Dominion The Cantrosian Two-Step | First Order Dominion of Cantros

[Redd]

RISE, REBEL, REFLECT
Tags: Nova Dragr | Aito Vautah | Xero Lang | Saram Kote

Redd wasn’t at all sure as to why she was even there. In fact, when the job had come through, the red wolf had growled. This has to be some kind of joke, she thought to herself as her golden eyes had read over the information presented before her. Originally it had come from what she thought was The Enclave. A sub faction within the Confederacy that recruited Mandalorians, but when she had first attended the original meeting, she had done so with what could only be described as a mistake. Yet the past still haunted her, even when she had buried her Beskar’gam from sight. Out of sight, out of mind had been the original thought, but she had never imagined that she would still be contacted by Mandalorians when she felt like anything but. Even when she had mated with a mistake, the wolf could never seem to feel as if she was a part of such a society. However, the invitation had provided her with a good opportunity to distract herself with.

Booted steps of the plain and darkly dressed figure with a cloak pulled tightly over her head, walked through the crowd of cat-like humanoids. Whether or not they could sense the wolf within the woman; or maybe it was the golden eyes of the Red Demon, but they seemed to have no troubles with giving her a wide berth. It certainly made it a lot easier to seemingly reach the others who were gathering around a dark haired woman.

Yet, before she reached them, the red wolf paused in her steps and felt doubt slowly leech into her thoughts. What am I doing? She thought, as a pale hand tightly touched the deactivated lightsaber upon her belt. The lone wolf didn’t seek companionship and was more often than not, comfortable working alone. Yet, for some reason she felt drawn here. Whether it had been through the force or what, the pull had been strong and when her golden eyes stared at those she assumed would be those that she would work with, Redd felt nervous. Anxious even. The wolf even felt sadness as the last person she had worked with, had been someone that she relied upon and it had turned into a mistake. A mistake which only served as a painful reminder and she felt anger soon bloom deep within her chest.

Golden eyes hardened and the Red Demon shoved such anxious doubts, down. There would be no room for that today and perhaps this was a great chance to close a chapter that was never meant to be opened. Perhaps this was how she learned to move on and delve into the darker arts of the force that she was slowly beginning to feel a pull towards. Feelings like pain and anger only served to strengthen her hold upon the force and no matter how this day panned out, she knew that she couldn’t be a Mandalorian. Not like how so many others seemingly lived and breathed the code. A code that she didn’t feel that she could possible follow anymore; especially when the one person who had been so deep within that code, provided the best example of how flawed that particular doctrine was.

Steeling her nerves by allowing the feeling of anger to settle within, the woman finally approached them. Pale hands lifted to slide the hood from her head, so then the material would bunch up upon her shoulders. This action only served to release red locks that had been hidden from view and frame a pale face which illuminated the golden eyes that peered at them. Without offering a hand, Redd crossed her arms over her chest and angled her head slightly to the left. ”I’m Redd,” Were the only words that she spoke.​

 

[Srina Talon]

C A N T R O S 7
Tag: Tellu Talon || Var Talon
Location: Capital City of Minkaren
Objective: Mixed: Rise, Rebel, Reflect & Cantrosian Scratch Fever
_________________________________________________________
​

Focus on Tellu.

How could she do anything else?

The pale woman could feel some of her strength being siphoned off before Var abruptly shut her out. Her hand lifted, as if scalded, and her head began to ache from what she could feel growing within her brother. He was using himself as a container. One that was not built to withstand what it was that he wanted to do. Flimsy flesh and bone were not made to contain a maelstrom born of a multi-fold tree of might. His power, her power, their wretchedness. His rage. Her rage.

Their fury.

Srina had to trust that her little brother could handle the flame that rose within him like an inferno from the deep. She could only help guide his efforts. Keep the connection from disconnecting as quickly as it had before. They needed to know where the puppet-master was hiding. So, they could chop off the head of the snake. Dismember. What they had done to Tellu would look like nothing compared to the designs that Srina had rolling through her mind. There was no excuse that would save them from her wrath. Nor, that of her brother.

His ferocity burst from him in flame.

The shield that she had wrapped around them to keep from being hit by anything else also served to keep the heat in. Even though Var attacked that which was far from them he still emanated some level of warmth that was entirely unnatural. If they took his temperature now, at that moment, it would have likely been through the roof. She could hear the screams of something sentient, perhaps near-human, starting near the tree line. Silver eyes caught flashes of something burning bright.

The body of their sister dropped like a stone and the endless banshee wailing went with it.

“Var it—”, she paused, abruptly, when she caught sight of his eye. Rather, the lack of one. The molten husk where one should have been taunted her cruelling and her stomach dropped out. Was catching the enemy this way truly worth it when this was the cost? He’d taken a shortcut, but she’d allowed it at the moment. Knowing there would be a cost. A sacrifice. She wanted to reach out and try to heal him.

To try and rend melted, burnt flesh, into something that wouldn’t ostracize him even further from his own people. He had always seen himself as a black sheep but he was anything but. Var was her brother. Her blood. Her family, her friend, and someone she would have walked through hot coals for. Just like Tellu. Just like any of their siblings. Why would he do this to himself?

An Echani without depth perception was like a bird with a broken wing.

“It worked.”

She finally uttered out. Srina couldn’t scold him now. It wouldn’t do any good, plus, he doubted he would take her worrying over him any better than he had her offer of strength. Perhaps, had he not tried to do it all alone—He wouldn’t have made himself a cripple. Srina slowly let her shields fall as she stepped forward toward the body, but seconds later, the sky split open.

An orb of light shot past her vision in the sky and she instinctively reached for it.

It was warm. Bright. Almost too light, too good, to look at.

Srina tightened her grasp and tried to let the Force guide her. She knew, somehow, that this orb was important. Slowly, she tried to bring it down. Hold it close. By the bright one, how did this even work? Part of her wished they hadn’t destroyed their only lead to this type of power. Making puppets of the dead was not something she had ever thought to try. Not before that moment.

Regardless, she knew she needed to secure the orb. Especially when it called their names.

“Come to me. Let me help you.”, she murmured, trying perhaps in vain, to soothe something that had just darted from a giant hole in the sky. “Let us help you.”

Hopefully, it wouldn’t involve Var losing his other eye.

 

[Var Talon]

FAMILY MATTERS

Concern.

It was satisfying to "see" the immolation unfold. Satisfying to witness the flesh bubbling. The bones scalding. The lungs filling with ash. As the puppeteer met his sorry end, the Echani remained focused. He did not stop pouring his fury into the flame until the last satisfying pop and crackle rang out. Var needed the bastard to be dead beyond repair or recognition, and that was exactly the result he wrought. Now, in the wake of the flame, he could still "see" - for his efforts had not yet ceased.

And before her words reached him, the youngest could see the concern of the eldest. The state of his eye - the sacrifice for pushing himself further - was of little consequence in the moment. What mattered most was seeing to the state of their sister. Var would have said as much, if not for the relieving words that Srina spoke. Var, it worked. His molten gaze shifted from the tree line and up towards the heavens - where now there was light and warmth descending.

What Var could "see" was clear as day - the body had been a void, abandoned by what made a being truly alive. Now, that spark, that soul was coming home to reclaim it. But to fight against the laws of nature - of death and decay - meant struggle. Tellu was not out of the woods just yet. She needed to navigate the way home. She needed help. She needed them.

"Sister." he breathed. "Get your loud-chewing, scarecrow-built ass down here!"

What madness was he spewing? A literal memory. The bond between Var and Tellu was different than any he shared with his siblings. With Srina, he once wanted to be the best. To make her proud. To not earn scoldings reminiscent of their mother. With Tellu? He was...able to be himself. When sneaking out, she covered his tracks. When dealing with schoolyard bullies, she taught him how to fight without honor. When they were alone? They were crass, bold, brazen, and traded insults like they were trading cards.

She needed that reminder. That beacon of life, of love, to drag her ass back to the living.​

Srina Talon | Tellu Talon

 

[Saram Kote]

​

Tag(s): Nova Dragr | Aito Vautah | Xero Lang | Redd | Talohn Atar ​

​

Spoiler: Equipment

• Armor:
  • 'Vuhyr'yalilyr'gam'
    • 'Ysalamiri Birikad' Nutrient Frame
    • Taozin Amulet
    • Vambrace Weapons:
      • TBP-01V Tractor-Pressor Beam Projector
      • PC-05V Plasma Caster
        • Plasma Gas Medium Cannister (1)
      • MML-01V Miniaturized Missile Launcher
        • Electro Darts (4)
        • Explosive Darts (4)
        • Surveillance Tagger Darts (4)
      • NML-02VTB Nano missile Launcher
• Implant(s):
  • 'Rammikad' Enhancement Package
  • 'Gar Tkiriyr' Neural Interface
• Melee:
  • B-01M Beskad
  • K-02M Kal (2)
• Sidearm(s)
  • LRH-5A Verpine Shatter Pistol w/ 'Kyrayc Sur'haai' 1-4x Short Range Optic
• Rifle(s):
  • BR-6B Verpine Shatter Battle Rifle w/ 'Kyrayc Sur'haai' 1-100x Long Range Optic and UGL-02 Underbarrel Grenade Launcher
  • AMR-4M Verpine Shatter Anti-Materiel Rifle w/ 'Kyrayc Sur'haai' 1-250x Extreme Range Optic
• Explosives:
  • Det-Packs (2)
  • Flex-5 Detonite Tape (1 roll)
  • Smoke Grenades (3)
  • Flash-Bang Grenades (3)
  • Concussion Grenade (2)
  • NOVA40 Plasma Grenade (2)

​

​

There were a few perks about being "alor'ad", but it was in times like this when she dearly wished she'd told Shuklaar Kyrdol to "usen'ye". Before she could manage to get all the new candidates together in one room and get them to understand the concept of the team that she'd been told to put together, they were getting sent out. Where the shab was that sharal di'kut Ran and the rest of Davaab? Kad shabla Ha'rangir only knew. If that kadtape shabuir even shabla existed that was. There was a very good reason Mandalorians stopped believing in osik like that over time. It was hard to find someone who didn't know the name, but equally hard to find someone who actually worshipped the chaakar. Then again, she wasn't sure what the latest mir'osikla trend on Manda'yaim was. ​

​

It probably didn't help that some shabuir along the way had mentioned the one word that was without fail going to set her off. If she had to hear one more shabuir ask about the Enclave, she was going to be very tempted to blow their brains out the other side of their skull. The old Mando drinking song came to mind, reminding her about why their job didn't come with any praise, but she'd be lying to herself if she thought that she could go on like this much longer. Maybe the stress of the job was getting to her, at long last, and the sudden change that led to her squad being reassigned was exacerbating it. ​

​

It wasn't easy, turning your back on some of the best mando'ade you've had the pleasure of serving with all your life, knowing that she wouldn't be there for them if they needed her. Ran was ready to take lead, but she wasn't quite ready to leave them just yet. She kept thinking that one more mission, one more assignment, would've made it easier. No, it was hard enough. If this whole effort was going well, then maybe she'd have felt differently about it. No, this new squad osik was going about as well as a contraband check on Nal Hutta. ​

​

Of course, the poor shabuir who had to be stuck with her at a time like this was none other than Talohn Atar . She had no problems with Talohn, she hadn't worked with him nearly long enough to get to know him well enough for that. That droid, however, could not have chosen to run it's vocabulator at a worse time. What the shab it was on about, she didn't have any clue about on a good day, and today sure as haran wasn't a good day for her. On the walk over to the meeting, she very tempted to put a verp round through it's head more times than she could count. ​

​

She took a deep breath to steady her thoughts. Irrespective of how she felt on the matter, there was still a job to be done. Before they were in view, she sent a quick message to Talohn's helmet via laser comm, "When we get there, don't say anything out of the ordinary. I don't mean out of the ordinary for you, I mean out of the ordinary for Mando'ade. Sure as haran don't let that droid of yours say anything. Quick, clean and painless for us is what I'm aiming for, Tayli'bac?" She hastened her pace, ever so slightly, eager to get this all over with. She needed a stiff drink, and the sooner she got this over with, the better. "Someone ask for a mercenary house call?" she asked, trying to switch back to her usual more jovial self, resisting to sigh at her own more or less half-hearted attempt. Thankfully vocabulators were always fantastic at distorting tone enough for someone more in touch with the finer points of interaction to miss her slip up. Shab it was going to be a long day. ​

 

[Talohn Atar]

Talohn's equipment: Mandalorian armor, TDW HARM squad configuration, I'zêorra stjolkk, large EBFAK, The Mule, Blue Lightsaber

Madlad's equipment: M-8 shotgun, M-10 wolverine, Vornskr revolver, Kusak Heavy Blaster

Talohn had taken the job of course. Money to feed his kid was always more than welcome. Though the folk at strill securities were more serious at times than he'd like. Particularly today. He found himself wondering if the current leader of this operation ate some bad bantha. With the droid following behind them, the cathar speeds up his pace till he's walking along beside Saram. The cathar was in his full mandalorian gear, helmet on as well. Apparently it was professional to do that during a contract. He notes to himself to offer the lady a drink after this job was over. She seemed to need it.

Madlad, that horrid droid, spoke up once more. "That's another thing. It's my personal opinion that..." Before the hunk of metal could finish, Talohn spoke to it through Holocom. "Quiet time. That's an order." This causes an irritated grunt in response from the droid, but it does follow the order. The cathar then sends a laser comm message to Saram. "Sorry, the droid's a talker. I promise his presence will be worth it if there's any trouble afoot. He's as good as intelligence and combat droids come. He'll be quiet for this meeting though, don't you worry. As for me? Uh, I'll try my best, I haven't been a mandalorian long, so I don't know what is and isn't normal for a mando. I'll just act like myself, that's what got me into the mandos after all. You talk business and all that. Madlad and I will start scanning once we get in the room. Possible cover points, entrances, places that are high risk. We'll want a read on our environment if we want this done properly and easily. Don't worry, we'll be subtle about it and use our internal scanners. To them, we're just standing in the background."

After that message was sent, they enter the room. Talohn gives a casual wave as Saram greets the folk they're supposed to be talking to. He and Madlad proceeds to start gazing about the room, scanning every detail for something to give them the home field advantage. Couldn't have any escapees after all. Though it's not obvious, he keeps his hand near his thigh blaster holster. Madlad stands at attention, trying it's best to look unimposing.

Talohn wasn't as morally comfortable with this as we was with most jobs, but this was all a messy grey area.

Saram Kote

 

[Xero Lang]

​

Post: 2
Objective: Infiltrate The Rebels
Equipment: Light Mandalorian Armor | Mandalorian Crushgaunt | Beskar Vibro Sword | Sledge | Hammer | WESTAR-34 blaster pistol | Beskar punching Dagger | Beskar throwing Daggers | Cloaking Belt
Tags: Nova Dragr | Aito Vautah | Redd | Saram Kote | Talohn Atar
Allies: CIS | First Order
Enemies: Terrorists

---

A young girl walked up to Xero asking if she needed a hand, Xero gave her a head nod of acknowledgement before a few more people began to join the meeting area. “Nice to meet you Nova, you can call me Xero.” Verd Werda just being her title or occupation among the Mandalorians and Horizon Knights. Before she could explain to Nova what was going on others began to join the party. First among them a man in basic Mandalorian came up to introduce himself as Aito.


Again, Xero gave him a head nod in acknowledgement. “Aito, names Xero.” She gestured to the girl next to her. “This is Nova.” She then gestured with her hand to the grey Cantrosian with Black stripes. She would have introduced him, but he had not yet given her his name. “Oh Hello.” He said giving a slight bow to both Nova and Aito. “I’m Ali-Mesteris.” He said squinting his eyes giving a toothy smile.


As he introduced himself yet another one joined the gathering this one a red haired beauty the Cantrosian seemed to all be giving a wide birth. Xero watched the newcomer closely she could smell the one who introduced herself blood it was different then the others. Xero took note of the lightsaber on the belt of the woman. About to return to the conversation and job ahead then three more came traipsing into the gather announcing themselves by asking if they were looking for mercenaries. One was seasoned Mandalorian by the way she carried herself, One seemed a little green yet, and the third was a droid.


Xero’s eyes landed on Talohn for a moment and she took note of his saber as well. Jetiise or possibly Darjetiise, the wolf one clearly had a darkening aura to her however Xero wasn’t about to make any assumptions. The silver eyes of the Energy Vampire returned to Ali-Mesteris who was looking about at all the new faces half which had helmets covering there faces. He wanted Mando’s and that is exactly what he wanted. He waited a moment for the final three to join the group to introduce themselves.


The didn’t introduce themselves quickly enough and before anyone else could come in Ali-Mesteris moved to a nearby table where he had a map of a city laid out. Xero scanned it quickly take note it wasn’t a map of the capitol city. One the map a dozen locations were marked with red X’s all of which seemed to be in residential areas of the city.


“Mandalorian’s are excellent hunters yes?” Ali-Mesteris’s asked to no one in particular. Xero scanned the map once more over among the red X’s in the residential areas there was a black X on the city square in the middle of the city. Ali-Mesteris’s laid out several pictures pulled from the pockets of his robes. The pictures of each targets at the read X’s. “I want them hunted captured, then broke here.” He pointed to the Black X. Where we will execute them traitors to Cantros all of them!” The pitch in his voice rose as he mentioned the targets it was clear he despised them all.


Xero looked to Nova “Hope you like hunting.” Xero turned back to Ali- Mesteris. “So once we bring them to the square you want us to execute them?”


Ali- Mesteris shook his head “No, that is for us to do. I needs to be us, we need to show the people what happens to those who collude with the first order and sell Cantros into their chains of slavery.” A tad hyperbolic but what else could you expect from a fanatical terrorist. Xero just nodded to Ali-Mesteris who was looking at the others to see if they had any questions.

 

[Tellu Talon]

Runar Ulfsson | Srina Talon | Var Talon

L I F E

The orb of light blinked twice before it rushed out of sight straight up into the heavens.

An ascension like no other, a dirty revival done on the cheap, but the blessins' before'em.

Light erupted, right upon the skeletal form and then all around them the light consumed them.

The light of truth, the light of hope, the light of love, the light of all brought down to'em.

Skeletal frame reassembled and light descended touched upon the bones.

Someone rolled back that stone and all these years later she came down.

Righteous light wrapped around'em burnin' away the darkness and the brightest light of all came from her.

A gasp, a breath, a life renewed - banished away death and brought with the Force a life.

Cut from death with light's knife, a second chance at getting it right - strife be gone.

Sufferin' no more, the light dissipated and one wish was granted.

Eyes opened, a woman among them, slowly she rose back up again on her own two feet again.

Platinum locks past her shoulders Tellu gazed at her hands and then examined the land around her.

She examined the land around her, she felt so strange, strange land and a strange time.

Argent eyes came alive with light and life she gathered her surroundings, blurred vision no longer upon her.

From her lungs she drew breath and from her lungs she let out a shout, filled with glee.

VAR! SRINA!


​

 

[Var Talon]

FAMILY MATTERS

The Echani could breathe.

Things like this just didn't happen everyday. In fact, they were the makings of fairy tales. One heard stories of evildoers saying 'feth you' to the jaws of death. One heard heroic poems of the dying protagonist being raised in the nick of time. But this? A sister unearthed, miles upon miles away from home, only to be saved from the clutches of death? Things like this just didn't happen. But for the Talon family, it did. Just this once, they didn't have to lose. Just this once, someone wasn't lost - they were found.

Var blinked as the light showered his sister. Gaped as restoration fell upon the ragged flesh and made new. He was silent - the focus fed to "see" slowly relenting as Tellu was reborn. And when she finally said his name, it was like going back home. It was like seeing her return from training and calling out their names at the front door. And like a child, the Echani threw all caution to the wind. He stumbled a step and took off, ignoring the agony consuming his face.

S I S T E R !​

He got about halfway before his body ceased to cooperate.

Pain shrieked across his face - the molten remains of his eye were far too much to ignore.

Strength eluded him. With the darkness slowly fading, he was empty. Bereft of even the ability to stand. His knees gave way. Descend gripped him.

But as he hit the dirt, one could faintly see the smile yet clinging to his lips.​

Srina Talon | Tellu Talon

 

[Nova Dragr]

Objective: Infiltrate The Rebels
Tags: Xero Lang | Saram Kote | Aito Vautah | Talohn Atar | Redd | [Open]
Allies: CIS | First Order
Enemies: Rebels

Nova lifted her head a little bit when a new voice came to join the mingling chorus among the white noise of the festivities. It was deep and decidedly male, though, she did not know him. Careful eyes that seemed almost a shade of gunmetal grey surveyed the Mandalorian that had come up from behind. Her helmet was tucked beneath her arm, for now, and chestnut hair fell in wild waves around a wan face marked with black wings. Aito. She committed the name and the sound of him to memory.

“Yes. This is where we were slated to meet.”

It seemed that mercenaries were pouring out of the woodwork. She could hear her HUD ping within her helmet every time someone new came close. Targeting systems. Her armor was old, shabby, but effective. She didn’t have the credits to wear the shining beskar that some of the others did. The Sith Empire had taken it all. Or—As much as they could. What was left to saturate the market was not what the galaxy thought it was. The beskar was people. Bones, blood, and flesh. People.

Her people.

She could never disrespect the memory of her clan, her deceased aliit, by paying for their transformed bodies and desecrating them into a battle. She understood that life was a gift to cherished and that it would eventually need to be returned, only, it was not returned. Their lives had been unjustly stolen.

Nova pulled herself from as a woman with red hair came to stand nearby and introduced herself as Redd . She waited for the first among them to respond and nodded her head slowly as Xero reintroduced herself. She glanced to the side, toward the red one, and that toward two more ( Talohn Atar and Saram Kote ) who made their way closer. She was pretty sure they all would have heard her name when Xero repeated it…But she wasn’t sure. It would just need to be touch and go.

“Su cuy'gar [Hello]…”, she greeted them all, briefly, but not trying to draw focus from the issue at hand. Instead, she watched their Cantrosian contact. Nova would not realize that her gaze could be disconcerting and she stepped forward to watch Ali-Mesteris pull out a map and start laying out the plan. The feline-like creature asked if they were “excellent hunters” and the young woman could scarcely hold back a snort. If only he knew. “...We are.”

Nova did not look up from the map or the pictures.

The fanatical rhetoric caused something within her to boil. She wanted to reach across the table, take Ali-Mesteris by the throat, and slam their head into the table. Over and over until they were nothing but grey matter and meatier chunks. It reminded her of the Sith. How could he sentence his own people like this? Sacrifice them? And for what?

Nothing. It would make no difference, save, to make their dissident faction seem even more savage in the eyes of the Imps. Xero nodded. Nova found herself welcoming someone else handling negotiations. She was too livid. Too angry. Bitter. Even if this was a paying job…Even if they were going to teach this little bayr [cat] a lesson, a permanent one, she couldn’t stop the dire feeling of disenchantment. It disgusted her that someone could do this to their own.

The galaxy as a whole was…Such a disappointment.

“I am ready. When do we begin?”

 

[Varick Lechner]

Tag: Gerwald Lechner | Dimitri Voltura | Eenia Vahn
Gear: Armor | Chains | Sword
Muse Soundtrack: Apocalyptica "In The Hall Of The Mountain King"​

Pain and confusion abounded in the immediate vicinity. It was almost too much to wade through, but it was a necessity. As Gerwald lept to action, he spared a brief moment to marvel at the power that settled so comfortably around his aura at last. They had truly each found their proper place...it would be a wonder to him for a very long while that it had happened.​

​

With that thought soon tucked away for later perusal, Varick broke free from a fleeing throng and reached out to put up one of his strongest shields around Eenia Vahn as she worked to heal. The shimmering blue field could be walked through, but could not be shot through while he so actively maintained it, letting the power flood through the Force to let her work in as much peace as possible, while around them parents found their children and fled in every direction.​

​

There was no good way to evacuate those who remained, but there were soldiers from the Cantrosian military and the First Order alike sheltering groups of civilians and moving them whenever the rate of fire allowed them the opportunity. They were effective, with the forces splitting into squads that split themselves equitably to ensure there were numbers and local knowledge alike in their favor. Varick found himself making a mental note to commend them to their superiors for their quick thinking and the way they blended together so well under the direst of circumstances.​

While Gerwald Lechner and Dimitri Voltura took the matter of the shooters in hand directly, Varick soon found himself surrounded by a number of masked insurrectionists bearing an assortment of vibroswords and what looked to be traditional Cantrosian weaponry. It was the work of a brief thought that saw the wolf's head chains unwind from his waist and spring to his hands. Another still saw them come to life and writhe with a brilliant blue energy that matched the blaze of his eyes.​

They were not the simple firebrands that Cantrosian intelligence had briefed them on. These were some of the true believers who thought change could only be wrought through bloodshed and the more innocents they left in their wake, the better. They hissed their challenges in their native tongue, which he could not decipher, but the intent was clear enough. In response, Varick smiled as his face began to change shape, muscle and bone rearranging and canines lengthening as he growled a challenge as only a Lupine could. They sprung forward as one, and his Force-imbued chains lashed out in retaliation.​

They knew what they were doing, and even as a Master of his craft, he was challenged to keep his shields strong and remain as alert as this fight needed him to be. He reveled in the combat, savoring every time their blades connected with his armor and each moment his chains found their mark. Even the blaster bolts that came at him could not find purchase until one grazed his neck. He roared with the flash of pain and redoubled his efforts, taking the insurrectionists down one by one with a startling efficiency.​

​

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[Vidia Vudrirn]

Tags: Zakar Vass | Caio
Muse Soundtrack: Disturbed "Immortalized"​

Catching the ear piece Keren tossed her way she tucked it securely into place and the chaotic sounds flared to life. Tapping to speak, she slipped behind the nearby pillar as Caio moved to check the passageway that was cloaked in smoke. "Stryker to Sabre, are they out?"​

"Yes ma'am. Safely aboard transport with aerial and ground support. Negotiations proceeding with a bit more alacrity - they ought to be done by the time they get to the safe zone."​

Vidia shook her head and unsheathed one of her short swords. "Understood. This isn't the way we had hoped it would go. Keep the landing pad clear. We'll need our own evac shortly."​

"Wait, you're still in there?! Min-"​

"Damn right I am. I didn't leave Dosuun when she needed me, I'm sure as hell not leaving the Cantrosians to do this alone. Stryker out." She breathed deeply, calming her frustration and channeling it as her nano-implants adjusted her vision for the rapidly changing conditions in the meeting chamber.​

She had impeccable timing as she saw Caio ducking back behind the pillar as shots were fired towards them. Nodding to Zakar Vass and to Keren, she slipped around the far side of the pillar to do what she did best. Keren brandished a pair of well-worn and maintained heavy blaster pistols, returning fire with an enviable accuracy, drawing their fire and attention, leaving Zakar to move forward as he saw fit given the unique set of skills that often came with those who could wield a lightsaber.​

Vidia drew her second sword and slid through the space effortlessly, dipping into the shrouded area as the smoke finally began to dissipate but finding enough remained to allow her to find a good position. It was the insurrectionists' bad luck that they had choses to infiltrate through the hallway they needed to get through. One of the masked rebels went down with a faint gurgle that was lost in the din of combat as she dispatched him with a clean stroke of a blade.​

This was not a time for revenge...that was for the Cantrosians to deal with. She simply went into survival mode as she had for those years she spent fighting to free Dosuun. Move, react, eliminate the threat, repeat. Thinking and emotional pain would come later. For now, the First Order's Minister of Defense became the 'death dealer' she had been named by the Resistance once more.​

 

[Resurgent Chronicle]

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In the grand scheme of things, bringing Cantros into the First Order family of worlds went about as well as could be expected. The diplomatic talks were the hardest hit by the insurrectionists seeking to wreak havoc, though they ultimately failed as the accord was reached while the diplomats fled to safety. Those seeking to reflect upon their past were also summarily assaulted and the insurrectionists have much to answer for given the death toll of innocent civilians. Operations are ongoing to eliminate those actively seeking destruction and to infiltrate the rebels. The business meeting went off without a hitch, with deals being struck and those with money and power actively maneuvering to ensure the best outcome for their purposes.​

Please feel free to continue your stories and a big thank you to our
CIS brethren for joining us in this amazing endeavor!​

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[Aito Vautah]

Tags: Xero Lang | Nova Dragr | Redd | Saram Kote | Talohn Atar
Objective: Infiltrate rebels
Allies: CIS | FO
Enemies: Rebel forces

Aito looked at the others who arrived, they were all clearly kitted in beskar and likely older Mandalorians than he was, some born as Mandalorians. Part of him wondered if he was meant to be born Mandalorian but something went wrong and he ended up being Atrisian by mistake, now he was Mandalorian by choice but he feared that there would be some that would think less since he wasn't born as one. That was always the fear, being an outsider, for now though he just listened and watched the events unfold as they did. Everyone was introduced to each other and Aito gave them a short nod, some had their helmets on, others did not. He wasn't sure what to expect of other Mandalorians, his mentor told him to always wear it when on mission and where appropriate so that Aito was always representing the Mandalorians and achieve greatness as one.

As they went into the meeting, it was clear that the man was fanatical and that while this was a job, he disliked the man deeply. Butchering in public, not allowing someone to die in the honour of combat, it made him want to spit in disgust. However, he had to remain silent and brooded instead, listening to the plan and observing where they needed to go. He also noticed the rage that was in the body language of one of the other comrades. He placed a hand on Nova Dragr shoulder and leaned in whispered, "I know this man is disgusting but tone down the anger towards him, otherwise he will suspect something." It was in a kind tone, sympathising with Nova since he felt the same and figured that he should say something but wasn't sure if what he said would help her.

"I will take this one. Anything we need to know about them, are they armed, combat trained, guarded?" Aito had clearly done bounties before and was curious to know more about the targets before he ran off and hunted one down. Understanding the opponent meant that it would be much easier to capture, no information and it was likely they could escape or kill you. Aito wasn't going to die on this mission, he was adamant about that.

 

[Srina Talon]

C A N T R O S 7
Tag: Var Talon | Tellu Talon
Location: Capital City of Minkaren
Objective: Mixed: Rise, Rebel, Reflect & Cantrosian Scratch Fever
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It must have been a flaw within their genetic code. The Arkanian scientists thought they were so clever. Every minute change they made to their DNA had been calculated. Planned. Poured over through a microscope until they were sure that this time, truly, they had their perfect species. What had driven them to program a strain of sacrifice into her bloodline? Every Talon suffered from it. Young. Old. As long as she could recall they were always sacrificing themselves. Giving, losing, surrendering far more than they ever should.

More than any individual should ever be forced to bear. Often, for each other.

The pain that Var would soon feel at losing depth perception was something she knew acutely. The bomb that had stolen her everything on Kuat had stolen her sight on one side for quite some time. A mask hid the defect from the rest of the Confederacy so they would not think her weak. Would he recover? Would the Force allow it to be recovered?

Srina gave all that she could to try and guide the orb of light. It glimmered and dangled like something precious, a golden ring, that hovered consistently out of reach. There was something about it that part of her shied away from. The part fed, kept, and beloved by the dark. The rest of her knew in a sudden instinct that the light was that which her family mourned. So very, very much loss had befallen them.

It was unbearable.

That was why Var had leaped to pay the price. To offer his pound of flesh to the hungry maw of the dark that twined deeply within. He required power to save his sister. The dark would oblige.

At a price.​

Light poured from the orb before it disappeared. For a moment, Srina felt her teeth clench. Had she lost control of it? No. No. Light erupted from nothingness and her arms raised defensively to shield her eyes but it was to no effect. It permeated everything it touched and she swallowed a cry as her skin began to burn at the caress of something so pure. She was damned, by her own hand. Srina could not see between the light. Could barely breathe.

She could feel it eating away at her.

The price.​

When she heard a gasp, felt a heartbeat, the light pushed her backward. Pure. It wasn’t the simple light from Jedi that poured their delicacies into the Force to exude something to fight the Sith. It was pure in such a way that even her shields couldn’t keep it from doing what it had born to do. Eradicate the dark. Srina watched Var fall in what felt like slow motion. Unthinking, she dropped her shields and dove toward the fading light to catch her little brother. “No—”, she murmured, letting him fall against her, while her eyes slowly adjusted to the healed form of her sister. Sitting awkwardly on the ground a green ring on her finger began to fill the gap. It filled her with the dark again and began to smooth the damage the light had left. “Var?”

“Var!”, she shook him once, not too hard, before realizing that he was still breathing. Still here. A smug little smile to match his attitude but still among the living. A sweet sound met her ears and she was drawn back toward the visage of a woman that seemed to be filled with joy. The hard edge within Srina seemed to soften, if, for a moment. “Tellu…”

Still cradling Var as well as she was able, she reached for her sister.

She wanted to know that she was real.

Needed to know.

 

[Redd]

RISE, REBEL, REFLECT
Tags: Nova Dragr | Aito Vautah | Xero Lang | Saram Kote

Golden eyes watched more and more people arrive, that was until a map was spread out before them upon a nearby table and the Red Demon felt drawn towards it. There her gaze drew across all of the lines and her lips twitched as she recognised the shapes and knew that it was an aerial view of a city. However, it wasn’t the capital, not that she actually cared. The one thing that did capture her attention, were the red X’s and she frowned. The tamed beings used such X’s for random things. Usually, it was of something significant, much like how a wild animal would slash their claws into the bark of a tree to make a visible declaration of their territory. The other method a wild animal would use, was a little less visible and relied upon the sense of smell. A method that was clearly not used here and completely irrelevant, but that was where her mind went when she was trying to work out what the red X’s were for. That was until the Cantrosian spoke and produced images.

When she heard the words spoken, the wolf scoffed as she rolled back upon her heels and eyed the Cantrosian for a moment. They were felines, but were rather lazy felines. They wanted the Mandalorians to do all of the heavy lifting, so then they could execute the individuals publicly to send some kind of message. She didn’t so much care for the public message, but all of this tracking and capturing, only so then a lazy individual could kill a helpless prey was all so weak in the eyes of the wolf.

Slowly, the redhead unfolded her arms and reached out to lightly pluck an image from the table with pale fingers. Then she flipped the image to face it towards the feline individual as a low growl rumbled from the woman. ”So what you’re saying, is that with all of your feline advantages, you still cannot find these people? On top of that, you’re also saying that the only way you can send a message, is to send someone else to hunt and tie up the targets for you?” Redd queried, but really the woman couldn’t help but think of these beings as weak. Weak and insignificant. Slowly, the wolf began to flip the image around and around. Once it was displayed for the others to see and the next, only Redd could see it, but really she wanted to add emphasis to her words.

On the other hand, she could feel the wolf within; snarl at the suggestion that she let any of her targets live so then others could kill them. She did after all, prefer to kill rather than keep anyone on a list, alive. She was a hunter, a killer and she had gotten quite used to her more feral nature; especially considering that the woman had more or less been left alone to her own devices with no real motivation to be anything other than a beast. Finally the image flicked back to look up at her and she stared at the image for a long time. Where did the human side of herself begin and where did the wolf end? Such a balance had been unreachable to The Red Demon and as much as she had tried, she had failed. Perhaps she wasn’t at all that different from the fanatic that stood before them, but at least she wouldn’t send others to kill for her.

She’d much rather do it herself.

”Well, I guess we are hunting then.” The woman said, but felt the familiar presence of rage even as she said those words. She’d much rather kill the one standing before her, rather than go hunt.​

 

[Tellu Talon]

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"Srina. Var."​

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Tellu called out to them, still not understanding what happened, she walked toward her siblings. Unknowing that life seems to spring up from where she stepped. She knelt down beside Var and Srina, quietly she placed a hand on Var and then to Srina, and to each of them she gave peace of mind, healing where it was needed, and above all, she provided them with hope. "I cannot stay long, sadly." The Force whispered to Tellu as it did to all beings who could hear it.​

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Time was ever fleeting.​

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"While my time here is at an end, only means that there is the beginning of something else."​

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Tellu smiled peacefully and looked upward at the clouds and then once again toward her siblings. She looked down at Var and then took his hand and held it between hers. They would be warm, unnaturally so, "continue to be the brave enforcer, the protector that you are. Know that I am with you, in every moment that you fight. I am there, my strength is your strength, brother."​

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She then looked over at Srina and cupped her older sibling's face, leaving Var's hand on his chest. "My dearest Srina, you who have lost much - you who still dwell in the dark. Do not give up, and do not despair. For in your heart, is where I reside, it is my memory that keeps me alive within your spirit. Know that I am caring for our family, and when the time comes for you to realize your true purpose in this galaxy. We will be there, and know that our hearts are with you... both of you."​

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Tellu quietly stood back up and looked upward once more and then back at her siblings.​

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"Thank you, thank you both for saving me from becoming a twisted horror."​

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"Remember one often meets their destiny on the road they take to avoid it, and... that I love you both so much." Added Tellu who then continued to say as her tears fell. "I am with you, always. Simply look to the stars, and listen, quiet your mind and let your meditation guide you. In those quiet moments, you will hear my voice."​

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Srina Talon | Var Talon ​

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[Var Talon]

SAYING GOODBYE

The Echani was spent.

Var felt as though he had ran ten thousand miles without ceasing. His body was bereft of even the strength to open his eyes. He could feel his form descending - yet grace came in the form of his eldest sibling. Her voice reached his ears. Concern colored the syllable that was his name. He felt his form tremor in her grasp, a light shake to ensure that he as alive. It took all his effort just to provide a sign that he was yet breathing. It manifested as a groan. So light that it could have easily been lost within the moment. Fortunately enough, the sign seemed to be received, for he could feel his sibling relax. And so he laid, deluding himself into thinking that Tellu had come back. That she would be with them always again.

He felt warmth as she approached.

Though his eyes were closed, he could see the glow from behind his eyelids. When her touch graced his flesh, it was as water being dumped into an empty cup. The agony which had been wrought upon his eye was cast away. The young Echani filled his lungs with a sudden gasp and forced himself to sit upright. His fingers, gingerly, grasped hers as she spoke. He nodded, but hated the words which fell from her lips. Her time was short. She could not stay.

She then cupped their sister's face. She encouraged them. Uplifted them. Gave them words of comfort. And then she looked to the heavens. Tears began to fall upon that perfectly porcelain face. Var scrambled to his knees, still too weak to stand. "No. Nononono." he stammered, gazing upon her. Yet for as much as he wished for it to be truly undone, the truth was immediately evident. His eyes stung. He couldn't stop the pain from overflowing and spilling down his cheeks.

"I hear you, sister." he said, finally. "I hear you. And you don't have to worry about me. I'll stay strong, you know that. I'll keep an eye on elder sister too - even when she doesn't want me too. I'm eating well. I'm getting plenty of rest. I'm practicing the halberd like you taught me. I can even suplex Srini, she'll never admit it though. And. And." he stammed momentarily, trying to find the words to say. Trying to find what more he could tell his dear sister before she went away. Again. "I check up on mother and father. We don't talk much, but I'll do better. I promise. I'm saving creds like you wanted. Got a place of my own. Friends too. I'm doing okay, you don't have to worry."

"I'll make you proud."​

Tellu Talon | Srina Talon