Invasion Traitors Gate | NIO invasion of TSE held Vjun, Yavin and Vaal

[Willan Tal]

LORD_PROTECTOR
GALIDRAANI FREE STATE
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
Tags:// Irveric Tavlar DECEASED Erskine Barran Hâwmâr Lurais if i miss a tag i do apologise, open for opposition or warposting per usual.

Once more unto the breach as the age-old Galidraani saying went, and so his boys went once more into battle. Many of his men and women would die this day, but their sacrifices would prove instrumental to the cause as it had proven time and time again on each successive campaign and battleground that the Galidraani banner bore witness upon. One had to admire the boundless spirit and determination the free state troops possessed in abundance, willing to go into the deepest darkest bowels of hell and endure such brutal conditions to get closer to home. An increasingly rare spirit in a galaxy dominated by superficial causes and corporation influence. Where the Sith possessed numbers and resources, he and his boys had the guts and determination to succeed. That's what made Tals cause iron-bound and unshakable.


Even as he watched the ensuring operation at the Imperators flank, he could not help but ponder what the history books would make of his drive to Galidraan. Would one be condemned to be viewed in a villainous light, a populist who was willing to send tens of thousands of Galidraani to their deaths and leave hundreds of thousands more maimed and disabled, all in the name of the great war against the Sith. Or would the books view him in a more flattering light and acknowledge that Tal, however flawed, was ultimately a patriot who gave it all to save his planets honour and the legacy of the Galidraani Imperial culture. Such questions bore deep holes into Willan's mind and bared witness to many a sleepless night spent reviewing battle plans and pondering over the human cost of his total ideological war. Hopefully, future generations would come to learn and understand that his sacrifices and the sacrifices of countless Galidraani lives would not ultimately be in vain. A necessary painful evil to accomplish good and secure his peoples legacy.


"So it seems we have chanced upon a determined foe once more Imperator, what shall I tell my commanders to do with any and all prisoners?"​

​

 

[DECEASED Erskine Barran]

III
GALIDRAANI FREE-STATE
BLUE-HEART BRIGADE

Operation: CENTURION
VJUN, 865 ABY

Objective 1: PRIMO VICTORIA

Commonwealth Forces: Willan Tal Enedina Tal Tyrell Lockhart

Allies (NIO): Irveric Tavlar Silas Sunfyre Jerec Yularen
Hâwmâr Lurais Henry Lucan

Allies (NJO/GA/FO/SJC/): Viers Connory

Allies (RGO/OTHER): Augustus Tassar

Enemies (TSE/CIS): Darth Strosius Ingrid L'lerim Adrian L'lerim-Vandiir
Laertia Io Ulrich Cameron Crownwraithe

BARRAN'S LOADOUT

Primary: Custom Blaster-Pistol (Right-hip Holster - left-or-right hand draw)
Secondary: Basket-Hilted Vibrosword Claymore (Left-hip Sheathe - right hand wielding)
Last Ditch/Second-Blade: Fairbairn Vibroknife (Right-hip Sheathe - right-or-left hand wielding)
Pocket-Weapon: Berach's Brass Knuckles (Right-pocket - right-hand wielding)

Blue-Heart Brigade (Mechanized-Infantry)
220 Cataphract Tanks
32 AFVs
6 ACVs
1 Battalion of Riflemen
1 Company of Combat-Engineers
1 Company of Elite Combat-Medics

BEACHHEADS AND METALLIC MEAT-GRINDERS V - CORROSIVE HELL

​

All the allied elements had clicked into place, though the Anaxsi had veer off eastward to find another avenue of attack to open up for NIO forces on the ground, a deft move that none in the Blue-Heart contingent had anticipated, though one they all appreciated nonetheless. Wishing to be left alone to their own devices so they could carve out their own path to Castle Bast, the 2nd Brigade were all too happy to see their rivals in Tarkinism accepting the truce indirectly; no shots were fired in their direction from behind, and no such petty-natured shunts were reported on their way past the Stormchaser's second offensive-line either, so it seemed that Haskler's lot were all too content to briefly set everything aside for the real threats blocking their path to the Sith's well-defended coastal fortress. For all their perceived faults, Barran could understand their need to resurrect ancient Anaxsi leadership, not only in a bid to contribute to the war effort, but to reclaim a planetary identity that was still, on both counts, lying just out of their reach.

The other mechanized elements from the NIO on Spearhead: VEERS would set up on both sides of the Blue-Hearts' line at the tight flank, offering a nice chunk of ordnance to bolster the forward push of Erskine's easternmost Cataphracts; a simple, yet soon-to-be proven efficient method that the Brigadier-General hoped would speed the irritating, laborious process up a little. The Sith Empire's attempt to play a defensive role in the battle, though well-placed, was lacklustre in spirit; nothing in comparison to the menace who the Woads' fallen comrades faced off against on both Ilum and Csilla, both experiences almost completely differing from each other in all but the snowy backdrops they fought over. The Sith weren't exactly throwing their best assets at the 2nd Brigade either, focusing most of their more-recent deployments on the Imperator's beachhead as the Sith-troopers already garrisoning the province either died, fled their stations or broke down in panic as the full weight of the mechanized spearhead-efforts impacted around them with deafening, fiery abandon.

<'Brand to Blue-Heart Alpha! That's the lads from the Rim-Guard Order moving into position now, Milord. They're taking up on our left flank in their entirety, looks like they 'ave the numbers to make our formation into something more - er - oblique, shall we say?">

'Barran to AFV One! Looks like a bigger,"Ziost-Antiquity" setup fae where ah'm sittin', Brand. However, if we'd gone forward without the others on the right flank, you'd be spot on the money.... In any case, ye might wanty encourage the left-flank t'behave like we are in oblique-order, agreed?'

<Agreed.... Further Sit-Reps impending, Milord. AFV One out!">

For as long as there was token resistance along the way, there would be nothing left of substance standing to fight the 2nd Brigade on the VEERS-front before long, nothing but the acid rain that kept all the crewmen (and officers) without the proper gear huddled within the active armoured-vehicles; as satisfying as this fact was to Barran, however, the Lord-Commander of Blue-Heart Brigade was secretly furious that his first proper resuming-action against the Sith had become the most tedious affair by the time they encountered the slow, steady 10km rise to Castle Bast's outer-defences. Utterly fuming that even the acid-rain was giving him more cause for concern than the showing they sent to keep the his tanks at bay, Erskine couldn't help but purse his lips and shake his head, angrily hoping under-breath that Castle Bast was as tough to crack as the reports suggested. Voicelessly praying for a real fight, beseeching,"Dia", in his native-tongue,"For a right-and-proper struggle for survival on Vjun already!".

BEACHHEADS AND METALLIC MEAT-GRINDERS VI - DEATH THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS

​

<"Donnelly to Guardian One! I'm starting t'get bored now.... These so-called snipers don't even know what they're doing, sir. One just had the drop on me and wasted t'ree sho'itts, t'ree - karkin' - sho'itts, man! I saw the last two muzzle flashes with me own eyes! God be praised, but what the feth is with that chite? Like, seriously?">

'Head in the game, Guardian Four! You're supposed to be running the other prong in this, mind? Now get up an' at these karkers already. As the big-man says,"Time's a-wastin'!", an' ah'm fixin' oan gettin' this muckel protective-gear aff ma uniform at the first possible opportunity. Guardian One out!'

From their original perch, Guardian Battalion's Bravo and Delta Companies would be tasked with branching out in a unified, two-pronged mop-up of whatever sneaky Sith-affiliated units had survived Barran's hard-hitting sweep of the enemy redoubts, trenchlines and bunkers; and whilst the wholesale slaughter of wily survivors and sly sharpshooters was being carried out, Alpha Coy. would be moving forward at pace to keep Barran's ACV well-covered on their fighting advance to Castle Bast, and Charlie Coy. would operate as Baird's forward-observers as the whole action progressed. If all was to go as well as they hoped, the best shots from among the Commonwealth guardsmen would take up vantage-points all along the outer perimeter of the fortress as the tanks drove in to punch holes in it; everything counted on the momentum gained by all involved, though the urgency in their fight for the survival of the beachhead was still somewhat taking it's time to exert caution on some of Baird's subordinates in particular.

<"Barran to Guardian One! We're almost there now, lad. Ah can see the ramparts an' such fae here - quite the sight ti behold, so she is.... Shame we have t'wreck the place, eh?">

'Plenty castles where we're gawn, Milord. Palaces, even! That monstrosity up ahead is nothing but a vile, lifeless husk of what a real castle should be.... Soon, Milord. Everyone can feel it, home's closer now than it's even been. Guardian One out!'

 

[Laertia Io]

The Sons of Darth Xiphos were an unholy terror as she led the push against Spearhead Veers and the second brigade of DECEASED Erskine Barran . The artillery fire from the Blue Hearts was a direct hit on certain squads, but it was testament to their design that the squads got hit, while individually heavily damaged, most were not damaged beyond repair, their Laminanium Plating sealing gashes and holes as they fired relentlessly.

Xiphos herself, her power growing, amplifying in the Shadow of Vader's Castle, called on the great icy power that dwelled within, and summoned a fiery, Cryonic tornado of blue flames that she sent forward into a cataphract and squads of Stormtroopers, her Viridian blade swatting aside blaster bolts as she directed the tornado to freeze alive people, even as they also burned. The Black Knight was absolutely cutting loose, no restraint or mercy being shown to the scum that used "Justice" as a mask for their Ultra-Nationalist ambition. At least the Sith were honest about what they killed for.

The Model 2's stationed near the ramparts, began directing fire from the arm mounted, cryo modified Z6 Cannons at the Cataphracts, 007 different squads of Model 2's directing seemingly endless suppressing fire from their laser cannons at the positions of Bravo and Delta Company, some squads trying to get closer to them while the rainstorm of laser fire was hammering anything it could hit, unleashing their deadly shoulder mounted charrics at personnel, ripping open a squad of defending Stormtroopers.

Other Model 2's unleashed deadly, chest mounted sonic cannons while rocket and artillery fire began to be directed by the Model 2's on the second brigade, trying to stymie their advance to Bast Castle and let the acid rain do a little more damage, some Model 2's firing rockets at the ground ahead of a cataphract's advance.

Xiphos kept killing ruthlessly, letting her double blade flow around her body as she got close to a Cataphract, teleporting a rocket it fired into a crowd of its own friendlies, brutally beheading an imperial Knight that tried to engage her almost as an afterthought than deliberation as she did: He lasted 14 blows in their brief duel, attacking with a focused, ruthless strategem, only to be beheaded as she feinted and tricked him into a lunge.

Nearby Model 2 armed with Model 1 Disruptors began to shower the attacking vehicle in withering fire but it's shields barely held. It wasn't until Xiphos directed cryo flames into it's barrel that there were results, and it exploded in cryo flames, it's shell and it's occupants freezing horrifically.

Saturation fire began to hit Model 2's, utterly destroying some of them, forcing them to be more cautious, stay behind cover they could find, though some squads advanced regardless, their armor getting pinged by slugs and ion bolts, but causing only mild targeting glitches as they launched smoke grenades and ion grenades of their own at enemy lines to try and cover their advance on Barran's units, laser fire from their cannons lancing through the air towards more NIO vehicles, as well as thermal imploder and forty millimeter grenades launched from special rifles by squads marching in Columns.

The Model 2's were starting to gain the enemy's notice. Bigger, Bulkier, not as quick on the uptake as the Model 1's, but stronger, and far more simply built and with much more obvious hard hitting weaponry. The hilariously dark quips upon killing remained though...

Meanwhile...

Objective: 2

Following: Isacc (Model 1 Nuetralizer)

The Arena (Brain Demon Cult)

Model 1's equipment: Laser Cannon Model 1

Model 1 Disruptors

Sawn off pump action shotgun

Sith Tremor Sword (Level 3 Vibration Cell)

Det charges

Sonic Mines

Grenade Bouquets

Blaster Traps.


The Model 1's that filed into the tunnels were all survivors of Sarka, and their experience had been extracted and disseminated to the other models going forward.

At Sarka, it had been near impossible odds, defending the tunnel network against such a relentless foe as the Bryn'adul. That they had held out as long as they did was testament to their adaptable nature and intelligence.

If there was one thing Model 1's were getting better at without question it was tunnel warfare.

"Y'know, Sherbet..." Isacc the Model 1 Nuetralizer said wistfully to his girlfriend, a witch from the Cult of The Brain Demon known as The Arena, who looked like a curvy, orange skinned Twi'lek in a white catsuit as they traversed a tunnel network, laying traps and curse wards. Others had pressed forward, trying to give the tunnel teams attacking Bast an early challenge.

"What's that, Dreamboat?" The Arena purred, cursing a support pillar to exude Force Horror like effects if anyone not allied with the Sith touched it.

"This reminds me of how we first met at Ziost, exploiting that natural gas chamber to set fire to half of New Adasta, and the invading troops with it." Isacc reminded her, processors humming with affection for his unholy spouse.

"What a day that was, becoming Triple-Double-Plus-Ultra War Criminals." The Arena giggled. "You were so cute, defending me that day..."

Kabuto, a Model 1 known for his eccentric habit of wearing an Atrisian Kabuto helm, armed with a Vibro-Katana and a Nightsister Energy Bow, expressed his disbelief to Isacc.

"Anata ga kanojo ni hika rete iru nante shinjirarenai." Kabuto remarked in confused disgust.

"You'll understand when you find that special someone who wants to cut off their limbs with you." Isacc said defensively to Kabuto as the Model ones set up a grenade bouquet trap.

"Watashi wa tashika ni saiko o erabimasen." Kabuto replied, hiding a Det charge.

"Kabuto, we're all psychos. That's how Mom built us. Or are you gonna tell us you're the picture of sanity cosplaying as a Yovshin Swordsman?" Isacc reminded him.

"Haha wa kore o kiniiranaideshou." Kabuto added, helping a Witch draw curse runes that vanished as they were applied.

"Mother's practically on the verge of going to The Amalgam's fething picnics, she won't mind me dating the Arena as much as you think." Isacc shot back.

Kabuto simulated a sigh.

"Chimei-tekina josei no yōna mono wa nai to omoimasu."

"Damn right." Isacc agreed, cocking a shotgun.

"Now let's cut off their limbs!"

"Boss!" Maguire The Nuetralizer called out. "Sensors are picking up enemy movement!"

"It's going to start. Team one, start taking potshots but retreat if they fire back, don't give them a chance to hit you if it can possibly be helped."

"Yes. Lure them to us. And start cutting off access points ahead of them." The Arena ordered.

Detonations collapsing certain paths ahead of Seydou of Thyrsus and Bright2 would sound throughout the network, and a Model 1 would occasionally poke from cover to shoot, only to retreat from the withering fire directed at it,moving backward, trying to lure the enemy into gun emplacements

 

[Irveric Tavlar]

I M P E R A T O R
NEW IMPERIAL ORDER
501st STORMTROOPER LEGION
1st BRIGADE 'READY-FIRST' COMBAT TEAM
PRIMO VICTORIA | BEACHHEAD MADINE
Armor | Rifle | Pistol | Void | Melee | Grenades

INVINCIBLE
LAWS OF COMBAT II | KEEP IT SIMPLE​

Hit the beach. That was all these next precious minutes required. Irveric's boots hit the ground with a stomp into the wet, packed ground beneath. Acid rain beat down over all the invading forces. It made everything just that much worse. There was little bare skin collectively between the New Imperials but even still, the caustic mixture could wreak havoc on mechanical and electronic systems, causing interference with communications. It made clear and concise instruction between the different units a difficult task.

But in the 501st, this wasn't any factor. For hours, days, weeks prior to any engagement, the plan was established up and down the ranks. But when the commanders presented it to their lower enlisted, there was no time wasted in getting in the gritty details of each facet of the operation. Only the how, when and why. Each trooper had to truly believe the mission.

Fighting the Sith Empire meant compelling the 501st to do its duty was an easy task, but these troopers were thinkers and the opposed amphibious and air based assault they were in the think of now certainly stood to challenge their great sensabilities.

But they would continue forward. Only forward, as the Lord Executor often iterated. As much as it was interpreted as a dull, lacklustershe motivated command, what it truly translated to was to persevere. Battles had to be won within first before blasters ever exchanged fire. Troopers advanced forward with squad shields and danced between covered positions to gain ground, but to force the initiative in their favor, they needed troops in the fortifications proper.

And as was an important tenet to New Imperial doctrine, to sever the head. The Sith Imperial armed forces, from Tavlar's own experience was an incredibly top heavy beast, with commands coming from the top down with little decentralization, at least, in Irveric's own point of view. He'd been almost a decade removed from that force but often found that the Sith thought battles were best left in their hands, not the commissioned or non-commissioned leaders that had seen experience on the field, peers with other troopers. A contrary philosophy to how Tavlar led. There would be accountability and ownership through his ranks, not only from himself but through all the troopers who all served as leaders from platoons, to squads, to individuals. The strength of the wolf was the pack...and the strength of the pack was the wolf. The motto of an adjacent unit, the 107th Marine Raider Battalion of the GADF, but an ever enduring and an ever true motto for any competent military unit.

The 501st would make good on that today. Rappel lines and jump troopers set them out on a foolhardy charge up to the first line of fortifications and of course, as he always was, Irveric Tavlar was one of the first through the breach, to lead from the front.

With his rifle in hands, in spite of his position, Galactic leader...it was difficult to imagine it any other way.

ALLIES | NIO | Willan Tal | DECEASED Erskine Barran | Silas Sunfyre | Jerec Yularen | Henry Lucan |
ENEMIES | TSE | Shuklaar Kyrdol [INTENT TO ENGAGE] | Darth Strosius | Laertia Io | Cameron Crownwraithe

 

[Cameron Crownwraithe]

Location: Beachhead -> Inland - Vjun
Allies: TSE ( Darth Strosius ) │ EE │ CIS ( Laertia Io )
Enemies: NIO ( Irveric Tavlar Hâwmâr Lurais Willan Tal DECEASED Erskine Barran ) │ RGO (Augustus Tassar)

Cameron didn’t stray from her mother’s side as the Black Knight led her inland, along with the large army of Nuetralizers. Now, the speedster was beginning to understand why her mother had the reputation that she did. It was one thing to see it in the streams and the helmet-cam footage, it was quite another to witness it in-person, to hear the screams of the men and women she killed with such ruthless efficiency. Cameron might have felt sorry for them, but none were innocents caught in a crossfire. Each was an armed and drilled soldier, willing cogs in the New Imperial war machine. They deserved no mercy, just as they would give their enemies none.

Extracting her attention away from her mother’s cryokinetic tornado, Cameron continued her tear across the field, now relying on her personal energy shield for protection against the acidic elements, where her bodysuit would likely fail. The Galidraani armor columns were imposing not only for the vast amounts of firepower they could bring to bear, but also in acting as devastating engines of lightning-fast shock warfare. Under the command of Erskine Barran, they had proven supremely effective across the recent battlefields of the war. However, owing to her affinity in Speed, Cameron was in a position to throw their doctrines back at them.

The Cataphract tanks were thick, Impervium-clad beasts of war, but they were not invulnerable. Straying briefly away from her mother’s vicinity, Cameron closed in on a Cataphract in a barely-perceptible flash of movement, her lightsabers hissing as she ripped through the surrounding fireteam of Stormtroopers, cutting them down with precise strikes before they could fully react to her presence. Then, taking advantage of her Speed, Cameron initiated a slide along the ground, carrying her form underneath the tank as her lightsabers slashed along the bottom to disable the machine’s repulsorlifts.

Now immobilized, Cameron moved to finish it off, reversing her momentum to leap on top of the tank before slashing it open and cutting through the crew inside.

Just as her mother finished off an Imperial Knight, Cameron was back at her side, sweat already pouring from her forehead, visible even outside the clear visor of her helmet. Nevertheless, Cameron pressed on, briefly exchanging words with her mother as she did.

“Do you think the Model 2s can deal with the tanks? There’s...a lot of them, Mom. I don't know if we can pull this off without a miracle.”

Spoiler: Loadout

• FAE/A-09 “Hayai” Energized Bodysuit
  • Left Gauntlet
    • Universal Gas Launcher
      • Pink Vapor
    • Vac Attack Mk-127 Disc Launcher
  • Right Gauntlet
    • Wide Beam Sonic Stunner
  • Energy Shield
    • Personal Energy Shield
  • Alchemical Talisman(s)
    • Spirit Anchor
  • Neon Overdrive Heels
  • Utility
    • Supernal Infusion
• Jasmine Lightsaber (2)
  • Pink Kyber Crystal
• Hekler'Kok SMG-01

 

[Adrian L'lerim-Vandiir]

Adrian L’lerim Terassi Vandiir
Prince of the Eternal Empire, Disciple/Acolyte, assassin, sorcerer and alchemist
Uncrowned King of the Pocket Sand, Heir of the House L’lerim, Member of the Primyn Group​

Location: Surface, Vjun
Objective I.: Primo Victoria
Equipment: Mnami Mirsûra, The Crow Cane | Deck of the Pocket Sand | Estran Attire | G1 OmniLink || Empyrean gland
Tag: Kar Bakar (planned)

[ Supreme ] ​

He could have come after one building, so he sneaked from one place to another. Not too elegant and not too beautiful, but hey! Effective! No one had noticed the young man yet. Everyone seemed perfectly busy killing each other and fighting each other; it was perfect for Adrian. As long as they don’t deal with it, it’s just good. No one will be able to tell Telis or his mother that he's not fighting today. His exam task was survival anyway.

And he has done this perfectly so far. No one could complain about it. Now he would have been happy with bodyguards, say Karza’arana, the people of the Shadow Company, or the Frost Company. But now there was nothing like it. More larger buildings followed his path. From the cover of it, he looked out to the next street area, where there was also a fight. He won’t really find a place to hide in this place.

He really should have gone out of town, just outside, if he had just been caught in an acid rain, it wouldn’t have been pleasant. He sneaked a few houses away to be behind the TSE people. Yet he did not want to sneak behind the soldiers of the NIO and the Alliance; it would have been very uncomfortable.

He waited a few seconds when no one was shooting at each other and then hurried through the ruins and wreckage, hoping no one would notice him.

 

[Darth Ahriman]

Allies: The Sith Empire ( Seela Leini & Alina Tremiru ).
Opposition: NIO ( Legate )│GA ( Loske Treicolt & Maynard Treicolt )
Starship: The Chimera - Modified S-161 "Stinger" XL.
Co-Pilot: Vee-Cee.

​

"Sir, multiple vessels on screen. Two incoming transmissions reading friendly transponder frequencies" the droid reported immediately as each new reading came up upon the console screen before it, relaying everything to the Sith Acolyte who had taken the controls of the Chimera into his own hands now that they had entered into the thick of it all.

"Let's hear it!" Valen snapped in response whilst being wrenched back into his seat as he opened up on the thrusters and sent the vessel into overdrive on a heading for the Sith-Imperial Fleet.

"Acolyte Valen. Join the bombing run as an escort and make sure those Shieldships are brought down before they get too close" the visage of Alina Tremiru appeared upon the cockpit dash in a small scale hologram. Valen had met this one before, during another similar attack against a Sith World. It seemed that Alina, much like himself, made a habit of offering herself up when the Empire needed them most.

"Copy that, prioritizing Shieldships" Valen replied curtly, signalling for the droid companion to bringing up the designated targets on screen so that he could see what it was they were being instructed to bring down.

“Chimera, this is Dancer Two. If you need an escort, Dancer squadron is on station to give it. We’ll cover you on the run-in, over” the second transmission came in, Seela Leini offering to cover the Chimera on it's heading for the enemy fleet.

"Appreciated Dancer Squadron, see if you can't keep their fighters off me. We'll be bringing down their Shieldships however possible" Valen acknowledged and informed her of his orders.

"Master Valen, scanners are indicating a number of high profile armaments attached to those ships".

"I see that Vee, prep the mines would you" Valen replied quickly while focusing on their inbound trajectory together alongside Dancer Squadron; "I'd rather not put us in front of that thing if we can help it but I want them ready just in case. Otherwise, we start with ION weapons fire on those shields. We're not alone out here, don't count us out yet".

"Understood, Sir" the droid acknowledged, though if droids ever had the sense to show signs of apprehension, Valen was sure this was one of those times.

"Dancer Squadron's watching our back, just focus on finding me a weak point in those big bastards will you" Valen instructed the droid.​

 

[Darth Strosius]

Objective: Hold the Line
Location: The beach near Castle Bast
Equipment: Lightsaber
Allies: TSE
Enemies: NIO
Tags: Irveric Tavlar / Hâwmâr Lurais / DECEASED Erskine Barran / Cameron Crownwraithe / Laertia Io / Willan Tal / Shuklaar Kyrdol
--------------------------------------

"Three squads coming up on-" Alisteri winced as the Legionnaire shouting the warning suddenly had a hole put straight through his head by a stray shot from somewhere on the beach. Evidently sticking one's head too far out of the trench or cover was not a very good idea. Go figure. Regardless he and another Legionnaire were quick to pull the body aside, the Legionnaire taking his place on the trench and firing off at the approaching enemy whilst the Acolyte dragged the body further back into the trench.

Even in this hectic battle, he had little desire to see the dead disgraced just in case their first line was broken. Normally he would've had someone to bury the body had the not already been assigned to do so, but there was no time nor free hands to do it. Everyone on the front was shooting, reloading, dragging away a body or injured comrade, or assisting one of the three aforementioned. They had no time to bury the dead now, it would have to be done once the battle was over and the planet was secure.

The rain had not slacked on the battle, and the battle had not slacked either. Even though the initial defense was solid, the relentless charge and assault from the oncoming Imperials had found cracks in the defense. By now there were a handful of breaches in the first trench line, and even some reports about a push heading straight for the castle itself. There was no order for a retreat however, nor would there likely be. The defenders sent out some of reserves to try and reclaim the breaches or at least hold back whoever had slipped through, but there was only so much they could do in between the heavier spots of fighting.

Yet there was no pause in the fighting, not a moment of rest.

Blaster bolts were still exchanged down the beach even with some of the initial line having fallen, close quarters combat breaking out in the trenches at some points near the breaches, even Alisteri had found himself having to put down the occasional one or two small squads of Stormtroopers that had managed to slip into trench near his position.

They were still holding the line, if only just.

 

[Zaavik Perl]

VJUN CRASHSITE | Darth Daiara Ingrid L'lerim​

"Hey."

Zaavik's eyes unglazed. Untranced from the acidic squall falling beyond the cover of shattered steel, he glanced down. A distinct thumping still nagged the back of his eyes. Expression shifted from daze to forced attention when meeting Aradia's accost.

"Get your head in the game, we're here for the Imperials, remember?"

"I'm here for everyone," he countered sharply. Goal alignment didn't translate into a perfect lack of contention. Out of the two of them, Zaavik had the broader contumacious horizons. He wasn't going to waste any energy hoping she'd come around to the same oppositional nonpartisan. His gaze lingered, planting a flag firmly atop his hill. If they weren't in such a dire strait, he would have counted on verbal backlash. Would have put a thousand credits on it, even.

Eyes snapped front, back to the drizzle, back to the task at hand. Arguments would have to be saved for later. It went without saying, although the urge to implore her regardless clawed at the tip of his tongue. He chomped it, squeezing the life out of it with one gentle clamp of restraint. No time for that.

"Can you handle this one?"

Whites flashed openly with a grin. It smelled as self-satisfied as chit did of itself. "I've done more with worse," he assured, suddenly more full of himself than usual. It was the truth, but that did little to make him seem any less vain.

"I'll find you when my part is done. We'll worry about getting off this rock once everything's in place." He gingerly tugged his arm out of her grasp. Stepping from beneath overhanging wreckage, he rose a hand to manifest a small dome against the acidic fall. His shape flickered, fading from visibility after a pause. Rain shifted as his personal force-umbrella floated unconcealed. "Oh. Also-" His voice called out, seemingly disembodied from his unperceivable figure.

"Don't die."

The Rogue Shadow skulked away.

Ingrid L'lerim ok we fight now

 

[Ingrid L'lerim]

Valeria Ragal / The Red Witch
Bounty Hunter, Intelligence Agent, Spy and Assassin​

Location: Surface, Vjun
Objective I.: Primo Victoria
Equipment: 2x PV-16 "Sunfury" Pulse Pistol | 2x Sigra vibroblade | 2x Striith vibrosword | Kiss of the Red Witch | Heilagr MK. I Assassin Armour | Kaldrweave Coat | The Last Gift || Empyrean gland
Writing with: Zaavik Perl

[ See me Fight ] ​

Death came from nowhere. The six mercenaries, or pirates, didn’t really challenge for the woman; for her, they were nothing more than a few amateurs. The first four died without even noticing her, noticing that someone had attacked them. The fifth could still see the woman appearing, but then his head fell to the ground. The sixth person lived the longest, he even had the opportunity to shout in a high-pitched voice before the woman cut him in two with an X-shape cut.

After the last one was on the ground, the woman squatted beside them to see who they were. After all, she shot first, i.e. cut, only then asked. As searched them, she still couldn’t find any NIO or TSE signs, just some sort of company. Didn't recognise this symbol, she was sure it wasn't the Bounty Hunter Guild's banner, but she didn't know any more right now. Then, when gets home, she will use Nite’s database to go after this clue. In the meantime, she made a recording of the symbol.

One of her sensors detected movement nearby. Immediately became motionless and then explored the area through the Force. She sensed only a total of two herbivorous animals, part of the few fauna. Nothing more, no living beings were detected, only the two animals were in the immediate vicinity. She put the two swords back in place, then ran again in the direction of the ship. Meanwhile the rain also started to fall again. Her dress protected her from this, so she didn't care.

She felt Zaavik move, so had to correct her own direction. Sprinting, which was not so easy with the sniper rifle, nor with the other weapons. She should have come with less equipment. A few minutes later, she arrived near the place where the boy was. Instinctively, she moved softly and silently, so now the Red Witch was deliberately making a noise for the young man to hear. When she got close, shouted after the Jedi knight.

"At last, I found you, Zaavik!" she shouted, but not in a voice that the man could attach to Ingrid, she had a different voice and her Force Signature was now not her own either, and wore a bounty hunter's attire… feth!

 

[DECEASED Erskine Barran]

IV
GALIDRAANI FREE-STATE
BLUE-HEART BRIGADE

Operation: CENTURION
VJUN, 865 ABY

Objective 1: PRIMO VICTORIA

Commonwealth Forces: Willan Tal Enedina Tal Tyrell Lockhart

Allies (NIO): Irveric Tavlar Silas Sunfyre
Hâwmâr Lurais Henry Lucan

Allies (NJO/GA/FO/SJC/): Viers Connory
Allies (RGO/OTHER): Augustus Tassar

Enemies (TSE/CIS): Darth Strosius Ingrid L'lerim Adrian L'lerim-Vandiir
Laertia Io Ulrich Cameron Crownwraithe

BARRAN'S LOADOUT
Primary: Custom Blaster-Pistol (Right-hip Holster - left-or-right hand draw)
Secondary: Basket-Hilted Vibrosword Claymore (Left-hip Sheathe - right hand wielding)
Last Ditch/Second-Blade: Fairbairn Vibroknife (Right-hip Sheathe - right-or-left hand wielding)
Pocket-Weapon: Berach's Brass Knuckles (Right-pocket - right-hand wielding)

Blue-Heart Brigade (Mechanized-Infantry)
219 Cataphract Tanks (-1)
32 AFVs
6 ACVs
1 Battalion of Riflemen
1 Company of Combat-Engineers
1 Company of Elite Combat-Medics

BEACHHEADS AND METALLIC MEAT-GRINDERS VII - AN UGLY WENCH OF A CASTLE

My god, where is the craftsmanship in that bloody monstrosity? Baird couldn't be more right if he tried.... Karkin' beeg, man!​

<"Baird to Blue-Heart Alpha! See whit ah mean? Looks like they just splodged it the-gither an declared it a fortress!">

'Barran to Guardian One! Aye, you're right about that wan, thick walls but!'

<"Nuhin a Brigade's worth o' shellin' canni rectify, but still.... Looks like it might take ye a while in some places, Best get some engineers up there once we clear the ground between us and that karkin' blight oan the landscape! Anyhoo, we're clear to move up an' take oor shots at the tangos who pop their heids oot. Confirmation pending, Milord. Guardian One out!">

Baird was on form, as dependable as ever, but something more that day, like every part of his presence was operating at peak efficiency, and then some; Barran would be making good use of this as the operation progressed further, as the need for frightening efficiency would make itself clear and present soon enough. As the brigade, and all their accompanying allied contingents, drew near the three-kilometer distance necessary to test their smoothbore-sniping capabilities, the Blue-Hearts would be met by a light barrage of rocket and blaster-fire from the trenchlines leading to the fortress, forcing him to act quickly, gleefully bringing his comm-device from his pocket and exclaim,'All units! This is Barran! I want you to halt where you are, then from your new positions, I want you to return fire on Castle Bast! Show no mercy, for you will receive none! Blue-Heart Alpha out!', with all the Bravado of a champion-boxer at a weigh-in for their next can-crushing.

'DIA SAOR GU WOAD-MACUSHLAAAAA!!!
Let's karkin' go, Deaney! As soon as we close in, lad... Ah'm chuckin' you an SA-35, so ah'm are!

With the first line's turrets tilted for their shelling of the fortress, (and the second-line's own tilted somewhat lower for Castle Bast's only-remaining lines of defence on the VEERS front) the ceaseless metallic pitter-patter of acid-raindrops falling on the vehicles around them would be silenced by the cacophonous symphony of high-power ordnance working in perfect competitive order. Thudding underfoot like the world was pulsating with an angry god punching out from within Vjun's core, the offbeat rhythm of death would get the proverbial show well and truly underway, lighting up the acid-tinged backdrop with fiery wrath that would steadily begin to rival the carnage on Tavlar's beachhead. It made for quite the pretty sight for Guardian Battalion as the entire setting came alive in a bright array of colours, often shocking the Captain's men as to how violent it had gotten in so little time, much the same for a few of those in the tanks and AFVs, struggling for fire-supremacy at three-kilometers away from their targets as the winds rushed the torrential acid rain across the air between them.

<"Brand to Blue-Heart Alpha! Be advised, we have Nuetralizers holding the last trenchline! How do we proceed?">

'Barran to AFV One! We keep firing - simple as that! Further plans will reveal themselves as we draw closer, understood?'

<"To comprehensive degrees, Milord. AFV One out!">

Some would stick with their armour-piercing shells, others would get more creative by reverting to Incendiaries and High-Explosive shells alike, lighting up everything that dared reveal itself resisting the onslaught, lighting up the air and the acid around each impact as the armour-piercing efforts sent dusty shockwaves careening across the ugly topography in front of them. Whether they were hitting their targets or not was irrelevant, as the combined efforts of both opposing elements were unwittingly clearing the ground between them, and unwittingly eliminating any cover that could be used by either side to gain an advantage over the other; it was looking set to be a slog in the dirt for supremacy, but this was more than fine by the Free-State elements on Spearhead: VEERS, as armour, propelled by large engines always equated to an advantage in momentum over infantry-heavy opposition.

BEACHHEADS AND METALLIC MEAT-GRINDERS VIII - BAD WEATHER FOR AULD KILTS​

Scanning the ground ahead from a number of forward-operating snipers' nests beyond the left flank, Baird's units had a clear line-of-sight on the Sith's last lines of inland defence against the Brigadier-General's mass of armoured-vehicles, and the devastation they would lay witness to was seemingly nothing short of cataclysmic in scale. Despite this, there was still plenty for Guardian Battalion to do, as was expected of the latest jump in the size, and ferocity of these battles with the Sith Empire of late, as was hoped and prayed for by the Woads and the remaining Tuaths in the brigade; the Northern-Galidraani, the Hartanians and Archaisians were always spoiling for a fight as ever, but the motivations that drove them by then had differed entirely to their comrades from Galidraan III.

<"McLaren to Guardian One! We have eyes on the Nuetralizers, though there are countless flesher Sith-Troopers actin' as active shields, an' quite effectively an'aw, sir. Bravo-Company have only gotten two clear lines-of-sight so far, so how d'we proceed?">

'Baird to Guardian Three! Easy - by getting KCs on everything ruining yer shots, ya radge! If ye need extra assistance fae the other side, get in touch wae Staff-Sergeant Donnelly. You know how this goes, lad. It's no exactly yer first op wae us, is it?'

<Fair point, sir. Guardian Three out!">

With slower deliberation than that exerted by Barran's tanks, shots began firing out from all the ruins among the north-western rises; letting loose on Sith-trooper squads, Walker-and-AFV crewmen, swoop-bike drivers and combat-engineers alike, and with such a calm, slow ease that it would be impossible for such focused effort to miss. Whether Barran's A Coy. escorts were finding as much success or calm as the others, nobody could say, as every last member of Bodyguard-Company would be much too busy rooting out assassination attempts along the way, and every unit within their ranks were sure that their comms were being hacked and having every stated movement adapted-to and strategized-against with near-fatal precision in some instances. With near-misses, monitored comm-chatter and countless distractions to contend with, Captain Baird couldn't find it in himself to envy their position, only wishing he could rack up similar kill-counts to make up for Charlie Company's inactive stance.

'COMMAND COMPANYYYYY!!!!! ON ME!!!!.... IT'S GAME-TIME, BOYS!!! KILLER-FACES ON!!!! WE'RE MOVIN' UP - CANNI BE LETTIN' bOdYgUaRd CoMpAnY HOG AW THE GLORY FOR THEMSELVES NOO, CAN WE???'

 

[Larro Paeb]

Objective: Take out some Sith
Gear: Lightsaber, Armor, Blaster Pistol, Jetpack
Tags: Adrian L'lerim-Vandiir

————————————
​

His position was becoming more and more dangerous by the second.

Right now the Imperial Knight was somewhat deep into the Sith territory. He was planning on taking a few of them out from the back side of the fight, but it only occurred to him now that he should have brought some more help.

The unactivated saber bounced off of his hip as he moved swiftly towards the enemy. In his left hand was a blaster pistol, set to kill. No need for them to wake back up.

Suddenly, he ducked back behind a nearby wall. A figure darted from behind a broken down structure, heading towards one on the other side. Peaking back out from behind the corner, his blaster pistol was aimed on the unknown person. Though his helmet his eyes traced the target.

“Gotcha.”

Pulling back on the trigger, the blaster pistol fired out a single shot towards the enemy. Hopefully it was a successful hit, or otherwise his saber might need to be brought out. And that was something he didn’t really want to do.

 

[Hyperion]

OBJECTIVE III //: SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE | SURFACE
// TARGET >> SURFACE-TO-SPACE BATTERY //
haunted

Bitter End. The city's name clearly symbolized its state. Riding in a stealth craft over it, he witnessed its repugnant decay. A city left to rot from a time before the famed Gulag Plague had struck the galaxy. Clearly standing out from the grey degradation that formed the city was his target - the surface-to-space battery; its blue-ish discharges firing every once and then into the acidic velvet that was the sky and beyond seeking to wreak havoc into Admiral Legate 's fleet.

Not for long.

The hatch of the stealth, insertion craft opened and the electrifying gaze of his artificial, red eye scanned the surrounding area of the battery. Zooming in to see the Sith unit on guard duty, Emmett Hayes' heart skipped a beat - the Sith-Imperial's Citizen Army. He felt his gut twist as he recalled his son - Quinn - who had served in SICA. The sugarcoated unit that served simply as human shields for their Sith overlords. Most, if not all, had been his son's age - young and radicalized by deception. The son Emmett had inadvertently killed with his own hands on Dantooine. Vengeance and fury blazed his soul before Abaddon sealed Hayes away and focused on the task at hand.

He lunged from the sky, the wind rushing violently at him before he landed with a crash on the rooftop of the battery. The concrete beneath his feet cracked under the strain and a cloud of dust exploded upwards from the impact. There was a flash of orange and grey leaving behind a few near-dead Sith soldiers and a streak of blood across his blade.

Little did he know that he was to relive the nightmare of Dantooine again.

Little did he know that his last remaining offspring, his daughter Eva Betrik , was among the guard detail of the battery.

ALLIES | NIO | Legate | Loske Treicolt | Maynard Treicolt
ENEMIES | TSE | Eva Betrik [ENGAGING] |

​

 

[Maynard Treicolt]

P R O T E C T O R
PROTECTOR OF CONCORD DAWN
RAIDER SQUADRON
SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE
ARMOR | LIGHTSABER | PISTOL

PHANTOM
RAIDER SQUADRON 12/12
MK. IV Fang-class Starfighters
PROTECTOR STARFIGHTER CORPS
X-Wing​

Flying in combat was only as comfortable for Maynard as the squadron around him was reliable. They weren't the Sabers, the Jedi fighter-aces handpicked by Treicolt himself to be his wingmen and women nor were they Vanguard who went up and through the same training, drills and flew the same ships he was familiar with.

The Protectors of Concord Dawn, were different but in the end, he could rely on them. He had to. He hoped what he'd done for Concord Dawn in returning order and safety while retaining proud traditions all shoulder to shoulder with his love, Loske, would be enough to cement that loyalty, that commitment to do what need be done and follow orders.

Luckily, it was the Sith they were fighting, the manifestation of the inherited drive for revenge that had burned within all the Mandalore sector and its people. They all had...meager experience at the very best, in combat situations. Maynard had certainly worked implementing a true and tested training school and regimen for the Protector pilots, inspired heavily from the training and tactics implemented in the Galactic Alliance Starfighter corps, as its focus towards smaller numbers of highly trained, versatile pilots and ships was a better fitting doctrine to the Protectors of Concord Dawn than the 'swarm' and fighter ace importance that was a mainstay of Imperial starfighter doctrine. With limited manpower or without the ability to raise swarms of droid powered starfighters, a hopeless endeavor.

Just as the battle began and Raider Squadron eased into its rhythm, they'd gotten their second ping from the Galidraani Admiral, a direct command.

"We've just lost an Inceptus. No ships have engaged the rear formation, it was Sith fethery. I felt it. I'm sure you know what I mean. Priority targets are now every ship containing an active glowstick. Sniff them out."

A boat sunk already was a grim view of the battle to come, an assault ship at that. Meant less boots on the ground and a harder fight for those hitting the beach.

The Sith Empire had force sensitive fighter aces among the ranks. Given the dire state of their ever expanding war effort, he had no doubt there would be more Sith here, in orbit, onboard starfighters. Force users embedded within starfighter squadrons meant the possibility of a significantly higher combat ability, depending on the pilot itself. Maynard and Loske or rather - Outrider and Friendly Blue showed that best in the debris fields of Dubrillion and now - it was time again.

<"Acknowledged, we'll be on 'em before long."> He replied in kind to Ravenot.

<"Alright Raiders- your eyes are useless, up to me and Ghost to snuff out these glowsticks, keep on my tail, S-foils for flight."> Maynard commanded, the characteristic 'X-wing' s-foils of his starfighter snapping close before suddenly the nose of his craft dipped down and sharply into the debris field proper below his plane of flight.

An immediate test of the Raider's maneuver effectiveness, a skill as useful or even more so than dogfighting itself. As after all, hanging in to scrap didn't matter so much if you couldn't make the journey to begin with.

He was largely ignorant of any vessels riding their tail, even as they might have been a target distinct from the signature silhouettes of TIE hordes, they'd find their prey.

His comms honed in on the Ghost herself, Loske. Speaking with her singularly.

<"He wanted glowsticks- let's look."> Maynard said before soon enough- through the ethereal tether that bound them, he reached to grasp ahold, to call on that bond they held with one another. To call on it for the first time in this manner, this level of intensity since she'd initially been reclaimed from the form of Shursia. He was almost afraid, reluctant to uncover whatever wounds or scars might've still lingered in that tether but as was his nature, he went forward now and worried about the consequences later.

With their combined presence in the Force, he shut his eyes and reached out in a wave, to pick out those who also emerged in the plane of nothingness, between worlds, those sensitive to the Force that interacted with all around and inbetween them.

One stuck out more starkly than others.

Valen Arenais . He was strongly attached to the Force in inherited genetics from his clone 'father', the famed Veiere Arenais.

And that, would be Maynard's target.

Outside of sensor range to be able to ping and lock onto from Maynard's targetting system, he set his sights on his direction, feeling out in rhymatic waves to hone in on his location. He was the hunter now.

<"And just like that...we have us our 'glowstick'."> Maynard said through grinning teeth to Loske before his comms snapped back to squadron wide.

<"Raiders, stay on me, target location marked, as soon as we're 1500 meters on, pair off and start slagging 'em. They're aimed toward our shield ships, don't give 'em an inch- OYA!"> Maynard commanded through the squadron commo with an enthusiastic reply of the last phrase in kind.

Soon enough, the s-foils of the X-Wing pried open again and they were nearing in range, setting themselves back in the chaos of battle from below.

Taking aim towards Valen's corvette, he screwed his eyes shut and took ahold of the Jedi shadow bomb loaded into the main ordinance compartment of the X-wing...and fired, willing it toward him with The Force itself.



ALLIES | NIO | CD | Loske Treicolt | Legate
ENEMIES | TSE | ENGAGING] Valen Arenais | Alina Tremiru | Seela Leini | N Nyxeris

 

[Seela Leini]

Location: Vjun Orbit
Craft: Ragnos Fighter/Interceptor - Designation: SV-2121 - Lobeha Mwadu
Call Sign: Dancer Two
Onboard Equipment: FAE/A-09 Anti-G Suit │ “Judicator” Adaptive Battle Rifle
Allies: TSE (Valen Arenais Darth Banshee Alina Tremiru ) │ EE ( N Nyxeris )
Enemies: NIO ( Legate ) │ GA ( Loske Treicolt Maynard Treicolt )

“Closing in on the shieldships! Hold form-” Dancer One’s voice was cut off as he and no doubt many others, bore witness to the sight of the two shieldships manifested a sudden and uncharacteristic burst of acceleration, resulting the gargantuan hammerhead vessel ramming through a group of bomber squadrons, rendering them as little more than stellar debris before their eyes.

“H-how? T-there’s no a way a ship that size-”

“Focus, Dancer Four! Stay close to your wingmen, Mando fighters approaching, fast! Activate jammers and accelerate to attack velocity!”

SV-2121 held her focus, chanting a prayer in ur-Kittât as she activated her interceptor’s combat systems, shunting power to weapons and shields with a few mental commands, managing the complex systems of craft by instinct. The modifications she had made to the Lobeha Mwadu made it faster and more agile than the other Ragnos interceptors in Dancer squadron. Nevertheless, in seeing the shieldships accelerate with such uncanny speed and maneuverability, she felt just as vulnerable as the others.

And yet, fear, anger, rage, and raw, fiery passion, were among the most potent sources of strength.

Although she was not gifted with sensitivity to the Force, SV-2121 still adhered to the doctrine of the Sith, as had been ingrained into her from conception. As such, the ace embraced her fear, a fresh chant on her lips as she took in the incoming squadron of Fang starfighters, the same craft she had faced over Mandalore. Taking in the leading pair of X-Wings, SV-2121 assessed the situation with keen, practiced eyes. Then, she made her first move.

Pushing the accelerator to get up to speed, the Twi’lek ace closed in on the nearest X-Wing to her position, intending to create a firing opportunity at close range. Angling her chin towards her target in a pure pursuit, SV-2121 fired a single energy torpedo at the X-Wing ( Maynard Treicolt ) from point-blank range, her nose pointed towards the craft's fuselage as she caught a brief glimpse of the torpedo leaving one of the craft's launchers.

Spoiler: Summary of Actions

• SV-2121 and Dancer Squadron activate Full-Spectrum Distortion Projectors
• SV-2121 closes in on Maynard Treicolt’s X-Wing in a pure pursuit, from roughly above and to the left of her target.
• Once in point-blank range, SV-2121 fires a single energy torpedo, aimed for the fuselage just after Maynard fires Shadow Bomb.
• Dancer Squadron moves to dogfight NPCs in the background

 

[Rika Hiro]

LADY_SILENCE_
COMPNOR
V J U N
Tags:// Darth Daiara

MUSIC

To remove a weed and prevent it from growing back and causing ruin to your garden. You must remove it root and stem every time to deny a new generation of undesirable invasive plants rising from the soil it inhabits. The same directive applied to the youth of the Sith Order who bore the title of acolyte wherever they were lightsaber trained or not, under the directive of the higher committee, the Sith order was to be exterminated from the highest echelons to the lowest roots and stems. Hundreds and well into the thousands of Sith knights, acolytes and even lords had perished in such a way. Promptly killed or disappeared when the rear units of the Imperial army came to did away with them, some preferring to dispose of them in a myriad of gruesome ways, and those deemed important were shuttled off into the supervision of COMPNOR. The HRD had seen off dozens of the Sith Order by its own hands; it did not discriminate, nor did it show such inane notions as mercy. All perished under the cold dead gaze of the ERIS HRDs sent to hunt them down.


The HRD wandered like a solitary ghost amidst the ruins, acid rain rolling down milk-white skin; if it hurt, it did not notice nor stop for shelter. It was here for something else, a red-headed acolyte who had escaped death many times and killed many servants of the Imperator. But not today, an order had been sent down to remove the problem or capture it in the field and send it back to the superiors. Whoever else present was expendable in the eyes of the directive and the HRDs superiors. Only the acolyte mattered. And Yubari would not leave without the acolyte, dead or alive it didn't matter. ​

 

[Aaran Tafo]

Lady Marrow​

The noise is probably what bothered him the most out of all this. The chaotic din of war raging around him, drowning out everything else until it became nearly impossible to think. After spending so long on the battlefield, he had grown accustomed to it. No longer relying on conscious thought, but instead entirely on instinct, allowing the Force to guide and direct him to where he needed to be. The ripples of it were doing a great deal to keep him centred on the madness of the battlefield. Allowing him to find some measure of focus amongst the chaos.

And so it was only natural that he focus on his more esoteric senses over the battlefield, something did stick out. The slow pulsing of dark energies. Very unlike the Sith surrounding him. The malevolent aura emanating outwards like the beating of a diseased heart. Slowly spreading poison throughout the body.

It was probably something he should look into. The Imperial Knights, for all their Discipline and combat prowess were ultimately a military organisation. And while he would be glad to have them at his back in a fight, as well as worry about the thought of facing them in battle, their blind devotion to mastering the Force through willpower alone as opposed to existing in harmony with it blinds them to its higher mysteries.

So with his mind made up, a path was carved through the battlefield. Golden blade arcing back and forth making his way towards the gate. Even over the roar of the battlefield, he could hear them opening. And so he felt it would only be proper were he waiting outside to receive them.

Imagine his surprise when it was a familiar presence he felt. Empty sockets hidden behind bandages staring at the Marrowborn, surrounded by Sith troopers. It seemed that Arctus Silmar had managed to make a decent enough pitch on Kushibah all those months ago. How unfortunate it was that the Force brought them together again. In some distant part of his mind he wondered if the innocent creature was even fully aware of who she had aligned herself with. Or if the new Sith Emperor had been careful in what facets of his dying empire she was exposed to.

If it were the former, he would feel significantly less remorse in what he had to do. If the creature in front of him was aware of the depravities that her allies had committed and still decided to stand by them. Then he would respect that. And allow her to face the consequences of her knowing actions. If it were the latter, then this would be an incredibly awkward situation.

"Good to see you again." He said, his voice calm, conversational, as if he had indeed only bumped into an old associate on a walk. His stance far too calm and relaxed for someone in the middle of a battlefield facing down a squad of enemy troopers.

He raised a single hand. Pointing to where he could feel the centre of the dark energies emanate from. "I hate to just spring this on you. But could you be so kind as to hand that over to me. It would make things significantly easier for everyone involved."

 

[Eva Betrik]

​

Location: Bitter End, Surface-to-Space Battery
Allies: TSE
Foes: NIO | Legate | Hyperion

As Eva watched each pulsing shot leave the defensive battery, she tried to imagine the effect it was having on the battle above. She didn't really know what NIO ships actually looked like, but given that they were little more than a seditionist rabble - or so her morale officer had told her - she pictured them looking similar to the Sith-Imperial fleet she'd witnessed on the way to Vjun. She remembered the voyage, her nose pressed against the viewport as she gazed out in wonder. Nothing on Soullex had prepared her to even imagine vehicles of this scale, starships that took ten minutes to pass as they glided into formation.

She pictured those ships, but with a different paint job, and with the NIO symbols she'd seen on Muunilist stenciled onto the side - huge emblems, a hundred times her height in diameter. Then she imaged the battery, this all-important pair of cannons she was guarding, sending blast after blast of coruscating blue and purple energy slamming into them. She knew space battles only from the holovids, so she pictured the vivid, lurid damage she'd seen on-screen: huge wounds in the sides of the ships, spilling bodies into the void as they vented atmosphere. Eva was glad she wasn't up there. She'd have been totally out of her depth.

Still, she hoped that the pounding cannons were being as effective as she imagined.

As the plasma railgun fired again, purple in the wake of blue, an odd distortion caught Eva's eye. It was like the air was... shimmering? Bending? It was gone almost before she knew it was there, making her question whether or not she'd really seen it. She'd been running for eighteen hours on little more than a cup of weak caf, and the acid rain and accompanying fume-mist made everything look strange. She was ready to dismiss it when she heard a heavy whump, the sound of something hard slamming into duracrete. That got her full attention. She looked around, tracking the source of the noise... and she soon found it.

A little plume of duracrete dust was rising from a nearby roof, one of the spots where her SICA squaddies were stationed. It was hard to make out anything through the rain and the grey cloud, but Eva could have sworn she saw a flash of vibrant orange... and she wasn't about to attribute anything else to coincidence at this point. "Battery command," she said, raising her wrist comm to her mouth, "this is Corporal Betrik. I've spotted a disturbance. It might be nothing, but I'm moving in to check it out. Recommend setting alert condition yellow." Pushing herself up from where she lay prone, she grabbed her rifle.

Slowly, one anxious step at a time, the young corporal advanced. Durasteel girders had been set up to bridge the gaps between rooftop positions, and she moved particularly carefully as she crossed; they were slick, and there was a very solid street five meters below. Behind her, the soft glow and low wail of yellow alert crept over the battery: not a warning of intruders, not yet, but a mark of concern... and a call for increased vigilance. She really hoped she hadn't called in some brain-scrambled pirate gull crashing headlong into a house. She could accept the disciplinary action, but the mockery in the mess hall would be hard to bear.

There should have been men on this roof, watching the street, but she didn't see them yet. "Rance? Kerelenko?" Eva called out, her voice an urgent whisper. Was this a prank? She did get ribbed pretty often; the guys were full of jibes for the sergeant's pet, always standing ramrod-straight at attention, with a polished rifle and a perfectly-made bunk. But she liked to think it was mutual, something they all did to each other; they'd certainly made enough fun of Kerelenko for taking twenty minutes in the 'fresher, or of Alarov for having never been kissed. When it was equal taunting, aimed by everyone at everyone, it felt more funny than offensive.

This was starting to feel less and less like a joke, though...

Steadying her breathing as best she could, Eva raised her rifle to her shoulder. She cycled her helmet's visor mode to short-range night vision, cutting through the dark and the rain but painting everything an eerie green. The plume of dust had already drifted away, and she could see the crack in the duracrete where something had touched down hard. She swallowed and gripped her gun tighter, feeling sweat gather on her gloved hands; whatever it was, it definitely hadn't been a bird. Rounding a corner, she felt her breath catch in her throat. Was that... was that a leg? It looked like someone was lying there, face down, across the roof from her.

Were they just staying prone, as ordered? "Hey," she hissed, "are you okay?"

 

[Adrian L'lerim-Vandiir]

Adrian L’lerim Terassi Vandiir
Prince of the Eternal Empire, Disciple/Acolyte, assassin, sorcerer and alchemist
Uncrowned King of the Pocket Sand, Heir of the House L’lerim, Member of the Primyn Group​

Location: Surface, Vjun
Objective I.: Primo Victoria
Equipment: Mnami Mirsûra, The Crow Cane | Deck of the Pocket Sand | Estran Attire | G1 OmniLink || Empyrean gland
Tag: Kar Bakar

[ Supreme ] ​

Adrian was doing quite well with his plan, which he wanted to do, that is, get across to the other side beyond the fighters. He wasn’t wearing a really appropriate outfit, he clearly looked like a civilian and not some sort of warrior. Especially that he wore a noble, richly tailored suit, with a tie, and expensive, elegant leather shoes. Anyone who saw this could not be surprised that he was trying to escape.

Although he very much did not fit this place with his appearance, he did not fit the acid planet or a battlefield. He didn’t hide his presence in the Force, so it could be felt even though the boy wasn’t Darksider. At least yet. He did not wear any coat of arms or an indication of which side he would represent, he just fled. He didn't wear any weapon, only the crow head-decorated cane, nothing else. And under the top of the suit, it was perfectly clear that he didn't have any firearm.

Only the Force saved him from being hit by the shot, immediately hid in the rubble and peered carefully out of here, looking for who might have attacked him. If he is unsuccessful because the other is shooting again, or does not see his opponent because the man or woman is in cover, he will use the Force to determine where they may have been. In the meantime, he also tried to find an escape route from here, but he could do one more thing.

"Hey! I'm an unarmed civilian! Would you mind not trying to shoot me?" Telis and his mother would kill him for this…

 

[Darth Banshee]

Allies: N Nyxeris Seela Leini

Enemies: Legate Maynard Treicolt Loske Treicolt

Gear: See Bio

Spoiler

Fleet:
H.M.S. Carnnia 2500/2500 Squadron Count in ships manifest
H.M.S. Fiyarro 600/600
H.M.S Saffia 600/600 2x Squadron of Eagles (24)
H.M.S. Cross 600/600 2x Squadron of Eagles (24)
H.M.S. Starfire 80/80
H.M.S. Sun Burst 80/80
H.M.S. Apiarian 80/80
H.M.S. Cylipso 80/80

Her ships were now formed up, Carnnia was in the rear and cloaked, Fiyarro was flanked by Saffia and Cross, Star fire was above Fiyarro, Sun Burst below, Apiarian and Calypso were flanking the formation. The Pipistrells hung around behind the rear of the formation with the eagles, waiting for enemy fighter formation to get closer, as they have to face her Fangs first. At the extreme range, her Artillery Ship Fiyarro took aim at the front of Legate fleet and began to bombard them. The Flanking ships would open fire once something came in range.

As they began firing, she was leading a flotilla of boarding ships, towards their flagship. They were cloaked and moving towards the Epitaph II, they moved slowly towards them, the plan would be simple, land near the bridge area and engine room, and storm them. Cut them down their leadership, and hopefully, the rest of the fleet would be in disarray. She would be heading to the bridge, as her abilities to dominate minds, could help take it over.

As her boarding craft, moved towards it destination, she began pacing up and down. She was anxious, this battle could well decide her fate, she wanted and desperate to prove her worth again, and she was risking her life again on the front lines to get her position again. Well only sort of she can always get a new host, though her clones were not available to her at the moment, she left them behind on Serenno, she wondered if Lucien Dooku has discovered her clones. Though if he had, he would be wise to leave it be as a possible bargain chip later.