Invasion The Return : The Battle of Mandalore [TN Invasion of TSE Mandalore]

[Adenn Kyramud]

Location: Sundari, Mandalore
Objective: Destroy the Sith and cause as much chaos as possible. Beat back the giant enemy weapons too, bonus points!
Links: Drop Pods | LAAT | Hellwalkers | AT-AD | Beskad Warriors | Beskad Elite | Tracyn Mirshko | Hell’s Angel | Titan Tank | Conscencis Clypeus(Boarding Shields) | Slugs | Mosquito Starfighters | Aryx | WLO-5 Battle Tank | ProtekTrak
Allies: Mandalorians, Network, allies of both: Mig Gred, Kaine Australis, Stardust Solus Skirae
Enemies: TSE, allies of Sith: Vaulkhar, Irveric Tavlar, Taeli Raaf
Tags: Vaulkhar | Irveric Tavlar | Amaris Tanenat | Senna Valerian | Taeli Raaf | @Lorale Farm

They fought on, these Mandalorians of Clan Mortui and their allies, even as their song played above them and through them(Vode An). They fought with all the rage of those fighting for their home's, with all the rage of those seeking vengeance for the wronged. As such, they fought harder than anyone would believe possible, and yet the Sith troops held them back in many places. This was in large part thanks to their fortified positions, but also thanks to them knowing that they either fought, or they died. Despite this though, the formations continued on, inexorable as always. As the turtle formations continued on, vehicles from the flanks began to move inward, supporting the troops in a most direct fashion.

Aryx scout vehicles leapt over sandbags and rubble on the edges, bobbing along while firing their weapons. They were once more moving further in, moving to hammer the sides of the Sith defenses. Despite their speed though, a few were cut down, either from defensive fire, traps, or concentrated fire. No matter though, the survivors continued on, blasting at all the weaker targets they could. While this happened, the WLO tanks returned as well, though more of them continued to stay on the flanks, providing cover fire in that manner. A handful though rushed in, their droid programming having them move to assist in a more direct manner. These ones moved either in front of a handful of turtle formations, those usually halted by the defenses, or to assist those stuck. The formations advancing were given less support however, not that they truly needed it in the end.

As the formations advanced, relentlessly firing away at the defensive positions, a light flashed visible to those watching, and distracting those not. It was a light that signaled the next phase of the plan, though most didn't know it. The Mando'ade knew the broad aspects, but not the finer details. Adenn on the other hand knew about the details, had been informed about them in the planning, and now was he more than grateful for that fact. And then came the call, 'Manda', reinforcements were here for the attackers, and evac for those they were saving. None in the formations, on the fighting vehicles, even Adenn himself didn't pay attention to those there to evac the 'civvies', no they focused on their reinforcements.

As these reinforcements came down, they brought much needed vehicle support and more elite troops. The vehicles they brought were those that the attackers of Sundari had lacked, shield defenses. Most of the vehicles brought to them were ProtekTrak's, the shield vehicles would be excellent here. Said vehicles immediately began setting up their shield defenses, with their shields moving to engulf the entire box formation that was Clan Mortui. Even as the tail end of the formation entered Sundari outskirt, the shield came down, creating a protective bubble around them. Alongside this, the ProtekTrak's added their protection to Hell's Angel and across the main body of the box. While they were defended, the flanking forces weren't, and those on the edges had the least amount of protection. Alongside this, most of the forward turtle formations were still out of the protection, being too far up to be properly enveloped. That would change soon, especially since the formations moved more slowly now, but they were still out of the protection for now.

As for Joycelyn Zambrano, the Mandalorian forces on the edge of the new protective bubble had come to realize there was a grave threat before them. As such, they sent forth a pair of Aryx scout vehicles and a small handful of WLO battle tanks. Alongside them marched more Mandalorians, with many of them being more well versed in combat against Force users. It wasn't much yet, but they knew that a Sith couldn't refuse such an open challenge as this, which meant they'd be fighting their target(Joycelyn) soon enough. Joycelyn Zambrano

The Titan Tanks pushing the Barrage back away from their forces continued to do so until the bloody thing exploded, and when it finally did, it took them with it. However, thanks to their efforts the Barrage wasn't all too close to the Mandalorian formations. That's not to say there were no casualties though, far from it really. The explosion from the Barrage on their flank took out a whole three fourths of the right most turtle formation's supporters. Alongside that, it took out approximately a quarter of the turtle formation itself, the rest surviving through sheer luck thanks to being further into the cities rubble. However, many were injured from the concussive force, with approximately half the entire formation out of commission, a quarter to death, the other quarter to injuries. That was a devastating blow to that flank of the Mandalorian assault, meaning that they wouldn't be able to attack as effectively, nor continue at the same pace.

At the same time though, this didn't break morale from the Mandalorians, in fact it invigorated them, despite their numerous losses. The destruction of the Barrage showed to the Mando'ade that the Sith were desperate to keep them away, otherwise they wouldn't have resorted to such cheep tricks. As such the formation advanced further into the city, hammering into the Sith defensive positions as they went. Now, while the damage to the flank formation was significant, there were vehicles caught in the blast as well. Aside from the original Titan Tanks, a handful of Hellwalkers too close were damaged or destroyed, while another handful of Titan Tanks was as well. The Barrage had managed to do in death what it could not in life: kill numerous of the vehicles and Mandalorian troops all at once. Nonetheless, the vehicles still continued on, fighting as hard as ever, even if those on the one flank were advancing slower than the others thanks to the damage aquired.

As for Hell's Angel, the titan itself was out of range of the explosion, though the concussive blast did affect it, causing it to cease fits forward motions. Once the explosion was over though, the titan strode forward once more, at last entering the outskirts of the city, Mandalorian troops all around its feet. As the ProtekTraks came as well, adding their shields to the formation all in all, it seemed as if the formation had become a bubble of doom. The formation in and of itself wasn't anything to sneeze at, but with this defense, they'd be nigh untouchable. If things went right and stayed right of course.

Providence was not with Adenn that day, no matter how right things were going, no matter the fact that Clan Australis had just saved their collective backsides, the day would not remain good. While Adenn was grateful for the help, and more than willing to ask for more, he also knew that this battle for Sundari had just become far bigger than it had been. Before Hell's Angel had been the giant of the battlefield, with Clan Mortui protecting it and being protected in turn. Now though, now two other giants had come into play at relatively similar times. The massive hydra abomination from the Sith, and the SSD from Lorale.

Cursing to himself, Adenn prayed that the shields would hold against the SSD's bombardment. This time his wish came true, and the shields held, albeit barely, and most likely due to the fact that the ship had been targeting the edge of Sundari, not inside it already, and for the fact that the shields wer brand new. As for the shields, they strained under the pressure, a few reaching breaking point already, but they held. For now. However, not everyone survived, for not everyone had been under the shields. Several squads that were outside in the rear were killed, along with a handful of slower Hellwalkers. But it was over for now, so Adenn focused instead on the massive hydra thing, already scanning it for weaknesses. At the same time he opened a line to the pilot of Hell's Angel, alongside the crew.
"Focus all firepower on that creature. We need that thing dead, before it can cause too much damage to anyone. Kill the damnable thing ner'vod!"

No grandstanding on a simple order, no, the grandstanding would come soon. Adenn knew the sight of the beast shook his men, hell, it shook himself. But they still needed to fight, and as the saying went, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. And thankfully enough, Adenn had a giant titan to help make the beast fall. While not nearly as tall, the 125m tall Hell's Angel was still impressive. Not only that, the range of its weapons was most likely superior. Turning all its weapons to bare, Hell's Angel opened fire as soon as it could. The laser canon on one arm was shot towards the body of the beast, while the massive devastator canon was shot towards the heads, as a means to keep them preoccupied. At the same time, the artillery canons on the 'shoulders' of Hell's Angel fired as well, their massive blasts firing towards the beast to try and hit wherever they could.

Adenn watched in silent consternation as Hell's Angel fired upon its enemy, before he opened his comm to speak out to his vode. His message was one of reassurance, and one meant to have them think of the glory rather than the death.
"Look at the prize these Sithlings have brought to us vode, a giant beast to slay! What a prize, shows you how scared they are. We've slayed giant beasts before vode, our ancestors have as well. This'll just be another trophy to take home! For Mandalore, let's show these Sith what a true fight is like!"

And just like that, they were going forward once more, not that they had truly stopped. While the regular soldiers, the turtle formations and vehicles, continued to fight the regular Sith troops, giants would fight above them. And Adenn was determined to be there to help slay this beast. As such, he continued onward, leading his men further towards the enemy defenses, preparing to move fast soon enough.


OOC Summary:

Spoiler

Part 1

• Aryx scout vehicles flank defending positions, firing all they have at the defenses
• WLO Battle Tanks assist halted turtle formations
• All turtle formations continue on, despite continued losses
• Protektrak vehicles arrive and set up shields around center box formation of Mandalorians
• A dedicated force moves to intercept Joycelyn Zambrano

Part 2

• Handful of Titan Tanks destroyed by the explosion of the Barrage, numerous Hellwalkers damaged or destroyed as well
• Mandalorians continue on with renewed vigor
• Hell's Angel, and accompanying vehicles, enter the city itself at last

Part 3

• Forces halt upon the emergence of the beast from Taeli and the SSD
• Slow advance, as the shield is moved to better protect people, though the forward turtle formations are not yet in the bubble
• Hell's Angel opens fire on the beast with all its weapons
• Troops continue to advance, though more slowly, and in a manner better fit to combat such a beast and the Sith troops

 

[Timaz Zi Dipat]

​

Location: Within the Ka'pruni mine, close to Mynock ( Mig Gred ) and Karina Lowe
Currently: Calming down, staring, frozen
Allies: The Sith Empire, survival instincts
Enemies: Irrational Thought

The noise of gunfire still echoed down the corridors from seemingly far away. The Mandos and Sith had already begun murdering each other like uncivilized brutes. Timaz had little sympathy for war. It was a messy and wholly unnecessary system of resource distribution. By no means did he consider himself a pacifist, however. He believed in the rule of power, just like the Sith and their Empire did; there were, however, far more effective ways of determining supremacy than throwing the lives of millions of innocent beings against one another.

Diplomacy and knowledge, if employed cunningly, could yield far more devastating results than any extended series of skirmishes over a few border planets ever hoped to carry. One only had to consider the methodology of the now infamous Darth Sidious, who, in ancient history, had employed deception which ultimately lead to the metamorphosis of the weak Republic into the far more powerful Empire at the cost of little more than replaceable, and frankly expendable, cogs in the greater machinery of his design. If only he had not allowed himself to grow overconfident in his perceived absolute dominion over the galaxy. Though Timaz supposed that for the Empire of this age to consider such an approach it would require them to willingly shed themselves of their dogmatic design of destruction, which was about as likely to occur as Mustafar sprouting an aquatic oasis overnight.

The talz had made progress through four corridors since the beginning of his ruminations. The mental exercise of considering his personal viewpoints lent him a sensation of bravado, almost, convinced that his logic of a more subtle approach to galactic domination was irrefutable. The gunfire had faded into the back of his mind, confidence surrounded him like a shield as he proceeded to round the next corner, where he would find the neatly placed "Infirmary" sign glowing a calming shade of blue above his makeshift laboratory.

Except that instead of a glowing sign, his eyes met the black visor of a being wearing that most familiar of bucket shapes. The Mandalorian stood half-crouched, weapon trained on the very spot the Talz occupied at the other end of the hallway. Their encounter lasted no more than a single heartbeat, but to the Talz it seemed like their gaze was locked for an eternity. All hairs stood straight on his body. His muscles tensed instinctively, the claws on his feet attempting to dig into the metal floor for greater purchase as though it was earth. The most primitive part of his brain took over. Fight surrendered to flight before he'd even finished drawing breath.

The dash to escape he found himself in was controlled by instinct rather than rational thought. Hallway after hallway, his claws scraped on metal as he ran as fast as his body allowed. The last rational part of his mind screamed at him not to turn left a third time, lest he find himself back where he started. Fortunately, the other part agreed.

The instincts of a predatory creature had taken over. They made him feel alien within the metal corridors of the mine, the architecture unlike anything he was used to in the wilderness. At this moment adrenaline ruled his thoughts and all concept of the civilized had vanished. He was little more than an animal clawing its way through a cave of inexplicable uniformity, experiencing nothing but the overwhelming need for survival. His own heartbeat dominated the soundscape of the world around him, briefly punctured by strikes of distant thunder. The rational part of his conscious mind still echoed faintly inside Timaz' head. Quietly it attempted to implant impressions into the animal of the world it had come to adopt as its own when it departed to elevate itself. Timaz zi Dipat, trained physician, major of biology at the Royal Academy of Bastion, master over the processes that influenced life and death themselves still struggled for dominance against the talz.

The cracking of thunder very close caused the talz to tense up for a moment, slowing his mad sprint as his claws desperately tried to bury into the metal to brake his momentum. Steel won out against claw and he slid across the hallway's surface for several feet before tumbling over forwards to catch himself with his two front claws. He came to a halt next to a dark, rectangular hole. He turned and scrambled inside it on all fours. The dark swallowed him as he charged, a brief glance of a four-legged creature met him before the sensitive set of eyes closed for protection as he ran directly into it. The cry of steel grinding against steel announced its attack, a cold arm tangling around the talz' neck. He cried out with a shrill noise as he tried to stand, feeling the body of his attacker attempting to weigh him down.

The ease with which he could muster to stand upright again surprised the talz. Instinctively his claws launched a furious retaliatory strike against the creature. As they raked across his assailant's body he felt them sink into something soft. The elation of victory began to form at the edge of his mind. Bit by bit the creature was torn apart, limbs ripped from its body with loud cracks. The arm around his neck went limp and slid off, dropping to the ground alongside what was left of the creature with a clang. Heaving breaths left the talz as his lungs strained against their confines. The adrenaline he felt began to fade and his larger pair of eyes opened as he believed himself safe.

Realisation crept into Timaz as he stared at the eviscerated chair at his feet. Soft feathers littered his claws and the floor around the broken tangle of metal and plastic. His breathing began to calm. He looked around. Rows of identical chairs and desks littered the modest room. A large holo-projector sat idle at one of the far walls. The last minute was nothing more than a blur in his mind, a memory dominated by intense dread and panic that drowned out any specifics he might have been able to remember. A door at the other end of the room was the only other exit. Any fear of the unknown was lost to him in the lingering sensation of the adrenaline-fueled escape. All he perceived behind him was death, the lack of knowledge of what was past that door was a relief by comparison.

With a quick tap of the console the door slid open. Timaz stepped outside with one foot, peeking his head out to scout the hallways. To one side he saw nothing but metal walls. When he gazed to the other recognition immediately struck him. The armoured frame of a warrior of the Mandalorians, a knife embedded in their shoulder, filled the hallway. His lungs still burned as he stood there, frozen in fear.

 

[Eversor]

Objective: Engage & Eliminate
Allies: TSE
Enemies: Curtis Learchin | Loreena Arenais-Valhoun

Silas' gaze fell upon the man with indifference. He did not know this stranger, nor did he wish to. "Your face serves me nothing." With that, Silas began walking forward with a much more quickened determination. His demeanor was strong - chest out and visibly unshaken even by the rather disastrous crash prior. He was hurting however, and his wounds were losing a fair amount of blood as time went on. An expression of grimace and discomfort painted the Sith's face, yet it remained partially hidden by the broken helmet still fixed to his head.

Silas raised his right arm, unrelenting in his pursuit as he attempted to strike downward with a single slash. He did not wish to pause for banter or conversation - his mission was to kill. He was nothing more than another body for the Empire to dispose of. He was part of the very foundation that upheld the societal and galactic importance of what the Sith represent. Even if he hadn't the slightest clue of his surroundings, the default method of response was with that of violence. He must display an utter and wavering spectacle of cruelty. For none are as determined, as faithful.

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

Position: Sundari
Objective: Mandalore - Repel the Mandalorian assault ; Survive the Sithspawn.
Allies: Vaulkhar | Lorale Farmar| Taeli Raaf | Joycelyn Zambrano - The Sith Empire
Enemies: Adenn Kyramud - The Network
The Beast
Equipment:
Battle Armor
'Vishnu' Military Shield
DG-41 "Inferos" Disruptor Rifle
HG-88 'Big Iron' Hand-cannon

---

"Focus AT on those karkin' tanks! Fire!" One of the many Imperial NCOs shouted out ; harkoning to his section as a trooper loaded up his rocket launcher before recieving a tap on the shoulder the backblast was clear - sending a missile down from the rampart of a building into the top armor of a titan tank crawling along one of the tight corridors ; the warhead biting into the durasteel hull before punching through and knocking out the vehicle as a whole.

"He's done." The Trooper sounded out, ducking down to load another rocket into his weapon as he sounded out a laugh to himself ; the Sergeant slapping the back of his helmet with a satisfied laugh before sending another three round burst of his autokrator down range.

"Load up another one; there's gonna be more!" The Sergeant sounded out, ducking beneath the metallic wall only to hear a kinetic thud sink into the other end. There was little to be ordered by this point ; with the Sith-Imperial defenses so deeply embedded well into the city all that could be done was out-fight the Mandalorians at their lines. Blasters, flechettes, rockets and disrupters sought to make any communication hell for the units tightly distributed to cover interlinking areas of fire as they focused down the spear head of each advancing Mandalorian formation.

---

In a reprieve to Tavlar's army ; the Vodvtaki Siege Palace had fixed itself just outside Sundari ; serving to trap the Mandalorians around and under Imperial steel as the fighting continued to rage. Situated within his frontline post ; very quickly squabbled together by his Command squad the General was able to catch his breath from the unforgiving nature of the battle. Kneeling down once more he slowly pulled off his helmet of Beskar steel and classic Imperial design, setting it unto the ground beneath. Resembling just about everyone else present he was covered in the pale urban dust which seemed to be ever present in these sorts of battles, the explosions and rage of battle grounding metal, concrete and stone into a find dust ; threatening to choke the air as it sputtered back down to cover absolutely everything in a thin rain of ash.

Knelt next to one of his subordinate officers - he began to try and lay out the situation for Irveric once more.

"Sir , The Siege Palace has begun to lay fire down on the Mandalorians from their rear flank ; we have them trapped between us. We're holding fast but still giving up ground ; we may have to-" The man was cut off as a tremor shook the earth ; the lifeform scanners of nearly all of Tavlar's troopers correlating quickly the source of the earthshaking rupture.

A beast emerged from unknown depths and was quick to wreak havoc on the battlefield. Amalgamated from esoteric Sith alchemy the beast was honed toward the Beskar bandits however ; Tavlar's troopers inbetween were not spared. The flailing heads dug their teeth into several scores of his fighting men and women as the limbs of the behemoth stomped down indiscriminately unto the 12th Armored Troopers.

"Wh-what is that?! Fu- fire! All- everything!" One of the officers near Tavlar's post sounded out, harkening toward the monstrosity.

Chaos began to reign over the Sith ranks. What were once stalwart lines began to falter. The Mandalorian assault was strong but the Sithspawn amalgamation was devestating in its own right. Focused fire began to divert in all directions.

Irveric was told nothing. The Sith had summoned the beast which they hid here and in-spite of being charged with the task of occupying Sundari - he was dreadfully ignorant of the Sithspawn's presence. He might've been able to ground the Mandalorians into dust himself against his seemingly unyielding defense and now it seemed to break all around him as his ranks and Mandalorians both clamored to perceive and react to the presence of the hydra.

"Don't fire- it is under the control of the Lady Taeli Raaf!" One of the ebon clad legionnaires charged with protecting the very Sith-spawn barked out, placing a hand on his shoulder only for the officer to face him with boiling anger behind the shaded visor of his helmet.

"That thing is stomping out our positions! That thing is no friend! Concentrat-" With a blaster bolt behind the neck - the Leftenant's speech was snuffed abruptly only to give way for the surrounding troopers to unload a volley of crimson blaster fire into the man ; leading into an even greater exchange of fire with a surrounding section of Taeli's legionnaires.

For Irveric - this situation began to grow more and more difficult to maintain as his allies almost seemingly sought to sabotage his already dogged efforts.

"Hold your fire...Hold your fire! Hold! Enough!" Iveric shouted out, batting at the autokrator wielded by one of his own veteran retinue ; the force of the crushgaunt sending it to the ground with a loud crack against the rubbl and soon enough the area was enveloped in brief silence as troopers from either detachment seemed to abide by Tavlar's commanding presence ; drawn out of his cold stoicness the outburst was certainly unsettling in its uncharacteristic display before soon enough he leveled back down, flicking his comms to communicate across all of his army's channels.

"All detachments. Out of the beast's way ; clear a path do whatever you have to do but do not take your sights off the Mandos. Move out." It was then that Irveric had centered himself finally, his demeanor chilling back to normalcy as he took his fearsome visage back over his gaze once more. With that - any phasing in of events from his tortured past dissipated into nothing ; allowing for full subjugation of the reality before him.

"Deathshead...consolidate. We're going to press the advantage and envelop them while they target the beast. Load up on ordinance and move out." Irveric ordered out to his personal detachment ; made up of the most war tempered of his Army. Forged into deadly stormtroops they would be the catalyst of any counter assault under Tavlar's command.

---

Spoiler: Large Scale Actions Summary

• Initially, Tavlar's troopers fire upon the Emperor of Serpents as of their positions face its wrath before shifting priority back to the Mandalorians and consolidating.
• Tavlar begins to consolidate his elite corps for a counter assault and envelopment of the assaulting Mandalorians.

 

[Aerarii Tithe]

Location: Ronion
Objective: III - Rally the troops, dishearten the invaders
Allies: Telis Taharin-Zambrano | The Sith Empire
Enemies: Valkren Calderon | Beltran Rarr | The Network
Post: 6


Telis handed Aerarii a location transponder and organised the group of Sith Legionnaires into a combat formation. The bureaucrat watched as the heavily armed and armoured soldiers formed up and began moving down the quiet street with weapons at the ready. Aerarii wiped nervous sweat off his brow, his eyes darting between windows and doorways. An enemy could jump out at any moment and blast him where his stood. He did not plan to die on a hell hole such as this.

“I don’t suppose you know how the locals feel about the Emperor?” The SINN audience propaganda research had focused on the larger city of Sundari. In theory, the inhabitants of Ronion were loyal Mandalorians who had sworn their allegiance to the Sith, but judging by the stares Aerarii and his colleagues were getting, they were not happy that another conflict had broken out on their planet. The Mandos, dressed in the beskar'gam, were thankfully not taken up arms against the Imperials, however, they also weren’t rushing out to help.

Avoiding enemy engagement, the contingent entered and secured the large plaza in the centre of town. Teyn Gratiir, who unlike Aerarii was standing proud and not cowering in fear, took up position on a small stage as the Legionaries spread out to cover him. Attired in his gleaming golden armour and crimson red cape, he stood as a symbol around which his people could rally.

A SINN technician approached Aerarii wearing a concerned look and clutching a data pad. “Sir, we have a problem. The invading Mandos have blanket-jammed the sector.” The Treasurer-General studied the readouts on the data pad, a sinking feeling developing in his stomach. While the plan had been to hold an old fashioned rally, broadcasting it would have allowed them to reach a wider audience.

“Well, not much we can do. As they say, errr, the show must go on. Yes.”

Teyn Gratiir took the stage and began speaking, his voice projected by a loud speaker. He called upon the locals to take up arms against the invaders, to fight in the name of the Emperor and to demonstrate their legendary fighting prowess. In small groups the locals entered the plaza and moved toward their Mandalore, slowing being drawn into his inspiring speech.

Aerarii came upon alongside Telis Taharin-Zambrano . “Are we secure? We are secure here, right? I feel like we aren’t secure.” The bureaucrat, despite his Legionnaire officer combat armour and protective detail, continued to scan the surrounding buildings for any sign of trouble. Teyn Gratiir, while having the potential to rally the locals to the Imperial cause, would also present an attractive target for The Network.

 

[Telis Taharin-Zambrano]

Location: Ronion, Mandalore
Objective: Prevent the Network from kidnapping citizens and rebels
Allies: Aerarii Tithe | TSE
Enemies: Valkren Calderon | Beltran Rarr | K Kaine Australis | The Network
Post: 2


Arriving in the courtyard, Telis breathed a short sigh of relief that the group had made it without the arrival or intervention of rebellion forces. It wasn’t long before the propaganda team began to set up their rally, and as they did so the Sith Knight ordered the legionnaires to keep guard - so long as he was here, the perimeter would be kept, and that was a promise. As Aerarii brought the question up to him, he almost scoffed, pulling his hood down a little lower and reaching for one of the chitin-grip handles that sat at his side. ”So long as I am here, General Tithe, they will not pass...” As Telis finished his statement, however, he found his eyes drawn overhead, towards the source of a new sound: a landing fleet.

Telis almost choked on his own words as he saw the Network’s rescue fleet descending upon Ronion. The cowards truly thought that they had this battle in their reach, and now they were simply harvesting their spoils from the planet. He let the anger inside of him bubble up to the surface, his lack of armor allowing it to flow through him like lightning in water. Another emotion, however, began to appear from the anger - ambition. He had the chance to do something glorious, and to have it be recorded by Sith bureaucrats at the same time. Closing his eyes, he began to slowly raise his hand to the ships, the sounds of chaos all around him melding into one.

”And when I say that, it is a promise.” As Telis uttered the final word, he thrust his palm forwards, outstretched and open as he began to reach towards the leading ship in the fleet, stretching to the very edges of his focus and ability, feeling his mind draw away from his body and into the console of the ship. He continued to reach, however, beyond just the console of the ship, past the pilots, into the security, and into the safeguards, the protocols, and the core of the ship itself. He felt the wires of the lander more vividly than he felt his own veins. His mind was cut between the machine and the man, and as he reached more, he felt the ship’s commands become new muscles to stretch and change as he willed. Telis had learned very early that machines weren’t very Force-resistant.

Inside of the ship now, Telis ranged through it like a marauder, shutting off all unnecessary sources of power - life support, communications, atmospheric protection, shields, even lights, leaving only two things intact - the flight controls, and the core itself. He diverted all this spare power straight into the core, funneling every inch of produced power straight back into attempting to make more, feeling it burn brighter and hotter as, in tandem, the subdermals underneath his skin fired a bright red, glowing through his clothing. He set the ship on a countdown timer, a tick towards devastation and with it, hopefully a large portion of the fleet, and then he gave it one final command, as the dark husk grew hotter and hotter - fly backwards, into the rest of the fleet.

Telis enforced this final command as an emperor would enforce a declaration of war. With this final oath sentenced, Telis would alleviate his control over the ship, ensuring that it was set on a track that would lead to fireworks. Returning his focus back to himself, the Sith Knight would gasp for breath, heaving as the exertion took its toll on him, and he leaned back against a nearby post until he regained his composure. Looking towards Aerarii, he would point to the rescue fleet coming down over Ronion with a grim, malicious smile. ”And know, General Tithe, that I keep my promises.”

After a few moments, the Sith Knight would stand back up once more, turning to look towards the rally. The transponder idea would be useless with the orbital jamming, but this was still a rather sizable crowd, and one that shouldn’t be gawked at. ”I have a feeling you will be safe here. The two men I brought with me are handpicked from some of the Empire’s finest, and I’m sure these civilians, with enough preaching, will fight alongside the legionaries against these terrorists attack. However, there are still smaller operations throughout the city - I must go and make sure their assaults are fruitless. Rally these men and women into fighting, and turn them into a militia in our favor. I shall return.”

With this said, the Sith Knight took his leave from the rally, with a final shout in order to tell the legionaries to stand guard. Racing from the plaza, Telis disappeared down the streets, following the sounds of heavy blaster fire and marking them upon his mental compass, hopefully passing through the various firefights in order to locate the gunship that he had seen earlier. Sprinting like a shadow lost in daylight, the Sith Knight was nothing more than a shade with his Antaru training, one saber in his hand and the other at this side as he avoided firefights, tracking the sound of the Rangers’ fire until he eventually reached the intersection, stood with his lightsaber in hand while he began to search around, his senses tingling but his eyes deceiving of him the purpose of finding the Network Rangers.

 

[Karina Lowe Legacy]

AND THE DARKNESS RAINED UPON THEM.
Command-Sergeant Karina Lowe
Location: Ka'pruni Mine
Allies: TSE, Cara Dorniarn | Timaz Zi Dipat
Enemies: TN, Mig Gred
Objective: Get medical attention
Equipment: Autokrator Assault Blaster Rifle | SIF-57s Charric Pistol | Thermal Detonators | Commlink | Scramble Key | Field Slicing Kit | Legion Service Dagger

Karina lay curled on the floor, dazed and overcome with pain, waiting for the strike that never came. The silence stretched long, the droid standing above with Karina crumpled at its feet, defeated and broken. She waited for the sword to arc down, waited for the shotgun to fire, but the droid never finished the job.

Instead, it stepped aside and offered her mercy.

Shakily, she rolled over, slipping on the shiny floor, slick with her own blood, as she got on her knees. Karina's gaze locked onto the visor, her red-smeared face-plate as expressionless and blank and ever, and her cut-up and battered face obscuring her emotions further.

A glove once again clasped over her injured mouth, Karina rose to her feet, slipping past the armoured war machine and clambering down the hall in an unsteady run. She didn't look back, didn't pause as she passed the twisted corpses of Willow and Yann. When she got to the corridor's junction, Karina ran left, away from Dorniarn, away from the Mandalorians, back into the quiet depths of the mining HQ.

Left, right, left again. Karina dashed through the dim corridors, her booted footsteps echoing loudly through the silent space, passing empty offices and meeting rooms, intent only on putting as much distance as she could between herself and that droid.

Her breathing was heavy, her vision too-bright. She didn't even notice herself pitching over, didn't realise she was falling until her metal skull smacked against the floor and she skidded to a stop against the opposite wall. The impact sent another jolt of pain, but it was dull, distant.

Karina sat up, waiting for the world to stop spinning and right itself, before looking around. She was leaned against the door of a bare office of modest size, barely lit by the emergency strips mounted near the floor and the weak overhead lights illuminating the corridor. For a moment, she forgot where she was, coming to her senses a minute later to find herself staring at a blank spot on the opposite wall. She tried to breathe deep, but it was as if she couldn't get enough air. Her breath came in gasps: in-out-in-out-in-out, in rapid succession.

Inclining her head, Karina pulled off her glove, slipping the armourweave off to reveal a pallid hand- pale skin with blue fingertips.

A glint down the corridor caught her eye, and for the first time, Karina noticed a dark trail of spattered red leading to where she was slumped against the doorframe. She touched the cut across her face and winced at the sensation. It still trickled blood, but not nearly enough to produce... That. She sat forward, checking herself for injuries, and felt a twinge of pain in her back, just beneath her right armpit. She sat forward, suddenly aware of the wetness down her back, of the small puddle of dark liquid pooling beneath her-

She felt for the wound, her fingers finding something jagged and foreign sticking from a puncture in the armourweave mesh. A sharp piece of metal had embedded itself in her back, probably when she was pulled from the vent. By the look of it, she'd been bleeding out for some minutes.

She groaned. That was, by all accounts, very very bad.

Raising a hand to her head, Karina keyed her commlink, mumbling the few slurred words her injured mouth and jaw could muster, calling anyone nearby for help.

There was no answer, only static.

 

[Mythos]

Objective: Crazy Train

"ALL ABOARD! HAHAHAH!!!!"

Loreena Arenais-Valhoun was in the train, Curtis Learchin stayed outside fighting Eversor . Mythos was making a bee line to the head of the train and once there he threw out the conductor into the electrified wire tracks down below.

Once in the seat of the tram the Mad King put the engine on maximum speed that threatened to overload the entire thing. There was a massive jump in all of the trains carts as the thing jolted forward and began ramming other trains out of it's way. This was the lead tram, in the front it not only had cannons but a bladed ramming head meant to break rock and other obstacles. To say the tram was out of control would have been an understatement, the tram had a plotted route and nothing else.

Spear in hand, wounds healed, eyes blazing with crazed intentions, The Sith Lord walked back in the direction of Loreena killing anything in his way that posed even a minor inconvenience. Alchemized steel met bone, the train threw men and objects alike to and from the walls, it was madness.

It was his element.
​

 

[Curtis Learchin]

Objective: 1a
Allies: Loreena Arenais-Valhoun
Enemies: Mythos / Eversor
Equipment: Viper (Light Armour), Parthalan (Swordstaff), Saberstaff
Post: 10

Curtis eyes meet the new Sith's, and he noticed that the man was already injured. At least they were on even footing, he himself was still regaining his strength from the leeching of Mythos. And then he heard the tram move, beneath his feet the metal beast roared away, and his heart sank as his eyes darted down into the hole. Lori was now alone with that thing.

When he turned back to face the approaching Sith, his eyes were filled with rage. Charging forward, his lightsaber blade connected with Eversor's in a cascading display of crimson sparks.

"You made me lose her..." He spoke through gritted teeth, focusing the anger. Placing his left hand on the man's chest, he pushed outwards with the Force, aiming to create so distance between them.

Through it all, he barely noticed the order to retreat.

 

[Kovhorn]

Location: Little Keldabe
Objective: Battling Avernus
Allies: R Reyn Australis , K Kaine Australis The Network,
Enemies: The Sith Empire, Vandra Zambrano , Raya Najwa Zambrano , Avernus

This fight was going...aggressively. Nox had, quite frustratingly, lost the ability to safely use his jetpack. And he'd had to suffer the pain of force lightning almost immediately. And his opponent had suffered some injuries, healable, sadly. But, his armor was serving its purpose. And so was his ship, as it grew closer, stealthily approaching their area. In its remote controlled state there were a lot of limitations on it, but better a limited ship than all alone. Given the fact the man he'd come to help had already fallen unconscious, though Raya Najwa Zambrano and Vandra Zambrano didn't seem particularly interested in him.

The sith he was fighting caught the blaster fire with his force field, again. This time simply stopping them as they came, causing the mandalorian to nrarow his eyes. He didn't have an energy shield on him, but he was covered in one of the most durable armors out there when it came to energy weapons. He thought about coming to a halt, but that'd only give the sith time to think. Instead he continued fire, deciding to start to close in on him. Perhaps it was better to force it into closer range, after the lightning incident.

However instead of trying to keep it up, the sith released the blaster bolts. Sending them scattering around the area, one he noticed, hitting the shield of his ship as it finally reached them. Those that got to him ran into the armor, where they were simply stopped by the heavy armor. The advantages of being a walking tank. Of course, they'd have only done so much if it was a sonic blaster. Although the armor itself was probably safe, he'd still be in danger. However, for so few from the weapon, he was not concerned.

The Sith however chose to leap out of the way, and next to the other two sith, along with R Reyn Australis who he had been trying not to harm. he groaned in irritation, if he shot their way, they were bound to return fire. And he could potentially hit Reyn in the process. But he couldn't just stand by either could he.

However his thoughts were interrupted by a man talking over the comms, who apparently had stared while he was blasting away and he'd just been too busy to notice. "Loyal" clans he said. And the sith. Threatening death. Did he really think such an attempt would shake them? He wasn't even able to finish it seemed, cut off after barely a few sentences. However, another would speak. Someone actually on their side, Adenn Kyramud. His words were ones of prompting, trying to push them into beating the enemy. And that wouldn't be the only push that Kovhorn would get, as additional forces ( K Kaine Australis ) came in to rescue R Reyn Australis .

The Sith no longer held the advantage here. He pulled the trigger on the Repeater gun, aiming to shred the soldiers and hopefully get a few shots at Avernus but not wanting to drift where he might even accidentally stray onto R Reyn Australis or Raya Najwa Zambrano since she was so near him. He didn't plan on letting them get the chance to initiate a proper response to both him and the forces that were now aiding them.

Kovhorn had no specific emotional need to protect Reyn. But he was a mandalorian fighting on their side, that was enough reason to push himself to aid him. And of course, these were sith and sith soldiers, they didn't deserve any patience. They didn't deserve any attempt to talk things out. They were at war with these beings of darkness.



Ship: The Stril

Equipment:

Dragon-beskargam

LS-150_Heavy_Accelerated_Charged_Particle_Repeater_Gun (one extra strap) Ammo remaining main strap: 140

2 BSB (Blackmoor Sonic Blaster) (ten extra clips)

 

[Beltran Rarr]

Location: City of Ronion, Mandalore.
Objective: Secure safety of civilians
Allies: Valkren Calderon and allies of the Network
Enemies: Sith, Aerarii Tithe | Telis Taharin-Zambrano

"Acknowledged, Hades actual." Beltran responded. Already, he could see Commander Calderon's pair of squads jogging away from the evacuation site and moving deeper into the city. Other squads from the various platoons of Maul Company would also be diverting from their assigned positions to reinforce Calderon. "I'll come to you when I can."

The problem with Icarus platoon's formation is that it was broken all the way down to fire-teams and split up on various rooftops so as to cover as much of the city from above as possible using as few men as possible so that more Rangers would be available to help with the evacuation. That meant that it would be more or less impossible for divert any meaningful number of his own men to Calderon without compromising their over-watch.

Overhead, Beltran could see the Network's ships beginning to land. Keying his com, he spoke to the Captain in charge of Nova Company.

"Icarus actual to Nova actual, how copy?"

"Good copy, Icarus." Replied the Captain. "I take it those ships are the promised evacuation craft?"

"Yes sir," Beltran answered. "The first of the evacuees should be almost to your position."

"Affirmative, we've already started getting them sorted. How is it in the city?"

"Resistance has been manageable, but Commander Calderon is about to engage a large advancing force. I will be joining him shortly, coordinate with Maul Actual to keep everything moving."

"Acknowledged, and good hunting Icarus actual."

"Thank you, sir." Beltran responded before cutting the com. He then turned and motioned to Corporal Doss, who broke off from firing at the advancing Sith to jog over to him.

"Sir?"

"I'm going to reinforce Hades platoon. I want you take over here. Keep everyone firing until the civilians have been evacuated. Then pull back to the loading area and reinforce Nova company."

Beltran could see a flicker of uncertainty in the big man. Doss was a good man, an excellent marksman, but he didn't like being left in charge. Beltran's platoon Sergeant was leading another team, and his fire-team had yet to find a replacement for the Sergeant who'd been killed on Kintan so it was on Doss. He'd just have to suck it up.

"Uhh yes sir."

With a nod, Beltran allowed the man to return to his position. He caught Specialist Reece glancing at him but said nothing. The young Nar Shaddan obviously wanted to come along for the fight, but he was also needed here and Beltran didn't much feel like arguing about it. So he simply ignored the younger man and turned and started to run.

When he got to the edge of the rooftop, Beltran took a leap and activated his jump jets, allowing him to easily make it to the next building. He would repeat this process perhaps two dozen more times before he found himself overlooking the market square where Valkren Calderon was moving to, and where the Sith ( Aerarii Tithe and Telis Taharin-Zambrano ) were marshaling their forces.

He would wait until Calderon began his attack before jumping down to the ground level and joining the charge. It was time to spill some Sith blood and get a little payback for Kintan.

Spoiler: Mood Music

 

[Loreena Arenais-Valhoun]

OBJECTIVE: Escape the Crazy Train
Enemies: Mythos Eversor
Allies: Curtis Learchin Akita Silasrune K Kaine Australis

The sudden jerking of the train as it kicked into high gear caused Lori to almost lose her footing. She crouched down and looked behind her , only to see that Curtis was left behind.

Oh no...

She felt Akita's energies touch her then, giving her hope in what would otherwise be a horrible situation. Here she was, pitted alone against a powerful Sith lunatic of which she certainly didn't have the skills to take out. Not only that, but there were Mandalorian slaves with her that needed to at least have a chance at freedom.

Unclipping her lightsaber, Lori stood up and started moving towards the engine while the tram picked up speed. The whole thing rocked and shook, making her nearly lose her balance as she moved on ahead.

The evacuation order from Kaine was heard on her comms. Oh what horrible timing! She quickly contacted Curtis. ~I can't stop the train, or at least not all of it. The evacuation order has been given! We gotta leave! Cut the power to the tracks! I'll find my way to you!~ If she couldn't get to the engine, she'd at least stop as many tram cars as she could.

She hurried to the front of one of the tram cars. Already she could see the crazed form of Mythos ahead of her, cutting through the slaves as though they were blades of tall grass. She ignited her lightsaber, the sky blue blade sparking to life. She hadn't used it often, but it was needed here. Finding the link that connected the car to the one in front, Lori sliced through it, severing it completely. The car up front began to pull away. Lori stood there with her blade drawn up, her eyes focused on the tram that was gaining distance away from her and more importantly on whether or not Mythos knew how to fly.

 

[Lark]

Location: Concordia
Objective: Kill anyone who isn't a Sith
Tags: Felix Astermo Aaran Tafo Taru Cadera
Disclaimer: The encounter between myself and those tagged is happening at a slower, more independent pace from the rest of the Concordia battle. This has been mutually agreed upon between all of us. We'd like to focus on our little fight, good luck with any other shenanigans

"Ah, perhaps there is something to admire about the Jedi after all," Lark mused. He drew his enchanted Sith blade with the elegance of the most practiced of dancers, weaving the sword between his pale fingers like threads of silk. "I haven't witnessed one move on so effortlessly after the death of an ally. Even us cold-hearted Sith take the time to grieve. Of course, surely you knew that might happen, when you ran up to our chambers with such a carefree attitude. Did you simply not care? In truth, I'm jealous. I can only pray for such a callous view of life."

A speech the boy had probably heard time after time, but whether he liked it or not there was truth to it. Sure, Lark killed those men. At the end of the day, nothing would change that. But if Aaron survived this fight, would he go to bed every night wondering if he did all he could to save them?

Or did he just stand idly by, waiting for his chance to be a hero?

"So eager to save the day," Lark continued as Sarrius was blasted backwards by the Jedi's grenade. "A shame we've missed your inspiring display. I'm sure they would have loved to have seen it." He motioned once again towards the charred, burnt Mandalorian prisoners. Lark wanted the Jedi to look at them, to see their dead eyes and know that because of his reckless approach, they'd never see their families again. He should have forced the Sith to give chase, abandon the prisoners all together. Instead, he opted for dramatic heroics and pointless charades.

A bit ironic, that I critique him for being dramatic, Lark thought with a smile.

"But seeing how I am a man of second chances, I'd like to offer you one. One more opportunity, to be the hero your parents told you stories of at night. To be that knight in shining armor your picture books encapsulated. To save someone in need..."

A small voice, as quiet as the breeze and as soft as a feather.

Aaron please, you have to stop him!

The voice of the child Lark thought he burned away long ago. Lark let that little brat out, just for a second. The child would speak into Aaron's mind, a genuine voice of fear and desperation. One little shred of decency that still lay within him. And then Lark reigned him in, dragging him back into the hellish darkness that his heart had become. I'll kill the Jedi, and you'll die with him.

If he even deems you worth saving.

I know our mother didn't.

 

[Raya Najwa Zambrano]

[media]Objective: Save Reyn the Ungrateful, Exit to Daddy on Concordia
Allies: The Glorious Sith Empire Vandra Zambrano Darth Carnifex Avernus
Enemies: Network R Reyn Australis Kovhorn K Kaine Australis
Equip: Ice Cream Waffle Cone, Lightsaber, Swords, Armour
Post: 6

Every second of being sequestered in the ice cream shop feels more and more like defending a fortress made of tin foil and cardboard. The battle roars beyond us, and even at such a teenaged innocence I know there’s more on my father’s mind than the welfare of one replaceable daughter with a message of good tidings.

“Please be alright, Marshmallow. It’s gonna be okay, you know.” Ice cream coats my throat, enough energy to put my hand on Reyn’s forehead. Let a wash of healing energy come through to this boy who wants me dead. “Fathers always save their kids... and... and... my Daddy isn’t gonna leave us here. Yeah. I’m gonna get us out of this battle and Adara won’t get upset. She’s been through a lot, you know... but... we’re family, Rammie. And family doesn’t kill each other. And I know you wanna... you’d stab me in the heart just cause, wouldn’t you? … Reyn?”

I sniffle and put a hand on Reyn’s forehead, chin wobbling. “Can… can you hear me, yet?”

My wrist comm shivers.

“Very good, my dear.” My father’s voice cuts through the nerves building in my vibrating body, calm and sweet. His monolithic body looks so tiny on my wrist holo, a crackle of energy I can almost feel around him. My hands stop shaking, shoulders settle. Eyes which I’m ashamed to admit were circular-wide narrow with a sigh.

“Thank you, father. We will not fail you.” The Blackblades are coming. Goof Troop and the Ice Cream Man pounded cover fire toward Kovhorn , laying down enough suppressive fire to keep him further off. Away from the rest of us.

“Vandypanders, get us ready for exfil. And yeah, you can take the Mando lady... she looks... smarmy. Maybe a new face.” Something about the Mandalorian woman grates at me... and it strikes that I’m jealous. There she is, this pretty thing Ram doesn’t want to kill. Wants to die beside. But no. He stabbed at us, his own extended family. The years spent playing slapped in my hot blooded cheeks, by a kid I grew up counting on. Playing beside even if he was the little brother. My life didn’t matter to Reyn Australis, even when I try to save his. Makes a girl ponder how many times I heard my father talk of the ungratefulness of Clan Australis, how the cost didn’t matter because they deferred it on Yasha or the thousands of others dying today. For what? The same kid who thought he was big and tall enough to defeat my own Dad, when all he did was watch limp-wristed as the man who should have protected Yasha Cadera the most fired into her six times.

Six shots Adara waited to wail over until safe in my Bastion bedroom, after she’d run away. Where else was she going to go? Here’s Australis’ son, the heir to misfortune and I hear drops of Mandalorian soldiers outside, expand my senses to figure what I already know.

As I wait for the Blackblades, I stuff marshmallows in my cheeks, while I watch Reyn’s beleaguered chest. The Sith Pureblood rushes to Vandra and I, and finally something starts going right. Thank the sun.

“Run defence until the Blackblades get here. You can come with us. Goof Troop, Ice Cream Man, cover fire.”

The Blackblades are the pariah of all enemies to House Zambrano. Elite beyond possibility, the pure devotion of a Blackblade soldier to my father and uncle makes fanatic sound half baked. In the bead in my ear, I hear stat reports of the shuttle hitting air, swerving through Mandalore’s atmo as they broke off from another engagement near what once was Sundari. An escort flooded the air with firepower, slicing between drop pods and Network support ships toward our locale. The armoured shuttle circling in a circuit seeking us out to grab a good block away.

Four golden figures walk toward the Mandalorian shooting at us, and from the shimmer and the size, I… okay so I cannot even fathom who would wear gold shiny armour in a fight, but aside from asking who their obviously not approved by Daddy armourer is, they look a heck of a lot like the worst kind of trouble.

“Okay… okay. We’re going to move. Ice Cream Man, can you carry Reyn, please? Goof Troop? Don’t fire cover fire until I say… Vandy? Ready… When I tell you to, run out the side. Get Reyn to Daddy. That is your only mission.”

The White Current flows through my fingertips, unseen but to those who follow its’ path. I felt a surge of… some elusive someone a few minutes ago, a sacrifice made. Time to make my own. Wrapping the Current around me, my lessons in the Light while living as the Devil’s Daughter bring a crazy sort of peace.

“RUN.” Bolts from Kovhorn and the Mandalorian reinforcements bound around us… and in a shimmer of my gift, hit the tank on the ice cream shop’s power generator. To sensors, to the naked eye, to HUD’s, the entire ice cream shop, with Reyn and all us in it, bursts in an explosion so visceral it’s nearly white and yellow hot. I conjure heat in the light-based vision, hoping to appear to all intents that the stray fire did it's job too well. Nothing but Reyn's charred armour in a pile.

Ice Cream Man picks up the boy I’ve always known, books it with Goof Troop. Hopefully my sister and Darth Avernus will run too, toward the oncoming Blackblades, who I can feel breaking into the Mandalorians between us. Shooting at sniper encampments while I expand the ‘flames’ by ‘igniting’ another explosion in the square near the four goldies.

That one’s real, a grenade I yanked off a dead trooper. I sink back toward the hole of Goof Troop & Ice Cream Man’s exit, hands beginning to shake, as I concentrate on creating more of the flames. Why be so risky?

Daddy always taught me to be a fast runner. I can make it... I can... I'm the Dark Lord's Daughter.

"... Daddy... I know you're busy and you're not gonna hear this till like, sometime after if you hear it at all, but... I could really use your voice right now... remember when I got my arm lobbed off in lightsaber training? And you picked me up off the floor? I thought you'd throw me in solitary like your Apprentices... but you didn't... remember that, Daddy? I can... I can do this. Just like I didn't sob when I.... when you carried me to the medics. Taught me how next time, I would be even stronger. That's what Dads do, right? Teach their daughters not to crumble down." I grit my teeth, not knowing if my message got through the private line to Darth Carnifex . Not knowing if it ever will. I double into the illusion, arms shaking from the inner strain.

 

[Scherezade deWinter]

Location: Mandalore
Objective: Objective II – kill stuff. Uncover the mystery of the turkeys of war.
Wearing: Armatura | The Forgemaster's Ring | Ring of Stasis | The Sofitor
Wielding: 8 Nozhi Blades | 1 Whimsy Knife | 2 Nastirci Combat Knives | Clarion | Copero's Wail | Fire and Smoke | Combat Gauntlets | Tessen | 2 TOTT-001 Arc Light Blaster | 2 Dissuader KD-30 Pistols with Glitter Bullets
Allies: Omfg, I can't believe Scherezade is allied up with the Mandalorians. Hell hath frozen over, folks! | Open
Enemies: TSE & their friends | Darth Sephi | + Open

A dance it was indeed – for every move that she made, he reacted, and for every step he took she moved with him, either in her own body or with the blades that were up in the air. The two lightsabers in her hands were still ignited, yet she had no need for them in those precious few heartbeats as she continued to react to his movements, her lovely stabby stabby objects keeping her, for the time being, safe.

There was no need for pre-arranged chorography. If the two were in any other setting in which enemies they would not be, Scherezade would have loved to sit on the elf's mind for a bit, talk it out, learn what more skills and abilities someone who knew how to move and respond like that possessed. Probably while munching on an endless stream of bantha wings. Here, in the middle of the field of battle, it would not be. That sort of learning would have to wait for later, when she replayed the duel in her mind. Anything else would be a distraction.

Just like that bigass monster in the background, standing to the height of what she estimated was well over two hundred meters in height, maybe even more.

But of course, mister bigass monster was the perfect distraction. A blink was all it took, and the moving ground beneath Scherezade caused her to indeed lose her balance, her right leg folding beneath her.

Every the constant woman of battle, Scherezade thrust forward with both of her lightsabers, one aimed at her enemy's torso while the other to that beautiful spot between the eyes, her fall continuing, the realization that her own blade had pierced in a place it should not have even been able to, still not hitting her senses.

 

[Mig Gred]

Location: Ka’pruni.
Objective: Dual Cara Dorniarn . Let Karina Lowe go and find the miners. Blow the mine.
Allies: The Network and allies. K Kaine Australis Adenn Kyramud Stardust Solus Skirae
Enemies: TSE and allies, Cara Dorniarn Karina Lowe Timaz Zi Dipat
Gear: In bio

Mig readied his blade for another possible strike, focusing on the task at hand and the area around him. Mig wasn't the strongest Force Welder. He couldn't produces the kind of raw power many Jedi and Sith could. This wasn't something he hated though. No. Cause he had another strength. Mig didn't have raw power. He had control. Of course he also just saw one of the dry, dead trees around the mine getting hurled at him. Mig quickly ran to the side, using his lightsaber to cut whatever was still going to hit. This wasn't a normal Sith, and he had to admit the challenge was interesting. He also felt more people around him. Great. More trouble. Mig had to think fast, but he had an idea.

The Mando'ad'jetii closed his eyes and focused, drawing in the air and debris around him. He pulled in more and more, compressing the air into a sort of shell around him. It was a technique he had learned years ago now, but this was really the first time he'd used it in combat. When he was ready, his eyes opened, and he released everything a explosive burst. If anything it would at least hold these other guys off while Mi continued to deal with Dorniarn. He eyed her, seeming to rush again, but this time releasing a stream of Force Lightning her way.

In the mines, Mynock watched as the Sith trooper left. He let out a mechanical sigh before quickly running to where he figured the miners would be held. He quickly contacted his partner, seeing if they had gotten the mine transport as he continued down the corridors, looking for any signs of life. All he wanted was to find the miners and leave. That was it. Didn't mean he wasn't placing charges along the way as well. Still needed to blow the shaft after getting everyone out. He was just ready to get everyone out.

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Location: Fortress Imperious, Concordia
Tag: Darth Carnifex Lirka Ka , Felix Astermo , K Kaine Australis , Taeli Raaf , Alexandra Feanor , Ellie Mors , Tahlah Cadera

Spoiler

Armour / Sabres / Belt / Edge of Atrophy / Wrist / Jin’Wodasir / Tsaisibola / Xiphos-class SSD / Satwasin

Her sabre ripped through Australis, and siphoning life from him and feeding it to her. Yet, before she could launch her follow-up, he vanished into thin air. Ophidia’s second sabre slashed through nothingness. When he had vanished, both her sabres lowered. She stared at the spot where he had been, while Braith traced his jump and followed through a wormhole of her own.

Darth Ophidia and the Sith Emperor were left behind.

“Za’athr rha turro kal!”

The sharp tones of rattataki trilled out of her mouth as she cursed. Dust and debris around her shook and jumped as the ground trembled in tune with her rage. She turned and kicked a disembodied head, sending it rolling down the corridor in the opposite direction of the Emperor’s departure, followed by a scream of frustration that shook the very steel of the corridor.

As the sound faded, she looked down at the two sabres in her hands once more. The bloodshine blades retracted into the tainted hilts and clipped onto the rings on the outside of her belt.

“Australis isn’t here for the planet, is he.”

She turned to follow the Emperor, the scent of ozone and the tension of crackling electricity permeating the fortress.
___

The Xiphos increased its forward momentum to full ramming speed under the cover of its cloak.

The fine point was aimed at the lower rear of the Terror Australis, seeking to cut through its engines and reactors. WIth its strong hull and powerful thrusters, the ramship could potentially cut clear through its target and proceed to ram other ships within reach.

It could leave a trail of broken husks in its wake. If unchecked, that would be the fate of the Terror Australis

 

[Darth Carnifex]

​

Location: Fortress Imperious
Objective: Dash Them Against The Stones
Equipment:

• Kotsnwûl & Woljirtyûk​
• Jen'Shuk'Orok​
• S-5 "Juggernaut" Sith Battle Armour​

Tags: Darth Ophidia | K Kaine Australis

​

"No," answered the Emperor, his anger building with every second that passed in time. "No he is not, but we should have anticipated such banal misplaced convictions, shouldn't we?" It was a common failing of the hated Jedi as well, their compassion for others, especially those that were part of their cultural sphere, that blinded them to doing what had to be done for the galaxy. The Sith knew better, their citizens were merely tools for them to carry out their goals. Another arrow in the quiver, another bullet in the chamber, another sword in the armory. They were there only to provide the Sith with the manpower necessary to wage galactic war, and they would continue to be exploited in such a capacity until they had been utterly exhausted and the worlds of the Sith Empire emptied.​

​

"But watch now, my old friend, as I lay their bodies upon this worthless dirt."​

​

Lightning flashed in the air above the fortress, the clouds ever broiling and churning with the Dark Side's immeasurable fury continuing to coalesce at the Emperor's command. Some of those bolts lanced down through the air to strike the Emperor's outstretched fingertips, traveling through his body to terminate in the ground. Each strike invigorated his power over the Dark Side, its song swelling in the charged air around them as the Emperor drew more and more power to him. His lips moved in a silent impassioned seance, to will the powers of darkness to congregate and suffuse within him the strength to destroy all enemies that have arrayed themselves before him.​

​

The Dark Side's will manifested through him, his physical animus an open conduit for the shadow of grief, the luster of greed, and the violence of hate. Every inch of his skin radiated and hummed with latent energy condensing ever further, the power only continued through his immense will as he focused all of the furies in his black heart into tangible form. ​

​

Then he reached out, both hands outstretched towards the open battlefield beyond the walls of the fortress, and the power that he had gathered so thoroughly was now given release. Strands of ethereal crimson lightning raked the ground around the fortress in a dazzling and terrifying display. each snaking bolt tearing up the blasted earth as it sought its victims. Though his fury was directed towards the cloned warriors of the Mandalorian foe, the hate of the Dark Side was indiscriminate as it spread across the field of battle. Legionnaires who were unfortunate enough to not be holed up in a sealed structure were pierced by the power of the Emperor, their armored rent and broken as lightning suffused every atom of their being with volatile energies and disintegrated them where they stood. ​

​

The carnage was visible even from the surface of Mandalore, shown as a rapidly expanding web of scarlet energy exuding from the moon's northern pole. But that was not all of the Emperor's fury spent, he swung both arms up into the air once he had consumed his fill of the dead below, and sent piercing tendrils of electricity up into Concordia's lower atmosphere to strike at the Mandalorian warships currently bombarding the moon's weapon emplacements. Like before, the attack was ultimately indiscriminate in who and what it affected, with arcs of energy even striking the Xiphos as it swooped in to attack the Mandalorian vessels. ​

​

For over ten minutes the attack raged across the northern hemisphere of Concordia, before just as quickly vanishing as the Emperor severed the flow of power that sustained it. Falling to one knee, visibly exhausted from the effort of maintaining such an attack, the Emperor smiled darkly even as he huffed in breaths of putrid ozone-rich air.​

 

[Eversor]

Objective: Destroy
Allies: TSE
Enemies: Curtis Learchin | Loreena Arenais-Valhoun

Silas' arm buckled as raw kinetic energy dissipated through him, his opponent was strong - but was his will even stronger? Suddenly the young acolyte found himself being sent reeling back as a great pressure slammed into his chest. His demeanor toppled and his gaze now met with dirt. His opponent had already humiliated him - knocked him off his own two feet. "No..."

Silas grumbled angrily as he slowly pushed himself upright, his exposed eye glaring daggers into his target. "Do you feel like a hero? Do you think love will save you? You are misguided."

Blood visibly trickled down Silas' right side - a deep laceration upon his upper waist. Without attempting to further the fruitless bickering, the young Sith charged towards the man with the intent of making him believe he would try the same method of offense again - taking the hilt of his lightsaber into both hands and raising it high as if to perform a downward slash.

"End him... END HIM. END HIM. END HIM."

It repeated on a loop within Silas' mind. The man in the dark of his subconscious, the unseen passenger within his bones.

 

[Curtis Learchin]

Objective: 1a
Allies: Loreena Arenais-Valhoun
Enemies: Eversor
Equipment: Viper (Light Armour), Parthalan (Swordstaff), Saberstaff
Post: 11

As his opponent was sent backwards, Curtis heard the message from Lori on his comlink. Quickly he scanned his surroundings, and, upon seeing a power junction, sliced through it with ease.

"Power's been cut, get them out of there. I'm still busy" As he spoke, all the lights in the corridor flashed and died as the power was drained from them. He could hear a distant screeching as the tram halted. Everything was cast into darkness, lit only by the two red blades of the opposing Sith.

"A hero wouldn't delight so much in ending your pitiful life!" Curtis yelled at his attacker, rushing to meet him. He angled his blade to block an incoming strike, using both hands to give him as much strength as possible. His opponent was injured badly, but Curtis' strength was beginning to wane from the prolonged combat.