Three's Company

[Darth Adekos]

Spoiler

Background

Spoiler

• Following the destabilization of the Pentastar Region (a result of the Primeval-Mandalorian war and the rapid recession of Mandalorian borders and the collapse of the Primeval), an Imperialist Dictator seized control of Yaga Minor's planetary government.
  
• This Dictator, Osko Darklyn, has proven remarkably competent, crushing several opposition parties with little issue and dispersing Primeval Cult activity. The Sith Triumvirate approached the Dictator for a potential alliance but have been rebuffed several times.
  
• Several hours ago, Darklyn was assassinated by Primeval Cultists at his residence in the city of Yavvitiri. Fearing the potential fallout, his second in command, Lirata Kassal, has covered up the death. Unlike her predecessor, she has no compunctions with receiving help from Sith. To maintain the ruse and keep the peace on Yaga Minor, she will need the help of the Sith Triumvirate.
  
• Aiming to capitalize on the chaos that should have been caused by his death, Primeval Cultists prepare to unleash a string of terrorist attacks all across the city of Yavvitiri. Neutralizing these threats before they are realized will be imperative to cementing good relations with Kassal's regime once it is realized, so we must act quickly.

Objectives

• One: Primeval Cultists have spread heavy ordnance explosives all throughout the city. Public transportation, parks, spaceports, and other civilian areas are believed to be directly threatened. Intelligence reports have manage to indicate where the bombs are and in what order they will go off. Alongside [member="Darth Orcus"], find the explosives and defuse them before it's too late.
  
• Two: Darklyn had been scalped prior to execution. No, we don't know why. Local law enforcement have received reports of a belligerent and delirious man in rags stumbling around Hestiv National Park holding what appears to be a scalp. We checked. It fits the Dictator's description. Either this is a trap or the delirious man is really Darklyn's killer. In any event, to leave him there would risk news of the Dictator's death getting out as a result. Enter the park with Darth Adekos, arrest the suspect, and secure the... Scalp.
  
• Three: Preventative measures are all well and good, but we'll need to take the fight to the enemy to secure any lasting peace. Intelligence has found that one of the cultist leaders is gathering forces in an old warehouse on the outskirts of one of Yavvitiri's industrial districts. Whatever it is they're planning on doing, it won't be good. Join up with a regiment of stormtroopers and help [member="Darth Carach"] crush the cultists gathered.

Objective: Two
Allies: [member="Nulgath Zardai"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Dagorn"]

They were an unlikely team.

Here were two men that had unmistakably been warped by the corrupting power of the Dark Side, a woman with robotic arms that ended in sinister claws, and a Trandoshan acolyte. And they were all jammed into the same speeder truck going to the same park. Had a stranger team ever been assembled for a more ridiculous purpose? If it had, Darth Adekos decided he didn't want to hear about it. The speeder truck ground to a halt just before the checkpoint, at which point the back door opened up to let the four out. Adekos took the lead.

The police had been replaced with a paramilitary guard. They were almost stormtroopers, but not quite. Their armor was... Different, but it still retained that stock Imperial feel. These were staunch loyalists of the Darklyn Regime. Their presence here was an indicator of the importance of the situation. These troopers were likely annoyed it was being handed to outsiders.

The checkpoint was one of many set up at all the entrances to Hestiv National Park, a sprawling stretch of greenery in the otherwise heavily industrial city of Yavvitiri. The entire park had been put on lockdown due to safety concerns. Namely, a delusional man running around in there with somebody's scalp. On any other day this was a job for the civil authorities. The scalp, however, had up until recently belonged to a very important person- and it was imperative that it not become public knowledge that this individual was scalped.

Or dead.

So private contractors, the Sith Triumvirate, were called in to handle it on behest of Yaga Minor's highest authority. It would be better of the paramilitary troopers not be allowed to realize who the scalp had come from. As Adekos approached the barricade, he flagged down one such trooper. "Have you seen our target?"

"Spotters saw him over by a gazebo. About five minutes down the path from here. Then they lost sight of him. They think he crawled under it." The trooper, a commander judging by his orange pauldron, answered gruffly. Annoyed, as Adekos had suspected.

"Don't worry, we'll be gone shortly."

"Yeah, sure. Let's hope so."

The Sith were waved through in short order. Once they were out of earshot of the directing guards, Adekos started talking again. "In case it weren't already obvious, we need this person alive. Once we have him a shuttle will be flown in to retrieve us all and we can move on to more important things. That clear enough for everyone?"

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Yavvitiri Industrial District,
Outskirts.
--
[member="Darth Kentarch"] | [member="Viru Lentus"] | [member="Ayvari Dorian"]

The Santhe Corporation’s MAAT cruised through the air in pursuit of their target. An old warehouse on the outskirts of the Yavvitiri Industrial District. They were on Yaga Minor again, but this time the Imperial Party had more than warmed to their proposal. It had probably something to do with that nasty little assassination she was trying to cover up - she?

Ah, well that was the real question, wasn’t it?

Carach couldn’t recall her name. Not with the durasteel whining keenly against the pressure changes of the atmosphere as they dropped further down, glided towards their destination, but it mattered not. For the Sith still remembered the blonde locks; firmly locked into an austere style to signify she was nothing to be trifled with. Cool jet-steel eyes… yet there was uncertainty in them.

Can’t hide from a mentalist’s touch, can you now?

She had asked them for help. Asked them to cover up the murder of her master. Well, there is always a price to pay, but she was an ambitious one.

And so here they were.

Kentarch, newly anointed as a Centurion of the Triumvirate, was in a separate MAAT with his assigned Decanii troops. They would land two clicks away from the warehouse and proceed to it on foot: the last thing they wanted was to arise suspicion and start some kind of merry chase all across the city. No, this had to be executed silently and smoothly, with none the wiser of what had transpired today.

“My Lord.” the comm in his ear wakened with the familiar baritone of his Commander’s voice. He had been a Royal Guard in the days of the One Sith, but Carach was no longer a Voice of the Dark Lord.

“Report.”

They were all fulfilling different roles now. The strongest and most loyal of his Guard had been siphoned of the main forces stationed at that icy system. They no longer wore red and black - better not to invoke images of the One Sith too soon.

“The cultists are unaware of our arrival, for now. We have set up a temporary perimeter. If something goes wrong they will be picked off by our snipers before they can escape.”

“Affirmative, we are twenty seconds out. Stand-by.”

His visor moved a fraction and it now faced the young Lentus. New recruit as green as grass, what would they ever do with him?

The Decanii around them were behaving now, of course. It wouldn’t do to upset the Triumvir with unsporting behavior.

“Are you ready, recruit?”

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

OBJECTIVE: Two
ALLIES: [member="Darth Adekos"] | [member="Nulgath Zardai"] | [member="Dagorn"]

While destruction appealed to her, there was one task within the Triumvirate’s plan in which she could be particularly useful. Where discerning the truth was concerned - or taking it, as the case may be - she excelled. Besides, even if this reported vagabond hadn’t been the one to murder Darklyn, he liked to walk around with a scalp in his fist. He would probably make wonderful conversation.

As the troupe was transported to the Park, Matsu sat pleasantly next to the Trandoshan, seemingly unphased by the comedic casting of the situation.

Overall, she felt strange being there as they stepped off the transport and swept past the less-than-welcoming troopers. It was her first time doing something besides satisfying her own whims since she’d returned from Out There.

“Oh, yes sir,” she answered Adekos as he laid out their directives, biting back the sarcastic smile. (Liberties, liberties with her self-described freedom...but she would be the first to crush someone who spoke out of turn to Adekos.) She was hard-pressed to refuse a place in the growing organization helmed by Adekos and Carach - and of course, a giant whale, but she didn’t know him as well yet. But she felt somewhat removed, working towards their aims but answering ultimately to herself. Loyal, but aloof, self-serving - in the most fundamental ways, she never changed.

The gazebo was just off in the distance as they traversed down the trail, and she tried to imagine the vagabond underneath it, hiding in the dirt with his bloody prize. She could drive him out if he was truly under there, but perhaps someone was more experienced with hunting vermin than she.

 

[Damien Zannen]

Objective: Two
Allies: [member="Matsu Xiangu"] [member="Darth Adekos"] @Dagron

Nulgaths icy blue eyes slowly gazed at the man he sat next to, Adekos. A man who Nulgath knew little about, He looked rather crusty in appearance but Nulgath could not boast of looking any better. Next their was Matsu a woman who undoubtedly was skilled in torture. She was vaguely remembered in Nulgaths memory perhaps they met in the past but whatever the case it mattered not now. Lastly was ... well Nulgath did not know his name, He only knew that he was a rather sinister looking Trandoshan.

Stepping off the transport the epicanthix squinted some. The soldiers wanted the Sith gone and they would get their wish if the troopers knew what patience was in fact if they were smart they would of put more research into who they hired. Impudence is all it came down to. This mission and task was over kill and though Nulgath did not welcome combat he also did not run from it either. He understood that this mission was necessary in order to move on to bigger projects within the Sith Triumvirate.

" Hmmm." Nulgath nodded as Adekos remained the group to capture the target alive.

 

[Mammut]

Objective One

The heavy transport shuttle whipped through the skies of Yavvitiri. In its belly sat a cluster of beings hired to deal with the most alarming of the Primeval crisis which the city now faced. Bombs planted in public areas inspired many emotions, chief among them: terror. To prevent the death and panicking of their populace, Yaga Minor's regime sent out a plea for aid to their shadowy benefactors.

Darkwater Security was the answer.

Two Herglics sat inside the transport. Easily the biggest occupants in the bay, they wore MA-1 beskar power armor rated to withstand a blast from a star fighter's laser cannon. Four Imperial remnant stormtroopers, a remodeled medical droid, Darth Orcus, [member="Darth Prazutis"], [member="Tmoxin Temi"], and [member="Tyro Ventari"] rounded out the Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad.

Given the inherent dangers when dealing with bombs, high static generating clothing was not allowed, which meant absolutely no capes, robes, or any of the other usual accoutrements that Sith so loved to wear. Orcus himself wore Koodan-class battle armor, a design modeled after Dark Troopers, but more equivalent in functionality to that of a hazard trooper's armor.

He spoke now into the squad's comm frequency.

"We know the location of the devices and the order in which they go off, but we do not know the nature of these explosives. They could be chemical, biological, perhaps even thermonuclear. Under no circumstances are we to draw attention to ourselves. This is a discreet mission, hauum. Keep use of flamboyant Force powers to a minimum. Remember, we are masters of our passions, not slaves to them.

"The first device is at the spaceport in bay 82d. Estimated time of arrival is one minute. Terminate any hostiles with extreme prejudice, but do not cause unnecessary civilian casualties. Keep it efficient. Keep it clean. And keep to the Qotsisajak. Those are your rules of engagement."

 

[Lok Xiangu]

His fork tongue escaped his mouth to smell the air in speeder truck that he was present in with three new associates of his. A fuse of the three different, unique auroras filled his smelling senses, but the one he could differ the most was from the woman who sat right besides him; however, the one common scent of his companions was the common and familiar smell that all near-humans had. His smelling senses were much better than any of the three humanoids combined...or so what the Reptilian thought. After smelling the air his tongue went back in his mouth and remained with a deadly, hungry face for prey. His eyes could see the red, orange electromagnetic waves of the woman and of the other two men, symbolizing that they still had life in them and plenty of it. By the looks of their figure they seemed to have a handsome amount of Jagganath Points if he ever wholeheartedly considered hunting them down for the ScoreKeeper, but the the higher officials of the Sith Triumvirate hierarchy did promise him prey that he could hunt down for his Goddess.

And today's assignment would have plenty of sport for him to offer to the ScoreKeeper.

The four Sith removed themselves from the vehicle and, momentarily, when Dagorn was outside of the speeder he stuck out his tongue and sniffed the air with it. More humans greeted his senses which were all uniformed in that similar Imperial Stormtrooper style. Out of all of them he was the most towering figure. Their attitudes were ill mannered to the squad and one was shooting out glances at the Trandoshan. Looking at the trooper with a menacing look he licked his mouth which caused the soldier to move about somewhere else. Once they marched to the restricted national park Adekos spoke to the group regarding of their mission. It irritated the Bounty Hunter that this man has to be brought back alive, but he hoped for the best that there was other prey to kill.

"Yesssss, ssssir," Dagorn said to the point leader and clutched his Myrkr Rifle in his two clawed hands, applying his senses to find any suspects in the area.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"], [member="Darth Adekos"], [member="Nulgath Zardai"]

 

[Viru Lentus]

Objective: 3
Allies: [member="Darth Carach"] [member="Darth Kentarch"]

Sitting in the transport Viru had his head leaned back against the cool, metal wall. All around him the sounds of others preparing for battle could be heard. Weapons being checked over, armor and com checks all around. Things that Viru did not participate in, not because he thought himself better than the others that filled the ship or thinking that he was more prepared for battle. It was just more in his nature to go with the flow of things now, even if he did find a malfunction in any of his equipment now it would be to late. The mission was already on, he'd simply have to find another way to carry it out. The young Epicanthix/Kiffar hybrid had his eyes closed as he focused on keeping himself calm and preparing his mind for battle. The most dangerous weapon one could bring to battle was not a blaster, or grenade it was their own mind. Their ingenuity, and Viru planned on making it out alive.

Shifting his body he grunted as he tried to get at least somewhat comfortable in the trooper armor he had been offered for the job. How can they possibly work in these accursed things. Viru thought as he pulled at the thin body suit beneath the plastoid armor. Viru was not a small man at all, once a frail old man he had been revitalized and now stood at least two meters tall and his body heavily muscled. Having forgone a helmet due to his long dreadlocks Viru simply wore a bandanna across his head. Hearing the words of his superior and having an odd feeling they were directed at him Viru opened one of his violet eyes to be sure. "As ready as I'm ever going to be... I'd much rather be back at my lab on Taris." Viru said keeping his response short. He did not want to say anything that would outright offend his superior in anyway. Viru had been told the mission details about an hour prior, and from what he had been able to see from the directives was that it was a simple mop up. Or should be with the forces they were throwing at it. At least I'm the one with the Sith on my side. Viru said taking in his superior's composure. Viru had been interested in the force since he had been that sickly child refined to his bed. His parents had known he was, but neither the Sith nor Jedi would've accepted a boy that could die any day. Maybe if they had taken their time to help him Viru wouldn't have had to spend the better part of a century looking for a way to heal himself. "Anything else I should know before we go in?"

 

[Lief]

Objective Three, Post One | [member="Darth Carach"] | [member="Viru Lentus"] | [member='Darth Kentarch']

The One Sith had schismed into what appeared to be a thousand pieces. It was a wonder to behold, because while the main Galactic Body remained Ayvari was now presented with a myriad of options; she had no love of the One Sith, she never had, she clung to the Empire of old and the memories of her Master. Well, none of those which sprung from the shadows were the Empire, and Xanxus had not returned, but she couldn't wander aimlessly for the rest of her life, either. So she had made a decision.

She hadn't been with them for long, in fact this was her first formal outing so to speak, and she had yet to really meet with anyone... So it was that she found herself almost awkwardly stood in the presence of one of the Triumvirate. Carach was his name, though he hadn't made her aware of it so she would not use it in his presence. Or outside of it. She was not a fool. A Knight she may have been, but here that meant little. As it should. No Knight had proven themselves worthy, merely at least a little bit competent and willing to obey and learn.

Though she had met many Knights who thought themselves the be all and end all.

Truth be told, Ayva's training had never really been Sith-based. She was more of an Agent of the Sith than anything else, though Xanxus had secretly taught her well. The task at hand... That was not her usual proficiency, she wasn't the type to go in guns blazing. Subtlety and infiltration? Those she could do. She had proven herself more than capable of integrating herself into the enemy lines. She had sacrificed years of her life doing just that, months passing without any contact with her Master. It had been torturous, but beneficial. Especially for Xanxus.

Her eyes fell upon the new recruit as Carach's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She wondered how much of the Galaxy he had seen up until this point, if he was even bloodied. Not that it mattered to her, but it likely would to some of the others on the shuttle. Ayva stood to one side, waiting for the shuttle to descend so that they could begin their merry little assault on the warehouse. Her hands touched upon the lightsabers on her belt, though she knew they would not see much use this day. Instead it would be her vibrosword which dealt the will of the Triumvirate...

The recruit spoke in response to Carach, and Ayva's eyes widened just a fraction. Would she have had the gall to respond to her superiors in the Empire in such a way? She could recall the one time she did talk back to a Sith Lord, informing him that she was not a student to be bossed around, that she answered to the Emperor and Xanxus solely. It hadn't ended well for her or the Sith Lord – she had lost her leg, he his head. Still, at least she could replace hers...

She said nothing, she did nothing, merely observing those present in the Shuttle. Stormtroopers sat waiting to be deployed... She wondered how many would make it back to their seats on the return journey. Death was no stranger to she who had witnessed a great many battles, she did not feel loss in the same way that many others did. Though she did miss Xanxus. He had all but adopted her in the end, in fact for a time she had taken his name. She was only young then, though, now she had to pave her own way.

But she was so used to exacting the will of another, that she felt out of place. At least during this operation she would have Carach's orders to obey.

 

[Darth Adekos]

Objective: Two
Allies: [member="Nulgath Zardai"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Dagorn"]

Well, at least they were all on the same page... Although Zardai's non-committal hmmm would make for some concern. It was probably nothing.

It was a short walk. Some might have found it pleasant, but Adekos was more of an industrial sector type of man. Parks just weren't his speed. The grisly nature of his purpose here would have prevented him from enjoying it anyway. After a few minutes down the trail, the gazebo was visible, surrounded on all sides by dense forest. It was made out of wood, which Adekos immediately found made it a novelty. Like a Wookie hovel or an Ewok hut: absolutely precious.

The gazebo was clearly getting on in years. Not a lot of Yagai must have visited it, as cleaning the structure didn't appear to be high on the list of the park's administrators. More interesting than that was that there was a hole in the gazebo's wooden foundation with two human feet just sticking out, caked with dirt and blood. Whoever was underneath was still squirming around, trying to get further under the structure without any luck. He must have run out of space.

"I'll go out on a limb and say that's our mark. You two," he looked between Matsu and Nulgath. "Secure a perimeter for me. I'll have a word with our assassin friend here."

At the sound of approaching footsteps, the half-hearted squirming suddenly stopped; remaining perfectly still even after Adekos and Dagorn took up position on either side of the exposed feet. As if the sudden lack of motion would make the perpetrator invisible. Adekos took the time to roll his eyes before speaking.

"Excuse me-" There was a startled, muffled yelp from inside the gazebo. With that, the squirming started up again, only this time far more intensely. Clumps of grass came loose from where the man was trying to propel himself further into the gazebo's underbelly. The Umbaran frowned. Didn't anyone know when to give up? He continued in spite of the kicking. "I'm going to need you to come out here for me."

The response was muted. "i aint movin nowheres"

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you in there. You'll have to crawl back out of there. Or my friend here can drag you out. Your call."

"no i cant it hurts he'll come back"

"What is he babbling... Oh, forget it." Adekos nodded to Dagorn. "It's like everyone wants to make my life difficult. Pull him out of there, please."

 

[Darth Prazutis]

Objective One

Allies: [member="Darth Orcus"] | [member="Tmoxin Temi"] | [member="Tyro Ventari"]

Darth Prazutis sat aboard the shuttle crowded with the presence of three monstrous herglics, everyone aboard was heavily armored and prepared for the job at hand it seemed. Prazutis wore his typical armor devoid of the usual hooded cloak he wore, and his custom-made blackskull helm was fitted to filter out toxins in case of the presence of biological contagions. He hated missions where the details of what he was going up against weren't absolutely clear but often you simply had no control over whether you knew of all the details or not. So it was early on that he learned to always be prepared for every situation, always expect the unexpected to happen.

This day was just another mission and it was no different, this Triumvirate needed his unique skillset for a mission that required the touch of a scalpel not a hammer. They paid well and were plentiful with bestowing rewards for success, so he was willing to help. Explosives planted throughout the city a classic terror tactic to cause death and bestow fear and mass hysteria, the crowds only required a small prodding to set them to whatever purpose the extremist group wanted. The mission was simple get in and eliminate all hostiles without causing too much attention, and disable the explosives one at at time. Even just one detonation albeit less of an effect than all of them would be a failure, and still produce the results these rogue cultists wanted.

"Do we know the strength of the hostile forces present at these locations?" Prazutis asked Darth Orcus. It was a simple yet precise question any intelligent veteran would ask in this situation, it always paid off to know what was the strength of the enemy you were going to engage, walking in blind like an honorable fool would only make death swift if you were to underestimate your enemy.

 

[Damien Zannen]

Objective Two
Allies: [member="Darth Adekos"] [member="Dagorn"]

Nulgath hated the scenery of the park. It was too bright in some places and needed more darkness. Perhaphs his eyes had been affect by the darkside. Who but being here made the pale epicanthix rather grumpy. Still he remained Silent as they shortly traveled to their destination. It was only when the group stopped and Adekos gave the order that Nulgath once again responded.

"I'll go out on a limb and say that's our mark. You two," he looked between Matsu and Nulgath. "Secure a perimeter for me. I'll have a word with our assassin friend here."

Starting to back away Nulgath eyed the man under the Gazebo with a smirk and looked around briefly. Turning his attention back to Adekos he responded with the same sound and gesture.

"Hmmm." Nulgath nodded and stared at [member="Matsu Xiangu"] as he spread apart from the group. He was testing his new found friends, he wanted to know more about them, it was one of Nulgaths odd strategies to bug and poke at others. As he was sure his silence was all but reassuring.

 

[Lok Xiangu]

The Trandoshan was indifferent about the scenery of the park, but scoffed at it since it wasn't a big playing field like Trandosha or Kashyyyk. The population of wild animals was most likely in the thousands which was a puny number when comparing those digits to amount of diverse creatures on his homeworld or the world of his moral enemies, and without a doubt it was illegal to hunt the wild animals since they were a symbol to the little nature left on this industrial world that focused on producing vessels. The fact of this irritated the Hunter to a level that it began to worry him if he would reel in any kills for the Scorekeeper. At least one kill for the day would be somewhat good to offer to his Goddess.

As the group of Sith walked they came across an old and ill maintained wooden gazebo that was on the path of self destruction, if the park managers didn't put some attention to it. But that wasn't what really interested Dagorn; what interested him was that there was a pair of human feet at the foundation of the structure. His tongue came out from his mouth and sniffed the air to see if there were other odors in the area besides the ones of Adekos, Matsu, and Nulgath and the most recent one from the human that they had just encountered with. The smell coming from the entrapped human was dirty with a mix of loose blood that treated his senses.

If he thought of killing the man for the Scorekeeper, he could forget about it when the orders of Adekos instructed him to question the man with him. With a low growl he obeyed and stood at the right side of the exposed feet. Dagorn was surprised from the corrupted Sith that he was questioning their suspect normally and not torturing him by any means. When the Umbaran grew tired of the muted answers and responses from the suspect, he then ordered the Trandoshan in which he obeyed when he bent down and held his rifle in his left hand and his right hand on the right foot which began squirming only to be squeezed more by Dagorn. With a sheer amount of force and strength Dagorn pulled the human from the foundation of the gazebo in which splinters and pieces of wood came flying out when a dirty and bloody human was hanged upside and met the vicious face of the Trandoshan who then let out a huge scream of:

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"​

​

[member="Nulgath Zardai"], [member="Darth Adekos"], [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

OBJECTIVE: 2
ALLIES: [member="Darth Adekos"] | [member="Nulgath Zardai"] | [member="Dagorn"]

The...thing under the gazebo was rife with panic, agony - she could sense it as clearly as she could hear or see. Her hunger wasn’t obvious: a dilation of the pupils, her breathing slowing, head tilted slightly as she considered prey. For a moment, she was him. (A heartbeat skipping to the tune of Adekos’ voice when he finally heard it. There were people outside, people outside and they weren’t HIM, he had escaped HIS voice for the time being, but those people outside were different, more immediate, just as dangerous in their own way he can’t come out he can’t come out or they’ll kill him.)

Matsu nodded at Adekos’ request, looking to Nulgath and returning his acknowledgment before moving off slightly. The area surrounding the gazebo was quiet, and she had a good view besides the dilapidated gazebo.

Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the usual illusions made real, a bit of sorcery made easier with the delicious taste of their target’s fear. Tukata rustled out of the bushes, their tusks curling upwards jagged and rotten, eyes red and hungry as they rocked back on their haunches and sat. They were tangible, made real by the power of Sith sorcery - enough to keep the possible-murdered penned in, and capable of driving off anyone foolish enough to attempt to disturb the Sith at their work.

 

[Tyro Ventari]

Tyro didn’t care for his current assignment. It wasn’t the mission itself but rather the manner in which he had to dress to fulfill it. He wore a simple electrostatic discharge smock over his normally fine and impressive suit. On his shoes, expensive little things, he wore straps that would help keep him grounded. Bombs sucked. He was sure Sasha Santhe, rich little brat of a socialite she was, didn’t have to wear such garbage when she went on missions for the Sith Empire.

Still a mission was a mission. [member="Darth Orcus"], Tyro’s lord and master, was leading the little expedition and present was the minx @Timoxin Temi and the brutish [member="Darth Prazutis"]. “Master,” Tyro said with a wide disarming smile. “The location is coming into view.”

Staring down at the surface Tyro wondered what was to come next. There would be a skirmish, fighting he supposed. But really he wondered if there would be a chance for some more personal fun.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Yavvitiri Industrial District,
Outskirts.
--
[member="Darth Kentarch"] | [member="Viru Lentus"] | [member="Ayvari Dorian"]

Carach hardly cared about propriety. At least not in the sense that he thought it mattered how his underlings responded to him - after a decade of being first among equals… well, it just didn’t seem all that necessary to require groveling and kneeling every step of the way. That seemed inconvenient, even, a hassle better left to those that appreciated such gestures. But, sadly it wasn’t his own opinion that truly mattered in this case.

It was all about perception.

Even now the Sith Lord could sense the discomfort and maybe even agitation streaming off of Ayvari, she was a competent sort: her emotions were tightly reined in, but she was dealing with a Force Master who had focused on mentalism and empathy for decades.

Few people could truly hide their deepest feelings from him, not even speaking of the surface thoughts that everyone had.

“Not especially. Stay calm and don’t let your emotions get in the way of cold calculation.” Carach responded without missing a beat. The only thing that outwardly signified his amusement was the cocking of the head to the side, almost as if he was thinking… or listening.

“Next time it will serve you well to address your superiors with more… dignity. My Lord would suffice. “Your Triumvirship” might be a bit much, though.”

It was a soft touch all things considered. Carach could have burned the words into Viru’s mind, causing untold agony and angst onto the acolyte… but what would have been the purpose of such exercise?

Pointless.

“Decanus Dorian, you are with me.” Carach suddenly said, only two seconds before the gunship settled down on the ground and powered down. The ramp disengaged and cold air passed into the tight corridor of the ship.

“Acolyte… Decanus Wilico will be your immediate commander in this mission.” Wilico looked up from his saber, a frown on his face, but it was wiped away quickly. Just a bow came as acknowledgement of the order.

“Follow.”

And the tall Triumvir stepped out into the cold.

 

[Viru Lentus]

Objective: 3
Allies: [member="Darth Carach"] / [member="Darth Kentarch"] / [member="Ayvari Dorian"]

"Never do." Viru said as he began to open both of his eyes. Soon the battle would begin and he had to steel himself for what would come next. It would be nothing like it had been on Korriban, the only thing that had allowed him to escape the tukata looking to feed on him was that he had a head start and was able to escape to a ledge they couldn't reach. Nothing but luck, or what Viru had begun thinking the will of the force. Tatooine had been much the same when he took on the Krayt dragon, he simply had a lucky shot that dropped the beast. If it wasn't for the force guiding his hand in that span of time he probably wouldn't be sitting on the ship. He'd be getting digested in a dragons belly. Shivering remembering just how close to death he had been in his attempts to retrieve a single holocron Viru hoped things would change soon.

Feeling an awkward presence inject itself into his mind Viru visibly winced, never in a century had someone penetrated his mind. Especially with what appeared to be such ease. Viru had used his epicanthix nature as a crutch believing it could protect his mind from anything. Only now did he know the truth. Did he truly see what a master of the force could do. While it was painless the thought of how easy it had been for the Sith Lord to enter his mind caused Viru's mouth to dry. There was no disrespect meant. Was simply being honest. Viru thought sure that if the Master had been able to penetrate his mind he would at least be able to hear the thought that had followed it. Viru tried to keep his face neutral but was pretty sure he was grimacing due to what had just happened. I need to start my training and fast. Viru thought. While Darth Carach was an ally Viru had no clue how many others had such abilities that could allow them to penetrate his mind. That could lay his thoughts bare and take everything from him. Or leave him a mumbling lunatic.

Taking a breath to calm himself Viru felt the cold air on his skin. He stood patting the blaster pistol on his hip and the extra clips to ensure they were there before he made his way over to the Decanus he had been assigned to. "After you." Viru would say following the higher ups lead. He had never been on a true battlefield besides a brief engagement with a band of Tusken Raiders. What awaited them out there could probably be much worse.

 

[Lief]

Objective Three, Post Two | [member='Darth Carach'] | [member='Viru Lentus'] | [member='Darth Kentarch']

Blissfully unaware of the mind games happening aboard the ship, Ayva listened to the advice Carach gave the acolyte. Interesting to say the least, he reminded her of another she had once known long ago. He asked for restraint also, and Ayva had taken it onboard for the most part. Her mind flashed back to young Sohna for a moment, still locked aboard her ship with Kay-Four; the girl's arm had been replaced, maybe even one day she'd understand the necessity. Still, had Kurt not been there that day things would have been a lot worse for her. It was rare she let her emotions take control. They were useful to have... when under wraps.

Her attention was snapped to the present again with the sound of her name. This was the first time she had been addressed by Carach, which somewhat amused her. Of course, she kept that internal and didn't let it spill out. "As you wish, My Lord" she responded, almost immediately, with a swift inclination of her head.

She felt the chill of the air as the ship descended and the ramp swiftly followed suit. She was no stranger to such, however, so she barely reacted at all. Ilum had been her place of origin - at least, that was where she had been raised as an infant - the cold spoke to her the way nothing else could.

Fingers falling to the hilt of her vibrosword for just a second, Ayva followed after the Triumvir and set her gaze to the landscape they had found themselves within. She couldn't recall ever having come to this world before. It was nice to experience things for the first time. The girl said little, however, instead she waited for their true task to begin.

 

[Darth Adekos]

Objective: Two
Allies: [member="Nulgath Zardai"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"] | [member="Dagorn"]

Dagorn

Even from where he stood, the acute sense of smell the Trandoshan held would pick up something else. In addition to the fear, filth, and possibly urine that the man wrenched from the gazebo reeked of, there were two more potent scents wafting from two different sides of the trees. Spilled blood and rotting carcasses. Something Dagorn would be all too familiar with.

Meanwhile, Adekos' attention was elsewhere. The Umbaran observed as the target was yanked from under the gazebo with one violent tug. His hands, wrapped in bandages, were still clinging around a rotting support beam he had tried hanging on to. This was truly a person who had spent at least a decade without a home, without proper hygiene, and without new clothes. T

he man might have been in his forties or fifties- it was difficult to tell with the dirt on his face and the patchwork, scabby beard covering his lower face. One eye was glassed over, completely blind although it didn't lessen their maddened bulge after being pulled out so forcefully. What he presently wore was little more than rags, although the hood of his sweatshirt was still intact. The man's foul odor became stronger now that he was out in the open, but nonetheless Adekos nodded with approval.

"Excellent-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

The man's eyes bulged wildly and he muttered some more incomprehensible nothings to himself before he went limp- fainted. Adekos repressed a flinch and the wooden beam the vagrant held fell softly to the ground.

"-work."

There was a moment of silence as Adekos looked between the vagrant, held upside down and fainted, by the Trandoshan that just bellowed a war cry into his face. "Was that entirely necessary? You could have given him a heart attack." Adekos pulled at the mundane gauntlet that covered his hand before patting down their new captive. "And he doesn't have the scalp on him. He must have left it under there." It escaped Adekos' notice, but there was now a third scent of decay. This one much smaller and coming directly from the man. So the scalp was on his person, but where?

Matsu

The surrounding forest was dense and hard to see through, but not impossible. There were no brightly colored plants here, just the usual assortment of greens, but then there was something else. Unnoticed at first, but a splash of pale white that kept moving back and forth, barely visible between the thick arrangement of trees and perhaps a few meters away from where the Tukata stood sentry. It moved quickly, always retracing the same space but failing to make a sound. Like a pendulum, swinging back and forth...

Nulgath

It was good that Nulgath hated this park and, possibly, most of its native inhabitants. Otherwise he may have been disturbed when a grievously wounded Cervidae sluggishly stumbled out of the woodwork and directly into his line of sight on the path. In addition to being bloodied, the creature had obviously been subjected to something along the lines of Sith Alchemy. Its fur had fallen out in clumps along its torso and were replaced by bony growths. The antlers appeared to be sharpened, either through alchemy or more traditional means, and dripped with some sort of substance.

Upon sighting the Sith Lord its deer-instincts kicked back in. It jerked itself around to go back to where it had come from, stumbling from moving too quickly, and hastily limped back into the woods.

 

[Lok Xiangu]

The pupils of the disgusting human dilated in fear as he was victimized by the raging, vicious screaming of the Trandoshan in his face and was stuttering as he muttered incomprehensible words from his mouth. Just as he calmed his war cry and could hear the echoes of the volume of his yell the man fainted and became limp when he let go the wooden board in his hands and stopped struggling from escaping the grip Dagorn had on his ankle. He was like a rag doll that could easily be swung around by the anatomical muscles of his figure, but had a pulse still pumping from the head to the toes. Luckily, the man wasn't old enough to experience strokes and other mental illnesses that could either damage him permanently or kill him. Looking back at the Umbaran Triumvir Dagorn didn't reply back at him when he disproved him screaming at their captured suspect. It did, however, caused the man to not be a problem for the whole group so they didn't have to worry about him running off at whatever direction at any time of the day. After Adekos patting down with his gauntlet and, unfortunately, knowing that the scalp wasn't on the hermit the Trandoshan flexed his clawed fingers which caused the captive to fall down with the grace of gravity on the floor with a thud.

His forked tongue slipped out of his mouth and smelled the air to see if there was something else that the two investigating Sith had missed. Immediately, his senses were flooded with three different, unique odors that polluted the air. Two of them came from distant trees on opposite sides of each other and the third one - despite the blood, urine, filth from the man - came from the man.

He slithered and let out a low growl before turning his attention on Adekos. "I sssssssssmell ssssomething. Sssssstay here and deeply go through the man while I go check over there," he said while pointing at one of the two trees so the Triumvir would know where Dagorn would be investigating. Clutching his rifle with both of his clawed hands he left Adekos with their captive and stalked to the tree he pointed out where loose blood and a rotting carcass would await for him.

[member="Darth Adekos"], [member="Matsu Xiangu"], [member="Nulgath Zardai"]