The Final Battle (OP Dominion of Gehenna)

[Moira Skaldi]

For Illyria saw the desolation she had wrought and behold it was glorious. A Galaxy in flames, scores of planet burnt clean of life, oceans of blood, billions bending to her, god to gods. And so, drunk with power, she swore to never die and conquer all and took upon the sword, the terrible swift sword that had cleaved Leviathan in half, and laid claim to the power, the kingdom and the glory. But Aurelius refused to yield, though brought low and as her legions swept across the stars like hungry lions, draining them of life, the few free Gods banded together and cast a ritual. Stars perished as they were drained, but on the ninth day the spirit of Illyria was ripped from her form.


Moira was getting ready. Her room was practically a rack of weapons along with communications and technical equipment. So many magnificient tools to deal out death, for such was her purpose. Death to the wicked, the innocent, it mattered not, for the difference was academic. She took up a Mark Two Bolter, a most efficient gun, and loaded it with a magazine of explosive bolts, also taking a buckshot one, along with loading a variety of melee and ranged weapons. She was a weapon, polished to perfection, liberated of human sentiment...perhaps not quite. For a moment, if only very few seconds, not even a moment for a human mind, she wondered whether @[member="Cora Passek"] had gotten herself into another mess. It would be unfortunate if Moira had to forcibly sedate her again the next time they met. Or inject her with nanites.

Then the moment was gone, she switched off the light and walked out, ready to wield the scythe and reap souls.

 

[Miles Varden]

Miles heard the alarms as the local units were called to action. He ran to his bunk, grabbed his Spectre armor, AXT5 rifle, and bolted for the rally point. He didn't know the details, just that it was time to do his job, and that was kill the enemy of his CO's. Miles was very good at that, and he was proud of all of his scorches and scratches that layered his armor in tales of battles past. He decided to wait to put his helmet on until he needed it. Letting his blonde hair glow in the sunlight, a scar ran from his eyebrow to his cheek could be seen over his left eye. Scruff from not having shaved was starting develop the "5 o'clock shadow" on his jawline. He looked ruff and yet soft-skined at the same time. His age would mask his experience, seeming as though he was fresh out of boot, but in his 23 years, he'd seen more combat than most generals back in the Republic/Alliance.

Miles made his way into formation and awaited his CO.

@[member="Noah Corek"] @[member="HK-36"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

 

[Nyos Val]

My apologies Lady @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], no offense was made. I have been gone for a while you know. I will join you momentarily. Look forward to executing the Reaver horde by your side Ma'am.

Nyos docked on the command vessel, a ship he was unfamiliar with, but it's size and ensignia gave it away.

Alright Merina, Kya, you take good care of my girl now. I'll be back soon. Nyos patted Merina on the head and put his hand on Kya's shoulder. MD watch these two while I'm gone.

Okay we will! Affirmative.

Nyos departed and walked into the heart of a buzzing hive of Protectorate soldiers, crewmen, and engineers rushing about on their various tasks. He made his way to the launching bay where the soldiers were lining up, a new soldier, standing alone awaited near a transport, Nyos decided to introduce himself.

Hello, my name is Nyos, 2nd Lieutenant rank of the Protectorate forces. Who are you soldier?

@[member="Miles Varden"].

 

[HK-36]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
The Siege Tower would have joined the rest of the fleet in the naval assault, under the command of HK's second in command, copy of his mind used as a droid brain, and his Yeoman, it would conduct anti-starfighter and point-blank defense of the assault.
A transmission from the Siege Tower would reach Kerrigan
"Commander Colonel Kerrigan, this is Iron Knight, Siege Tower is in position and my gunships are prepared for the assault."
Really, any titled but "the Exarch" will be used by HK on Kerrigan today

 

[Miles Varden]

Miles, Varden, I have no rank as of yet. I am a former Commando of the Republic. I am new to the OP and look forward to making a name for myself.
@[member="Nyos Val"]

 

[Matsu Ike]

Matsu had left the briefing and prepared herself, getting a nice mask and her equipment. The katana laid out with the shorter tanto, her fans, zenji needles and knife. Then slowly without the kimono or robes the jedi master donned it letting her tattoo's show across her body. This was all about stopping a dangerous threat. While she didn't want to kill more there was going to be little choice she imaged with them. The weapons secured and her hair tied up with the zenji needles all that was left was her parasol as she checked the blade. Then it was on her back while the lightsaber went to her hip. Wrist sheaths for her fans, a second forearm for the knife and her sandals. The few soldiers with her in the ship heading down looked at the armed petite jedi master wearing only trousers, wooden geta, a sarashi and face mask as required.

"This is Matsu, I am heading down and will begin with the others." The other soldiers with her got a rare grin from the jedi master as she held the parasol in her hands and grinned. There was many things she could do but the look of surprise before the shock when she slid the blade out and disarmed people was a rare treat.

 

[Nyos Val]

Nyos nodded and waited for the green light to get onboard and take off towards the death world. Nyos felt a cold chill across what little human flesh he had left. He could tell he was nervous and actually a little scared. He was about to dive head first into hell and had no idea if you were going to make it out in one piece or even alive.

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]was leading the charge, which gave him confidence. He felt secure knowing someone as crazy in battle as himself. Lady Kerrigan, Any news on departure?

 

[Ventasia Terana]

Not much for talk before a battle, Ventasia simply sat aboard one of the vessels, comms open as she monitored several channels. She was no front line solider, so picking hr moment would be essential. That and she simply detested taking orders. With eyes closed, she simply sat in wait. This was the part of any battle. The long wait before it actually began. It made her wonder why she ever chose such a life. But, then again, if she wasn't working for the Protectorate what would she be doing? Working with the Jedi? Not likely. Smuggler? Possible, but not probable. A simple sigh left her lips as she remained listening into the chatter coming across the comm network.

 

[Amari Vessia]

Going from the gathering to one of the ships, that was the easier part of Amari’s time. It was known what was coming. Nothing was new for a person that had been in Omega more than a week or how was not born yesterday. However, the details and facts just pushed her mind in to replaying the fight she had on Susevfi. It became even easier and faster for the memories to surface as she stared at her red helmet. It was identical to her sister’s except for the color. That was a time when two were sisterly, and not what they were the last time their paths cross. Memories that seem to resurface appeared to be getting trumped by the fight.

For Amari to be stuck in her memories was a normal thing. She got lost in them with their vivid detail. A curse that seemed to be not just for her, but it was for her family in some form. Amari was just happy that her issue was not as insane as what her sister had going. Which she was witnessing another in her memory as the two dueled, somebody that she used to know well. That was how Amari was going to be for the trip to Gehenna. It would be easier on her then raging silently under the surface.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Droideka 0793"]

The Inimica roared to life alongside its peers. Jorus cast a considering glance from the console hardports to the droideka. "Well, Tim, I don't see the harm in letting you take the wheel once I've launched. Just for a bit, mind. I'm still going to need flight control once the fight starts. But one of these days we'll hook you up to a ship of your own and see what happens, deal?"

The Inimica's gunners were old ODF hands, men he'd served with on Eriadu and Denon. They knew how he flew, knew how to compensate for his crap.

It might, just might, be enough.

 

[Droideka 0793]

Droideka was going to fly! Not giving master a single second to reconsider the decision before plugging himself in. For a moment as his computation process was accelerated by the processors throughout the ship there was a quick... lurch. It wasn't on purpose but integrating took some practice in actually flight, definitely not droidekgunship's fault. It wasn't quite the same as flying a droid tri-fighter, or droid gunship in those you could literally feel the metal like skin. Droidekagunship could however 'feel' the readings of all the sensors, and given that he was already used to radiation sensors for seeing it provided quite the 'visual'.

Of course Jorus had also put a gunship in the hands of a six week self aware droid. It was most likely not the best decision he'd ever made. With a new found joy droideka spun the gunship in a quick roll his rolled up droideka body most likely rolling straight into Jorus as he almost snapped his 'arm' connecting him to the ship. Flying straight again he joined the formation... he wanted to wave at them but gunships didn't have arms... that was a bright note droideka didn't have hands but at least he had arms. What kind of droid didn't have arms really? Oh wait it was a gunship not a droid, silly droideka.

Oh well he'd behave now before master took away the controls. OH LOOK A COMET! It was a pretty radiation scan but droideka also needed to check his gunships weapons functions. Lining up the shot droideka computer all the numbers and decided his weapons were dead on, but you never really know unless you fire right? Now for organics you pulled a trigger, but for droids it was more like moving a muscle and death came out. Ass such droideka twitched his gears in and sent a series of lasers and a missile directly at a small innocent comet. The explosion was not epic.... it was simply too small of a comet and the vast amount of fire and death that hit it nearly evaporated the small pieces of it.

Master comment: LOOK LOOK LOOK I KILLED IT I'M A FLLYYYEEEERR WWWEEEEEE

@[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Kyrana Gould]

@[member="Miles Varden"] @[member="Jorus Merrill"] @[member="Amari Vessia"] @[member="Ventasia Terana"] @[member="Nyos Val"] @[member="Matsu Ike"] [SIZE=11pt]@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Noah Corek"] @[member="HK-36"] @[member="Moira Skaldi"] [/SIZE]

The time passed quickly, and soon the moment had come for the final battle to begin. This conflict would be the most vital that the Protectorate had yet been in. Victory was essential.

For Admiral Stahlmann, this battle would be the first one in Protectorate colours. It would be…magnificent. Terrible and magnificent.

With a flare of starlines real space returned, and the Protectorate fleet sped into view. Dozens of ships, hundreds of attack craft, fully a score of capital ships. It was a massive armada closing in to destroy the hated enemy once and for all.

Spoiler

And yet, the force facing them was no mere flotilla. Blood red ships bristling with turbolasers moved into battle alongside alien craft and vicious looking fighters and bombers. Whatever happened, this battle would be brutal.

Spoiler

“All ships, prepare for action. Concentrate your fire and protect the transports. May the Force be with us,” he announced. “All invasion transports, prepare for launch once the battle is commenced.”

And then the first shot. A Reaver corvette, guns blazing, sped towards them. The shots pattered off the Indomitable’s shields, and a return salvo shattered the craft into pieces.

“All ships, engage the enemy more closely. Omega expects every citizen to do their duty.”

Spoiler

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Droideka 0793"] had had his fun.

"Time to fight, Tim," said Jorus. "I've set up one of the warhead launchers for you, and you've got your friend/foe indicators updated." He resumed control of the gunship, no harm done, and rejoined the formation. A bit of fun, a deep breath before the plunge.

Warhead launchers and heavy laser cannons spat fire. By some counts, the Inimica had an unholy twenty-seven warhead launchers or bays, and Jorus had logged enough hours on this and on the Gypsymoth to know how to handle multiple launchers going in multiple directions. And that was just the weapons systems under his direct control -- he did have gunners. The other Inimica pilots were, as it happened, pretty fething good too.

He tore into the Bando Gora lines with a half-kilometre microjump, leaving the assault force behind. Impossible? Feth yes. The Reavers roiled around him as his Inimica spat point-blank death, and by the time they'd adjusted to his presence, the rest of the flight was on them.

 

[Nyos Val]

Nyos looked up at the alarms and jumped to his feet. He patted @[member="Miles Varden"] on the shoulder, Looks like it's our time to shine.

He grabbed his pack and walked to a shuttle. He was ready, nervous, excited, scared, all of the above. He had to believe he could survive this, Through the bowels of hell we go, where the fowl beasts of evil lay low. He spoke in a low, monotonous tone as he walked into a armored shuttle, the ferry that would carry his soul to the other side of the river into hell.

I do believe the bell is tolling, tolling for the Reaver horde as it faces obliteration from the power of the Omega Protectorate. He called over his comm, opened to all in the area.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="HK-36"], @[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Noah Corek"], @[member="Ventasia Terana"], @[member="Nyos Val"], @[member="Matsu Ike"], @[member="Amari Vessia"], @[member="Maelion Liates"]

So the moment had come. Below them lay the hellish world of Gehenna, homeworld of the Bando Gora, a yellowy hothouse. The game was on. No doubt many of those who set upon the death world would come home only in body bags, assuming the Reavers did not devour them outright so that there would be nothing left to gather and bury. But such was the price of war, waged without pity, without restraint.

Once more unto the breach and all that noble rot, Siobhan thought as beheld the armada closing in on them from the viewing port. Ships as red as the rivers of blood that the Bando Gora undoubtedly wanted to drown the Galaxy in, alien vessels and the familiar Reaver-class fighters with the twin solar sails, all speeding towards the Protectorate fleet with reckless abandon. The serenity of space was broken as it was lit up by turbolaser fire, missiles streaking across the vastness of space. Reaver starfighters surged towards the closest Protectorate ships, many were quickly blasted to pieces, but one corvette shook as two fighters collided with it and exploded, loaded with baradium. The explosion that blossomed was most beautiful to watch.


Siobhan was striding down the corridor at a rapid pace, heading downward towards the hangars where troops would embark. This was it, the hour was at hand. "All ground forces board your transports and prepare for launch at my command. 1st OP and 65th and 27tth Heavy Infantry prepare to proceed to designated landing zones Aurek and Besh. 41st Armoured and 4th Company 1st OP land once zone is secure and push forward. Do what must be done, do not hesitate. Show no mercy," she spoke into the comm before cutting the connection and proceeding apace, the Force augmenting her speeed as she pretty much ran down the long corridor. The 65th and 27th were brigades of heavy infantry, composed of soldiers dressed in heavy armour and equipped with Mark Two Boltguns, repeaters and grenade launchers along with blaster rifles etc. As mechanised infantry they brought APCs and IFVs for rapid deployment and fire support. The 41st was an armoured brigade with Hoplite tanks, AT-SE assault walkers and self-propelled rocket launchers. Infantry secured a bridgehead, armour deployed to hold and smash into enemy ranks, futher allowing dropships to land, as it was unlikely that they would be able to deploy the entire expeditionary force in one swoop. The 1st OP Battalion also contained HK's infamous Iron Knights, Siobhan pressed a button on her comm to hail the Siege Tower, instructing the Telum-class frigate to aid in providing covering fire against Bando Gora fighters that would undoubtedly assail their transports.

"Valkyrie Squadron prepare to provide air support against advancing hostiles, get Vendetta in the air for covering fire." Avenger bombers and Peregrine-class Gunships respectively. They were still using Peregrines - those craft had already been in use when Siobhan was toppling a warlord on Dahomey. "Master Ike, you're with me, join the assault force. We'll cut a bloody swathe through the scum." she signalled the Jedi Master. "Agent Maelion Liates, we have Cultists to slaughter. If some are still alive when we're done. I'll let you process them." Outside the battle was heating up, swarms of Reaver fighters and bombers were descending upon the fleet like angry locusts, eager for their share of blood. Win or lose, the blood gods would be appeased, for each death fed them with souls to torment and drain.


As she ran down, passing countless soldiers who were equally racing towards their transports, her mind was suddenly struck by a powerful force, as if hundreds of sharp knives were stabbing at her. Siobhan reeled under the mental onslaught. The enemy did not waste time with flooding her mind with visions of desolation and demon armies or a creeping cold chill, but went straight for pain. She felt as if she was being split and torn apart from the inside out, it felt as if bones and ribs were breaking and being smashed with the force of hammerblows. Before her mind there was the flash of a ring of fire, then it felt as if she was being incinerated.

Bend to us,
We are legion, we are forever
Every death fuels our power
You are ours


She cried out, bit down upon her tongue hard, then roughly pushed back, with all the lack of subtlety as a battering ram. She had faced the mental onslaughts of the Bando Gora before, her mind had been crushed by Shadow...and he was the only one she feared. She steeled herself. She would go out and she would conquer and slaughter all that opposed her, tear their unholy altars down and build her own throne from their skulls. She did not need a Blood God to prostrate herself before and give her the power to smite her enemies. So she finally reached the turbolift and took it down, tremendously annoyed at how slow it seemed. In the hangar the dropships were already packed with troops, the machinery of war being loaded in. Her machines, her army, so she quickly passed them and embarked. No cheers, no fancy speeches, equally no doubt. She would not tolerate it.

 

[Miles Varden]

Miles nodded to the 'man' and in turn, grabbed his gear, dawned his helmet and locked the seal. His HUD awoke and began to stream the data that the OP channels were flooding with. He made his way to a shuttle, sat and listened to the man he'd just spoke to. The words were strangely poetic and it made Miles think he could actually dive into hell and come out dry.

 

[HK-36]

@[member="Friedrich Stahlmann"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
HK nodded to himself as he received orders from Ever-Colonel Kerrigan to provide covering fire, something the Siege Tower was good as.
He motioned for his crew to set ahead-full on the engines
"Let us help the good Colonel, brethren, let us swim through the weaves of the fate like the sailors of old."
He commanded poetically as the frigate sped and twirled from time to time, truly a Bladedancer Vessel.
Often it was able to avoid major concentrations of enemy fire, churning out protective cover of blaster from its own gun, able to down whole swarms of enemy fighters at once.
"Show no fear! Show only valor, and courage, and respect to your enemy, underestimate them not."
He spoke as he turned around, nodding to his yeoman
"Have the shuttles and gunships prepare, I will soon join the soldiers in the Hangar, the ground assault is drawing near."
His yeoman nodded as alarms began blaring through the ship.

 

[Droideka 0793]

The switch had been flipped in droideka 0793's protocol, and the changes were immediate. Gone were his silly, childlike ramblings, and instead a deadly droideka battle droid was equipped to the rocket launcher's as the enemy got closer. His logic was simple, master was in the gunship, the enemies were firing at the gunship, and that meant droideka would have to embrace his cold machine mind.

As his master's expert flying abilities became apparent so too would droideka's ability to destroy. Slowly his processors attempted a take over of all launch tubes as it continually calculated strike angles and shield ratios with dizzying speed. Without a doubt Jorus would notice the launchers weren't going where he intended and would seek to rectify that. However droideka 0793 could not allow the loss of efficiency. Even with Jorus' expert flying and skill his efficency was only 76% per individual launcher. Droideka 0793 was working at 93% per launcher due to the ability to control each individual launcher simultaneously. The cost was very steep, he'd given up the soul of what he'd become to insure the safe arrival of his master. He would regain his soul after, but he'd have to face his killing machine half.

Master computation: I am firing at a 17% increase in efficiency. Request you allow unit 0793 to maintain fire control.
@[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Noah Corek]

@[member="Miles Varden"] @[member="Droideka 0793"] @[member="HK-36"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
"Alright boys and girls,this is it,the Bando Gora homeworld,now I won't lie to you guys,many of you will not make it back alive,hell even I have doubts about surviving. But if we stop the Bando Gora here and now,we will save more lives than that are lost here and that means that you will not die in vain! So face the enemy,this war is our destiny and we will fufill our destiny! Who's with me?!" After saying this Noah heard a massive chorus of agreements. When the shuttles landed the 120 men under his command poured out,ready to fight.

 

[Amari Vessia]

When the word came down from one of the boss ladies… well when it came across the comms, it was enough to echo in Amari’s flashback. The black scarred helmet faded back to her red one. A moment was taken to rub her eyes and shake the cobwebs from her head. She glanced around to it was time. Quickly grabbing her helmet, it was placed on and secured as she made her way to the transport that was taking her to the surface.

The craft’s pilots were closing the doors and prepared for its launching. In the transport, Amari was among soldiers focused on the task that would bring an end to Bando Gora. In this time, she was grabbing everything to keep her mind in check. There was no need for her to have flashback in the craft or on the ground. Being a defender and all, she knew she could at least hold back her disorder for a little bit. She hoped the ship would just go and get her down on the surface to let her release the rage that her sister Dharma had left behind.