To steal a man's tea (Invasions of Atrisia)

[Malok]

There was no organic chain of command this day, only synthetics specifically programmed to carry out the order which had been transmitted to them. The force, beckoned forth from hyperspace by a Fringe transmission, began to obey that order to the letter. Fire came from all directions, assaulting the ships which had amassed in order to assist the Fringe operation; and once the joint assault began there was a daring, risky maneuver that was undertaken by the entirety of the Confederate taskforce. They did not fire back, not a single shot, but focused all power to the engines and began to move on the planet. They were already in orbit over the Palace itself, and now it was time to carry out the order that they had been given.

Destroy the Palace. Destroy All Opposition.

The shields surrounding the Imperial palace were impressive, but it would take a miracle for them to withstand the force of a capital ship slamming into them. But several? There was no hope of surviving the joint onslaught that had been launched, and as the Lucrehulks, and Heavy Cruisers breached the atmosphere, the point became perfectly clear: they were going out...with a Bang. The smaller vessels had been utterly decimated in the onslaught, and only flaming wreckage survived long enough to make it into the uppermost portions of the planet's atmosphere. The others, namely the five lucrehulks, were much more durable vessels and were specifically designed to take excessive sums of punishment. All that mattered was traversing the relatively short distance through the atmosphere and slamming the ships into the shields of the capital city.

Did the droids care who lived or who died? Hardly. They were machines, programmed for a specific purpose; and the actions undertaken by the Fringe forces had simply classified them as Opposition.

With all but the five lost, the Lucrehulks began their hellish descent. By now, what was unfolding would be plainly obvious to all. These ships weren't landing, nor did they have any intention of stopping. One of them was damaged beyond repair in the onslaught and was therefore unable to adequately steer itself towards the shields completely. Instead, it fell short, crashing down towards the pass where the enemies had mustered. The other four were much more lucky in their endeavor, and while damaged, had enough systems functioning to guide the flaming, behemoth vessels to their target. The sight must have been...daunting...to say the least: four monstrous vessels plummeting out of the heavens before impacting the earth with tremendous force.

And so it was that the Confederate presence in the battle came to a swift end. There were monumental explosions immediately following the impacts on the ground. The ground forces that had mustered near the pass would have been caught in the explosive inferno which spanned a tremendous distance. And what of the capital city itself? Could its shields withstand four Lucrehulks crashing into them? Would the people within walk without a scratch? Or would this rash, explosive tactic claim the lives of those within? Only the conclusion of the explosions and the clearing of the smoke would reveal the extent of the damage.

OOC: Whoot! Went out with a bang, thanks guys for the fun!

 

[Aedan Miles]

((EDIT: DARN IT GUY I WAS GONNA MAKE A FLASHY ENTRANCE! post now unnessecary ignore it unless @[member="Genesis Rostu"] just the first part DX))

 

[Arage Bao]

Jared was not sure what to make of the sudden orders of his Master, the CIS forces had come to their aid after Sargon had asked for it. But it was not his place to question her orders, that much he was sure. The Empress had always said to follow Spencer's orders as if she said them herself. As such he did his job, as the good boyscout soldier he was.

“Admiral, give the orders.” Jared could see the question in his eyes, but ignored it.

The CIS ground forces, millions of droids strong, had landed directly underneath the Astral Horizon where it glided along in geosynchronous orbit. At Spencer Jacobs' order, it unleashed the full power of eighteen hundred turbolasers, turning the bulk of the army, and the planet's crust, to slag. Galactic Empire casualties were minimized, their forces having only barely begun to engage on the ground.

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Je'gan's hand rose to his ear as the reports came in. Fringe forces had ceased to fire, and the Imperial opposite numbers had done the same.

Even a traitor Grandmaster was still, in his heart of hearts, Jedi enough to feel glad about that.

A feeling that went away as reports indicated the nature of the CIS involvement. Specifically, a fleet on a collision course for the palace only a few miles away. And one Lucrehulk, damaged, a speck in the sky but aimed to crash on him.

He conveyed the information to Ashin Varanin and @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] tersely. They had only minutes, if that.

His goal was not to stop the crashing fleet. That could not be done. But with their combined strength and the telekinetic acumen of Kerrigan and Kalamack, the Lucrehulks and their escorts might -- might -- be able to be redirected into the surrounding mountains. Immense earthquakes would rock the region, but there was a possibility that the state-of-the-art palace shields could take the impacts of a couple of escort ships.

There would still be damage. Immense damage. But millions of lives might be saved. If he could move fast enough.

"Miss Jacobs, I require your assistance. It's Elrood all over again."

To unite the powers of disparate Forcers was a dangerous thing. Too close a contact, and madness might result, but he and Spencer were arguably the two finest mentalists in the last thousand years or thereabouts, both experts in battle meditation and the uniting of minds. They wove a link between themselves, and Ashin slipped into the meld with practiced ease. From there Je'gan reached out to include two of the most powerful telekinesis specialists around -- @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] and @[member="Tricia"] Kalamack, who were fighting only miles from here. And from there he reached out to the planet's Inquisitors. The Fringers would know that there were registered Atrisian Forcers; Je'gan could keep them from perceiving too much through the meld. Perhaps as many as two hundred Inquisitors joined the meld.

A less experienced meld would need to use one individual as a focal point, and risk burnout and death. For this meld, with Je'gan sustaining it, there was no focal point, only the Force, but anyone who joined would find their powers amplified by harmony.

Proportional to how many Force-users joined in on his call, answered his request for aid, increasing numbers of CIS ships could be redirected to slam into the mountains around the palace rather than the palace itself. Je'gan stood in the pass, at ground zero, eyes closed and shoulders loose.

People of the Fringe. You came here for victory, for gain, not annihilation, not to have your purposes and outcomes ripped away by so-called allies who act against all. People of the Empire. Your attackers have been deceived, but this new assault threatens us all. Join us.

@[member="Tricia"] Kalamack @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"] @[member="Rexus Drath"] @[member="Sargon Vynea"] @[member="Jared Ovmar"]
@All Forcers

 

[Ashin Varanin]

She had never been mind-to-mind with her grandfather before, with the man who'd manipulated her life -- or tried to -- for a very, very long time. Je'gan Black Eyes was no friend to her. As a matter of fact, he'd tried to arrange her death at Darron Wraith's hands, in order to save her from her Sith poisons by shunting her into a clone body he'd had grown.

Now that had been a mess. THe clone was still out there, somewhere, presumably with Circe Savan still on her tail.

But that was neither here nor there, and she could overcome her issues with Je'gan Olra'en, her grandfather, in order to join him and her wife in the meld. To save Spencer's life, she could do that.

She was no telekinetic specialist, but her full power exceeded that of Je'gan, and she gave all that strength to the meld and those who would use it better. And she moved to embrace Spencer, offer her support, increase the closeness of their bond to enhance the strength of their unity in the Force.
@[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Ashin Varanin"], @[member="Tricia"],

From the perspective of Siobhan things had taken a rather confusing turn. Admittedly in the course of her actually still ongoing duel with Tricia she had been a few miles away from the clash on the plains that led to the Tower, though she had seen the billowing clouds of smoke rise up into the sky from the Dresden-style firebombing the Fringe aerial forces had unleashed upon the pass.

Then as she had unleashed her last attack upon Tricia a comm message came through from the Imperial command. What? Ceasefire? That was not in the script at all and she felt inclined to just disregard it. Thoughts coursed through her mind about what deal had been struck before she absorbed the rest of her message. Apparently CIS had descended upon the planet. Given the fact that Atrisia was far away from their territory and they did not even share a border she wondered what they hoped to gain by jumping so many parsecs. However, suffice to say that the CIS was on the list of factions she hated pretty strongly. What with one of their own having tortured a friend of hers and all. Admittedly presently she did not like any faction here, but nonetheless it was valid.

Then she felt a prickling in the Force, a jolt of a sensation shooting through her, as suddenly something began bursting through the sky. She felt an electrical jolt shooting through her earpiece as reports confirmed what she was already feeling, an entire fleet of ships was set on collision course for the planet, bursting out of the sky to unleash colossal devastation and bring ruin, aiming to unleash a burning inferno. Untold destruction, bloodshed, that Siobhan was a pretty ruthless person was now beyond discussion now, she certainly was. Though...dropping your ships upon your enemy seemed a bit...petty and wasteful.

It was then that she felt something - or rather someone - pierce into her mind. Caught by surprise by the unexpected intrusion, probably suspecting a hostile mental attack in her haste, her first instinct was to bring up her mental barriers and lash back against whoever was pulling the strings, Siobhan being properly paranoid, but then understanding seemed to come over her gradually as her gaze focused upon the shapes shooting out of the sky. Gritting her teeth, still hovering high in the air at an altitude that was giving her a better view of the battleships as they would come raining down from on high, she made a snap decision, as so often, and opened her mind. Her jaw tightened and she grit her teeth as she felt another presence enter the link. Siobhan was no mentalist...and she had only encountered her once, years ago, back when the Protectorate had been rising as a great power, before Roche...

But she was certain it was...her...

Ashin Varanin, former Sith Empress. Unlike so many other people in the Galaxy Siobhan did not know about the countless other identities she had. Moira had encountered Ashin on Csilla, but then the Empress had been disguised and going under the identity of Grand Admiral Karrde. Moreover, Moira was not the talkative sort anyway!

For just a short moment, barely perceptible, Siobhan seemed to waver in her resolve and it seemed she would slip away from the link. It would be...so easy...to refuse and just let the vessels fall. One of them was supposed to be shooting straight for the pass, where the Force told her the Empress was...

Then, her bionic eye flashing a cold crimson, she cleared her mind and embraced the link, all other thoughts leaving her. "You wanted us to cause devastation together and throw something real big?" she asked Tricia rhetorically as she felt a surge of power shooting through her. More like several surges, the sensation was so very intoxicating as she felt herself basking in the power and force energy that seemed to overwhelmn her. It was better than a spice drug rush - well, it had been a long time since she had tried one, but still. It was power, seemingly unlimited power, like she could move mountain ranges, smash a heavy cruiser out of the sky. The flood was such that she almost lost herself in it and threatened to keel over and descend out of the sky into the ground but then she controlled herself and focused her mind on the distant shapes, gathering her strength and harnessing the sheer force.

Her Force Signature was lighting up like a Life Day tree, blazing across the city and the plains as she drew all the energy into her, lapping at it.The power would build-up and then be unleashed. Siobhan was one of the best telekinetic specialists around and right now, as she basked in it, she felt like Valora, the Eldorai Goddess of Battles. Assuming direct control. Perhaps the binge was going just a bit to her head. Then she exploded. Bend to me. Well, not literally of course, for that would be quite a mess and repairing her would be difficult! But once the link had been spread to unify all the forcers that joined it, all the power building-up inside her would be unleashed, shooting through the air with the force of several tidal waves, twisting the air into strange shapes, smashing any dropship or small craft that was unlucky enough to be caught into a shockwave of primal power would simply be crushed or smashed into pieces as the flood of telekinetic power would be pushed towards the ships. Trees would be broken and shatter to the ground, with such an impact to smash craters into the ground, on the ground tanks might be thrown like ragdolls as the wave tore through. The exertion, the pain she was feeling from the wounds that had been inflicted on her, all this no longer mattered as the force energy invigorated her, overcome by a sensation of euphoria, of having the power to seize and crush anything that came her way, even the ships, for they would bend to her, and so she shot out into the sky, gravity having no purchase upon her.

If enough joined the link, if the Force was with them, it might - might - be sufficient to alter their course and send them flying into the mountain ranges. It would be devastating...beautifully so, she could not help thinking, as much as she was still capable of coherent thought at this point. For the moment hers was the power, the kingdom and the glory, the vessels shooting out of the sky should, hopefully, be hurled like insects.

 

[Nick Kahoshi]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Je'gan Olra'en"] @[member="Spencer Jacobs"]

War had come to his home world, and so the wayward son of Atrisia had returned. The darkness had come to consume it, so Nick had been ready to fight back. However as he had moved from his ship to the city of his birth, things had shifted. The so called "Lords of the Fringe" had suddenly stopped their battle, and shortly after Nick had felt a calling in the Force.

Sensing the dire circumstances, the rogue Jedi Master did something he had not done in a very long time. He opened himself to the Force, and let his connection spread to those of the meld. He had no illusions about his abilities in most aspects of the Force, creating such a mind meld would have been impossible for him. However there was one aspect he had no doubts of, that of his telekinetic ability.

Blue eye looked up to the sky, and a gloved hand followed. He let the meld guide him, so that he might protect the innocents of the city he had abandoned so very long ago.

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

No one had expected the Confedaracy to do what they did. It was more proof of the foolishness of its leader, wasting so many precious resources just to try and kill as many innocents as possible. Of course it was obvious that some were targeted directly to Akio's position, but deep inside the Palace basement as he was, he was in as safe a location as he could manage for the moment.

"All ships, target CIS vessels with tractor beams, slow them down. Concentrate on breaking them into as small of pieces as possible."

The Navy complied, opening up with every weapon they had even as their tractor beams pulled desperately at the descending ships putting tremendous strain on their hulls. Even the Rancor reached out to grab what it could. On the ground the planetary defenses did their best to lend a hand, but they were not designed for a situation like this.

Off in the distance Akio felt a... presence against his mind. Not knowing what it was, he shook off the feeling instead concentrating on the ships intent on killing his people.

 

[Kitt Solo]

All Fringe members and mind-meld members @Je'gan Olra'en

Cell shook again and her hand reached out for the door. Palm froze, mid-air. If she got out, where would she go: back to those that dropped her off in chaos only to leave her bones for the tuk'atas to chew on, to those that used her as a distraction, to those that set her up only to see her fall? Hand sank back down to her side. Luckily, an uninvited voice interrupted the POW's brooding thoughts.

Head quirked to the side as she listened, surprised she could still feel the force down her, not only at her rookie level but also within an Imperial detention facility. Perhaps all anti-force measures had been destroyed within the initial blasts with the attack on...whatever it was they were attacking. Taking a knee, she closed her eyes and joined with the meld, reaching for those magical tendrils of the force. This time, she reacted to something stronger than thought or logic, even as she wrestled with the annoyance of her having her thoughts invaded by anyone.

The feeling was like nothing she had ever felt before, her personal bubble being thoroughly ripped away. It was the weirdest thing she had ever done.

"I'll probably regret this," voice echoed in her dank-cell as it was the last outside thought she had.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

Reinforcements had been gathered and had been bound for the plains when the cease fire order came. It was quite accurate to say that Moira had been a bit annoyed by it. Peace was unnatural! Then came the CIS intervention...and apparently the Confederates had decided upon the brilliant plan of sending their own capital ships upon collision course. Needless to say Moira did not care about collateral damage and the mass slaughter of organics was pleasing, but it was rather wasteful to utilise your own capital ships for an assault like that. More to the point, it seemed like the Confederates had not had much of a plan in the first place if that was their grand move.

She found herself confirmed in the truth that organics were inferior. She sat in the cockpit of an AT-AT that was inbound for the plains as the colossal ship behemoths were coming plunging out of the heavens, their intent to smash into the capital City and onto the pass leading to the palace, causing untold destruction, quakes, the deaths of countless organics, beautiful devastation. There was no emotion upon her placcid, in her eyes perfect features, no trace of feeling as cold eyes gazed upon the field before, but seemingly staring into something else, some realm the organic eye could not perceive. She was a machine, a creation designed for destruction, with the genocidal intent to one day eradicate organic life, thus she was incapable of fear.

Direct intervention is necessary. Her eyes flashed behind the robotic photoreceptors a crimson red before they resumed their normal human colour as she completed the uplink. Being a machine Moira would naturally not be able to feel the force link that would bind and connect the powers of all the force users on the planet, centred on the titans of magical power that had been brought here by events, but she had her own. Truth be told the anti-air gun batteries were not designed for situations like this - crashing your capital ship was not a usual or particularly cost-effective tactic - but they would serve a purpose.

Assuming direct control. Being a droid - an independent one, unshackled, without a controller - she was able to process thousands of scenarios at a rapid rate, and issue instruction to each gun battery individually as the super computer that was her true nature linked itself, several anti-air gun batteries across the city being accessed by her, crews of anti-air tanks getting their targeting coordinates and firing solutions fed into their holo-feeds and targeting computers.

A hailstorm of heavy laser fire and missiles would shoot into the air. The fire might not be massively accurate, but it would deliver an immense volume of fire. Perhaps, combined with the tractor beams of the battleships and the epic force prowess, it would suffice. It was difficult to calculate. Perhaps it would be insufficient, many organics would perish and she would be destroyed. She looked indifferent as she issued instructions.

 

[Tricia Kalamack]

@Siobhan Kerrigan @Spencer Jacobs @Rexus Drath @Sargon Vynea @Jared Ovmar @[member="Nick Kahoshi"] @Je'gan Olra'en @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @All Forcers

The maelstrom from Siobhan had flung Tricia through the air, with a snarl she pushed the force to level and protect herself while the disruptor pistol flew from her hand and she pushed back steadying herself while one hand flung out. That walker looked nice as the wind continued to play with her ears and hearing. Then it died away while she held it and nothing was firing at her. "Creasefire... Ceasefire." Tricia looked at the walker and let it down as she stood there and her mind was racing. She could sense things now as she focused on her senses to expand them. Whatever was happening now she looked up into the sky and her eyes flicked across the sky. while she turned and backed to be closer to Siobhan. Whatever was coming she could feel it now as...

As she felt the serenity of what was coming and felt what was there. She could feel the commander while the woman Siobhan spoke in a joke at her side. "You wanted us to cause devastation together and throw something real big?" A laugh came from her lips to it while she looked up and that serenity slipped over her like a glove. There was plenty of things while the words came out. "I was thinking the buildings but this could be quite fun." Tricia kept the smile on her face while she reached out with the force and just let the powers wash over her. The different minds contributing to the meld and the influx of power while she moved her eyes. If there were other ones who could do what she and Siobhan could it would be useful but she spoke physically instead of into the force while the euphoria came.

"We need to go higher." The euphoria that was washing over her came from the ones entering it, like small tingles in the back of your head. That itch that needed to be scratched from spice and all those other things she had found enjoyable. After the things she had done in the empire, in the jedi and on Cularin she had needed that numbness which now as her signature in the force shone brighter, Tricia rose higher into the air almost weightless while the cape of the iron skin flapped with the clothing underneath it pulsing to match the power of it. Sending chills and shocks along the surface of her arms. Tricia could it felt like rip the ships out of the sky and send them into the mountains. That was the goal as it stood and she understand that more now.

Alright just have to fly up and grip a couple hundred million ton ship..... No problem. Tricia just looked at it while she thought to herself. With all the other minds empowering them she and Siobhan could smash more then enough and she reached out. Letting her voice resonate deep in her chest to echo into the force while she searched for them with the force. To find the ships coming nd brought her arms back preparing the force blast to set them off course towards the mountains.

 

[Rexus Drath]

You know when you are having a really weird day, well this was like that only weirder. First there was plant on fox abduction which would no doubt lead to some sort of forced plant intercourse, and that was NOT something Rexus liked to think about. Then there was the dreaded stairs to go find the crazy cannibal chick with the mando who had a strange obsession with throwing frogs at people, seriously who did that?! Then there was the whole "Well it's a cease fire guys so lets all go sit around and talk about our feelings" What was up with that? Then finally to top it all off, the glob damn CIS was going to drop a fleet on the city. The crap man? What ever happened to normality, did that all just go away during his eight hundred year nap? These questions would be answered later, for now Rex had a city to help save from the CIS.

He had to get up somewhere high, this was needed to channel the force and lock on to the incoming fleet. But to do that Rex had to face his old enemy again. The stairs! Running to the nearest staircase after getting the news Rexus had to get up to the nearest rooftop and fast. Beginning his new climb he flew up the stairs panting and moving like a madman once reaching the roof he could see all of the ships in the sky waiting to crash down. He had to join the meld. taking off his helmet he dropped it down and reached both of his hands out grasping and joining with the collective powers of the others helping to try and redirect the ships. "I HATE MY JOB!!" he screamed out in frustration pouring every ounce of himself to save these people

 

[Allyson Locke]

“Elrood”

The name took a moment to draw the memory out; she barely remembered what had happened on that forsaken planet. There was danger she knew that, hordes of mindless infected along with a ship that was going to destroy the city. Instinct was all she had that saved them and the others giving their wills of the force to her. Spencer never wanted to use that again, she never wanted to be in a situation where that skill was called for. Looking to the sky, danger once more rained upon them – but she was with good company and this time around she had Ashin close by. Je’gan’s voice echoed in her mind and Ashin warmth was against her skin drawing her close. Building a connection wasn’t difficult for the woman, what was difficult was letting herself once more enter that mind frame.

“Ashin?”

A soft smile spread across her face as she returned the embrace, she felt home again. Her mind already feeling almost every mind on the planet focused on the force users. Threads spiraled through the force and once she closed her eyes and entered the meld, it only took moments for her to pinpoint everyone who was offering their power. The network that formed spiraled and twisted till she knew the direction. Taking a deep breath, she held it for just a moment feeling everyone’s emotions – they were scared, but they trusted the man’s voice. It was like Elrood all over again, everyone trusting her knowing that this was their only chance. Instead of being a base to absorb the powers of the others, Spencer pushed out with everything she had. The Force born Master, acted as a battery to fuel every force user with anything she had to offer.

It was the one thing she could do – this entire mess was her fault. Spencer felt her body instantly become weak and her weight buckled against Ashin’s. A hand reached out and grasped the woman’s arm clutching tightly. Still, Spencer didn’t stop, she continued to act as the battery for the Force Meld.

@[member="Rexus Drath"] @Tricia @Moira Skaldi @[member="Kitt Solo"] @[member="Akio Kahoshi"] @[member="Nick Kahoshi"] @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @Je'gan Olra'en

 

[Laura Na'Varro]

Imperial Interdiction Battlegroup​

​

Forces:
6 x Isard-I Star Destroyers
10 x ISC-Hetzers
1 x Jun-class Carrier
10 x Guillotine-class Cruisers
14 x Yovshin-class Frigates

"All ships, target CIS vessels with tractor beams, slow them down. Concentrate on breaking them into as small of pieces as possible."

The Imperial command was beamed to the bridge of every Imperial ship in Atrisian space, and the reaction was swift. As part of the interdiction force sent by Grand Admiral @[member="Cyrus Tregessar"], Lt. Rodrigo Satoshi could only watch from the bridge of the Inysh as the operation took shape. The battlegroup as one surged forward, all precaution abandoned as they attempted to break up the five Lucrehulks before they crashed into the city below. On the decks of the ships, all hands had no idea about the Force meld below them. In their minds, the safety of Imperial citizens rested on them. And so they surged forward relentlessly. The six Isards settled into a high orbit, their topside angled towards the Lucrehulks, and locked onto them with ten tractor beams each. Meanwhile the bulk of their batteries fired relentlessly at the Lucrehulks shields, looking to break the carriers apart before they reached the city's shields. The Hetzer's darted closer, releasing a cloud of Qiangs, Katars and Naginatas that quickly closed the gap and began harassing the larger ships while the Hetzers fired their missiles. The Guillotines and Yovshin's were basically useless in the situation, locking on with their meager tracking beams from orbit and hoping they could slow the falling craft down enough for the Isards to take them apart in time.

All in all, the situation looked grim to Satoshi. But little did he know that the Force meld was working below. The heavy fire of the Isards and Hetzers was beginning to take its toll on the Lucrehulk carriers. He hoped it would be enough.

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Ashin had often pondered whether any useful unit or means of measurement could be applied to Force energy exerted. At this point, at a guess, their power was over nine thousand...what? Millispencers?

It was a non sequitur of a thought, apropos of nothing, and quickly lost in the effort of transforming her immense frustrations into a cold hard directed rage. The Force meld, expertly modulated by Spencer and Je'gan, carried little in the way of personalities or information. Emotions, certainly. She could sense the determined indignation of the Atrisians, the hard calm of the Jedi, and the focused anger of her own people. A Force meld of different alignments on this scale had only, to her knowledge, happened twice before, and only in recent history.

The starships began to hit. Slowed by tractor beams and redirected by the immense power of the assembled superhumans, five Lucrehulks and their support ships slammed into the mountains around the Imperial Palace.

@EVERYONE

Words could not describe the size of the impact which Genesis Rostu had perpetrated, effectively an orbital strike on both sides' leaders and the forces in Jar'Kai. There would come a reckoning. For now, all efforts and attention could only focus on surviving the earthquake. This wasn't a 'fall on your knees' kind of earthquake, this was a 'buildings fall and people get ragdolled' kind of earthquake. Assembled armies fell into chaos as a miles-wide plume of debris and smoke rose from the wrecked ships in the mountains.

Jar'Kai, the Imperial Palace, and the forces and leaders of both sides had been saved through collective action.

Je'gan had fallen and more than once; his stormtroopers, too. Ashin still stood, rooted to the ground via the Force, her ears bleeding from the overpressure of what had effectively been an asteroid impact. The pass looked different and not in a good way.

One of the stormtroopers was dead. She took his comlink with a gesture, a powerful military unit, and set it to broadcast.

"This is Grand Admiral Shira Karrde, Ashin Cardé Varanin." This seemed the right moment to blow her poorly kept cover wide open. It was an open secret among Fringe leaders, and at a guess it had gone beyond that. "Pursuant to Lady Sanctuary's ceasefire order, all Fringe Confederation forces are to continue to hold station without engaging Galactic Empire forces. After a cowardly and indiscriminate attack on both sides, a state of war now exists between the Fringe and the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Engage CIS forces at your discretion. I request His Majesty @[member="Akio Kahoshi"] to contact me on this frequency or meet me at the top of the pass to discuss terms."

 

[Matreya]

Blood. Shado tasted blood. That was all he was aware of for a moment, but slowly the ringing began to subside. His eyes cleared, he spit a wad of saliva mixed blood a few yards off and wiped his face. A small trickle of blood fell from both ears, but he was still held firmly intact. He was far enough from the palace that his Telekinetic bubble had protected him from debris, but the pressure from such destruction nearly threw him. A clear trail of his feet sliding several meters was evident, and he had a severe migraine to back the point as well.

But his objective was still clear. Get to the palace - what was left anyway - and subdue @[member="Akio Kahoshi"]. Gathering energy for a moment, Shado leapt high into the air. Flying hard and fast, he covered far more distance. Flight, one of his favorite abilities, also one of his least used. He had learned it while watching a TK master a few years back, hadn't yet had the chance to master it and thus had to land multiple times before returning to the air. The effect seemed more like hundreds of yards long jumps.

He would reach the headquarters to the Galactic Empire soon enough...

 

[Ashin Varanin]

@[member="Faenrovon The Radiant"], there is a flying man heading for the palace. I can't get there in time. Intercept him and stop him from breaking the ceasefire.

 

[Mirien Valdier]

Oh, the things that happen when a woman is scorned. One would expect that males in general would have learned by this point. You don't break promises, and least of all lie to her because said woman will find out, and then next thing you know, your head is suddenly rolling across the floor as you ponder those stupid actions. Men. Never smart when it comes to women. It's always as simple as telling the woman, hey sorry, I can't do this or that but it just seems too damn hard for some. Or why the truth is hard to speak, sure, it may hurt but at least you were honest. And Mirien, had been lied to, broken promises and empty words, together enough to send her over the edge, but she was not on the field of battle and never would be. Her duty was elsewhere.


Mirien, most had never seen angry lest they were with her in the tunnels of Csilla. And few would ever see her in that manner as few idiots stupid enough to make her mad ever lived to tell the tale. While on the outside she seemed nothing more than the usual ice queen she always was, she radiated anger to any around her in waves seething in rage, feeding on it, drawing upon all death that day.

She could sense Ashin, and that one had broken a promise, among others. But Ashin was a mere side story. Not someone she wanted dead, not when Ashin knew of her past. Was one of the few that actually knew parts of it that the Empire hadn't managed to change, erase and hide. However once she had that past, things would change.

In Mirien's eyes this day the Fringe, were fools, utter and complete, but at least they could possibly on occasion, see reason. Saw who was the true enemy. The Empire, had only helped people and been Allies to the Fringe... A sad day when that could no longer be seen, or those were too blind to see it, seeking a grab for power.


The CIS people who were there with their armies, even more foolish. Treaties once held, promises of alliances that never came, nothing but empty words, and shattered promises. This a deed Mirien did not take kindly to. This was treason. And those who crossed her would pay, with their very lives, their blood the cost of the actions of a foolish and naive leader. CIS's acts of war would not be forgotten and with that came a plan, a women she'd been warned of by the Emperor, and even held her guard over the talented being more than once. A well guarded secret on the planet.


These were wounds would never mend between the two nations, not if she saw to it. Promises, alliances, you did not break with utterly no reason whatsoever. Unforgivable. The Fringe would be alone now, surround by no one who held love for them. With impending war from the warmongering Republic, it was a bad time to make more enemies.

Ah, but things unseen. That would become clear in the future and no one would be there to take a stand with them. All alone in the night. Would they then cry for help? Whimper when all was lost? Very rarely did Mirien see the future, but a mere glimpse had told her war was coming to the Fringe, and they would have to stand alone. Unless something in the meantime changed such a future.


The Citadel far from what was happening now, perfectly hidden in the mountains and undamaged as it would remain. As one could only see it if they knew its exact location. And few did. But this not were Mirien was, hidden masked in shadows, she stood with the Emperor, the final guard should someone kill his guards in a time like this.


Only to save her planet, and many lives, did she touch the meld, angry with the people who brought this all to her doorstep. Fortunately, she the type to bide her time and wait, this wasn't going to ever be forgotten. Pushing herself completely into it she too helped to force the ships and debris falling away from vital areas.

With the rumbling of the earthquake, knowing it was coming, only pulled from the meld then, to ensure no falling debris would harm the Emperor.

She sneered at the mention of Ashin. That something she'd deal with in private another time. Here and now was not the time for more bloodshed. But it would be dealt with another time, another place.


"Seems you are wanted. Though I do not trust them further than I can throw them. Many promises broken, friendship shattered. I suggest, ensure Ashin alone and I join you, beyond that I would not trust them at all. Try to crush a planet, our home, with people that have done the Fringe no harm no wrong. If they are so warmongering, none of them can be trusted."

Then a sigh, sensing the flying supposed master coming to the palace. It would be his blood on the floor if he dreamed to touch the Emperor. "And more trouble is coming dear friend. Some other force user."

"A fool." She paused with a smirk on her lips, "Soon to be a dead fool." Her blade already withdrawn from it's hidden place in her uniform, One of IIB directorate Chief, Rebecca Novar. Not only was there her to contend with, but the Emperor's guards and they were not stupid when it came to fighting, not when the Emperor's life was at stake.

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"], @[member="Shado"]

 

[Antera]

Skies Above the Jar'Kai Plains​

Objective: ... What the hell is going on?​

The Fringe fighters drew first blood in their diving attack into the Imperial attack wing. It was well known doctrine of atmospheric combat that altitude conferred advantage, but with the threat of the flak cannons wiping out the entire force, taking the initial bloody nose was the only real recourse left. The TIE Qiangs made up much of the upper level screen, and took the brunt of the attack and casualties. As the Fringe fighters broke away from their initial approach vectors, however, the Naginatas rose in pursuit, scoring a few kills of their own before the two opposing forces melded into a single mass furball of fighters chasing fighters.

Somarae was removed from most of this chaos, throttle hot and maneuvering thrusters flaring to life again and again to dodge wayward fire as Oren did his best to keep up with his targeting around his pilot's supernatural reflexes. Somarae attempted to call warnings, but the man found himself only just able to react, his aim even thrown off a few times by her sudden changes in course. For a few minutes this pattern continued as the battle raged above and below, individual pieces of Fringe armor on the ground picked out from their surroundings by the Hell Hawk's cannons and the counter attacks woefully unable to pin down the flight's lead craft.

The wingmen were another story, the speeder trailing on Somarae's left suddenly erupting into a fireball as a missile found home in its flank, the interceptor responsible looping around for another pass.

A tone chimed in the cockpit, someone was attempting to acquire a lock. The tone turned into an alarm as the Fringe pilot fired again.

"Incoming! Dropping flare," Somarae was already reaching for the controls even before she spoke, dumping a flare behind her craft before getting jerked hard against her restraints, thrown to the side as her craft suddenly accelerated laterally. The missile whipped by after the flare a few moments later, missing by meters. The interceptor wasn't terribly far behind either, buzzing past before banking hard to make another run at them.

Then just as suddenly, it broke away. Soma blinked, looking upwards. It wasn't just the one pilot, the Fringe craft were pulling back in an organized withdrawl.

What in the... Her eyes strained against the sunlight above, looking past the silhouettes of the fighters still engaged, higher up in the atmosphere she recognized the all too distinctive silhouettes of the Lucrehulks.

"The CIS? What in the world..."

The voice of the Emperor himself came over the commlink, "All Imperial forces, cease fire against the Fringe. Concentrate all attacks on the Confederacy forces. Be prepared for the Fringe to reengage at anytime, and use this opportunity to wipe out this new enemy."

"What in the hell is the Confederacy doing all the way out here?"

"I couldn't even try to guess, Oren. Worry about it later."

The gunships moved to respond to requests for aid against the onslaught of droids, tagging targets left and right. Unfortunately it wasn't long before the true intention of the Lucrehulks' approach made itself clear.

People of the Fringe. You came here for victory, for gain, not annihilation, not to have your purposes and outcomes ripped away by so-called allies who act against all. People of the Empire. Your attackers have been deceived, but this new assault threatens us all. Join us.

Who... she stopped herself there. Answers would come in time, right now, there was something far more pressing, far more dangerous... She could feel it in the Force, feel the power being drawn together, the melding of focus, all directed at a singular purpose...

Atrisia. Will. Not. Fall.

Her focus on the controls grew faint, hand pulling the stick back to climb and gain altitude, once again to Oren's surprise. The ships were falling so rapidly, what could one person even do, how much could an army of Jedi do against such an act, nevermind the scattered souls across the scarred battlefield here.

Atrisia. Will. Not. Fall.

Her expression tight lipped, she let instinct guide her. No doubts. No fears. Only duty. Her powers, however fledgling, joined the chorus of energies pushing against the ships.

They would not be stopped. They could not be stopped. But all together, they could be moved.

The ships impacted, dust and debris clouds kilometers wide were thrown into the air, and the concussive force threw the speeder through the air like a toy.

@[member="Ashin Varanin"], @[member="Spencer Jacobs"], @[member="Rexus Drath"], @[member="Mirien Valdier"], @[member="Tricia"], @[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"], @[member="Akio Kahoshi"], @[member="Genesis Rostu"]

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

When the moment came, Akio braced himself for the impact. The Palace shook violently and Akio was thrown violently from his seat, but the armor he wore protected him from getting hurt. The Palace itself had stoof four thousands of years, and aside from a single collapsed tower the complex's structure held. Picking himself up from the ground, he looked to see his Imperial Guard doing the same. The air was filled with dust from the shaking and stone grinding upon stone, but otherwise things seemed safe enough.

The transmission came through, and Akio only had one thing he could respond with. "I shall meet you in the pass to discuss terms," he responded using the same com frequency.

Switching his com unit he turned to face his Grand Inquisitor. "It is not a matter of trust, but rather necessity. After that idiotic move by the Grand Marshall, it behooves us to make peace. Doing so while hiding not only makes me look weak, but it would dishonor me. That would be even worse than a defeat for our country." When she mentioned the other Force user coming, his large horned helmet bobbed forward in a nod. "If they dare challenge us, I doubt they will survive the encounter. Now come, let us meet our would be invaders."

Leading the party, the twenty-seven individuals made their way through the secret passages of the Palace, all designed to be better protected than the main passages, and made it to the front. They had seen a few places where halls had collapsed, and members of the Emperor's Own were already digging through the rubble. Stepping through the sunlight, Akio surveyed the grounds outside the gate.

@[member="Mirien Valdier"] @[member="Ashin Varanin"] @Shado @Spencer Jacobs