Private Salvaged Friendships

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

Daera did not enjoy spaceflight. It was not so much she was afraid of space like she once been, nor that she had a religious objection to it…it was that she felt powerless. Now, there were times where she enjoyed feeling helpless, but those times had guardrails built in. No, right now she was flying through space with just a few centimetres of metal plating between her and a horrible frozen death in the void.

On the plus side no one was shooting at her…yet.



"Ma'am, we're beginning out descent? Objective?" the pilot called.

Daera's gave snapped back to the holomap. The arm of the Arx's commercial wing stretched before her. She remembered well this place, having fought through it a short while ago at the climax of the Firemane War. It looked a bit different now, being mostly ruins. Yet those ruins contained a lot of valuable gear and materials to salvage.

Daera assessed the map and made her decision. "Sector six, rim-ward of the old Kerrigan villa. There's an open area we can set down. Watch for danger."

"Yes, ma'am!"



Daera looked around at her unit. Her unit…that still hadn't fully sunk in. She had taken command when High Captain Caelnor has been killed in this very place, but it had only been a month ago when she was officially promoted to the rank and authority. She had thought she'd be elated, but instead she was more anxious about not messing up than ever. She wondered whether other commanders had these insecurities and just hid them, or if she was alone.

Knowing she had to say something as she reviewed her first company, stretching down the long transport. Then pulled up a microphone, to be relayed to the other transports.

"Soldiers of Galondrona, High Captain Varias speaking. Prepare for action. Our objective is to secure a perimeter so our engineers and experts can land, and then protect them. Look to your officers for direction. Rules of engagement are simple; free fire against hostile targets, do not engage civilians. May the Goddess bless us."



They were getting closer now, and through the holoprojector Daera could see clearly the ravages of war and neglect.

"Be advised, ma'am, other ships are heading towards the residential arm."

"On collision course with us?"

"No ma'am, sector four and five. Ships report Qadiri and captured Firemane tags, maybe Suquan?"

Daera pursed her lips. That complicated things a little. It made sense others would be seeking to claim the bounty of the wreck of Firemane's empire.

"Open a channel to their lead ship, and hail them. Tell them we do not seek confrontation, and we will stick to sector six and higher, and they can stick to sector five and lower."

Since the arm was split into ten sectors, one for each kilometre, this would be an even split. Indeed, it might even be advantageous to the other ship.

Daera waited to see if the other vessel would return their hail, and if they wanted to negotiate with her.

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

Space had always disconcerted Xalda. It was dark, yet its darkness lacked any of the comfort and safety shadows of the Underealm. It was just a fathomless, cold void without end, yet populated by horrors and the burning sun. Her eyes darted across her troop. Many were Qadiri, some were Xio and in the latter case mostly Daughters. Many of them bore prayer beads or other tokens, invoking their deities. Several of them had stood with her during the final battle. She remembered it well. The frenzy, the death, the flames and the pillage. They had been like a cleansing flame, casting down their oppressors, burning their skypalaces and staining the streets with blood.

Their transport shuddered as its speed picked up. The craft was a bulky, boxy thing. A Firemane vessel with the, as one mechanic had put it, 'serial numbers filed off', whatever that meant. One of the arms of the 'Fortress of Eternity' loomed large ahead at them.

She rubbed the talisman, shaped like a serpent, around her neck as their transport began its descent. "Spirits of the sky, fire, earth, water and darkness, see us through this trial," she chanted, voice rising, "let no demon claim us, be we Xio or Qadiri, do not allow our souls to be lost in the cold void. Great Karishzar, preserve us, fortify our minds and make our blades strike true." There were murmurs among some of the warriors. "The void is cold, the void is heartless, and we defy it!"

"And we conquer it," a wiry and fierce looking Qadiri woman spoke as she walked down the long line. Zamkala Jai Anakqara. A long scar ran across her cheek. "As we did once before. Remember how the sky people mocked us, how they scorned us together with the fancy ladies who called us dirt? If Kashara is with us, who can be against us? Prepare for battle, warriors. The first came, we came here for retribution. Today, we come to take what is owed us. Let's dine like locusts, pick the line clean. We take all we can for our people in the ruins and tents. Protect our engineers and specialists, strike swiftly against anyone who opposes us. The surviving humans should have all fled...if we encounter any, they're our enemy."

"Ma'am," the pilot, a Qadiri who had ironically been trained by Firemane, called out. "Another transport is hailing us. An Eldorai vessel. They say they don't want a confrontation."
"So they say all the time," Xalda remarked. "Where are they going?"
"They say they're heading for sector six, and won't oppose us if we don't go higher than five."
"Closer to the hinge, it makes access to the other arms easier," Xalda observed, looking thoughtful.
Zamkala folded her arms. "Why the uncharacteristic generosity? Do they know something we don't?" she gazed at her warriors. Was she sending them into great peril? "Hail them. Ask for the name of their commander."

 

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

As Daera waited for the reply she examined the reports. As she was pouring over the maps, her commlink buzzed. Her subordinate, now Seraph Alia Trevain was hailing her.
"Seraph, what's the situation? You're coming down in sector six, correct?"
"Yes, ma'am, we should get to the ground in less than five minutes." A pause. "Is it true there are natives shadowing us?"
Daera frowned slightly, partly due to the question but also how it was asked. "Yes, I have asked them to stay in sector five and below. Still awaiting a reply."
Another, longer pause. On the holoscreen Daera could see her subordinate formulating something. "What are our orders about dealing with them?" Trevain finally asked carefully.
"Do not engage unless they clearly attack first. We do not need to take unnecessary casualties. There's plenty of station to salvage."
Yet another pause, Travain's eyes narrowed fractionally. "With respect, ma'am, we do not need to accept them being here. We can drive them off and make it clear we are in charge."
Daera's eyes also narrowed. "Seraph, I was given by orders by the Duchess herself. Nowhere in there is mention about starting an intergalactic situation by attacking people unprovoked." Daera was certainly not a Sciian, but she almost felt a flash of foresight come upon her. She was not a rash woman, but sometimes the situation required bold, decisive action. "Seraph, you will reroute to sector seven immediately. I will take sector six. If anything happens with these Tygarans I will be there for it." She did not even give her Seraph a chance to speak before she opened a comms channel to her pilot, and that of her second company.
"Pilot Navine, you will divert to sector seven. Pilot Araval, you will divert to sector six. Take time to replot your course properly."
Puzzled but affirmative replies met her ears and she felt her ship began to turn.
"Ma'am, I must protest this late change," Seraph Trevain cut in.
"Protest registered, but I am in command, and I will take over the sector closest to the Tygarans to ensure oversight of the situation."
Trevain looked about to complain, but then nodded. "Aye, ma'am, I'll let you know when we are down."

To the Suquan Alliance, it would seem that two Eldorai transports switched places, with the centre and left-most ships swapping places on their descent. The right-most ship continued onwards as before, heading for sector eight.

Daera wondered if she had done right. Changing operational tactics was not always a wise move on the fly, as it were. Yet the vision she had in her head was impossible to dismiss. Seraph Trevain innocently or deliberately causing an incident, with all the pointless bloodshed that would come of it.
"Ma'am, they are asking for who is our commander," the pilot said.
"Patch me in." She received a prompt that she was connected. "Qadiri force, this is High Captain Varias of the Duchy of Galandrona." She spoke in accented, but acceptable Zandri without a translator like the pilot had used. "Might I ask the same of you?"

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

"Any word from the foreign skyships?" Zamkala asked.
"No, but there's something curious, Sargord. The centre and left-most ships just shifted places on the last moment. They're descending. The skyship on the left is moving to sector six, the other for seven. The other is still on course for sector eight."

Zamkala frowned. "From which skyship did we receive the communication?"
"The one that's on the left now, closest to us." There was a buzz. "They are hailing us again. A 'High Captain' Varias from the 'Duchy of Galondrona'. Says she is the commander."
"Galondrona? Where is that?" Zamkar frowned.
"Northern Ajustra, I believe. The palekin name everything after places from Kay-Shay-Na." Xalda supplied helpfully, looking very pensive.
"Play the message for us."

After a couple moments of bursts of static, Daera's accented Zandri came droning through the communicator.
"I know this one," Xalda suddenly declared. "She serves the Lady Cadalthor."
Zamkar arched an eyebrow. "And?"
Xalda looked at her a bit enigmatically. "She is reasonable, slew many flat ears. She will not wish for a confrontation."
"Oh, really? We can't presume the same about the rest, can we?"
"No, we cannot, and we must be prepared. Yet it is not our only path. Tell her I am at your side." At Zamkala's questioning look, Xalda just gave her a slight smile.

"Give me the ghost machine," Zamkala ordered. She was still quite a bit awkward about this sky people tech. They would just have to live with her terminology. "This is Sargord Zamkala Jai Anakqara of the Royal Suquan People's Army. With me is Karrigan'Xalda. State your intent," she declared authoritatively. She was deliberately speaking in Zandri to make a point.

 

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

Daera was not long receiving a reply. She listened to it carefully, then let out an involuntary "oh" at Xalda's name. Thankfully she was on mute at the time, that might have been embarrassing!
She composed herself ands replied.

"Sargord Jai Anakqara, I greet you," Daera said slowly. She wasn't sure if she could get into a detailed discussion with her command of Zandri, but if there was one thing she knew it was how to respectfully talk to Qadiri ladies!
"Please give my regards to Karrigan'Xalda. We are moving to land in the housing arm of the Arx in order to salvage the ruins. We do not seek confrontation with you as the Arx has no owner. We will keep in the sixth sector and above as stated. The fifth sector and below is available to you. I have moved into position to take the sixth sector myself and my soldiers will be on strict orders not to cause trouble. Can I have your word you will return the favour?"

They were close now. But just then a message from the pilot cut in. "Ma'am, be advised, activity on the streets of the sector. Sensors have located numerous individuals and some skimmers mustering. It might be opposition, or it might be squatters."

"Understood, shields to maximum, prepare weapons." She switched channel back to the Qadiri. "Sargord, we detect possibly hostile forces moving on the ground. Be wary."
She didn't have to give this information, but negotiation was about giving and taking.

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

Zamkala gave Xalda a quizzical look as the Eldorai spoke. The Xioquo just...gave her an enigmatic smile. Not much further. Their sky-ship was closing in on the vast sky-palace from where the mayflies had exerted their dominance over Tygara. Now it was a monument to their arrogance...and a warning that there was still life out there in the stars. Hostile, threatening life.

But for now a decision had to be made. There was a bit of a delay before the Sargord spoke. "You have my word of hon-" And then suddenly things happened very fast, as she received the Eldorai's warning. "Understood, thank you."
"May the Karishzar watch and guide your path," Daera would hear Xalda say.

Zamkala switched to her own comms channel. "Jal Nakine, any activity on the ground?"
"Running scan, ma'am." The old vessel's sensors were not the most advanced. "Several skimmers in sector five...they're loading missiles. Goh! Directing power to shields." The transport vessel was of an older type and this close it would be difficult to evade.

"Cannoneers, to your guns! Take them out," Zamkala shouted to make herself heard. Strictly speaking, this was not the correct terminology for turrets, but the Qadiri didn't care much. "Everyone, prepare for a hard landing." Though strictly speaking not a cannoneer, Xalda promptly hastened down the coridor and climbed the ladder into a turret.

She tensed as she gazed outside, and saw the unnatural void that enveloped the vessel as they descended into the station. A chant on her lips, she took the controls, swung the turret around. The transport shuddered and rocked. Her cannon illuminated the void, raking what looked like an enemy position with fire. "Missile inbound, hang on!" she heard Jal Nakine yell over the ghost machine.

 

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

Daera had time to smile just a little at Xalda's words, before being thrust back into reality. Suddenly, the alarms blared.

"Incoming missiles, hold on!" the pilot ordered.

The ship jerked and spun, Daera could hear some poorly secured equipment behind her clatter, and some oaths and curses from soldiers.

She just gripped onto her chair, fighting to keep her stomach from revolting completely. The gunners on the transport opened fire, the heavy laser cannons spitting energy down at their targets.

Just as the ship righted and Daera thought they were through the worst there was suddenly a massive impact coincided with an explosion and the lights went out for a second before coming back on.

And then, they were through! "Ma'am, we've taken some damage but we're fine. We're coming in to land but there's going to be opposition!"

"Understood." She switched frequency. "Seraph Trevain, we're under heavy fire here, be warned. Continue descent, watch for scavengers and pirates."

"Yes, ma'am, a few shots so far, nothing serious. Goddess be with you."

"And you."



With a heavy, but controlled, impact, the transport hit the ground. "Alright, up! Go, go, go! Stay with your talons and wing leaders. Engage hostiles!"

Daera herself headed for the front entrance, Captain Nimana to her side, soldiers behind. The ramp conveniently popped up some barricades, so she drew her blaster carbine and took cover.

Great Goddess, hear my prayer and keep me safe….

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

The ship jerked violently and spun from the impact. Lights flickered. Strapped inside the gunnery, Xalda was safe, but her stomach lurched. Curses filled the air, as did prayers. Gritting her teeth, she let her cannon howl and it spat a fiery lance down towards the enemy's floating vehicles. It was all she could do from here. She silently prayed that they would be on the ground soon. Up here in this bulky, flying box, she felt helpless. Once there was solid ground on her feet, she knew what to do.

Just as the ship had righted itself, she heard the pilot call out. "A second salvo, hold on-" The entire sky-ship seemed to shake, sparks flew, lights flickered badly. Such was the force of the impact that her head hit the wall, leaving her dazed for a few moments.

"Status!" she dimly heard Zamkala shout.
"They hit one of the engines, we're down to half of our power. The good news is there's a square near the Kerrigan villa. I should be able to get us down there, if we don't get another hit like that. But it's going to be rough."

There was static. "Drop us on top of the bastards."
"Ma'am?"
"Just do it. They'll have to scatter. Direct power to engines. Everyone, hold on tight...and be ready for battle the moment we land! Cannoneers, give them hell."
Grimly, Xalda yanked the turret around and let it rip, while the box-shaped transport descended from the sky like a falling boulder tumbling from a mountain. Bolts of light flashed past and at the vessel.

Down on the ground, their unknown adversary seemed to be preparing another barrage when they realised that the transport was coming right at them...and apparently had no intent of slowing or retreating. She braced herself for the crash before the transport hit the ground, amidst rising smoke and flame.

Karishzar, lead us out of the burning light into the shadows...

 

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

Once the Arx's residential arm had been beautiful…if you could ignore the mind-bending sight of the arms above you, and the planet slowly rotating past. The wide main streets were laid out geometrically, with byways, and underneath regular mass transit services to shuttle people back and forth. Further, every 'sector', roughly equating to a square kilometre, had its own set of amenities including shopping malls, entertainment, parks and more.

Time and war had not been kind to the Arx though. The rows of apartments were empty and often damaged, the stores were looted, the greenery dead or overgrown, the mass transit long silent. The original residents had mostly long departed, but people still lived here in the ruins. Some were original residents unable or unwilling to leave, some were disbanded mercenaries carving out territory, and some were criminal or even slaver intruders.



Whoever they were, they were hostile. As Daera took cover, blaster bolts flew all around her, and one of her soldiers not two metres away was hit and went down wounded and cursing. She could see that her enemy had formed up behind a barricade of wreckage and parked or damaged vehicles, using it as cover to fire on her.

"Return fire! Gunners, take out any heavy weapons or vehicles!" she ordered. Ducking up she fired her blaster at some indistinct figures behind a ruined skimmer, or speeder as the galaxy people called it.

They were pinned down in the exit of the ship, they needed to push forward.

"Captain, take one platoon out the side exit, Wing Leader Tasra, take yours out the other. Advance along the street and clear the buildings as you go. Move!"

As they headed off, Daera still faced the situation before her. Any one who advanced into the open was nearly certain to be hit by the hail of blaster bolts, despite the ship's covering fire. And if they managed to get a rocket into the open mouth of the transport….



A bold move was needed, and Daera felt her fears melt away as a course of action came to her. It was risky, almost foolhardy, but it would solve the issue. The enemy were blockading the street ahead, making it difficult for the Eldorai to disembark and get close. So what if….

"Pilot, close the front exit and take off to ten metres and head straight forward. Break their barricade. Gunners, target them as we go. The rest of you, go to the side entrances and give fire, be ready to get out."

It would leave her isolated with only one third of her troops, but it would surprise the enemy and hopefully give them a chance to clear the path for all her troops.

As the ship started to take off, she ran to the right-hand entrance with some soldiers, whilst others went to the left. She readied her carbine to fire as they punched through the enemy defences….

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

Against all odds, they had survived.

Her head hurt. That was good...it meant she was alive. There was blood streaming down from her forehead. Her shoulder ached. Above her the lights had gone out. She planted a kiss on the talisman, unstrapped herself and climbed out of the turret. Sirens were blaring, she heard shouts. The air was filled with the smell of burnt ozone and smoke, but also anticipation, anger, fury. As she hastened down the corridor, she came across a grisly sight.

"Vundrel'Oqul!" she called out. No response from the prone warrior. She was bleeding badly, leg bent oddly. Her head had slammed into the bulkhead. Bending down, Xalda checked her pulse, and sighed in resignation. "Find peace in the shadow, sister," she said, voice full of sorrow.
"Everyone, move, move! Link up with your Jemedars and Subedars. For Suqua!" Zamkala's powerful voice came blaring out of the intercom. With a heavy heart, but resolute, Xalda arose. As she was about to hasten away, she heard a groan.

Another Xio lay not far from her fallen sister. But this was one was still breathing, though her face was bruised and she'd sustained a cut. Xalda gave her a slap. "Arise, on your feet sister!"
"What? Oh, you...I was having the nicest dream..." still dazed, Zanoma'Ajul staggered to her feet. She always ready with a joke but when she beheld the scenery, she turned serious. "Oqul?" she asked, concerned.
"She is one with the shadow," Xalda said.
"Damn it!" Xalda tears forming in her sister in the faith's eyes, before Ajul angrily brushed them away.
"Sister, we must..."
Ajul slipped on her helmet. "Let's collect some round ears for her."
Xalda looked at her for a brief moment, nodded. If her sister was sure she could fight, she believed her. "Qiskhar'Xonul, Quetza'Quava, Karou!" she called out to rally her fellow Daughters while she rushed to the front entrance of the vessel. "To battle, to revenge."

Outside, there was an image of chaos. The controlled chaos had created smoke, fire, wreckage and left the enemy disorientated. For now, at any rate. She found Zamkara with more warriors outside in cover behind some barricades near a broken skimmer. "They're going to be regrouping," the Qadiri Sargord said without preamble, ducking as a hailstorm of blaster bolts rained into their general direction, though the smoke and rubble made it difficult for the enemy to fire accurately.

"We're near the Betrayer's palace, yes?" Xalda spoke. "I feel the presence of the unclean inside it. If we cleanse it, we will have a more secure position from where to face our foe."
"Exactly, and we don't have much time before they get reinforcements and we're pinned between them and the villa," Zamkala said grimly. "Xalda, take your people to the villa. I'll start driving the enemy out of the square. We link up and clear the buildings around the edge."

"See you in the shadows," Xalda said quietly. Her eyes darted towards her fellow Daughters, looking at each of them. With her fingers, she signalled her intent. Crouching, they moved forward, shrouded by wreckage, clouds of smoke and flame. Amidst the wreckage, Xalda came across a figure, gleaming with blood. The man was propped up against a speeder, his eyes ablaze with the struggle for life. With one swift, economical motion, she cut his throat.

 

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

The ship lurched forward, just a metre or two off the ground. The sound of the engines was a roar as they sped forward. Daera could not hear any sound of the enemy, but struggled to hang on as the ship jinked hard and a rocket flew past her.

Crunch

Daera barely stayed on her feet as the transport ploughed through the barricade of speeders. She took as careful aim as she could with her battle sisters and opened fire as they punched through. Several of the scavengers and pirates opposing them had seen the ship coming and fled. Too slow. The Eldorai cut down several with blaster bolts to the back, or when they turned towards them again.

"Alright, move! Drive them out, don't give them time to recover!"

She dropped down from the ship, with her Taegis battle shield out and activated, and she advanced forward with her pistol now in her other hand. A pirate hoping to ambush her, stepped out from a doorway, but she dropped down behind the shield and gunned him down before he could he could get a second shot.

"Prisoners, ma'am, what do you want us to do with them?" Captain Nimana asked.

Daera saw a half dozen enemies had their hands up.

"Stun bolt them, cuff them and put them under guard. Interrogate some of them to find out who they are."

Her manoeuvre had broken the back of these enemies in this area, but the houses could hold any number of enemies, booby traps or hidden forces.

The transport though looked worse for wear. The front was deformed and crumpled, scored with blaster bolts.



Suddenly a door opened to her right, and she spun with her pistol raised, as did several of her troops. However, she raised it slightly when she saw an older human woman come out with her hands up.

"Don't shoot, I'm not with them!" she said in Basic.

"Stay there, who are you?" Daera asked. It was not worth getting lax and letting a suicide bomber or assassin get close.

"I'm Marva. I live here…I couldn't get on the escape shuttles in time, so I've been struggling to make ends meet for all this time. This lot, most of them are the Blackhands pirates. They have their base in the old Kerrigan palace." She pointed.

Daera used a pair of macros and could see in the distance the smoke of a ship downed, the flash of blaster bolts, explosions, near the old Kerrigan villa.

"Fetch any civilians you know here and take cover in these settlements. You can exchange information and salvage for passage off here," Daera decided.

"Oh, thank you, ma'am! I'll get the others, but we're scattered pretty good."

"Then get started now," Daera said. She connected her commlink. "Platoon 3, cover our rear and establish a perimeter for the engineers to land. Be advised there are some civilians gathering – keep them at a distance and I will deal with them. Platoon 2, follow up on me and form up." She looked to the Captain. "Losses?"

"Two killed, four injured, ma'am. Not bad, we got more of them."

"I'm not worried about that, there's always more humans. Pilot, ship status?"

"Damaged, ma'am. Going to need some repairs to even get it off the ground again." There was a note of accusation there.

"Saved a lot of lives, good flying, Salana."



Her eyes tracked to the distant signs of battle. Inside her helmet she bit her lip and activated her commlink.

"Sargord Jai Anakqara, what is your status? We ran into some enemies but have dispersed them for now. I have information that the alien Blackhand pirates are using the Kerrigan palace as a base; do you need assistance?"

It strictly wasn't in her remit. Would the Qadiri help her in such a situation? Probably not, but she owed it to fellow Asurans not to be defeated, or worse, captured by the pirate scum. She'd seen the aftermath of this before over 30 years ago on Kaeshana.

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

Time had not been kind to the Arx' residential area. Once this place had been bustling with life. Visitors had been assaulted by a barrage of bright lights and commercials, the stores had been filled with goods from all across the stars, the apartments had been clean and, in this section, luxurious. A utopia, for those who could afford it.

But now it was quiet, almost like a graveyard. Buildings had been burnt and looted. In places, the apartments had been overtaken by greenery. Not even all of the bodies had been cleared away. And yet, people still lived here. Did Zamkala feel sorry for the stranded, and the desperate? In an abstract way, she supposed. They had all fuelled Firemane's engine of oppression in some form, some more so than others.

She understood. Firemane had, for a time, been the biggest Yazgid matriarch so they had gravitated to it, hoped to earn some coin for themselves and their clan. Such was life, such was war. She understood, but didn't forgive. She was here to take their stuff. Because she and her soldiers had earned it with their blood, sweat and tears. Because back home her people were suffering. Her Jaziri had commanded her to go here, and Zamkala trusted her.

The broken street was choked with urban detritus. Moving through the smoke and past the rubble, her soldiers advanced towards the barricades. First contact with their foes, scavengers, pirates or whatever they were, was not long in coming. Their transport's unexpected charge had temporarily thrown the pirates' lines into chaos, but now they were rallying again and coming from down the square. Several squads, by the looks of it. Decently armed, but brash.

All the smoke, the rubble and other detritus reduced visibility. The place was an urban maze of chaos. The Qadiri did, however, have damn good hearing. Crouching, they took up position among the barricades, their force split in two. They waited, and waited, and waited. Zamkala gave the signal, and a grenade thoomped out of a launcher, arcing through the air and impacting upon one of the skimmers. Some pirates were lucky enough to get the hell off the vehicle. Not all of them though. The explosion picked up two, tossing them off the burning vehicle, shrapnel mangling their armour. One of the men managed to sit up, and tried to stand, only for his leg to collapse, and for him to collapse back into the pavement. A burst shattered his helmet's optics and splattered his brains.

Gunfire burst through the air towards their foes. The staggered barrage caught several pirates into the open. Rounds cracked towards Zamkala and she fired a quick burst before dropping back into cover, then firing again. Her first shots missed. Return fire bit the metal plating beneath her chin, and she ducked. Her next shots tore shredded a pirate's thigh. He dropped, crying in pain and drawing forth a comrade who rushed to help him. Big mistake. He was soon on the ground, wailing from shots tearing through his torso.

"Move! Jemedar Jal Khalim," she called out, "flanking fire, don't let them escape. Subedar Jai Zinal, cover our backs!" Whereas a Jemedar was a roughly equivalent to an NCO, a Subedar played a role akin to that of a Captain. Zamkala retrieved her shield from her back and grabbed her vibrospear. "Charge!" With a loud, high-pitched war cries, Suquan soldiers burst from their hideouts like ravenous Yazgids seeking prey to sink their claws and teeth in. Up close, the Qadiri held the advantage. Efficiently, ruthlessly, they cut through foes. Her shield took a shot that sent pain stabbing through her shoulder, but she ran onward, thrusting the tip of her vibrospear into a pirate's gut. He went down, the shots from his blaster going wild. Blood coated her spear when she stabbed him in the neck.

Her commlink buzzed, and she crouched behind a broken skimmer, shield up. "Appreciate the information," she finally said, ears ringing from the sudden eruption of heavy repeater, "we have the situation in hand. Make sure none of the enemy crosses over from your sector." She terminated the call. "Where's the repeater fire coming from? We need eyes on that shooter!"

"Second floor window, building to the right down the alley!" Her Jemedar shouted. Or rather hole where the window had been.
"You see their firing position?"
"Not well enough for a shot. And it sounds like two of them."
"Alright, everyone stay alert, and hold where you are." Fiery bursts erupted towards them, tearing up pieces of masonry and bombarding the wall she had hidden against. No fire discipline there.

She activated her commlink again, but her call went to their transport. After all, for all the damage the ship had taken, the guns still worked. "Jal Nakine, can you hear me?"
There were bursts of static. "I'm here, ma'am. What can I do?"
"'Alley, rightmost building, second floor. Have the cannoneers light them up."
"On it, Sargord. Be advised, it's not going to be that precise." She cut the connection.
Her Jemedar's voice came crackling through the commlink. "Two wounded, we got them into cover. One dead. We need to lock this place down quickly."

"Once those bastards are suppressed, we make a break for the building. I go in, you keep any surprises off our back." A frown. "The palekin say the Kerrigan palace is the HQ of a pirate gang."
"You trust them?" The Subedar's's voice was laced with scepticism.
"No. Pays to be prepared. Subedar Jai Zinal," she triggered her commlink. "Shadow the Xio's approach, and tell Xalda to expect stiff resistance. A pirate leader may be present. Capture if possible." As she spoke, laser cannons blazed, unleashing a hailstorm towards the second floor of the broken building.

xxx

There was an unspoken rule about Kerrigan's palace: it had to be the biggest residence in the area. Just like she had to have the biggest chair in any conference rooms so she could look on anyone else. Once Xalda had looked upon her in awe. She had called her Saviour, Queen, Karishzar. Now she knew better.

The Karishzar was greater than any human could be. Siobhan had been her instrument for a time, before fully embracing evil. She had not uplifted the Xio as her sisters, but trampled upon them. For this, the Karishzar had withdrawn her blessing. Her demise had been the inevitable result. Her empire had fallen. Now all that was left was scavengers, fighting over the wreckage.

She and Ajul pounced two pirates on patrol who had been alerted by the sound of gunfire and distant explosions. Hers was a Twi'lek. Her dagger sliced through the blue woman's vulnerable lekku, while the hand around her foe's mouth muzzled her cry of anguish. The corsair's body spasmed, and Xalda finished her off. Quickly, they hid the bodies and then hastened into cover behind some wreckage as a skimmer blazed across the broken street.

She and her small group moved on, crouching and sneaking through urban detritus. The bloated moloch of a palace loomed ahead of them, surrounded by wreckage and ruins. Scanning the area with her binoculars, she found the entrance was under heavy guard. Still functioning turrets, criminal thugs or scavengers on patrol. She knew of a side entrance though...

Her commlink beeped quietly. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. "I greet you, we are on target, how do you fare?"
"The Sargord is advancing. Be advised, pirates are using the palace as a base. Sargord wishes their leader captured if possible," Subedar Jai Zinal's voice came crackling over the comm. "I am moving towards you with some of my troops."
"Spirits guide your path, Subedar."

Xalda scanned the area with her binoculars again, looking pensive, then gestured to Karou and brought forth a rough map of the residence. "You see the side entrace here?" At Karou's nod, she continued. "Take a few of our sisters. Avoid the guards, plant explosives to shatter the wall. When they are drawn out, hide. Jai Zinal is coming."
Her Karrigan sister smiled grimly. "You had me at explosions. Where are you going?"
Xalda pointed at one of the upper levels. "Scaling up there. Ajul, come with me." She began to prepare some ropes.

 

[Daera Varias]

Karrigan'Xalda

As the message was relayed from the Qadiri, Daera nodded. In a way she was relieved that she wouldn't be charging across the open space.

"Stars shine on you, Sagord. We'll watch your back."

However, she did spot a small group of scavengers fleeing the Suquan onslaught, heading unwittingly straight towards them. With gestures, she commanded her troops to take cover. The pirates fired a few shots back towards the Qadiri and continued on, not noticing the Eldorai light infantry until they were right on top of them.

Without any hesitation, Daera raised her blaster carbine and shot the first, a Zabrak, through the chest. Three of the others were cut down immediately, and the last threw themselves to the ground.

"I surrender! Don't shoot me!" She was a Rodian, though by no means a bystander based on her tattoos and weapons.

Daera was conflicted for a second, but the decision was taken from her when Talon Maasin stepped forward and stabbed the prone Rodian with a vibroblade through the neck. A high pitched wail was quickly cut off.

"Ma'am?" she asked, looking at Daera.

"Good work, Talon," Daera said, nodding. "Set squads in the buildings either side of the road here. Shoot at anything armed coming this way."



That done, she turned her attention back to her claimed area of the Residential Arm. "Captain Nimana, get 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Platoon to start investigating buildings in pairs. Authorised to demolish doors and walls as needed. Watch for civilians, enemies and traps. Promising locations to be marked down for investigation.

Daera gave similar orders to the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Platoon near her and walked back with just a small escort to where a group of civilians and her engineers were coming in to land.

"Alright, get working on making our transport ready to fly, we may need to go quickly," she ordered the engineers. "Follow the tags to good salvage."

She could see already some troops were locating things of use, but nothing amazing yet. A lot of the clearly valuable things had been picked over already, but if they had time there was more which could be found.



It was at that moment, when only the distant sounds of fighting could be heard, and the sound of ships landing had paused that she felt…something.

At first she thought it was an explosion or shockwave, but she checked and it seemed not. Instead, it felt like there was a vibration coming from the ground itself. Kneeling down she placed her hand on the dirty, scarred plating of the 'ground', and could feel it almost pulsing.

Standing, she was about to call out to her engineers when the throbbing ceased. Frowning, she headed over to the civilians. They were a pitiful bunch; humans and xenos wearing rags and carrying small bundles of belongings. They were lined up against the wall, not to be shot, but to keep any of them from concealing any untoward behaviour.

Daera moved towards them. "Marva," she said in Basic. "I just felt a vibration through the ground before. Do you know what it is?"

"No, ma'am, it started a little while ago, and it's been getting stronger. I dunno what it is though. Is it dangerous?"

"Unclear," Daera said. Stepping away she switched back to Eldarai, "Tasra! Get me two squads from 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] Platoon and meet me here on the double!" The Wing Leader saluted and went to muster her troops.

"Everything alright, ma'am?" Nimana asked, coming over.

"I'm not sure. Keep an eye out here, and keep in contact with Trevain. I'm going underground…."

 

[Karrigan'Xalda]

Daera Varias

The burst fired from the transport vessel' rang terribly loud, drowning out the noise caused by the breaching charge's detonation. Jemedar Jal Khalim's team had set up machine guns behind barricades to cover the street. Zamkala was going in. The door was blown off its hinges, a smoke grenade was lobbed inside the lobby, and the Qadiri charged. In a matter of seconds, three pirates were dead in a blaze of gunfire. Pistol in hand, Zamkala stepped over one of the corpses. They moved in pairs, systematically securing the lobby and what was left of the living room. "Clear!" Roya Jai Anhala called out.

At her signal three of her comrades began to scour the rest of the ground floor and the lower levels. Cautiously, she started up the stairs, back to the wall. She heard whispers in Basic, along with the blaze of a heavy repeater. The Sargord stepped up high enough to peer over the lip of the first floor. Her helmet struck something and she froze. The building had seen better days. As she placed her foot on the next step, it creaked.

Through a blown-out window frame, she could see where the repeater was perched. However, the shooter was outside of her line of sight, wrapped in darkness. Pity there was no Xio here with her. She glanced towards the Jemedar with her, made a hand signal. Her companion silently tapped his helmet in affirmation.

She threw the grenade over the railing, hoping it would not bounce back. Quickly, she dove behind a wall, cursing as she hit her shoulder. The Jemedar had raised his carbine and fired a full burst before plunging for cover. The blast shook the wall and hammered her ears. Grimacing, Zamkala edged towards the room from where the firing had been coming.

One Rodian had been cooked. The explosion had blown him through the room. No Yazgid would touch that meat. Zamkala tensed when she heard a moan. It sounded like that of a man in his death throes. But he could be playing possum. She squeezed the trigger, firing several shots into the room. She stepped into the room.

A Zabrak lay in a pool of blood, groaning in pain. Next to him a human. For a moment Zamkala's tense posture relaxed. Then she suddenly heard movement. Jemedar Jai Anhala spun around, unloading into a human who had come charging towards them. It was a brief moment of distraction, but enough for the human to deliver a hard kick that sent her tumbling. Her pistol shot, fired on reflex, went wide. He hurled himself at her, twisting her arm to force the gun's barrel towards her face. Zamkala grunted, struggling against his strength. With a grunt, she thrust her thumb into his eye. He howled, his grip loosened just a bit and she fired. She was left panting, and splattered with blood.

Roya Jai Anhala hauled the body of her and helped her up. "You alright?"
"Great," Zamkala noticed the Jemedar was bleeding from the side. "You better do something about that. Jemedar Jal Khalim," she spoke into her comm, "central building secured, nothing of interest thus far. Proceed with securing the street. I want every building investigated. Watch out for traps and pirates." She switched the comm channel. "Subedar Jai Zinal, what's your situation?"

"The Xio planted an explosive charge, it's caused a stir," the Subedar's voice was overlaid by gunfire. "We're engaging the pirates as they come go. Xalda's moving from the roof."
"Good, take the pressure of her-" However, over the sound of fighting it suddenly felt as if the earth was shaking. She and her Jemedar shared a look.
"I feel it, too, ma'am," the Jemedar said. "Something's off."
"Call the palekin. See if she's...noticed something," Zamkala said reluctantly.


xxx

Sweat dripped down Xalda's face while she dragged herself up the rope. Nice and slow, don't look down. Beneath her lay ruins, the detritus of war. The Kerrigan mansion towered above it all, a monument to vanity, greed and pride. Once she'd been proud to be invited here. Once her heart had skipped a beat when the Betrayer smiled at her...

She kept scaling the wall. Not much further. A sniper was in place on the roof, eyes peering through his rifle's scope. Two sentries stood guard. One of them was armed with a repeating blaster. Xalda peered up at the roof, before quickly lowering her head. She dared to look down, and her heart raced. Breathe in, breathe out. Then the building was shaken by a loud roar that tore through part of the wall.

Chaos broke out, down on the surface boots thumped as pirates charged out and Xalda threw herself on top of the roof. The sniper barely had time to react before Ajul flung a knife at him. Qiskhar'Xonul and Quetza'Quava grabbed another guard. Before the sentry with the intimidating looking repeater could react, she was upon him, a garotte wrapped around his throat. The human struggled against the wire that held him, pouring all his strength into trying to loosen the noose around his throat. But the embedded barbs tightened further, biting into soft skin.

His eyes bulged, blood trickled down. Panicking, he pushed back against his captor. Xalda stumbled, being knocked backward while she still held him in a deadly embrace. Almost over the roof. Only one step more, and they would 'fly'. Quickly, she let go of her quarry, giving him a hard push. He stumbled, gasping for breath. She thrust her dagger into his back.

Quickly, she hastened to rejoin Aju. Dead bodies now lined the roof. Her companion took one look at her. "I thought you were the octopus," she said teasingly.
"I've been called such," Xalda said innocently. "Find the...energy box, and plant an ion charge. Let's see how well the sky people cope without their lights and their machine eyes." For her part, she jogged over to a metal door. However, as she retrieved a lockpick she suddenly felt...something. "Anyone else feel that?" Aju asked, having just found the power relay. Xalda bent down, placing her ear to the roof and touching the ground with her hand. "The ground is disturbed. It comes from far below."