Operation: Something Something Darkside - The Search For A Better Dominion Title [TSE Dom of Ord Rad

[Darth Prazutis]

​Approaching Blackblade Front Line

​"Whatever crawls around in the darkness at the center of this 'situation' we'll drag them out of their hole and exterminate them before we see a repeat of OMNI." ​Darth Prazutis said walking alongside [member="Darth Carnifex"]. It was a fairly quick ride through the landscape to reach the bloody front lines of the Blackblade Guard. They were the first to land and it was this elite legion who held the front line while ships carrying the full might of the Sith Empire descended like an angry swarm, like a pack of rabid dogs on the hopeless abominations of the Dominion.

​It was here on the battlefield that he truly felt at home.

​The sensation was always engrained into his DNA but it only truly came alive now when other portions mortals so desperately clung to were given up. It was also the place he felt the most comfortable. To any who saw the Blackblade Guard in action they would see one key fact. There were no Sith warriors leading squads, no knights working among the black armored troopers. There was no man, woman, or creature in the entire Sith Empire beyond the Zambrano Titans who worked alongside the Blackblade Legion. Their faith unwavering, their loyalty everlasting the Blackblade Guard served only two masters outside of their chain of command alone. They were like many elements of the Zambrano Forces separate from the hierarchy.

​It was necessary.

​Many couldn't or wouldn't understand the loyalty among the Lords of House Zambrano. Many would think there was power there for the taking if only he could grasp it from the God-King. They didn't understand the bond of family between them. Many couldn't understand, wouldn't stomach, or might even be outraged at how anyone could maintain such things with a monster like Kaine Zambrano, they too couldn't understand. Kaine was his nephew and as close as any brother he ever might've had. The bond of blood and friendship ran deep and because of it House Zambrano remained strong.

​While Kaine sat on the throne he not only stood at his side but lurked behind it watching everyone around them. It was the hidden portion of his job as Shadow Hand to wield his vast shadowy network and all resources at his disposal to watch anyone and everyone who might pose a threat to his nephew. Inquisitors, soldiers, scholars it didn't matter what title they held. The Lord of Lies pierced through their deceptions as a true mastermind of the long game of thrones many so often played. It was why Kaine Zambrano was surrounded by loyalists Panatha born and bred, zealous practitioners of the faith and followers of the Carnifex Avulsuna. It was why the Crownguard alone were the only force in the Empire permitted to guard any premises that the Dark Lord dwelled. It was a driving force behind ensuring the Iron Horde of graug brought from Fornow alongside the Blackblade Guard were just some of many loyalists who served as the legions Kaine fought beside.

In the event of a betrayal by anyone ​these were incorruptible warriors who would fight to the death. Loyalists were elevated and potential enemies and rivals especially of other houses were watched. If any stepped out of line and dared sling towards the Dark Lords throne the Reaper lurking behind it was there watching, waiting, ready to add more dynasty breaking titles to his nephews name.

Their presence gliding across the Blackblade forces was noticed. While some ran in terror at the site of the titans these legionnaires were invigorated by it. The sound of shifting armor and the occasional tap of Kaine's battle staff rang out as they moved towards the gigantic line set in the breach of the cities western wall. Even now with the full might of the Empire crashing down the abominations of the Dominion still didn't know when to bend the knee. "They flounder like a creature in its death throes, refusing to acknowledge the truth in front of their eyes. Miserable abominations."​ Prazutis said looking over at Kaine as he drew Daesumnor from its sheath at his side. The powerful aura of fear radiating from his armor was unleashed, while a sorcerer's spellbook remained at his side bound to a dark steel chain.

​Just like that they were over the side.

​A hailstorm of blaster fire accompanied by a barrage of assault tanks and the thunderous roar from the Blackblade Legion heralded their coming and as they stepped out into no man's land their very presence was enough to halt enemy fire for just a few scant moments. The one inescapable truth had set in when Carnifex and Prazutis came into view.

​They were all going to die.

Post 2

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Location: Ord Radama
Objective: Speak with the Dark Lord

[member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Darth Prazutis"] [member="Harley"] [member="Sal Zambrano"]

Equipment: Mask Lightsaber

"As you wish, my Lord," she stated evenly. "I shall send a message when I have new information on the movement and thoughts of the Jedi or this mysterious new enemy."

While the Dark Lord and the rest of his entourage, including the newly arrived Lord of Lies, would move off to continue the subjugation of this world, the Lady of Secrets would stay behind at the manor. It wasn't that she wasn't prepared to lay waste to the enemies of the Sith. She was quite prepared to do so, but that wasn't her goal. By now, Eldaah and her Wights would have spirited away several dissidents or even just citizens in the chaos to their designated departure zone. She had several experiments to run on these poor unfortunate souls.

Without a sound, she would leave the manor behind and beginning making her way to the rendezvous to leave the world behind. It was such a pity the Silvers put so much time and effort into this city to see it come undone at the hands of the Sith. What would be reborn from the ashes would be a monument to their power and their legacy.

 

[Hailey Sosis]

Harley was at the front line with blackblade guards, when [member="Darth Prazutis"] approached. She was not a member of them, she just hung around them, like a bad smell. They where ill disciplined after the battle, but she was also lacked it during the battle. She followed them onto transports, and moved to the next victims of their onslaught. As she did she gave one last look at [member="Darth Carnifex"], and who ever the woman was with them. She was no longer using her eyes to burn things, as she got in slumped down in corner, and listened to a song on her phone with her headphones in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oprIEViK350
It sheild her from noise of the tanks, firing at the enemy. She knew once the order came to charge, she be going in killing everyone, man woman and child. So what that was the prices of disobeying Zambranos, you whole line dies off. She sat back and waited for the rest troops, to get out, then she put the phone away, and kill things in name off. As she waited she wonder what @veshin would make of this, he seemed gentler somehow, nothing like her. She wonder why he was even interested in her, as he was way more intelligent than she was. Then she got distracted by a butterfly, it most got in the tank whilst they all moved, it wings fluttered and showed of it pretty pattern. She smiled at it beauty, then blackguard squished it and laughed as he pulled her headphones out. Then said It is time harley, get in line. She grumped and began to move out into the battle line, it shame the butterfly was dead.

[member="Taeli Raaf"]

 

[Elijah Black]

Objective: Escort a TSE defector to safety
Enemies: Wide open

The discrete duo moved out and into the hallway. She wearing dark brown robes that covered up her features, him in regular civilian clothing. The idea was to slip out without getting noticed. The general's staff was elsewhere, and most of those under his immediate command had been sent out scouting or responding to false threats. All to clear as much space as possible. It was his theory that while the eyes of everyone was on war and enemies from the outside, he could slip away unnoticed. Zylah did not agree, but it was in this case not her call to make.

"Clear" she whispered back to him after moving into a wide garage. There were several vehicles, most military issue, but a few civilians ones too. She masked how she adored the sleek, orange one, and moved on. Zylah had a love of flying all things, even something floating so close to ground as speeders. But it was no time for that now. Instead they moved into a more inconspicuous one, not as flashy as the orange, and with tinted windows.

"Past the point of no return" the general said with a deep breath from behind the wheel. He sounded nervous. "Calm, general. You are doing the right thing." Zylah said to ease his mind. She would smile, but he did not seem to be the type of man who responded to physical contact or gestures such as that. Whether he took the words to himself on his own accord, or whether it was that calming aura that surrounded Zylah, his resolve seemed to become firm again. "Off we go" the speeder began its ascent and path to move up and away from the area.

 

[Kaalia Pavanos]

Location: Ord Radama
Allies: [member="Jairdain"] | [member="Vereshin"]
Post: 3

"You are very right. That's what makes it worth living." Danger, risk, those things were what made one feel alive. It did not mean one should simply get themselves into danger without reason nor did it mean one should ever be careless, but without it Kaalia would argue you weren't truly alive.

Jairdain explained what she was looking for in particular, to which the redhead nodded. "I suppose this as good of a place as any to find such an artifact, then." She was very eager to start exploring and if not for one thing she would have been off together with the Sith Knight who accompanied her. Another person, who went by the name of Vereshin she was told, had expressed interest in the search for artifacts and she saw no reason to object to him coming along. He was a scholar, someone who would come in handy in these kind of activities.

Luckily Darth Avacyn did not have to wait for long. A scrawny man, definitely underweight, waved as he approached. Upon further inspection when Vershin was close enough she took in the rest of his features, the glasses only feeding the stereotype. Kaalia knew people who looked unassuming were often the most surprising, and it was very likely this was the case with him as well. He wouldn't have made it anywhere within the Empire had that not been the case. "Vereshin, was it? You arrived just in time, we were about to leave." A nod was sent to Jairdain, signifying they were heading out. "And there is no need for unnecessary titles and formalities, it doesn't fit me. You may just call me Avacyn." The woman wouldn't stop anyone from addressing her as 'my lady' or 'lady Avacyn', but she always made sure that people knew it wasn't a necessity.

"Your expertise is greatly appreciated. I am sure you will be able to help us significantly." She mentioned the other two to start moving as she took the first step herself. "Let's see what we can find, shall we?"

 

[Atlas Kane]

Near the Dark Lord's location

The only purpose for Atlas to come down was a clerical oversight. He was supposed to have been assigned to training duty on one of the Sith Worlds after his capture by the Anx. He had been looking forward to some R&R with acolytes. Their complaining and subsequent pained screams were always wonderful music to him. Of course, some have said he was a strict and overly harsh instructor, but in Atlas' mind the only way to become a Sith was through difficult training. It wasn't his fault most humanoid species were unfit to run in a circle for days, climb massive mountains with nothing but their bare hands, and to practice the same four lightsaber moves for ten hours. Muscle memory and perseverance couldn't be learned by just sitting around and reciting the Sith Code after all. But now the poor students would have to go without him for a week. Instead, he had been sent to Ord Radama on a delivery run. He was to deliver a confidential message from someone claiming to be the man's old friend. The man had seemed quite sincere, and he got Sith Intelligence's approval, so Atlas didn't think ill of it. He was actually more curious about what was in the letter, but he'd probably never know.

Atlas had been given speederbike and simple instructions before being dropped off in the middle of nowhere by a pilot with disturbingly lacking respect for the Sith. Barely knowing where to go, he headed off in the direction the pilot had told him to go. Despite it being an official Imperial Operation, technically, he was very dissatisfied with the whole ordeal. He was told only little about why he was doing this, every person he had spoken to about this mission had been incredibly rude, the lunch he was provided on the ship that brought him here was uncooked and raw, taste resembling a Hutt's slime (Don't ask), and now he was alone in the middle of nowhere on a hostile planet with little knowledge of where exactly to go instead of a lovely warm bed in a Sith Temple, yelling at acolytes not to be lazy. Today had been terrible so far.

Along his way, he passed a few other Sith who were going about their business. He envied them, getting to do their own thing rather than being dictated what to do by higher ups. He only caught quick glimpses of their faces when he passed them, though he had managed to make out that one of them had worn glasses. Sith wearing glasses was quite uncommon, if not unheard of. The last time Atlas had seen anyone with glasses it had been a kind old man on Belgaroth who had nursed him back to health after the beating he took at the hands of the Droidbreakers. They seemed to have fallen out of favour in the galaxy. Atlas wondered why, they were incredibly useful for those who had vision problems, though he supposed it had a lot to do with implants and contact lenses that could easily do the same task as glasses. Though they were quite invasive and uncomfortable to wear, he imagined. So why did so few people wear glasses then? He'd have to research on the holonet later, there were bound to be reasons for it.

Finally, he could feel the familiar presence of the Dark Lord nearby. Landing his speeder he proceeded on foot. The sounds of battle were audible in the distance. He hoped he wouldn't be deployed there right after, he'd seen enough fighting for at least a week, maybe two. After making his way past several guards, showing several of the watchful sentries the official insignias and orders from higher up, he was finally let through to the Dark Lord. He always wondered why there were always so many security measures when it came to talking with leaders of powerful Force Organisations, no doubt they were capable warriors in their own right. Though he guessed he should be lucky he wasn't trying to talk to an official political leader, compared to the Galactic Republic's Chancellor's security detail that of the Dark Lord was a cakewalk to get through when on official business.

When he finally got close enough to see the Dark Lord himself, he was told to wait while one of the Lord's soldiers cleared Atlas to approach, the Dark Lord's time was precious after all and shouldn't be wasted on just anyone. The soldier made his way towards the Dark Lord while Atlas was left to stand to wait and contemplate the deeper meaning behind the surprising lack of glasses within the galaxy.

[member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Darth Prazutis"], [member="Vereshin"].

 

[Darth Carnifex]

"Their conviction to a false ideology compels them to fight to the very last, and I will broker no mercy for them. They had the chance to bow before the Empire unconditionally, but they squandered that opportunity. Now they will die and their names will be stricken from the annuls of history for all time."

The Dark Lord often grew tired of his enemy's tenacity, their unwillingness to surrender an inch of land without thoroughly soaking it in the blood of his soldiers first. He valued such traits in his own people, but to be on its receiving end was aggravating to say the least. But inevitably they would fall before the might of the Blackblades like all the others, the efforts adding up to not much more than bloodied smears upon the earth as his highly trained warriors cut through their disorganized masses like paper. Perhaps the Resurgent and Dominion remnants might have been able to put up more of a grueling fight, but with the information provided to the Empire by [member="Luca Thorne"] the leaders of this short-lived resistance were being rounded up and imprisoned for their eventual execution.

It wouldn't be long now, the tide had already irrevocably turned in the Empire's favor. It was more of a mop-up operation than it was an actual battle. He let his uncle take charge in leading their forces to victory, staying behind to manage the acquisitions made by the initial spear-thrust into Livien Magnus. That was when he was approached by [member="Atlas Kane"], whom the Dark Lord remembered as being one of the Knights taken prisoner by the Anx several weeks ago.

And he had brought a message along with him, "What is it you have for me, Knight? Speak quickly and waste as little of my time as possible."

[member="Darth Prazutis"]​

 

[Jairdain]

Post: 4
Location: Ord Radama
Objective: Look for artifacts
Allies: [member="Kaalia Voldaren"] [member="Vereshin"]

She had been unaware anybody was going to join them, but welcomed the company. Her time with the sith had been short and quite limited to who she had met. This man was a new person to her. While unable to see him physically, she did through the Force. When he offered his hand to shake, Jairdain accepted and shook it back.

"I am Jairdain."

Though Kaalia knew him, Jairdain did not. He appeared to know at least a little of the history that she had studied and she nodded at his input in the conversation. Looking in his direction, she lifted her chin with a slight questioning look on her face.

"Do you think any such artifacts will still be found here? The time this was the capitol was only for a short period before being destroyed by the crashing ship. What wasn't destroyed may already have been scavenged from here."

Giving him the time to answer, she did attempt to reach out with the Force and feel around them. For anything that might indicate a past to a specific item or area of interest. One skill she knew was Psychometry. Where she could glean the history of an item by touching it. That was a thing she needed to do though, touch.

While she had hoped something would stand out, Jairdain didn't feel anything near them. Perhaps further into the ruins they would come across a museum or library of sorts.

 

[Elijah Black]

Objective: Escort a TSE defector to safety
Enemies: Wide open #SithSmell #ComeAtMe

Their journey continued onward, just enough, so that their presence would not arouse suspicion when the following happened. Or at least that was the hope. To be far enough away from the scene already to not be perceived fleeing it. But still in range of the detonator. Off in the distance the apartment where the Jedi and the General™ had holed up before they made their exit blew up. The intent of the explosives planted was to make it look like an assassination attempt on the general, one that succeeded and left no trace of the poor man.

"That should do it." the general chuckled from the passenger seat. "Perhaps." Zylah said, taking her gaze away from the rising smoke and back to the path ahead. "Either they believe your deception, and you're free to go. Or they figure out what you did, but by the time they do you will be off planet." Zylah wasn't one for early celebrations, but so far it looked like things were running smoothly. They were not out of it yet though.

The explosion was loud but concentrated. It was designed to only incinerate that specific apartment, not bring the whole building down, or melt into a large area. Most of the building ought to be empty aside from military personnel anyways, but it was not those people the general betrayed, but the leaders who guided their hand. The Sith.

The speeder came down near a hangar. Ahead their ride out of here waited; a civilian transport ship. One of these days she really ought to get herself a bigger ship than her one-man starfighter. But a vessel affiliated with an enemy of the Sith likely would not have an easy time off the planet either.

 

[Darth Caecus]

He didn't get an immediate response. In fact the silence dragged on for several heartbeats past reasonable before-

"Clear. Let's get out of here."

When he made his way back to where he'd left her, she'd stacked the pair of bodies just inside the door. There wasn't any blood, no sign of a struggle. Just two bodies far too still to be sleeping.

A noise crashed from above, just as they were nearing the turn toward the server room. With a glance at each other, they had started up the next flight of stairs- Kith stepped out behind them, reaching out with the Force. When Luca was there, she never used it in any ostensible fashion, but here and now, she focused on their breathing, the blood flowing through their veins full of life. Traced it back from the surface- and with a small clench of both fists, stilled the source. Stepping up as they both went wide eyed, she caught them when they fell, hands clawing for their chests, lips turning blue.

"Shhhhh."

Kith glanced over her shoulder when [member="Luca Thorne"] appeared, crouched and watching the catwalk.

"They think we fled along the ground. They haven't realized Calais fell yet. We can leave through the door on the roof."

With a final glance out, she stood and led the way. There was nothing between them and the night.

They had done their part. Now it was time for [member="Darth Carnifex"] to do his.

 

[Vereshin]

Location: Livien Magnus
Objective: Artifact hunting
Allies: [member="Kaalia Voldaren"], [member="Jairdain"]

Avacyn graciously refused Vereshin's formalities and began to lead the two Knights into the ruins. The sorcerer smiled slightly as his cheeks heated when Kaalia permitted him to refer to her without a title. He looked across the eyes of Jairdain and noticed they did not focus, realizing the woman was blind. Taking her hand, he guided it into his own to shake out of courtesy, not knowing whether or she could find it with the force. Jairdain would be able to feel the icy touch of his skin and the bones protruding from his hand. He gripped the lapel of tweed coat and rocked forward slightly on the balls of his feet in casual poise.

"I'll admit, history is not my strong suit, I only dabble out of interest." Vereshin pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and explained modestly. He pursued an interest in Sith history in his spare time when his area of skill lay in magic and esoteric science. "The ruins have already been pilfered by explorers, whether or not they were successful in surviving past the traps created by sorcerers remains to be seen. As Sith we certainly have a greater chance of making it further than they did." Vereshin possessed a strange sense of risk, he would flee at the mere suggestion of a fight, yet remained more than ready to toy with dangerous sources of power at any given notice. Walking ahead to follow Kaalia, he answered Jaidain and began to heighten his senses, keenly combing the Force surrounding the area for any malignant energy. "Bypassing spells and arcane trickery however, is something I can certainly assist with." He finished and continued beneath a lower arch into the darkness of the ruined sanctum.

"The presence of the artifacts is faint, we'll have to travel deeper into the ruins." Darkness enveloped the corridor surrounding the two Sith and the dark energy seething within grew stronger as they scaled a stone staircase. Wooden torches lined the walls, possibly erected by archaeologists and scavengers who already traversed the ruins. Gripping the wooden handle of a torch from the wall, Vereshin brushed his hand over the top and manipulated the heat surrounding the end, casting a violet spark which gave away to a bright flame.

"Be wary of traps built by sorcerers from times gone by, there may be illusions and rifts you can unknowingly fall into." Vereshin warned the two Sith marauders as Kaalia followed ahead, although he did not imagine illusions conjured by light would affect Jairdain. The sorcerers who encased the artifacts created tricks to toy with the sanity of any trespassers stumbling upon their treasure and time rifts on an earthly scale to consume them. His senses keened, the scholar subtly raised a hand in preparation to cast before his foot traveled into any deathly vat.

 

[Atlas Kane]

Standing next to the Dark Lord

The soldier returned to Atlas, giving him the go-ahead to meet the Dark Lord. In a way, it was a great honour to meet the head of the Sith. The position of the Dark Lord was, after all, to be the strongest Sith there is, the undisputed ruler of the Empire, and Atlas had been given a few minutes of the man's time, maybe less. He was certain that the Dark Lord had more important things to attend to, most likely the slaughter of traitorous elements within the cities, but Atlas was trying to do things himself, so it was as much taking up his time as it was the Dark Lords. He thought it was at least one thing they'd have in common, well, aside from the fact they were both Sith, both Epicanthix, both out to murder the Jedi ... come to think of it they had a lot in common. Maybe they could be friends in the name of Jedi-murder some day or at least the closest that Sith can be to friends. He liked to think he was at least somewhat sympathy-worthy for the Dark Lord, well, whatever form sympathy took for the Dark Lord. Though he may not know Atlas was Epicanthix either, perhaps he thought of the Sith as just another human Knight. It was hard to tell, after all, as the mask never left Atlas' face.

He approached the man, who stood quite the bit taller than Atlas, though Atlas had always been short for his species, though that made him excellent for blending in with humans, given some disguise work for the epicanthic folds that were common for their species. This aspect of his height had never been useful to him before, however, so he did not think it would be very useful anytime soon. Perhaps if the Dark Lord ever needed one of his own species to infiltrate a pro-human or human-only organisation, though Atlas saw little chance of that happening, given the fact that there were far more capable infiltrators within the Empire. For now, he should focus on the task he had been given.

"A personal missive sent through Imperial Command from a third party. They were tied to the Sith and had seemingly wished for it to be given to the Dark Lord of the Sith after their death. For you, Lord." He said, voice barely muffled by the mask. He kept his tone disciplined and confident, assuming that was what the Dark Lord would expect of his Knights.

The letter had been from a Sith Lord who perished on Atrisia. His small cult of Dark Sided followers he had gathered survived the battle due to their absence within it, living on in their master's name to further his plans even in death. The letter detailed where they could be found and also gave the owner of the letter the means to enslave them under new leadership, without the need for domination or bloodshed. In addition, it detailed the knowledge the Sith had about his family, in particular, a brother who was born many years after Praetorias himself had been and ferried off to the Jedi during a time of peace. Atlas was unaware of the contents, it was not his place to open secretive letters to the Dark Lord himself. He merely performed a half bow, placing one foot behind the other and leaning forward while bowing his head slightly and extending one arm as the other went behind his back, plainly visible to the taller Epicanthix. The envelope of the letter was made of sturdy, yet old paper, the letter itself of parchment reminiscent of that used in Sith books. The author's handwriting was unusually clean and legible while retaining a regal flair to it. It had quite the charming effect overall.

[member="Darth Carnifex"].

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The Dark Lord accepted the sealed letter from [member="Atlas Kane"], opening it without a moment's hesitation and allowing his eyes to scan its contents. He read it not once, not twice, but three times to fully absorb the information that was being gifted to him by a long-dead Sith Lord. His brow knit in concentration as his eyes narrowed, a frown forming as he folded the letter back up and hid it away in a satchel slung across his waist. He would have to follow up on this new development after the battle was concluded, and by the looks of it there wasn't much left to be seen as the entirety of Livien Magnus fell under the Empire's control. Banners were flown from the highest structures to celebrate the taking of each portion of the city's sprawl, and before long the harsh crest of the Empire could be seen throughout the city as the Blackblade Guard continued their purge of the city.

Dissidents were torn from their houses and executed in the streets, their bodies left to rot in the baking sun as the smell of burning flesh rose high into the air. Often entire households would be extinguished in one fell swoop, and those with even the meagerest ties to the dissidents would be placed in Imperial custody to be tried and possibly executed at a later date. The leaders of both sides had already been captured and extracted, their arms and legs bound by sophisticated durasteel manacles with their heads covered by thick black sacks adorned with golden Sith runes. They would be carted off to one of the Empire's black sites, tortured and interrogated by the Sith until nothing of worth remained locked away with their skulls, and then quietly executed as to not create martyrs for any possible resistance to Sith rule.

In under an hour the city was under complete Sith control, and the majority of dissidents were either rounded up or destroyed. The city itself was in shambles, although the Empire had found it to be in that poor of a condition when they had arrived. That could no longer stand, and as the battle came to a decisive conclusion a plan was put into effect to dismantle the city block by block, and in its place erect an edifice to Imperial might that would surmount any previous works ever conducted on Ord Radama.

Livien Magnus would be no more, but in its place Livien Malgus would rise.