Your Overconfidence Is Your Weakness | Rebel Alliance Invasion of Sith Empire Held Dubrillon Hex

[Jairus Starvald]

Location: Kolto Processing Plant, Deep Lab
Allies: TSE, [member="Leliana"] [member="Djorn Bline"]
Enemies: Whoever is upsetting the Progenitors (Rebels, [member="Ari Vox"] [member="Noah Corek"] [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"])
In Scene: [member="Dr. Vain Jar'He"]

It was a quick slaughter.

They had not been expecting to be assaulted from behind and once some of their numbers dropped out of nowhere, the sound of blaster fire behind them, the rightfully earned order in their formation dissolved. Every trooper was on their own at that point, fighting, trying to survive- even with the surprise they managed to make it a fierce fight and downed a number of the Imperials.

Until the last one dropped at the hands of the Sith Lord himself, slamming the limp body like a toy into the wall. There it slid down, crumbling, next to Vain who was still trying her best to put her mask back on.

"Oh, who could have known, Doctor Vain is a regular beauty." Jairus purred deeply into her mind, brushing against it with what seemed like nails. "Cover up, darling, we have distance to cover still." His reaction would have been violent if not for the fact that Irajah had told him about a clone of herself trundling through Sith Empire space at the hands of Zambrano.

He would have killed her there and then.

If not for the fact that he knew of her existence already.

It certainly helped with the shock of realizing that this entire time the Sith had been working with that same clone. "Get the lift repaired, we are going to reconnect our forces stuck on the other levels." As the Legionnaires moved to assist the assaulted team (applying medical services, the engineering works) while his focus centered squarely on the Doctor.

The force applied itself around her throat while her guardians' attention were elsewhere.

"Understand, Doctor, I need you alive-" The pressure pushed her back against the wall and kept her there to listen to his murmur as Jairus approached. "-if you think you can assist, very well, but don't do anything stupid again."

The pressure was released just at the same time the elevator engaged.

Some of the engineers were clapping each other on the shoulders, happy as kittens, and they deserved it. This would make things so much easier.

 

[Arage Bao]

Location: Dubrillion, Laser Facility.
Allies: TSE -- [member="Tabigarashu Madara"] [member="Khaji Ri'Had"]

They rejoined Khaji once the deed was done and then the Muun finally took a moment to study the walls in truth.

Gore covering the walls and ceilings, older than the fresh blood used to paint the half-finished sigils. They didn't thrum with force or energy or power, perhaps because of their interruption... or perhaps because these near-human fools were deluded. Still dangerous though. The corpses of the Legionnaires proved that quite violently. He crouched next to them next and gave Hirou a good glance at them.

"Two slashes, took them right out behind the edge of their helmet." Ardeth observed impassively. It had been pragmatic, fast and quick- the sign of hunters who knew they had been up against heavy firepower.

They wouldn't have taken the chance of making this a protracted battle.

"Every time we think we have crushed them... they pop right back up." It was distasteful. Oh, not the killing or even the gore. The scent of which was trying to force itself through the slits in his skin and make him smell it all. Just the simple barbaric lack of purpose here. "The lifts should be near here- it should take us where we are needed now." Either the reactor room or the control room- the latter presented... options that could be beneficial with the rebel fleet in orbit.

Instead of waiting for the High Inquisitor's immediate decision the Muun opted to move in down the corridor.

The corpses could wait, they would receive a proper burial later.

The corridor swept to and fro, corners in corners, until they reached an elevator. A quick touch said what he had been afraid of- "Disabled-" What now? The Nezumi in his pocket was moving though, popping their head out and squinting at the controls.

"You believe you can fix this, High Inquisitor?"

 

[AMCO]

Location: Sith-Imperial Collection and Refinery Complex Dorn
Objective: Don't die.
Allies: Sneering Imperialists, incl. [member="Elani Zambrano"] & [member="Samka Derith"].
Duelling: [member="Aten Ramses"]
Equipment: Lightsaber, Handgun, Anti-Ysalamiri, Shard of Nil, Grav Core, Blackroot Potion [2], & Invisibility Potion [2].

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That ja'vie-colse Jidai ztalvtesona actually thought he was in the right. Him, a member of those who had instigated this attack, and in turn attacked Adrian. Mostly unprovoked, one might add. It would have been hilarious in its hypocrisy, in its distance from the supposed ideals of the Jedi. It would have been, had Adrian not been a lot more concerned with his immediate survival than any hypocrisy on the part of his opponent.

Bloody Jedi. Claiming that he wasn't even planning to imprison him. Hinting that he meant to just let him go. It held about as much credibility in Adrian's eyes as a Hutt offering a charitable donation. What kind of maniac would attack someone and try to jab a lightsaber through their shoulder, only to let them go? Then again, Adrian had always been convinced that the Jedi, in general, were mad as feth. This one just showed it more readily than most of their kind.

"Oh, you've got to be fething kidding me. How stupid do you think I am? You attacked me, and I know exactly why." Snarling out the last part, Adrian gathered his remaining power into a cloud of purple energy, seeking to strike down the Jedi before he could do the same to him. Before the battered Acolyte was able to muster the control to actually do anything, however, the Morellian gracefully kicked his off from the wall, blade dancing across his form, crashing through the energy the young man desperately attended to transform into a barrier. Instead of gutting him like a fish, the blade danced across his belt, severing it and causing the items attached to drop down from the ceiling from which he hung.

For a moment, Adrian foolishly believed that the man might have been telling the truth, before the Jedi, like all of their kind, showed his true colours. Bringing his azure blade across in another slash while still airborne, the Padawan moved to strike at Adrian's shoulder. With a surge of intense pain, the blade tore through flesh, ligaments, and bone, severing his arm cleanly from the shoulder. The moment the last strand of flesh was cut, his body shook violently as normal gravity reasserted itself, before plummeting facefirst into the durasteel flooring, right hand still hanging from the ceiling, the wrist-mounted NADIR-made grav core still attached and operational.

Screaming in pain at the sudden maiming, the young man writhed on the floor, eyes glowing orange as surges of dark energy desperately sought to keep him conscious, to prevent any further injury to his gravely injured form. He had felt pain before, but not this. Nothing like this.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Location: In transit. On-board the Song of Truth.
Allies: [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] | [member="Blackblade Guard"]
Enemies: [member="Jaster of Clan Awaud"]

"Guess My job here is done, order the Jamming to be turned off and send the signal to Empress Halle" He boarded his shuttle and evacuated the supercarrier with the rest of the crew and headed for the Excalibur. The Delta-9 would continue on to the Authority Fleet at its top speed.

• The Rebel System Wide Jamming is shut off and communication in the system is reestablished

"My Lord, we finally managed to get a signal through!"

The Lord Inquisitor was settled, perched on his seat and staring at the blue streaks of hyperlight striking past the windows as the Song of Truth ran through Hyperspace in transit towards a certain system. Dubrillion. Who would have thought that that would be the first world struck by the insurrectionists and anarchists squatting just next to their capital?

"Excellent work, Captain. I will make sure to put in a recommendation-"

"Um. Sir?" Tai Fa swiveled his head towards the human standing at attention next to him. "Yes, Captain?"

"It wasn't us, sir."

"...excuse me?"

"Something on their side cleared up the jamming, we were still working on trying to breach their jamming when that happened." Tai marinated on that one for a brief moment, considering the angles there. It couldn't have been their side... no, they would have received immediate communication. That made it more likely it had something to do with the Rebels.

But what?

"We will see once we arrive. Officer, establish communication order EF-3. I have a call to make."

With the jamming down the Song of Truth's advanced communication array had no issue breaching through the noise and making contact with his most valued and trusted agent on the field.

A miniature version of the Thirriken would suddenly blink into existence in front of [member="Tabigarashu Madara"]'s muzzle. "Agent Tabigarashu Madara. Report." All professional and clear-cut in the moment. There would be time for pleasantries later, yes. But now Tai needed all the information he could get, before the jamming would suddenly come into existence again.

Because Saarai still considered that likely.

 

[Cenric Marus]

Objective: Take the Refinery Complex
Location: Refinery - Access Hallway
Allies: Strike Team One
Enemies: The Sith Empire | [member="Jantar Keltainen"]

Cenric wasn't entirely sure how he was expected to respond, especially given the fact that she was now choking him with the force.

Could he breath he might have answered her, might have pointed out that he asked her to surrender multiple times, that they could have solved his peacefully had she simply put her weapon. Without air in his lungs it was impossible however, and in truth he more or less broke into a panic.

His fingers were still wrapped tightly around her arm, pushing the bone further to where it was not meant to be.

The young Padawan could have pressed it further, but in his panic he didn't really think about that. He didn't think about the logical thing to do, he couldn't even think about a more peaceful way or solving this. So instead he resorted to the schoolyard, instinct, that need for self preservation above anything else. With a sudden force he pushed his other hand forward, slamming the womans face against the floor in an attempt to wrench her concentration.

 

[Desmond C'artyom]

Objective: Blow up laser facility

Allies: Rebels

Enemies: Sith, cultist

Persons near: [member="Ardeth Zun"], [member="Tabigarashu Madara"], [member="Khaji Ri'Had"]

Laser fire dances across the void like fireflies in the night sky. They land on their targets and bring death to whatever they touch. Metal melts, ships are torn asunder and men die unceremoniously. Out in the void no one can hear you scream, but the comms are alive with the prayers and terrified cries of thousands. Slagged ships float listlessly, a salvager’s fortune. I shake my head at the wanton destruction. So far our small escort of fighters have gone unnoticed and unmolested.

We approach the planets stratosphere and begin our descent. The major’s voice pierces through the scattered comm chatter and he speaks confidently.

“ETA to refinery complex is five mikes. AA fire is expected to be minim-,” He doesnt get to finish his sentence. I see it only a moment to late and my eyes widen in horror. A laser akin to the one’s the Empire used to mount to it’s Conqueror’s. It fires and half our escort is taken out in one terrible swathe of destruction. The laser cuts through our ships and detonates them less than a second later. TIE’s launch from the facility and pursue those of us that remain.

“Inferno, evasive maneuvers!” I shout into my comms. I slow my burners and my X floats behind my pursuer. Unfortunately the rest of our flight is destroyed in the chaos. The enemy fighters had simply shown up too quickly. There was no time to recover from the attack. But, Inferno and I were no strangers to the game. My wingman is still with me and we strafe the target in front of us. The TIE loses a wing and begins twirling to the ocean below. The two bombers we had been assigned to escort dive low and I catch sight of them from the bottom of my canopy.

They’re being hounded by a gaggle of fighters and I give my wingman a quick wave. He responds in turn and we dive low to meet with our third remaining fighter. We peel the buzzards off the bombers backs easily. It’s a quick dive which breaks the sound barrier. We cut through the enemy TIE’s like a freshly sharpened sword. I feel the G’s crushing myself, but my cybernetics keep me from passing out. I pull up a split second before my own ship can join the others in the murky depths of Dubrillion’s ocean. The bombers have almost reached the facility.

“This is FLEETCOM to all units within the planet’s atmosphere. Do you copy?” Comes a distorted voice over my comms. They sound frustrated and panicked.

“Copy sir. We have visual on the laser’s facility and are diverting course,” I reply calmly, but it does little to aleave the man’s tone.

“Who the hell is thi- forget it. Just take that damned thing out ASAP!” He shouts, he sounds almost feral with fear. I say nothing, the bombers fly over the facility and deliver their payload. I watch in horror as the bombs slide right off the facilities shields.

“FLEETCOM bombs were of no effect! I repeat no effect!”. I begin hailing the station on an open communication in hopes that there might be some sort of friendly forces within. “This is agent C’artyom. If there are any friendly forces inside that damned thing we need you to disable it’s shields immediately! We can provide for evac before bombardment, but I am unsure how long we can hold out against these fighters!” I say frantically as another TIE rake’s my wing with laser fire. I spin the yoke violently clockwise and my X-wing does a brutal barrel roll.

 

[Joycelyn Zambrano]

Location: The Behemoth
Allies: [member=Vaylin] [member="Blackblade Guard"] [member="Nyra Mazul"] [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] [member="Darth Rixas"] TSE
One Squadron of Blackblade Guards (12), One smokey lieutenant named Yaitzun.
Enemies: [member="The Slave"] [member="Judas Foster"] [member="Katya Shorn"] TRA
Stuff: Zaudraka, Jin'wodasir2, SIF-7 Minos, Imperator's Raiment, Scroll, Polearm.

_____________________________________________​

'So when are questioned as to who you are, you are the Sith Empire and we give them our reply!'​

As Joycelyn and her troop encroached upon the tram as it stopped, they flanked the rails with weapons drawn and ready. Joycelyn paused as she sensed a shift in the Force. She could not quite tell what it meant, but she did not like it. Four Blackblades took the left side along with Yaitzun. Joycelyn took the right with another four, and gestured for the remaining four to get inside the tram.

She was hoping to surround the intruders, but something felt wrong.

A sound in the distance.

Joycelyn held up a fist, halting the squad, but not putting them off guard, her lieutenant did the same. The red viewports of her helmet peered into the dark, wondering whether the presence was moving to or away from her. She waved forward gingerly - Both squads moved on, the interior group had caught up, heading down through the inside of the tram.

The vahlacanthix touched the side of her helmet, activating the coms inside. The annunciator was not activated, containing her voice within the hermetic seal of the helmet.

"Inquisitor Vaylin, what is your position?" "Second squad is flanking the tram, heading stern-bound."

How did she know Vaylin was there? She made a point of knowing when there was an inquisitor on board, and particularly when it was one with such a track record. Whether or not the inquisitor was making pursuit was more of a question, but given the Saaraishash's mission, it seemed likely. Perhaps it was in part wishful thinking, hoping she had the most proficient backup on the other side of this tram.

Or perhaps she was simply beating bushes and chasing the intruders down the tracks.

 

[Warchief Waddles]

Location: Refinery Complex
Allies: Strike Team One
Objective: End This
Enemies: [member="Adrian Vandiir"]
Equipment: Powergaunts, Lightsaber, Asheran Armorweave clothing

In the instant that the saber bit into the Sith’s shoulder Aten closed his eyes, this fight had finally been brought to an end though not in the way the Jedi wished. Spreading his arms, the saber deactivating Aten landed in a graceful crouch the solid thud of Adrian slamming into the ground behind him a signal that the Sith had stopped his levitation. Turning his eyes opening that hardness within them, that blazing determination began to fade. A look of pity, sorrow, and disgrace filling them. This was not what Romi had taught him, she hadn’t trained the boy to dismember his foes needlessly. No this was the training of Kol Varad. Even now Aten could hear his past Masters voice in his head. You have to be proactive! You must destroy the Sith! The words clung to Aten’s memory springing unbidden to the surface. The beatings he took during the training, till he was bruised or unable to continue on. The constant scolding’s, the lack of compassion.

Left hand reaching up to his face Aten grasped it his mind moving at a rate rivaling a podracer. Creeping up his face and digging into the blonde hair Aten couldn’t help but feel remorse for what he’d done. The Sith’s arm now clinging to the ceiling defying gravity itself. The acolyte twisted and writhed on the floor before Adrian, defenseless. If he wished he could end it all now, simply erase the Sith from existence. Glancing down to the saber firmly within his grasp Aten envisioned the words of Romi and Kol. The mirror opposites of each other, one believed in trust while the other believed in control. One mercy, another intolerance. “No…” The words barely above a whisper Aten clipped the saber to his belt. This would not be the day he took another’s life.

“You do not know why I truly did what I did, nor do I expect you to understand…” Moving slightly closer to the Sith Aten was more so reassuring himself than Adrian. “I did not seek this fight out of joy or a hatred of you, at least I didn’t believe I did. Seems my old master has a stronger hold on me than I thought.” Kneeling down Aten mentally switched his gauntlet back to its low setting. “Don’t know why I’m explaining this to you.”

Reaching down to the Sith’s body Aten would police the Sith of the belt he once had tossing it over his own shoulder. A tendril of the force reaching out he’d pull the arm from its spot against the ceiling into his hands. The arm stank of singed flesh but what had drawn Aten’s attention was the device upon it. The one that had offered Adrian a way to defy gravity. Taking the device Aten would toggle the switch placing the arm next to Adrian’s form. Looking to the charred corpses of the Rebel soldiers Aten knew that whatever medical supplies they once had were gone. There was nothing he could do to alleviate Adrian’s pain besides one thing. Fist lashing out in a light strike directly at the Sith’s chin it would be in an attempt to send him into unconsciousness. The vibrations and sonic waves completing the task of amplifying the strike to that point.

 

[Coren Starchaser]

Objective: Smack Sith
Allies: Jedi, Light Side, Rebels, Alliances
Enemies: Sith, Dark Side, Imperials, Orders

The facts of everything here were the same. The Jedi were fighting to restore the natural order, and the Sith were here to impose order. Pulling out his tricks was what Coren would do. The man grinned as he successfully folded space to toss the debris at the back of [member="Darth Carnifex"]. The hit didn’t do much to the Sith, but it was still going to falter him for a second. Not like he was getting a stun, or rolling a 1D6+6, just enough to make Carnifex stall his onslaught of telekinesis. The Jedi was more than what most saw when they saw Jedi.

He had a few other tricks.

Full of surprises, was what was said once upon a year.

“Its enough to stop some of your Empire.” And that was true. Coren would use Fold Space on so many during his time, either to save his own skin, or to stop them. The Force was moving here, differently than Coren suspected. He was watching the Sith, and the metal take shape. And tart to scream. Yeah, that was… something.

A step back, Coren moved back a step before launching himself forward. Lightsaber glowing, Coren moved to catch one of the attacks on his blade. As he did, he reached out into the Meld, towards [member="Romi Jade"], feeling where she was, what she was up against. But he was pushing back towards her, giving her the hope and determination he was creating here.

The one cure for Sith Alchemy?

A blast of its opposite.

All he needed was the hope, the determination.

 

[Tabigarashu Madara]

Location: "Abandoned" Dubrillion Super Laser Facility (Fething cultists)
Objective: Stop the death cultists *again*- DON'T DIE (why does this always end up being the objective?)
Allies: TSE, [member="Ardeth Zun"] [member="Khaji Ri'Had"] [member="Darth Saarai"]
Enemies: MOSTLY DEATH CULTISTS- WHOOPS ALSO REBELS? Maybe? Hard to tell [member="Desmond C'artyom"]

Khaji was polite. Well mannered. Relatively soft spoken.

Also an utter terror in close quarters combat.

Hirou watched from the safety of Ardeth's pocket, and, not for the first time, appreciated that Agent Ri'Had was on their side. The little Nezumi noted the full blown pupils, the way his breath caught, hard and fast. There was no mistaking Khaji for anything but the predator barely in control in that moment. The normal instinct of a Nezumi would have been to run, and Hirou would have been lying if they said, looking at Trianii, that sensation, the desire to RUN, did not shiver through their fur all the way down to their tail.

But in the service of the Saaraishash and the Empire, this was not the worst Hirou had seen. And instead of running, the little Nezumi offered the agent a nod. And their trust. Believing that given a moment, Khaji would get it back fully under his control again.

Turning attention to where Ardeth indicated, studying for a moment.

"Absolutely," came the confirming squeak. "Piece of cake."

Hirou scampered out of the Muun's pocket, down his arm, and to his hand, where the Nezumi was held level with the control cover. It had been ripped off, damaging the electronics inside. Tail wiggled and with a little leap, Hirou jumped into the hole.

"Yeah I got this, just need a couple of minutes," came the muffled voice.

Minutes that the trio did not have.

It seemed to all happen at once. The deaths of the cultists at Khaji's hands had been felt by the others- death was their sole purveyance, at least in their own minds- and the unexpected deaths when none should have occurred so close to their base of power attracted them like angry wasps.

Behind them, they boiled out of two side corridors, converging on Khaji and Ardeth with only a moment's warning.

Hirou squeaked in dismay as something hot and wet splashed against their back- blood, spattered as the Trianii and Muun lashed out, falling into place to protect the Nezumi. Hirou pushed farther into the broken control panel, small paws furiously working to reconnect wires, knowing that this was the only way out now with the corridor closed off behind them.

The small holographic image, projected from their ear comm unit, materialized and Hirou almost fell out of the control panel entirely.

"Tai Fa! Uh, now is" there was a scream behind them "not such a great time! But I will try!"

"Hirou," came the reproving voice from the one centimeter high sith lord. "I am inbound with the Song. Now is the ONLY time."

"Inbound with the Song?" Hirou had assumed that Saarai was already in system. That would explain the message coming through. Had the Empire taken down the source of the jamming? It was the only explanation as far as the Nezumi could see. After all, why start jamming only to take it back down again? With an incomplete understanding (read, none) of what was happening in space above the planet, Hirou could only assume that the Empire had indeed stopped it at its source, and the little creature swelled with pride.

"Hirou. Focus... why is there blood in your fur?"

"Yes. Report. Death cultists, Lord Fa."

"..... you are joking."

"Never about this."

All the while, Hirou worked to fix the control to the lift. Something shuddered, the entire station shivering and Hirou looked up in alarm. That sound-

"The super laser is active!?" The Nezumi cried in shock.

What intel they'd received had clearly been that they were no where near ready to start firing. If they had known that the laser was active, Hirou's plan would have been much different. They would have called in a strike as soon as they had confirmed their agents had gotten off off site- or, if it had come down to the ships catching readings warning of it's powering up, struck regardless. The needs of the Empire out weighed any individual lives.

Hirou never would have brought agents in. Not in a million years. Their heart sank.

"Tai Fa," they said tightly. "Order a strike on the facility. I do not believe we can reach the laser in time to protect the fleets above us."

Not with Khaji and Ardeth in a life or death battle already. The station shivered again, and Hirou could only pray that the cultists were targeting the Empire's enemies. Even if they were at the moment, the Nezumi knew that would not... could not.... last. The cultists didn't care who died.

So long as someone did.

This time the station SHUDDERED. That wasn't the laser firing!

A frantic voice came in over the comms. Hirou couldn't answer in that moment, frantically trying to get the lift working, and talking to Tai Fa over the secure channel. Hopefully one of the others could spare the attention.

 

[Ras Val'kor]

Objective: Educate
Location: Refinery Complex
Allies: [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Kaalia Pavanos"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Khonsu Amon"] | [member="Corso"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Ardeth Zun"] | [member="Braith Achlys"] | [member="Elani Zambrano"]
Enemies: Cedric Grayson

[<>]​

​

"No."​

​

Ras stated plainly, yet boldly. ​

​

"Why don't you get it? You've lost. There's nothing here for you. You couldn't save one man, nor thousands. Your time to be a hero is merely a delusion brought on by some sense of pride you hold far too close to your heart. Let go."​

​

Stepping forward, arms outstretched as a mocking welcome to death's door. ​

​

"Let go and realize that we all fail. The most difficult struggle is to accept the possibility of failure itself, and yet, here it stands before you. Look upon the man you swore a better future to - look upon the face of one, and then see the multitude of every life you couldn't protect writhing in agony. The ones that will remember you as a disappointment." ​

​

A pause, and then Ras' arms fell back to his sides in a calm, nonchalant manner. ​

​

"Open yourself to reality. Allow every crevice of your shattered pride to become filled with the understanding of what it is to lose. To be alone."​

​

A solemn, almost sorrowful expression came over Ras' face.​

​

"You've already lost me."​

​

With a turn of his head, he glanced to his new Sith counterpart, giving a slow but affirmative nod. ​

​

"Choose your next actions carefully, Cedric. For your sake."​

​

A cold, nearly lifeless stare set upon the Jedi. Any feelings of hesitation or remorse were long gone. ​

​

If there were anything to redeem, it had long been drowned in the blackened ichor that was the Dark Side itself.​

​

The work of a true savior.​

 

[Wyatt Morga]

Offering his last support, imparting the hope of a generation yet unborn...

Objective: To give hope.
Allies: [member="Cedric Grayson"]
Enemies: [member="Taeli Raaf"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Kaalia Pavanos"] | [member="Samka Derith"] | [member="Alkor Centaris"] | [member="Khonsu Amon"] | @Corso | [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Ardeth Zun"] | [member="Braith Achlys"] | [member="Elani Zambrano"]

A golden smile, the soft warmth the sun imparted through a coruscanti sunrise as the skies offered their own gifts in the form of purple hazes littered with midnight blues and staunch reds. It was a beautiful sight, all things considered, all upheld by the golden curls across the kitchen that bounced at every movement of the pan being used to cook. Clanging against the electric stove, the only other noise that polluted their senses was the distant traffic of the metropolis that refused to sleep; something Coruscant was notorious for.

Wyatt moved quietly, resting his arms around her waist, only to catch a momentary smile as he embraced her from behind. Updrafts brought to him the sweet scent of applewood smoked bacon, something they knew was their favorite to eat on a lazy morning. The icing on the cake however was the voice of his son, a young man not over ten, who spoke with such excitement he couldn’t help but grin widely as he turned from the love of his life to what would pass on their hopes and dreams.

“Good Morning dad.”

A sharp inhale, a broken bloodied cough as he winced. There were two doctors on either side of him, and the paradise he was in was destroyed by the harsh reality of the situation they faced. He could hear the ship shaking as it was breaking free of the atmosphere and heading back to one of the few ships with enough crew to handle the wounded; but he carried with him more than just the pain of a defeat, but the shame of letting his men down. They pushed far, and although it was one of the few beaches to lose its front; he couldn’t help but blame himself.

Biofoam filled the wound in his thigh with a harsh whistle, drawing out of him an unruly cry of pain more similar to a beast than a Jedi; every vein in his neck popping through the skin as his back arched and he held tight a face of anguish. It was a horrific feeling, and one he hadn’t felt in years; but the pain was true, and it was one of the few thats that kept him sane.

It took a few moments to calm himself, to let the force drag him back into some form of meditation to combat the pain. They were low on supplies, and pain medicine was not very high on the list of things to give someone who would have refused them anyway; there were afterall men missing limbs and more, he was simply weak from years of downtime. Focusing on his breathing, he brought his attention back towards the ground through the endless callings of the force.

It was then he saw the beacon that was Cedric, and the darkness that surrounded him.

With the world descending into chaos, it was evident the sith would use their massive propaganda machines to declare this a war crime of the rebellion; to help dash their support over the galaxy and to otherwise crush all hope they could have had. It was disappointing what the dark side had become so capable of in recent times, but he couldn’t help but hope that the light would shine through regardless. This was not the first dark period it had, and as all times before; it prevailed.

Through a chosen, or through a force of nature in itself; the ebbs and flow of time and morality kept the balance whether humanity chose to maintain it or not. The Sith did not know they were subject to such realities, that was much obvious in their demeanor and ego from years of ease, but they’d meet their opponent in the great equalizer eventually.

Wyatt knew this, but what he did not know was if Cedric could maintain such hope in adversity. It was a crushing road they walked, one where travesty and hardship would face them down as great beasts at every corner; and they both had faced their enemies on every battlefield known to man. Even that of the heart, yet they stayed strong.

Even though the Jedi sat strapped to a gurney, being offloaded onto the fleet for surgery, an apparition appeared and rested a hand on Cedric’s shoulder. It was warm, it was familiar, but more than anything it carried with it the hopes of a rebellion. Three words echoed in the darkness for all to hear, the sensation of a proud smile following, only to have what remained of his conscious strength to be imparted to the Jedi that led the charge;

“Don’t give up.”

 

[Leliana]

Location: Kolto Processing Plant - Security Hub
Objective: Stop the Rebels, Kill the Rebels
Allies: @Djorn Bline | [member="Dr. Vain Jar'He"] | [member="Jairus Starvald"] | NPCs - Imperial Lawbringers | TSE
Enemies: [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] (Directly Engaging) | [member="Ari Vox"] | [member="Noah Corek"] | TRA
Equipment: Sith Lightsaber | Daggers | Hidden Blade | Assassin Armour

The respite was enough for Leliana to regain some control after having overexerted herself. Her body was still shaking from the overload, but the assassin was able to continue moving without worry of randomly stumbling or collapsing.

Leliana cursed under her breath. 'course it would be her luck that she'd run into a Master.

Her first real fight outside of her training with [member="Darth Ophidia"], ended up being someone who trumped her in Force ability. If Leliana wasn't convinced she needed to attack Elpsis from the shadows, she was convinced now.

The assassin quickly went over her options, how to remain hidden and work her way around the enemy's flank. But there were potential for several elements to go against that plan. The enemy's helmet could have the capability to see through different spectrums. Or the very simple case of being more powerful, shortening the time it was going to take to see through the smokescreen.

In that instance however, it admittedly never crossed Leliana's mind that she'd be found by her breathing. As ragged as it was, as she continued to calm herself down.

That's when she felt the heat, and Leliana peeked around from the piece of furniture she had chosen. It was a large overturned table, easily wide enough to physically hide her, but it was apparent it had been fruitless. The burnings orbs of fire in her hands illuminated Elpsis' armoured form, and Leliana scrambled to find a way out of this.

She shifted into a crouch, placing her hands against the table and focused. For now the Dark Side wasn't going to answer her call, not without doing further damage to her body, but the Force in general was still on her side. As the temperature continued to increase, Leliana focused what she could into her hands. The wave was ignited as it left Elpsis' hands, roaring across the space towards her.

Leliana began to push the table forwards, keeping it low to the ground so the fire wouldn't be able to slip beneath. But before the assassin knew it, the flames slammed into the table and forced her back. Leliana gritted her teeth, using the Force to gradually push her way forwards. She could feel her hands begin to burn as the fire heated up the metal and began to melt it around the corners.

Come on...just a bit more!

The assassin felt a surge of the Force flow through her, and she forced it into her hands, blasting the table forwards. It soared across the room, carving a path through fire that had set the floor alight and straight towards Elpsis. Leliana couldn't move left or right, either direction meant having to run through it. Going backwards wasn't an option, so the Sith did the last thing that was possible.

She ran straight towards Elpsis.

 

[Vaylin]

Location: The Behemoth
Objective: Repel the Boarders
Allies: [member="Blackblade Guard"] | [member="Fiolette Yvarro"] | [member="Nyra Mazul"] | [member="Joycelyn Zambrano"] | [member="Darth Rixas"] | TSE
Enemies: [member="The Slave"] | [member="Katya Shorn"] | [member="Judas Foster"] | TRA
Equipment: Sith Lightsaber x2 | Shoto Lightsaber x1 | Armour | Oculus | Firestarter |

Fortunately for Vaylin, her journey across the Western Trams had been unimpeded, unlike Slave and his group. She had kept an eye on the sensors, noting the introduction of a four in the area, all seemingly remaining in the same place until two of them were on the move again.

Were they...running along the bottom of the tramline?

The Zabrak paused as she focused on the Force, stretching out until she could feel the dark presence. Yeah, they were definitely running, not at the same speed as the tram would've taken them, but they were quick enough.

As Vaylin went to push on, she heard the doors behind her suddenly slide open. She glanced back, catching sight of Rixas as he caught up. The Zabrak didn't know the man, but acknowledged he was a Sith nonetheless.

She carried on, rushing down through corridors, working her way around the other side - intending to try and cut Slave and Judas off from reaching their objective. That was when her commlink buzzed to life, which she quickly activated.

"Currently on the other side of the Behemoth, making my way around to cut the enemy infiltrators off." Oh, Vaylin recognized the voice even if she hadn't personally fought alongside Joycelyn. But the Zabrak had made sure she was familiar with the key figures within the Empire; and the Zambranos. "Internal scanners indicate the group has been split, two have moved away from the tram, but have remained within the area. Another two have proceeded onwards, further into the ship." She paused, glancing down at her wristpad to ensure she was going the right way. "I'm tracking one of the latter through the Force. They're carrying a blade that's emanating dark side energy." It was clear in the way Vaylin spoke, that she recognized it.

 

[Placeholder 0128]

Objective: Refute Education With Facts

Allies: [member="Wyatt Morga"]

Enemies: [member="Taeli Raaf"], [member="Ras Val'kor"]

Cedric expelled a deep breath.

"Ah, yes, I should feel such guilt for the hospitals I have built, and for the children I have helped birth. For the communities I helped build with my own hands, for the students I've taught to be kind and loving to all those around them. For the lives I've helped to liberate so that they might live however they wish to. For the Sith Lord I just convinced to let go of his hate and go home before he could kill anyone else." The knight rumbled with pleasant laughter, "I enjoy how I look in that mirrior Taeli, it's rather dashing, though I expect yours has too many cracks to even see a reflection. " came his answer. "You people are willfully ignorant. You don't think we've stockpiled and prepared for this? That there isn't a plan to get aid to the civilian populace once we drive you off this planet? You think you even know what it means to be a Jedi? If what you say is true, you were never redeemed - you cannot understand the stresses and burdens we carry. You chose the easy path, the one of weakness. It takes strength to resist the dark side, and strength to truly master the force." There was a steel to his voice that implied he saw his words as simple facts, and ones no Sith Lord was going to be able to debate. "You might have walked with us, but you never understood. You can never understand until you let go of that darkness; it blinds you to a greater perspective. Peace is the antithesis of your code, yet your people claim the high road and use that as a mandate for conquest - if anything, I would argue that you aren't true SIth, but Dark Jedi masquerading as the lords of old. We don't fear you at all Raaf - we pity you. You're an addict that needs treatment."

The knight just shook his head, "As for you, Ras, I had high hopes for you. Whatever she did to you, I can reverse in time. You've one last chance to surrender yourselves to the medical team. Either way I'm arresting Raaf. If you protect her, you'll be joining her in the stockade."

Another friend gone off the deep end, but then he'd be just another name to add to the list. Cedric had been tested his entire life; this was not the first time an ally had chosen the easy path, and it wouldn't be last. In the past, Cedric's soft heart might have been wounded by the betrayal. Now, he looked upon [member="Taeli Raaf"] and [member="Ras Val'kor"] with nothing but the pity and compassion. Vesper had been saved, but then he had not fully succumbed either. Raaf had immersed herself in the dark side, and likely considered herself his better - she would not listen. Ras had chosen to recognize the darkness in his own heart; the man had one final chance, but Cedric could afford no others.

There would be no further words. The Sith Lord's attempt at utilizing Dun Moch had done nothing save for make Cedric even more resolute. He prepared his weapon to strike, when he felt the presence of something familiar upon his shoulder. It was a warm, welcoming thing that reminded Cedric of a friend that had consoled him after the loss of his homeworld. Not daring to look away from his opponent to view the apparition, Cedric instead reached out with the force.

“Don’t give up.”

You know I couldn't. We've come too far.

Confidence surged back into Cedric like lightning travelling through his veins. The discouragement he had felt at having Ras rise against him was dashed aside, replaced by a single righteous purpose. His faith had always been his guide, and the force's message was as clear now as it had ever been. Its warmth filled his spirit; he might have compared it to taking a lungful of air after having nearly drowned beneath the waves of an ocean. He needed to get through them.

Not one for telekinesis or any conventional ranged assault, Cedric instead channeled those energies inward. The invisible barrier he erected around himself was designed with the express purpose of nullifying whatever force assault was sent his way. The rest of those energies went into his feet, as he wasted no time in charging Raaf and her new sycophant at full sprint, cyan blade humming loudly as it would fall in a violent two-handed arc that would seek to cleave the Sith from shoulder to hip.

He had little doubt Ras would make a move, but then he doubted the newly forged Sithspawn could even get within fifteen feet of him without falling to pieces. The Blade of Ruusan had been crafted with the sole purpose of ousting Sith corruption, and Sithspawn had been the particular enemy in mind. Simply being in the radiant weapon's presence enough was to send most Sithspawn running as debilitating pain wracked their putrid forms. The knight expected a similar outcome with Ras.

 

[Irajah Ven]

Location: Kolto Processing Plant - Lowest level Lift
Allies: Caf, TSE [member="Leliana"] [member="Djorn Bline"]
Enemies: Rebels, [member="Ari Vox"] [member="Noah Corek"] [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"]
In Scene: [member="Jairus Starvald"]

His voice sounded in her mind and Vain could not remember a moment of such sheer discomfort ever before in her life. The combination of the intrusion, the words themselves, and something in the tone- even if she had been someone prone to enjoying compliments, this was anything but.

She settled her mask back into place fully, finding her feet again.

"You have no-"

The sentence died stillborn as the feeling of the force wrapped itself around her neck. Silenced by legitimate shock and a rising anger, she glared at him through the mask. She wasn't afraid. Oh, she could certain feel fear, but here in this moment?

All she felt was fury.

When he released her, she pushed back off of the wall, her voice hissing through the vocoder.

"I take orders from one man, and you are not the Dark Lord," she bit out. "You are his guest, and mine. You need me alive? I have no need for you at all."

Vain had some idea of who Jairus had been. She just didn't care.

Pride. Hubris. Every day of her life since she had come out of that cloning creche had been with the protection of [member="Darth Carnifex"]. There were certainly people within the Empire that she respected, and would even listen to. Either because she would have been foolish not to or they had earned that respect. This man was an interloper. He had no right to treat her in such a fashion. He had no right to lay orders.

If she had known the connection between him and Irajah Ven, perhaps this interaction would have gone differently. Perhaps. Perhaps not. Vain knew where she had come from, the who and why. As far as she was concerned, she was the improved model over a weak and stupid creature who was dead now anyway.

"Legionaries, detain Mister Starvald," she raised her voice.

The entire feel and tone of the corridor changed in a heart beat.

"You have no rights here," she hissed up at him. "You are not a citizen or a leader in this empire. You do not give ME orders."

Unease rippled through the Legionaries. She was entirely correct. She had full authority over their actions. But now, here and in the middle of an emergency like this, the rampant display of hubris and ego was badly timed at best.

Vain was not a leader of men. The fact that she had the authority to do so did not mean she knew how to do it well.

 

[Elpsis Kerrigan]

Allies: Rebels - [member="Ari Vox"], [member="Noah Corek"]
Enemies: [member="Leliana"], [member="Djorn Bline"], [member="Jairus Starvald"], [member="Dr. Vain Jar'He"], TSE. Engaging: Leliana.


Phrik armour, lightsabre (both in sig), rebreather, boltgun, sonic carbine, sidearm.


Pandaeomium raged in the security hub. Rebels and Imperials did battle with each other, using vibroblades, guns and even their mere fists. The whine of blasters filled the air, accompanied by the staccato of high-velocity slugthrowers. Violence took place in every quarter. A chorus of screams, yells and grunts.


Leliana seemed to have been cornered. To the right of her, there was fire. To the left of her, there was fire. Only one way forward: Straight towards her adversary. This was not a position an Assassin wanted to be in, for their strength lay in stealth, surprise and speed, not head-on, pitched combat. Much like how a Soldier should not be assigned to perform the duties of an Assassin.


A burning table soared towards Elpsis, travelling through the air at great speed even as flames devoured it. The Force surged through Elpsis as she directed her willpower outward, channelling it through a gesture of her hand. The flying table was turned aside, though it kissed the side of her helmet and shoulder as it was pushed away from her, scoring a glancing blow. Some of the flames jumped over to her. She soaked up the heat. There was a loud thud when the table crashed into a wall. Fire sprang onto a monitor, sparks flew and the computer exploded. The temperature in the room continued to rise. Probably enough to cause discomfort for those not shielded from it. It also fed the flames and kept them from dying.


Stepping back, Elpsis found that the Sith woman was charging towards her. She could respect the Sith's dedication and bravery, as much as she found her cause reprehensible. Such sentiments did not influence her actions though. Within the blink of an eye, Elpsis had drawn her sidearm, a Magnetic Revolver. This gun was what happened when a shattergun and a revolver made sweet love and produced a baby.


Raising the revolver, she fired a burst of hypervelocity pellets in quick succession. The revolver didn't make much sound outside of the whir of its chamber spinning and the pellets hissing through the air. These small pellets travelled faster than the speed of sound, meaning they hit a target before one heard them cut through the air. As a result, they possessed wonderful armour piercing capabilities. The same qualities made them very difficult to dodge...especially since her enemy was running straight towards her.

 

[Jairus Starvald]

Location: Kolto Processing Plant, Deep Lab
Allies: TSE, [member="Leliana"] [member="Djorn Bline"]
Enemies: Whoever is upsetting the Progenitors (Rebels, [member="Ari Vox"] [member="Noah Corek"] [member="Elpsis Kerrigan-Alcori"] )
In Scene: [member="Dr. Vain Jar'He"]

Jairus looked down at Vain.

Physically, yes, but in that glance she would see something that had been barely hidden before. A lack of even the most basic of acknowledgements, it was as if Jai was staring at a bug, maybe (if he was charitable) a bird with a broken wing. While Vain was not a leader of men... Jairus had been nothing but that for decades, years where Vain had been nothing more than a flicker in the eye of her creator.

"You are nothing." The Sith Lord responded calmly, even a touch lazily. A mere defective clone with illusions of grandeur simply because she was the latest plaything that Zambrano entertained himself with.

The change in the corridor was palpable.

He could taste it in a way that Vain could not.

The hesitation, the doubt, the fear as the Legionnaires' joy and triumph was slowly dragged down into real palpable dread. The dread of having to face the Sith Lord who had just been their salvation, while the facility was under siege and swarming with rebels. There was a momentum there, a sweep where actions were being weighed and pushed around to an obvious conclusion.

It was that silence, that moment where nothing happened, that Vain might have received a hint of her mistake.

Half of the Legionnaires simply... didn't do anything. Oh, they were trained to obey, but the Empire they served was forged by the Sith. Vain was anything but- while Lord Starvald was everything they had been bred to believe in.

The other half? The unit that was assigned to protect Vain by the Dark Lord himself approached with their barrels aimed at him. They shook.

"I am sorry, Lord Starvald-" The Lieutenant swallowed as they approached. "We follow orders."

Jai looked back towards them, eyebrow raised, bit of amusement there. "I regret that, but I understand." The relief they all experienced was short-lived as his hand simply swept in a relaxed gesture, fingers brushing their outlines in the air. His mind broke through any defenses they might have had with ease and used that doubt, that fear, drawing it out and letting it overwhelm their orders.

"Doctor Vain has turned hysterical from the pressure of the mission." They all repeated it. Word for word. "The mission comes first." Word for word. "You have your mission."

"We have our mission."

All of them turned on their heels and began marching into the elevator, allowing Jai to refocus on Vain.

"They won't remember this moment, but I will, Nothing. Either make yourself useful or stay behind. Choose."

 

[Darth Carnifex]

Objective: Kill the Webuls, Kill the Webuls, Kill the Webuls
Location: Dubrillion Refinery Complex - Whichever one the plot demands
Allies: [member="Kaalia Pavanos"], [member="Vilaz Munin"], [member="Koda Fett"]
Enemies: [member="Coren Starchaser"], [member="Romi Jade"]
Gear: Below Signature

"Don't hold your breath, Master Starchaser."

How incredulous these Jedi, unable to see the truth even if was physically written on a wall. Ultimately, it didn't matter to the Emperor. If these rebels wanted to struggle and cry out against his reign, then they could do so until their vocals chords were ragged and raw. Every battle and every skirmish was enough to manipulate to the Sith's advantage. Fighting against oppression became acts of terrorism, and every son and daughter who fought and died for freedom became malicious agents of chaos trying to overturn the protection of law and order. And in a galaxy bereft of central authority and wounded by decades of war, they were all too willing to accept the Imperial narrative and remain content in the protection of a state that saw them as little more than cogs in a grand machine.

Civil liberties and personal freedoms were easily traded for security and order, and the Emperor knew it. Oh, the Jedi might believe that their words of freedom and liberty might dissuade the masses from supporting his totalitarian regime, but ironically they lacked that fundamental connection with the millions of souls that had been beaten down by Republic occupation, Mandalorian incursion, and Primeval terror. The Grayson boy was an insolent son who descended from riches and nobility, what did he know of the suffering of the common folk?

Oh, the Sith knew of suffering.

They knew what it was like to be beaten down, treated little better than dogs.

That resentment and understanding lent them the advantage in manipulating millions, perhaps billions, of others who felt the exact same way. And the actions of the Jedi on Korriban, Mirial, and other worlds allowed the Sith to easily paint the Jedi as ineffectual, weak, and just as destructive as the Sith are painted to be. The holo-footage of Grayson and his goons threatening private citizens with death had been replayed hundreds of times on Imperial holonet channels across the Empire.

His people would find no sympathy here.

Proximity warnings brought the Emperor out of his reflection, several blaster bolts pining harmlessly off of his armor's magnetic shielding. His head swiveled to catch the sight of Romi Jade charging at him with all the righteous indignation and fury of a true Jedi, which only eliciting a short barking laugh from behind the Emperor's intimating helmet. Carnifex spun his lightsaber in his right hand and reached out with his left, power flooding out from his core and into his limb before manifesting as dark red energy that lept from his fingertips to arc through the air like javelins on a direct collision course with the smaller Jedi. The discharged energy was so potent and so laden with the Dark Side that it melted steel and stone as it soared over debris.

Meanwhile, the doppelganger of Starchaser continued to batter against his defenses, no real strategy playing out in the golem's head as unshakable desire to dismember, maim, murder, and then finally embrace sweet oblivion coursed through its unnatural body. The facsimile of Coren's face continued to further contort in pain, the metal endlessly reshaping itself into every more grotesque dimensions.

And it kept screaming.

 

[Taeli Raaf]

Objective: Deal with the Interrupters
Location: Refinery
Allies: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Koda Fett"] [member="Kaalia Pavanos"] [member="Samka Derith"] [member="Alkor Centaris"] [member="Khonsu Amon"] [member="Corso"] [member="Vilaz Munin"] [member="Ardeth Zun"] [member="Braith Achlys"] [member="Elani Zambrano"] [member="Ras Val'kor"]
Enemies: @Cenris Marus [member="Coren Starchaser"] [member="Romi Jade"] [member="Aten Ramses"] [member="Aryn Teth"]

Directly Engaging: Cedric Grayson

Equipment: Armor Lightsaber

Her amusement did not lessen as Cedric started listening off all the good deeds he had done. Fool. Good deeds did not cancel out the terrible things done. Sure, he had built hospitals and communities, taught students and 'liberated' people, but that did not change anything. Jaminere should have been a sign to the boy, but he was deluded. Just as he had missed the point of what she had said. He might have stockpiles of aid, ready to be shipped in, not that it seemed likely the planet would fall to her. But he missed the point of this attack would disrupt the flow of medicine to the entire Tingel Arm and Empire... and people would know who to blame for it.

But... she hadn't sought to convince him otherwise. He was just as consumed by his righteousness as his father had been... she would almost feel pity if it wasn't overshadowed immensely by disgust. Narrow-minded Jedi, but he was doing exactly what she wanted him to do.

There would be no Force assault heading his way, no attack from her as he came charging in towards her, blade raised to strike her from shoulder to hip. She hadn't even ignited her lightsaber yet... but she smiled. He had become the aggressor, just as she had wanted him to be. A duck under the blade and a pivot away, and she was standing a few steps away, that insufferable smile still on her face. Crimson ignited to clash with the cyan light of his blade, but she wasn't really concerned about his little toy. Her blade did come up in a guard position, however.

"It's amusing to hear that. Almost like a song on repeat," she said. "The Sith have atrocities to our name, freely will admit that. Togoria, Thyferra, Coruscant, and so on. But don't delude yourself into thinking the Jedi haven't committed equally atrocious acts, boy. Manaan, Mirial, Korriban, Jaminere and the list goes on too. Both sides have so much red in their ledger, but it is the Sith that own up to their actions. And please, the stresses and burdens of the Jedi? I was the leader of the New Jedi Order, and before that, I was a trusted advisor to Omai Rhen, and even before that, I was on the Republic Jedi Council, and even before I was a Force user, I lived a normal life for over twenty years. I know, all too well, what these so-called burdens and stresses are. For any being that actually has the emotional range larger than a teaspoon... they might call Jedi issues a 'first world problem,' I think the saying is."