Skirmish [SO/GA] Caldera Crisis

[Darth Empyrean]

Tag: Open, Sorta.​

Location: Cloaked Ship - Caldera System​

​

The battle had been underway for hours - perhaps even longer. The Jedi had made a strong show of force, raining down from their perch up high to save, corral, give safe harbor to the poor and disenfranchised. Those who had been forsaken by the Sith, by the Caldera, and by their own lack of wit. For the Sith, however, today was simply a reckoning - one long overdue.​

​

Dead as he was, his heart failed to feel much of anything as he watched various scenes playout on multiple screens before him. The fights and duels of his Sith, striking out against Jedi forced onto the backfoot - it was a decent event, all things through, but he considered the Jedi response dangerous. This was a client state, he had predicted them to respond quickly to Darth Carnifex 's arrival on Korriban - but he hadn't expected such a large show of force.​

​

More interesting however, was that despite this show of force - the Sith were doing well. The Holograms, the Reports, everything he had his disposal told him this was true - and as his finger rubbed at the ring of his marriage with Srina Talon - he watched the battle's take place, from his safe vantage point at the edge of the system.​

​

None knew the Emperor had arrived, none were aware he watched their every move. But he had, and he did - to find the greatest among both sides.​

 

[Nyaeli]

​

Location: Elom
Attani Implant: Link!
Tag: Shan Pavond

How had it come to this?

No matter how hard she tried, or how much strength and anger she forced into her offensive, this Padawan was resisting her. She had slain several of his kind before, either by driving them insane or by physically destroying their bodies with the Force, and now she was on the losing side. He had even been burned, but something deeper within Shan gave him a lot more strength than she was given by her own hatred for the Jedi.

So finally, when she had exhausted herself trying to kill him, Nyaeli was forced on the defensive. Several blows in a row were deflected, but another sent her stumbling back before a follow-up attack from Shan sent the hilt of her lightsaber flying away. She landed on her back, her chest heaving from exhaustion, and by the time she looked up, she was staring straight at the tip of his green blade.

This was it.

Nyaeli closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and waited for the inevitable to come. But... it didn't Her eyes opened to see him standing with an outstretched arm, offering her a hand up. A flash of anger burned in her eyes as a result. Was he showing her mercy? Was he really that pathetic? She was trembling but realized that only one person had truly been pathetic today. "Don't you dare touch me," she told him after pulling herself up, denying his offer to heal her.

She took several steps back, her eyes focused on him alone for a long moment. But then, without even thinking about collecting her lightsaber, she turned around and ran away.

Today, Nyaeli's mind had been broken.

 

[Shan Pavond]

The adrenaline was still running through Shan's system. His arm tensed in case he had to trigger his saber again...but Nyaeli didn't seem to be going for her own.

He had expected Nyaeli to deny his offer for healing...but he hadn't expected her to run off away from him. Walk, yes, but not run. She hadn't even taken her lightsaber with her which also caught Shan by surprise. The Padawan crouched down to pick up the Sith's saber before placing it on his belt quite unsure of himself. Was it a good idea to even have something that had caused Force knows how many deaths on his hip? He just reassured him that it was safer than leaving it out in the planet. He could always hand it into the temple so they could keep it secured away. For now, he was still needing to focus on well...leaving.

But first he was going to have to pick up the woman he had knocked out to take her back as well. That was not going to be a fun experience but it was something that had to be done either way. She was the entire reason he had went through that fight in the end. So even if his body was aching and broken, he was still going to have to carry her back. And luckily for her, he wasn't broken! Just...aching. Which might have actually been worse now that Shan thought about it.

Straight up into the fireman's carry, Shan threw the woman up and over his shoulder, letting out a small grunt. "...Why are people always heavier than they look?" Well, there was no point waiting around. The Padawan just broke out into a jog away from the battlefield. There was no point in bothering to check the refugees who had been killed by Nyaeli. It was more important for him to just get out of here. Though there was something in the back of his mind. A strange feeling that he wasn't sure if he should like it or not. About Nyaeli.

This probably wasn't going to be their last encounter.
Nyaeli

 

[Cambria Zadira]

DELIVERANCE
ELOM
Sith Pursuit
Judah Lesan | Darth Strosius

It couldn't have been timed any better as the ambush set up for the Sith forces advancing towards the refugee rendezvous point for exfil wasn't going as well as Cambria had hoped for...

The nine-man squad of elite troopers from the Alliance's Star Corps and the blue-skinned Master Jedi were heavily outnumbered by the dark-side minions even though the moment of the initial surprise attack did work in their favor early on but dwindled as they just keep coming. If it wasn't for a flyby of a HAAT gunship that dusted the valley floor for them, the perubile line drawn in the sandy desert dirt they were holding might have been crossed; putting the refugee rescue in jeopardy.

Seeing an opening in the battle as the enemy had been significantly weakened by the on-target strafing run, the Jedi Guardian led a charge, calling the seasoned troopers to advance with her. It didn't take long to dispatch the remaining Sith minions in the vicinity, though inherently with every win there are always losses.

Zeta Squad had lost one and two others had various injuries, but the troopers had held the line - which was their one mission this day. The former Jedi General was proud of them, and they would earn praise for their efforts.

It was in that moment of calm in the storm that Cambria received a troubling telepathic message sent from her Jedi partner...

// “Bri… I need you.” //

Judah was in trouble. Real trouble as the stubborn Corellian wouldn't reach out to her and say that unless the Master Jedi was truly in deep poodoo... Mostly caused by his own stupidity, but that is for a later discussion, she mused to herself before responding in like.

// "Coming... Just hold on a minute more." //

Shutting down her Jedi weapon and reattaching it to her utility belt, Cambria turned to face the bruised and battered yet triumphant men. "Well done, gentlemen, though I am sorry it was at such a cost to you." came a sincere nod of the Rutian Twi'lek's head and a twitch of her lekku, then the Force user's golden orbs settled on the NCO.

"Sergeant, see to the mop up here, and that your wounded are taken care of ASAP. I am needed elsewhere... May the Force be with you all."

<< "Thank you, ma'am. You can lead us anytime... And may the Force be with you too, Master Zadira." >> Sergeant Bryd answered giving a two-figure salute to the woman as he watched the exotic beauty turn on booted heel and run off like a racing horse towards the direction the Darkside marauders had come from right back into harm's way it would seem.

<< "You're gonna need it." >> he mumbled to himself, then began barking out the orders given to his squad.

~*~
​

As Cambria drew closer to the one on one battle ahead, it became apparent Judah was in the fight of his life as she could feel the man's anxiety grow through their Force bond. The Corellian Jedi was an excellent bladesman, but even the best falter from time to time.

Tamping down on her Force Signature in an attempt to dull her approach, the tell-tale signs of a Light and Dark lightsaber duel ensuing were heard and finally seen with twin blue blades colliding with red.

She witnessed from a distance Judah taking a hit to his lower leg and going down in pain. Then, in a follow-up maneuver, the Sith went for a killing blow.

Noooo! Not this day you will die if I can help it...

With that thought motivating her, Cambria ran with a burst of speed, then pushed off a large boulder and launched her lithe body high into the air with a forward flip.

The Twi'lek Jedi then ignited her lightsaber on the downturn before landing very near the two men hopefully surprising the Sith.

The Jedi Master's cerulean blue blade, therefore, reached out and blocked the crimson just in time to deter a life-ending scenario, parrying it off, then the Guardian gave the darksider a hefty Force push before he could do anything else giving them some distance to regroup.

"Well, you seem to have really done it this time, Mister Trouble... Can you fight?" Cambria inquired in an amused yet very concerned tone over her shoulder as she took up a defensive stance in front of Judah and readied herself for the next round if it were to come.

 

[Niynx Ioune]

<< Within the depths of self-knowledge, our fortress against the dark side is built. >>
— Niynx Ioune, personal journals
​

• Elom — Capital City
• Tags — Lao-ta | Darth Carnifex | Dominik Borra | Katherine Holt
• Objective I (PvP) — Stop the Dark Lord

"Quite interesting," mused Carnifex from atop the palace stairs.​

​

Sweat soaked Niynx's brow, stinging his eyes with salt, his chest heaving and breath course with every inhalation. The muscles in his jawline fired and throbbed with determination, his eyes heavy. Ash and dirt covered his face and clothes now, stained by trails of sweat and under-lit by the dull red glow of burnt skin. You have no power over me, Sith.

"Stay... strong, Padawan Holt," Niynx managed through clenched teeth. ​

"Do not give in... to his torment... for he thrives on our doubt... believe in yourself... trust in your training... let the Force guide you." ​

"Not an animal, are we Jedi?" Mocked the Sith, laughing.​

"Perhaps a man, then? We could make a monster of you yet."​

​

BBBBBOOOOOOOOOMMM!!
Plasmatic light engulfed the palace stairs and caught the air afire, a thunderclap which hit him like a physical wall, causing his ears to ring. Niynx felt the shift immediately, felt as the Dark Lord's power withdrew itself and diminished back unto its source. Felt it, and let his own brimming light reach out and attempt to fill the space it left behind. Warmth, embrace, relief ebbed and flowed out from Niynx into the air around him, emboldening Katherine, evening his own breath and allowing him to stand taller. Closing his eyes, momentarily reverent, Niynx drew in cooled air and reached for not one, but now both of the blades at his waist. With crackling, echoed snap-hissings, each bloomed a brilliant emerald at his side— his, and the shorter blade of his late Master.

His fingers slid into the grooves of La T'vil's weapon, decorated with small beaded charms which dangled like talismans from its hilt, clacking as they swayed in the winds. Memory and sensation seeped into Niynx, pulling upon the saber's experience, upon the legacy of La T'vil with his Kiffar's gift for psychometry. It was as if he could feel her there, guiding the blade to hum and twirl about his fingers, landing in her most familiar reverse grip. He filled himself with the Force, then released all his gathered breath at once and launched himself at Darth Carnifex. Emboldened by the Force, he hit the stairs running and took them three at a time, legs burning, muscles screaming.


It is the destiny of every Jedi to confront fear.
And I am equal to the task.

He struck out at the Dark Lord with every ounce of hitherto acquired grace and skill in his little, teenaged, growing and gangly body, joining the fray at Dominik's side. Leaping through the air in a cobbled-together fusion of Jedi techniques, Niynx thrust into a maneuver closely resembling Form IV's The Cyclone Dances With The Tempest. With long, green-glowing, spinning trails, each blade snaked out like whip tongues, arcing for the Sith's face, and for the stowed lightsaber at his belt.

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Sith Pursuit
Equipment: Lightsaber, Sword, Dagger, Armor
Tags: Judah Lesan / Cambria Zadira

​

Alisteri had wasted no time in pressing his advantage after his kick had landed, and with quite the satisfying noise of pain from the Jedi at that. With the Jedi seemingly locked in place by his now injured leg, he began a flurry of strikes against the raised blades of his opponent. They were wild and fairly easy to block given how they were aimed at the blue blades themselves but soon enough his intent was clear. He was just batting them out of the way to get a clear shot.

One last downward strike from his sword shifted the lightsabers just enough so that he had an opening to move in for the kill with his own red blade. He reared back and thrust forward aimed right between the Jedi's collar bones, one that would have ended the fight if it landed. They keyword of course being, if it landed. In the span of a few short moments someone landed next to the dueling pair, his gaze snapping over to see a newly arrived Jedi right as her blade blocked his own and saved his opponent from his stab. Before he could try and thrust his sword into the gut of the newcomer she unleashed a wave within the Force and he was thrown off his feet, away from the pair.

The masked man hit the ground hard and rolled for a moment before he shot back up onto his feet, rolling his shoulders as he let out an angered hiss of pain. If the Jedi had just been a moment later then his initial opponent would have been felled. Now he had to deal with two of them at once. "Of fething course he has a little friend." Alisteri took a moment to assess the situation as he willed away the aching of his newest bruises.

He was thrown a short distance away, one that he could easily close in but a few moments with his enhanced speed, but that still left the two Jedi right next to one another and with one of them at the ready whilst the other could still at the very least take a few swings at him. Not ideal at all but better than having to worry about the pair of them flanking and surrounding him he supposed.

Giving them any more time to recuperate than he already had could prove fatal if his initial opponent could get back up and moving again, so he had to make his move now. With no time to waste he dashed forward albeit with a sidestep. If he could come at the Twi'lek from the front and keep the injured Jedi behind her then the chance of having to fight both of them at once was slightly diminished.

It was a chance that he was willing to take.

When he was but a few steps away he pounced forward once more and drew his lightsaber and sword up to make two separate thrusts, his lightsaber aiming high for her shoulder while his sword aimed to strike at her thigh or stomach. If he could get the both of them wounded then the playing field would be a bit more even at the very least.

 

[Dominik Borra]

Gear:
Ebony, Sword | The Equalizer (x2 Void Bullets)| Mirrorverse Heavy Pistol(Ravage) | Amulet of Many | Personal Armor | Robotic Arm | Cybernetic Eye | Thorns | GH05-T SPARK droid
Tags: Katherine Holt | Darth Carnifex | Niynx Ioune | Lao-ta

A gout of emerald green flame burst forth in the empty space at the Dark Lord's side, and from it emerged a dark shape of iron and steel. It was a sword, though the blade was broken with about one-third from the tip unevenly snapped off. Dark runic inscriptions ran the length of the blade itself, and they seemed to glow and pulsate with a dark unworldly hunger.

Both their blades met faster than either could blink, sparks flying from the impact as both held their ground. What was strange was that the Dark Lord had not even reached for the blade, His hand was nowhere near the hilt to grasp it, and He'd barely moved since the explosion. Rather, the sword was floating in midair and had moved of it's own accord. In reality, the blade was being wielded by the Dark Lord's will rather than His physical self, but it gave the appearance of moving all by itself.

Only then, face-to-face, did the Dark Lord open both of His eyes to stare down at His adversary.

"Shall you be the first to slake Tosochkashai's thirst?"

The green fire, the sparks, the clang of metal instead of the snarling growls of a saber. Dominik's heart fell to his feet. He wasn't touching it he was using the Force to hold it. He wasn't sure about this new name, but it matched the reports of The Devourer. The blades scraped together and Dominik looked up into the Sith's eyes. Carnifex wouldn't be able to see it or sense it due to the amulet he wore, but his own eyes burned with hatred towards this monster.

"Shall you be the first Sith-" He broke the lock of the swords and swung twice more, hoping the blade would stay on the defensive. His strikes were calculated to keep it away from his dangling bleeding right arm. If it struck there, even a lick, he'd be done for. "To Fight-" and towards that exposed, thick-muscled chest of the Sith Emporer, Dom raised his Equalizer, trigger already squeezing. The hammer would thunder back as it came in line with his chest. "Like a MAN?"

The Void bullet probably wouldn't stop someone so intuned with the Force as Darth Carnifex, but it would greatly hurt his ability to channel anything, and probably keep him from holding the sword with the Force and make him use his hands.

The sound of a second saber igniting behind him gave Dominik some hope. Whether the Void Bullet hit or not he shifted to one side, the side with the sword, and began his own series of attacks. The padawan had no armor, no possible defense against the terrible might of the broken blade's edge. Dominik did. His own style, even though one-handed, resembled Form III. Always defensive and taking the strikes that he could. He would have preferred his right arm working so he could hold a blaster there, firing in the open area after a parry or block. But the pain and feeling in his right arm was getting worse and worse, and it wasn't functioning much anymore. The recoil from firing the latest shot was almost enough to make him drop it but he held on, his own blood running down the barrel.

 

[Lao-ta]

Elom
Palace
Niynx Ioune Darth Carnifex Dominik Borra Katherine Holt

Lao-ta set down her fighter in a clearing at the foot of the palace steps. Popping open the canopy she leapt out and began a mad force empowered dash up the steps to where she felt the four life essences locked in combat. Part way up she saw flashes of green amidst the smoking rubble and recognized her padawan striking with two luminous blades at a massive figure. She recognized the giant as Darth Carnifex himself, a broken sword whirling in the air before him. She masked herself in the force as she approached hoping for any element of surprise she could gain.

On the opposite side of the sith lord was an armored man wielding a sword and pistol against the giant keeping the sith blade occupied with movements that appeared to derive from the Soresu form of lightsaber combat. Not a jedi then, but trained in jedi arts. Even with the three of them the odds were long against Carnifex.

The last person she sensed was a red haired girl. Lao-ta sensed that she was strong in the force, but fear clouded her. She did not appear to be ready to engage the sith, but seemed safe for the moment. Niynx and this other man were keeping Carnifex occupied. She admired their bravery in the face of this colossal dark force as she rushed up the stairs. How would she engage to best help them? Sabers yes, but first....

As she closed the distance she identified the dark presence of Carnifex's sword. The ripples in the force as he manipulated it with his mind were palpable. She touched it with hers and, as daunting as the idea of contesting his hold on the weapon was, she grasped the blade with the force and WRENCHED it down into the floor trying to create an opening for the other two. As she closed the last bit of distance she leapt, both sabers springing to her hands and igniting, and she dove headlong towards the sith from above like the hawkbat that inspired her preferred form. Her turquoise blades pointed down like twin fangs.

 

[Judah Lesan]

.

Wearing: xxx
Weapons: xxx x2
Tag: Darth Strosius | Cambria Zadira

The barrage of attacks was nearly overwhelming, and they served on purpose, to disarm the Jedi. It was something Judah could only hold off for so long. In the end his enemy was successful. The Jedi master heard the clanking of his cylindrical hilts as they hit the ground. Their blades fell silent as Judah waited for the inevitable strike. If Cambria did not arrive in time she would find her friend with the force.

Air brushed against him as the Twi’lek landed to intercept the attack, along with a mental chastisement of sorts. Yes, Judah was causing more trouble. He was in trouble, and Bri was there once again to save his beautifully shaped behind. There would be little time to do anything. Knowing the ferocity of the Sith he would smell his chance to end the life of at least one Jedi. Judah would need to heal himself so he could fight, or the pair would need make their escape.

He could not abandon the fight until he knew the refugees were safe.

"Well, you seem to have really done it this time, Mister Trouble... Can you fight?"

The Corellian nodded.

"Buy me a few minutes. I'll be fine."

Judah closed his eyes as he began to send the force through his leg. It was not meant to speed his movements or leap into the air. The force would mend the damage. Judah was not a proficient healer, not to the degree others were, but he knew how to take care of himself well enough. It was a benefit of being committed to the light side of the Force.

Healing was an option.

Cambria would buy him the time he needed to ensure his knee healed properly. If there was anyone he trusted with his life, it was his best friend. Of all the Jedi the Corellian Master had worked with, Bri was by far his closest ally and trusted more than any other. Not even @Valery Nobel came close to the level of trust he had spent years forming with his partner. Whatever the Twi’lek needed to do to keep Judah safe, she would do.

It would be enough for him to once again stand at his feet and be ready for the Sith to attack again. His blades were in hand once more, the Jedi Master once again assumed the opening stance of his favored form, Niman.

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Wearing: Prototype Armor


Armed With: Nathan's Saberstaff



A Sith Soldier screamed as he was yeeted off a tall building by Nathan. Who then teleported to the ground, watching the soldier hit it and die on impact. Just enough time to think about what he had done.

Nathan almost never killed willingly if left to his own devices, the major exception being Brain Demon Cultists and situations such as this. He stared at the corpse a moment, made sure he was dead (The soldier had been killed in this manner for the particularly egregious offense of killing a family in front of him. If you read his bio, you will understand why that's a bit of a no-no.) and then turned around and resumed finding and evacuating the Ashlans.

Along the way he came across one of the soldier Biots in a skintight urban camouflage catsuit of armor weave. She was covered in blood, feeding on a Sith Lord who had been maimed by her and then rendered comatose.

His nose crinkled in mild disgust under his red helm. What the hell was the point in making the Android also a vampire? Were they trying to scare the daylights out of everyone? And what the feth was the reason behind making the Biots look like supermodels? Nathan couldn't comprehend the reasoning. Had the designer even tested any of them with focus groups to see what wouldn't come off as creepy?

She stood up, and he immediately recognized her by the gold, needle-like Atrisian Hairpin that doubled as a weapon, securing her hair in a tight bun. Dulcinea.

"Hello Nathan." she said, ceasing her feasting as she stood up from the dead Sith, blood dribbling down her chin. Like all MasqueradeWorks Soldier Biots, she resembled a an athletic, curvy woman with very tan skin and gorgeous features.

"Watch yourself. Lots of Sith Knights in this area. This is my third one today." Dulcinea advised calmly, hefting a DLT-19.

"Come across any survivors?" Nathan asked.

"A few. But the Knights around here are going out of their way to find survivors and kill them. Caught this one before he could finish off an Ashlan Padawan." Dulcinea answered, gesturing to the Sith Corpse.

"His weapons. Where are they?" Nathan asked.

Dulcinea pointed to a small bundle and Nathan immediately went over to examine them. Twin curved hilts.

He concentrated, calming his mind, hesitantly opening himself up to the Force. He felt the darkness in the lightsabers. Dulcinea covered him on instinct, casually Arthur Morgan-ing four troopers that had taken aim with sequential headshots (She increased her Dead Eye Meter!).

"Thank you." he complimented quietly.

"No trouble." Dulcinea answered, sniping a Sith Soldier on a rooftop.

Green Lightning arced from his palms to the lightsaber hilts, purging the darkness as he momentarily became a conduit for The Force.

The process took five minutes. When he stopped, he activated the blades, and twin white blades popped out.

He shut them off, clipping them to his belt.

"Procure on sight." He muttered. (ID-tagged soldiers using ID-tagged weapons, fitted with ID-tagged gear: 700 XP)

"I'm going to go find more...survivors..." Nathan said, unable to stomach saying the word Ashlan out loud.

"The transports are almost at capacity. We are holding our ground against the Sith but our ammo is starting to run low." Dulcinea advised.

"Are any full already?" Nathan asked.

"Four." Dulcinea answered bluntly. "You ask me, we should start launching now. The Sith Starfighter coverage is getting bad, and they've already attempted strafing runs. We will run out of missiles to repel them eventually."

Nathan sighed, pulling out his com link.

"Uh, Rom? Coat Check. Repeat, Coat Check. Out."

He put it back in his armored jacket. His form fitting red helm reflected Dulcinea to an unsettling degree.

"Withdraw to the evacuation site. Get in an interceptor, and make certain those first transports escape." Nathan ordered, his stillness in posture, the inability to tell if he was breathing, came across as unsettlingly droid-like to Dulcinea.

"Aye aye." Dulcinea confirmed, turning and sprinting away.

Alone again.

Nathan moved quietly through the ruined streets. It was not without some satisfaction he saw the Ashlans brought low. But that was personal. He was, of course, perfectly willing to rescue them, but that was more out of a sense of professionalism than compassion.

He sensed the darkness, an ugly spot against the back drop of the Force's effects on this world closing in on a mass of life deep in a building.

He closed in, moving between vehicles with his Force Teleport, He heard screams from the second floor and teleported onto the Balcony...and immediately jumped for his life when a Kinetite ball demolished it.

He fell, his arm dislocating as he hit railing from another balcony. He did not yell in pain as he hit the ground, only popping it painfully back into place as a Sith Marauder wearing a form fitting black tunic and a red demon mask dropped down, armed with a lightsaber cane.

"Oh no. You have an actual gimmick..." Nathan muttered, activating both of his pilfered lightsabers. One crate of the enemy's provisions is worth twenty of your own.

Several different Assassins jumped down behind, all dressed and armed identically...followed by three sets of several more.

"Oh..." Nathan added, "Chit..."

Dressed to deliver a beating to Frank Castle, the Assassins zipped towards him almost faster than he could react, his blades barely deflecting the dozens and dozens of attacks from just three of them.

A rush of The Force to his muscles and Nathan was barely able to avoid being decapitated, though a nasty gash from just the tip of one sabercane glancing across his ribcage. Unable to shut out the pain, he rolled to avoid the slice that would have cut him in half lengthwise, teleported behind one assassin, and broke his spine with a punch, parrying stab attempts from three different Assassins who were relentless, bearing down on him with attacks so swift he was unable to concentrate long enough to try teleporting again.

He cried out as they all gripped him with the Force. He felt the crushing pressure start to develop...

Then, almost as if she was right there, he heard her voice. The voice of that thing that was a composite of his wife's killer and... something cast off from someone just as evil.

Let me help you... Syd Celsius offered.

Nathan didn't really have a choice, and they both knew it. With a great wave of self disgust and revulsion, he allowed her strength in the Force to seep into him, and the act was like a current to his muscles. To his brain.

A jerk of his hands and all of them were somehow yanked towards him, assisted by the freak's power. His blades snapped about in cruel spins, tearing off limbs and heads, and was forced back almost immediately by their renewed viciousness, their sabercane attacks striking from everywhere. He took another cut to the arm, then a direct kick to the stomach from one, which sent him flying and almost made him black out from the air being forced from his lungs.

He hit the dirt roughly, barely scrambled to his feet to fend off the next wave of attacks...


Meanwhile...


The Android got the signal from Nathan and called out to Inanna Harth

"Double time it! We're almost there! But things are getting so bad they're gonna launch the first transports. Hurry!" The Android encouraged her and the others, breaking into a sprint...

 

[Inanna Harth]

"Double time it! We're almost there! But things are getting so bad they're gonna launch the first transports. Hurry!"

Rom broke into a sprint, leading the way. After her came the group of refugees, while Inanna took the rear. They were so close to the finish line, so near to freedom and safety...

There was a strange sound, then one of the refugees fell to the ground, her body entangled in an energy net. While the others screamed and dove for cover, Inanna turned her gaze in the direction the shot had come from. With the Force she seized a chunk of duracrete debris and flung it at the second floor where the shooter had been standing.

Lucia Naberrie Vera Mina​

 

[Lucia Naberrie]

Location: Elom
Objective: I - Sith Pursuit │ Capture the Scientist
Tags: Inanna Harth Vera Mina

Status Update: Target Stunned and Disabled. Engaging [Very High] Threat Assets.

A clean net.

Immediately, Lucia shifted her focus to the two escorts—the only individuals in the group who hadn’t immediately dove for cover. In harnessing the Force, the white-haired woman at the rear of the group demanded the gynoid’s attention first, but she didn’t allow the other woman—a crimson-haired Chiss clad in a blood-stained white dress—to escape from her sight. Processing the trajectory of the large chunk of debris as it flew towards her, Lucia jumped out of the nearby window as it collided with the building in her wake. Then, as the gynoid reached the apex of her jump, she pulled one of her katanas off of her back and heaved it towards the white-haired witch’s chest from a little less than 25 meters away, the weapon punching through the air in the manner of a bladed missile as the repulsorlift engine accelerated it to a terrifying speed.

Then, throwing herself into a graceful roll with her repulsor-controlled landing, Lucia came back on her feet immediately, before swiftly igniting two of her lightdaggers and sending them flying towards the Chiss with a precise, calculated flick from a little more than 33 meters away. As soon as they left her hand their repulsorlift engines kicked into gear, accelerating the weapons on a trajectory which would see both of them buried into each of her target’s eyes respectively, should they strike true!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Daeva Combat Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/W-10 Hybrid Gauntlet Scatterblaster - Heavy - L
    • FAE/W-15 Gauntlet Energy Net Projector - R
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Breshig War Forge Consolidated 'Gata'dr' Personal Energy Shield
  • Utility
    
    • Synthspray
    • Lucia Naberrie's Headband - ¹⁄₁₅ Concentration
    • Various Poisons
  • Droid
    
    • IBIS Drone
• FAE/M-03 "Pellax" Aerial Katana
  
  • Poison Reservoir - Empty
• FAE/M-03 "Pellax" Aerial Katana
  
  • Poison Reservoir - Empty
• Zeilla Lightdaggers

 

[Katherine Holt]

Location: Elom, Elos City
Objective 1: Survive
Outfit: Jedi Robes/Attire
Equipment: Blaster & Vibroknife
Tags: Darth Carnifex | Dominik Borra | Niynx Ioune | Lao-ta
​

The Padawan closed her eyes, focusing on Niynx’s words as she remembered what her Master had taught her so far. As much as she had sparred with him, her fellow Padawans, or against training droids. It was nothing in comparison to the real thing, especially so against a powerful Sith. Perhaps her Master should’ve just thrown her into the deep end, but then she doubted he could’ve anticipated this situation happening so soon. Katherine knew that if Niynx hadn’t shown up when he did, she’d likely still be locked within her own mind still.

She closed her eyes.

Clear your mind, focus your thoughts. Think not of the past, but of the now.

Katherine remembered her first obstacle when she had started training, herself. So caught up in her own thoughts and doubts, it stifled her progress. Today had been a sharp reminder that she was grossly unprepared for real combat. Perhaps she would’ve fared better with a more evenly matched opponent. But she still came into this with nothing but panic in her heart.

And she refused to leave in that same state.

The Padawan’s eyes snapped open, and she made a sharp dash up the stairs. As she neared the conflict, Katherine reached down to her belt and grabbed her knife. She hoped that with Carnifex being attacked on three different fronts, he wouldn’t see a fourth coming. A big part of her doubted that would happen, but she wasn’t going to just do nothing.

Within the moment she got close enough, Katherine attempted to stab the knife into Carnifex’s side, leaving it until the last second to activate the blade.

 

[Nathan Bloodscrawl]

Nathan was sent flying through a window by one of the devil-masked, black robed Sith. He was running, he could hear them following...but he couldn't feel them.

He immediately wey to hiding his own presence as he ran deeper into the destroyed building.

He felt his ears pop as a loud explosion sounded above. He ran for his life as part of the ceiling collapsed in on itself. He wanted to be sick as the strength of Syd Celsius gave him the extra juice he needed to maintain his stealth in the Force. Sheer will kept him powered through the pain of two broken ribs and four broken fingers. He had only managed to kill the weaklings, it seemed. The rest were pros. Hardened. Ruthless.

The interior was an abbatoir. Bodies everywhere. Shot up. Quick moving squads. They had died armed. His Saberstaff was damaged. He began rummaging through the corpses quietly, freezing when he heard someone enter a room down the hall he had just been through, trailing blood behind him.

He got desperate, hiding amongst the bodies, covering himself in them. It wasn't his first time having to do this to survive.

He watched as one came in looking, trying to find signs of him. His red sabercane flashed on and he began stabbing the corpses methodically, getting closer and closer.

Nathan's breath was steady. He didn't feel the fear others might have. His hand grasped a large caliber revolver. He wondered if it was loaded.

Another stab, this one agonizingly close to his foot, hidden partly by the remains of others.

As the Assassin raised the cane to stab down, Nathan's hand swung out and pulled the trigger.

Click. Empty. A belated teleport above the assassin, crashing into him just as he brought the red blade down to swipe where Nathan had previously been, saved his life. Savage impacts of knuckle against bone and flesh ensued, Nathan ruthlessly beating his opponent's face in until it caved. He heard the others moving outside as they sensed the death and he grabbed the Sith's weapon and ran, heartbeat going above seventy beats per minute only because of the natural physical effort.

His lack of emotion over his situation was something Syd found unnatural and repulsive. She couldn't hide that discomfort due to their bond.

One crashed through the ceiling, armored foot cracking across Nathan's armored face, denting it and sending it Nathan crashing head first into drywall...and through it.

Only a surge of power from Syd prevented him from being knocked the feth out as he hit the ground. He rolled out of the way of a follow up attack, an axe kick that crushed the floor it landed on. His own leg swung out in response sweeping the assassin off his feet and Nathan impaled his attempted killer through the chest with his stolen sabercane scrambling up as two more rushed into the room.

Nathan was in blinding pain as one of their kicks hit his broken arm and made him double over deflecting a red slice from his second attacker...only for his helmet to be sliced open by the blade of the one who kicked his arm.

Nathan rolled to the side on instinct, avoiding a stab, grabbing a loose half of a shattered durasteel table in the building (which forced him to drop his weapon) and slammed it almost effortlessly into the first attacker, granting the Sith momentary ragdoll physics as he was sent bouncing violently into a nearby wall. It was some straight up Roger Rabbit chit.

Giving no feths, he deflected the second attackers saber stabs by teleporting the stolen cane to his good hand and getting his foe in a blade lock, bathing the room in crimson.

Nathan scowled, and he forced the Sith to his knees with sheer brute strength.

The Sith started to scream as his own red blade was forced against his shoulder. His screams woke the first devil-themed Sith up, and he started to gather his bearings, trying to rise to his feet.

Nathan forced the blade through the second Sith's shoulder and then finished cleaving through his body with his own blade. As the first Sith prepared to leap, Nathan dropped the cane, teleporting it as it fell from his hands to a spot in the air above the Sith. It's red blade split his foe's skull open as he leapt.

Nathan teleported his weapon back to his hand. He still felt more. Many more.

He doubled over, coughing violently. He couldn't keep this up. Everything hurt. His head swam. He wanted to throw up. He had to escape the area now. But he was trapped, cut off. And the only one who knew this right now was Syd. He dared not stop to pull out his comm link to call for help. All they would need is an instant with his guard down and he was done for.

A whimper caught his attention, he approached a closet, slowly pushing open the door. He saw a small boy, huddled in the corner. He narrowed his his eye through the crack in his red helm.

"Great. Just my luck..." He muttered. "Get up. We're leaving. The ones after me will surely kill you also."

The scared boy rose up, and approached...only for Nathan to Force Stun the "boy", the illusion of which vanished back to that of another Devil Masked Sith, who took out a strange weapon resembling a clawed hand made of iron.

At the ends of its fingers sprouted four small, thin red lightsaber blades.

"How did you know?" The Sith asked. "They usually fall for that one..."

"You rose too quickly too meet me. Now..." Nathan trailed brandishing the red bladed sabercane.

"Kill me if you can."


Meanwhile...

When the Android heard the net being cast she was turned, already running towards The one about to be captured. The light daggers did not help, and Vera was not fast enough entirely to avoid one slicing open her cheek, causing gray blood to leak out. She pulled out her pistols, one firing at The dagger flying by that had just cut her open and the other firing at Lucia Naberrie . Inanna Harth would have to see to her own affairs...

 

[Inanna Harth]

The woman managed to leap from the building before the debris hit, throwing something as she fell. Inanna hardly had time to register that the object was a katana before it came hurtling toward her. She tried to dodge, but wasn’t fast enough.

Agony shot up her shoulder as the blade sliced through her arm, piercing the flexible bone. Had it only been thrown, it might have remained embedded in her, but the repulsorlift kept forcing it forward, tearing through her flesh and nearly severing the limb completely. Inanna’s mangled arm remained stubbornly connected by threads of tissue, gushing black blood.

She was quick to use her shapeshifting abilities to close off the wound and stop the bleeding, but the arm was essentially useless for the time being. Meanwhile, their mysterious attacker turned her attention to Rom, flinging daggers propelled by a similar mechanism at the Chiss’ face. Rom responded by drawing a pair of pistols and shooting at the daggers and the woman.

Growling in pain, Inanna grabbed her lightwhip with her uninjured hand and drew her arm back, thumbing the activation switch as she swung. The coils of plasma energy unfurled, sweeping through the air toward Lucia’s neck, humming with deadly intent.

Vera Mina Lucia Naberrie​

 

[Zinayn]

TAG: Katherine Holt Niynx Ioune Darth Carnifex Dominik Borra Lao-ta

Zinayn set down his Lambda-class shuttle outside the perimeter of Elos City. He would have preferred to land right in front of the palace, but there was already a ship there. But it wasn't a problem. He could bathe in the storm of emotions while he walked there.

In a minute, he found himself at the steps to the palace. The ornate doors were broken, torn down by the battle raging inside. The Chiss could barely contain his excitement, and he strode in.

A dozen meters in front of him was a Sith. He and a man wearing a suit were trading blows, and it was just a blur to Zinayn. There were others too. He could sense the profiles of two Jedi. One seemed to be more experienced than the other. A Jedi Knight, probably. The Sith had an air about him that said that he was the ultimate authority in this situation. Nothing thrown at him would surprise him. Quite an interesting character, Zinayn noted.

The Grey Jedi walked over to the group and leaned against a while in between the Jedi Knight and the Sith Lord. He crossed his arms and soaked in the emotions. Fear from the less experienced Jedi...then it turned into resolve? Zinayn sensed that the Jedi, most likely a Padawan given their fear a second ago, had much potential. But potential might not be enough to take out a Sith Lord.

The Chiss sighed. He could only wait and see. Meanwhile, he would continue monitoring and enjoying the emotions of the battle.

 

[Darth Carnifex]

The broken blade moved quickly, catching each of the other man's attacks as they came. Sparks flew from each impact, scattering small embers along the palace steps that crackled and hissed against the finely wrought stone. Carnifex did not seem the littlest bit concerned, His motions as effortless as breathing, and His reaction quicker than all of the others. Yet, it might have been quite surprising to see the voidstone, fired near point-blank at the Dark Lord's chest, did in fact slip between the metal plating and dig into His flesh.

But if any of them had expected the Dark Lord to recoil from the wound or to react in anger or pain, they were disappointed. The broken sword did, however, thrust itself down into the ground as the Dark Lord relinquished His telekinetic hold upon it and instead moved to draw His lightsaber. The red blade snapped into existence with an angrily crackle, just in time to meet the young padawan's ferocious dual assault. Yet, while the lad commanded two weapons of his own, the Dark Lord's speed was still fast enough to meet all of them without issue.

"The problem with fighting as a man," rumbled the Dark Lord as the duel quickly became crowded on the stair, with many other attackers rushing to add their strength to those already embroiled in conflict. There were the two in front of Him, the assassin and the padawan, so their attacks came from a strictly horizontal plane. It was the knight, who suddenly appeared from the air, that forced the Dark Lord to intensify His speed and precision to meet her attacks as well. For a being of His size, one might assume that the Dark Lord was slow and cumbersome because of His height and musculature, but this was not the case. He was as quick and as agile, vastly more so, than a being half His size.

He caught her blades with His own as she came down, angling them away from His body and forcing her to push up and over the Dark Lord rather than remain directly above Him and be skewered by some other attack. He turned His body then, to have the two men on His right and the woman on His left. He let the waist-high stone rail behind Him to partially guard His flank, as He leveled His blade in preparation. They came quickly, moving in coordinated actions that would've overwhelmed a lesser swordsman. But the Dark Lord was a seasoned veteran of a thousand battlefields on a hundred worlds, and His skill and experienced was backed by His age.

He was about a hundred years older than the padawan, more than double the age of the assassin, four times older than the Jedi Knight, and five or six times older than the errant experiment in the courtyard. He passed through fire and death to again threaten the galaxy, His powers magnified beyond what He ever thought possible. And while the bullet in His chest diminished Him somewhat, it was not enough to make Him vulnerable to these creatures; no matter how many of them crawled out from the gutter.

So, His blade worked fast, quicker than sight could comprehend, and He met the ferocious assault with His own. He was less a person, and more than a blur of darkness, all of His identifying lines growing indistinct and hazy. Only His eyes remained constant, two burning fixtures which never seemed to blink or look away from them no matter where they were placed on either side of Him.

"Is that you can be so easily," continued the Dark Lord, now focusing on the assassin; isolating Him from the others with a flurry of strikes. Then, suddenly, as their blades collided and bounced off one another, the Dark Lord sprung forth and struck out with His left hand. He flattened all of His fingers until they were straight, bringing the entire hand down through the man's robotic limb just above the elbow joint. Though it was just the Dark Lord's hand, the strike was strong enough to split apart steel like a powerful buzz saw. "Is that you are so easily broken." He pushed the man back with a gust of the Force, aiming to send him tumbling back down the stairs and into the courtyard.

Lightning then leapt from around the Dark Lord's body, appearing to materialize from the empty air around Him. The bolts struck the stairs, melting the stone into glass on impact, but more importantly struck out towards the padawan and the knight both. The red electricity was beyond anything either of them would have experienced from any Sith Lord before, it was as if the Dark Side itself moved through each and every bolt; striking out with the most extreme hate.

It was then when Katherine's knife struck, digging deep into the Dark Lord's flank. The only sound that the Dark Lord made was a soft grunt, like a brief exhalation of air. All of the lightning ceased, although a few errant sparks still danced in the air. Carnifex half-turned to regard the young Jedi as she still held the blade in the Dark Lord's flesh. Already, inky black blood was beginning to ooze up from the wound itself, creeping along the blade's edge in a manner uncharacteristic of blood. It also seemed to turn into rigid crystal the more it was exposed to the open air, growing sharp needle-like spines as it did.

"Brave, little Jedi," chuckled the Dark Lord, "Who knew you had it in you." Suddenly, a thin geyser of blood squirted out from the wound, aiming to strike Katherine in the face; particularly the eyes and mouth. Regardless, Carnifex moved to swipe His arm up and catch Katherine in the stomach, aiming to strike her and send her flying back down into the courtyard; preferably with His dark blood staining her skin. He'd then move to tear the blade free if it hadn't been dislodged already, letting it clatter to the ground below.

"It is quite futile, you know, throwing your lives away for a bunch of apostates to your own order. The Jedi must be truly careless with their future if they're sending children here." He reached down to His side, where the bullet had entered His chest, and began to manually dig it free with only two fingers.

Niynx Ioune | Dominik Borra | Lao-ta | Katherine Holt ​

 

[Zinayn]

Zinayn watched as the Sith Lord continued trading blows with the man in the suit at lightning speed. Then, the Jedi and the GA agent performed a perfectly coordinated attack, and the Chiss thought for a second that the Sith Lord would actually be caught off guard.

How foolish of him. The Sith continued parrying with perfect calmness. Then, Zinayn felt the Padawan's emotions through the Force. He felt her immense bravery. As much as the Chiss would have liked to focus on the Padawan, there was a surge of hatred from the Sith. Pure malevolence. He outstretched a hand.

Zinayn drew upon the goodness and the saintly disposition of the Jedi around him, even touching the minds of the Jedi further away. He held up a hand in front of him. Then, red lightning was unleashed from the Sith. Some of it crashed into Zinayn's shield, trying to rip through it. He drew more heavily upon the emotions of the Jedi and cut himself off from the Sith, relieving him from most of the hatred.

I am balance. I am balance. He kept repeating his mantra as the lightning attack continued.

Then, he felt a final feeling of resolve from the Padawan, and that was when he knew she would strike. From around the corner, she flew in, and her knife stabbed int the Sith's side. He let out a grunt and the attack ceased. The Padawan's sense of resolve and calm suddenly broke as the Sith turned to face her, going in for a strike.

Just then, Zinayn realized that in his hand, he still held a torrent of the red electricity. He pointed away, back through the entrance, and unleashed it. A deafening bang resounded throughout the room.

This Sith was a force to be reckoned with. Zinayn made note of other possible exits, such as jumping past the hate-filled figure and running up the staircase. But it probably wouldn't come down to that.

Darth Carnifex Katherine Holt

 

[Dominik Borra]

Gear:
Ebony, Sword | The Equalizer (x2 Void Bullets)| Mirrorverse Heavy Pistol(Ravage) | Amulet of Many | Personal Armor | Cybernetic Eye | Thorns | GH05-T SPARK droid
Tags: Katherine Holt | Darth Carnifex | Niynx Ioune | Lao-ta

The bullet hit clean, and a surge of triumph hit Dominik like adrenaline. With a Void bullet in him, he'd have to play on far even footing than he had before! The sword instantly fell and he surged forward. Then the saber came out and the Sith Emporer fought like mad. Too mad. He was faster than any Sith he had seen move, a blur of light and shadow as his saber moved to intercept each oncoming strike. Another Jedi landed and joined the fight, and he had no time to acknowledge her or even thank her. Just fight by her side.

The Sith Emperor kept moving, even putting the railing to guard his flank. He may have been fast, but that bullet was eating at him and he kept retreating, blocking the groups strikes. He made some of his own and while the Jedi had the Force to help guide their movements, Dominik had his Eye and Arm. The Eye and his own fighting instincts coupled together were able to tell the robotic arm where to parry, thrust and slash at the speed of thought. If he had his other arm to allow for greater use of motion he would have had Darth Carnifex , he just knew it. But for now it was all his right arm could do just to hold onto his gun.

And then his eyes, staring back as it continued to move. Boring into him through the helmet, those glaring super novas never leaving. That fear when he first saw the monster came rushing back.

"Is that you can be so easily," continued the Dark Lord, now focusing on the assassin; isolating Him from the others with a flurry of strikes.

He was suddenly on his backfoot, desperately keeping his footing on the changing elevation. He took several strikes on his armor, the beskar protecting him and sending up huge waves of dazzling sparks. Each time it hit him he tried to counter, but that angry red blade was parrying his own. His eyes went wide as he was pushed back and back and back. This wasn't good, he couldn't- He mentally reached out to the beacon located in his index finger, the only possible card he had left to play. It was probably going to end up getting him killed.

Then, suddenly, as their blades collided and bounced off one another, the Dark Lord sprung forth and struck out with His left hand. He flattened all of His fingers until they were straight, bringing the entire hand down through the man's robotic limb just above the elbow joint. Though it was just the Dark Lord's hand, the strike was strong enough to split apart steel like a powerful buzz saw. "Is that you are so easily broken." He pushed the man back with a gust of the Force, aiming to send him tumbling back down the stairs and into the courtyard.

That connection never made it, Carnifex's hand found a gap in his armor and tore through the bodysuit, arm, and out the other side. His arm kept a grip on his sword but several pieces of metal and snapping wire went flying and clattering all over the stairs and down over the side. The psuedo-pain stunned him. In a blind desperate attempt, he swung his maimed right arm at him to hit him with his gun and fist. It was weak, no vigor behind the swings. Broken. The Force blew him back.

Dominik soared over Katherine Holt 's head, watching dimly as he fell back down to earth the searing red Force Lightning. And then the Padawan whom he had come here to save strike him.

He didn't see anything more than that as his back smashed into the stairs and he began tumbling. He tried his best to roll well in his bloody armor, ass over tea-kettle with all three limbs flopping as he went all the way down to the bottom. He landed without breath, seeing the fight reach it's end upside-down. He was bleeding heavily from his right arm and his left arm was completely gone, leaking oil. He lost his Equalizer at some point. He coughed and bloodd splattered the inside display.

 

[Lucia Naberrie]

Location: Elom
Objective: I - Sith Pursuit │ Capture the Scientist
Tags: Inanna Harth Vera Mina

Registering the incoming blaster bolts fired at her by the dress-clad Chiss, Lucia willed her bodysuit’s repulsors into life, sending her gliding forward in a sudden burst of speed rivaling the velocity of a fast groundcar and closing much of the distance between the gynoid and her two opponents. In doing so, she managed to evade all of the incoming blaster bolts save for one which grazed across her bodysuit’s shoulder pauldron, leaving behind a carbon scoring mark in the process. However, the Chiss did suceed in shooting down one of Lucia’s lightdaggers, causing it to spark and short out as the blast struck the hilt.

All the while, as Lucia drew her other katana and closed the distance to the white-haired shapeshifter, the woman’s whip lashed out. Bringing her katana up in defense, the gynoid attempted to block the incoming lash, but the energized plasma coil snaked around her blade until it cracked across her upper back, searing through much of the plating and the protective material, before inflicting a deep, charred laceration across her synthskin flesh.

And yet, even as damage alerts prodded at her awareness, the gynoid briefly staggered from the impact, but otherwise pressed on, her features betraying neither grimace nor flinch. Only razor-sharp focus and determination.

Now eight meters away from the dress-clad Chiss, Lucia brought up her left arm and fired a single blast from her scatterblaster mounted on her gauntlet, aiming to strike the woman in her upper chest. Then, with almost the same motion, the gynoid drew and ignited one of her lightdaggers and sent it flying towards the left side of the shapeshifter’s chest from three meters away—targeting her heart. As it did, the integrated repulsorlift accelerated the lightdagger forward, so that it might bore into its target!

Spoiler: Loadout

• Daeva Combat Bodysuit
  
  • Gauntlets
    
    • FAE/W-10 Hybrid Gauntlet Scatterblaster - Heavy - L
    • FAE/W-15 Gauntlet Energy Net Projector - R
  • Energy Shield
    
    • Breshig War Forge Consolidated 'Gata'dr' Personal Energy Shield
  • Utility
    
    • Synthspray
    • Lucia Naberrie's Headband - ¹⁄₁₅ Concentration
    • Various Poisons
  • Droid
    
    • IBIS Drone
• FAE/M-03 "Pellax" Aerial Katana
  
  • Poison Reservoir - Empty
• FAE/M-03 "Pellax" Aerial Katana
  
  • Poison Reservoir - Empty
• Zeilla Lightdaggers