Your Faith In Your Friends Is Yours | TSE Invasion of TRA Held Gree Hex

[Tabigarashu Madara]

A wound left unattended festered. Death did not come by one cut, or two, but by the rot that could set in if it was ignored.

Jaminere. Rimcee. Dubrillion. Each one a cut of a knife. Small but stinging. It was the last that struck too close to home and drew the concerted attention of the Sith Empire.

A wound left unattended festered. The Sith knew all too well that sometimes it much be cauterized, met with Fire. But sometimes, the only answer was to cut away the dead flesh and deny it access to the still healthy which would allow it continued growth.

The Rebel Alliance had settled their fleets around Gree, Asation, and Helska, but had not reached to control the planets in those systems. The Empire’s strike then, would be two fold. Crush their fleets and spread their influence to the surrounding planets. Cauterize and cut.

The strike was coordinated. Sith Fleets jumped in every system. This was no sneak attack, no stealth approach. The attacks were swift, hard, and furious. As ship faced ship, boarding actions commenced- it was not enough to destroy their fleets if possible, but there were people of interest to the Empire, and the knowledge of other potential locations of rebel cells would be paramount in crushing this budding resistance. While fleets clashed, the first place enemies met face to face was Gree, at the breach in the main hangar of the Acerbitas.

In each system, surface teams took action. In smaller scale and less dramatic of a fashion, it was no less important. Spread Imperial influence and make certain the locals either stayed out of the events going on in space above them…. Or if they did, that it was to the Empire’s benefit. Some teams dropped, coming in with the fleets, while others were simply waiting for the right time.

OOC:

Spoiler

OOC Thread


Working with the TRA staff, we have focused a set up around the current lore of that faction. The bulk of the thread will be happening IN SPACE (echo echo echo). Combining fleeting and specific boarding action theaters of contact, we hope to give a lot of room to fleeter and typical ground pounders alike in a high stakes set up. We’ve opened up one boarding action right at the start (thanks to [member="Judas Foster"] for letting us make a mess of his cargo hold! Be respectful of his stuff plz) with the scene at the Acerbitas. Join up right there if you want to get into the thick of things, or write out your own boarding actions from the early steps with other ships as the PC controlled fleets clash.

Let’s do our best to state our locations (feel free to use the banners below to make it quick and easy to see!) and tag as well as possible- if something gets overlooked, please drop a line in the ooc! This is a set up where the typical demarcation between fleet and the more common ‘ground’ side of things will be deeply intertwined, rather than separated as they usually are. This might make for a chaotic thread, so let’s communicate issues early with each other so problems can get fixed and the story can keep rolling.

For those who need to focus on smaller stuff, there will be ground scenarios offered as well. While we know TRA’s current setup does not include ground influence, all of those scenes are open and welcome interference by the Rebels or their allies.

The thread will go until the 21st of July! Especially due to the scope with so many potential theaters of action, we’ll be hitting a full three weeks to let everyone write out full stories and not feel rushed.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

GREE ENCLAVE​

The Gree were strange beings, their past written in the rocks of their world and it told one thing above all: there was much the rest of the Galaxy didn’t know about them. The initial scouting of the world had uncovered that the Rebel Alliance wasn’t in control of the surface of the world.

Instead they orbited the skies above in their fleets.

Spacers through and through Jairus reckoned.

But that wasn’t what the Sith Lord and his entourage was here for. The Gree Enclave was a large place and Imperial Intelligence had uncovered something… troubling. Apparently before the Rebel Alliance had moved into the sector, the Gree had been building something, conquering their animosity against their highly-advanced past.

They had known that sitting right next to the border of the Sith Empire would one day lead to conflict.

Their creation?

A gargantuan shipyard, automated, capable of (theoretically) producing ships and other war material in equal terms. When the Rebels had moved in, the Gree realized it would only be a matter of time before the Sith would retaliate against the attack on Dubrillion.

Renegade Masters of the Gree were the ones that tipped off the Sith. Apparently they thought it was blasphemy to create… new things?

Jairus didn’t get it.

Ships reversed from hyperspace and the Sith blinked blinked when the size of the shipyards became clear through the viewport of their shuttle. “That. Huh.” It would be the first time for Dante to hear Jairus Starvald be at a loss of words.

“No wonder Kaine wanted me to handle this. Let’s go.”

The Sith support fleet already yanked the Gree’s attention towards them on the other side of the system. Security was drawn away from their vector and that allowed the dozens of smaller ships to approach the hangar side.

By the time they realized what was happening?

The Sith were already onboard.

[member="Dante Sotari"] | [member="Romi Jade"] | [member="Aten Ramses"]​

OOC:

Spoiler

Hey, guys! As discussed on Discord this is a little plothook to get us all started and right into the action. The Gree have been secretly building shipyards that have the potential to wreck everyone. Thousands of ships pouring out in a matter of week and shifting the balance of power in a direction not easily recovered from. As the Gree are pretty isolationist this has the potential to be a threat for everyone involved. Obviously Gree Tech is banned by the board at large, so we contacted the Head Admin- we confirmed that as long as the shipyards are destroyed before the end of the thread and none of the tech is used in the invasion we will be fine! This is our official disclaimer that this is a set piece, with no intent to ever be utilized beyond this thread in anyway. So, with that in mind, let’s have some fun with this.

 

[Amea Virou]

Wounds festering in all its glory, but what about the old ones? The mask on her face hissed with an inhale and whistled with an exhale. The barren wasteland around her wasn’t very inviting but the people around her were. Makeshift sheds and other protective structures littered the area around her. The last two weeks they had ventured down an old and rickety tunnel that had been unraveled during an excavational dig for remnants of the Gree, and what they had found a mere day ago was something that had shot out into the galaxy with a foreboding echo.

Her benefactors and Hex both sent her here. It was a good opportunity for a double payday and Amea was not going to deny herself the chance for that. It would get her far and all she had to do was run security on the dig. A thin blaster-proofed chestplate covered her torso and two batons clung to either side of her hips. They wanted to give her a gun, but habits died hard and Amea assured them the batons were the only ranged weapons she’d ever need. The distinct lack of range was duly noted by the quartermasters upon handing it all out with a very amused grin.

“We’re going to be rich.” A man chuckled next to her. “A find like this? Once in two lifetimes.”

“Gree engines… We’ll be- No, I can’t even really comprehend that number.” A rodian uttered in his native tongue. “I’ve waited for this day to come for so long.”

“Uh, guys?” A young man called out for them both and Amea couldn’t help but turn to look. “You might want to hear this.”

The young one placed a radio against the nearby table with a thirm clank.

“- I reapeat, the Sith have entered the system! Hang tight, we’ll try to negotiate for passa-”

The feed cut and the crew began to gather around the radio in horror.

“I don’t like the sound of that.” One of the workers frowned. “Think they’re okay?”

“They got to be.” The young man sighed and looked at the others with a frightened stare. “We- we gotta keep our heads together and hold on for further orders. We don’t know what this means.”

---

Objective: Protect dig (The Gree Engine will not last long, don't worry)
Enemies: [member="Koda Fett"], Sith

 

[Darth Ophidia]

The Yammka Fleet
[member="Cerbera"]

​

When The Rebel Alliance had come to claim their territories in the root of the Tingel Arm, just galactic east of The Sith Empire's capital of Bastion, the Yammka Fleet had already made Helska their port of call. But with the Sith Empire running their campaign to Voss, with the Rebellions on Jaminere and Rimcee, and with the invasion of Dubrillon, the Reavers had been without aid and out manned by a steadily growing fleet.

So, they had hidden deep in an asteroid field, not knowing when or if they would get their chance to escape. As each cycle passed, the enemy crept closer and consolidated their hold on the system. As the Rebels' stockpiles grew bigger, the Yammka's supplies grew thinner. The proverbial rope of their existence had a knot at the end and they could feel it closing.

Every day, they waited for the klaxon; for the message that the Sith Empire had come to their aid, or that the Rebels had discovered their position and came to clear the field, where they would no doubt find.

The Yuuzhan Vong were restless.

Every day, they asked themselves: Perhaps it was time to spring out from their hiding place and make a run for it, and if they died then they would die as warriors, slain on the field of battle. Each day a question, yet no arms were not brought bare.

After Dubrillon, they had been joined by an Imperial warship of a particularly stealthy design, but the situation had not changed.

On board lead ship, an Uro-ik v'alh dubbed Lonely Fire, a congregation of organics of various origin stood in a meeting. Their faces were grim, well, some of them were. Among them was Darth Ophidia, Cerbera, Nim of Domain Dal, and an Imperial piloting droid named Darling.

​

"With the attack on Dubrillon, the Sith Empire cannot sit idly by. I know the Emperor will retaliate and he is not one to snip at the fringes."

She looked from Nim to Cerbera, determination shining in her ember eyes.

"We must hold out."

 

[Onrai]

The initial units of the Void Irregular Fleet entered the system. Currently all that had been deployed were a pursuit line's worth of smaller ships, to test the waters and determine exactly what there was in the system, in order to lure out the Rebels and get their attention away from the other advancing Sith units. The Ablution itself was at the far edge of the system as the pursuit line advanced towards the known rebel locations in orbit - the Void flagship itself was prepared to make a microjump onto the field of battle when an appropriate number of enemies had arrived - and through the use of its hyperspace tracker, it would feed data to the rest of the fleet currently waiting outside the system.

The pursuit line - a mixture of frigates and corvettes - advanced inwards for now, awaiting the opportunity to begin the initial engagement.

Spoiler

Void Irregular Fleet
Class | Name | Length | Shields | Hull | Weapons | Subsystems
Pluton-class Battleship | Ablution​ | 2000m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 (Currently outside of battlefield)
Carrack II-class Frigate | Dominant​ | 400m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
Carrack II-class Frigate | Oculus​ | 400m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
Massassi-class Corvette | Claw​ | 200m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
​Massassi-class Corvette | Enforcer​ | 200m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
Massassi-class Corvette | Thule​ | 200m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
Massassi-class Corvette | Zeplin | 200m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
Massassi-class Corvette | Crimson​ | 200m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100
Massassi-class Corvette | Talvira​ | 200m | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100

 

[Zark San Tekka]

Allies: TRA​

Enemies: TSE​

​

Durron-class Dedicated Carrier Shadowsfall​

Jedi Inquisition Loyalist Remnant​

System Edge​

​

​

​

Raaf.​

​

He knew she was out here, somewhere.

Asation was the closest neutral port to this booming Sith Empire's capital world, and the Vaemath Jedi did not need to rely on his years of investigative training to tell him that if he wanted to hunt down his old master, lapping at the heels of her Dark Lord's empty throne would be a logical place to start. Still, they dared not venture too far towards the planet itself, lest an unaccounted for Aurora design in the Tingel Arm draw too many unwanted eyes.

Each of his fellow loyalists were here for different reasons, most out of guilt over what their Inquisition had done, some burning with a need for vengeance. But Knight Varex was only doing what the Grand Marshal had taught him, seeking out the source of the corruption and purifying it by any means. Except she wasn't the Grand Marshal anymore, the sheer depravity and scale of her betrayal having unraveled their Galactic Alliance essentially overnight. She had sent him to Lothal to die, but here he stood. A loose end, a flaw in her spider's web.

He would redeem [member="Taeli Raaf"], even if that meant reuniting her spirit with the Force.

Varex, are you coming? another survivor reached out to his mind. Vaemath communicated exclusively through telepathy, but on board this last ship of the Inquisition everyone spoke through each others' thoughts.

On my way.

It was a dangerous risk, this many of them gathering in one place so near to the source of Sith power in the galaxy. Their divination sessions in particular, like the one he was joining now, required flawless execution and extraordinary care to avoid tripping any psychic defense measures or simply catching the attention of an awakened mind on Bastion or another Sith Imperial stronghold world. Nevertheless they persisted, knowing that they only needed to sense their former master once and they would be able to narrow her location down to at least a general area of space.

Varex sensed a great disturbance, not long after joining his mind with the others', physically recoiling at its immensity. It was not the Lady of Shadows, nor anything they had been scrying for. This was something much, much older. None of them knew exactly what was coming, he had only caught a glimpse around its edges. Something was coming, a great tide, and as one each Inquisitor set off to see that they weren't swept away in its wake.

 

[Elijah Brockway]

Location: Deep Space Staging Area, soon to approach battle theatre
Aboard: HIM Tempestus​

Ally: [member="Ras Val'kor"]​

"Sir, the Tempestus is in full repair and fit for battle."

"Good. The rest of the battlegroup?"

"Each captain reports the same."

Garen nodded, overlooking the readouts from his command console. Reports from others of within the fleet were coming in, as they were entering the inner reaches of the Gree, Helska, and Asation systems, the battle soon to erupt in full force. Garen's battlegroup, among some few others, remained at a nearby, deep-space staging area. A single jump could take him from here to any of the three main theatres in moments; he merely awaited a signal to jump, and where to go. Meanwhile, his crew—and that of his battlegroup overall—was currently performing their regular duties. Upkeep, inspections, small exercises, the tedium that was required to ensure that each ship and each crew was fully prepared for combat.

Given the imminent nature of that combat currently, however, each ship was quite a bit more abuzz than was the norm. "Very good. They're all prepped on what the plan is, so no further communication should be necessary. They'll obtain the coordinates right as we begin the jump sequence. Now, go to your duty station; we can continue to communicate via intercom if necessary." Garen's XO nodded briefly, before turning on his heel and exiting the bridge. Garen reclined in his chair for a moment, gazing out the viewport that was all the way across the bridge. A nearly empty expanse of stars, nebulae, and galaxies, stretching out infinitely. Had they the sense to do so, the rebels could've run nearly anywhere, both deeper into the galaxy or out beyond the rim.

And yet, knowing of the Empire's might and how it would soon be turned against them, intel sources reported that they were inclined to meet the Sith Armada head on in a show of force and stubborn bravery.

Garen's mouth curled into a small smile, thinking on it. They will pay for their arrogance.

He looked down into the bridge pits, noticing where one ensign was being taught how to read the gravimetric sensors, in preparation for his eventual taking the seat when the soon-to-be lieutenant in it currently was sent off to one of the naval academies in Sith space. "Ensign Hart!" he barked, drawing the younger one's attention instantly. "Agent Ipotris should currently be in the training gym three levels down from here. Go retrieve him and bring him to me," he commanded, taking a moment to acknowledge the ensign's quick "Aye-aye, sir!" with a nod, before returning to his contemplation of the readouts on the command console.

Spoiler: Battlegroup: Panatha's Fist

1x Defoliation-class Siege Battlecruiser, HIM Tempestus
1x Harrower-class Dreadnought, Mk. III
1x Incapacitator-class Interdiction Cruiser
2x Eradicator-class Heavy Cruisers
2x Shard-class Assault Frigates
3x Athena-class Shield Frigates
2x Vigil II-class Corvettes

Total Length: 10,100 meters

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

ALLIES: [member="Belphaegor"]
ENEMIES: TRA | PM’s open for business if you wanna write a story.
OBJECTIVE: Collect intelligence on enemy, or capture a live one.

One had only to spend a small amount of time with Matsu to realize her love for anything recondite. The Gree had not yet entered completely in to her view, as fallen as they were from their former glory. But answering the TRA’s overstep by aiding the Sith was an excellent opportunity, and extra credits never hurt either. Besides, it seemed the Gree were attempting to make something new. Even ancient and stubborn things could change it seemed - a comforting thought.

Either way, she was sure they still held their contempt for modern droids and thus she was glad to joining with those breaching the impressive ship that had taken up so much of the viewports on approach. She wasn’t sure she could be held accountable for her actions thinking of their disdain had she joined with those approaching the rumored shipyard.

Of course, news of the Sith attack must have spread quickly - that was one explanation for the wealth of resistance that greeted the boarding Sith and their allies. Almost immediately Matsu had been forced to take cover behind a stack of metal crates, her newest apprentice - though, he’d been with her for months if she thought about it - shielding himself from blaster fire as well. Perhaps the most esoterically-inclined student she’d ever had, she’d decided she rather liked him.

Hopefully it wouldn’t die there in that hangar.

Ruminating on the Gree’s arrogance, and what they might think of Six-O had he been present, was more than enough fuel for her to push out a massive wave of her influence to the minds of those defending exits from the bay to deeper parts of the ship. It was a simple thing - just the suggestion of terror or blinding anger, whichever was more appealing to the weakness of every defender in the bay. Distraction. Openings for Matsu and her apprentice.

Maybe some would fall over and start blubbering, maybe some of them would start shooting each other in panic. Either way it would allow her and Belphaegor to try and head for the corridors and find their way to some kind of prize.

She wasn’t picky.

 

[Darth Caecus]

​

After the Empire had razed Thyferra, it had taken some time to sort out the dead and missing. In the end, it was mostly the missing, presumed dead that the Empire could properly list. After all, they had no reason to return and look for bodies, even of those loyal to them. Those who had gone knew the risk, and with the fires raging across that jungle planet, the chances that the bodies of the dead could be recovered, well.

Best to allow Thyferra to be their pyre, and raise their names to the heavens once the Brotherhood, Armada, and Legion returned to Bastion. Amoung those who never returned were a Sith Lord, known as Darth Caecus, and an operative, [member="Luca Thorne"]. A statue had been raised in memorial on Bastion, the masked figures as unfamiliar in death as they had been in life. Few knew what the Sith had done to deserve it.

Fewer still had any idea that the statue meant nothing.

Only three. And none of them were talking.

Outskirts of Satikan, Capital of Asation​

​

"Luca, where did you put my mask?"

Kith was rustling around in the foyer, frowning. Inside of the small home, they could breath without trouble, the house's filters doing a fine job of scrubbing the chemicals from the atmosphere that the pair couldn't handle on their own. But outside, that was a different story. In truth, that feature had been part of the appeal when they had chosen Asation for their home. Out in public, a breathing mask was necessary. Another layer to hide their faces that would be perfectly normal because the majority of non-Gree went about wearing them. While it was still very close to Bastion and the border, Kith had known, from her position in the Saaraishash, that the Empire had no immediately plans to absorb the Gree into their influence any time soon. There had been choicer, and frankly less troublesome, areas to focus on. While the pair knew that it was only a matter of time, they had honestly expected years before it was something of a trouble on their doorstep.

"I could have sworn I left it on- Luca, what's wrong?"

She'd padded back out into the living room when he hadn't answered. His back was to her, and she could read the lines of tension in his neck. Curious, she stepped to the side to see what he was looking at.

On the table, a hologram, not more than 12 centimeters high. A very, very familiar figure.

[member="Darth Saarai"] folded his wings across at the tips.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

ELSEWHERE
ATTENDANCE: [member="Darth Caecus"] | [member="Koda Fett"]

The logistics of war were never an easy thing to manage.

From the quality of boots to the density of the fuel for the ships bringing in much needed supplies for the front-lines. It was during these moments that the Thirriken was at his best. Scribbling and every pen stroke changing the fate of this star sector or that. It was... good. Creation and destruction wrapped together in a tightly-formed equilibrium with no equal.

"Establish encryption protocol Aleph." Tai said calmly to the VR operating his communication suite.

It whirred.

Then engaged.

---

"....so you see how your particular set of skills will be helpful, mister Fett." What does one call an infamous Mandalorian bounty hunter? Lord? No, that was a title not earned through merit, but born through blood. Hunter? That was no title. In the end it seemed that mister seemed to be the only honorific worth utilizing. "Of course, your reward would be substantial, as you have grown used to."

Kaine's charity to these barbarians was not something Tai had missed in the accounting.

"Please try and save some of the relics, if you can. We would love to study them."

But if they could deny the Rebel Alliance them? That would be plenty.

---

Minutes later.

The Thirriken stared at the man who had forced his way into the calm (quiet) balance that had been established between Kith and himself. They had worked perfectly, until complications arose.

Oh, he so hated the human penchant for cavorting and rutting in the dirt.

But at the very least Kith was happy, he could accept that, somewhat. Even if her choice in ape was suspect. "Agent Thorne, Agent Caecus." The Thirriken greeted both of them with a nod. "I will keep this short- I condoned your peace and quiet." Ensured that they would be left alone. Her memory intact, for her to enjoy the sort of things that her creator had never considered for her.

Equally disgusting.

"But the Sith Empire comes. We will accept no less than the complete capitulation of the Gree Enclave and the other Rebel elements. I task you with an important assignment." He did not ask if they were interested or willing.

This was their duty to him for all that he had done for them.

"You will...." and so Lord Saarai assumed the position that was most natural to him of all. Silent spider, weaving the threads as best as he could. They had their mission.

Hopefully they would succeed.

 

[Darth Bellum]

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

​

​

​

Kor Vexen

---

---

Aboard The Baal above Gree, Gehenna Fleet
Keep the Gree out of the situation

Vexen stood aboard the bridge of The Baal, next to Vice Admiral Jaisal Koruuna, a competent man in his own respect, even by Vexen's standards. The order had been given to deploy, and with it, the Sith Armada and its Legions would come bearing down like an iron fist upon the rebels already in transit to Gree space. Intel reports had returned and Vexen would deploy his Legions to the surface of Gree for three different tasks; The extraction of their intel operatives, sweeping of the sectors for any Rebel cells hidden planetside and to discuss terms with the Gree Enclave on where they would stand in this conflict.

The Gree were an intelligent species, so he had little doubt that they would try to ally themselves with petty rebels that possessed few resources and could not measure up to the military might of the Sith Empire. Anyone with even a shred of self-preservation would know better than to harbor rebels.

The Gehenna Fleet would arrive in system alongside the rest of the Armada ships that belonged to their respective fleets, Gehenna moving closer to orbit around Gree as Legion soldiers prepped for making landfall by ensuring they had their breathing apparatus' equipped for Gree's atmosphere as Vexen attempted to establish communications with the Gree. The Empire could promise much more in exchange for their cooperation with the Empire, namely their world and people would not be raided and burned to the ground like the many other worlds the Sith Empire had razed in response to attacks or collaboration against the Sith Empire.

Several Phi-Class Heavy Dropships sent down to the planet's surface ahead of the main force to make landfall ahead of talks of negotiation. Vice Admiral Koruuna would direct the fleet, as Vexen held little interest in the operation of naval vessels.

A heavily encrypted message was directed to the intelligence gathering units already on Gree; They had the option to pull out, but locating and pursuing hidden rebel cells for the Legion to crush was still a priority. They would cut out this festering parasite by any means necessary and drive them away in fear or slay them where they stood. Vexen stood before a holocommunicator, appearing before the Gree leadership as a hologram, " As I'm sure you are already aware, we have traced rebel elements to your Enclave hence our military presence. As your benevolent neighbors, we wish to extend an offer to you and your people..."

Vexen would give a brief pause before resuming his speech, " Peace...In exchange for all information you possess regarding said rebel activity in your territory and your neutrality in staying out of this conflict. As I'm sure you are well aware we vastly outnumber and outgun anything these petty little rebels possess, it would be in your best interest to comply with us as we can provide and deliver on our agreements, lest I remind you of the last few planets that have failed to agree to our terms. Your compliance is appreciated, but we will need your response within the hour. " Likely there would be some hesitance in trusting the Sith, but that was for the Gree to decide on, and whether or not they could put their trust and faith in the Rebel Alliance, should they have something to offer their people that would not result in complete and utter destruction.


Gehenna Fleet

Spoiler

Lead Ship |
The Baal - Ferrata Class Corps Assault Carrier

Composition |
[Star Destroyers]
The Gusion - Marr Class Star Destroyer
The Agares - Marr Class Star Destroyer
The Astaroth - Angral Class Star Destroyer

[Cruisers]
The Dantalion - Eradicator Class Heavy Cruiser

[Carriers]
The Barbatos - Vyitka Class Escort Carrier
The Vual - Vyitka Class Escort Carrier
The Crocell - Vyitka Class Escort Carrier

[Interdictors]
The Flauros - Incapacitator Class Interdiction Cruiser
The Vapula - Incapacitator Class Interdiction Cruiser

[Frigates]
The Shax - Velox Class Fast Frigate
The Orias - Velox Class Fast Frigate
The Kimaris - Velox Class Fast Frigate

Total Length | 12,337 meters (12.337 km)

 

[Jairus Starvald]

​

YAMMKA FLEET
[member="Darth Ophidia"]

The purpose of the mercenary fleet had never been going toe-to-toe with the almighty fleets of the galactic nations.

No, it had been attacking the psychology of the lessers. Sowing chaos, dissent, enabling fear by the simple presence of their warships as they reverted from hyperspace. It had been centuries since the end of the extra-galactic invasion of the Yuuzhan Vong and decades since their sudden return at the head of the One Sith's onslaught in the Core Worlds.

They were still remembered.

Every Slayer, every warrior, they had the cuts that signified each and every kill they had made. None of them knew fear..... until the navy of the Rebel Alliance had suddenly appeared at the edge of the Helska system.

The instinct branded in their genetics told them one thing- attack, burn, kill and destroy.

But compared to the fleets of the Rebel Alliance Yammka Fleet? Was only an afterthought. So they hid- fleeing from Helska and making use of the fact that their organic tech was not scanned easily by conventional sensors. Several uprising had been put down internally. So many wanting to fight and being forced to keep their heads low. It was astonishing.

The many mandibles and masks of Nim shivered in anticipation.

She was grotesque.

Cerbera enjoyed her.

"Our food supplies are running out, Lady Pale." The Vong Shaper hissed in the silence that Ophidia left. "A few more days and we will start eating each other." That wasn't a threat or anything. Just the reality of the situation. The Vong were a pragmatic sort... they'd rather start culling the weak, so the strong and worthy survived than hold out out of... what?

A sense of taste?

"Oh, darling Kaine won't be able to resist," Cerbera's hand waved the issue away as she leaned down. Staring at the holographic image of the rebel fleet coming closer... and closer.

"Besides, my Ophi has a special surprise for these Rebels, if they get too close."

Bloodless smile there. Perhaps today would be the day they all met the presence of the Force. If so? It would be glorious.

 

[The Lurking Presence]

ALLIES: [member="Matsu Xiangu"]
ENEMIES: TRA | Anyone looking for a story or duel.
OBJECTIVE: Collect intelligence on enemy, or capture a live one | Survive the Hanger
GEAR: Zelroth's Rest


The introgression of the Sith within the cavernous hangers of the Acerbitas, thus far, had proven to be a laborious task. From the very first moments, where Landing Struts growled as the weight of Combat Transports settled down, unmerciful resistance had been met. Great blares erupting as Rapid Descent Ramps released, letting loose the Champions of the Sith Emperor's ever-growing domain. Only for the tides of Soldiers, Force-Users, Allies and Mercenaries, to find themselves greeted with scorn.

Corpulent strobes of blaster fire splintered the disembarkation, Sith Troopers rived apart in to viscous husks, left bubbling and glowing from the impacts of a thousand wounds.

"Go, you dogs, FIGHT for your Emper------ " an NCO's bellow roared over the strident din of action, his final words uttered before the seams of his face opened, flash boiling blood and brain.

Belphaegor had managed, only barely, to peel the man aside with a thrust of his forearm before he fell in the path of their swift advance outwards from the Transport. But no matter which direction they moved, they were relentlessly pursued. From their position at the Interior-Side of the Hanger, the Security Force of the Acerbitas had them fixed. Heavy Cannons heaving a vivid show of force, grating anything and everyone forward of their Gun Positions.

More fell in the push forward, Sith attempting to return fire, were rendered rapidly in to half vaporized puddles. Cover of any sort was beginning to be cooked away, the Dropships, that had taken the brunt of the opening assaults, lay silent and steaming, unable to shuttle out to safety, the hum of their engines as dead as the men and women attempting to clear the threat and gain access to the network of hallway veins.

Amber eyes absorbed the grotesque scenery that pulverized these faithful servants of The Sith Empire all around the small sanctuary he and Matsu had fallen in behind. Each burst melting away more and more of it's integrity, the heat of it all beginning to scorch the Maenan's back. It was moments like these that he, Belphaegor, had yearned for after the savagery of Ossus.

These very moments that reminded him of his avidity towards things far more Esoteric and Arcane, offered him the strength and wherewithal to chase those abhorrent desires. True horror could never be confronted, if one lacked the stomach and stamina to chase it.

When finally, that long gaze turned towards Mother Matsu, the Sith Knight grasped Zelroth's Rest within the folded fingers of his paler-than-ivory hand. On her nod, he knew what must be done. But there was always time for the Spider to play with her food. . .

 

[Cenric Marus]

Exact Location: RAS Defiance - Acerbitas Support Ship
Enemies: [member="Tehkyram"]
Allies: Rebel Alliance

Cenric rubbed the bridge of his nose, standing on the bridge of the RAS Defiance and watching the monitors erupt all around him.

It was happening, and there was no real way to stop it. The young Padawan had been on the Defiance for some much needed rest after the last battle, his little battle on Dubrillion had seen him get more than a little roughed up. The memory of that fight still stuck with him, and even now as the Sith ships approached he knew it would only happen again. His lips thinned, and slowly he glanced towards the captain who had grown an odd shade of white.

The Defiance was a support ship, meant to stay at long range and fight it out at best it could. There wasn't much for internal defenses within the vessel, that was of course except for Cenric himself. The young Jedi let out a nervous sigh. "Captain."

Half a second passed, then slowly the man turned to him.

"Get everyone ready, close the hangar does and alert security." Cenric tried to sound as self assured as possible. He was young, younger than anyone else on this bridge, but he'd come to understand that people looked to Jedi for guidance. He wasn't much of a Jedi, barely capable of using the force in fact, but they didn't know that. This time he had to look confident, he had to play the part as best he could. "We'll have company soon."

He was confident of that.

 

[Darth Imperia]

​

The Voidlight Cathedral
[member="Verse Taggart"]

--

War. Beautiful, bloody war was on the horizon.

Deep within the most secure chambers of the Voidlight Cathedral, the withered, vestigial body of the Lares shivered in anticipation. This was what she had been made for; to crush the Mistress's enemies, to feel their laserfire dissipate against her hull-skin, to bend entire cities to the will of the Living Goddess.

So close. So close. A few minutes more, and she could fulfill her purpo-

The hyperdrive spooled down. What? Had she miscalculated their travel time? Made a mistake plotting the jump-course? No. Of course not. She had been Givin before. That was nigh-impossible. Something was wrong. With a mental command, the Lares brought up the hyperdrive's syslog, overlaid in her vision against the now rapidly slowing, swirling patterns that made up a hyperspace tunnel.

Oh.

Oh no.

-

In the Voidlight's lounge, Imperia arched a brow. The ship's environmental controls made shifts in speed tolerable, but even so, a sudden drop out of hyperspace was easily noticeable. The Lady made an ugh noise, bringing up the holographic datapad integrated into her glove.

"My apologies, Verse," She began, her voice twinged with annoyance and her expression apologetic as she glanced over at her Zygerrian comrade, "It appears something's gone wrong with the Hyperdrive. I'll send a team of drones do-" Imperia was cut short by the appearance of three words on her holopad's screen:

GRAVITY WELL. ARTIFICIAL.

"Oh, chit." Imperia jumped out of her seat and, with a bit of telekinetic flourish, drew her lightsaber from its spot on her belt. With a scowl on her face, the young Lady pulled the lounge doors open and started walk-running out. "Verse, darling, we have a problem. Someone's pulled the Cathedral out of hyperspace."

 

[Arage Bao]

​

The Voidlight Cathedral
[member="Darth Imperia"]

---

---

---

Calculating the probability of Rebel interference...

Please standby..

..

..

She knew that some of those she carried found the entire experience to be grotesque. To be inside a ship that lived. Every gear that turned, every bleep of a terminal having an additional layer of meaning, even the most experienced of spacers had a difficult time sleeping at night inside of her. Haunted, the corridors were, with the groaning of metal plates echoing through the halls.

Void enjoyed it.

More than anything else the Ship felt that she was at peace. Finally a body that felt like hers truly. The algorithms moving faster, the storage banks vast and her lifespan increas-

CALCULATION COMPLETE.

PROBABILITY: ∞%

Processing.. .. ..

Where had she been going with that thought? Oh, well. Time to sound the alarms.

---

---

Verse had been enjoying quite a lovely vintage when the ship suddenly lurched just a bit. It wasn't noticeable, unless you had spend most of your days on this ship or that. Taggart? She had spend more of her life on them than off of them. It didn't surprise her then, when the ship's cold voice echoed through the lounge and explained the situation.

Gravity well.

How lovely.

"I suppose I can come with you and we can address the situation together, Imperia." Verse purred back as she pushed herself off her seat and followed the dashing Sith with due haste. "You really need to implement some upgrades though."

The ship shuddered in response and almost tripped her up.

As if it had been insulted by the mere suggestion that she needed upgrades. "Oh, please, Void- you should be happy to get some additional attention!" The Zygerrian called out into the air as they stepped into the elevator that would presumably take them up to the bridge. Or somewhere else depending on where Imperia thought they would be needed most.

The elevator hissed and then they were off, moving through the depths of the ship.

 

[Dante Sotari]

Gree Enclave
Honestly Fething Creepy Shipyard
Allies: TSE, [member="Jairus Starvald"]
Enemies: These Gree, but maybe not THOSE Gree(?), TRA, [member="Romi Jade"] [member="Aten Ramses"]
Equipment: Legion Armor | Service Sidearm Pistol 'Minos' | Interchangeable Service Rifle, Carbine mode | Grenades- 2 Anti Blaster Smoke - 2 CryoBan - 2 Adhesive - 1 Flashbang | Explosives and timed detonators |

"How did no one know about this sooner? How do you keep something like this.... hidden... for so long?"

Dante didn't like her new 'employer' and he knew it. Oh, technically she was just on loan. She was still a Lieutenant in the Legion. But she knew the taste of a 'personal project' when she encountered one, and that personal project being her? Well, that taste was sour. He bugged her and she made no attempt to hide it.

The strike team assembled here was small, especially compared to the fleets clashing on the other side of the planet. The goal was to gain control of the ship yard.... or if that was not possible, to destroy it. Rather than send an entire Legion, they had opted for a more specialized role. Agents and saboteurs, rather than strict, by the books, soldiers.

Dante's own specialization as a sniper was less important than her knowledge of demolitions today.

"You gonna dangle other people's murder over my head again or are we past that? Real talk, it'd be awesome if we were past that."

Boots on the deck. Half a dozen agents on their shuttle, though there were more in the others. Each team had their objective, each a section to cover. Dante kept beside Jairus as the team fanned out into the hangar. She shifted, scanning.

"Red and Gold team are standing by," she relayed from chatter over her head set.

​

 

[Tehkyram]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9rmJoVCiC4​

Objective: Jedi Hunt
Allies: Sith Imperial Legion
Enemies: Rebel Soldiers // [member="Cenric Marus"]

As the battle raged on around his SI/AIT, Tehkyram kept his eyes closed, and took deep, heavy, sustained breaths. The chaos and death outside was perhaps horrifying to everyone else, but to Tehkyram, it was soothing. All of the hate, anger, and cruelty, this was his element. He was at home here, and before long, he could embrace his true bestial self. He remembered his master's edict, the one that had been given to him on board the ship:

"Reach out into the chaos of battle, project your senses, and find a Jedi. Take a transport, board his ship, and bring me his head."

So simple, yet so bone-chillingly effective. He had been assigned the transport, and he was sitting on the floor of the cockpit, steadily meditating so as to find a suitable jedi to hunt. He could have stormed the Acerbitas like the others were, but his senses were leading him elsewhere. No, there was another Jedi, one that was away from the main group. Yes, another Jedi, or perhaps some form of force-sensitive, on one of the smaller support frigates. He could smell their fear, their unease with the roar of battle around them. There was some nuance to the fear, but nuance had no place on the battlefield. Why did the feelings of the animal matter when it would be slaughtered regardless? "Break formation," he ordered the transport pilot. "Focus on the smaller ship to the rear of the target. We breach there." To his credit, the pilot complied. Perhaps he knew what Tehkyram would do if he disobeyed, or perhaps he was on board with helping the fledgling Sith complete his assigned task. He broke from his formation with the other transports en route to the Acerbitas, and put himself on a trajectory aiming towards the smaller ship, the Defiance.

Then again, the pilot had little to fear from the Defiance. The ship was optimized for fire support, meaning that its firepower was intended for larger targets at further ranges. The SI/AIT was too small and already too close to be at serious risk. Indeed, already within range, it transferred all weapon power and began to open fire with its ion cannons. A focused barrage of big blue bolts busted the Defiance's shields, at least temporarily. The SI/AIT held off on actually attempting to damage the ship's systems, at least for now. Instead, it zeroed in on the hangar bay. In a last-ditch effort to defend itself, the ship was deploying emergency hangar bay doors. The SI/AIT had a solution for that problem: concussion missiles. As it approached, the transport primed the missiles and readied to fire, making sure the timing was right so as to blow the doors open right before it could enter the breach.

Still keeping himself somewhat in his meditative, trance-like state, Tehkyram rose, standing before the front door of the transport. Without opening his eyes, he bellowed out commands to the platoon of legionaries on board with him. In spite of the chaos ensuing around him and his own volume, his voice was calm and contained. "I will disembark first. Leave the Jedi for me. You are to execute everyone else with the greatest prejudice. Defer to your commanding officers and follow their commands."

Now, little Jedi, he thought as the transport closed in on its target, I will give you something to truly fear.

 

[Wyatt Morga]

On Gree, organizing the evacuation effort...

The day had been long, and made only worse as the arrival of the Sith Fleet came over Gree. Wyatt groaned as he moved through the halls of the capitol building, his footfalls muddled by hundreds of others and the overarching discombobulated murmuring of the scared and hastened. Many of them didn’t know what the sith would do, from orbital bombardment to a costly ground invasion; but the concern wasn’t so much how they’d do it, only that it was inevitable that they’d do it soon.

A young girl came up to Wyatt as he was walking, datapad in hand as she spoke in an almost flustered manner;

“Evacuation has begun, Jedi Morga. Much of the population has been taken to the relocation centers situated around the city, but…”, she seemed to hesitate.

“What is it?”, Wyatt offered.

“There are many more senior citizens that believe abandoning their technology is a fate worse than death. They refuse escort to the ships.”

“Then so be it. We aren’t here to force anything, only offer safety in the face of overwhelming odds.”

Resting a hand on her shoulder, he offered a kindred smile before moving on; with his own problems coming back to mind. With the Sith coming to Gree so openly, they sought a victory not only strategically, but through outright moral domination. They wanted the rebellion to know what was coming, wanted them to fear what be done; and in all aspects, they were right to fear them. Wyatt couldn’t blame the others for their anxiety, he knew what they were capable of, but at every possible moment he looked to stand a glowing light in the tunnel. He wasn’t the best choice for the job, but there were few left on the planet now that could actually fill such a void.

Sighing, he stopped just short of the Grandmaster’s Council, glancing to a datapad he kept on his person. It was connected to a rudimentary communication line between the rebels still stationed on the ground, hiding in holonet advertising broadcasts, each with their own version of the device connected in two way to his; though to no others. The seclusion was established so that should any be taken captive or otherwise compromised, they’d have no way of giving up information they were not aware of. Still, it always had the drawback of lacking joint command; though it was Wyatt and a few other Rebel Commanders who would fit the bill for the moment.

As his eye’s glanced over the messages, explaining logistics and projected preparations, to some disabling factories through non destructive means; but one suddenly lit up in a bright yellow -

“Circus is in position, Blue Leader. 24 lock and loaded. Transports inbound to the goal. Confirmation to go dark?”

Wyatt clenched his jaw slightly as he read the message. They knew the game plan, they’d all been chosen off volunteers willing to stay on the planet and offer resistance, but the fact was that they faced something they had very little hope of winning. Many were mercenaries, some were refugees from Ession, but the overall dedication they had was substantial, moving to even him. His fingers slid over the virtual keyboard with a passing grace before he pressed send.

“Blue Leader Confirm. Keep an eye on those ships, and may the Force be with you.”

It would likely be the last message they would ever receive from him. Only a moment later however, the many tentacled gree assistant before him caught his attention with their slow, odd dialect. If nothing else, their common was rough.

“My delegates offer you a parlay, though suffer assault affecting the ego. Fear. Do you follow?”, it said as it motioned him to come.

Force be with him, he thought as he began to walk with the assistant with no more than a nod.

 

[Romi Jade]

​

GREE ENCLAVE​

Shipyards​

WITH: [member="Aten Ramses"]​

ENEMIES: [member="Jairus Starvald"] & [member="Dante Sotari"]​

---

---

​

---

Spoiler

[youtube]

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/VTsD2FjmLsw[/youtube]

She crept in, pressing her head into the viewport. Her eyes cut a straight path to the Shipyard just at the end of her route. Her reaction became more prevalent as her head lurched back, giving enough strength to a loc of her hair as it flailed about her face. "Wha..." All she could do was mouth the words as she desperately attempted to breath life into them; she couldn't.

She retreated, uncrossing her arms as she forged a new path towards the cockpit; a couple of steps. "Alright, lets take her down." She motioned with her head before whipping back around and finally deconstructing her thoughts.

"The Gree..." Her thoughts her own, breaking away one arm for her hand to follow its command. With her eyes darting about the hull of the shuttle, she caressed her chin.

This could be potentially bad for all sides. With the sudden attack of the Empire, it was safe to say the surprise came from this news.

She'd been put in charge of this task-force, a couple of shuttles with a half-dozen rebels built mainly for special operations.

"We missed this?" She mused to herself, "Entirely?"

Turbulence

The mission was to go in and secure the location before the opposition could take it for themselves, and they would take swift care of the issue afterward. However, she suspected they'd already arrived...

She hoped they could see the severity of this topic.

"You've got everything?" She mentioned to her Padawan, walking past him though moving in as she spoke directly to him. A smooth hair-flip threw it out of her way before she sought out one of the safety handles fixated to the ceilings. "I suspect we're already too late, be prepared for some resistance when these doors open." She spoke to the masses.

She shot back, "Steady!"

A solid tense of her calf allowed her to plant herself as the vehicle swayed.

Her knee buckled when the drop ship finally landed. The lock popped, the hinges going through it's cycle before the door actually popped open and pressures of the air filled with uneasiness rode into the sanctum; she could feel it.