Star Wars: A Galaxy in Crisis | IC | OPEN

[Azanaire]

Above Saleucami

Another blast rocked the bridge of the ship, knocking the Jedi Master to the floor. An officer helped her up as it seemed allies had come to their rescue. She smiled, "Saarai-kaar Alatta Zan, you've come just in time, my friend. The Liberty has undertaken major damage by those frigates in a small amount of time. Our hyperdrive and engine are badly damaged and are shield deflectors are currently at uhm-56 percent. We need you to send those ships into retreat so my engineers can save this ship, may the force be with you."

An officer approached the Jedi Master and whispered into her ear - there were dozens of battle droids infilitrating the lower levels of the Liberty. She slammed her fist on the table before announcing an new directive,

"All members of the Liberty, droid combatants have infiltrated the lower levels of the ship. Begin emergency combat protocols immediately. Company 113 and 99 please meet me near the detention cells for the defense of the Mandalorian Liberty." She took off her robe before addressing the Saarai-kaar for a second time,

"I must defend the ship, please do what you can to help us, Madam Alatta." She nodded a respectful goodbye and raced towards the detention levels, her lightsaber ignited for whatever might come her way...

[The United Empire of Exucular]

Loronar

Vero Noscondra-Solo stood upon the capital building as a crowd cheered beneath him. The people of Loronar were celebrating their induction into the Royal Galactic Commonwealth after being alone for a almost two centuries. Thousands had filled the streets waving the flag of the Commonwealth as confetti swirled around in the air.

Loronar would be a strong member of the Commonwealth given its strategic position near Corellia. Securing the world was the first step to expanding down the Corellian Run just as Vero had planned. He would soon go to Byblos further down the hyper route in the coming days once official business had concluded on Loronar.

However, once he was done on Byblos he would need to leave the expansion campaign. The Force was calling him, out to the Outer Rim. It was a feeling that has been poking at the back of his head since he had departed Corellia. Soon he would follow the Force out into deep space. In regards to what would be awaiting him he would trust in the Force to get him through.

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Ovesa]

Shaal's Ship, Somewhere in Hyperspace

Mandalore had gotten "too hot"; in short, it was too dangerous for Shaal to stay any longer. Glasyr told her that it wasn't her fault, and she had completed every task perfectly up to that point. Still, she was disappointed in how everything turned out, and she could only wonder if those words were truthful...

Before returning to Korriban, she was instructed to travel to Geonosis. A diplomatic meeting would be taking place to finalize the fine print of the Ornitek-Sith alliance. In these trying times, Ornitek was a priceless ally, especially after the Sith Empire's fragmentation those many years ago. All she had to do was attend on behalf of the Sith Empire.

As the ship approached Geonosis, Shaal could only wonder who, or what, awaited her...

____________________________________

Darth Glasyr's Personal Ship, Orbiting Korriban

Although he was just reading reports, Glasyr felt as if he were standing directly on the surfaces of the Sith worlds. He could envision the vibrant marketplaces of Florrum, a world whose prior unsavory reputation would soon be replaced with an image of a bright, bustling planet of trade. Dromund Kaas's factories sprang forth and brought new life to the ancient capital. And even the most desolate corners of Korriban, the blinding desert world he was orbiting, could be made into paragons of prosperity.

Darth Glasyr was elated. After decades of stagnation and bickering, a ray of hope was finally coming through. Incompetence and ignorance would be swept to the wayside, in favor of innovation and progress. This would be the foundation for a new era, a new age, a new Empire.

And he was at the helm.

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Ovesa]

Ruinar's Palace, Geonosis

Shaal was expecting a representative from Ornitek, or even one of Ruinar's advisors. Yet right before her eyes stood the 13 foot Hurt, leader of one of the most powerful factions in the galaxy. To say she was taken aback would've been a massive understatement. "It's an honor to meet one as highly esteemed as yourself." She mustered up this statement in Huttese to the best of her abilities. "On behalf of the Sith Empire, I thank you for this opportunity." As it turned out, Glasyr's linguistics training were useful in some regards.

Her Master had told her that all of the details were already figured out, and the meeting primarily served as a formality. Still, if the opportunity presented itself, now would be a good time to demonstrate her (admittedly limited) diplomatic skills. Shaal followed him into the palace, intimidated yet dignified.

"My Master informed me that you has discussed the details of our alliance prior to my arrival." Although her voice was clear and unwavering, it felt as if the entire world was on her shoulders. "If there are any details that need to be discussed, I am willing to listen."

[Davincia]

Saleucami

For what it was worth, Mandalorian space was never boring. President Firgis' shuttle was caught in a surprise ambush, and dying here would be disastrous for the corporation at large. All of the toil that had gone into perfecting the IMT would have gone to waste. The president wore a confident look on his face as he let his droid maneuver through the chaos of battle. He ordered that the Venator ship be informed of his identity, but a formal greeting would have to wait just a little longer. The shuttle danced in the air with little grace, but it proved sufficient in dodging rampant turret fire. Some unlucky fighters were blasted down once they had entered Firgis' line of sight.

His advisors, meanwhile, were stricken with terror. Nemoidians were not built for combat, yet their cowardice was almost refreshing. All his enemies should be afraid like this, whenever they felt the urge to mess with the IMT. In any case, Firgis hoped that the conflict would end shortly and he could engage in more conventional diplomacy with the Mandalorians. The shielding on his own vessel was not designed for real danger like this.

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Ovesa]

Ruinar's Palace, Geonosis

Had that proposition been made by any other person in the galaxy, their answer would have arrived in the form of force lightning. But Ruinar was too valuable and too powerful to scorn. Besides, he meant no ill intentions with his words, even if they were misplaced.

Shaal, in her indifference, managed to mimic a genuine smile. "We will pass on the extra 50,000 credits. You have been generous enough."

For better or worse, the future of the galaxy would be shaped in this single moment.

"We have a deal. Thank you for your time and generosity."

___________________________________

BROADCAST: SITH TERRITORIES

It's another beautiful day in the Sith Empire, and the days will keep getting brighter. Today, an alliance is being finalized between Ornitek and the Sith Empire. Due to security protocols, we cannot discuss the exact details of the alliance until a later date (Please don't shoot me, Ruinar), but what we do know is that the Sith Empire, in exchange for financial aid, will be supporting the Conglomerate in a defense contract that states [REDACTED] until further notice.

In other news, the construction of 15 new factories on Ziost has begun. Thanks, Glasyr; Nothing says 'economic prosperity' quite like propping up refineries and manufacturing plants on one of the coldest rocks in the Empire ... I'm getting fired for this, aren't I? Well, that's all the ti-

[The broadcast turns to static, before playing its standard end message.]

Broadcasted by SNN: Your trusted Imperial news source.

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Aserais]

In orbit above Saleucami

The frigates stood no chance against her vastly superior vessels, though they certainly did everything they could to drag out the fight for as long as they could. The more agile vessels bobbed and weaved between the barrage of turbolaser fire and attempted to return the volleys as best they could, but the smaller starships simply did not have the firepower necessary to penetrate the shields of any of the ships under her command. One by one, the frigates were blasted to smithereens as the sheer volume of turbolaser fire overwhelmed their ability to maneuver and blasted through their shields like they were so much flimsi.

Still, it took too long, and all the while the Liberty listed in the upper atmosphere of the planet and her crew fought off an invasion of battle droids in their lower decks, putting everyone on that ship at risk. The last of the frigates was proving a bit more agile than her fellows, and Alaata decided that the chase had gone on long enough.

The Togruta closed her eyes and raised a hand, reaching out into the web of the force that surrounded her and letting her physical awareness fade away as she focused on the vessel weaving between the laser fire from the ships under her command. Her fingers splayed for just a moment as she pushed her awareness into the mechanisms of the ship's engines, finding the fuel lines and pressure valves that fed the great conflagration of her ion drives. Her fist closed soon after, gripping those vital components, before she pulled her hand to the side and forcibly ripped those parts from their moorings.

To those that were watching the vessel the evidence of her power soon became apparent as a series of explosions happened around the back of the ship, causing the lights in the windows of the vessel to go dark as the frigate began to list uselessly in the upper atmosphere of the planet.

Alaata opened her eyes and grinned a near-feral grin as she looked upon the fruits of her effort. Sometimes it paid to remind herself--and those around her--just how powerful she was.

"Captain, I want a strike team put together. Have them meet me in the hanger bay. Let the Liberty know she should be expecting some reinforcements. Defenders, on me," she ordered as she turned and began to head off of the bridge. Two silver-clad Defenders took to her flanks as she stepped into the turbolift, a fiery glint in her green eyes.

In the lower port hangar bay of the Liberty

A silver shuttlecraft set down on the floor of the currently-chaotic hangar bay, putting itself between a group of battle droids and a contingent of Mandalorian soldiers and taking more than a few rounds to its once-pristine hull for its trouble. The ramp lowered, allowing the soldiers to see a Togruta wielding a silver double-bladed lightsaber come running down the ramp, followed shortly by two silver-clad humanoids carrying silver-bladed sabers leading a contingent of twenty men and women that swiftly took cover behind any available surface.

Alaata allowed the rush of battle to flow through her as she bore a wild, feral grin full of sharp teeth. Her saber flashed, deflecting several bolts back at the battle droids that fired them, as her men began to advance on the line of droids and provide covering fire to allow their Mandalorian allies to get off their back foot.

"Sorry for the wait, boys!" she called out as she deflected another two bolts with a casual twirl of her lightsaber, sending two more droids crashing to the ground with smoking holes in their chassis. "But the cavalry has arrived."

[Azanaire]

Lower Corridors of the Liberty



The blue-skinned Twi'ek Jedi Master deflected several blasts from incoming B2 Battle Droids, leaping into the air and slashing three droid heads off at once, kicking a few others over, and using the force; throwing a sheet of metal at the last five droids. "Company, follow me!" she ordered, gesturing her lightsaber to the lower levels.

She turned for a moment to see a Togruta-force wielder with white lightsabers deflect several blaster bolts with several grey defenders. 'For Mandalore!" yelled Master Uniq, raising her lightsaber and thrusting herself into battle. This was Mandalore's moment to shine..

Uniq was a powerful member of the Jedi High Council and skilled acrobat. She jumped from fighter to fighter to knock out enemy droids, using the environment and tools around her to make sure the Jensaarai and the Mandalorians were fine. She decided it was time to formally meet her frend, she jumped in the air, using droids as a walk thru, and jumped to the side of the Togruta Master,

"You must be Madam Alatta, I am Jedi Master Jkeli Uniq."

[The United Empire of Exucular]

Byblos

In a scene mirroring Loronar the citizens of the capital of Byblos had filled the streets celebrating unification with the Royal Galactic Commonwealth. With the adding of Byblos into the Commonwealth Vero has successfully united the big three worlds of the Corellian diaspora under one faction.

The expansion Campaign down the Corellian Run and through the Core Worlds would continue under Vero's capable administrators. The Emperor himself, however, would lead from afar as he felt the Force calling him elsewhere. It was time to involve himself in Galactic affairs in a much more hands on fashion.

From the capital building Vero passed through the celebrating crowd and into a transport heading for the city's spaceport. Within moments Vero had boarded his personal ship, laid in coordinates, and shot off into deep space towards the Outer Rim.

[Ovesa]

Travelling to Roon

Five destroyers, eight frigates, and 30 fighters meandered their way through the cosmic abyss to a planet called Roon. A lush, vibrant world, Roon was well hidden among the kilometers of surrounding asteroids and space dust.

Led by some of the greatest captains the Sith Empire had to offer, the fleet weaved its way through the cosmic haze. Their course was set for Roon, where a pre-invasion meeting would take place between Ruinar and Darth Glasyr. If all went as planned, Hypori would soon be added to the roster of planets ruled by Ornitek.

Shaal found herself in contemplation. Was this alliance sustainable? If not, how long would the Empire remain autonomous? There wasn't much of a choice to be made; without Ornitek, Mandalore and its allies would've crushed the Imperial remnants before anyone could respond. For the first time in her life, the Empire didn't seem so strong. It felt like just another dying star, constantly threatened by an unending, cold nothingness...

"Apprentice, is something worrying you?" Darth Glasyr asked.

Shaal almost jumped; she had gotten wrapped up in her own mind again. "No, Master. Everything is fine." Her voice reverberated in the durasteel cell that was their transport ship.

Glasyr could sense the unease, but chose to drop the subject out of respect. "That's good to hear. I wanted to tell you what to expect of the invasion." He spoke with a clear-cut, orderly intonation. "Our captains will be focused on neutralizing Hypori's fleet and orbital defenses. Before that fighting starts, we will be dropped onto the planet's surface, alongside our soldiers. Our goal is simple: destroy as much of Hypori's defenses as possible, without causing excessive damage. However, that last part might be difficult." As he said this, his face and manner turned solemn.

"And why is that?"

Darth Glasyr sighed, his head hanging low. "Apprentice, do you remember a Sith Lord by the name of Darth Vayne?"

It would've been impossible not to. Darth Vayne was the archetypal epitome of the Sith; cunning, ambitious, and ruthless. The mere name alone would send fear through the hearts of even the Empire's most hardened Sith, and rightfully so; Darth Vayne was a name to be feared. "What does Darth Vayne have to do with our invasion of Hypori?"

"One of Vayne's apprentices will be accompanying us on our mission today."

Vayne had a myriad of apprentices at their disposal, all equipped with varying skills and personalities. "Which one?"

"His name is Marur, he's a Dathomirian Zebrak. Skilled combatant, with a penchant for unadulterated violence. He is the embodiment of rage and chaos." He listed off each those statements with a matter-of-fact tone. "Apprentice, I have no doubt that you will excel today, but please be careful. We wouldn't want there to be any unnecessary conflict betw- oh, would you look at that, we've just arrived."

With the rest of the fleet staying in orbit, the transport carefully guided itself onto the landing pad below. As the doors slid open, awaiting the Sith was none other than Ruinar himself.

"Ruinar, it is so good to see you again." Glasyr spoke warmly, his jovial persona taking the stage. "I assume you have made arrangements for today's...outing on Hypori."

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Newrey]

Marur, Dathomir

The red mists of Dathomir always seemed to rejuvenate Marur, no matter how hard he had pushed himself in training or arriving back from a particularly demanding mission, there they were, to fill his muscles and body with new resolve and energy, and that was why he stayed here, alongside necessity. For the longest while, Dathomir had been one of the few worlds under Sith control and thus one of the few havens for a Sith, at least until recent memory, and while he would have been content with roaming the galaxy in an eternal hunt to bring down the Jedi, his master forbade it. His departure from this world required approval from Darth Vayne.

From his rooms, he could see the towering central building of Vayne's Estate, made out of almost black stone and pointed, as though a giant could wield it as a weapon. From it hung two banners of the Sith, while he own symbol took a central position, showing anyone trespasser who really was in control of this region. The sound of his door hissing open tore his attention away from the window. He felt a chill enter the room, confirming who had stepped inside.

"Master" he said, turning and kneeling, his eyes concentrating on the ground by her feet. She signalled for him to stand, which he followed obediently. Darth Vayne's name matched her appearance, while her hair had long since lost its colour, it was still a striking white, while her pale skin and pointed face gave an almost ghost-like impression.

"Apprentice, I see you have returned" she said, her voice tinged with ice.

"Yes, Master, I was informed that you were not to be disturbed, but I can report that the Sith Argartas will no longer be any trouble" he reported dilligently, handing her a damaged lightsaber.

"Hmm, I see you destroyed his saber...though you know I prefer them intact" she replied, her cold eyes staring at the saber, as though she could see the fight that it had endured. Argartas had been a particularly troublesome Sith who had spent many months attempting to agitate a revolt against her among the Sith ranks, though there would no longer be any agitation.

"I apologise Master, but he was much more skilled than I had anticipated" Marur's eyes faced the ground in shame, but his master simply tutted and her finger seemed to glide under his chin, lifting his face to meet her.

"Then you will have to make it up for me." she said, a small yet cruel smile grew on his face "You were told correctly that I was not to be disturbed. It has been reported that our glorious Empire has come to an agreement with the Ornitek, why we would agree to anything with those disgusting slugs is beyond me, but it is apparently a necessity" she added, letting go of his face and taking out a small holoprojector, when she turned it on, a planet shot into view "In return to an not unsubstantial payment, we are to lead an attack on the IMT world of Hypori"

"Why Hypori, Master?"

"It seems the Ornitek are quite jealous of the IMT, and would see this world captured to teach them a lesson. If they were Sith, I might even have been impressed. I am sending you there, this is very much a fight were brute strength is much more valuable"

Marur almost smiled "Thank you, Master, I will crush those that dare to stand against the Sith, fools that they are"

"I know you will, but one more thing" she said, pressing a button on the holoprojector, which revealed a humanoid figure "In this battle, you will be working with Darth Glasyr to show my...appreciation for his work."

"Darth Glasyr...the would-be Emperor?" Marur asked, echoing the nickname that Vayne had given him.

"The same, though you would do well not to utter that title near him. Now, go to Hypori and crush the IMT's resistance, teach them the meaning of fear"

"Yes, my Master" Marur replied, kneeling again as Vayne departed. He could almost feel the excitement for battle bubble inside him.

Roon

"Master Marur, we are now entering the Roon system" one of his crewmen reported to him, standing nervously on the borders to his own quarters.

"Good" Marur replied curtly "Alert the would-be Emperor of our arrival, I would like to dock this vessel before we jump to Hypori."

[Ovesa]

Roon

The invasion of Hypori was finally ready to begin. "Splendid. Everything is falling into place, it's the perfect time to strike." There was a distinct edge of excitement in his voice, almost bordering on aggression. "Apprentice, do you have anything to say?"

Just as he finished his question, he realized that Shaal was just using her comlink. "Master, it's a message from Marur. He requests docking here before we start the invasion."

"Tell him that won't be necessary." He said, dismissively. "All of the details are in order. Besides, if we wait any longer, we could miss our perfect opportunity to attack."

Shaal was hesitant. "...are you sure?"

"Certainly." He was adamant. "I've already discusses the details of our plan with his Master, there shouldn't be any issue." He then turned to Ruinar once again. "Pardon the interruption, we'll be on our way now."

With a cordial goodbye, they set off on their transport ship to Hypori, along with the rest of their fleet. While on their ship, a question lingered in the back of Shaal's mind. "Master?"

"Yes, Apprentice?"

She paused, unsure of how to phrase her thoughts. "I know you've had plenty of combat experience prior to now, but ... is this a fight you're willing to take part in?"

While other Sith Lords may have taken offense to such a statement, the aging Sith merely chuckled. "Why, Apprentice, what an odd thing to say. I can understand your concern, but I wouldn't take part in combat if I was incapable of doing so." In his prime, Darth Glasyr was a skilled duelist, a skill he prided himself on to this very day. Despite his age, he was still a formidable opponent. "Do you have any other questions?"

"Did Ruinar ask you about any...'additional bonus' in our deal?

Darth Glasyr raised an eyebrow. "That's odd, he said he would'nt mention such a thing. Rest assured, Apprentice, I will speak with him personally about this after- Oh, would you look at that. We've just arrived."

As the fleet jumped from hyperspace, primed to attack Hypori's pitiful defenses, the transport vessel made its way to the planet's surface, closely followed by Mamur's ship. As they reached the ground, Shaal realized they had been spotted by a group of B1 battledroids, two dozen strong. "Master-"

"Say no more." He had already drawn his saber.

Shaal hastily grabbed her new saber, activating it just in time to block a barrage of blaster shots.

What a way to start a fight.

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Davincia]

Saleucami

The intensity of the battle grew with each passing minute. It was funny to President Firgis, how slow it felt when the fires of war burned across the stars. The universe would hardly register it was a blink of the eye while living beings agonized over it for many lifetimes. Perhaps it was reckless of him to ignore his advisors begging for a retreat. Rather than continue the fight in space, Firgis opted for something more conventional, and less cowardly than what the other men in the shuttle suggested. The ship dashed and swerved close to the Mandalorian flagship, known in IMT transmissions as the Liberty. The president moved to the co-pilot's seat and opened the communication channel.

"Hello, this is IMT shuttle R-42D, requesting permission to land aboard the Liberty. We are not hostiles, I repeat, we are not hostiles."

"Have you gone mad?" said one Neimoidian. "We'll be killed if we go in there!"

"We'll be killed if we stay out here."

Then, the piloting droid stirred and apprehensively turned to Firgis, declaring "President Firgis, I regret to inform you that all communications from Hypori and Kowak have ceased."

His eyes went wide with rage. "What?!"

"It appears as though a massive Ornitek fleet has overwhelmed the system's defenses. There were no survivors."

Ornitek, those thieves. The IMT had been far too generous with them, and now they were paying the price. His biggest rival on the galactic scene had bested him and obliterated the entire 2nd Corporate Fleet. Anger did not begin to describe his emotions. It was a deep and hot-tempered wrath. Greater caution would be necessary if the company was to survive against its countless foes.

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Ovesa]

BROADCAST: SITH TERRITORIES

Greetings, citizens of the Sith Empire! This is B1KB-1414, the newest spokesperson...erm...spokes-droid? It doesn't matter; I'll be reporting on all of the latest topics that Imperial space has to offer.

For the first time in decades, the Empire's fleet was brought into active combat outside of Sith territory. With Ornitek's assistance, the battle ended in total success, with Imperial forces decimating the opposition on Hypori's surface and within its orbit. Thanks to our brave Sith warriors, Hypori now rests in the hands of our allies.

Thanks to the Sith-Ornitek Alliance, interstellar travel within Imperial space has become notably safer, with a 41 percent drop in piracy over the past several weeks. Reservations at resorts and casinos on Ornitek-owned worlds offer discounts for those living in Imperial space, and vise versa.

In other news, the esteemed Darth Glasyr has announced a renewed interest in an Imperial robotics program. The idea was proposed decades prior, but it's finally being set into motion. In an exclusive interview with Darth Glasyr, he stated that large scale droid production will be implemented in the coming weeks. Don't be surprised if you find some friendly B1s patrolling the streets in the next few weeks. If you see them, be sure to tell them I said hello.

That's all the time we have for today. Thank you to all of our listeners for tuning in. Until next week, this is B1KB-1414, signing off.

Broadcasted by SNN: Your trusted Imperial news source.

[Ovesa]

Geonosis

The Battle of Hypori was a complete and total success. Not only was this mineral-rich planet now in the hands of Sith allies, but the Alliance between the Sith Empire and the Conglomerate of Ornitek was stronger than ever. The supplementary credits provided by Ruinar would prove to be a most valuable resource in rebuilding the Empire's neglected infrastructure. As promised, a top-of-the-line cruiser was being built especially for Ornitek, with even more to follow.

Surely, this victory had won the support of Darth Vayne. In an era as rife with conflict as this one, she was an influential and powerful ally who commanded respect. But deep down, Darth Glasyr knew that she could have easily become one of their most powerful adversaries. He shuttered imagining what would've happened if the battle had somehow turned south...

As he stepped off the landing platform (alone: Shaal was staying on the ship), he greeted Ruinar with a jovial, welcoming smile. "Ruinar, Hypori was a complete success. Our ground forces destroyed the opposition without any major or unnecessary destruction. But that's nothing compared to the prowess and skill displayed by your fleets." He chuckled to himself, before continuing. "Perhaps our captains could learn a thing or two from your pilots."

"As requested, the construction of the cruisers has already begun. On behalf of the Sith Empire, I thank you for allowing us to prove our commitment to this great Alliance. However, before I leave, there is something important we must discuss..."

As he continued, he became notably less jovial. "I was told that you asked my Apprentice about a... let's call it an 'additional payment plan'. Thankfully, she took little to no offense to such an offer, but I'm afraid that my fellow Sith will not respond so kindly. I humbly implore you to rethink making such an offer in the future, to any Sith, regardless of rank or status." To his credit, Glasyr kept a calm and professional tone as he spoke, doing everything he could to get his point across without offending his most powerful ally. "Understood?"

[Intellectual Beauty]

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[Azanaire]

Above Mandalore



Tiva sat in a light brown meditation chair, eyes crossed as she meditated peacefully. She saw a future where the Galaxy was ruled by one power at the Center of the Galaxy and saw numerous planets embroiled in economic growth and construction projects. The system of Onderon, once ridden with eternal war and suffering illuminated from the night sky with numerous large skyscrapers and a cityscape similar to Coruscant. The Ryloth system which had been held back by numerous occupations have grown into a profitable planet with the Twi'leks having numerous positions of power and freedoms. Then her vision drifted to her planet of Mandalore, which was abandoned and the dome cities were badly damaged. Frightened, she opened her eyes to se Master Sarlin standing near the door, arms crossed.

The middle-aged Jedi Master studied the young Duchess before quipping, "Your vision - what was it?"

Tiva scratched her head before explaining the vision, "The future- so many planets were prospering and thriving. But - Mandalore was gone. the planet was in ruins and no one seemed alive. What does it mean?"

Master Sarlin gently approached the Duchess and sat across from her, "It can mean many things, young one. One thing is certain - that vision was put in front of you not for nothing. It's a warning of what it is to come. I'm afraid that the Galaxy is on the verge of another war."

Before Tiva could respond, Dasha burst into the room - "Masters, Ornitek and the Sith have invaded Hypori and Kowak!"

Tiva, shocked and mortified, rose out of her chair, "Any survivors of the IMT Fleet?"

Master Prost shook her head, "Not a single member of the fleet survived. It was a massacre, Duchess."

'We must report this to the Jedi Council immediately and get an update on the status of the Saleucami Ambush. Follow me, Masters."

Above Salucami

As the Jedi Master and the Saarai-kar finished off the remainder of the droids, a shuttle landed in the docks. They both looked confused and approached the shuttle cautiously.

[Newrey]

Battle of Hypori

"Insolent fool" Marur cursed loudly when Darth Glasyr denied his docking, an unnecessary action, but Marur had been ordered to test the limits of his control in this battle fleet. Apparently it was very little, but it mattered about as much to him as the dirt on his boots. Rather, it was Vayne's way of see the respect that her apprentice's garnered from Darths of equal stature, it would certainly be an interesting conversation when Marur reported back to her.

"My Lord, we've received the signal to jump" one of his pilots reported to him.

"Jump then, but hold us back, my Master claims that the Hutts will deal with the IMT ships" he said, mentally turning his nose up at the idea of those filthy, overgrown slugs would take a preeminent position in Sith warfare. The money they would receive in lieu of this battle hardly seemed worth the degradation of following the orders of the slugs, but his Master commanded it, and he obeyed. The planet of Hypori soon jumped into view, the colourful patterns of battle between starships managed to almost darken the dusty surface of the world. He watched in mild disinterest as the IMT ships were torn apart at very little cost, he had hoped that they would put up a stiffer resistance before they landed, but apparently they would fail at that. How disappointing.

A voice of barely understandable Basic soon broke though the mild humming of the ship, informing them that they could now land. Marur felt his emotions rise, a race between excitement and anticipation, his power began to feed of them. His hands began to shake as they passed through the metallic graveyard of the IMT's pathetic fleet. One of his pilots remarked at the amount of credits that they had just destroyed, but Marur told him to be silent. The economics of warfare were held with contempt by Marur, so this to fed into him, even if he disliked it. Entering the atmosphere, Marur began to smile as he saw the ships bombard the IMT's positions. A collage of colour exploded across the planet's surface as turbolaser detonated any cannons that stood against them, he took a slight moment of glee at the image, knowing the it was occurring across the planet.

"My Lord, your armour?" one of his personal servants asked.

"No, this battle will not require this, my robes shall be enough" Marur responded, pushing past him and toward's his ships door, opening it as the ship was still in the sky. The rush and scream of the wind exploded onto his senses, it was moments later that the sound of blasterfire could soon be heard, and Marur began to smile, taking his sabers from his hips. This would be a fine day for the Sith. No more would they hide in the shadows, today he would show their enemies what it meant to feel fear. Before the ship even touched down, Marur ran and jumped off the extended hatch of the ship, landing gracefully, with the battle raging around him. He threw his sabers down to his sides and ignited them, letting the Force surge through his muscles as he sprinted forwards towards battle, he could see droids ahead of him engaged in battle, with graceful and acrobatics movements of a training saber. An apprentice, clearly, and near an apprentice was always...

"A Master" Marur said to himself as he spotted a red saber cutting through doors, with clear and precise movements, lacking the flamboyance of his younger apprentice. It was clear that this was Darth Glasyr. A large number of droids had were encroaching in their position, unlikely to overwhelm them, but Marur still saw a chance. He outstretched his hand, forcing the Force to move through him as he pulled up a chunk of the Hyporian ground, a cloud of dust threatened to turn into a storm as his mind concentrated solely on forcing the ground to part. With a furious roar, he threw the ground he wretched up towards the droids, destroying them in moments as they crumpled under the weight and speed of it. Without a second hesitation, he surged forwards and leapt up, crashing down amongst the surviving droids and quickly seeing to their destruction, his blades becoming a whirlwind of red as his foes were broken apart before him, every foe destroyed filling him with more and more emotion that he could use.

He could feel himself getting lost in the battle, the scenery slowly changing from the dusty field to the industrial complex that had been their target. His dart robes had become stained by the dust that littered this world, and he felt his energy slowly fade. Crashing into a building followed by a contingent of the droids that irked him so. He enjoyed their mindlessness, but he found them useless in many other matters. "Search this building, I want nothing to survive this battle." he ordered, kicking open a door, revealing a group of cowering civilians. A mix of humans and aliens, Marur felt a flash of glee at the thought of living foes to slay. He raised his arms to strike, but felt that they would not comply. He glanced behind him, to see Darth Glasyr standing there, his arm outstretched, holding Marur still with the force. It was the first time Marur had gotten a look at the Sith, and it was clear the Sith Lord was well into his Twilight years; dark veins lined his arms, head, and neck, forming jagged lines across his visible skin. Wisps of grey, gossamer hair held fast to his aging head. Angular and rigid, everything about him was well defined

"Cease this at once!" Glasyr demanded, his voice silencing even the cowering civilians that had been begging for mercy mere moments ago, stepping into the room and releasing Marur from his grip.

"You dare control me?" Marur asked, his voice seething with rage and lunging forwards to slash the Darth, but in a moment Glasyr's saber was up, blocking Marur with little trouble. They traded a few blows before Marur released that he was hopelessly outmatched by the experienced Darth and cease striking quickly, with Glasyr's saber aimed at his black and red throat.

"Raise your blade at me or the civilians again, and it will be the last thing you do, it is out of respect for Darth Vayne that I allow you this small mercy" Glasyr said, his voice cold and authoritative, as though he had not just been duelling.

"Why must I be forbidden from killing those that are beneath the Sith? They cower and I was going to slay them as cowards" Marur responded, feeling his anger met only with his confusion.

"The death of civilians is forbidden by the leader of the Ortinek, Ruinar" Glasyr responded, his face emotionless in contrast to the bewildered and angered expression Marur wore openly.

"What has become of the Sith...we allow these worms to command us?" Marur muttered, his fists clenching on his sabers "Vayne will not stand for this!"

"Vayne has commanded this, just as Ruinar has, you'd dare disobey your own Master?" Glasyr asked in response. Marur stood still, caught between his desire to kill and his obedience to his master. In a fit of rage, he reached out with the force and shattered many of the windows throughout the building.

"I will not take this injustice and degradation against the Sith in future" Marur said after a few moments of silence, passing Glasyr and exiting the room, he could feel the tenseness that dominated it follow him as he rejoined the battle, allowing his anger against Glasyr and the Hutts to fuel his destruction of the droids that remained. When the battle had ended and it became clear that the world had been taken, Marur returned to his ship and swore that he would never heed the orders of a Hutt again, but he would nurture this anger he held inside him, much like his Master had taught him.