Faction |TIC| The Sundering Dawn: All Is Well

[Voice of the Empire]

The light was never supposed to speak. But we heard it anyway.
​

SIX DAYS AGO

​

The dropship thundered through the void, flanked by a pair of TIE escorts. Beyond its viewport, the derelict husk of Vorell Station hung in orbit like a grave marker above a quiet, grey moon. No transmissions. No docking clearance. Just the cold pulse of automated beacons, repeating the same phrase over and over:

"All is well. Do not approach."

Commander Hesk Ralven adjusted the straps of his chestplate, glancing toward the troopers and others seated around him.

"This is a lockdown-and-sweep," he growled. "Station's been off comms for three days, and the last inbound hauler never came back. We're here to find out why. Keep it tight. Don't trust civvies. Don't trust systems. Don't trust the quiet."

Across from him, Knight-Adjutant Veyla Jorn sat with her hands folded over her lap. Her lightsaber hung in plain view, but her posture was calm—almost reverent. She had not spoken since boarding.

She finally opened her eyes.

"There's something beneath the station," she said quietly. "A presence. I felt it the moment we entered the system. So did it."

Ralven frowned. "It?"

"The Beacon. That's what it calls itself. It's... singing to me."

The other troopers exchanged glances.

The dropship docked. The doors opened.

Vorell Station was intact. Lit. Powered. Its corridors pristine and pressurized. Civilians—miners, engineers, clerks—stood waiting in the docking bay, smiling as if nothing were amiss.

A woman stepped forward, hands clasped before her.

"Welcome, Imperial friends," she said. "We are well. The Watchers guide us now. You mustn't worry anymore."

Stormtroopers fanned out, securing corners, scanning for threats. One tapped his helmet, speaking to Command.

"No resistance. Civvies look normal. But there's… something in their eyes, sir. They're too calm."

Security logs found in the nearby control node confirmed the worst: no transmissions in ten days, well beyond official estimates. The logs ended abruptly—cut off mid-sentence—with the final footage showing a blinding humanoid shape drifting down a restricted corridor. No heat signature. No ID.

Jorn knelt near the data terminal, eyes distant.

"The visions I had... they match this. A starless void. Gears turning in the black. A whispering name—Calladene. This isn't natural."

Commander Ralven cursed under his breath. "ISS said this might be some kind of psychotropic exposure or cult activity. Stay sharp."

Then the order came, encrypted and clear:

BREACH DIRECTIVE: "Initiate Directive Omega-Seven. Civilian exposure classified as non-recoverable. Termination authorized. Artifact containment priority one."

Commander Ralven and his team were not heard from again.

You are now part of the second response team.

• Will you follow orders and purge the station to contain the spread?
• Will you defy Command and investigate the mysterious Beacon?
• Or will the Beacon claim you?

Enter Vorell Station. Make your choice.

 

[Hanna]

Location: Vorell Station
Objective: Contain the Artifact
Tag: Valmy Tomo │ Open

Hanna reviewed the briefing materials on her datapad in disciplined silence, her eyes poring over the abbreviated reports as the shuttle approached the docking point. Though registered with the Contractor Corps, the Qilin was experienced enough to know that for certain operations, she and others like her were little more than expendable assets. According to her judgement, this particular assignment fit the criteria for such a thing—a mission where casualties were not just expected, but pre-accounted for.

Nevertheless, Hanna was not wholly unfamiliar with dangerous missions. And perhaps to a greater extent than on previous occasions, she was quite extensively prepared.

“‘Civilian exposure classified as non-recoverable. Termination authorized.’” Hanna read word for word from the directive as the shuttle lurched with the force of deceleration. “It doesn’t read as an explicit order for a purge.” She added, gracefully arched brows knitted in contemplation. “Have we received any further clarification from Command regarding this part of the directive? It’s clear that our biggest priority is to contain the artifact, but the matter of the civilians seems up to interpretation.” The Qilin said.

She looked to the others for a response then, at which point the shuttle gave a sharp jolt, followed by the distinct whir of machinery as the docking mechanisms engaged.

They had arrived. And the breach was just moments away.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Sparkle Velocity
  
  • Gauntlets and Vambraces
    
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - R
      
      • PC-05V Plasma Caster
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Medium Plasma Gas Canister
      • NML-02VTB Nano Missile Launcher
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Depleted Baradium-tipped Baradium Nano Missiles (12)
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - L
      
      • IceJet Miniaturized CryoBan Projector
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • CryoBan Canister
      • Repulsor Projector
• Hanna’s HB-42 Disruptor Pistols (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium X Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• Glitter Roses (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • Standard Magazine - Controlled Penetration (4)
    • Standard Magazine - Standard Penetrator (2)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• FAE/MDE-01-S2 Semiautonomous Seeker Concussion Explosive (2)
• Infrared Smoke Grenade (2)

 

[Valmy Tomo]

Objective: Contain the Artifact
Location: Vorell Station
Tags: Hanna

Another mission lacking in finite details. Valmy really didn’t care that was the case. As long as she got to fight and there was a payout at the end that was all that mattered. She was in desperate need of credits since the Imperial stockpile she had formed was useless and her place on Voss was no longer her place. Valmy wasn’t sure where the Imperial Confederation was getting their credits, but that didn’t matter either. They had hired enough contractors that to default on payment would lead to very bad things.

At the time that Valmy and the other contractors boarded the shuttle the mission directive was simple: Keep the “artifact” from doing any more damage that had already taken place. Additional data: civilians were expendable at best.

Once aboard the shuttle and seated across from Hanna, thoughts instantly drifted away from the mission. Valmy had never seen a Quilin in person before. And she loved meeting new cultures. Even if it weren’t for the horn sticking up from Hanna’s forehead, Valmy would have been entranced. Hanna was the most delicious contractor Valmy had seen in quite some time. After Hanna spoke however Valmy cleared her throat and concentrated on Hanna’s words.

”Doesn’t sound like we are to go out of the way to eliminate the non-recoverable. Same time shouldn’t give second thought to capping one if they get in your way,” Valmy responded with a smirk.

”These missions are always chit shows. Expect things to change on the fly. Move towards the target and have a good time. Collect you cress at the end of it. Then have a really good time. You’re capable of that right? Seriousness is just for the mission I hope. I would love to see you let that pretty purple hair down,” Valmy offered a wink and then readied her rifle as the shuttle came to a stop.

”Looks like we arrived. All ashore who are going ashore,” Valmy called out in glee. ”Take lead. I’ll make sure your back is covered,” Valmy purred to Hanna.

Spoiler: Loadout

• HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
• HB-42 Blaster Pistol
• Customized MM-100 Medium Mercenary Armor
• Vibroblade

 

[PT-45 "COWL"]

OBJECTIVE: CLEAR THE STATION
LOCATION: DOCKING

​

At the back of the shuttle stood a figure that was clearly not a contractor. Unlike the other two present, he wore dark, Imperial style armor and had a glowing, red visor that stared at the other occupants of the shuttle without a sound. He held in his hands a red and black blaster rifle that matched the armor he wore, and while others sat or held on to remain upright, he merely swayed with the motion of the vessel to remain standing. The cape attacked to his armor didn't even move from the motion.

The two women talked. A lot. Some of it did pertain to their mission and he considered pointing out that the objective was containment of the situation, and that they were following up behind a squad that was previously sent in and contact was lost with. That squad having included Knights and some good troopers as well. The Knights he didn't care for. As a purge trooper, they all should be eliminated, but since they served the Empress the same as him, and willingly, he had no qualms about letting them exist. Inquisitors he'd much rather just kill.

These two were just contractors. Hired guns. Mercenaries. Their loyalty went to whomever had the highest credits on any given day. If they hadn't signed on, he'd make a point of killing them himself. Their kind were little different from pirates and other scum. They'd turn on you if offered the right amount of money. The Empress demanded loyalty. Why she allowed these people to work for them, he didn't know.

"I suggest you focus on staying alive considering a highly trained unit and several Knights went in ahead of us and haven't been heard from since," he said as the transport docked with the station.

It was the only thing he said as he watched them from behind the visor. Everyone was there because they were meant to eliminate whatever threat there was present to the Empire and its citizens. Clearly something had happened in the station at the same time they'd lost contact with several vessels and numerous worlds. It was their job to figure out why that was, what it was, eliminate and contain. He didn't ask questions. He was a hammer. To him, everything else was just a nail waiting to be hit.

OUTFIT: LINK | GEAR: STAFF, Rifle
TAGS: Hanna | Valmy Tomo ​

 

[TK-1313 "Lotus"]

OBJECTIVE: Purge
LOCATION: Vorell Station

Quietly we docked on Vorell Station, and no words were needed by me; my squad knew what was expected of us; our objective clear. Search and destroy, the latter was a responsive to any resistance we encountered. Hissing loudly, more so due to the silence of the station's hallway, the doors parted, and I stepped inside first; my blaster rifle griped firmly in my hands, my cybernetic eyes staring down the rifle's scope through my helmet's visor. Looking around, I proceeded further into the dock, my squad mates close behind.

Following our training protocols, we crept down the deserted hallway, visible seeing the lack of signs of life or any evidence there was life upon this station. Most of the doors we passed had been sealed, either magnetically or some other method, regardless, we couldn't inspect them feverishly; so, we pushed further down the hallway until we reached a semi-opened blaster door.

All we could see was utter darkness, with brief flashes we discovered where sparks from some of the runed computer terminals when we passed inside some sort of custom's section of the dock.

"Stay sharp, eyes open," I ordered to them. Something didn't feel right, and there was a tugging at the back of mind practically screaming to me that I, along with my crew, simply abandon this mission. But we couldn't.

We were the Special Ops Forces; it is our duty to go into situations where no others dared tread. And we were damn good at what we did. We are the Shadow Wolves. With a twirling of a finger, my team moved about the area searching for any clues, living or dead; only to come up empty.

"Tag this area secure and let's move out."



​

OUTFIT: Standardized Special Ops Armor | GEAR: Blaster Riffe - Blaster Pistol - Thermal Grenades - Med Kit | TAGS: Open​

 

[Hanna]

Location: Vorell Station
Objective: Contain the Artifact and Investigate the Phenomena
Tag: Valmy Tomo PT-45 "COWL" TK-1313 "Lotus" │ Open

Hanna spared a glance towards the woman next to her, delicate features manifesting a hint of a coyness as her cheeks flushed crimson. Valmy’s hair was not wholly dissimilar to Hanna’s, styled in a way that was wild, but not gross or outright messy. In turn, the Qilin had her hair done up to better fit inside her helmet, which she had turned transparent to facilitate communication. Still, although the ex-Wild Huntress suspected that the oher mercenary’s hair was dyed, she had not restrained her pleasure in meeting another pinkette prior to embarking on the mission.

Perhaps after the mission, they could exchange hair advice.

However, with the imposing, dark-armored Purge Trooper standing behind them, Hanna felt that now was not the time for idle conversation.

"I suggest you focus on staying alive considering a highly trained unit and several Knights went in ahead of us and haven't been heard from since," he said as the transport docked with the station.

Staying alive was important, but Hanna sensed that many of the away team were expected to perish. If living were the only objective, then the Imperials would have never let them aboard the shuttle, much less deployed forces to investigate.

The reason that they were here and not on patrol or sleeping in the barracks was because there were important tasks that needed to be completed. An artifact contained. A phenomena investigated. And possibly, a stationed purged. All perilous, demanding assignments that would likely come with extreme risk.

Especially when there were potential metaphysical anomalies and psychotropic threats active in the field.

“Right. Yes sir.” Hanna replied, professional and disciplined. The Imperials might have looked down on them as little better than scum, but the Qilin hoped to prove herself better. Just as she had done in her tenure with the Imperial Auxilia in the Empire of the Lost, she would earn her pay and respect. And while it was frustrating to start over, she knew that the Imperials would always have a need for her, provided she proved herself worth the salary and benefits.

Unholstering her Verpine shatter pistols, Hanna surged ahead, repulsorlift skates pushing her through the aperture with violent acceleration. Simultaneously, the Qilin quickly scanned the area. Then, satisfied, she turned towards the others and opened her comm.

“Passageway clear!”

Spoiler: Loadout

• Sparkle Velocity
  
  • Gauntlets and Vambraces
    
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - R
      
      • PC-05V Plasma Caster
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Medium Plasma Gas Canister
      • NML-02VTB Nano Missile Launcher
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Depleted Baradium-tipped Baradium Nano Missiles (12)
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - L
      
      • IceJet Miniaturized CryoBan Projector
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • CryoBan Canister
      • Repulsor Projector
• Hanna’s HB-42 Disruptor Pistols (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium X Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• Glitter Roses (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • Standard Magazine - Controlled Penetration (4)
    • Standard Magazine - Standard Penetrator (2)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• FAE/MDE-01-S2 Semiautonomous Seeker Concussion Explosive (2)
• Infrared Smoke Grenade (2)

 

[Voice of the Empire]

​

VORELL STATION — LEVEL 01: DOCKING RING ALPHA
Environment: Dim lighting. Ambient hum. Temperature slightly colder than standard. Mild ozone tang in the air. No bodies. No blood. No movement.

As Hanna, Valmy, TK-1313, and PT-45 sweep the landing zone, their boots echo slightly on durasteel plating warped in strange places—as though bent by heat, but without scorch marks. The terminals lining the wall are shattered, not from blaster fire… but from within. Glass punched outward. Keypads melted.

PT-45's sensors pick up a faint but persistent resonance—something low-frequency, around 27 Hz, pulsing softly through the deck plating.

The team's comms flicker once. Then stabilize.

Just as TK-1313 finishes clearing the corridor toward the tramline hub, they spot it:

A single word scratched into the wall at chest height.

"TURNED."

Written in trooper-standard Aurebesh. Etched by hand—deeply. There's dried blood caught in the edges.

At the far end of the hallway, a maintenance door hisses open. No one is visible. No motion. Just cold, sterile light and the faint hiss of an atmospheric recycler cycling faster than it should.

TK-1313 hears a faint whisper from down the corridor. Helmet audio logs pick up nothing.

Valmy Tomo | Hanna | TK-1313 "Lotus" | PT-45 "COWL"​

 

[Valmy Tomo]

Objective: Contain the Artifact
Location: Vorell Station
Tags: Hanna | PT-45 "COWL" | TK-1313 "Lotus"

The blush that Valmy's words caused on Hanna was absolutely adorable, making Calmy want to pull the diminutive woman into her lap and give her a squeeze. Even if it wasn't for the "regular" soldiers' comments, Valmy was professional enough to let such intrusive thoughts go without following through. While the mission was ongoing.

The purge trooper's scolding brought a smirk to Valmy's lips. She shook her head and waved a finger at Cowl. "If you can't handle a little playful banter you may want to stay in the ship. Those kinda comments keep me sharp. Don't expect dynamite responses from the likes of you, but let us lowly mercenaries have our fun." Unlike Hanna, Valmy had no desire to be accepted by the regular soldiers. Valmy would do her part shoot her guns, make things go boom and make her credits. What the uptight regs thought of her mattered zero in the grand scheme. Plus, she bet this one was boring under his helmet.

Hanna gave in to Cowl's demand for seriousness. But when the small woman rushed into the station on repulsor skates, Valmy couldn't stop a whistle coming from her lips. "Damn. That looks fun. I gotta get me a pair. Maybe she'll show me how to use 'em."

Valmy looked to the troopers before following behind Hanna. Though the area was clear of opposition the destruction that had occurred was evident. When her eyes noticed the etching there was a frown on Valmy's lips. She didn't even get out a word before a door opened. She whirled around rifle raised and ready to fire, but nothing was there. "This is like a horror holo. How very intriguing. I say we go through the door. Faster we find something to shoot the more this mission will seem normal."

Spoiler: Loadout

• HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
• HB-42 Blaster Pistol
• Customized MM-100 Medium Mercenary Armor
• Vibroblade

 

[PT-45 "COWL"]

OBJECTIVE: Clear and Secure
LOCATION: Docking Ring Alpha​

From others her response might have gotten a rise, but it did nothing for him. He didn't care. The mission was priority and the mission was the only thing he cared about. PT-45 believed only in doing what he was ordered to do, what he was made to do, and didn't care for the frivolities of other things. Though he knew the standing order among the Risen Empire was that they all procreate, he had yet to do so. Too busy. Perhaps he would find someone at some point, but now was not the time. He didn't know when would be.

They exited the ship and found an empty dock, though there was considerable destruction. Strange that everything seemed to have exploded from within.

"There's a low hum passing through the floor of the station," he said to the others, just before the comms crackled and then settled. "Only perceptible by sensor."

He didn't know what that meant, but it was there. Worth sharing. Even though he generally preferred to work alone, he wasn't. Since he wasn't, it was imperative he share any information he gleaned so that someone else might determine something from it. Mercenaries might just be guns for hire, but that didn't mean they lacked knowledge in other areas. It was possible one of them was some sort of scientist.

The TK moved forward to clear the corridor, and he followed, his rifle ready, safety off. The word on the wall was noted, turned, it said, but he didn't know what it was indicating. Did it mean that someone had turned at that intersection? Or did it mean something had happened to them? He didn't really get a chance to look further as a door in front of them suddenly opened. Like the mercenary, he brought his weapon to bear, even though no one stepped out. Unlike the mercenary, he didn't wait around.

He moved towards the door to clear it, and step through.

OUTFIT: LINK | GEAR: STAFF, Rifle
TAGS: Hanna | Valmy Tomo | TK-1313 "Lotus" ​

 

[TK-1313 "Lotus"]

OBJECTIVE: Purge
LOCATION: Vorell Station

Collectively we saw the single, crimson word gouged into the wall, but before we could address it, a door automatically opened without any input from anyone, or anything visible. At that exact moment, we swung our weapons toward the door; preparing for what, we had no idea. I thought it best to leave my squad behind, using this hub as a fallback zone, our lifeline to the docked transport shuttle. The others, those not in my usual squad had several varying inputs and theories as how we should proceed.

"I would advise rushing so blatantly into the unknown," my voice materializing behind my helmet, as I looked at Valmy Tomo . I accepted her eagerness for adventure, and had I not been on duty, I would have howled through the door; guns blazing. But I had orders, and I was on duty. "And I have seen enough of those horror holos to know better to run directly into the butcher's ax. I believe there are rules in place for horror holos." That was my stab at humor, something I knew was a weak character flaw of mine.

"But standing here does us no service either," I said to the others, moving toward the door with my rifle pointed ahead following PT-45 "COWL" through the door. The hallway was eerily dark, yet with splashes of illumination further down; and I could almost testify that I could feel a coldness creeping into my armor from the hallway itself. Also, my cyber implants began to function awkwardly briefly when I entered this mysterious hallway, only to correct themselves three or four steps in. I did not like this unsettling scenario being performed before our very eyes.

I had to address the white rancor in the room when the last of the group had gathered in the hallway. "What does everyone think about that singular word etched into the wall?"
​

OUTFIT: Standardized Special Ops Armor | GEAR: Blaster Riffe - Blaster Pistol - Thermal Grenades - Med Kit | TAGS: Hanna
​

 

[Hanna]

Location: Vorell Station
Objective: Contain the Artifact and Investigate the Phenomena
Tag: Valmy Tomo PT-45 "COWL" TK-1313 "Lotus" │ Open

Valmy's comment regarding her skates only furthered reddened her cheeks. Her eyes lit up in girlish mischief then, at which point Hanna whipped around on her skates and flashed Valmy a playful, girlish grin in the process. Then, she rendered her helmet opaque, so that her features were no longer visible, giving way to the unreadable, tinted visor.

It was time to focus on the mission.

Hanna surveyed the scene around her with bated breath. Her gaze flicked towards the shattered, broken terminals on the walls and their melted keypads—useless for the purpose of establishing a computer uplink. The Qilin had hoped that the computer logs could give some hints as to what had transpired within the station, but the idea could not be executed without a working terminal

Whipping around on her repulsorlift skates, Hanna shifted her attention in the direction of the tramline hub. The corridor leading to it was dark and relatively featureless. She turned on her helmet’s low-light vision mode to compensate, allowing her eyes to pierce through the gloom to make out finer details.

That was when she saw the blood-etched word on the wall.

"What does everyone think about that singular word etched into the wall?"

Even through the vocabulator, Hanna immediately recognized the stormtrooper’s voice. Was she the stormtrooper from Bakura? Her eyes lit up with surprise at the realization, but she otherwise held her tongue. Given the distinct design of her combat suit, the Qilin sensed that if the woman was in fact TK-1313, she would recognize her as well.

“For now, we record the finding and move on. There isn’t much we can learn from a single word by itself.” Hanna spoke aloud, taking a snapshot of the word with her helmet’s integrated camera as she did. “We’ll need more context in order to start drawing conclusions.” She added.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Sparkle Velocity
  
  • Gauntlets and Vambraces
    
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - R
      
      • PC-05V Plasma Caster
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Medium Plasma Gas Canister
      • NML-02VTB Nano Missile Launcher
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Depleted Baradium-tipped Baradium Nano Missiles (12)
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - L
      
      • IceJet Miniaturized CryoBan Projector
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • CryoBan Canister
      • Repulsor Projector
• Hanna’s HB-42 Disruptor Pistols (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium X Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• Glitter Roses (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • Standard Magazine - Controlled Penetration (4)
    • Standard Magazine - Standard Penetrator (2)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• FAE/MDE-01-S2 Semiautonomous Seeker Concussion Explosive (2)
• Infrared Smoke Grenade (2)

 

[Voice of the Empire]

​

VORELL STATION – MAINTENANCE HALLWAY SIGMA-12
Interior: Dimly lit, narrow corridor. Cold air rushes slightly outward as the sealed door finishes opening. The walls are matte black maintenance alloy—functional, unadorned. Fluorescent strips flicker intermittently overhead. A slight fog clings to the floor from coolant condensation. Visibility: 15 meters.

As PT-45 and TK-1313 sweep left and right with precision, they find the room opens into a Y-shaped junction:

• Left path: A steep utility stairwell marked "Gravity Control Substation A-4".
• Right path: A sealed hatch marked "EVACUATION CHUTE — LOCKED." Red emergency lights blink above it, but there's no power to the door's panel.

Hanna's camera confirms something strange in the image of the carved word. A spectral double-image overlay—almost like a faint echo of the word written again, offset half an inch to the right. It wasn't visible to the eye, but the helmet sensor caught it.

As Valmy holds rear guard, she feels a subtle pull in her gut, like someone briefly yanked her center of balance forward towards the center of the station. Just once. Gone in a second.

Then—static.

The team's shared comms crackle violently. A voice cuts through—faint, warped, but unmistakable:

"—…nal breach… beneath… turned—"

Commander Ralven's voice.

But it ends abruptly, cut off by a high-pitched whine—almost like a transmission being crushed under its own gravity. Comms stabilize. An investigation into the source of the communication reveals it is logged as "Source unknown. Ping matched to Cmdr. Ralven's ID tag. Coordinates do not exist."

A light clatter echoes from the stairwell on the left. Metal on metal. Scraping. Slowing. Then silence. Resonance continues. Stronger down the stairwell. Sub-audible, but PT-45 can detect it vibrating slightly through nearby pipes.

Valmy Tomo | PT-45 "COWL" | TK-1313 "Lotus" | Hanna​

 

[Valmy Tomo]

Objective: Contain the Artifact
Location: Vorell Station
Tags: Hanna | PT-45 "COWL" | TK-1313 "Lotus"

Valmy continued to be mesmerized by Hanna and her repulsive skates. The pink haired human did have a "serious mode", but it usually only manifested when there was something in front of her to shoot or blow up. The tense investigation of a so far abandoned station was making her snide sarcastic nature bubble to the front. Knowing the two troopers were not likely to appreciate that, Valmy allowed the distraction to prevent her from saying something silly.

The purge trooper's comment about an imperceptible hum was almost entirely missed. Since Valmy didn't have the proper sensors to detect or analyze it, that would need to fall to one of the others. The other trooper's comments about horror holos brought a smirk to Valmy's lips. Perhaps this didn't have to be stiff all business mission.

"Well the rules have been tweaked a bit here and there. But yeah we should probably slow down, stick together. No pairing off for any fun. No one gets separated from the group. We should be fine…" Valmy sighed as she thought that might have gone too far.

They continued in, the other three more focused on the mission pushed forward. That was fine with Valmy. She wasn't really the recon type. Much preferred shooting first and asking questions later. Also preferred the loud approach. She would need to follow the lead of the others if they were going to avoid having whatever was left on this station coming down on them in waves.

TK-1313 asked about the word on the wall. Valmy didn't know what to think about it so she said nothing allowing Hanna to document it and they were moving on. As they did so Valmy felt something in her midsection. At first she smiled, nothing hostile usually got close enough to touch her. Then she felt it inside her. There was a gentle pull towards the center

Then the broken message on their comms appeared. A tingle shot up Valmy's spine, but she wasn't about to let the others know of her discomfort. "That wasn't from our group. Are there others in the second wave? Can any of you tell who or where that came from, there was a slight hesitation in her voice but for the most part Valmy managed to sound confident and curious more than scared. "Wherever it came from I hope it wasn't the center of the station. Something weird is going on here. Don't suppose your sensors are picking up something to shoot at?"

Spoiler: Loadout

• HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
• HB-42 Blaster Pistol
• Customized MM-100 Medium Mercenary Armor
• Vibroblade

 

[Hemor Vechin]

Objective: Neutralize the station, Recover artifact
Tags: Open

Hemor and squad were part of the late ETOL's elite Bullfrog program, the ones sent to do things that absolutely needed to be done. The squad had read the dossier... one that was disturbing in the fact that a team sent in never checked back in. Grov the Pantoran tech specialist spoke first "I have made a few modifications to our hard armor. I should give us a three hour window of safety against any sort of electromagnetic interference on us. I suggest we be done before then."

The squad all looks around and the female Pantoran squad mate Veso, sticks the knife into the table "How many random contractors do you think will show up?" It was a thought all of them had cross their minds.

The male Pantoran, Julnor speaks up "Doesn't matter, we are going to finish the mission. I say we use Tranqs on the civilians. The real question is what will the other team be doing? Will they be okay? or Will they be hostiles?"

The whole squad look at each other then to Hemor as his voice breaks the silence "We will deal with it as the situation unfolds. Armor on, and last checks, we are ten minutes from the target, Vorell Station. Tranq the civilians on sight, heads on swivels. There will be contractors of some sort."

They arrived at the station the pilot observes the other ships docked and heads to the far side. Hemor steps into the hallway right as the last hisses of the pressurization end rifle lifted. The dart launcher under the barrel. On his wrist Hemor sets a three hour timer, Here we go

In the teams comms <Alright everyone. Lets move. Keep it tight, tranqs for the civilians, we don't know where the object is. But that's what droids like Di9s slicing systems is for.>

 

[PT-45 "COWL"]

OBJECTIVE: The Stairwell
LOCATION: Maintenance Hallway Sigma-12
​

"Clear," he indicated as they swept the room.

There were no signs of anyone being present, but there was definitely something strange going on. The hall had two branches, one leading to a stairway downward that was marked for a gravity control substation, and one that was marked for an evacuation chute. The latter indicated it was locked, the former wasn't barred access to.

Before he could say anything further, their comms crackled to life and several broken words filtered through. His HUD indicated that the voice belonged to Commander Ralven, but could offer no further information, including whether it was a live transmission or some sort of recording that was being broadcast. It happened so quickly that it was hard to pinpoint what, if anything, had triggered it, either. He was certain the others had heard it as well, confirmed by the pink haired mercenary saying something about it.

The sound of metal hitting metal drew his attention to the stair and he raised his rifle again, moving towards it and using his helmets site abilities to examine, but he didn't see anything. Whatever had caused the sound was gone. That same vibration he'd been feeling seemed to coming up from the stairwell, though, according to his helmet. The source of the vibration was definitely in that direction.

"We aren't here to evac so I suggest we take the stairs and continue towards the center."

No, there was nothing to shoot at. Yet. But he started down the stairs with his rifle raised all the same. Better to be safe than sorry.

OUTFIT: LINK | GEAR: STAFF, Rifle
TAGS: Valmy Tomo | TK-1313 "Lotus" | Hanna ​

 

[Pel Grennin]

Objective: Purge station, contain Artifact
Tags: Hemor Vechin , Open

Pel did not find the prospect of entering a contaminated space station an enticing prospect. He'd been in plague zones before, he'd even caught a few. Survived every one of them, too. But there were few people in the Imperial Confederation who were capable of dealing with artifacts like the one speculated to be on Vorell Station, and Pel was one of them.

He'd been on the command ship, watching the feeds and waiting for the situation to be contained enough for him to enter. What they saw was...A whole lot of nothing. Abandoned corridors, ominous messages, and a spurt from the coms. There was no indication that there was any direct physical threat in the corridors closer to the surface of the station, and he was going to need to be on hand once the beacon was located.

Pel's shuttle docked adjacent with the Bullfrog squad, with whom Pel was technically attached to. He wore a full decontamination suit with a layer of armor, just in case. It restricted his movement, but it wasn't the first time he'd fought in a combat zone wearing one. The real burden was the tank of Nullification Resin he had to wear on his back. This was part of the mission - this Beacon, whatever it was, needed to be neutralized, and destroying such a thing could cause more damage than leaving it in place. This was not Pel's first horrific artifact, and was likely not going to be his last. Normally, he would have brought a special box meant for containing dangerous Dark Side artifacts, but they were do in the dark here that it possibly wouldn't even fit in the containers he had.

Once the Bullfrogs were unloaded and storming into the station, Pel was next, hauling the tanks on his back, the hose curled up but ready to go, and his Lightsaber in hand, just in case, as he followed just behind them, and his coms open to listening in on the forward team.

"If you hear any voices in your head that you don't normally hear, let me know," Pel said to the Bullfrogs. Pel was torn between opening his senses and staying reserved; something like this Beacon might prey on Force Users, especially ones like him that are open to forming bonds with others. On the other hand, opening up would give them insights normal technology and senses couldn't. He decided to keep himself as closed as he could, and trust that the two teams were competent. The bulky, heavy equipment was irritating, anyway, and he used that to shield himself from whatever might be here.

 

[Hanna]

Location: Maintenance Hallway Sigma-12 - Vorell Station
Objective: Contain the Artifact and Investigate the Phenomena
Tag: Valmy Tomo PT-45 "COWL" TK-1313 "Lotus" │ Open

The team pressed on into the station's interior, the armored forms of PT-45 and TK-1313 sweeping into the hall while Hanna covered them from behind. Satisfied that the immediate area was clear, the Qilin lowered her pistols as she surveyed the junction, her eyes flicking back and forth between the two options set before her.

However, it was then that the comms surged into activity, causing Hanna’s gaze to light up as a masculine voice cut through the static. Her HUD quickly identified it as belonging to Commander Ralven—the leader of the potentially doomed expedition which had come before theirs. A high-pitched, ringing screech cut it off in abrupt fashion, causing the Qilin’s pointed ears to twitch in response to the earsplitting stimulation.

“Nal. Breach. Beneath. Turned.” Hanna read the words as transcribed in her HUD, shaking her head as she did. “A threat emerging from below?” The Qilin spoke aloud, glancing towards the others as she did. “My HUD is reporting the source as unknown, but the ping matches Commander Ralven's tag." She explained.

"I will note that my camera picked up what could be an artifact when I took a snapshot of the word on the wall. It appears to be a double-image overlay, slightly offset. Sending it to you all now.” Hanna added, before transmitting the picture to the rest of the squad via mental command.

"Well the rules have been tweaked a bit here and there. But yeah we should probably slow down, stick together. No pairing off for any fun. No one gets separated from the group. We should be fine…" Valmy sighed as she thought that might have gone too far.

"We aren't here to evac so I suggest we take the stairs and continue towards the center."

“I agree. The stairs lead down. If Ralven’s transmission was any indication, then that’s where we need to go.”

Spoiler: Loadout

• Sparkle Velocity
  
  • Gauntlets and Vambraces
    
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - R
      
      • PC-05V Plasma Caster
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Medium Plasma Gas Canister
      • NML-02VTB Nano Missile Launcher
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • Depleted Baradium-tipped Baradium Nano Missiles (12)
    • Modular Weapon Mount (3) - L
      
      • IceJet Miniaturized CryoBan Projector
        
        • Ammunition
          
          • CryoBan Canister
      • Repulsor Projector
• Hanna’s HB-42 Disruptor Pistols (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium X Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
    • FAE/AM-01-S2 Energy Weapon Cartridge - Ethaerium Gas and CryoBan Coolant (4)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• Glitter Roses (2)
  
  • Ammunition
    
    • Standard Magazine - Controlled Penetration (4)
    • Standard Magazine - Standard Penetrator (2)
  • Attachments
    
    • 1-5x FAE/S-08 Electro-Sight
• FAE/MDE-01-S2 Semiautonomous Seeker Concussion Explosive (2)
• Infrared Smoke Grenade (2)

 

[TK-1313 "Lotus"]

OBJECTIVE: Purge
LOCATION: Vorell Station

The static interference coursing through my helmet made hearing the message difficult, but the words from the others painted me a grand picture. There was something here causing passing disturbances in my helmet, and against regulations; I removed my helmet, dropping it on the floor. I looked at the others saying,"A necessity for survival." I could see the expressions on the faces of the group when they saw the partial remaining facial structure and technological additions that was now me, a topic if pursued by them for another time.

The sound of metal scraping against metal, or some similar sound that should not have occurred on a ship where the only known inhabitants were us, drew my attention as it did the purge trooper. I raised my blaster rifle in the direction, moving slowly toward those stairs; never wavering my sights in the event something popped up. I followed the trooper down the stairs to the lower level.

"Do you smell that," I said whilst placing a gloved hand over both mouth and nose, as if that would ward off the stench. Then looking down, for reasons unknown to me, were puddles of some sickly colored fluid patched along the floor leading in one direction. Crouching down, I examined one of the puddles with its discolored liquid but refrained from touching it.

From my crouched position, I looked up at the others saying, "Without properly examing these puddles with the right medical devices, I hazard to say these puddles were once bodies." I was quite sure in my assessment, mainly because when I had examined the puddle, I saw miniature traces of hair and what I could only assume as finger or toenails.

​

OUTFIT: Standardized Special Ops Armor | GEAR: Blaster Riffe - Blaster Pistol - Thermal Grenades - Med Kit | TAGS: Hanna / PT-45 "COWL" / Valmy Tomo​

 

[Voice of the Empire]

​

TEAM ONE — SIGMA-12 STAIRWELL DESCENT

Valmy Tomo | PT-45 "COWL" | Hanna | TK-1313 "Lotus"

Environment: Substation Access Level — Lighting reduced to emergency strips. Metal grates underfoot. The stairwell coils down like a spinal column. Moisture hangs in the air. The resonance is stronger now—audible even to baseline humans as a low, rhythmic hum.

As PT-45 leads the descent, his HUD highlights a distortion in the floor just ahead—a faint heat signature, barely above ambient. When he steps past it, the hum subtly shifts pitch—like the tone "noticed" him.

At the base of the stairwell, the team finds:

• Three inch-deep puddles of cloudy fluid surrounding the bottom platform.
• In the fluid: clumps of black hair, and half-moon fragments of fingernails, torn and spiraled like they were twisted off. No blood. No tissue.
• A dropped datapad, half-submerged, ID'd as belonging to Rav Perros, a technician assigned to gravity calibration. It displays an open maintenance ticket:
  

  "Object in shaft interfering with field harmonics. Artifact appears self-powered. Knight Jorn advised evacuation. No follow-up logged."

TK-1313's motion sensors ping faint movement—but from above. Just one floor up. No visuals. Could be an echo… or something following them.

The resonance now emits a soft, accompanying tick. Mechanical. In rhythm.

When Hanna sends the spectral double-image to the team, it appears differently to each:

• PT-45 sees the offset version animate—shifting slightly, as if turning.
• Valmy's HUD glitches: for 1.2 seconds, the second carving seems to spell "TURNKEY".
• TK-1313's display catches a faint heat signature embedded in the wall behind the original carving. Like something burned the message outward through the bulkhead.

​

TEAM TWO — ALPHA-4 LANDING SITE

Hemor Vechin | Pel Grennin

Environment: Darker, colder. Their landing site is adjacent to the station's old industrial quadrant. More disrepair. Emergency lights barely functioning. Still, no visible hostiles or civilians.

As Hemor and Bullfrog squad fan out in textbook formation, their recon droid (if one is deployed) begins mapping the station's power signature and internal layout. It returns an incomplete map with entire levels missing from standard schematics—as if rooms and corridors were never logged, but now exist.

Pel immediately notes that the walls have been manually stripped of insulation—but not chaotically. Precisely. Like someone was trying to redirect heat or signal flow. A strange geometric pattern is visible across some of the conduits.

Then the lights flicker once. All at once.

Just for a moment.

And when they come back…

One of the Bullfrog troopers is missing.

No noise. No alert. No scream.

Their comm remains active—broadcasting silence.

​

SIGNAL UPDATE (TO ALL UNITS)

The resonance across the station synchronizes for the first time. All HUDs ping a simultaneous anomaly in local gravity—measured at 0.93g instead of the standard 1.0. It's subtle… but accelerating.

 

[Valmy Tomo]

Objective: Contain the Artifact
Location: Vorell Station
Tags: Hanna | PT-45 "COWL" | TK-1313 "Lotus"

Being at the back of the group Valmy followed along the chosen path. It wasn't as if she had some way through the locked door anyway and evac wasn't going to provide many credits, satisfaction, or help this creepy crawly feeling to leave Valmy. Hanna revealed that the comm disturbance could not be traced, but had the last commander's ID. "Have to assume something is controlling or interfering with comms. Can't trust anything that isn't visually verifiable," Valmy called out. She hated the cautious side of her, but it did exist and rarely won out over the reckless one.

Hanna then sent the file of the word on the wall to the group. Valmy had to look down to her wrist as she didn't own a helmet. Why would she ever cover such beautiful hair? As she looked at the image trying to see the double image that Hanna had mentioned she gasped slightly as the "glitch" showed the second word. Should she share what she had seen with the group? Was she letting the eerie station get to her?

She had not made a decision before Lotus asked about smelling something. Valmy realized she had fallen a bit behind. After hurrying to catch up she noted Lotus' helmet was gone. What was showing was not as beautiful as Valmy's hair, but Valmy was not in any way out off by the cyborg visage. She couldn't hide her surprise though.

Valmy smelled only faintly what was mentioned and shrugged her shoulders at the suggestion that the puddles they encountered were bodies. Valmy hoped not. More because that meant less kills for herself.

"Looks organic," Valmy remarked with a sigh upon a closer look at the puddles. That mattered little. "One of you want to grab the datapad? Surely will have some clue. Rules of horror holos and all. Also, please tell me you are all hearing that ticking…" the sound was far more likely to be normally occurring. If the others weren't hearing it though…she was in trouble.

Spoiler: Loadout

• HIMAR-1 Heavy Imperial Multipurpose Assault Rifle
• HB-42 Blaster Pistol
• Customized MM-100 Medium Mercenary Armor
• Vibroblade