Workers' Revolution (Republic Takeover of Contruum)

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Yu-Sien Karsa"], Katerine Ryiah

At the Shipyards

"I want a thorough purge of the shipyard, search every corner. We can't let the rebel scum escape," a mercenary officer with the rank of captain bellowed at his underlings in his office, pointing at a holographic image of the wrecked speeder that just moments ago had been torn apart in a bombing, claiming the life of Colonel Decimus. "Lock down the whole shipyard. Any worker who refuses to cooperate will face punishment for themselves and their family."

"We've sent word to the bastille commandancy," a lieutenant assured him, looking up from notes. "For every one of your men who died five of theirs will be shot."

"Half measures," the captain grunted. "I don't think this was an isolated incident. Get on line with central command and make sure they understand the facts. I want the base on high alert."

"Our intel says..."

The captain waved these words aside. "Our intel said the rebels were so weakened by our purge they were desperate for a dramatic gesture and would take the bastille."

At this moment a red light on the computer started glowing omniously. Soon alarm sirens were howling throughout the room. Some of the camera screens went dark, soon they could hear the sounds of gunfire and grenade explosions. "Situation report?" the captain demanded through the communicator from one of the squads deployed outside.

A holotransmission reached them from of the mercenary squads at the docks. "Sir, we're under attack. The workers are armed, we've lost contact with squad 3 and 12, we're pinned down and taking casualties."

From the holocamera the captain could see a multitude of attackers swarming his men, many of them dressed in civilian clothes as workers, but a sizeable number in fatigues as members of the resistance. They wielded an assortment of weapons, from modern blasters to primitive sluggers, in some cases little more than their working tools. Scores of workers were mowed down by the beleaguered mercenaries, laser blasts and grenades cut a bloody swathe through them, but they had numbers on their side and were driven by the fanatical of those who had nothing to lose, so they pressed forward over the bodies of their comrades and soon started lobbing in grenades.

"Hold the line, soldiers. Get the quick reaction force on the spot," the captain ordered his underlings impatiently. Screams resonated through the hangar when the rebels got in close and started taking bloody revenge at the troopers. One of them was bludgeoned to death with a crowbar, such was the loathing the mercenaries had caused that he was beaten even after he had fallen.

More alarms sounded through the building, suddenly the captain was grabbed by one of his underlings and thrown down to the ground. Seconds later workers standing outside had thrown a charge of dynamite at the office, shattering glass windows and computer monitors. With a groan the captain got up, his uniform covered in dust and with his face struck by glass, blood dripping down. Several of his guards had been caught in the blast, but he was unharmed. One of his lieutenants was less lucky, for his arms and legs had been blown off.

Outside the automated turrets had unleashed a barrage of laser bolts, mowing down the rebels who had thrown the explosives, guards came swarming in from the flanks, firing. "Don't just stand there, contact all guards squads and get them moving," the captain ordered, jabbing his finger at an underling, then saw the wrecked computers. "Send a bloody messenger. Anyone who gets in their way, gun them down."

The hangar where the fighting had started was littered with corpses, the last mercenaries were being cut down and the rebels requisitioned their weapons. From all over the shipyards workers were putting down their tools and revealing blasters or sometimes just marching unarmed.

A squad of mercenaries was surprised in a corridor when suddenly an entire column of workers started storming up towards them, a few fired blasters, others carried tools and axes, others just placards with revolutionary slogans. The mercenaries took aim and fired, taking down many with blaster shots, but the attackers pressed on and soon a brutal meelee developed as the soldiers drew vibroblades. The pained cries of rebels and mercenaries were heard throughout the hallway. The gods of war looked upon the carnage and found that it was good, the deities of death rejoiced at the souls that were being sped their way.

Needless to say the mercenaries were not idle. Communications had been sent to headquarters and the Board of Directors, squads were being assembled, speeder patrols were being hastily sent out.

In the caverns - Rebel hideout

In the caverns the rebels were being thrown into hectic activity. Armed rebels, some of them of very tender age, others old enough to remember a time when the corporate overlords did not hold sway, were rushing to grab their weapons and assemble. Word had passed to them about events at the shipyards, workers at several borium mines were turning their tools on their guards. After decades of being oppressed, they were eager to fight. Some workers said their last prayers to whatever deities they worshipped, officers went around, shouting out words of encouragement, bullying and cajoling them to fight.

Moira was not one of them, she left the pep talking to the revolutionaries. Her method of inspiring them to fight would come into play if they threatened to break under fire. No matter the cost, they would complete the mission, she would make sure of that. In her small, cramped room she grabbed several grenades and charges of dynamite, attaching them to her gear vest, an SR4 CND blaster rifle was slung over her shoulder. For a short moment she cradled the knife, the one that had cut the throat of the local despot from her homeworld, then strapped it to her belt.

This might be the moment for philosophical musings, for doubts about whether the means were justified by the ends, how responsible and moral it was to send these often very young workers into a battle that would claim the lives of so many, or even whether the Republic would truly treat them better. However, Moira seldom doubted anything she did. More to the point, she was uninfluenced by sentiment and felt no moral dilemmas in her actions. She had been given the job and she would do it.

"Let us plant the seed of the liberty with the blood of patriots and tyrants. Or just go out and boldly win glory for the Republic. Until some rebels decide to rise up against it as well." she quietly murmured to herself. She switched on her com as she moved out of the room. "Jedi Ryiah, the hunt is on. We're assembling and moving out."

From further away she could hear the strong baritone of Marat inspire his comrades. "Now is the hour, my brothers, and sisters, comrades, workers! The time of our oppression is nearing its end. We won't cower in the dark and take the oppressors' beatings. Today we'll reclaim our freedom and if we fall, we fall as heroes and free workers. Better to seize this one moment and die free then live as slaves. We have nothing to lose but our chains and total freedom to gain. Take up arms, my people, go out and fight. We'll storm the citadels of oppression and put our oppressors to justice. No longer will our children toil day and night in the mines, starving to death while our oppressors grow rich from the fruits of our labour.
We have the weapons, we have an army that'll storm the palaces. Our comrades in the bastille will be set free, our entire people will be set free. The workers at the shipyards have risen up, across the planet mine workers are rebelling. They are counting us to join them. United together, will prevail and win liberty in our time!"

Yes, playing a recording would really save time and get work done, Moira thought dryly as she moved to join the group of assembled rebels, several of whom were cheering, though she see the fear in the eyes of many. In a few moments they would be going out to battle.

 

[Marcus Tritum]

Lysander of Suarbi stood amidst the rag tag band of rebels. He had been sent by the Jedi Order on this most militant of missions to help with the insurrection and to throw of the yoke of the oppressors. He had not been undercover long. Barely arrived on planet, yet already a revolt brewed. A revolt which would shake this government to its very foundations. Helooked at the gathered rebels with a swelling heart. So many brave beings. Yes, those foundations of oppression would crack. Though they weren't much to look at, these people had a will that lit up in the Force like a beacon. It made all the difference. All the difference in the world.

A nonassuming cloak of roughspun material draped over Lysander's shoulders and fell over more, clothing of similar make. At his hip he wore only his Deathhammer pistol. Standard issue to Royal Guards, of which he was not. It packed the firepower of a rifle into a package the size of a very heavy blaster pistol. Very useful. Very deadly. He suspected it would see use before this revolution was through.

Emotions flickered through the gathering. Anxiety and stress. Fear. Eagerness. But above all else was a persistent hope. These rebels reached for it, desperately. They shielded like a tiny candle light amidst a storm, terrified it might be snuffed out, but still carrying it nonetheless. They needed fuel for such hope. Lysander watched them with his mismatched eyes: one blue, one brown. In his training with Ben Watts, they had discovered that in addition to healing, Lysander possessed an aptitude for picking up on the emotions of others. Force Empathy, it was called. As a commander, he knew how useful that could be. To sense when the troops' spirits were breaking, or when they grew too hot. Of course, knowing the emotions mattered little unless you reacted to them properly.

Lysander raised a hand, "My friends! Brothers and sisters! Young and old! Look at us. We are a merry band, are we not?" He could see their grim expressions as they glanced at one another. "Look not on each other in despair, but in triumph! Our clothes are ragged, yes. But our hearts are strong! If you weep, weep in joy, for look at all that we have accomplished! Despite all that they have tried to do, we have banded together and formed a revolt beyond anything we thought possible." He could feel their hope flickering. A fire was beginning. "Man and woman, young and old, we all stand now as free beings!" The flame roared. "And if I am to die, let it be as free beings For they will have to kill me to stop me from tearing down their government of tyranny and enslavement. What say you all? Will you join me in freedom, be it in life or death, to have just one chance, just one chance, to tell these oppressors that they may take our lives, but they will never take OUR FREEEEEDOOOOM!"

Thunderous voices split the cavern. The roar of cheers. A wildfire had sprung up. It would not be soon quenched.

 

[Yu-Sien Karsa]

Hell hath no fury like the demons of war...

Vicious volley's of blaster rounds tore the side of the mountain apart as the rebels advanced towards the base that housed the PDB. The sounds of war were deafening, blaster fire gouged Yu-Sien's ears and the mortars in the distance pounded like the malevolent laughter of a demon basking in the carnage that flowed like a river on the mountain side. Yu-Sien was pinned into a filthy ditch, the hellfire of the enemy soaring over him as the sounds of his comrades dying filled his ears like the screams of the damned. Dirt fell atop of his back as he kept his head low to avoid having it shot off.

"Master Karsa, we can't move up they have that base shut tighter than a Dugs nerf herder!" Farko yelled over the terrors of battle, firing a shot off over the trench with his old slug throwing hunters rifle.

"Nothing is impossible Farko, you just need the right timing." Yu-Sien answered back, his voice smooth as molasses and frighteningly calm considering the dire circumstances.

"What the hell do you propose we do!?" Farko yelled back just as a round cut through the dirt and blew a burning hole in the chest of the man right behind him "Damn it! Someone get me a medical kit!" Farko screamed as he ran over and checked a pulse for the man "Stay with me damn you! You aren't going to die in this pit, stay with me!" Farko continued to growl angerly as he tried desperately the save the man's life, but Yu-Sien could already tell the Kai was leaving the man's body. If something was not done about those gunnery positions soon, there would be no one left to destroy the battery.

Yu-Sien peeked over the muddy ditch he occupied, his eyes darting from side to side as he studied each of the several gunning position. He began counting..one...two...three..four, there were four positions each with a E-Web blaster emplacement. Each emplacement was dug into a pillbox that rested inside small hill right outside the fence around the base, a grenade could fit through the small slots of the box. "Farko, will you give me four grenades." Yu-Sien asked kindly to the man who was still trying to revive his friend.

"fine, fine they are in my pack over there!" Farko yelled, his eyes trained on the dying soldier as he pointed to a bag next to him in the trench. Yu-Sien sparred no time digging into the pack and retrieving the grenades that he was seeking. They were Republic military grade that Yu-Sien had brought to him when he first came to help the rebels.

"Farko, I need you to prepare your people to charge." Yu-Sien said, placing a calming hand on his shoulder

"With those emplacements still up!? Are you nuts!?" Farko screamed into Yu-Sien's face, but the Atrisian didn't flinch a muscle

"Do not worry about the emplacements, I will take care of them. When they are destroyed please order your warriors to move forward, time is short." Yu-Sien instructed calmly as he stood up and vaulted over the trench and onto the open battlefield. His mind was at peace, no fear of dying was present within him for love of justice and the power of Kai and Chi was saturating his every emotion. Using the force to push him forward and strengthen his legs, Yu-Sien charged for the emplacements that were 50 meters out from the rebels positions. At first the soldiers of the government had not seen the atrisian man charging towards them, but as soon as they did Yu-Sien found himself in a storm of red plasma rounds. He did not stop his charge, however, he continued to charge forward and zig zag from the path of the incoming blaster fire at speeds that only a master of the Aa'Kua could. Speed and nature was his ally and strong allies they were. Within seconds the martial arts master had closed the distance between him and his enemy and began pulling the pins on the grenades he held. Starting from the far right, Yu-Sien ran a horizontal line, throwing the grenades into the pillboxes with masterful precession.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! the grenades exploded one by one, shooting flames out of the turret openings as if the pillboxes were concrete dragons buried under the dirt. The spirits of the war and the demons of hell would get the blood they sought this day...

As the last pillbox exploded into flames, the back door of the position flew open and two men came charging out, their cloths bloodied and torn from the explosion. Yu-Sien looked upon them with pity, they were not evil people...simply soldiers doing their jobs. However, they served an evil cause and for that they could not be allowed to escape...to destroy evil all that serve it must be vanquished as well, dark are the harsh realities of the galaxy. Yu-Sien leaped into their path and drew his sword from his back, one of the men grabbed a side arm on his hip but before it could even be drawn Yu-Sien slashed at his throat with a lighting quick motion. The first man had not even hit the ground before Yu-Sien brought the sword back in the other direction, it's movements as swift and fluid as water when it came across and severed the second soldiers head from his body. The head of the man hit the ground and rolled into the dirt, the body followed soon after, this was not a moment to be proud. Yu-Sien took a moment and placed the tip of his sword in the dirt and closed his eyes, the spirits of these two warriors deserved a prayer to guide them into the afterlife.

"Let their spirits forever grace their homeland." Yu-Sien whispered to himself and the spirits that watched over the battle, just as the rebels began charging passed the destroyed positions with their old rifles and pitchforks

"That was amazing Master Karsa! Come on, fight by my side while we slaughter more of these dogs! For freedom!" Farko cried as he charged into the base past the broken fence. So eager to kill their own country men, Yu-Sien would need to be sure that the spirits of the innocent got the proper treatment or else this planet would never be pure.

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

Aboard the Rancor the Atrisian crew continued to watch the swirling blue of hyperspace. Sitting in his chair, Akio was sipping tea calmly. One would think he was heading to a routine patrol rather than a warzone. The rest of the bridge crew, while perhaps not quite as calm, were clearly doing their best to mimic the same state as their commander.

"We're about to exit hyperspace Sir."

Setting down his tea, Akio nodded to his chief of staff. "Very well, make final preparations for battle."

 

[Sophia Walsh]

Sophia sat as calmly as she could aboard Dimondback as they flew through hyperspace. She had doubled no tripled checked that everything was ready and perfect. Needless mistakes would just cause additional lives lost which was the last thing she wanted. This was war not some party they were going to. Everyone needed to listen to and follow orders including her.

As a young Captain, probably the youngest in the fleet she had a lot to prove. This was her time to show Admiral Kahoshi what she was capable of. Lightly tapping her fingers on the arm rest she sighed as she watched the rest of the bridge crew work frantically. At least she looked calmer than them.

@[member="Akio Kahoshi"] @[member="Turin Val Kur"]

 

[Jonathan Walsh]

Admiral Walsh's fleet arrived, It was funny to see that it was Akio's fleet was departing hyperspace too, as it meant there were two walsh's here, and well probably his wife as well. He send a encrypted comm to his daughter " Hello Sophia, I am proud to share the battle field with you, I wish you luck and if you need anything all you need is ask" He still couldn't believe she was Captain already. He wanted this fight over already, since his fleet had left hyperspace first he gave the orders to his men to ready the fleet. " Scramble the fighters, and prepare for the attack, we wait for Admiral Akio's order to engage. " He smiled, as he loved when he wasn't in charge, took some weight off of his shoulder, though he had hoped that sophia had been asasigned to his fleet, not Akio's... if anything happened to her, the Admirial might not like him so much anymore.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Lysander of Suarbi"], @[member="Katarine Ryiah"]

Battle had been joined across the city. The shipyards had been turned into a war zone as the workers rose up in open rebellion. The mercenary commander had withdrawn from his wrecked office and was pouring in reinforcements to contain the rising. Apparently a group of rebel infiltrators was trying to seize a small frigate docked in one of the hangars, but they were met with fierce resistance. Vicious volleys of blaster fire tore through the corridors, walls were scorched and mercenary and worker alike torn to shreds as grenades were lobbed in. Mercenaries cried out in agony when they hit upon booby-traps retreating workers had placed, but with every metre they gained the rebels lost scores of their own men.

As of now the battle for the shipyard still hung in the balance, the mercenaries were hampered in their response by reports that a squad of rebels, led by an adept who apparently had supernatural powers, was advancing upon one of the PDBs, not to mention the rising in the mines. Even so the mercenaries had better equipment and leadership...but, as Moira had surmised, the rebels did not have to win. Therein lay the important difference. To put in the most clinical and callous terms, something a person like Moira was quite ready to do, they just had to hold out long and cause enough damage for the actual mission to be accomplished.

Open warfare raged in the streets of the city, rebels that had been infiltrated took up positions in buildings and took pod shots at mercenaries by firing with sniper rifles from the windows and rooftops. Several mercenaries were taken down, then they radioed in gunships and unleashed a hailstorm of heavy repeater fire at any window behind which a rebel was suspected, soon firing missiles as well. Frightened civilians took flight as they witnessed the carnage, but a few were too slow and got caught in the crossfire, gunned down by snipers or ripped to shreds by mercenaries that brought repeaters and grenade launchers to bear. War was ugly and brutal, there was no glory in it, a blaster round did not distinguish between the soldier and the civilian, it slew both in kind. Report after report of attacks was being transmitted to the colossal skyscraper that served as the residence and nerve centre of the Board of Directors, the corporate overlords of the planet.

Meanwhile the large group of rebels to which Moira had attached herself was marching through the tunnels. Above them they could hear the sounds of battle, the blaster fire, the explosions, the screams, but they did not let this trouble. There was fear in the faces of the rebels, but zeal as well. Like it or not, now they were committed to rebellion, there was no turning back now. Blasters, sluggers, blades, rocket-propelled grenades, the rebels had grabbed any weapon they could get their hands on. Two squads had a large number of fighters with primitive RPGs. They would leave the main force upon reaching the surface and target the bastille, making a show out of liberating the prisoners. With their explosives, they might be able to hold out for a time before falling back.

Eventually the rebel squads took a turn after what seeemed like ages and left the tunnels. Fortunately, there were no sentries to greet them, though they came across a few corpses of dead workers. A squad of rebels levelled their blasters at the streets, moving into forward covering positions while Moira called a rebel officer towards her, the equivalent of a lieutenant in their force.

"It's time, grab your squad and move to the bastille, Garza," she ordered him. "Try and terminate the guard force. Expect heavy enemy resistance. Fight as hard as you can. You won't get any further orders."

Garza, a scarred and tough-looking green Twi'lek, nodded. "I'll do my best so that the revolution wins out. We won't abandon our imprisoned comrades."

Moira did not correct him in his illusions. "Best of luck," she said simply and so, as they heard the thunder of mortar fire, the squads assigned to the bastille mission quickly separated from the rest of the force and fanned out, moving to the west and quickly infiltrating the city.

With that Moira called Thaelmann to her. The Twi'lek leader looked as unsympathetic to her as ever, but also to take the fight to the hated overlords. "We'll be moving to the shield generator and the ion cannon. Speed is essential, we haven't got much time. Expect heavy casualties."

Thaelmann wielded a light repeater and was stocked with grenades. He scowled at the woman, but suppressed his anger and distrust towards, now that they were about to enter battle. "The workers' army will fight to the death, Republic. Your Republic will see how we can fight and die."

Further words were not needed and so the force marched, moving as fast as they could. As they marched through the outskirts of the town, they came across a sector where apparently several skyscrapers had already been damaged by missile strikes. Large holes had been blown into buildings, the streets were filled with debris and mercenaries had set up barricades, behind which troopers had gone into position with E-webs. Several burnt-out speeders and dead bodies littered the streets. A few shops had been looted, glass windows had been shattered and small fires had sprung up.

Immediately the mercenaries opened fire. Blaster bolts streaked through the air, then they started firing with grenade launchers, from two sides. More incoming fire came from the windows of two apartments, where snipers had apparently taken up position, mercilessly cutting down rebels. Rebel soldiers sought cover behind the the wreckage, returning fire and soon battle was joined. A few rebels were mowed down instantly when heavy repeater fire came their way, the remaining sought cover and returned fire. Rebels wielding RPGs came forward, shooting their missiles through the air. The cries of mercenaries resonated through sector as two E-web emplacements were taken out and the bodies of mercenaries were tossed through the air. A few mercenaries were bold enough to emerge from cover and storm forward, they were greeted with a relentless of blaster fire.

Moira ducked under a burnt-out speeder as the fire intensified, rolling sideways to dodge a grenade being tossed her way. She brought up her rifle, firing a salvoe at approaching troopers. A sniper round narrowly missed her, whizzing above her head as she pumped out blaster rounds. A satisfying cry of pain was heard as a round found its target in the chest of a mercenary. Even so they risked being pinned down and in due time more mercenaries would arrive, then the mission would soon end in failure and that could not be accepted.

"Get over here!" she called to three rebels, who ran towards her, ducking as blaster bolts streaked through the air. "Sniper on the second floor, we got to take them out!" she yelled to make herself heard over the cacophony of sound. "You, stay right behind me," she pointed to one of them. "You two provide cover. Thaelmann, we're going in. Some covering fire."

"Try not to get yourself killed, Republic!" the rebel commander called back to her, looking grim. "Comrades, light up the street." A deafening salvoe of rebels was let loose at the mercenaries, some rebels targeted the window where the sniper was believed to be hiding, though their shots were imprecise, in the eyes of Moira they were wasting ammunition.

Under the cover thus provided Moira and her comrades emerged from cover and dashed to the right, as countless blaster bolts were exchanged from both sides of the line. Moira ran as fast as she could, briefly stumbling over a dead body whose face had been mutilated. Undeterred by the grim visage she pulled herself up and ran, firing from the hip with her rifle as mercenaries came their way. The earth shook under grenade detonations, she could barely hear anything under the great onslaught of explosions and blaster fire. With rounds whizzing past her they reached a house that pretty much resembled a pile of rubble, the roof barely standing. She motioned two of her comrades with hand signals, indicating to them to get into the house and look for mercenaries.

"Clear. Only corpses, ma'am," one of them called out as they levelled their guns through a room, so Moira and the last rebel quickly joined them inside. Quickly they ran through the ruined house and reached the wall that reached towards the target house. Holes had been ripped into the wall, the window was shattered, so they jumped through, reaching the backdoor of the house that was their target. One of the rebels violently kicked the door open, it brought them into a hallway. As soon as this happened a hail of laser rounds got shot their way.

One of the rebels cried out as he was too slow to respond and blasted in the shoulder and the right leg, the laser round burning right his fatigues, so that he tumbled to the ground. In the same moment Moira yanked up her gun and fired, the rebels dragged themselves against the wall, trying to present a smaller target as they fired at the same time. Unleashing a salvoe of rounds, Moira riddled one of the mercenaries with rounds, the rest tumbled down.

"Secure the corridor!" she yelled to her two surviving comrades, bending down to the fallen rebel to scrutinise his wounds, which judging by the burn hole looked nasty. "We can't take you. Stay here and cover us," she said, already turning to face the others. The rebel looked resigned and nodded.

Without further ado the rebels quickly moved up the stairs, it creaked under the pressure. The door to the second floor had been blasted apart. Further away in a room the snipers were putting the rebels under fire. Two fired, while the third was bent down to reload his rifle. Moira gestured the rebels to take up position at both sides of the door, then plucked free a frag grenade from her gear vest, pulling the pin and counting down ere she took a peek and tossed the explosive into the room. There was a loud explosion as it detonated and mercenaries cried out before being torn apart, but what the rebels did not notice was that one of their foes, the one who had been loading saw it coming and reacting on pure instinct dove sideways, landing behind the cover of a cupboard that had fallen to the ground.

"Move in," Moira ordered, already emerging out of cover with her rifle at the ready. Her two comrades moved to follow her, but suddenly blaster fire came their way from above, with mercenaries running down the stairs to the third floor. As Moira entered the room through the smoke she suddenly felt a sharp pain as the last mercenary slammed the muzzle of his gun into her, though she was fortunate that he only hit her shoulder. She reeled under the attack, but quickly recovered her bearings and spun around to face her attacker. She rammed her rifle into his chest, knocking the soldier back and making him lose his gun. The mercenary quickly grabbed a knife and threw it at her. Moira dodged the throw, while the mercenary dove down to retrieve his gun. Both seemed to take aim at the same time, but Moira was faster on the draw and squeezed the trigger.

She quickly stormed out towards the incoming fire, letting loose a short burst. One rebel was down, making his last gasp of breath, two mercenaries had been taken down by blasterfire. One mercenary twitched slightly, crawling along the ground towards the stairs. Seeing him Moira quickly let loose a burst, taking him out. She grabbed the last rebel by the shoulder, pulling him up.

"Thaelmann, house is clear," she radioed the rebel commander through the comm. "Come on," she ordered her comrade coolly as they quickly headed down the stairs. Down on the ground rebels were running across the street, storming towards the mercenaries' emplaced positions. The streets were being sprayed with laser rounds.

Her comrade looked aghast as the rebel from earlier lay limply on the ground, apparently unconscious, though he has lost a considerable amount of blood judging by how much had dripped down. The rebel with her immediately approached his fallen comrade, moving to pick him up, but then Moira grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back. "Leave him. We need to finish the mission. We don't have time for this."

The rebel glowered at her. "And just let him bleed to death, what the hell's gotten into you? What's the point of all this, we're just meat for the meat grinder!" he called out at her.

"No, we won't," Moira said softly, then without further put the fallen rebel out of his misery with a round to the head. "It's war. You want to be free at last, you'll make sacrifices. Now get moving."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

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

Senator Brunswick had decided that he'd help the cause of the revolution in Contruum: Which was why he was on the deck of Admiral Akio Kahoshi's Rancor as they were exiting hyperspace and into Contruum.Indeed, Brunswick was a senator, but his years at Kuat Drive Yards Academy had made him a pretty good battle strategist as well. He watched as the bridge crew readied the ship for battle as he walked over to the admiral. "Mr. Akio, Admiral Walsh's fleet has reported to be ready for battle. They're awaiting your order to engage." informed the Kuatian senator.

 

[Yu-Sien Karsa]

Behold a pale horse.....

Yu-Sien had followed the poorly armed rebels into the base, they were valiant enough but they lacked the arms or skill set to be much of a threat to the heavily armed mercenaries. However, the mission of the rebels was not to beat back all of the mercenaries and soldiers, it was simply to get far enough into the base to destroy the defense battery. As it were, Yu-Sien and Farko were still a kilometer from the defense battery that sat on the opposite end of the massive base. With them, a group of fifteen farmers had gathered while the rest of the small attack force went to cause trouble on the Eastern side of the base and attempt to commandeer a walker or tank for the cause.

Smoke strangled the air around the Atrisian from the fires that were engulfing fighters that had been left out of there hangers and consequently destroyed by rebels. He and his rebel allies had come across a small portion of the base that housed fighters for emergency defensive deployments. By now most of the fighters had been launched to begin bombing offensives of other cities under rebel attack or to meet the Republic fleet. A series of blaster bolts zipped by Yu-Sien and Farko's position against the outside of a hanger, being pinned down by a group of mercenaries at another hanger diagonally across from their positon. Farko and only a handful of the men were firing back with slugthrowers, everyone else was ill equipped for long rang combat.

"Agent Skaldi" Yu-Sien spoke with eerie calmness into his communicator "I am being delayed, my mission will not be on schedule." he said, listening for her response before going back to the mission at hand.

"Are you fracken droid or something? Nobody should be that calm." Farko yelled over the base's alarm as he loaded more shells into his rifle

Yu-Sien shook his head, his face plastered over with thoughtfulness as he looked around his surroundings. In every direction there was only more open pavement, the only cover in the direction they had to move was a burning starfighter, sixteen meters away, and a second hanger, straight across from theirs, that must have been at least 40 meters from them. "Trust me Farko, I am anything but." Yu-Sien responded as he keyed in on the burning starfighter, perhaps he could use the force and use the wreckage as a giant bowling ball.

Yu-Sien closed his eyes and lifted his hand, as he had seen Jedi do, and focused on the inferno of a ship. He tried to imagine himself lifting the ship into the air and throwing it across the runway at the mercenaries...but he could feel that nothing was happening. Why couldn't he move it? Yu-Sien opened his eyes again, to see if it would make a difference, but again the flaming ship did not budge. The Atrisian refused to give up, he kept trying to move it, every fiber of his being was going into lifting that ship but he could just not manage it.

"Watch out!" Farko screamed as he lifted his rifle towards the hanger straight across from the groups position. Yu-Sien looked to where he was aiming just in time to see a squad of mercenaries rounding a corner to move into cover behind an ocean of metal shipping crates beside the hanger. Farko fired, his slug flying straight and true as it soared towards and into his target. One of the mercenaries grabbed for his gut and rolled to the ground before collapsing into a groaning pile. Immediately after, a barrage of rounds pelted the group and for a split second Yu-Sien's heart bounced into his throat...and that's when the scorching pile of wreckage shot towards the mercenaries who were firing at him.

The burning pile flew into the shipping containers like a slingshot, knocking them over like they weren't even there. Before Yu-Sien could even rationalize that he had just flung the ship, it had pulverized the squadron of mercenaries and crushed them like bugs as it came to a rest atop their bodies. The martial artist's eyes grew as wide as tires as he brought his hand up to his face, he was in complete shock that he had just thrown a ship across a battlefield like it was a paperweight.

"Remind me to not get on your bad side Karsa." Farko said as he threw Yu-Sien a rifle, from a man who had been shot in the shoulder "Here, take this." Yu-Sien snapped out of his daze when he saw the rifle coming at him from the corner of his eye. It had almost hit him when he lashed his hand out like a snake to grab it. They may have taken care of that second group of mercs, but the first was still raining hell on their position. Yu-Sien knew that they had no choice but to get behind them

"Farko, will you accompany me to the other hanger?" Yu-Sien asked, looking over the rifle in his hands. He had never been found of blasters and slug throwers, but he supposed he did not have much choice at the moment.

Farko looked at him with a slight confusion for a second, but it only took a moment for the plan to wrap itself around his mind "You got it!" Farko grinned furiously as he racked his rifle "Let's kill us some bantha fodder." Yu-Sien nodded, though he still found Farko's attitude a bit troubling, and readied his rifle.

"On three Farko...one...two...three!" Like lightning the two ran from cover and began charging for the next hanger. Blaster rounds pulverized the ground around them as Farko and Yu-Sien shot off a few blind rounds as they ran. Before long they had made it to cover, but they were anything but alone.

As soon as they hit the containers, a mercenary rounded the corner with his weapon raised to shoot. Farko and Yu-Sien both fired a round into the woman, who flew backwards and slammed against a container behind her. Her blood painted metallic surface as she slid down to the ground and again more mercenaries began popping from the word work. Yu-Sien fired his last shot into the face of an oncoming mercenary, whose head exploded at the back as the slug tore through his skull. Immediately, Yu-Sien dropped the rifle and moved fluidly to his next target. Using his bare hands, Yu-Sien pushed the blaster of the mercenary away with his palm while his other hand came across in a fist and hit the mercenary in the jaw. A short series of chain punches to the face put the mercenary on the ground and then it was on to the next. This time Yu-Sien was forced to duck as the man shot, but instead of regaining a straight posture, Yu-Sien simply crouched on a single leg and brought the other across the mans feet in a devastating leg sweep. The mercenary fell to the ground with a hard thud and, in usual Aa'Kua fashion, Yu-Sien did not stop moving as his opponent was not yet rendered incapacitated. As he stood back up he kept his leg out in front of him, until his was standing straight once again, and then he brought his leg down in an axe kick motion and broke the mercenaries neck.

Two last opponents were present in Yu-Sien's sight, so his movements continued without pause. His hands whipped back to the twin hook blades he kept cradled on his lower back and withdrew them from their sheaths. In the same swift and fluid motion the blades began their attack. Currently the two mercs were just now taking up position to fire at Yu-Sien, one behind him and one in front. With motions as quick as snake strikes, Yu-Sien brought his left blade down at the mercenary in front of him, the clawed end of the weapon catching on the trigger guard of his blaster and ripping it from his grasp. The blaster fell to the ground as the blade continued in a circular motion and impacted the shoulder blade of the merc behind Yu-Sien. The mercenary was dragged to a kneeling position as Yu-Sien continued to spin his body and hook his second blade into the neck of the first mercenary, the clawed end piercing deep into the soldier's jugular. In one final motion, Yu-Sien ripped his blade from the mercenary's neck, pulling his jugular from the body, and brought the blade across to the neck of the second enemy. In a matter of seconds Yu-Sien had defeated three mercenary's and just finished cutting the throat of the last.

Farko had just shot the last mercenary who had attempted to flank him, then turned to see Yu-Sien covered in specs of blood from the gory death of the last two men. The face of the rebel was one of shock, the peaceful warrior was a brutal one when the time called for it. "Come Farko, we must help your friends and continue to the battery." Yu-Sien said, that same cynical calmness emanating from his voice.

@Moria Skaldi

 

[Moira Skaldi]

Bloodshed, explosions, gunfire, agonised screams of pain. The gods of blood and death, if such beings existed in the infinite space that was the void, would be well pleased with the sentients that dwelled upon the mortal plane today. The streets were being filled with corpses.

The squads of rebels charged across the barricades as Moira and the sole surviving rebel in her group rejoined them. Scores of rebels were cut down. Reaching one of the entrenched positions, the rebels struck at the mercenaries with vibro-blades and bayonets. A mercenary was run through by a rebel's bayonet, as mercenaries turned to flee the rebels tossed grenades after them. Rebel troopers wielding RPGs unleashed missiles at mercenary snipers hiding in an opposite building. The missiles exploded in fireballs as they connected with the walls, blowing the windows apart.

Moira advanced grimly, hastening from cover to cover, taking well-aimed shots with her rifle. She led the way as a rebel in front of her fell backward, riddled by multiple blaster bolts. Mercenary troopers, their faces hidden behind visored helmets, advanced from down an alleyway, firing salvoes at the advancing rebels. As she peeked around the corner, she was greeted by a hail of laserfire, quickly ducking back into cover.

She walked in a low crouch, peeking across the corner as the mercenaries advanced. Without any hint of hesitation, she raised the sights of her rifle and squeezed the trigger. Her first target let out a cry of pain and crumpled down to the ground, soon two more mercenaries followed him to the fade. Now alerted the remaining mercenaries in the squad bolted for cover behind the wreckage of a speeder, three were mowed down when a rebel brought a repeater to bear. Red flashes of laser fire came shooting down the street, a rebel cried out in pain when a sniper struck his chest before giving up the ghost.

Laser bolts struck the wall Moira was hiding behind and she hit the dirt, rolling as she fired. Some of the bricks from the already damaged came loose and hit her. She reeled under the assault, another mercenary went down as she fired. Then suddenly a trooper came from across the corner and ere she could react his rifle had been slammed into her face. As she reeled he thrust his bayonet forward and though she could narrowly dodge he pierced her shoulder. The rifle fell out of her hands, as her assailant brought up his gun she surged forward and knocked the rifle out of his hands, then rammed her hand into his neck.

Another mercenary advanced from the front, firing. The agent yanked her first attacker around and used him as a human shield, grabbing a pistol from his holster to fire.

Then suddenly the alert came. "Gunship!" one of the rebels cried out, just moments before a hail of heavy repeater fire ended his no doubt short life. Blaster fire streaked towards them as the gunship swooped down. Moira ran as the volleys got fired their way, hitting the ground and crawling into cover.

As she now realised, the gunship had not come alone, for a locust of drones was swooping down from the hard blue of the sky. The rebels scrambled for any cover they could find: wreckage of speeders, barricades, blasted out buildings. Laserfire was aimed skyward against the drones and soon set it alight.

"Not a step back, comrades! Take them out!" Thaelmann yelled, trying to make himself heard amid all the chaos. A rebel wielding a blaster rifle pumped out round after round, blasting a drone into pieces. A comrade of his took aim at the gunship with an RPG, reading himself to squeeze the trigger, then suddenly a drone swooped down and despite being peppered with laser rounds reached him. Before he realised what had happened, it had exploded, blowing off his head and good chunk of his torso.

Moira dashed as drones came close to her, firing, but then came under fire from approaching mercenaries. She fell and though she gripped her pistol and opened fire, her rounds missed, the suicide drone surged towards her, but then suddenly got blown to pieces by a rebel, making her breathe a sigh of relief.

Thaelmann cried out in pain as a round pierced his armour, some rebels pulled him into cover. "We're getting slaughtered," a rebel trooper called out. "This is insane. We have to pull back now."

"Not a step back!" Thaelmann called out. "Blast those drones out of the sky. Concentrate on the sucide drones."

"So that we can die for the Republic, we must..." the protesting rebel officer did not get as he tried to dash away because Moira roughly grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him around. The rebel glowered at her, anger evident, he brought up his pistol as if he wanted to shoot her, but the agent was undeterred and her cold, merciless eyes bore into him, despite the blaster bolts whizzing past them.

"You say no you longer want to be slave, so bloody stand up and fight, unless you're as weak as your masters think you. We are completing this mission....AM I CLEAR, SOLDIER?!" she called out to him, spinning him back towards the barricade. "No one breaks ranks!"

The gunship came swooping down, its gunner readied the missile launcher and fired. The missile crashed into a nearby wall, blowing it apart and sending debris flying, more mercenaries came from an alleyway, but were greeted with fire from the rebels.

Gesturing to a few soldiers to follow, Moira started to run, sprinting as fast as she could. As blaster fire streaked towards she threw herself into a crater created by some heavy explosion. Drones came swooping down and she brought her pistol to bear, shooting. One was taken out, the others evaded her shots, trying to swarm her.

"Move it, I'll cover you!" a rebel called out towards her. Suddenly one got blasted by a rebel, two were taken out when a grenade impacted upon them. Breathing ragged Moira pulled herself up and ran, falling to the ground when she reached the dead rebel with the RPG.

Trying to calm herself, she grabbed the launcher and loaded the warhead into the muzzle, holding the launcher on her shoulder. Taking a deep breath she crouched out of cover. As the gunner brought his finger to the trigger, she fired, letting the warhead shoot up towards the engines. The missile impacted with a loud explosion, the gunship shook, firing wildly. Moira ducked down, rolling and reloading the launcher in the few precious seconds she had, then fired again.

The Gunship was ignited and went into freefall in a fast descent, smashing onto the ground with a loud thud. The launcher fell from her hand, she clutched at her shoulder wound, apparently only now registering the sharp pain she felt from it.

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

The blue disappeared, and suddenly the brighted dotted infinite blackness of space returned. It did not stay that way long, as an enemy destroyed who was heading toward the shipyards was not far above and to port of the massive flagship. The crew of the Racnor knew their orders, and immediately capital weapon fire opened across the entire topside of the ship. The much smaller enemy ship, not expecting sudden action, did not even have time to raise their deflector shields to combat power before being caught in the fire and exploding in spectacular fashion.

Akio turned to the senator, and gave a small nod. "I am sure Admiral Walsh will prove himself more than capable."

Turning away, he activated his comm. "Admiral Walsh, lead your fleet to capture the shipyards. We want them intact, if possible, but your ships are more valuable to us now. The rest of the Republic Forces will remain in formation and engage enemy ships. Firing orders will be arriving shortly."

Already his officers were assigning ship firing orders, focusing as many weapons on as few ships as possible. Akio believed in overwhelming the enemy rather than spreading fire across all targets. It better guaranteed a kill, and thus reduced the enemies fighting capacity better than hoping for a lucky shot. The Rancor was disgorging fighters and landing craft, TIE Defenders and Bombers were heading toward enemies ships while the Interceptors followed the landing ships. It was imperative that the ground troops made it safely, and then the Interceptors would offer cover against gunships or any fighters that tried to join the fray. Old they might be, Interceptors were still lightning faster and impossibly maneuverable.

The enemy ships scattered around the system suddenly began to react to the new opponent. Where before they had been heading to support the shipyard, now they seemed unsure what to do. Some of the small destroyers were already hanging in a small group by the shipyards as half completed ships desperately tried to fly out before the Rebels could attack them. The rest turned and headed toward the Republic fleet... except for the ones that simply turned to flee. Clearly killing poor miners was one thing, but taking on a full invasion force was outside their pay range.

The much faster Defenders and Bombers, as well as the Republic fighters that had followed them, had already reached the closest enemy ship. Missiles lanced out to strike shields, their numbers great enough to create holes long enough for bombs to start striking the hulls. Explosions ripped across the surface, and debris, atmosphere, and bodies began streaming out of the torn metal. The battle had begun in space, and it was every bit as horrible in its own way as what the Rebels were experiencing on the ground.

"Perhaps Senator, you could ask the Directors for surrender. I feel, given the most likely outcome for them once the people of the planet get ahold of them, that you will find them somewhat disagreeable though." Akio could easily do it himself, but as he knew it would not work, the Directors would not willing surrender to what could only end in their deaths, it was better to hand the responsibility to the Senator. Now if anyone in the Republic questioned why they had not attempted a peaceful method first, it would not fall on him. One did not rise to where he had in the Atrisian government without knowing how to play the game.

 

[The Hound]

Turin's small group of fighters had engaged the enemy. Many of the pilots were in cheap Hutt made aircraft, however, he could tell that the lot of them were skilled pilots as he could see how they flew and danced around some of the less experienced pilots on the Republic side. With a grunt he pulled his X-Wing to the left, a stray concussion missile had exploded right near his craft. "Lucky shot..." he muttered under his breath as Pes calculated and spat out a hastily done damage report. Nothing too serious had been done, just strained the shields. However, if he was hit too many more times his shield would be gone for good. But for now, it was good enough. Engaging one of the mercenary fighters, he allowed him, or her, to think that it had outmaneuvered this ace of a pilot. It wasn't that he was toying with it, Turin was gauging its fighting ability. At any time he could fly faster and spin around to take it out. And that was only one way he could think of. There were dozens more as it didn't seem to have a wingman which left it open to many attacks. Opting for the simple trigger pull, he fired a burst from his laser cannons and took the fighter down. "One less..." Pulling around he commed @[member="Sophia Walsh"]. "Any further orders?" he asked, once again leaving the honorifics out. Completely informal.

 

[Darren Brunswick]

Spectacular. Awestrucking. Horrible. Those were the things that described a space battle that the Republic fleet was experiencing. Brunswick grabbed onto a nearby chair as the ship slightly shook from nearby explosions of enemy ships.

"Perhaps Senator, you could ask the Directors for surrender. I feel, given the most likely outcome for them once the people of the planet get ahold of them, that you will find them somewhat disagreeable though."
Senator Brunswick looked into the eyes of the admiral. They both knew that asking the Directors of the planet to surrender was one thing, and actually getting them to surrender was another. Besides, who knows, perhaps the Republic may later question Brunswick (instead of @[member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""]Akio Kahoshi) why a peaceful method was not tried first. But still. He was a diplomat, and he was going to give diplomacy a try. He nodded, and without further hesitation, made his way to the elevator. The elevator then took him down to the ship's hangar, where TIE Fighters, Bombers, Gunships, and landing crafts were rapidly taking off. Brunswick quickly got onboard one of the gunships that upon the senator boarding it, closed its doors and took off from the Rancor on its way to the planet.

@[member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""]Moira Skaldi
Ten Minutes Later, the Battle Grounds of Contruum
About half a dozen gunships and landing crafts touched down in the battle fields of Contruum. This particular sector of Conrtuum, as the distress call had told, the rebels were losing ground rapidly. The gunships had landed in a protective circle around Moira Skaldi. Republic troops armed with rocket launchers rushed forward to target a fresh group of enemy drones and gunships that were now approaching them. Brunswick got off his gunship, armed with twin pistols. He went up to the woman, and could tell she was suffering from a shoulder wound. "Are you okay? Medic get over here!" shouted the senator.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@Darrens Brunswick

The battle had been fought with renewed intensity when suddenly deliverance arrived in form of Republic gunships and infantry. Faced with this unexpected intervention the mercenaries changed focus, but the hail of missiles from the Republic rocketeers kept them at bay.

The rebels cheered as they saw help arrive, having already recovered some of their confidence when Moira blew up the first gunship, and charged, firing as they did. Rebel casualties had been...very high, but the force was still intact. As the rocketeers shot out their missiles at the gunships and forced them to retreat, the rebels charged over the line. Mercenaries were shot, beaten, bludgeoned to death.

Moira clutched at her shoulder wound, firing off shots with her pistol with one hand. She was surprised to see a man she recognised as Senator Brunswick standing above her, in the middle of a war zone. Courageous no doubt, but as good as dramatic gestures were for the holocameras, this was not the right place for him for a number of reasons.

"I'm fine...no drama," she stated, strangely calm despite the pain in her shoulder, the sweat dripping down her temples. "Sir, this is the middle of a war zone and we're attacking. We can't guarantee your safety here," she added to the senator in what was probably a gigantic understatement.

She forced herself up, wincing a bit at the pain. "We have no time to waste, get your forces organised," she called out to the rebel leader. "The Republic assault has started. We must take out the ion cannon."

As might have been noted Moira's style of leadership could not be called inspirational but it worked. She could fake empathy to a degree, but her inherent callousness always seemed to shine through. Where others might see persons when they looked up their soldiers and perhaps agonised over sending them to their deaths, most of the time Moira saw numbers. However, on the flip side, she did not shirk from facing the same risks as the rebels.

And right now she saw new variables in form of the gunships and Republic infantry. "The ion cannon will be destroyed. We could use some heavy firepower."

 

[Darren Brunswick]

@[member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""]Moira Skaldi

"I'm fine...no drama," stated the woman quickly. "Sir, this is the middle of a war zone and we're attacking. We can't guarantee your safety here,"
Senator Brunswick gave a short laugh. "Well, it seemed as if Admiral Akio didn't want me aboard his ship. At any rate, I am here to help to not only fight, but to try diplomacy with our enemies. I am sure if circumstances allowed, we could have a peace talk. It may save hundreds of lives if the peaceful method works."

It wasn't the first time that Brunswick was in a war zone. With a speedy twirl, the Kuatian senator took out his twin pistol. He tapped his captain on the shoulder. "Captain, have your gunships take down those drones and ion cannons." he ordered. As they were speaking, a squadron of Republic bombers burst through the clouds and rushed right over them. The bombers dropped their load onto the ion cannons, severly damaging the majority of them.

 

[Sophia Walsh]

Before they even had left hyperspace she received a message from from her father telling her good luck and how proud he was of her. He also mentioned something about being here which made her groan. Now she was under the eye of not one but two admirals whom would be watching her every move.

As soon as they landed she began to give her orders to fire on enemy ships as instructed by the Admiral. They were all concentrating on a few ships at a time. As things began to get even more chaotic where she was her comm beeped.

"Go take out the enemy fighters that are trying to flee. We don't want them being able to get more help." Sophia was used to their informal talks by now and kind of expected it from him. They should be more formal though as this was battle not tea time or a patrol. "Please try to remember Captain next time, Lieutenant." She was his commanding officer he needed to respect that. If she didn't stop this now the next thing would be him calling her sweetheart on the battlefield. He could call her Sophia off duty she wouldn't mind that.

@[member="Jonathan Walsh"] @[member="Turin Val Kur"]

 

[Yu-Sien Karsa]

Yu-Sien watched as the fireball burst into the sky and the defense battery was engulfed within an inferno of devastating fire. After the fight at the hanger the rest of the path to the gun had been a short run to the gun. As it were, most of the mercenaries were far too worried about the rebels apparent theft of a Imperial Era AT-AT walker to post a sufficient guard unit around the perimeter of the PDB. Iron rain began pelting the base mercilessly as the shrapnel from the gun fell back to the planet in, mostly harmless, flacks and pieces. Cheers of victory roared throughout the base as the rebels caught glimpse of the PDB that had been destroyed by a rag-tag mix of Republic artillery munitions and dynamite. If anything, these people were defiantly a resourceful bunch.

"We did it! We won!" Farko squealed as it raised his rifle in the air. Beside him was the ever humble Yu-Sien, his face holding a grin of delight for men but his heart aching for how many men had been lost. Yu-Sien also knew that this was just the beginning of the battle...there was much bloodshed to come.

"The battle is far from over my friend." Yu-Sien said in a conversational tone "I must go assist the rest of the Republic troops in their fight." Yu-Sien said, turning his gaze from the roaring inferno to the rebel commander.

Farko raised his rifle again "And I will go with you! The more dogs I kill the better!" the rebel screamed with pride and enthusiasm, but Yu-Sien had other plans.

"No Farko, you must stay here and ensure that the base is taken. Once it has, take whatever you can from the vehicle bays and storage facilities and meet me at my location." handing the rebel a transmitter receiver he smiled "You can find me with this."

Taking the device in his hands, Farko sighed for a second before tightening his face with a bravery only found in a man fighting for his freedom. He stood straight and held his hand in what was supposed to be a Republic salute, it came out nothing like, but the thought was a good one "It was an honor fighting with you sir, your abilities are amazing Master Karsa."

Yu-Sien gave a faint smile and put a hand on the man's shoulder "My abilities are no better than anyone else who is willing to learn and please Farko, call me Yu-Sien." Farko grinned and stood at ease as Yu-Sien took a few steps back from him "Before this is over we will fight by each others side again Farko."

"Just don't kill all of them before I get there!" Farko growled before spinning on his heel and running into the distance to join the ensuing battle. With a slight shake of his head Yu-Sien took his communicator from his robe and contacted the Republic on all command frequencies

"This is Yu-Sien Karsa, the battery in the mountains has been destroyed. I require a gunship at my location."

@[member="Darren Brunswick"] @[member="Moira Skaldi"]

 

[Akio Kahoshi]

As Darren left the bridge, Akio expected that he was heading back to his stateroom so that he could use its secure communication features to attempted contact with the tower holding the enemy leaders. The Admiral looked forward to having the statesman out of his hair for the coming battle, he did not need a career politician questioning his military orders. It also did not hurt that whatever communications the Senator carried out would be routinely recorded and filed away should the need for them arise.

"Formation Able-1 shall rotate five-four degrees and turn four-three degrees to port on mark. Open fire on enemy targets as they come into range. Mark." The ships began to spin in relation to the Rancor as the Republic ships under his command made an attack run on a small group of mercenaries ships that had grouped together. As the enemy ships saw the maneuver they attempted a counter, but they could not break contact at this point and Akio's last minute order had given the Republic weapons a maximum firing arc. Once his ships had finished their pass, half the enemy force had been destroyed or disabled and the rest showed signs of damage. His own damage reports showed only minor damage on some of the smaller ships.

So far the battle Then his chief of staff stepped to his side. "Sir, are you aware that Senator Brunswick has landed on the surface?"

Akio visibly twitched as he heard this, but by the time he turned to look at the other man his expression was carefully neutral. "The Senator cannot be allowed to be harmed. Order the Stormtroopers to guard him at all costs."

While his eyes gave away nothing, his chief of staff could imagine that thoughts behind their icy blue. While giving the diplomatic duties to the Senator would absolve Akio of any fallout for the aggressive approach, it would do nothing to save the military commander that allowed the Senator to die on a battlefield he had no business being in. This was going to be a long day.

 

[Darren Brunswick]

@[member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""]Yu-Sien Karsa @[member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""][member=""]Akio Kahoshi

Brunswick smirked as he saw the Stormtroopers suddenly move closer towards him to form somewhat of a loose circle. So apparently Akio had given the Stormtroopers to guard him. He could see the Republic admiral twitching with annoyance thousands of feet up in space somewhere, in middle of his space battle. The Kuati senator had the tendency to annoy admirals whenever he came on diplomatic missions. Suddenly, he heard a request from his comlink.

"This is Yu-Sien Karsa, the battery in the mountains has been destroyed. I require a gunship at my location."

Well that was good. He had reports coming in that the battery in the mountains had been causing the rebels some serious damage and fatalities. It was good to hear that they had finally taken them out. He got onboard one of the gunships that still hadn't taken off, and ordered the pilot to take him to the mountains. Within a few minutes, the gunship he was onboard was closing on on Yu-Sien Karsa's location. The gunship soon landed in a flat surface in the mountains. Brunswick brushed the dust off his suit to greet Karsa.
"Greetings Mr. Karsa! I'm Darren Brunswick, the senator of Kuat." He extended his hands for a handshake with the other man.

 

[Moira Skaldi]

@[member="Darren Brunswick"], @[member="Akio Kahoshi"]

Moira's stance on the likelihood of peace negotiations was pretty clear. Given the fact that the battle was ongoing, she considered the attempt superfluous, especially since now troops had to protect the negotiator.

"I doubt you'll be able to contact them in a middle of war zone," Moira told Brunswick very dryly, loading a fresh powerpack into her pistol. "This is the only negotiation tool. The only peace the rebels want has the Directors' heads on pikes."

However, she had more important things to do than stand idly by. The battle was on, the aerial assault conducted by Republic forces had cut a bloody swathe of destruction through the mercenary forces and protecting the senator was not her job. "But thanks for the bombers and gunships. I can use one. Nice present, sir!"

With that Moira got up and quickly headed to the last gunship still waiting, just before it could take off. Without waiting for permission, she just boarded, paying the looks the soldiers her no mind. "Agent Skaldi. I'm assuming direct control. The Admiral's given me authority. Let's get this bird in the air."

The pilot seemed a bit reluctant. "You're not part of this unit. I have to check this with my CO."

As usual Moira had a definite way for dealing with red tape in the middle of the battlefield. "We have no time for smalltalk. You can send him a letter by dove. Now I have a list of targets."

Bureaucratic niceties out of the way the gunship rose up into the air and ascended, leaving the ground ground with all the wreckage and dead bodies behind them. Smoke was rising up from multiple locations in the city, the fires were expanding, apparently a great explosion had taken place where a PDB had been located. Fighter craft that had been blasted out of space by Republic vessels rained down upon the planet, pieces of debris flying across the area.

Activating the comm, Moira called Thaelmann whilst looking over a holomap. "Commander, I'm on the way to the shield generator. Move northward to the planetary defence base. You'll have air cover."

"Acknowledged," Thaelmann replied tersely. "What's all this talk about a peaceful solution? The Directors oppressed us and we won't let them get off the hook. The oppressors will hang!" he declared.

"Have no fear, peace is a lie," Moira said amused, then cut the connection. While this happened the gunship had been swerving through the air, dodging anti-air fire from missile launchers and blaster fire. Bombers were swooping down to unload their payload on enemy forces, tanks stood in flames.

The gunship unleashed a hailstorm of blaster and missiles against a large column of mercenaries seeking to engage advancing rebel forces as it swooped down, an APC was ignited into a fireball when a missile impacted upon the target. As they came in close they beheld what had transpired at the bastille.

The bastille had been built as a tower. An imposing structure that stood tall and proud in the city, it was where the dissidents, all those that opposed the regime, had been taken, to suffer and be tortured. Now it was in flames and the fire was spreading. From their high altitude they could see a multitude of corpses that littered the way in front of the tower, along with burnt-out speeders and a destroyed mech.

Moira could see people running out of the tower, though from their high altitude it was difficult to make out whether they were escaped rebels or mercenaries. However, through her binoculars she could see the Twi'lek rebel leader lying dead upon the wreckage of the a speeder. There was no sign of survivors from his squad.

The agent lowered her binoculars and looked at the pilot. "They died well. Carry on."

"Aye, be sharp. Drones up ahead!" the pilot informed her, his sensors having picked up on their presence and the gunner immediately powered up weapons, aiming to use the blaster cannon. However, as they got in close the swarm of drones made no attempt to attack, it seemed more like they were evading. They were arrayed around a rather ostentatious shuttle, occasionally leaving it to engage hostiles that got in too close. Suddenly drones broke rank and swarmed towards the gunship, unleashing blaster fire and torpedoes. The gunship swerved as the pilot evaded and dodged, Moira had to hold on tight to avoid falling over. Then they returned fire, two drones exploded in flashes of light.

"That's Director Thyssen's shuttle!" Moira declared, recognising the vessel. "Shoot it down." Most Directors would be in the tower, perhaps he hoped to escape the planet or get to some bunker the rebels did not know about. It did not really matter either way.

"It's a civilian target. That's assassination. We need permission from Admiral Kahoshi," the co-pilot protested, apparently having decided to point out the legal niceties of warfare.
"Locals are gonna hang him from a lamppost anyway," the gunnery officer spoke up, his fingers already moving over the weapons control console.

"He's an enemy leader and trying to escape," Moira said icily, waving any protest aside. "Sweep past their defences and destroy that shuttle."

Red laser fire streaked through the air as the heavy blasters targeted the drones. The gunship rocked as laser fire blasted it, but the shields held. However, speeders separated from the shuttle and came in low, losing altitude in an attempt to get under the gunship so that they could blast into its, for want of a better, term belly.

Seeing this the pilot tried to evade by gaining in height, moving towards an altitude difficult for the speeders to follow so that their shots for the most part went nowhere. The gunship shook as it was struck, dodging at a fast pace that made Moira grateful about the fact that her meal had not been substantial or else things might have gotten quite embarrassing.

A drone was riddled with rounds and its debris slammed into the gunship's cockpit, causing some damage in the window. Seeing the danger the shuttle's pilot tried to turn and dodge to the right to evade the laser fire, but the gunners locked it into the computer's targeting system.

Rebels were advancing from the ground, seeing the enemies in the air they halted and unleashed a volley of rocket propelled grenades. None of these were able to hit the shuttle, for it was too high in the air and the targeting was too imprecise, but the speeders suddenly found themselves struck. Enveloped in fireballs the damaged speeders rained down onto the ground, incidentally crushing a few rebels.

"Target in range," the gunner reported. "Locked. Requesting permission to fire."

"Granted. Terminate," was Moira's simple, cool reply.

A missile was shot out of the launcher and travelled through the sky. The shuttle tried to make one last desperate manoeuvre but the targeted missile was not to be escaped and struck into its hull, blasting a hole into it as the ship shook wildly. The pilot tried to keep control but the shuttle spun and went into a deep nose-dive, heading for the ground while it was being pumped full with laser fire let loose by the gunship's repeaters.

As it dove down the shuttle caught fire, its fuel reserves had been struck. It impacted upon the ground with a loud thud, Moira could see mercenaries and bosses trying to desperately crawl out of the wreckage, then it was engulfed by a fireball.