You'll Sleep When I Say So [First Order Invasion of Outer Rim Coalition [Hex K-53] Skor II]

[Joza Perl]

Location: Metrobig City Refugee Camp
Objective: Organize and Prep
Allies: ORC | AiE | [member="Arcanus Sunstrider"] | [member="Orvo Lekarz"]
Enemies: FO |[member="Leah Kaban"]

[member="Coren Starchaser"] was busy, it seemed. At least he had the time to update her, even if it was only a sentence or two. They knew that the palace was a likely hot spot; the static in the background of his transmission was telling enough. A distant boom thundered with the explosive breach of the palace wall and for a moment her eyes lingered in the distance as if judging her own decision to help manage the refugees at a time like this. A part of her still ached to be in the thick of action.

“Neither do we.” The Zeltron responded freely. “Why do you think we’d give you trouble? This is a refugee camp. ” Her tone was a few notes below incredulous but still relayed a forgiving measure of surprise. Seemed a little out of place, but not too far beyond what you’d expect of a shaken woman who was wandering around in the middle of a war zone. Was hard to fool a businesswoman of Joza’s particular skillset, but perhaps the chaos and setting made her question herself. Still, her face softened as she read the anxiety in the woman’s features. She didn’t look a thing like her daughter aside from the tress of dark hair peeking out from behind the shawl, yet she still reminded Joza of her kin.

She was seeing her kids everywhere. A baby cried in the arms of her mother and she saw Yula. A little boy clung to his father’s leg, looking uncertain and worried and in him she saw Alan. Perhaps naïvely, she thought that a mother’s worry would dissipate as her children got older. It didn’t. She suspected that it never would. Especially not now when they were old enough to go out into the galaxy on their own and especially not now with Yula somewhere in Metrobig City. Maybe that was why she’d been staying away from the frontlines for the past few years.

Sunstrider had been a few paces behind them but closed the gap before dropping some sort of poetic proverb. Joza arched a brow before voicing her agreement. “The Order hasn’t exactly been kind to Skor in the past so I’d say it’s best for you to remain here until the fighting dies down. We still have working comms so you might be able to reach the friend you’re staying with if you’re worried.” She clasped a hand on Sunstrider’s shoulder. “If you insist on going, blue eyes here is free to walk you back.” A faint grin of amusement tinged her lips.

 

[Rosalina]

Location: Tagge Survey Site
Objective: Make a new friend
Allies: ORC | AiE | [member="T-3"] | [member="Peyton Steele"] (eventually? maybe?)
Enemies: FO | [member="Racosidae"] | [member="Castiel Moncrief "]| [member="Hatori Ikari"] | [member="Decima Fortan"] | [member="Rhun Trask"]

The threat of war didn’t seem to stop the Squibs from…what was it called again? ‘Salvaging’? Alm couldn’t understand why people would bother rummaging through trash. It just didn’t make sense to her. Where she was from, something was only trash if it no longer had any use. The concept of refurbishing items for new tasks was critical in her tribal culture, yet it wasn’t a specific job and more of a given to her people.

Which is why when the Coalition sent her as an escort for a small group of Squibs venturing to the far reaches of the planet, she had questions. A lot of them. An irritating amount. On their way back to Metrobig City, the group had stopped at an old abandoned salvaging site that still had some standing, albeit dilapidated structures. From what the Squibs told her, it was occasionally used as a camp for one or two weary travelers to spend the night in on their way elsewhere. Better to have a somewhat solid roof over your head than sleeping in a junkyard, she supposed.

“What that?” Alm pointed to a metallic device that a Squib was trying to clean off. Basic was a tricky language and the fact that she was able to converse was…good enough for some people.

“I already told ya, Tree.” They’d taken to calling her Tree during their trip. Alm figured that it was due to her height given that she easily soared three to four feet above most of the Squibs she’d come across. “This here’s a codebreaker. Found it in one of those old First Order wrecks.” He squinted past the Amazonian woman and towards the sky “Nothin' like genuine imperial parts. Hopefully there’ll be plenty more to go ‘round.”

“Hmm. Crodebreakor.” The Squib cringed. “What Crodebreakor do?”

Byamba, her hunting partner had perched himself of the debris from an old ship wreck. The hawk had busied himself by pecking at anything that had seemed interesting—specifically a screen that had a thin layer of vegetation growing over it, whatever it was attached to being buried in debris. Upon seeing his reflection, the hawk shrieked in anger—thinking it was another, rival bird—and began to peck furiously.

Something tickled at Alm’s senses and she hummed, low and partially dissatisfied. They’d elected to stay out here and away from the ships crowding over the city, figuring it to be safe. But the footsteps at the other end of the site and perhaps a few words had drifted far enough along the wind to grasp her attention. She couldn’t tell what it was, but something was making noise. Maybe. Turning abruptly away from the Squib’s explanation of the ‘Crodebreakor’, Alm grasped at the handle of the hammer strapped to her back.

“Hmm.”

 

[T-3]

Tagge Survey Site
Objective: Wake Up
Allies: ORC | AiE | [member="Alm"] | [member="Peyton Steele"] (eventually? maybe?)
Enemies: FO | [member="Racosidae"] | [member="Castiel Moncrief "]| [member="Hatori Ikari"] | [member="Decima Fortan"] | [member="Rhun Trask"]

There was noise.

It was feint, an echo really, picked up by sensors that had been all but dead for who knew how long. The impact of a beak rang again and again against an empty screen, the reflection of a bird triggering a screech that vibrated moss and dust covered metal. It did not move initially, not an inch, not even in the slightest. Yet something beneath the surface moved, a gyroscope, a tiny piece of metal that had been crafted to maintain balance seemed to give just the slightest hint.

Another screech, a harsh peck, and then suddenly something more moved. A low whirr began to erupt from beneath fallen rubble and crushed metal, brief flashes of orange paint showing through the fallen and crumbling ship. Beneath the wreckage, hounded by the fierce avian something finally gave way.

Fingers curled.

A brief flash of light erupted from a fallen metallic panel, a spark of life as T-3's power core kicked into a gear after nearly a year of laying dormant.

\\:ERROR://​

​

\\:READFILE; DIRECTIVE...TASK FAILURE://​

​

\\:NO DATA FOUND://​

The droid lay still, unsure of what to do as the bird pecked at it's face.

 

[Peyton Steele]

Location: Planetside, en route to Megabig City or something. Survey? Comms are shotty.
Allies: [member="T-3"] [member="Alm"] Alliance, Coalition
Enemies: First Order

Peyton Steele was one of the ranking agents within the Alliance intelligence. She wasn’t worried on being a handler, she was hopeful to lead some of the men and women of the Alliance armed forces. The fleet had its own task, but Coren, through Lav and Porter, had contacted fleets on standby. First Order movements had come through but the gravity wells were causing some navigational issues. Peyton let the pilots make the landing on the dark side of the planet, and launching hover tanks would be a way to get them around. What she was waiting for was eyes on the ground.

She was working on comms officer for the Sentinel Battalion. Four squads, one of Force Enhanced Soldiers, two of soldiering soldiers, and one of engineers found their way planetside and on repulsorlift vehicles and heading to the battlezone.

Contacting the droid, she had tagged a message out to Porter.

“Calvary has arrived. Time to pull ORC out of the fire.” She was waiting for the call and location of where to be.

 

[Eyros]

​

Location: 1-2 Miles outside of Metrobig City | Survey Site Tagge​

Objective: Survey and Clear Sit Tagge in Preparation for Pre-fab Deployment
Allies: The First Order | [member="Hatori Ikari"] | [member="Decima Fortan"] | [member="Racosidae"] | @Castiel Moncrief
Enemies Outer Rim Coalition | [member="Alm"] | [member="Peyton Steele"] | [member="T-3"]

Scouts? They had been assigned as scouts? If Rhun could spit and not have it caught up by the interior of his helmet he would have. The unit was seven, seven of the highly trained members among Natasi’s FIST and here they were stood within a landing vessel en-route to the planets surface with a surround of auxiliary forces and Ren who had been assigned to the task rather then the heavier forces currently heading towards the palace. It was enough to make him struggle with why Kalast had sent him to the Order, why the man who had once fathered his current command had deemed his services better to the Order then the Imperial remnant that was currently disappearing into the fade.

But an order was an order.

The vessel felt as if it was passing through an asteroid field as they all over-noticed each and every bump, jitter and thump. Beneath them was a planet that had been all the talk around the tables of the First Order barracks, the Outer-Rim coalition illegally remaining even though they, the First Order had rightfully issued their governance after the fall of the Alliance. So now they had been called in to allow a frontal presence to be installed, a garrison that would allow the Order to assure that Skor II would be capable of being watched and protected from the open, dangerous minds of the criminal scum currently holding the king under their sway.

Which had seemed simple.

It was not.

So many had not even made the surface, the Coalition opening weapons without warning and unleashing endless fire upon the First Order, even after they had not received return fire they would continue to flood the sky with fire. So when the vessel gave a rumble, indicating it had landed intact on the ground even Rhun released a breath of relief.

“Alright. Let’s move.” Rhun spoke into his helmet and allowed the message to be sent across the whole team, which one by one grabbed their weapons and began to head towards the exit of the vessel to assure that the area would be secure with or without the help of the auxiliary.

 

[Sayd-Jai]

Objective: Kill FO Forces
Enemies: Come At Me
Gear: SPECTRE Armor, SODD, Teki no Sairensā, Dissuader

Silence.

Not literal. He lived in a life of literal silence. An inability to hear left him with nothing but his mind for noise. Sure, he knew that he could get it fixed with implants or dozens of other things. If he wanted to hear he could. He didn't want to hear. The moment he got the ability was the moment he lost everything. It would destroy him because he wasn't used to it. Then it would destroy him because he would try to figure out how it worked, learn to use it, and that process of learning would cost him his other skills. He couldn't do that.

So he heard his own mind, and nothing else. A blessing and a curse. The blessing, his focus, was far greater than the curse. He used it and knew that there were enemies there. Nearby. But there were people to face them. Through his 'eyes' he knew there were others on the outskirts. Those less occupied. There were also some outside the city, doing things. Probably setting up a command post. That's what they would do. It was what they always did. He figured he knew where to go.

Leaping off the building, he glided through the air and landed on another roof nearby, barely held up in doing so. He moved on again, running to the edge and leaping across to the next roof. And the next. He made his way swiftly, without being touched or bothered. To the edge of the city he went, and only there did he stop. When he stopped he scanned the surroundings and waited. It wouldn't take forever. They were out there,doing what they did. Maybe not killing, yet, but they would. It was what they did. Anything foreign to them they ended up killing if they couldn't control it.

There, a group herding some of the locals along. They weren't fighting back as they should. Cowards. He reached up and drew his blade, switching it on. Then he jumped down off the building. He fell through the air, and landed with a controlled descent, the Force used to telekinetically cushion his fall. The first one wasn't even aware he was there before he died, head cleaved away clean. The next one started to turn, and was swiftly cut in two at the waist. The third turned fully and he rammed his blade through his chest and out the other side. The fourth fired a shot that glanced off of him, a grazing strike, before he was grabbed through the Force and pulled directly over to impale himself.

One group down. More to go. He said nothing to those being escorted, and moved on.

 

[Julius Sedaire]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJlN9jdQFSc​

​

[SIZE=11pt]Location:[/SIZE] Palace Grounds
[SIZE=11pt]Objective:[/SIZE] Defend the King!
[SIZE=11pt]Allies:[/SIZE] Outer Rim Coalition Members, Various Squibs, Free Will [member="Coren Starchaser"] | [member="Mishel Noren"] | ([member="Dax Fyre"] | [member="Zef Halo"] | [member="Yula Perl"] | [member="Vaudin Miir"] | [member="Jaius Sovv"] | [member="Mishka Larraq"] | [member="Krenis Skirata"] | [member="Srina Talon"] [member="Darth Metus"]
Enemies: [member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Keira Verd"] | [member="Tobias Wrynn"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Vestille Thumahra"] | [member="Omari Vyken"] | [member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Primat Ren"] | Various Stick Like Implants in Imperial Forces (<3)

Spoiler

Gear:

• Corellian Longcoat (Over Armor)
• Corellian Bloodstripe Trousers - First Class
• Kathol Liberation Ring (Right Hand)
• Rebel Corusca Signet Ring (Left Hand)
• Aing-Tii Arm (Right Arm)
• 'Green Sword' Lightsaber
• K-22 Executioner Bryar Pistol (back strap to Longcoat)
• Aing-Tii 'Jedi Armor'
• Corellian Jedi Credit
• Emergency Beacon

In pieces and parts, it was slowly coming together. Julius could feel the crossing of paths swirling on this planet as he walked, baffling systems on his armor fully engaged, rendering him hard to trace. There was a nexus, of sorts, coming into being in the palace. Walking, he found a likely spot, and set to checking his bryar pistol and gear. A quick pat down of his coat to find various bits of string and paperclips and wax as it were (odds and ends) and he flexed his cybernetic arm. Slowly he slid in a fresh powercell to the shield generator, flexing the arm softly and smiled as he drew his lightsaber and stepped into a maintenance closet off a hallway intersection.

The squibs and ORC and AiE forces would be in place now, he could feel a few he had trained nearby. Nodding, he sent nudges to the minds of the dozen or so commandos prepped for such. His telepathy wasn't great, but the surge of confidence and readiness along with the single word of 'Go!' let them know. Any First Order or otherwise unknown forces would be fired upon from ambushes now as they entered the palace. Hidden in supply closets, floor grates, ventilation shafts and all over. The squibs were tiny, and took to guerilla and ambush warfare like naturals once trained. Tensor rifles and a few other things that Julius wasn't sure he wanted to know were had been put into service. The squibs ability to scavenge also extended to tinkering like mad scientists.

But each would wait for the right time, for the maximum damage. They didn't have numbers. But they had a damn sight more planning and improv. Jammed comms could wreck the First Order? It might actually make their forces more dangerous. There was no standard books of operation for the Coalition, and the Alliance fit that mold too now. The Squibs seem to thrive on chaos and disorder, it almost delighted them in the moment. They weren't the most gallant creatures in the 'verse, true. But they understood their home and way of life was at stake. And they positively held a grudge like a small dog might gnaw at a couriers' ankle.

For now, Julius waited in the closet, meditating in a pose called 'emptiness', standing absolutely still, saber at the ready. Waiting for the Force to call him to action, as a few new friends had cautioned him to.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

Location: Somewhere in space
Objective: Bring a surprise then join
Allies: ORC/AIE
Enemies: Not sure... First Order | [member="Robogeber"] | [member="Cynthia Alucard"] | [member="Kou'ha Escala"] | [member="Morro"] | [member="Karl Von Strauss"]
Gear: Blasters | Taozin Amulet | odds and ends of things in her back pack...grenades or two, nets. feathers, etc etc

She was in awe of the site really standing there looking at the fleet, wow...who know that something that could cause so much damage could look so amazing in space. The ships dangled on invisible strings, OH look more whales...

Something was happening Rekha looked around at the small pod with her of about 12 whales of various sizes. The larger males were already reacting Rekha thought they were going to attack the ships but what they were doing was...well...it looked like playing. They were gliding about and around under one another then that low resonating sound began she thought it was a malfunction in her suit.

She could see where they released her ship not far...but close enough for her to get to it yet. The sight of it though made her relax knowing she wouldn't be left out here in the black dangling alone. This ride had been absolutely the time of her life she'd never forget it. Feth riding the thranta on Bespin riding whales was the way to go.

An old satellite came within reach of the group and the youngsters began playing with it bouncing it back and forth between them. She imagined that had never seen one before to them it was well a toy.

Rekha looked again beyond to the planet the battle seemed to be gearing up she had brought them here to make friends, to...be allies but with all this fire power she feared that all that effort would only bring them to their deaths.

The males were moaning again looking off she could see a few of the whales from the other group begin to break away heading towards her group of 12. Ut oh....they were a bit smaller...she watched...ohh....

It is within our nature it is our time..

She wasn't sure how it was that she was able to talk to these guys but it was happening must be the crystal she had been given.

It would turn out that Skor provided the conditions needed for breeding for purgill and it just so happened that Rekha showed up just in time for them to be in season.

What is happening?

Time for conceptus.

con-cep-tus she blinked...holy feth...she needed out of here....she couldn't imagine the giant lumbering beasts during.........conceptus...feth... me..she thought talk about dumb luck ...wouldn't you know it I brought the....horny males...feth.. this is [member="Coren Starchaser"] 's fault him and his bright ideas.

Several of the ship that were in the way of the oncoming females were bumped out of the way...it was like watching...a holo of...well maybe bumper cars...the weren't being destructive they just...were clearing the way. There wasn't any damage to the ships just a gentle nudge or a shift as they passed their wake creating a disturbance. But that did bring into question..how many more purgills would show UP???!!!

 

[Mittens]

Location: Space: Coming out of the planet's shadow. "with-spin".
Allies: ORC ([member="Dano Dil"], [member="Jorus Merrill"], [member="Jada Raxis"], [member="Silara Varis"], [member="Rekha Kaarde"], [member="Kaine Australis"], [member="Cathul Thuku"], [member="Mazik Stazi"], [member="Roth Tillian"], [member="Griet van Vliet"])
Enemies: First Order ([member="Karl Von Strauss"], [member="Robogeber"], [member="Natasi Fortan"], [member="The Major"], [member="Kou'ha Escala"], [member="Morro"], [member="Cynthia Alucard"])
Objective: Make with the Pew-Pew


As the assorted naval forces of the Outer Rim Coalition began to move against the assets of the First Order, and the warships of the First Order responded in kind, the planet of Skor II spun on, slowly rotating as it hurled through the void around a distant, yellow star. The ships above the planet traded lances of light and energy with one another, strange beasts leading the charge against the invading Imperial forces for the Coalition's Joint Strike Force, and the world below sparkled in the void as powerful emitters projected a protective shield above Metrobig City and the surrounding area. There were many such shields scattered about the planet, each one protecting a glowing cluster of lights that represented hundreds of thousands of Squib lives. The whole of the world glowed and shimmered against the backdrop of a sun that slowly curved behind (or above, depending on perspective) the warring fleets. Down on the planet, night would be approaching Metrobig City in a few more hours. But in the space above, something new was coming into focus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNhHWj4e1-w&t=38s​

Scans would pick it up first as an abnormal gravitational anomaly, or possibly as an abnormal distortion in the planet's electromagnetic field. More detailed scans would show an enormous physical object primarily comprised of metal. Visual sensors pointed at the horizon of the planet's equator would reveal the truth of the matter though, as a massive cluster of debris rounded the far side of the planet and came into view. A closer look would reveal the debris field to primarily be comprised of the destroyed and discarded ships left by the First Order the last time they had dared to assault the homeworld of the Squibs. While the Alliance had removed most of their hulks, or nudged them into the sun out of respect to the men and women that had died upon their lost warships, the debris field was still much larger than one would have expected, considering the relatively limited number of capital ships the First Oder lost over Skor II. While part of this was thanks to the junk-collecting skills of the Squib, not to mention the week and a half of preparation time they had been given on top of the significant time that had accrued since the First Order first came knocking on their door, the remaining explanation for the significant increase in mass would quickly reveal itself as the numerous ships of the Squib Reclamation Fleet, Glorious Navy of the Squib Polyanarchy and valiant defenders of Skor Two powered up and prepared to defend their planet from the Second Invasion of the Imperial Jerkfaces!

Aboard the glorious flagship of the Squib Navy and mightiest of momships, Reduce, Reuse, Exterminate, Grand Admiral Mittens sat with much regallity, slowly licking his right paw as his master plan was put into action. Beside him, Grand Admiral Squibbikans, Leader of the Glorious Squib Navy and Generally Awesome Individual, stood at attention and stared at the forward viewscreen. "Are you sure this will work?" Admiral Squibbikans asked as he squinted at the display. "Absolutely." Admiral Mittens said calmly before giving his paw one final lick, his surprisingly deep voice carrying throughout the bridge. "I have absolute faith in the competence of your forces and the quality of your arsenal. More over, we are in a perfect position. The bulk of the Coalition Joint Strike Force is arranged either between the planet and the First Order, or down-spin of the First Order Fleet. As we arrive from spin-ward, this puts us in a prime position to assault the First Order and catch them in a crossfire."

Mittens watched the meter and 8 centimeter tall Squib inflate with pride at the complement to his forces, a slight nod gracing his noble stance as he acknowledged the complement. "Yes, as do I." The Admiral said before taking a deep, hesitant breath. "But I am referring to those." He said as he inclined his nose toward a rapidly moving cluster of icons on the screen.

"Oh." Admiral Mittens said, his tail flicking once as he contemplated the assets to which the Squib Admiral was referring. "Yes, I'm quite sure. We've timed this perfectly."

Where once there was one sensor anomaly at the edge of the planet, now there were two. The second and newest of these anomalies would reveal itself to be much smaller in total mass than the first, but moving much quicker. In fact, is was moving significantly faster than a mass of such size had any right to move. Active scans and high resolution imagery would reveal seven large objects hurling past the curvature of the planet, skimming upon a thin wave of pressure as they skirted the upper atmosphere in what was clearly the final stages of a slingshot maneuver. However, eyes would bulge and jaws would drop as the first images of what rounded the planet came into focus. Sensor operators across the sector would move closer to their screens in disbelief at what they were seeing.

Massive, thousand kilometer long whales plated in starship grade armor and bristling with weapons swam along the upper atmosphere of the planet. Four of them, line abreast, dipped upward as one and began to rocket away from the pull of the planet as they completed a textbook slingshot maneuver. Beside those four whales, two massive creatures of similar size and of an entirely opaque nature likewise swam towards the First Order fleet at unbelievable speeds. And yet... And yet the most unbelievable part was... unbelievable. Each of the four armored whales dragged behind itself an enormous mooring cable. And what was at the end of those cables? Truly, the stuff of nightmares.

WHALES!

Spoiler

SPACE KRACKEN!

Spoiler

Like an enormous chariot from the depths of the Netherworld, or some other place that one could only conceive of in the fits of a fever dream, a massive Summa-Verminoth was being dragged through the void by a brace of four enormous whales, that themselves looked like the creation of a madman or a devil. Behind them, the tentacles of the dread beast trailed for kilometers.

A moment of shock, an instant of awe, and then a second of pure dread would surely race through those of the First Order who saw what came for them. After that, a cold realization would sink in as computers throughout the sector tracked the trajectory of the otherworldly abominations. The hellbeasts were on a collision course, aimed squarely upon what was clearly the flagship of the First Order, the Admonitor-class Super Star Destroyer.

"Now." Mittens said, his tail again flicking as he stared down the First Order warships. The bridge of the warship erupted into a scattered assortment of languages as initiation orders were given. Comm frequencies throughout the system were being jammed by a number of sources, but orders could still be given by Comm-Laser, or patterned pulse emissions. All the same, a trio of massive ships sprang into action at the flanks of the Squib Flagship, each of the Cal-class Battleships using tractor beams and massive electromagnetic mass-driver technology to hurl enormous chunks of scrap from the First Order's previous failures upon them once again. Likewise, dozens of Needle Ships mimicked their larger cousin and likewise flung the remains of First Order warships upon the current fleet that dared to challenge the sovereignty of the Squib Polyanarchy. At the same time, a veritable swarm if the dart-like Needle Fighters poured out of the Squib Flagship and raced towards the First Order Fleet. They themselves had been made from the recycled parts of dead First Order warships and moved at the flanks of the barrage of garbage that was being hurled upon the First Order. These too, all of it, were aimed squarely upon the Admonitor-class Super Star Destroyer and the ships that dared to stay close to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmosF_Co51k​

Fancy Fleet (29,000m)

Spoiler

Kracken Command (11,000m) >>> Collision Course w/ Admonitor-class Super Star Destroyer
1x Summa-Verminoth - 5km Body, tenticles 5x that length
4x Whale-Ships - 1km Each, pulling the Summa-Verminoth like horses on a Chariot
2x Oswaft - 1km Each, escorting the whale-ships

Squib Reclamation Fleet, Glorious Navy of the Squib Polyanarchy and valiant defenders of Skor Two (18,000m) >>> Hurling garbage and starfighters at FO Fleet (Robogeber)
1x Leviathan Factory Ship/Carrier - 5km
3x Cal-class Battleship - 3km Each
80x Needle Ship - 50m Each
Swarm of Needle Fighters - 2.5m Each (pouring out of the Leviathan)

 

[Jorus Merrill]

LOCATION: Space
OBJECTIVE: [member="Karl Von Strauss"]
ALLIES: ORC, AiE, [member="Mittens"]
ENEMIES: FO

FORCES: Howlrunner Fleet

• Command ship: S.S. Gossamer (1500m)
• 2x assorted generic rusty Star Destroyers (4000m total) - Jacquelle, Termagant
• 4x assorted generic rusty heavy cruisers (3500m total) - Montes, Rousse, Volte, Diderre
• 5x assorted generic rusty corvettes (900m total) - Ravenous, Mortain, Vnukk, Tojarra, Sedic, Bluett
• Fighter/interceptor/bomber complement: Average and balanced and rusty
• Total length: 9900m

The First Order fleet started turning our way, mostly all together. A couple ships broke off to help another fleet. All kinds of insanity was going down at other points in orbit. Orbit's a big place, but it was getting full: fleets, purrgills, plenty of crap. Fortunately, all I had to deal with for now was this one fleet.

This one fleet whose ships had probably been built a year or two back instead of like twenty. Or thirty.

"Merrill, this is Captain Szen. We're-"

The Sedic took long-range fire from those big modern guns. We'd get close enough to slug back soon enough, but soon enough wasn't now, and the corvette broke up. I don't have Force senses like a normal Jedi. My imagination told me plenty about the couple hundred folks that just died. I've been on a ship breaking apart, more than once. Got a knack for survival while good people burn up.

"Helm, take us to the front of the blob. Let's tank this while we close." The Gossamer had the best shields in my fleet by a wide margin. It'd do the job for the moment.

In the meantime, we had fast pincers coming in -- mostly corvettes, looked like. "Volte, Diderre, hold our port flank. Rousse, Montes, starboard flank." The four heavy cruisers ought to hold out decently well against the pincers, though they'd be taking an awful lot of messy fire while we closed the range.

"Okay, Jacquelle, Termagant, I want you two just lobbing crap downrange. Focus fire on the smallest ship in that main blob and work your way up from there. Start chewing."

The old Star Destroyers had their share of scars, but as we got into range, their big old guns opened up. A lot of commanders like hitting the big boats; me, I whittle down. There's no admiral in the 'verse that won't start thinking twice when his corvette escorts evaporate.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

https://youtu.be/4pkGoo5q6RY​

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Location: FIV Concordia
Objective: Lead
Allies: The First Order | [member="Kou'ha Escala"] | [member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="The Major"] | [member="Robogeber"] | [member="Durgan Ossk"] | [member="Sogash"]
Enemies: The Outer Rim Coalition | The Galactic Alliance | Spirited Teens | Scruff-Bearers | Grandeur-Deluded Beskar Jockeys | Space Calamari

Natasi spoke to [member="Durgan Ossk"] and [member="Sogash"] calmly, clearly. "My instructions are that you should maintain the curfew by whatever means necessary while doing what is possible to avoid civilian casualties. The deluded do-gooder demographic does have a tendency to use innocents as human shields, so be on your guard." The Grand Moff studied the viewport casually as she spoke. She had a world of confidence in [member="Kou'ha Escala"], so she was not perturbed by the presence of the naval fleets gathering in the void. "But if you have the inclination and ability -- and it does not interfere with First Order personnel, this is critical -- I would pay you handsomely to retrieve the Squib King or [member="Jaius Sovv"] and delivered them to me aboard the Concordia. You would be paid handsomely for either, but there will be riches beyond your wildest imagination if you were to provide both."


The Grand Moff let the words hang in the air for a moment. "I hope it's understood that I'm not granting you carte blanche. If you interfere with First Order forces or personnel -- even a little -- the contract will be canceled. In addition, any armed resistance to First Order forces not part of the Squib government -- including foreign interlopers, bounty hunters, Alliance personnel -- that you can capture alive will be rewarded. Lastly," she added darkly. "I want you to report on any First Order misconduct you witness in the form of unnecessary civilian casualties or reckless endangerment. In all of these assignments, discretion is key. If you have any questions, now is the time."

When things had been settled with Pack Alpha, Nebula stood, smoothed her dress, picked up her coffee and carried it down the hall to the door of the situation room. Before she entered, she paused, her dark eyes narrowing a little as she considered a shred of self-doubt at her most recent conversation. Bounty hunters? Was this really her thing? It hadn't been the first time resorting to the seedy underbelly of the galactic economy, but it was the first time she had involved them so closely with a First Order operation. Natasi pushed to the side to allow a Navy steward to pass her and nodded to him, then sighed and turned back to the door.

It was too late to go back now. She could only hope now that she wouldn't come to regret the choice.

Natasi entered the situation room and shut the door behind her. The room was secure, biolocked and swept for bugs often. [member="The Major"] was there already, apparently monitoring the multiple data feeds that were arrayed around the room. Her request for a question was -- peculiar. Like the ginger girl herself, Natasi thought. But Shepard was effective, at least as effective as she was odd, and loyal as far as Natasi could tell. That earned her a lot of leeway as far as the Grand Moff was concerned. She pulled a chair out at the center of one side of the table and sat, using the built-in control panel to activate the holoprojector at the center of the table.

"You may ask me any number of things, Director Shepard," she said with an ease and air she did not quite feel. The Grand Moff had been investigated by the Security Bureau twice in her life; neither time had found anything against Natasi's character, ability, or integrity, but nor would she have described them as entertaining or easy moments in her life. The first had been after her apparent assassination and abduction prior to becoming Grand Moff, and the second had been more recent -- when she had returned from her hiatus following her husband's death. As she considered these things, and her mind reeled with the possibility of what Shepard was going to ask her, the projector was busy rendering the data that Concordia's sensors were gathering into a tri-dimensional holomap of the system, with a focus on immediate space around Skor II.

She looked up from the map for a moment, across the room at the bespectacled Director. "What is it, Sybil?" Her voice was calm and controlled, and she was hoping that all her diplomatic experience stopped her looking nervous. In her peripheral vision, a massive orange block appeared on the map, and she half-turned towards the map, watching as the map processed the bizarre data into a miniature holographic rendition of some unseemly eldritch horror. That can't possibly be right.

Natasi forced her attention back to Shepard, dark eyes wary.

 

[Jaius Sovv]

Location: Skor Palace
Objective: Secure the King for Evacuation
Allies: ORC + AiE | [member="Julius Sedaire"] | [member="Dax Fyre"] | [member="Coren Starchaser"] | [member="Mishel Noren"] | [member="Mishka Larraq"] | M-3PO
Enemies: FO | [member="Rolf Amsel"] | [member="Rexus Wenck"] | [member="Tobias Wrynn"] | [member="Omari Vyken"] | [member="Keira Verd"]

"Colonel Varik?" was all Jaius had time to ask before he was carefully but forcefully dragged along by his honor guard, "What is happening?"

"Imperial forces have breached the palace," the Alliance Pathfinder's voice was distorted by his Templar exosuit's vocoder, "We need to get you out of here."

Despite his protests, Chief Sovv was lifted off his feet by several in the squad of power armor equipped special forces which served as his personal security detail. They were supposed to obey his every command, but from their lack of response to his demands that they desist the old politician suspected Admiral Stazi had provided the team with additional orders that countermanded his own. It was a breach of trust he would need to confront his fleet admiral about, but for now there was little he could do to stop it.

"Get Admirals Thuku and Varis on the line!" he hollered over his shoulder at the trailing form of M-3PO.

"I've been trying master, but there is too much interference in orbit!" Threepio waved his ivory arms frantically while he failed miserably to keep up, "Oh! Please don't leeeaaave me!"

They paused at an intersection of lavish palatial corridors, and with practiced efficiency each commando set up bases of fire while Colonel Hal Varik deliberated with several of his cohorts over their options. Sovv struggled ineffectually in their grip, eventually through sheer stubbornness to force his 'captors' to allow him the minor consideration of being able to turn and address Em Three directly. From far off, but definitely inside the same building, he could hear faint echoes of blaster fire.

"See if you can raise your droid contacts in the Squib militias," he ordered his spymaster once the protocol droid finally caught up to them, "We can coordinate their efforts with the Coalition as well as Alliance resistance fighters."

"We're cut off. The hangars are too risky," Colonel Varik informed him in an unworried Corellian drawl, "We're moving you to the King's bunker."

They were on the move again, and although Jaius was fuming at the humiliation of being carried like a child, it was hard to deny the results of the pace his guardsmen set. Despite the circumstances, despite knowing he should be, he felt more exhilarated than afraid. [member="Natasi Fortan"] would no doubt seek to reclaim her prize, but he felt reassured by his own certainty that he would never allow himself to be taken alive again. Even if drastic measures had to be taken, the Sullustan had made his peace with this possibility.

"Let us in, we have the Alliance Chief of State!"

To ensure his safety and the secrecy of the bunker's location, they had taken a circuitous route through the palace to get here, far from any reports of Imperial activity. But Jaius had finally arrived, and when the outer duranium bulkheads groaned open just a crack to allow them inside, he could hear a loud exchange between King Adegabaydee and a Coalition Judge. The latter was attempting to impress upon his majesty the importance of staying put where it was safe, but the regal Squib wanted to fight alongside his people.

"The Jedi is right, majesty," Chief Sovv interjected, "Every second they waste hunting you is a second they're distracted from inflicting even more suffering on Metrobig."

"King Adegabaydee want very much kill hunt squish storm men!" the Squib shouted back at him, rage in his adorable little eyes, "They kill squish Adegabaydee, and think Squibs embrace in buddy-buddyness? Squibs kill hunt squish even harder! Squibs never forget mean-bad storm men fighty crimes! Squibs loyalty to Alliance ultrastrong!"

"I understand. Alive or dead, you are a symbol to your people," Jaius clapped his withered hand across the Kinng's furry shoulder, "But who will lead them after we push the Empire back? General [member="Coren Starchaser"] is on his way, he has an elite strike team with him. We wait to be extracted, and once your safety is assured you can take direct command of all planetary resistance operations."

Adegabaydee looked like he still wanted to argue, but for now made no moves towards the closing bulkhead doors. With just seconds to spare before they were sealed, M-3PO trundled through and collapsed onto the bunker floor in complete hysterics.

"Quit laying around, Threepio," the Sullustan gave his droid's chassis a soft kick, "See if you can work the comm equipment in here. Tell Starchaser to hurry, and see if we can't figure out what in the Force is going on in orbit."

 

[Zef Halo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ZF2xaNhyw​

METROBIG CITY (Cant copy GFX cause proxy)
Objective: Keep Grankiddo alive
Allies: Himself, [member="Yula Perl"]
Enemies: FO, whoever shoots at him, [member="Elian Keyes"], [member="Alkor Centaris"]

His heart skipped a beat when a shot rang very near Yula as both ducked to cover. Widened eyes quickly turned into a furious grimace, the wrinkles on his face darkening it even more. Particle beam blaster pistol was already in his hand and the ex-Mandalorian wanted nothing more than to blast to oblivion the karker who shot at his grandkid. The pain in the waist, the strain on the knees - these things didn't used to happen when he was younger. Back then you'd never even think that might happen to you, never acknowledged it, you saw old people as something you'd never end up as. But the older you grew and the more passionately did you fight back against accepting it, the tenser it got. You can't win against the tide. Old age was here to stay.

That don't mean you ain't allowed one last fiery punch at it.

Go out with a bang, y'know what I mean?, the times he'd heard [member="Daro Tarsi"] say that. That old kark was probably right.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at Yula who still had remains of her grin to what he had told her earlier.

"What's with the chit-eating grin, kid? Ya almost got blasted to oblivion and I pray that don't happen cause ya're ma's gonn' send me up to the nether to get you back." Zef grumbled in his typical manner. "And I am too old to get to the nether and come back down, ya hear?" Oddly the thought of the netherworld reminded him of an old, old friend of his - [member="Darth Metus"]. Coincidence?

"The Order ain't playin' around, kid. Never was, never will. If they comin', they comin' hard." The smuggler explained to Yula, a tired expression crawling on his brow. He'd barely escaped a First Order raid on a Jedi rebel cell nearly a year ago while smuggling weapons to the cell. " Place gonn' be on lockdown until them karks finish killin' each other. " All restraint of cynicism had disappeared. "I can try get us to the Bolt and break the blockade, or we could find a place to lay low, wait for all this to blow over and get off-world ASAP."

Something revolting told him Yula hadn't inherited Zef's fleeing trait.

He braved a glimpse from his cover and frowned at the sight - Mandalorians.

Karkin' Mandalorians.

Karkin' Mandalorian Schuttas.

Kark.

Whatever Yula picked they still had to bail from their current position as the stormtroopers blitzed the area, Zef urgently waved at her to move as he stood up from cover and fired as rapidly as the ol' scoundrel could at the approaching stormtroopers and mando'ade. The particle beam shots would explode loudly upon contact.

 

[Elena Lowe]

​

Location: Skor II, Metrobig City Refugee Camp.
Objective: Don't get caught.
Allies: The First Order
Enemies: [member="Arcanus Sunstrider"] [member="Joza Perl"]
Equipment: SB-U01 Wrist Datapad | C-51 Charric Pistol

​

It was worth a try, but it was wishful thinking. The people here were on alert with the First Order attacking. She should've moved more carefully, stayed out of sight. She had the attention of the officials now. If they weren't suspicious now, they would be in time. She had to get moving, had to get out of this camp, where the miserable wretched and defenseless masses, abandoned by the Alliance, huddled together in fear of a people they'd never had the chance to interact with, a chance to see. To them, the First Order was representative of pure evil, just as the Alliance had been to her. Since she'd signed up, that idea had changed of course. Her short time in the Bureau had immersed her amongst people incredibly different in culture but identical in their nature. She didn't hate these bedraggled refugees; they could just as easily be citizens of Dosuun.

Still, it was time to go.

The man addressed her first, then the woman. They both had the same message, she should stay. That didn't exactly work for Leah, as she had a rather important date down at the palace grounds. Not that she would or could tell them that.

"I can take care of myself." She told them, drawing her shawl tight around her body and folding her toned, muscled arms in front of her body. "Leave me be."

Her eyes drifted down to her crossed arms, where the edge of her wrist datapad poked out from her dark sleeve. She paled, eyes widening, and lowered her arms as nonchalantly as possible, allowing the fabric to slip back over the incriminating device. Had they noticed? Would they even know what it was? Likely not, but it was a stupid mistake nontheless.

 

[Alkor Centaris]

It began before Alkor had time to truly settle into the job. Stormtrooper elements had grabbed several civilians and placed them into containment for processing already, all while Alkor saw to their oversight and defense. Multiple attackers rose up quickly and without fair warning, but that was to be expected. The Outer Rim Coalition was filled with scum and villainy, all manner of smugglers, spacers, and lowlives looking to make a quick buck. He met a few of them, back when it was just a few Corellian guys uprooted by the devastation of their homeworld. Heard tell it was more than that now.

He absently wondered what that [member="Jorus Merrill"] fellow he helped once was up to, and if the likes of his sister's ex-husband [member="Julius Sedaire"] was caught up in all of this. There were times when he almost regretted getting involved with things that were messier than what they appeared to be at face value. It was a good thing this was personal business, and not Mandalorian business.

A particle beam ripped past him and tore deep into stormtrooper armor, and Alkor's HUD identified the vector before he had time to fully react. Kad bless Mandalorian ingenuity.

He threw himself into motion reflexively, taking cover behind the corner of one of the tenaments that the Squibs called a home, and another shot tore a chunk out of... whatever kind of garbage formed the walls. Beneath his buy'ce, Centaris grimaced.

"Nasty weapon," he muttered to himself as he flicked his eyes subtly to one side and ran a search on the damage output based on what his scanners picked up. There were a few weapons on the market like that, but even more of them weren't street legal. Figures. "Alright then," he clicked his tongue and dug beneath his cloak for something non-lethal- a rarity, given his proclivity for kill contracts these days- and produced a glop grenade, courtesy of the First Order, who wanted to keep civilian casualties to a minimum.

He counted the seconds between shots and watched absently as the Stormtroopers took up defensive positions, urging onlookers inside as they fired back toward the source. Suppressing fire was a blessing in this scenario.

One trooper was down already, and another was in critical condition. Two others dragged him behind cover and called over comms that they needed a medic, as soon as possible. Alkor wasn't going to wait anymore.

He pulled the pin, calculated the distance with his buy'ce, and lobbed the grenade toward [member="Zef Halo"] and his cadre, though truth be told, Alkor was in for a surprise he wasn't expecting, too.

[member="Yula Perl"]

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Praetorian Initiate
Equipment | Mk. I RAKGHOUL Semi-Powered Battle Armour with Repulsorlift Technology, Lightsaber & Training Lightsaber, DE-39 Maser Rifle, Throwing Knives, Binding Wires, Injector Pens filled with Lecepanine
Location | Palace Grounds, Squib King's Palace
Objectives | Make contact with ALPHA 2 and ALPHA 3
Allies | [member="Primat Ren"], [member="Varas Ren"], [member="Rexus Wenck"], [member="Omari Vyken"], [member="Rolf Amsel"], [member="Vestille Thumahra"], First Order
Enemies | ORC & their allies
Status | ALPHA unit detector!

[SIZE=11pt]The youngling’s lips were pursed in a pout at the thought that there were actually people out in the galaxy that did not like candy. Utter heresy! It was almost as bad as the existence of Jedi! Marriskcal definitely hoped that Varas not one of them, because the initiate may end up being disillusioned with her older sister if she were one of those beings. Sweets, desserts and the likes were a rare treat to the young Ren and therefore, precious. Just as she was about to retort with a convincing argument of how flowers were in no way better or even close to matching up with her suggestion, Primat continued to speak. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]While she was still slightly outraged by her brother’s insinuations about the galactic marvel that was flavoured sugar and Varas being unreceptive to such a grand gift, Marriskcal was more curious about the strange emotional disorder that plagued Primat. So with a promise to herself that they will have a comprehensive debate about this matter later, the youngling gave careful attention to his words. Nerves, anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, uncertainties… it all sounded very uncomfortable and foolish to the youngling. Marriskcal wrinkled her nose as she tried to envisage herself dealing with such a tangled mess of emotions. No, thank you. Truly, why other beings allowed themselves to be this vulnerable was beyond her young mind. All the initiate knew was that she adored Primat, she adored the Praetorian Knight, she adored the Supreme Leader, and she was starting to grow fond of Seto, Varas and Master Kyrel. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]It was enough.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As the announcement filtered through their vessel, Marriskcal’s glance shifted from the figure of her brother. Her clear blue eyes swept across Varas and their accompaniment of stormtroopers, all signs of her bubbly ebullience just moments earlier dissipating as they approached the surface. The initiate may be a child in the eyes of many, she was also a member of the Order of Ren. While she has yet to earn the right to a name and personal mask of her own, it did not mean she was any less accomplished. Marriskcal took in a deep breath, her hands moving to gather and bind her hair up to keep it out of the way. When that was done, she picked up the black and red helmet that was part of her armour. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]The smile that found its way to her lips this time was wry and bittersweet as she stared down at its menacing face, remembering the last time she donned this particular model of armour, she had lost a teammate and a potential friend due to her own negligence. I wonder how is Agent Omen? Marriskcal hoped that the First Order had revived the droid and that he was completing his own assignments somewhere in the galaxy. Would he even remember her? Her hands tightened imperceptibly around her helmet.

She would just have to do her best for the both of them.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As soon as she covered her head, the battle armour came to life. The HUD within lit up as it cycled through its internal system checks and underwent synchronisation with other nearby IFF-cleared suits. Marriskcal watched as each status bar filled up, the armour letting out a soft hiss as it completed the process in time for her to catch the tail end of Primat’s message filtering through the comms. The youngling clenched her jaw as their transport shook at the impact, her body tensing as she gathered the force to wrap around her in preparation of an emergency landing. It seemed that the situation on the ground were escalating swiftly. Her right hand went to touch her new lightsaber, the thought of the blue kyber crystal encased within soothing some of the anxiety that has began to seep in.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]As with most military assignments she were on, their accompaniment of stormtrooper escorts exited the transport first, securing the immediate area. “Thank you, brother, sister. But please prioritise your own safety over mine.” But despite the composed words she uttered, his declaration touched the youngling and made her heart swell with joy. Don’t worry about me, I won’t be a hindrance. In a battle, there was no room for doubts. To allow one’s focus to waver was to invite death. And Marriskcal will not allow herself to be the cause of their distraction.

The initiate followed her brother and sister out of the damaged transport, her own senses stretching out instinctively. She blinked as she encountered two familiar auras, their presence burning brightly to her. “Primat! I think I can sense Alpha Three and Alpha Four.” They were somewhere within the vast Palace. Marriskcal paused, gathering her senses and sending it towards the direction where she first caught a whisper of their signatures. “Yes, I’m certain it’s them,” she punctuated her words with a sharp nod. “They’re both still close to the exterior part of the palace.”[/SIZE]

 

[Vestille Thumahra]

Vestille Thumahra​

---

---

​

---

Skor II, Royal Palace​

Objective: III - Survive The Hornet's Nest​

Friendly Assets: First Order ([member="Omari Vyken"], [member="Primat Ren"], [member="Varas Ren"], [member="Rexus Wenck"], [member="Rolf Amsel"], [member="Marriskcal Lati"]) | Nowhere nearby​

Opposing Force: ORC ( [member="Julius Sedaire"], [member="Zef Halo"], [member="Yula Perl"], [member="Dax Fyre"], [member="Koda Fett"], [member="Mishka Larraq"], [member="Jaius Sovv"], [member="Coren Starchaser"], [member="Mishel Noren"]) | Directly Engaging [member="Krenis Skirata"]​

In a labyrinth full of everything intent on death.

Misfortune had replaced what could have been opportunity within the hallways of the Royal Palace. The brush with death alone just getting his pod landed anywhere close without being either blown out of the sky or smashing into the shield had perhaps drained his pool of fortune dry as he was now isolated and alone with quite a number of walls between him and any sort of help from the rest of the First Order troops that were making planet fall in their own pods and even more hurdles to get over to even reach the objective. In that moment of brief respite, he knew that trying to push for it would only result in his death for a fruitless endeavour and leave the men of the First Order on their own to try and breach the palace turned impenetrable fortress; this, to the Colonel, was unacceptable. As the door was kicked open and the blaze of returned fire of both Alliance Troops and Royal Guard alike, what should have been a simple stepping out of the room was crossed out. In short, he was boxed into a kill-zone, enemies on both sides that would easily make his stay inside the abyss a permanent venture.

He wasn't about to die for someone else's war nor would he succumb to uselessness or surrender either. To do so would be an even greater dishonor than death itself.

The calls for surrender came out regardless, ordering him to drop his weapons, slide them across the floor before kissing the floor. The demands were no doubt made to be reasonable, treated like a prisoner of war somewhat fairly and being used to extract information but Vestille knew better than that. The acts of violence that he had committed across the galaxy over his journey and the affiliations he had held over the past, there were no doubt those that would want to obtain the blood money that the Colonel had accumulated over his course of killing upon battlefield after battlefield; he was willing to die for a cause, such is what his doctrine held him to but there was no exceptions, it would be in a blazing inferno and to the sound of guns, wiping the galaxy clean of as much scum as possible before he succumbed to his wounds and made his peace with the abyss that would swallow him whole. After all he had been through, he wasn't about to die like a dog, whimpering and cowering at the hands of his captors; not here and certainly not now.

As he allowed his silence and lack of weapons being tossed out into view to give his answer, they were instead greeted with a single canister being tossed just beyond the door that led to the storeroom. After a few seconds, it erupted with a cloud of thick white smoke with the intent to make visibility an absolute nightmare. It was this that he would level the odds, sliding himself out prone onto the floor to make himself a smaller target with the cannon that had been used as his grand opening roaring to life, hoping to knock out as many hostile forces present on both sides; utilizing the thermal vision that allowed him to identify hostiles through the smoke. Constantly twisting and turning on the floor; acquire target, aim, fire, acquire target, aim, fire. It was this process that kept him writhing upon the floor, hoping to buy time and present an opportunity to try and make his next move in the ever expanding game of dodging death.

Grabbing the Squib King was no longer within his reach. Being a pest and drawing attention to himself to possibly grant the Agents of the First Order an opening? That he could do.

 

[Armand Temi]

Location: Moving Inward, Squib King's Palace
Objective: Coerce/Convince the King
Allies: [member="Primat Ren"] [member="Marriskcal Lati"] [member="Rolf Amsel"] [member="Omari Vyken"] [member="Keira Verd"] [member="Vestille Thumahra"]
Enemies: [member="Dax Fyre"] [member="Coren Starchaser"] @Vaudin Mirr [member="Darth Metus"] [member="Jaius Sovv"] [member="Krenis Skirata"] ORC Operatives
Armor: Power armor, Lightsaber, standard blaster

The ORC were not known for monastic Jedi or stauchy politicians debating intergalactic law. Varas pictured them as hard-drinking Rimkins, spacers, smugglers, pirates, but then again she’d never been on Skor and admitted to herself that she could be totally wrong about what the Ren would find once they landed.

She was with Primat and Marr and accompanying them could not be further from her normal experience of trailing her father, Master of Ren, Kyrel Ren and following his orders. Up until now, most of those experiences fell into one of two categories: blind loyalty or resentful duty.

Again at the sight of Marriskcal, Varas thought the girl should be out chasing butterflies in an Avalonian field than closing in on a bloody battle, but could one say the same about her. At the tender age of twenty-one shouldn’t I be in college writing an essay on Donn Gulek’s Ten Years After: Notes on the Mature Organizational and Administrative Structure of the New Republic, the unabridged, unannotated version? But at the sight of Primat she unexpectedly blushed. Couple that with the fact she had the distinct sensation that they may have been discussing her, the brunette Knight felt very awkward, her hands tingly and her limbs heavy.

It wasn’t the greatest feeling to have before a potentially violent encounter with the Coalition but at the same time, she did not want it to go away.

“What did I miss?” she asked them both with a glint of mischief in her agate-green eyes. Varas had this distinct urge to ditch the mission and go exploring with Primat somewhere… anywhere else than here, especially if her father was going to show up on the battlefield. Yet the pull of other Force users on the palace grounds kept her body alert and ready to fight as she’d been trained to do since her inception on Kamino.

“Are you sure it’s Alpha Three and Four?” Varas’s voice took on a mechanical tone through the helmet. “I sense a lighter presence." Glancing once more at Primat the blush on her cheeks deepened under her power armor and she hoped that she would not be this distracted when they encountered their first enemies.

 

[Sogash]

Location: Casino Approach
Objective: Enforce Curfew
Allies: The First Order - [member="Natasi Fortan"] | [member="Durgan Ossk"]
Enemies: Outer Rim Coalition - [member="Koda Fett"] | Durgan's bigotry

----

"C'mon Sogash, you don't really think they want to hear about your game do you?"

"Game?" The Trandoshan's head turned to the human. Hundreds of thousands of years of his species's religion and culture were denoted as a 'game' to his partner. "Game?!" Sogash snarled, feeling his claws tense, a primal instinct to rip the man's throat for this insult. However Durgan appeared entirely unperplexed by Sogash's anger. In fact he seemed in good spirits.

"Alright Sogash, let's keep going."

Again the Trandoshan snarled as he watched the other Hunter stroll towards the casino they'd passed over. He didn't seem to care that their First Order contact, whoever she was, was still speaking. No Durgan was a man in his own world. Somehow it was falling to the snarling and sniffing Trandoshan Hunter to be the one talking to the Imperials. He repeated his orders one after the other, a snort after each sentence.

"Clear streets."

"Civilians spared. Their deaths hold so little jagganath anyway."

"The King. Sovv."

At this point Durgan had waltzed a fair distance away. Did the Bounty Hunter hold such little respect for his employers? Still talking on the coms, Sogash jogged to catch up with him.

"Let the Order complete their objectives, yesss. I do not snack on the hand which cooks a feast."

"Ahh~ Eyes from outside shall watch them close, yesss."

"Lookit what we've got here." Durgan was gleefully marching up to the casino now. "Who woulda thought there'd be a casino on this dump?" Sogash could only prey that their contact wasn't overhearing.

"No questions, all is easy!" The Trandoshan hurried to end the call before Durgan's lax attitude was overheard by the bureaucratic Imperials. Before he could, it cut of its own accord. Scrabbled static in the Hunter's ear. With the call ended, Sogash prepared to round on Durgan.

"Let's check it out - whadya say Sogash?"

The reptilian blinked. "Squib king will not be playing at Pazaak while First Order invades!" His voice rising in irritation, causing a few glances from nearby Stormtroopers.

Durgan continued his walk to the entrance.

"The palace! The palace is where we should be! Squib King is guarded by Coalition, by Alliance, by Jedi. So many points! So many pelts!" The Trandoshan gestured for Durgan to follow but then paused. A total shift in the alien's attitude as he froze up. There was a faint scent in the air near this casino. It was the scent of a killer. The Trandoshan sniffed and snorted feverishly, his head twisting and turning in an animalistic fashion as blood red eyes scoured the area for a glimpse of something.

Nothing yet but his hunting instincts were triggered. The Hunter took a firm grip on his carbine and barked an order to the Stormtroopers who were now unloading AT-STs to patrol. "Keep the streets clear! Nobody leaves casino!"

Taking position with Durgan, Sogash nodded in acknowledgement. "Your call may not be so poor."

The Bounty Hunting duo barged through the casino doors together.

 

[Koda Fett]

​

LOCATION: METROBIG CITY
OBJECTIVE: FEND OFF FIRST ORDER
ALLIES: THE OUTER RIM COALITION
ADVERSARIES: [member="Durgan Ossk"] - [member="Sogash"]

The T-Visor of Koda Fett's Mandalorian Armour stared out on Metrobig City. It was a disgrace, an assortment of scrap that could hardly be called a city. The name itself was hardly befitting of any prestige, and if the Bounty Hunter hadn't known any better, if the First Order was to scrap it in it's entirety? It wasn't going to look any different as to it does now, if not offering an opportunity to right their wrongs. A fresh-start built upon the ashes, corpses, and lingering heartbreak of a fallen city. Fett wasn't going to shed a tear for them, they were only customers that had already paid for his services. It was often foolish to pay in advance, but Koda could afford to make such demands. He was, however, the best for good reason. Sogash and Durgan were respectable in their own right, but it was Fett that resided at the top of their unspoken leaderboard. They best not forget it.

It was only time to watch, and to wait. Nothing eventful had occurred just yet, nothing he could prevent or do to earn an honest payment. The Squib were to be forced into their homes, and the First Order was to march through the streets. The Mandalorian may have been referred to as a one-man army in the past, but it was never literal. Ultimately, Koda Fett was nothing more than a man clad in thick armour, knew his way around an assortment of weaponry, and had the experience to understand what it meant to survive.

Fett observed Durgan and Sogash separate from their Imperial employers, delving into the Casino. A thought or two crossed Koda's mind in that instant; had they been paid for thievery, or was there something more to this Casino than meets the eye? The former of the two seemed the most likely, though. His booted feet shuffled across the flooring beneath him, approaching the railing that enabled a clear line of sight to the ground. His head peered over, a scanning pulse emitted. Even if they hadn't ventured into his line of sight, he could see them with an orange, digitalised outline on the Mandalorian Helmet's HUD.

He hadn't bothered hiding. They only had to look up.