Faction (TSE) Nathema Expedition

[Aspect of Resolve]

Warlords abound,
as our forces regain ground.
Even the dead must serve,
until all are purged.
Though now we have to plunder in the dark,
we shall soon snuff out every last spark.​

The world of Nathema had not escaped the Fall of the Sith. Much of the infrastructure and defenses had been exhausted, even before the scavengers, pirates, and wild remnants had come to pilfer what remained. Even still, the world had yet to be rendered useless. Riches, treasures, artifacts, information and more had all been gathered and stored on the planet for centuries. Such value could not be tossed aside so easily. Temples and tombs, ancient sanctums of the Sith still sat unexplored and unexploited.

This would change, the world would once again be bent to serve the Sith.

By order of the Dark Council, Nathema was marked as a target for looting and recovering. A small task force, one large enough to extract what was deemed necessary yet small enough to avoid suspicion, would be sent to search and gather useful artifacts and supplies. Specifically, a temple built during the days of the ancient Sith Empire under order of Emperor Vitiate which had later been partially excavated by the Empire under Emperor Palpatine, would be the main target.

Under the fist of Darth Kustos and the expedition, this temple would be made to serve again.

Iasha Rha / Saeva / UX-0626 / Aliris Tremiru / Oran Khan

 

[Darth Kustos]

Location: Outside the temple
Objective: Loot the temple
Tags: Iasha Rha / Saeva / UX-0626 / Aliris Tremiru / Oran Khan
--------------------------------------

The landing and journey thus far had gone exactly as anticipated.

The Northern hemisphere of Nathema was fairly sparse these days, and the inhabitants were none too keen to bother exploring ruins themselves. Whether they be old or new. So thankfully the expedition's landing met no resistance from anything but the atmosphere as they made entry to the planet. A handful of transports had been assembled for the task, as well as a skeleton crew to operate them alongside the few forces that would enter the temple.

Darth Kustos had been relived, if a bit disappointed, by the smooth operation. His first assignment back in service to the Sith Empire, and it was to escort and preside over the recovery of some artifacts in a dusty temple. His mechanical arm twitched at the thought, as eager for a return to combat as his lightsaber was.

But he would not complain, he was a soldier first and foremost.

He stepped out of his transport onto the dry ground, a small detachment of soldiers falling in line behind him as he approached the temple. It stood tall, marred and weathered yet defiant and still closed to any who would attempt entry. Admirable as it was, that would not do. "Open the door." The order was simple and left no room for argument, and his company offered none.

As the excavation crew set to work getting the temple open, he would turn to face the transports as the rest of the expedition began to exit themselves. Other than the run of the mill crew and soldiers, Acolytes, Apprentices, and even a few veterans had been assembled to enter the temple and locate whatever could be found.

"You are all here because you are capable. I will not bother explaining to you how dangerous this temple could be, for that would insult your intelligence. Watch yourselves and each other, this isn't a competition. This is an assignment from our highest command, I expect it carried out with dignity and haste." He spoke in clipped, short sentences. Even after so long in war, the Nikto was far more used to commanding battalions rather than individuals.

"Once those doors open, you will enter and find every object of value. Whatever is in your way must be neutralized. Mark what you can't carry, and I shall send in teams to retrieve what is too dangerous to simply take. We will be leaving this planet in exactly three hours. If you aren't back on a ship then we will not wait for you and you will be presumed dead." The door to the temple creaked and hissed as the team finally managed to unlock it.

As the ancient mechanism of the door began to pull the structure open, the Sith gave those assembled one final message. "Remember, rewards will be given after this operation is complete. If any of you are caught hoarding artifacts for yourself then I shall have you put to death. Now, go and recover what you can."

 

[Saeva]

Saeva followed in the company of Darth Kustos. He, like the rest present, had been selected for this mission. Most were unknown to him, with the exception of Iasha and Isari. That was good enough for this stage. All in all it was in Saeva's case a solid indicator that his integration process was going well and according to plan.

The young acolyte stood, as he always did when in present company, clad in full armour, covered from head to toe in various forms of duraplast and armourweave, one silver ring around his left index.

Saeva might as well have been a statue, standing at attention as Darth Kustos gave his orders along with his warning. If their eyes met he would nod an affirmative, though he did not say or do anything else to draw attention to himself. There was no need for unnecessary boasts or hollow promises. His body language told that he understood the message, and his sword arm would ensure that the expectations were met.

Once it became clear that all instructions had been passed on and the door opened, Saeva headed inside. He did not know whether he would be followed, accompanied, or go at it alone as potential pathways forked ahead. It did not matter. What mattered was that he was the first to enter. Saeva was determined to prove that no matter the obstacle he found within he would overcome it and earn his second ring.

Darth Kustos Iasha Rha Aliris Tremiru UX-0626 Oran Khan​

 

[Iasha Rha]

Iasha Rha did not stand at attention. She had put her weight on one leg and crossed her arms, a position of rest. Even so, she was paying attention and it showed. From between narrowed eyelids her irises followed the Sith Lord around. The only time they moved from him was when she threw a glance to the others, counting them, making mental bets with herself about their survival.

The odds weren't too bad.

Her eyes lingered on Isari as her eyebrows furrowed. That one looked all too familiar. She also made a mental bet that she could steal something if needed The skills her master had instilled in her gave her her the confidence, or perhaps the delusion, that she could sneak an item past if she put a mind to it. She had yet to decide whether she would or wouldn't.

As the doors were opened, she lowered one hand from her chest to her hip, touching the top of the lightsabre that dangled from her belt there. Her eyes opened wider as she stared into the gaping maw and the darkness within. She had delved into some ruins before, but they were often far more picked than this one. This, or so rumour said, had spat out quite a few researchers already.

They did not send sith acolytes to just any old dig site.

"Not a problem."

Her lips parted just barely in something between a smirk and a sneer, showing the pointed, white teeth under her red lips. She leaned her weight forward as she threw herself around and headed toward the opening doors.

Darth Kustos Saeva Aliris Tremiru UX-0626 Oran Khan​

 

[Aliris Tremiru]

Ah, the ones from before.

The dark whispers echoed in Isari's head as she arrived amidst the others. Iasha Rha . Saeva . Two she had worked with prior. Work together? Her yellow eyes snapped towards Darth Kustos , filled with mild surprise at the notion. Was that his real intention? Or a warning not to get caught if they decided to.. Eliminate the competition. Either way, she had no intention of turning her blade on another of the acolytes.

At this stage, masterless as she was, making enemies would only lead to her own death.

Three hours was the time limit. And don't hide any artifacts and get caught. An interesting challenge. How many would try to sneak something off world? Perhaps, if there was something truly interesting, Isari herself might. She fell in line with the other Acolytes as the doors opened, neither wanting to be the first or the last. Blending in amongst the many. One day she would stand out, but not now. Not here.

"Let's get this over with."

 

[Oran Khan]

A new face to the congregation emerged from the darkness of the transport behind the others. Chitin plates clicked against one another as the Force Sensitive Vong sniffled - a small bit of bag under his eyes no doubt from when he was sleeping on their trip over. Unlike most, he seemed unawares of the brevity of the situation; that their search was ordained by the most high. Instead, he looked halfway between a Sith and a common beggar - but the unruly fangs that poked from his lips gave the slightlest hint which way he leaned.​

​

"How important.", he mused quietly to himself - enough for those nearest to hear him.

"Well, are we pairing off - are there to be soldiers guiding us, or some other plan of action?", Khan said louder - asking the whole group as much as their leader.​

​

Darth Kustos // Saeva // Iasha Rha // Aliris Tremiru // UX-0626​

 

[Sisserith]

Location: Temple Outskirts - Nathema
Objective: Loot the Temple
Tags: Darth Kustos Saeva Iasha Rha Aliris Tremiru Oran Khan

Azera stepped off the shuttle with an eager, vivacious glare in her eyes, the novelty of space travel still having yet to wear off as she took in the sharp lines of the craft, before forming up with the group of Acolytes gathered before Darth Kustos. On Malsheem, she had been given some basic instruction in operating the weapons and technology she had been issued, enough that hopefully, she wouldn’t break any of it. Nevertheless, the Seseli was still adjusting to living in such an advanced galaxy, but in many ways, it wasn’t so different from home.

For one, a talent for violence could still get an individual quite far.

Having heard that this particular site had already yielded some casualties, Azera immediately sensed that this was meant to be one of the trials she had been warned about, entailing an exposure, then purgation of her weakness. Whatever was inside this temple might very well test her limits, possibly breaking them if she was found wanting.

Unfortunately, on hearing that she wouldn’t be able to keep any of the artifacts inside for herself, Azera’s expression shifted into a frown as her fantasies of finding a lightsaber or a Sith warblade within the temple and keeping it for herself were immediately squashed. Hopefully, the rewards, whatever they might be, would be a good consolation prize.

If not? Well...it wasn’t like she could do anything about it.

Once the Darth finished his briefing, Azera followed the rest through the entrance. However, Her ears perked up on hearing a question from one of the Acolytes, seemingly directed at no one in particular.

“Plan of action? Ummm...I think killing whatever gets in our way is pretty self-explanatory, hmm?” She answered in a playful, airheaded tone. “Plan is stick 'em’ with the pointy end and empty the place out!” The tiny impess giggled, munching on a Vader cookie as she did.

“Or...maybe bonking them with the blunt end works too...if it weighs enough…” She contemplated.

Spoiler: Loadout

• Pulsiva Bodysuit - Aesthetic
  • Left Wrist
    • Vac Attack Mk-127 Disc Launcher
  • Right Wrist
    • Vac Attack Mk-127 Disc Launcher
  • Alchemical Equipment
    • Jin'Wodasir - Pins of Protection (2)
    • Supernal Infusion
    • Spirit Anchor
  • B-11 “Greitis” Class Combat Boots
    • Whimsy Knife (2)
  • Utility
    • Evasive-226-R Field Disruptor
    • FAE/U-01 “Serenity” Anti-Signal Field System
• FAE/M-01 “Scherezade” Energized Vibroblade (2)
• Nano-Core Blaster Pistol

 

[Darth Kustos]

Location: Outside the temple
Objective: Loot the temple
Tags: Iasha Rha / Saeva / Azera / Aliris Tremiru / Oran Khan
--------------------------------------------

The Darth straightened his posture slightly as he looked over the assembled Sith, his mechanical arm resting on the end of the hilt of his lightsaber. They were a diverse group, something that he was glad to see given that their skillsets were more than likely diverse enough to make up for the lacking equipment that the expedition had been gifted. There was only so much to go around after all, and not all efforts could be sent to excavate and explore even if there were.

He nodded as he heard their questions, pausing to hear them before gesturing to the temple's doors with his other hand as they opened wide. "There will be no guides unfortunately, we have no extra soldiers to spare at this time. Feel free to group together or make your own way in the temple, but I would advise cooperation. Just beware of the challenges and tests within, this is a temple of the Sith after all, it will not be a simple endeavor."

"Your plan is your own, how you achieve your mission is inconsequential so long as you all return...preferably alive."

In all reality they couldn't afford to lose any Acolytes, regardless of what some other Darths and Lords would pretend. Even inexperienced ones were invaluable, as they all would be the future of the Sith Empire once it returned to the galaxy. He had no intention of making his way into the temple himself though, even to save a life. Ultimately if the temple judged them unworthy then he would not interfere.

Who was he to argue with an ancient Sith judgment? "Are there any other questions?"

 

[Iasha Rha]

Iasha halted, catching the last of the Sith Lord's words, but she did not turn back to face him. Rather, she kept a watch over her shoulder before giving a final nod. The twi'lek was eager, if anything. Sometimes, such eagerness made her rash, even rude, and rudeness was often punished. Even so, Iasha did no motion to apologise for her rash motion to move.

She let her tenacity speak for itself.

"Saeva, Isari." Iasha nodded toward the cave and threw a suspicious glance at the two others.

She had worked with Saeva and Isari before, and knew how they functioned. Iasha was slow to trust, especially after the one person she had called a friend before decided to leave. Every time she looked at Isari, she was reminded of that betrayal, and her soul growled with rage. It was painful, but that anger drove her.

"It's no use debating out here. We need to get a view."

She started toward the doors with quick strides. While her eyes fixated on the darkness ahead, her right hand went to the strapped gauntlet on her left hand, checking the smoothness of the mechanism and the reserve blades. She had checked it many times already, but checking it again was reassuring. Iasha was anxious, but not fearful.

She wanted to prove herself.

Saeva Aliris Tremiru Azera Oran Khan Darth Kustos