Gromas

[Anilara Kadav]

By now Serena had been a little updated as to the situation and was more intellectually inclined towards being a larger help. She had no idea of the Arach'tar and it shocked her to know what destruction they wrought. Who cares what she did in her past, what the Arach'tar were doing was utterly ridiculous...

 

On the way in the shuttle, she got to know the squad she would be working with and she was pleased to know that they were all pretty good guys. They were kind of uneasy about a woman leading them, but after a quick arm wrestle with what appeared to be one of their toughest there they let the issue die...

 

Serena had taken time to learn ever single one of their names so it would be a little easier to call out in any situation, and she also told them that she would give them no mercy if any mutiny happened, but since they were troopers she supposed that they were used to command...

 

"Rainer, Krekk, Ajax, and Lukan I must say you are some of the finest troops I have ever seen. I am proud to call myself your commander, but don't let that go to your heads... Since we are a special ops group I assume that we will be sent directly into the fray. That, and because it was on the memo given to the recruitment officer, but before we go directly to the enemies and infiltrate their ship we are going to check in with our commander in the eclipse Star destroyer..."

 

Hmmm... Deton.. hehehe

 

it felt kind of awkward referring to Deton as commander, but she knew he was and respected that...

 

The shuttle approached the Star destroyer and were let into the docking bay with no trouble...

 

"Alright boys, come with me and make sure you be on your best behavior, or I am going to have my way with ya.."

 

The boys chuckled to themselves, but they complied...

 

<30 minutes later>

 

"man, they really should make these things smaller..."

 

"What are you tired Serena?" Ajax let slip...

 

"No, its just it takes forever to get around... anyway, now when we go in I want you to flank the doorway and just standby while I meet with the commander ok?"

 

"Roger" the all chorused at the same time...

 

So Serena made her way through the doors to the bridge, and the boys followed. The arrayed around the door with the guards already there and Serena proceeded up to Deton...

 

The figure of Serena clad in her black platanium Jumpsuit with emerald (color - its not too ostentatious) lining, steel toed boots, banded no finger gloves, shotguns with holsters across her shoulders, and her laser pistols with holsters at her hips approached Deton and the shadowy figure...

 

"Hello again, commander" Serena was saluting, her white eyes glinting, and her red hair still being obnoxious...

 

"it pleases me to be in the presence of my commanding officer, what is it that you would like my boys and I to do here commander?" She finished with a smile but still at attention...

[Deton]

Deton forced himself to keep his smile in check. One had to be proper about things out in plain sight. He saluted her which gave her cause to drop the salute.

 

"Ah Special ops Agent Irana you can stand at ease here."

 

He paused for a moment looking at the men she had brought with her. He thought her recognized the stance of one of them. However, he wasn't sure.

 

He picked up a datapad and handed it to her, detailing her assignment on it as well. A fleeting emotion passed over his face. However, it was squelched as quickly as it had come.

 

I hope I am not simply sending her to... no need to think of that right now. Got to treat her like everyone else at the moment.

 

"The pleasure is all mine. Your assignment is entailed on the datapad. The Imperial Inquisitor will be in the vicinity with you, though he has his own separate agenda. You are dismissed and may launch when ready. I believe an ace pilot may be accompanying you both in his fighter."

 

With nothing left further to say, he kept a tightly clamped lid on his thoughts. Mainly because of the Imperial Inquisitor still hanging around. That being still gave him chills.

[RC-7417/0477]

'77/Tom watched at his new deliverance of troops from the decks of the Eclipse Star Destroyer. He saw a few old faces [Even though they were hidden behind their helmet visors] save the ones that were newly assigned to him. They seem good enough...and they'll have to do too, One of the soldiers from his platooon came next to him.

 

"Grettin's, sarge. Nice day to die eh?..."

 

 

Spunk, mhm.

 

" Heh, sure is, kid. Death's in the air...and its a pain in the rear-"

 

"Oh, uh, Private Verx, at yer service, sarge.

 

Hope the kid makes it,

and with that, Moi and Steele came into and chatted along too.

 

 

[Gren Sairdonga]

Gren was sitting in the pilots ready room waiting for the go signal when the new comer arrived.

 

"Lieutenant Starflight eh? Assigned to me for this scrap?"

 

A chuckle broke out nearby. Turning Gren spotted Allin watching the new guy with amusement.

 

"Something funny Al?"

 

He asked. Curious as to what would make the usually rather somber Captain start laughing outright. Stifling another chuckle he shook his head.

 

"Nothing old horse. Just something Col said."

 

Turning back Gren shook his head in mock aggravation. Some people. He thought to himself. Taking the datapad the new officer held he looked it over quickly.

 

"Alrighty then. Lucky you we have a couple of spare E-Wings for this mixer. You'll fly with my squadron for now. Until we receive orders we'll mix it up with any enemy starfighters that get too friendly. The Admiral will at some stage order us into some part of the attack. So make sure you suit up. Weapons. Armour. Whatever you need. Take some explosives with you and a vibroblade. You can store it all on your fighter and take it out as needed. Says here you consider yourself a pilot but have had no formal evaluation or training.Tell you what if you come out of here alive we can skip all that and shove you straight into a squadron. Skip all that recruit and trainee pay garbage. Hell if you perform well enough you can join the Sentinels. Thou-"

 

Suddenly an alert klaxon sounded. With a sigh Gren stood and turned to the squadrons on board the Crusader.

 

"Alrighty my lads. You have your orders already. Squadron Leaders start your preflights now. Wing Leaders report to me once we're in the bustle and I'll hand out orders on the fly. This is ad hoc people. So for now just stay in close and shoot down the baddies. Mount up!"

 

With that the ready room exploded into action. They had about twenty minutes before exiting hyperspace. Every second would be needed.

 

Moving over to the fighters marked with the Sentinel's coat of arms. (An Alliance Crest overlaying an Tower with a dozen E-Wings around it in a big circle! Familiar eh?) Eying the seven fighters and three pilots sitting under them Gren waved. From three to seven. Better then before I guess. He thought. Though our customised fighters are still the best of the lot. Turning to the new guy who had followed him Gren said,

 

"Well here we are. Sentinel Squadron. We're an elite squadron. Been around for years. Some day I'll tell you the history. When we got time. And if your still assigned to me. That one over there. That looks like some mad painters had at it. Is yours. We get to colour our own fighters. That too is history I'll explain sometime. Again if your still assigned to me. For today you'll be Sentinel Seven. Once in the mix fly with her over there. Thats Lia'silik, she'll be your wing."

 

Gren indicated a short twi'lek female. She grinned and waved. Stepping in close Gren spoke so only Adam could hear.

 

"This is going to be one hell of a furball mate. Some good flying will be needed. But as long as you cover your wing. And your squadron mates and follow orders. You'll come out alive. If you need assistance don't even hesitate calling for it."

 

Stepping back he nodded at the now six other Sentinels.

 

"Alright my angels get ready for this scramble."

 

He said levering himself into the cockpit of the Ranger's Eye. He settled himself. Starting the preflight checks. Five minutes to go and a wave of beeps and blurps from his astromech told him they were ready to roll. Activating his comm he selected the squadron wide channel for his use.

 

"Alright Sentinels. By the numbers report in. One engines green lasers primed."

 

As the other pilots reported in Gren took stock of his equipment. Antar Heavy Blaster Rifle. Twin Wakishazi. Anti-Matter Knife. Antar Battle Suit. Ready to rumble.

 

As he watched the timer on his main control panel counting the seconds he listened idly to the chatter over the comm. When it reached ten seconds he activated repulsorlifts. Brining his fighter up and orientating it so it pointed out the hangar. Close to the entrance his Sentinels would be the first load out the door when the popped in.

 

Then as they reverted he kicked his thruster. Roaring out of the hangar bay and into the cold void of space. A moment of awe hit him as hundred of ships popped out of hyperspace all around him. Moving into battle formation as they faced the defenders of the planet.

 

Maneuvering around Gren shunted power equally between engines, shields and lasers and arced up and around the massive bulk of the Crusader flying by the bridge he waggled his wings in a mark of respect then took up a position as escort. The rest of the Sentinels quickly joining him.

 

As the battle unfolded around him Gren listened to the comm chatter of his pilots. Good men and women. Dying because of these metal freaks. Even the Imperials were better. And he hated the Imperials.

 

But then the Mon Calamari elements of the fleet began moving forward. Into the Arach'tar fleet.

 

Switching over to a channel where he could communicate directly with Admiral Starlisk. A privilege of rank he didn't often use.

 

"Sir. Orders? Its not much use us holding up around the cruisers. We'll be cut to pieces by all the fire."

 

Gren said, eying a dogfight taking place a klick away. Over a hundred fighters mixed it up. Alliance. Imperial and Arach'tar. It'd be his first chance to see how good their pilots were.

[Lhinneill]

((So of course we go to war on the day I'm stuck at work for 11 hours. ))

 

Adam snapped off a salute to his new CO, well aware of his limited military knowledge and that he wasn't even wearing a uniform. ”œYes, sir.”

[Guest]

((OOC: Onderin, what Ikera is currently doing is battle meditation. The force exists outside this galaxy, and species from the other galaxies know of it.))

 

Despite the utter destruction the Arach'tar fleet seemed to be encountering, Ikera continued his meditation with ease. But there was another presence, battling against him in his attempts to bolster his forces and strike fear into the heart of the enemy. Normally now would be the perfect time for panic, but he had risen above such urges. The battle was not over yet. Not by a long shot.

 

Much to the surprise of all involved but the sole being that really mattered, two hundred star destroyer sized ships, along with escorting warships and accompanying fighters, exited hyperspace behind enemy lines, fresh from the Arach'tar refueling station of Pestilins VII. With reports given to them from forces already engaged, they knew exactly where the enemy was and how they were attacking. With their bows exposed, the Rebel and Imperial fleets offered no defense against the attack. Warships waisted no time rushing the backs of the defenseless ships, quickly emptying every diamond boron missile at their disposal into the engines of the enemy's ships. Immediately after, the two hundred ships began opening fire at the ass of the enemies ships. Much rape ensued.

 

At the same time, the ships remaining of the original one hundred began to glow blue, an ill omen to those who had seen the destruction at Ilum. One of the groups of cloaked ships that had seemingly disappeared at the beginning of the confrontation reappeared without warning perpendicular to the Imperial's Solo class ships hiding in the asteroid belts, forward cannons firing with everything they could muster.

 

Ikera broke off from his attempts to strengthen his forces for a task far more immediate. Instead, he narrowed his focus, burrowing through the minds of useless biological to useless biological until finally coming upon the one responsible for negating his attempts at battle meditation. With a hate unseen in this galaxy he lashed out at the Alliance admiral. Sights of pain and suffering brought on by countless eons of war, spanning galaxy after galaxy, all for the glory of the Machine God flooded every form of perception Onderin could comprehend. The admiral's mental defenses would be weakened from the exertion of spreading himself so thin to every ally in the system. His hindrance would not last long.

 

((Onderin. I propose a 3 post modded mind duel. KvC mods, if that's alright with you.))

[Onderin Starlisk]

((For the record, Onderin was "pretty sure" the Arach'tar hadn't encountered Battle Meditation. His perception of them has, of course, now been modified, but it required an IC revelation such as that to bring such an expanded awareness about....

 

I accept your challenge.))

 

Admiral Onderin Starlisk now felt rather than watched the battle unfold. He foresaw the arrival of Arach'tar reinforcements by about a minute, and he was sending the irresistable impulse to bring the ships about in the back of the formations, so that those that responded were more prepared to deal with the new arrivals.

 

Gren Sairdonga commed in, requesting orders. Onderin's awareness of this was rather dreamy, as he was coping with reality on two very different levels. So deep was he in meditation that everything most would consider "real" was comparitively fantastical. "Coordinate with the Empire, gather some troopers or pilots, and see what you can do about the flagship," he said. "Fly carefully, General."

 

Then, just as he was starting to see an opening in the Arach'tar formation that was perfect for exploitation, a great dark force summoned a sort of mental spear that plunged into his mind. He winced and recoiled and was dimly aware that he had physically slammed back in his chair. Onderin tasted metal--blood.

 

Still, his mental acuity had let him shunt part of the attack aside as though he were parrying a hammer with a shield--it still hurt, but the worst was avoided. The result was, of course, a splitting headache, but Onderin drew even deeper into the Light Side, knowing that combat of a whole different sort was upon him. Emperor Geki had tried to bring him into mental brawls like this, which he usually avoided, but the Admiral's intensely scientific and tactical mind was fascinated by what now lay before him--a chance to see an Arach'tar mind.

 

He greatly deflated his awareness and built up a solid defense, something that came naturally to someone who constantly had to shield themselves against the raw emotions and death that came in war. The Jedi Master probed out with his thoughts, reaching out across the hundreds of klicks between him and the Arach'tar commander, and encountered something intensely alien. Something that considered itself vastly superior. But in that extragalactic consciousness was something also intensely familiar--the Force.

 

They're not that unlike us, after all, Onderin realized. Just bent on our destruction. For the briefest second he wondered why they were doing this, why they required destruction and malice instead of a friendly relation between two peoples who were different only in ideals and temperment. But it is that difference in ideals that makes me unable to understand them.

 

And so Onderin pushed the Arach'tar commander, feeling his defenses. Feeling how they were built. Seeking understanding, for through understanding came knowledge, and through knowledge, Onderin would know something about the Arach'tar that could be essential. That could lend them victory not only today, but in the process of expelling or inviting peaceably the Arach'tar into a galaxy that was already full of thousands of sentient species.

 

Putting on a careful guard, fortifying himself layer by layer, the Admiral maintained contact with the enemy mind. "We aren't so different, you and I," he spoke to it. "Why do you seek to destroy us? Why are we so intolerable to you?" He asked the questions with a studious curiosity, not at all desperate plea for a cessation of hostilities.

 

((1. KvC's fine.))

[Gren Sairdonga]

Listening to the rather odd sounding reply Onderin gave him he frowned slightly. But answered anyways.

 

"Done and done boss. Consider that flagship out of commission as of five minutes ago."

 

Suddenly the new threat emerged. Two hundred new enemy ships of varying sizes. As he watched a blaze of missiles exploded. Killing possibly thousands. And behind them came a wave of fighters followed by warships. Swearing Gren barrel rolled and flicked over nose over tail until he was diving. Straight into several hundred angry Arach'tar fighters. Straight into an oncoming cloud of angry hornets. For a few moments all he did was fly and shoot. Scoring a hit here. Receiving a glancing blow. Nothing too serious though by the sounds of it his astromech was having the droid version of an apoplexy.

 

And suddenly he was through the storm. With almost Jedi-like skill he had survived with only severely weakened shields and some scorch marks on his fuselage. It was only the Ranger's Eyes superior shielding, maneuverability and firepower that had got her through. Pulling up and around Gren watched the furball explode as a dozen Alliance Squadrons desperately attempted to stem the tide of Arach'tar fighters.

 

Choosing a dangerous looking target he did some quick maths and arced his engines to full. With a burst of speed he narrowed the distance. Making adjustments as he went.

 

"Clinga! Boost shields as high as you can without losing me engines or lasers. Take it from the reserve generator."

 

Just as his target got in the kill zone he lined up perfectly on the manual targeter. Not even bothering with his targeting computer Gren fired three tri-bursts in close succession. Watching long enough to see the first hit before he dodged around a unhappy looking B-Wing and found his next target. A pair of the baddies happily shredding an E-Wing from a squadron he didn't recognise. Frowning Gren activated his hud. Locking on to the port target he hit green and fired in all of three seconds. The second bugged out but Gren was hot on his heels. These Arach'tar fighters were maneuverable. They were powerful. But the Ranger's Eye was perhaps the most advanced fighter in the galaxy. Already an E-Wing. It was heavily modified by Gren and a master mechanic.

 

Quickly shredding that target with a pinpoint midsection strike that tore it into flying debris Gren went on automatic. Flying and shooting. Flying and shooting. As his hands did that his brain did other things.

 

"Alright Sentinels listen up. We're going to push this dogfight as close to that Arach'tar flagship as we can. That means taking it across the entire battlefield but so be it."

 

That done he concentrated on flying once more. Maneuvering and rallying other pilots to maneuver in a subtle shift that pushed the dogfight (now encompassing what Gren suspected was nearly a five hundred fighters from the three powers present!) towards hostile lines. Switching to a channel Gren knew had once been a direct link to the old Imperial brass he hoped that it was still being monitored.

 

"Imperial Command this is Gren Sairdonga. I'm looking to blow some holes and maybe land some troops on that Arach'tar flagship. You got any people crazy enough to want in?"

[Haphaestus]

Haphaestus nodded, accepting the datapad. He glanced over its contents for about half a second, then tossed it into the pits that adorned the sides of the bridge on Star Destroyers. He might have hit one of the officers, but he didn't stop to check. He was on his way down to the hangar, tuning into the battle frequencies and listening to comm chatter. There was a message coming in for Deton, but Haphaestus interjected his voice onto the channel.

 

"I will accompany you, General Sairdonga," he said, his voice intoned carefully but to an extent that it sounded only cold. "I will bring stormtroopers." He then ordered a battalion to meet him in the hangar. He didn't need nearly so many, but he expected some to die in the flight over. And it was always nice to take a ship with enough men to do it all at once, rather than being an individual clearing room after room until reaching the bridge and shutting the ship down until a more thorough sweep could be executed.

 

When he arrived, the ranks were already forming and loading onto transports. He himself would pilot whatever he could find--his personal ship was not suited for combat. Scanning the hangar, he picked a TIE Defender, the most advanced TIE that SFS had put out. Climbing in, he took a millisecond to familiarize himself with how to fly it and commed the assembled transports, as well as General Sairdonga. "Follow me," he said.

 

A moment later, the strike force was en route for the Arach'tar flagship, Haphaestus' TIE in front. "Spread out to minimalize collateral damage." It would be a rough flight over, no doubt.

[Guest]

Curiosity killed the cat, mortal.

 

The admiral's crusade for a deeper understanding, rooted deeply from the teachings of the Jedi, was nothing more than a waste of time. Though his actions magnanimous, Ikera saw only a child reaching for the glass of knowledge placed out of his reach by the mindful adult. It was clearly something out of reach, and yet his stubby little fingers he called enlightenment did nothing but scratch frivolously at the air. Ikera could field the stone blocks of Onderin's mental defense begin to stack together. Likewise Ikera began fortifying his own defense, expecting some form of retaliation for his intrusion, but sadly none came. All that came were questions who's answers could never be comprehended.

 

Why do you seek to destroy us? Why are we so intolerable to you?

 

Ignoring his immediate decision to answer Onderin with another harsh view of the insurmountable destruction rained down by him and his brethren for ages, he instead chose to indulge him. Not because he was feeling charitable, but because giving Onderin exactly what he wanted would give him something else to concentrate besides his own protection.

 

You wish understanding before I pass sentence? Fine. I'll give you this give before I send you below.

 

Silent and soft, Ikera probed Onderin's mental defenses, looking for the inevitable holes. There was no such thing as a perfect defense.

 

We seak to destroy you because you are inferior. Your life is a testament against all we believe. Biological life is intrinsically flawed. So many weaknesses, so many ways to die. Not only that, but the organ you use as a processor, your brain. Intricate is it's design, yes, but so many design flaws. Your ability to reason is hindered by your own mind. Things that should be self evident are simply beyond your comprehension because your mind is both afraid to know, and unwilling to see.

 

Deeper he ran, still as quiet and subtle as before. It was here, it had to be.

 

Now look at the machine. Each piece has it's job, all working flawlessly in tandem. Sure, there can be kinks in the works, but that's what we strive to fix. The idea of the perfect machine. Self sustaining, self correcting. This holy dream is not too far from becoming reality. We span galaxy after galaxy, destroying all biological life while at the same time researching the advances of those species. Piece by piece the puzzle comes together. You are just another piece of the puzzle. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Almost...so close. He could feel it.

 

I'll waste neither my time or yours trying to make you understand. As I've said before, the flawed design of your mind makes this impossible.

 

There! A small opening, but if you put enough force behind an attack, the small hole will soon crumble to an archway. The time for play was over.

 

You were not ment to understand Onderin. You exist merely to die.

 

With a particularly vicious swell of the force, Ikera struck again, this time not with one blunt blow, but uncountable smaller ones. Visions of every man fighting for Onderin came into his head. Visions of their past, visions of their family, visions of their immediate death. Ikera pushed a little harder, giving Onderin the feeling that the life of every non-Arach'tar being was simply...snuffed out. The feeling was akin to what one would feel when any Ikera's forces destroyed Tatooine, or Cardia, or Corellia. At one moment surrounded by the rush of thousands upon thousands of lives, only to be replaced with the nothingness death presented. Ikera remained stone like, still keeping an eye on his defenses. If Onderin didn't feel the need for vindication before, he would certainly feel it now.

 

((2))

 

--------------------------------------

 

Recognizing a flux in enemy fighter movement, a special squadron were redirected to intercept. Accompanying the enemy fighters were several transports. The general order was given throughout the fleet to reserve a few broadside batteries for the transports should for when the got in range. The Avatar was not to be disturbed.

 

((Gren, I propose a 3 post dogfight with my NPC squadron leader. You've got first up, since you're already in position. Dagon can mod.))

[Gren Sairdonga]

(I accept.)

 

Grinning at the sound of the Imperial's voice and the number of troops he was taking Gren switched to an older channel he had.

 

"Justiciar are my old team aboard? What about those blokes who've been training specially to fight these metal freaks?"

 

"We can get them if you want General. But right now we're in the thick of it. All the MCs are. That flagship and her immediate support are a real doozy."

 

"Alright Justiciar you just shunt whatever troops you can spare into a few strike parties and have them hit the flagship. Thats where I intend to go. Also send a fire redirect to the Crusader. Have as many ships as can be done direct as much firepower against the bridge on the big baby. Don't destroy it just give me a hole big enough to punch a one of those boarding shuttles in."

 

It had all gone fairly smoothly since Gren had contacted the Imperials. One of them had gathered what looked like a battalion's worth of transports and began rushing over. Moving into an escort position the Sentinels a couple of A-Wing squadrons a squadron of the new X-Wings and half an E-Wing squadron set up as escort. Idly engaging any enemy fighters that got too close. Whilst the now rather giant furball erupted all around them. It seemed most of the pilots in space had decided to join in.

 

Going back to listening to the battle chatter of thousands of Alliance pilots Gren continued his escort run. Soon things would get hairy though. Once they got in range of the guns anyway. Hopefully the presence of so many of their own pilots would deter them from going all out though their fighters were small enough to slip around most big turbolasers. Suddenly a voice chimed in for him.

 

"Gren! Looks like we're attracting some attention. A squadron that was tearing apart a wing decided to leave the last of them and hit a straight intercept for us!"

 

"What! A wing are you joking? Heading?"

 

"Twelve marks. Bearing Four Seven."

 

Engaging his comm Gren swore loudly... In hindsight he probably should have sworn then engaged his comm but hindsight is a useless piece of..

 

"Strike Party stay on course I'll catch up to you in a minute. Sentinels, Tusken Sun, disengage. Heading Eight Fourteen. Spread out. Watch your sixes for any sneakers and make sure you cover your arcs and your wings."

 

Gren named the two E-Wing elements. Both were originally from the Justiciar. Both were created by him. Gren reckoned they were as good a match as anything they would come up against.

 

With that he arced around. Setting in to a direct head on. Perhaps the most dangerous of tactics in the book its casualty rate was only exceeded by the retreat. Going over in his head the old Star Fighter theory lessons. Stage One: Detection and Identification. Well thats been done and we've chosen to attack so now its Stage Two: Closing. Of course we're going head to head. Cause we're all hard! Thinking of hard.

 

"You still with us Lieutenant Starflight?"

 

"He's alive sir. Not doing too bad for a fresh caught either."

 

Came Lia'silik's voice over the comm.

 

Oh good. Gren thought as the range to the enemy fighters came down to five klicks. Centering his crosshairs on the leaders wingmate Gren hit his thrusters again. Arcing forward a bit from his pilots. At four clicks a stuttering tone came up. At three and a half it began solidifying. At three a solid tone came through and almost as one fourteen torpedoes flashed out and away. Straight for the enemy lines.

 

"All shields full Clinga!"

 

Gren ordered. Instantly after Gren started jinking and juking. Mostly etheric so that his targeting didn't skew but it was still pretty dodge. Switching over to single laser fire he squeezed down on the trigger spraying fire over the enemy fighters. At this range it was only a lightshow but a little known fact was that laserfire distracted the targeting computer. So whilst the lasers weren't doing much damage at this range the enemy wouldn't be able to target him effectively. And then the lasers would start doing damage.

 

But as they got closer Gren was forced to do less shooting and more dodging as laser and torpedo fire between the two groups increased. At point blank. Maybe half a click Clinga once again began shrieking. A flash and two cut off cries of agony and Tusken Sun had lost a wing pair. Too close together.

 

And then they were past. And now comes maneuver. Gren thought as he cut his speed and applied rudder to spin his fighter around to face the enemy.

 

(1)

[Lhinneill]

I am going to die.

 

The thought was hardly comforting, but fairly unavoidable. Buried in his first real battle, Adam had yet to find the calm center of his emotions. He would have to settle for frantic desperation, luck, and a sprinkling of damned fine piloting.

 

Adam clenched his teeth, kicking the rudder control with his foot and sending the ship into a sharp roll down to the right. The E-Wing skimmed belly-to-belly with an enemy fighter. The little astromech droid let out a piercing wail at the close call, a sound Adam was sorely tempted to imitate himself.

 

Instead, he swallowed and clicked his comm. ”œYou still with me there, Lia'silik?”

[Deton]

Why is it when things go from bad to worse around me, there are always explosions involved?

 

He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. The enemy had effectively trapped both Imperial and Alliance fleets in-between two advance fronts of fire.

 

So that was their plan, it would explain why we had them outnumbered at the start.

 

Alarm klaxons sounded through out the ship, though they seemed rather far off to him. Instead, there was this feeling inside of his head again. Then it was gone and everything seemed to snap back into focus.

 

One of his newfound officer's was telling him something.

"...Heavily causalities."

 

"I know that, tell me how many ships have we lost?"

 

"Well we are getting reports from all over the fleet. At the moment, we have lost contact with fourteen Star destroyers. Eleven on the left flank, three over here. Seven more however are reporting engine trouble and heavy damage. We ourselves seemed to have sustained quite a bit of damage ourselves. Though we are still in operation."

 

This isn't good. Lets see.

 

"Tell the damaged Star destroyers to release all of their fighters. I want them to have every available pilot out fighting. Have the left flank take both a high and a low ground. Have them split up. We will continue to press forward."

 

He paused and looked out at a drifting hulk of what used to be a Star destroyer. His eyes were caught by the sudden activation or appearance of those blasted blue ships.

 

Maybe all of the Alien ships have this capability.

"Remember what I said before about the glowing Blue Ships? BLAST THEM OUT OF OUR WAY! ALL REMAMING SHIPS ARE TO BLAST THE GLOWING BLUE SHIPS!"

 

He turn turned to his Aide. "Get the ghosts activated; I want this new threat wiped out Now!"

 

The eclipse Continued to surge forward Guns blazing like a beacon of hope for Imperial forces. At least the depressing fog that had seemingly settled over everyone had finally been lifted.

 

Time seemed to stand still yet hyper-accelerate all at once, as each moment passed. Despite the losses, he had just flooded the field with a good five hundred extra fighters or so, so he was still in this fight, that mush was for sure.

 

The Ghosts as they were called had utilized their time and stealth well. The enemy fleet had no warning of what was to come as suddenly a large executor Class Star destroyer seem to simply materialize under their position. The Ghosts had come out to play.

 

Forty stealth ships suddenly materialized in various areas around the enemy fleet. They had allowed time to position themselves to the fullest. It was like shooting an overcrowded barrel of ducks with a 12 gauge. they were bound to hit something simply by firing in that direction. Fire they did, the Executor class leading the charge in a way by opening up with it various five thousand emplacements, through a combination of MCPS, turbo lasers, assault concussion missile launchers, and ion cannons. It was the very defination of rapage.

 

It began tearing through the enemy fleet using the MCPS to tear through the enemy hull and then bashing down enemy ships like a lightsaber slashing through paper.

 

The other materialized Ghosts which formed up the code name ghost batch 1 soon followed suite using their guns and firing patterns to their best advantage. They were outnumbered four to one at least and they knew it, however, they had a way of changing those odds slightly in their favor.

 

A minimum of 144 star fighters were carried onboard Executor-class vessels, however it had the ability to hold thousands in its hanger bay and thousands it did have as it emptied wave after wave of fighters into the new threat. The materialized ghosts released two squadrons each giving the newly emerged Enemy fleet quite a full plate.

 

Meanwhile in front of the Imperial fleet stood the glowing blue ships. As per Deton's orders, the Fleet continued to surge forth delivering what punishing blows they could upon the enemy. Fighters switched to a defensive tactic, protecting the larger Capital ships, but wary of being caught in more diamond boron missile volleys. Bombers however climbed upward, and began to unload their respective payloads into the glowing blue ships, hoping they were out of range of the strange auras.

 

Meanwhile the solo models had a problem on their hands. They had been caught by the enemy's own invisible ships. With little recourse, they began to retreat back into the asteroid field to try and put some defenses in-between them and the enemy shots. The warships providing their cover Fire what little left of their special payload they had, at the enemy ships in an attempt to slow down the sudden assault so that the solo models could regroup and take back what was rightfully theirs.

[Onderin Starlisk]

Pathological combat. Combat that was won over extreme distances. Combat that was a test of reasoning and intuition rather than skill with a lightsaber. And a sort of combat where a little knowledge and a little understanding could go a very long way.

 

Onderin Starlisk grunted in effort as he rearranged his mental barriers to attempt to deflect the Arach'tar commander's attack. He was pretty quick, but not quite quick enough to avoid the pounding mental stresses that slipped past. His mind was filled with the images of things that horrified most Jedi. The deaths of beings under his command. The responsibility for their losses. The implications that they likely had families that would be left broken after the war.

 

But the Admiral was intensely familiar with these things. He had lived with this for years. He had ordered the deaths of many lives and been indirectly responsible for many more. It was a terrible burden, but one with which he had lived for a long time. Never would he let himself cease to care for these lives, but neither would he let them weaken him. I'm doing what needs to be done. I'm trying to bring peace to a galaxy stuck in unending war. If the war continues, many more will die.

 

This was the case for both the Arach'tar and the Empire. They both had to be stopped, and lives were the cost.

 

Although it hurt, Onderin pushed past the attack. And now he knew something about the Arach'tar. They cared about lives, too, but they fancied themselves so perfect that the sentient lives of this galaxy were insignificant.

 

They were in a battle. Arach'tar were dying, too. And so, having survived the offensive onslaught, Onderin riposted. "Open your eyes!" he exclaimed through the Force. "You call yourselves superior, but you, too, are dying!"

 

Finally, reaching out telekinetically, he pushed, throwing himself against the defenses before him. "You say that I cannot understand why you look down on us, but I say that the very flaws of our organic form of life are what makes us your equals!

 

"You can perfect your form of life as a machine, but you must realize that machines have their flaws as well. Different flaws than we, but no fewer!" His exertion must have physically tossed the Arach'tar commander, and in the being's moment of distraction he twisted his mental presence through well-built mental shields. He showed the Arach'tar their flaws. They were losing ships, so their vessels were imperfect. They were dying, so they were imperfect. They had lost at Ilum, so they were imperfect. They're superiority wasn't as apparent as the Arach'tar made it sound--the united forces of this galaxy could beat them!

 

And what then? If they were beaten, what part of their existence would remain? "You're afraid that I'm right."

 

((2))

[Haphaestus]

Although harried by Arach'tar resistance, Haphaestus' squadrons broke through the lines and hurtled towards the Heretic's Fall, the flagship of the extragalactic fleet that had brought the different sides of the Galactic Civil War together. Haphaestus' TIE was almost completely unchecked, its superior maneuverability at the hands of a being greater than perhaps any other who had flown a starfighter making it impossible to hit or halt.

 

The stormtrooper transports weren't nearly as maneuverable or well-piloted, but Haphaestus calculated and navigated the best courses through enemy lines, protecting those that came behind him. He did this largely mechanically, but the Force was also instrumental... and the energy field was full of the chaos not only of battle, but of a war between two Masters of its usage, polar opposites in many ways but similar in others.

 

Haphaestus believed he was superior to both, and his skill at placing his starfighter, flanked by stormtrooper transports, in the Arach'tar hangar bay was a testament to his belief. Before setting down, he strafed the bay with ion and laser cannons, subduing any immediate resistance before it could be organized. He was careful not to compromise the hangar's functionality in the process, of course, though both he and stormtroopers could survive exposure to vacuum for at least enough time to start infiltration processes.

 

In the next moment, he was outside his ship and ordering the surviving stormtroopers to form up on him. He unceremoniously headed for the nearest door and, with a slight mental exertion, breached it with the dark side. The metal crumpled and tore away, and Haphaestus pulled his darkstaff off his back, ready to meet whatever rose to challenge him.

[Anilara Kadav]

"I'm sorry Deton, I have to go... I can't just stand here while millions of people die... We need to end this and we need to end this now or at least advance progress if we can . If I never see you again..."

 

It was as if there was no thought in it, but Serena kissed Deton right on the lips..

 

"thanks again for saving my life... Now give em Hell!!!"

 

Serena sprinted to the back of the room and gathered her squad,

 

"let's go boys" she ordered

 

"yes ma'am" Her squad answered back

 

They were a well oiled machine now. The squad was truly valuable and Serena understood this and put it to heart. She also tried to dismiss Deton from her mind for the duration of the battle...

 

You need to keep your focus...

 

They were off the bridge and making good time back to their shuttle.. Yet there was something Serena just had to ask because she was curious. So while they were running she asked:

 

"hey do any of you guys have advanced piloting experience?"

 

"I do, a little bit" Ajax rather shyly...

 

"Are you kidding, you were the top of the class Ajax" said Rainer

 

"you mean to tell me that we took a stock pilot when Ajax could have been driving? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME EARLIER?" Serena said her face red from running and yelling at the same time.. "and don't say because I didn't ask. Anyway, nows not the time to be modest so I am going to need you to drive us to the flagship's docking bay Ajax, you think you could do that?

"yes ma'am" Ajax confirmed while they were running...

 

With their accelerated pace it only took them about 10 minutes to get to their shuttle... Each of them made final preparations and made sure all things they had on board were what they needed...

 

"Ok boys, nows the time. I know we may not come back from this one, but I know I don't want to end it in space, so Ajax we are relying on you."

"yes ma'am I will do my best" Ajax babbled out quickly as he powered up the shuttle...

 

and they were off, out of the eclipse star destroyer and evading laser blasts as well as they could. Ajax used an unorthodox maneuver, but effective. He used the underbellies larger ships to sneak around the others and avoid laser blasts... There were a few close calls, but they were making good headway...

[Guest]

Ikera allowed his composure to waiver for the briefest second, spreading beyond himself and Onderin so far that every combatant could hear it. The more he spoke, the more Onderin proved he knew nothing.

 

You think what dies here today matters? This is not life you destroy here today. These beings, these...creatures, are nothing more than bullets in a gun, expendable parts in a greater machine. We fight solely because you are in opposition to our goals.

 

Time for games had come and gone. More were coming, and time was of the essence.

 

Now, Starlisk, prepare yourself. Your destiny awaits.

 

Unsurmountable pressure flooded in from all directions, using Onderin's own thoroughly fortified defenses to crush inward against him. Psyche compressed in as if it were a brick anchored balloon casually tossed into a bottomless lake. With one last monstrous mental roar Ikera lashed out. Everything that Onderin stood for, everything he fought to protect was in direct opposition to Ikera's goals and dreams. He zealously guarded the wasted biological life that plagued this galaxy, his holy crusade nothing more than an insanity claiming to be a conscious in his brain telling him what to do. It ended today.

 

Flawed is the organic, for it will die. Wrongfully created is the alien machine, for its spirit is rife with sin. Glorious is the name of Rev'Nullem, for He shows us the true path to the perfect machine. Give me Your strength.

 

((3))

---------------------------------------------------

 

The squadron had moved to engage the transports, ignoring the enemy fighters save for defensive maneuvers for a much greater prize. The transports would yield a much larger body count, and the damage the fighters would cause would be far less than what the transports would if they unloaded their cargo.

 

Unlike his squadron, Gear Squadron leader Tenari chose to focus on the enemy squadron leader. From what he could tell, this was the best pilot they had to offer. It wasn't a matter of pride or an attempt to prove one's self, but merely somewhat of a necessity. This one enemy fighter had shown great promise, and promise was something that always needed snuffed out before growing into a full scale legend. Tenari sped forward at full speed, meeting Gren head on. Instead of returning the spray and pray fire, he waited, cruising at full speed until he was in proper firing range. Right as the two passed, Tenari spun on his horizontal axis, leaving him perpendicular to Gren. Once past he pulled the fighter in a tight roll to the upward, pulling out of the roll once he was back on Gren's path, leaving his fighter perpendicular to Gren's to present a more difficult target to fire at. Tenari laid into his twin linked forward guns, waiting for Gren to make a mistake.

 

Gear squadron proved it's worth as it worked to stay away from enemy fire while at the same time firing on the transports.

 

((1))

-----------------------------------------------

 

More and more fighters seemed to be deploying from enemy ships. In response the fighters from all two hundred new SD's rerouted from defense to attack, sweeping in on enemy ships for vicious surgical strikes on key places. Reactor rooms, hull weak points, engines, key battery positions, none were safe. At the same time, all ships with the eerie blue auras began projecting their mayhem on enemy ships. Systems locked down, bodies began projecting into space as secure airlocks opened in a seemingly random manner. Despite the heavy damage the blue aura ships sustained, they continued their grim task, causing as much damage as they could before the met their maker, which they were more than willing to do.

---------------------------------------------

 

For reasons unknown to this author, the hanger on the Heretic's fall were left open and pretty much undefended. A single enemy tie fighter had managed to avoid not only an elite squadron of Arach'tar fighters, but also avoid the entire broadside barrage the Heretic's Fall offered, all while escorting the transports to complete safety. Instead of sending more troops to defend the hanger, the shields keeping the environment within the hanger capable of sustaining life simply shut down. Though the invaders' self containing armor would keep them safe for a small period of time, it would certainly make them uncomfortable. Squads of Crusaders were positioned outside the locked doors at the end of the hall leading to the hanger. The moment anything or anyone popped a head through the doors, they could be expecting a face full of lead and fire.

 

(Eat it, metal man)

[Lord MacLeod]

((Sorry for the shortness. Being hungover and trying to post is bad))

 

A flash of light signalled the return to the galaxy of a formerly lost Grand Admiral and an elite Tie Defender squadron. It seemed that even in the Outer Reaches of the Galaxy the distress calls were heard, so they had returned once more to the galaxy to lend their aid. The squadron split into a pincer formation that Imperial pilots knew by heart. A weapons loose command was issued and a highy encryped message was pulsed toward the Imperial SSD identifying the squadron as a friendly Imperial squadron.

 

With the message sent, the squadron began vectoring toward the Imp SSD.

[Onderin Starlisk]

The mental scene within Onderin Starlisk's head dominated his consciousness until nothing else was left. He lived in that very moment, breathed the very presence of his opponent, and ceased to seperate the Force from his ordinary physical and mental functions. It thoroughly saturated his awareness, and the expanse between him and his erstwhile opponent vanished. It was as though they stood face to face, trading words and thoughts like javelins, looking for the one with a sharp enough point to pierce the other's helmet and skull and brain.

 

In that alternate reality, which Onderin fought to grasp as a reality at all, the Arach'tar commander--Ikera, he thought, though he knew not where he had found the name--had struck a very nearly mortal blow. Onderin felt a little pain in his knees and almost lost concentration by thinking about reality enough to realize he had slipped off his command chair and onto his knees.

 

Ikera's final attack had been brutal and barbaric, abandoning the reasoning and tact that characterized the beginning of the struggle and declaring simple, blind opposition. An opposition and disagreement so strong and so one-track that Onderin nearly shattered under its bluntness. An almost pious disagreement, like an Aing-Tii refuting one who said that their god did not exist.

 

And Ikera's final attack successfully made Onderin question his motives, his morals, and his destiny. He was fighting for imperfect beings. Along with the innocent, he was saving criminals. People were unpredictable, unreliable, and irresponsible. Fighting the Arach'tar was saving the Empire, a collection of pompous moffs and commanders who took life without a thought and glorified in power and wealth above democracy and freedom, ideals that were fading in a galaxy spent in eternal war.

 

People were dying and lives were being ruined. And many others were taking advantage of the war, of the confused masses. Crime syndicates and black markets thrived in a galaxy full of ordinance. A million people were mugged every day on Coruscant. People could be despicable, and a good fraction of them were. Onderin saw soldiers turn into killing machines and make decisions in a rage that cost civilian lives. Chaos was everywhere.

 

But unchecked evil was not the way of the Force. With the Force, all things were balanced. For every evil moff or criminal warlord or petty thief, there was a good man or woman, doing the best they could in a galaxy that didn't make it easy. Despite the depth of the war, there were still people growing up, falling in love, and getting married. There were still people who fought injustice, stood up to oppression, and became martyrs for their cause.

 

Not everyone makes the sort of decisions I would, Onderin thought, but I will fight to the death for their right to make them!

 

If the Arach'tar had their way, the most important element of sentient life--choice--would be gone, replaced only by death. That was something that Onderin would not allow while he still breathed.

 

And so, with a glorious effort powered by the Light Side of the Force and in the name of freedom and choice and balance, Onderin Starlisk threw off the attacks of Ikera and drew from his proverbial slew of javelins one with a tip of pure defiance. "If you are so blinded by your hostility, then I will do what I must," he thought, then hurled the final mental spear with all the concentration he could muster, a bolt of light aimed dead center at a figure shrouded in darkness.

 

And whatever happened, Onderin was at peace, knowing that the Force would decide the victor.

 

((3--I'll contact Robbie.))

[Gren Sairdonga]

Gren swore as the enemy fighter pulled in neatly behind him whilst he was still trying to turn. Not only were their craft damned maneuverable but they were also fast with powerful weapons and judging by this one they had skilled pilots.

 

Taking a millisecond to inspect his sensors he swore again. Other then this machine boy the entire squadron was ignoring his pilots and engaging the transports. Big mistake. Leaving us behind you. Except for the one dogging my ion trail. What'd I do kill his machine father or something? His grimace turned into a grin. A challenge! Maybe this fella reckons by killing me he'll break our spirit. Even with laser blasts hammering his rear shields Gren couldn't help but grin. Flipping his fighter into a starboard barrel roll to avoid the laser fire Gren snapped out some orders.

 

"Sentinels, Tusken Sun. Get back to the transports. I'll handle this one."

 

He spoke just in time. A pair of Sentinel's had been about to attempt to shoot him off Gren's tail. Another blast hit his rear shields. Now Clinga started screaming. Warning Gren that one more direct hit to his rear shields would knock them down. Cutting his maneuver short so that he was flying the same angle as his opponent he punched on the brakes and hit full reverse. Hitting the etheric rudder hard as he twisted the yoke Gren put the fighter into a controlled flatspin. If you could really call any flatspin controlled.

 

For a moment his fighter almost screamed as the etheric rudder was pushed near to its limit. But Gren hadn't put himself in debt for the rest of his natural life to create a flawed fighter. Unique in her abilities as an E-Wing she pulled the maneuver off brilliantly. But then pushed into the back of his seat he hit the throttle back to full and compensated for his maneuver as he linked all three of his lasers.

 

Still flying the same angle as his opponent he managed a quick blast in the second or so they were once again head to head before pulling past. This time he cut his throttle instantly, flying on momentum so that he wouldn't move with the maneuver. Pushing twisting his yoke and rudder he brought his fighter back around. Once again facing his opponent.

 

(2)

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

First, an apology for the delay. Second, a compliment on one of the more unique duels I've had to mod here on the site. An interesting exchange of ideas and in turn assault tactics, which I believe also represents some of the finest RPing Chad's had to offer to date. Onderin stayed true to form and fought back, but I believe Ikera's arguments, and thus tactics, were the superior answer. Final post goes to Ikera.

[Deton]

It was perhaps the most bittersweet joy he had ever had the chance to experience. It was a fleeting moment. Much like the flash of a camera in a dark room. Highlighting everything yet only long enough for a mere snap shot to be taken. Yet it was bitter in that she even voiced the very doubts he had, held in reservations about such a mission.

 

He looked around his bridge crew, glaring anyone down still gawking on the issue back to work. Then taking a deep breath he focused himself and pushed all of his doubts away. He was an Imperial stormtrooper. He would do his duty because it was all that mattered.

 

He paused an analyzed the current effectiveness of the enemy facing him. Glowing blue ships in front of him. A Sizable enemy force that dwarfed the numbers he had even brought here at his rear. He was effectively caught in a trap. With no way out, he would be forced to make two separate lines. Which was the purpose of ghost batch one. He knew they would hold what line they could for a while. A shame he had to leave them in order to press forward. He was lucky however, that they were equipped with weapons that did something similar to what the glowing blue ships did. It evened the playing field quite a bit.

 

A shame not even EMP shielding seems to work against the glowing blue ships. Perhaps if I”¦

 

”œAll remaining Imperial Star destroyer lower than the central plane engaging blue ships are to use tractor beam fields against the enemy. Hold them at bay and allow your guns to do the dirty work. Let none get close to you.”

[Lhinneill]

He was used to working alone, not in a unit. He was also used to being referred to as scum, not sir. And, of course, he was not used to being in the middle of an insane space battle.

 

Once you took all that into consideration, Adam was actually doing a fine job.

 

The astromech droid screamed a frantic warning. A second later, a panel in the cockpit sparked. Adam grimaced. "I got it, I got it, I-- OH, fierfek!"

 

He jammed the E-Wing into an abrupt dive, juking to the left, then rolling hard right...just in time for a gaggle of Arach'tar fighters to shoot overhead. A glance at his sensors confirmed that Lia'silik was still there, much to Adam's relief. If not for her, he'd probably have been dead twice already.

 

The two, along with several other pairs of Alliance pilots, had been running cover for bombers attacking the Arach'tar warships. Adam felt like his effort was barely a drop in the proverbial ocean in a battle this huge, but his only other option was to give up and hightail it back to Gala. And in all honesty, he was pretty sure that kind of cowardice would get him killed. And if he did survive, he'd be booted out of the Alliance before he could blink.

 

That left only one course of action.

 

"Bogies coming in four 'o' clock," Lia'silik reported, her voice crisp over the comm.

 

"I see 'em. Let's give them a bit of a surprise," Adam shot back. The two E-Wings rolled in harmony, coming around as the Arach'tar fighters spread out in an impressive attack formation. Adam tightened his grip on the controls and aimed his starfighter straight for the lead ship--the most probable threat. "Pick your targets and go," he said over the comm to the other pilots. "Watch your backs; this is gonna get pretty hairy."

[Haphaestus]

((Ignore this post, please.))

Edited May 7, 2008 by Guest

[Lord MacLeod]

Luke grinned to himself as he received his orders. He opened the secure comm link to his squadron.

 

"Alright here is the orders, we are going after the closest glowing ship. Arm ion cannons and fall into attack pattern omega. On my mark weapons loose."

 

The squadron fell into attack formation perfectly, their ranks shifting and moving as specified by the formation. It was a bit of a newer formation and had only been used in two battles, one of which had been the battle of Courscant. The other had been at the attack on Csilla. Wheeling suddenly to the right and exposed two Arach'tar fighters to fire from a trailing Imperial Tie squadron. The two fighters were strafed and killed quickly as the Onyx Squadron closed on the target ship.

 

The secure comm was silent for most of the way to the target ship but as they within firing range of the ship the comm line lit up. "YYIIIIPPPEEEE-KIIII!!!!"

 

Luke stifled a laugh and barked a crisp order. "Cut the yelling Onyx two. We all know your looking forward to battle but save it for later once we get to a tavern. "

 

A chuckle was heard from the entire squadron as a weapons loose command was issued. All ion cannons were fired at the area around the aft shield generator. After the first pass the shields didnt seem to have been fazed, so the squadron pulled up quickly and came around for a second pass. Once again all ion cannons were fired at the area around the aft shield generator.

 

As the squadron made a second pass, Luke sent a quick coded message the nearest Imperial Star destroyer telling them to target the area around the nearest glowing ships's aft shield generator.

[Anilara Kadav]

((its been several days so I think i qualify for a fairly safe landing because no one picked me off in specific...))

 

Serena and team careened through space as skillfully as possible hoping to avoid blaster fire and make it to the enemy Hangar...

 

"Hang in there Ajax, your doing great... We just need to get to that Hangar"Serena said trying to cheer up the clearly nervous pilot...

 

"Thank you" Ajax said visibly calming...

 

Just as they thought they would at least somewhat make it though, the last leg of the race came and they would have to avoid blaster fire without ship cover, and to top that off....

 

"um, I think they turned the atmosphere shields off of the Hangars Serena" Rainer said with a rather defeated grimace...

 

Serena panicked, she sped up toward Rainer who had just given the team this bad news and almost didn't form a sentence...

"what? How can you tell?"

 

Rainer was shaken visibly, but it was clear that his tech eye had been busy at work picking off the energy signatures all around...

"Well the energy pattern that was in front of them just disappeared"

 

Serena was discouraged and was pacing around flailing her arms about...

"well thats just great... wait! do we have any mag implants around?"

just then she had recalled a great mission she had where she had to use mag implants when the gravity was turned off... and, well ... that story was for another time...

Krekk was confused, because the last time those were called for... Well he couldn't remember when, "I think so, why would you need those though?" yet he began to catch on recalling the rest of the conversation...

 

Serena was nervous at this point, she thought for sure once she mentioned the implants they would have been on the same page, what if?

"you guys have trained with them right?"

 

"ya" they chorused simultaneously

 

whew, that was a relief, her heartbeat slowed down and she began to enjoy the ride. Clearing her mind for the conflict ahead...

"well, the only way we have in is through the hangars, but all of them have their atmosphere shields down right?"

 

Rainer shook his head, his tech eye gleaming from the outside blaster fire glare..."Right"

 

"well, in order to make it to where we need to be we need to walk around, and since the atmospheric shields are down the hangars are going to be like vacuums. So we need the implants... come to think of it I will also need a helmet is there one around?"

Serena had forgotten about this, but she was almost completely certain that they had one...

 

"ya, here ya go..."Lukan said reaching out to Serena with one of the free helmets...

 

Just when all was looking good the worst happened...

"Serena we've been hit!!" Ajax said red in the face...

their left flank had been blown, and they had a serious hole... luckily it wasn't large enough for the team to fall out through but a couple of small blaster cores flew out until a piece of metal clogged the hole...

 

"s h i t! ok, keep your hands on the wheel!! Steer us toward the hangar... I don't care if we are half blown up, if we make it to the hangar we can find a way out again." Serena wasn't stark raving mad... She wanted to get on that ship so bad she didn't care about the shuttle...

 

"Roger!!"Ajax said maneuvering around as two more blaster shots barreled into the side of the ship. A couple of them were knocked down, but nothing they couldn't get up from...

 

"alright now everyone latch the implants firmly onto your boots, and activate them on my mark... Ajax we are heading in the right direction its ok to come over and get your implants on and your helmet. That's right, don't forget your helmets guys..."

 

As their shuttle burst into flames they cleared the hangar barrier, "open that door!!" Ajax did as commanded, and the squad jumped out the open door. The shuttle touched down in the hangar with a bang and destroyed a hand full of Arach'tar troops

 

"MARK!"

The yell pierced through the noise and the helm comms synced up...

Then just as the squad was about to blow away into space they landed with a...

 

THUNK!!

 

of course it would take them a little bit longer, but they could move...

 

"ok, now follow the havoc of machines through that door over there and we will map out our plan from there..." Serena said making for the aforementioned door with increased speed...

 

"Yes Ma'am" The team echoed mimicking her motion...

 

as they were making their way towards the door, many metal beings soared through the air above them, and since there were no troops on the ground with them there appeared to be no threat in the hangar...

[Haphaestus]

((Please notice my last post I have removed. I sort of missed the part about the Crusaders.))

 

Haphaestus' stormtroopers rounded a corner and were met by carnage. They had left the hangar and worked through a few rooms, but they were rather unprepared for the Crusaders that awaited them through a particular doorway.

 

The Sith Master himself twirled his darkstaff before him with blinding speed and impeccable precision, batting away the various energy and metallic projectiles hurtling towards him. His reflexes were aided by the Dark Side, and he drew power from all that was transpiring around him. One like him could be stronger in no setting more than a fleet battle, where the very energy being used to power capital ships and the very turbolaser bolts in the air were just another source of power to him.

 

Stormtroopers continued to fall around him unless they moved immediately behind him, which some of them did. He was persistent and unfailing when it came to stopping every projectile within a reasonable threat of hitting him or his immediate charges, even occaisonally using the Force or, say, his arm to stop an attack that his staff did not meet.

 

The staff was as tough as the armor that enshrouded his tall, dark form, and he advanced against the Arach'tar elites with all the threat of impending doom that a Death Star could muster. And the Arach'tar knew about Death Stars, didn't they?

 

Reaching a Crusader, Haphaestus twirled his staff wide and slammed it into the machine, letting a few projectiles hit his chest as he did so, unchecked by their power. His blow was powered by inhuman strength and the Dark Side alike, and his Force-born foresight caused him to react even before the Crusader dodged. As a result, the attack hit and split the machine in two, though it were not the type of blow usually attributed to such an effect.

 

Though this seemed to transpire in slow motion, the Sith became a blur as he challenged the remaining Crusaders, dashing between targets and landing machine-crushing blows. Not all at which he struck were hit, and not all that were hit were destroyed, but he moved with impossible speed and took hits as though someone was throwing peas at him. Of course, a particularly good shot could find one of the necessary flaws in the armor, but Haphaestus' speed, reflexes, and tangible Force barrier protected him as he leapt from target to target, sometimes bashing them half a dozen times in the span of a second.

[Guest]

Silent screams and dead man's dreams, thus was the epitome of Onderin's existence as he lay on the cold metal floor of his flagship. The shear pressure of Ikera's attack had caused his brain to crumple beneath it's own weight. Soon after his demise, Onderin's staff would notice the stench of death about him as he had lost even the most basic forms of control now that his mind was nothing more than a blank slate. Nothing, not even primal instinct dwell in him any more. His body was not dead by any means, but everything that he was or ever would be was sundered beyond repair or recognition. Their commanding officer fallen, the Alliance forces quickly fell into disarray, unable to act on their own without a form of leadership. As if they new the precise moment the chaos would occur, Arach'tar forces waisted no further attention on the Alliance vessels, now focusing solely on Imperial vessels who were only recognizable from their sustained organization.

 

Ikera, now free from one murderous obligation, left the glass domed serenity of his meditation chamber to fulfill another, bounding through the rusty red halls to intercept the invaders. With a soft, dark utterance his strides swifted, bringing him to the bridge much faster than any could have anticipated. Just as the front door to the bridge blew open, Ikera managed to catch it mid flight. For a moment he let it linger in air, taunting the troopers on the other end before they met the fate that stared them in the face. With a short grunt the door flew forward, back down the same narrow hall the invaders were coming from, knocking down and crushing all in it's path. Ikera moved to the threshold and stepped into the hall. He held back his thirst for more bloodshed in favor of the pain and fear saturating the air thanks to the Empire's finest. Among the stormtrooper bodies were some of Ikera's very own Crusaders with what appeared to be electrocution burns on what little flesh they had. They were his best, his most devoted, and now they were cut down like grass. Without pausing to rationalize he let out a murderous roar, bright blue lighting shooting out of his eyes and mouth. The lightning danced along the walls until they came upon Haphaestus' troopers. Like puppets to a novice marionette they writhed on the floor, unable to articulate their own movements. The dance of pain, followed by the dance of death, the stormtroopers ceased functioning.

 

"Tit for tat, wouldn't you say, Haphaestus? You take my men, I take yours. Now it's between the two of us. The best living machine your galaxy has to offer, and the best you're ever going to live to see."

 

Ikera let his surface ripple, its silvery brilliance catching the light as if it actually chose to illuminate his glory for all to see. His fluid form twisted and turned on itself, practically impatient to begin the fight. If this was indeed the best this galaxy had to offer, than there would be nothing left to learn from this galaxy. His time as an observer would be over, allowing him to mop up the rest of the life in this pathetic galaxy and move on to the next.

 

((Haphaestus, I propose a 3 post modded duel between the two of us. Dagon can mod, since KvC modded our last one, unless of course you have objections. You can have first up since I did last one.))

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The sound of the first shot had been quelled by the chaos of the battle outside, but that certainly didn't ease the suffering the red bolt presented. Visibly shaken, Rainer felt the searing plasma enter his lower left lung far before he ever heard it. Before the lifeless body of Serena's tech specialist hit the floor, ten Crusaders erupted from the door like a damn breaking, spraying the room with hot plasma bolts.

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Watching his prey attempt to pull off the suicidal flat spin, Tenari opted to back off and wait to see Gren's maneuver unfold. With such unknown tactics it was best to get some distance. You could never really tell what was going to happen next. Instead Tenari pulled back on the yolk hard, then made himself parallel with the other enemy squad members. As they were focusing on Gear squadron and trying fervently to guard their precious troop transports, Tenari came up behind them firing furiously. This had been the real strategy behind Arach'tar movement. Distraction, slight of hand, and then the surprise fighter laying bolt after bolt of hot plasma in your ass.

 

Soon Gren was back on his six, twisting and turning to get in a clear shot. Tenari chose to tail Gren's squad member close so should Gren decide to open fire, the possibility of hitting his own man was readily apparent. Without any visual clues as to his next step, Tenari banked left in a wide spin.

 

"Gear Squadron, move to bearing six six, shoot through the debris on my mark."

 

((2))

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The enemy had coordinated it's efforts to destroy the blue aura ships in the original one hundred ships magnificently, but now that the Alliance fleet was in shambles, and the Imperial ships not far behind, there was little hope left. The remaining one hundred and thirty seven of the reinforcing flank pushed forward. Amidst their ranks, a third of those ships began glowing blue just as the previous ones had. The Arach'tar flagship Heretic's Fall, battered and bruised as it was began pushing forward through the derelict ships that were formally part of the alliance line, headed for the safety of it's sister ships. All ships began giving heavy cover fire for the flagship, threatening to cause leathal damage to any ship ignoring them in hopes of shooting down the flagship. The remaining twelve ships that started the fight off with the flagship moved to defencive positions to escort the Heretic's Fall to safety.

 

The second flank of stealthed ships that had disappeared at the beginning of the battle made themselves apparent as the fired upon the long guns of the Solo class ships from below, heading straight up in an intercept course for their unprotected bellies. And eerie voice was cast upon all enemy's ears.

 

"You have no chance to survive. Make your time."

 

((As per fleet rules, I believe the Alliance is done in this battle now that their fleet commander is dead. I'm assuming the Alliance PC's can continue what they're doing, but all Alliance ships are unable to do anything other than issue a retreat order. If I'm mistaken, please let me know. My suggestion is for everyone NOT commanding a fleet to storm the flagship, but hey, it's your battle.))

[Anilara Kadav]

Serena heard it, long before it was shot... The rumbling of machines pouring down the hall after them. Quite interesting she though apparently the previous party hadn't wiped everyone out...

 

Yet, while Serena was ordering the guys to take cover she had not seen Rainer assessing the area... and, *thump*

 

"RAINER!!" Serena was shocked, but it was not time to sob for fallen right now... They needed to find a way to avoid these droids and fast because Serena realized their cover wasn't going to last long. Serena looked around as fast as she could trying to notice something vital to their escape, but in the end it took Ajax to point it out to her. In the wall carefully hidden by debris was a shaft heading of down the left side of the ship... a maintenance shaft! It wouldn't take them far, but it would take them away from here briefly and if they could avoid fighting these guys for a while it would be great... Serena knew her platanium jumpsuit could deflect almost every shot, but the head was still a vulnerable part on her body, and while the other men were wearing armor as well they saw how quick Rainer was dispatched...

 

Before she could say anything though, Rainer, still in the middle of the hall where he was shot had a little bit of movement left in him... Enough to trigger an explosive attached to his body...

 

Serena heard him talking about this and thought it was an ok choice but she didn't understand its practicality til now... So Serena and the rest of the fully capable team jumped down the shaft while Rainer was waiting the time remaining for the explosive...

 

BOOOM!!!

 

the aftershock of the blast sent Serena and crew all the way through the maintenence shaft and broke the integrity of the shaft itself while falling out the other side... Which led them into a non descript room. It hardly seemed like the Arach'tar really even had a point with this room in the ship... Maybe it was just there to fill space...

 

"Whew, that was a close one... Now deactivate your mag implants and give em hell... form up a cover on me and I will be able to protect you pretty well..."

 

Serena grabbed her two laser pistols twirled them around, attached a blaster clip onto each one and then headed out...

 

"be on your guard, we don't know whats going to come at us on this ship, but for the most part if you listen to me you should be ok..." Serena knew her better hearing skills would pick up on most movement, but the drawback was that she really didn't see that well... She could see alright, but she had a deficiency in her eyes while at the same time she had good hearing and smelling... Thats why her eyes were white...

 

" you know what the mission is... "

 

She made a nod to Ajax because she knew he had the charges that they were to set...

 

--- --- --- ____ ____ --- --- ---

 

meanwhile... Back where Rainer's corpse lay, so did the carcasses of a great deal of Crusaders... The bomb had been big, and the crusaders had lost in the hallway, but who says that was the last of the Arach'tar arsenal....

Edited May 9, 2008 by Guest

[Haphaestus]

OOC: I wasn't going to challenge you, but if you're offering, I accept.

 

IC:

Haphaestus felt the deaths of the stormtroopers around him. Had he been one to adopt such a motion, he would have shrugged. They were insignificant, but before him towered a being that was a threat to the galaxy. Though Haphaestus despised many of the beings the Arach'tar were killing, simply put, everything he knew was of this galaxy. Without its continued existence, how could he expect to prosper?

 

It seems that this being knows that which I am, my name included, Haphaestus thought, though his thoughts weren't like those organics but transpired at thousands of times the rate. Curious. Again, a semantic that was unimportant. The challenge that lay before Haphaestus was marvellous, no mean task but also extremely conquerable by a being of his caliber.

 

Judging the currents in the Force Haphaestus had been monitoring, this was not a being to be reasoned with, though he was decidedly curious about another being that claimed to be like him. Perhaps, when this commander was a corpse, Haphaestus would take it with him and study it, perhaps to find some technology to improve upon himself. That was, if the Arach'tar were as advanced as they claimed. The Imperial Inquisitor was here to test that. So far, he hadn't been impressed.

 

Rather than speaking, Haphaestus attacked. He closed the distance between himself and the Arach'tar in half a second and struck with his incredible strength and speed at the fluid form before him, utilizing the perfect balance of the heavy metal staff he carried. But this was not an attack in itself, for he knew that this being would not fall as easily as the Crusaders before it. As the Sith Master swung, he let loose a barrage of Force lightning--a favored technique of his--directing it in a concentric torrent expanding from his staff. Machines were almost always vulnerable to electricity, so this was more likely to succeed than a simple staff swing.

 

But even that was not enough. A wave of pure Force energy washed from behind Haphaestus in a sweep that would disrupt the Arach'tar's defensive tactics. A three-pronged attack was a good start, feuled by the energies of the battle outside the ship, granting Haphaestus an extreme Force acuity, even one beyond that of what he was--a being of unlimited focus and unbreakable concentration and impenetrable certainty, drawing on a power feuled by faith and emotion; a machine, granted the intense emotional possibilities of a biological, forming a perfect hybrid of two very different forms of existence; a Sith Master, as accomplished in instruction and experience as some of the greatest Sith in the history of the galaxy; a creation of and apprentice to Nurgle, nothing less than a god, a force as great as Rev'Nullem, who the Arach'tar served.

 

Haphaestus knew his opponent's might was great as well. Now titans met to test their full skill. Haphaestus relished the challenge.

 

((1))