single or even an entire squadron of fighters.

 

[HK-36]

[member="Ryan Korr"], [member="Kira Vaal"], [member="Aela Talith"], [member="Zark"]

HK was celibate, not out of choice but still.

The droid would have already been close to the landing zone, his calculations allowed him to get into trajectory that ended with him landing close to the meeting point. Droid precision, German engineering, all of that nonsense. The only reason he was not there waiting for others already was that he preferred to bury the smoldered remains of insertion suit quickly, in case a foot patrol just happened to come across it. The machine was old enough to know that those things can happen more often than others could expect.

Either way, with a soft flap of his black chameleon cloak that was stuffed beneath the orbital insertion suit, he wrapped himself in a cocoon of stealth cloth so that no loose material would be flailing around and catch on a stray jagged rock formation or some sort of twig. Which, again, happened more often than the droid would like. He approached the group just as @D'vok Windroamer joined them as well apparently, the droid's usual crimson glow from his photoreceptors was gone, dimmed down for the purpose of the mission to not give away their position through the cover of the darkness.

HK looked over the team and then turned to look at the silhouette of a castle in the distance, their target,

"Well,"

The droid looked back to them,

"Merry Life Day everyone."

He quipped, as apparently that was how they were going to spend their holidays.


HK focused on Aela then, his medical scanners probably picking up the remnants of irregularities after the stressful ordeal she went through,

"You are doing alright?"

He asked, just to make sure.