Fall of Tion

[Silas Karn]

*Exar Dreadnought Moraband – Bridge*

If fate exists it seemed to hold serious oddities to allow for such an event. Sovereign, the man once known as Silas Karn, was restored his title of High Priest and placed at the helm of a mighty vessel. Arms clasped behind his back while holding a stoic posture granted him from cycles past, Sovereign looked out the vast panoramic viewport with a menacing scowl. The galaxy had worked against his every desire and thwarted all the positive changes he had attempted to procure.

That same galaxy would be wrought with fire and blood for its impudence. The man once known as Silas had nothing holding him to his former existence and as such had given his self fully to the darkness. “My lord, we have reached the rendezvous point. They are awaiting your command to start the operation.” The hollow tone of the assassin droid broke the Sovereign’s meditations. Turning to Nil the Sovereign granted an affirmation, “Granted, alert all ships. I want all fighter and bomber wings deployed to make the jump under their own autonomy.”

The vile droid granted acknowledgment and swiftly relayed the Sovereign’s instructions. A total of nine capital ships comprised the battle group granted the High Priest, a sizeable force, far larger than any Sovereign had known the Sith to use since the sacking of the imperial capital. The manner to which Tormentous had elected to utilize Warhound Command had also garnered suspicion from the Sith Lord. Regardless the operation proceeded as intended, as Sovereign his self, departed to ready his own ship. Greeting the priest was a company of elite warriors forged in the trials of Moraband itself.

A vile grin prized Sovereign’s lips as he witnessed their aura within the Force. Donning his helmet and entering the cockpit of his personal TIE Defender. The custom matte black formerly imperial starship had gained a degree of infamy as the Echani noble had used its immense capabilities to great effect. Silas did not immediately depart the Moraband as the initial jump to the intended destination presented too many unknowns. However, within minutes the fleet and the fighter/bomber wings each made their jumps to their respective destinations. It was obvious to the High Priest that regardless of the efficiency of their efforts this mission required greater finesse than their numbers would otherwise indicate.

10 NPC Sith Warriors

Warhound Command:
Naga Dread 'Magnetar'
Exar Dread 'Moraband'
Dread Frigate 'Essence'
Dread Frigate 'Nemesis'
Battlecruiser 'Nightmare'
Battlecruiser 'Revenge'
CC-7700 'Obsidian'
CEC Gunship 'Ruination'
CEC Gunship 'Varekai'

Fighter Wings:
Firespray 1st Wing
Razorfighter 6th Wing
Razorfighter 7th Wing
Toscan 1st Wing
Toscan 3rd Wing
Toscan 10th Wing

Bomber Wings:
Skipray 4th Wing
Y-wing 10th Wing
Y-wing 11th Wing

[Master Buggie]

**Perlemian Trade Route**
**Action IV Transport Loptous**

The war between the Empire and the Alliance was more than just a struggle between tyranny and freedom. It meant that the flow of goods, people, services-- business, was stymied behind countless security checkpoints and inspections. Flying on the Perlemian became a nightmare, and for most cargo haulers, it was more profitable to skip the major hyperlane altogether, rather than risk getting fined after an inspector caught an error in your cargo manifest, or, worse yet, you got caught up in the middle of a border skirmish. Judging by the state of the junkers on the Perlemian, it seemed that only the most desperate of cargo jumpers bothered to take the risk. The captain of the Loptous was no exception.

Held up at the third security checkpoint of this particular cargo run, the captain and their first mate sat idly, staring out the viewport as a Galactic Alliance vessel inspected a cargo ferry a couple ships up the line. The captain had lost a few credits already on a wager whether or not the inspection for that particular vessel would take over or under thirty minutes.

The silence on the bridge of their cargo vessel was suddenly interrupted by the nearby deep space platform's traffic controller, "All vessels, attention. Travel sector A-17 is off limits to civilian travel indefinitely. Please contact the station to be rerouted. Repeat-- Travel sector A-17 is off limits to civilian travel indefinitely."

That particular lane was not where the Loptous was heading, so the deafening silence resumed. The captain blinked and held their eyes shut for a moment. When they opened them, a series of frigates and cruisers had appeared a few hundred kilometers out, as if they had been summoned from nothingness. They were big, too, being the long Mon Cala warships that formed the might of the Galactic Alliance fleet. As more support ships emerged from hyperspace around them, the first mate cast the captain a glance.

To take jobs on the Perlemian, a savvy captain had to be willing to take on other duties. One of those, provided you and your ship were deemed worthy, was to report fleet movements to the types of vermin that slithered in the darkness. These reports were often paid on a first-come first-served basis, and the captain of the Loptous was not willing to risk letting another fleet chaser get in ahead of them.
The captain instructed the first mate to get a count on how many warships had jumped into the area as they tuned their long-range transmitter to the appropriate settings...

**Chasidron Shoals, Mid-Rim**
**Cresh Fleet**
**Keldabe-class Battleship The Azure Wind**

The middle-aged Ithorian rested a long-fingered hand on her hip while issuing a skeptical expression to the officer standing before her, "This report came from where? This is what we call actionable intelligence?"

The officer-- obviously caught off guard-- attempted to explain that the information had been reviewed by the appropriate operational division before being passed along to her. That meant little to Idris, as any hotshot Nightshade looking to make a name for themselves could pass along information. If it hit; great, that meant a promotion or gaining the favor of the Pirate Council. If not; oh well, a thousand reports made it to each respective admiral every day, and almost all of them were thrown out the airlock with the day's waste. The officer continued to justify themselves, and Idris was almost ready to dismiss them altogether, when they mentioned that the number and types of ships in the report did match those known to be making up Galactic Alliance Task Force Liberty, which was last reported to have been at station above Ossus.

Now that's something, Idris thought, Why would Task Force Liberty be moving out in force across the Perlemian?

Idris rhythmically sucked in air from each of her mouths as she considered. The Galactic Alliance had built a defensible salient off of the Perlemian that included the Tobali and Galidraan systems, as well as the oft-forgotten Draukyze system. It was possible that those systems were under threat from the Empire, or even the Sith. That would be enough to call off an entire Task Force. It could also be that the Galactic Alliance was pushing the offensive after the action by the Jedi and Admiral Liszt at Roche, but then again, pushing any offensive after Roche meant that the Sith were the target. It was equally as likely that the Sith were striking back, as defeat oftentimes didn't sit well within that cult, and any Sith commander coming off of a defeat would be eager to erase any memory of it with a bold victory.

Something was happening, and shifting assets meant opportunity for Idris and Cresh Fleet. There was only one thing...

"I need more information," Idris decided, "Let's quietly send a detachment to Ossus to confirm that the Galactic Alliance sent all their ships in orbit across the Perlemian. All other vessels with The Azure Wind. Make preparations to cross over into enemy space."

[Ben Kenobi]

It had been some time now since the initial work had begun on the hasty defences but now they were coming along nicely, in another few minutes the well drilled Antarian Rangers along with the security teams would have set up a proper defensive screen around the command center of the listening post... or as proper a defense as can be made with what little they actually had. This listening post wasn't designed with the idea of a full on siege battle in mind after all.

With the time offered by the Rangers, the Jedi pair had plenty of time to center their minds and prepare for the upcoming storm that was about to rage before them. Ben for instance was fully prepared; mentally, physically and spiritually. It wasn't often when he had this sort of time to sit and settle himself before a battle, most of the time it was rush rush rush and the battle was upon them only too soon. This time, the Light within him had been stirred to readiness and he felt confident with a lack of arrogance about what they were about to do here today.

Finally he opened his eyes and looked to Evelyn. "I am going to focus everything into these men around us. With coordination and morale they will best be able to hold the line and not make undue sacrifices. I see this as the best way, for the moment, to help these men. Once the Sith actually arrive I will come out of the meditation and help, but until that time I will concentrate everything I have for their sake." His gaze on her turned serious, "But I will be vulnerable, you will need to defend me while I meditate on our allies. My personal focus will be scant, replaced by focus to the men around us. If they attack me then it will be unlikely that I will be able to defend myself in time."

Ben Kenobi did not fear death. That was not why he warned Evelyn about his choice that he was making. It was that he knew that if he fell then the morale of those around him would be punished and also if indeed Tormentous was coming, he would be the only one that could stand toe to toe with the Dark Lord. Honestly he hated these ideals; they bordered on extreme arrogance and self preservation and those were temptations of the Darkside of the Force and in his experience the Darkside would corrupt in any way that it could; and nobody was impervious to its' grasp.

Infact he was confident in Miss Swann's ability to protect him in this moment of urgency and he let her see it in his eyes and smile. "If the Sith come after you, trust in the Rangers. Give ground where you need too... and when you need me the most... I'll be there."

Resuming his focus he bowed his head and closed his eyes, snow had begun to drop a thin layer over the Jedi Master and his concentration had never been more true. As the snow fell so did his mind fall upon the brave men and women of the LP...

***Battle Meditation - Continued in "Ripples of Light"***

[Jacobi Wylcott]

Trembling through the lower atmosphere came the Stalker with contrails of fire skimming off of its hull. It was ahead of the landing craft by some distance but ultimately due to the Sith’s overwhelming numerical superiority that distance wasn’t significant in the long run. In addition the listening post didn’t seem to have defensive cannons and as a conclusion the Infiltrator came down to the surface of Rhen Var and touched down in a flurry of steam for a heated hull versus the snow did not mix well.

When the ramp lowered and touched the ground, Darth Tormentous was already on the move and his boots crunched down into the snows. Jidai Maras the demon’s blade was on his back. He wore the iron gray armor of the Eradicator pattern, it glistened in the sunlight when the snow touched upon it. Over his shoulders he wore a black cape clasped with a chain in the front and the cape’s hood was over his head and shaded his face in the darkness. From that darkness his face mask glowed with red lights but just above that was the terrifying glean of acid yellow from the left eye - it glowed with absolute hatred and the fury of a star. But the right - the right was solid white with a horrifying scar running through it. That right eye seemed to stare into the souls of his enemies and it lusted after them with the promise of ripping them free of their bodies and to send them screaming into oblivion.

His presence was not as it once was - now it was fully exposed and the Dark Side came from him like a cloud of vile energy, it tainted everything it touched with a cancer that corroded and ate away at them internally. His very presence could invoke despair.

Each step in which he took brought forth a new cascading wave of emotion. Waves of Darkness rent the morale of men who lacked resolve and for those that did hold resolve in their hearts it tested them to the core. Granted the meditations of the Light Master would help and surely save many, but there was some that wouldn’t be able to withstand the horror coming from the steaming cloud right outside the gates of the LP. Cold fear would grip them as cold as the ice of Rhen Var and beyond. The will of the Dark Lord of the Sith could not be overcome.

Striding through the snow he arrived right outside the front gate of the compound by about 100 yards. He could sense the Light within - Ben Kenobi was a legend among legends. The single most powerful warrior that this galaxy had ever seen - oh how his abilities were wasted for the Jedi. If only Kenobi would use the power of the Dark Side then even Tormentous would have paled in comparison. This he envied. He hated the fact that Ben’s talents were wasted in selfless sacrifice when he could so easily be the darkest entity known to man. In being the brightest light, he failed to see his potential and that was where Tormentous rose above him.

Tormentous came to a stop before the gates. He did not need to command Warvaus of this next step. The two held a connection of which Warvanus would know his role well. Aside from Warvanus came five Sith Warriors. They wore various armors in very personalized form, black robes and all held crimson red burning lightsabers. Three were single blade wielders, one held a lightstaff and the fifth carried dual blades. They were all equally menacing.

The five formed up to flank Tormentous as he stood before the walls of the compound and they were given over the task of ensuring no bolt from a blaster would even come close to the Dark Lord for he had his own deeds to accomplish.

With the surrounding terrain of the fort in the advantage of the Alliance this meant breaching the walls was essential - be it through scaling them or going through them. The Sith Warriors could simply leap over with aid of the Force. But the landing soldiers behind could not. While Tormentous didn’t much care for the fates of lesser weaker men, he knew that in a battle numbers were important. He would see to it that his forces crossed through these walls - in specific - the front gate itself.

With the screen prepared to defend him and with Skipray Blastboats coming in to land behind them, Darth Tormentous extended his hand towards the gates of the compound and his acid yellow eye glowed bright as he summoned massive energies to his will.

A hollow roar began to echo across the wind and suddenly the front gates of the listening post began to creak and moan. Metal began to unnaturally bend and screech. The gates wouldn’t hold long. The Sith were coming and they would not be denied.

[Kell Sangros]

The Skies were cluttered with fighters, most being from Warvanus’ battlegroup, they seemed to get loud as Firesprays carrying the troops were landing not far from the gate but not too close either. As the two squadrons landed, razorfighters screamed overhead unleashing their weapons, discouraging any from firing on this location as the Firesprays were deploying their payload. After each firespray completed its task, it took off again and joined the frey, providing air support for the ground forces. The Sith troopers freshly deployed wasted no time as they made their trek through the compacted snow to their destination. The troops under the War-Bringer’s command were fanatical to the Sith cause, they were hardened, trained they were among the best of the best on Sith ground forces. They had good instructors as they had been trained by the surviving members of what was Warvanus’ personal special forces squadron “The Dawn Patrol” they had been disbanded and each member took a active role in bettering the soldiers in the Sith army and Warvanus’ men were one notch above that.

Warvanus stood with Tormentous at the gate standing in the fresh compacted snow. The skies sang of battle. It was a glorious music to behold for the War-Bringer. He cast his eyes skyward and looked at the gate that was barring them entry casting his gaze his radioactive yellow eyes to the wall, he could sense the defenders on the wall. With some he could sense their fear, his lightsaber still remained clipped. He would not need it right this very moment. If he felt like toying with them much like a predator might with it’s prey he would start tugging and tossing the defenders off the wall but he was not feeling playful. He was angry, how dare these people oppose the Emperor and by proxy the Sith. They like their predecessors had only sought to bring enlightenment to the worlds under the GA and the dogmatic narrow minded Jedi alike. It was their sacred duty to thin the herds of those who did not deserve to live. The Force was strong here he could feel it, not just from his Master, but the Jedi. He suspected that the Jedi Grandmaster himself was close. He had only encountered him once, back when he sought to break Tormentous from his prison. The other time was further back when the deal was negociated for what his Emperor had called “The Great Betrayal” He had no doubt that Tormentous was aware and as such they had no time to waste.

Warvanus slightly lifted his hands palms outward and summoned the Dark Side, in it he poured his anger and his hatred. Hatred for the GA, Hatred for the Jedi, Hatred for those who would stand in their way, as he poured these emotions into the Dark Side, he fed it and when he could not bear the indignity of the audacity of the GA he unleashed his corruption in the Force as Blue-Purple Lightning erupted from his fingertips. (Force Lightning) The lightning hit the walls, he would shock its’ defenders with this move. He snarled as he poured more hate into the Dark Side. Warvanus would maybe later reflect and realize this was the first time he had used this technique since he had taught it to him such reflections were pointless with the task at hand. He knew that by the size of the wall he would not be able to engulf it entirely but he would cover as much square footage as he could. While the defenders were fodder he knew that more formidable foes were close. He sought to cross blades with a Jedi again but not at the cost of the mission. Warvanus was blood thirsty but he was no fool either.

[Ben Kenobi]

Devils had come to the gates of the Listening Post and they were making their attempt to breach the front doors. Razorfighters streamed overhead as they tangled with the Alliance X-wings. The Alliance starfighters were grossly outnumbered and were not going to survive much longer if reinforcements did not arrive in time. They could no longer cover the surface from air attack as they were now on the defensive and doing their best just to cover one another. It was a desperate battle... one that was only moving towards a single outcome.

Some of the Razorfighters came down low and peppered shots across the Listening Post which sent high powered bolts slamming into the fortifications, killing good men and damaging the walls. The loss of life sent echoes into the Force and even though Ben meditated well as he channeled their efforts into an efficient line of defense, he could feel them all the same and he had to force himself not to leap into action.

When the Sith Infiltrator landed the defenders took up position. Their sergeants shouted that their men should take aim and they did so... only for the sudden rush of evil that emanated from the leader of the Sith attackers. Ugly purple waves came at the Listening Post and slammed into the walls, some of the defenders even dropped their rifles and fled regardless of the Jedi Master's focus on their morale for the horrific power unleashed was specifically designed to strike down the weak of will and punish those who did not have mental training such as Jedi or the Antarian Rangers. Even so, some of the Rangers looked stressed and Ben had to refocus his meditations on these areas of fluctuating resolve.

The men on the walls began firing down on the Sith intruders as soon as they had arrived. It wasn't but shortly after that though that the Sith Soldiers arrived and began returning that fire. Scarlet red bolts were exchanged in rapid succession but the defenders had the protection of the walls and it was inevitable that the Sith were about to take some serious casualties in their efforts to breach. It was then that a savage bolt of unnatural lightning scoured out from the attacker's line and struck one of the defenders and threw him from the wall. When he landed he was smoldering... no life remained. Suddenly a wave of lightning came and blasted entire sections of the wall with ferocious abandon. Sparks flew wildly, the majority of the defenders that remained dove for cover and those that didn't were fortunate not to be struck for those that were hit were ravaged by the pure Darkside energies that assailed them. It was a horrific scene and it was only to get worse yet...

The situation was going from bad to worse.

Even through this growing storm... the panicking defenders may have looked to the center of the Listening Post and caught sight of Evelyn Swann, standing resolute in the falling snow and not giving an inch. They saw Ben Kenobi kneeling amidst the chaos in such a passive and serene manner that one wouldn't even know a battle against the nightmares of the Galaxy was blazing around him.

In this they took heart. If the Jedi could stand strong, if the Jedi did not fear this evil, then neither would they. Some of the men who had lost their nerve would take back arms and man the defenses.

If the Jedi and the Alliance were going to win the day it would take all of their resolve and they would have to make a stand...

[Evelyn Swann]

As Evelyn sat on the cold metal table meditating like her Master, she made sure to let the Light Side of the Force consume her being for both guidance and protection of what was to come. She knew very well that very soon, she would be fighting with all she had for all she stood for. And she was entirely content with that. It had been years since she had encountered Sith yes, and none as troubling as the one whom Master Kenobi had told her about. The one that had given children night terrors by the mere stories of his dark deeds.

Miss Swann was not going to give in. The Dark Side of the Force was growing stronger and it felt like the air around them was almost strangling. Clenching her teeth, the brunette took a slow deep breath and used the Light Side to remove the darkness from around her. Opening her eyes, she knew it was time. Preparation was over, and she pushed herself down from the table onto the crunchy snow beneath her dark brown leather boots. Her grey-ish robes swept themselves around her being as Evy looked at her Master, waiting patiently.

When he regained eye contact with her, the young lady swallowed a lump in her throat before clenching her teeth once more. It was serious now. Not only did she have to do her utmost to protect those around them, she now also had to make sure to have Master Kenobi's back should the Sith come too close. This was not something she had ever tried before. She had had training yes, but... this... this was different. Ben had given her a task, a task that he knew only too well that she took to heart and would fight for her own life over.

And as soon as Kenobi gave her his last words for the time being before going back into deep meditation, she looked at him and gave a respectful bow to her teacher and friend. "As you wish Master Kenobi. May the Force be with us." Then it was as if time slowed down around the brunette. Screams, blaster fire, suffering and death through the Force ripping inside of her heart, closing her eyes Evelyn knew that the enemy had arrived and had started to give a go at the first defenses at the Listening Post's walls and front gate. Light of the Force, give me the strength to overcome this obstacle and help those around me, to keep them safe. Use me as your beacon to those that get overwhelmed by these malicious creatures of the Dark Side... Give our men and women hope... Her thoughts were her own, and her hazel coloured orbs flew open, ready as she heard the sickening screech and bending of the gates.

Her eyes were witness to many terrible things happening at the front defense in such short time and it took every fiber of her being to not rush out there to help in some way or form. Evelyn had been given a task and she would fulfill said task if it would be the last thing she did. The flashing blue and purple colours, along with the consequences of said lights, made Evy's brows furrow as she took another step forward, in the falling snow, for the LP's fighting people to see her as she felt their despair and panic. Evy's eyes pierced through the Listening Post to the gate, her aura exuding strength, determination, willpower and most importantly, serenity and peace.

The falling snow had begun to make a small white layer on the top of her head and shoulders, but even that only proved how steadfast she was. Miss Swann stood ready with her hands resting at her weapons, her faithful vibrosword and her blaster pistol. Her lovely Jedi belt had all the extra ammunition and tools she would need in a close face to face combat and the young lady felt ready to give them her all. Hopefully the Antarian Rangers as well as herself will keep the Sith at bay, while Master Kenobi is giving his utmost concentration to keep the fighting men and women confident enough to stand their ground, and work together as one unit.

Swiftly reaching behind her back to one of her belt pouches, Evelyn grabbed her comm.-link and made sure to have the line secure, to get in touch with a good Antarian Ranger whom is just as stubborn as herself. "Varn, I have given the Fire Hounds a big nasty bag of surprise for when the first defense is down and remaining survivors need to get behind cover at the second defense. Please make sure they use them at the right time. If the ammo is right one can get far. Let's get creative with what we have near us and our surroundings. Let's give the Sith a warming welcome..." And with that she shut off her comm.-link once more, as soon as Varn had responded, to return it to her pouch, only to have her left hand release her blaster pistol from its holster, ready, as her right hand had a firm grip on her vibrosword hilt.

[Varn Badaash]

Alpha team stood resolute on the LP outer wall as the first of the Sith vessels met snow. They weren’t many but their presence along with the warming aura brought on by the Jedi gave the local troopers hope. Unfortunately for everyone there the first vessel to land was the one housing their worst nightmare. The stories told of the one known as Darth Tormentous paled in comparison to actually seeing him and feeling the hellish aura his presence gave off.

The Rangers knew their enemy and were trained by the Jedi on how to resist such emotional and mental attacks but even so some began to shake. Everything suddenly became more clear, more serene as a wave of defiance washed over the soldiers. The Rangers yelled orderers to the local troops and began to rain laser fire down on the encroaching band of Sith. The response to their red and green barrage was horrendous as destructive lightning arched across the wall around the front gate. Men and woman dove for cover but many weren’t so lucky as they were launched from the walls as fried husks.

The corner watch towers who were currently safe from the Sith’s electrical storm turned their repeater cannons towards the destructive forces and began to unload on them. The Rangers ordering the laser fire to focus on the two who were currently using the Force in hopes of slowing down their direct approach.

Varn was crouched amongst the Listening Posts comm-dishes, his rifle in hand. His natural resistances gave him both an advantage and disadvantage in the current battle. He did not feel the same dreadful aura that his allies were being torn down by but he also didn’t feel the warmth of Kenobi’s meditation as strongly. The only thing that gave him hope was his training and his ability to see the Master Jedi that had once saved his life. The Dashade’s focus was on the front gate, unfortunately at current the wall gave the Sith some cover from his snipe nest so he waited, ready to give the Sith a surprise once they broke through the first line.

His earpiece crackled to life and was filled with Miss Swann’s concerned and warm voice. He was glad to have Kenobi’s apprentice with them and knew that she could be the difference between life and death this day. “We will stand resolute m’lady, we will do everything in our power to make sure as many lives as possible are saved this day, the Sith made a mistake thinking they could just march in here and we’d just bend over.” The comms went silent again before crackling to life with the commands and updates being spilled through the open channels.

At this point the Sith military’s was beginning to land and the Alliance soldiers that protected the other walls began to have battles of their own tho currently not as deadly as the one happening at the gate.

[Annan Rainwalker]

"Since the beginning of time, darkness thrives in the void, but always yields to purifying light."
— Journal of the Whills 1:1
Soundtrack: Tessa

MC90 Liberty
Hyperspace, en route to Rhen Var

The command bridge was darkened and battle-ready as Jade Winters arrived, the turbolift doors swooshing shut behind her. The solemn and resolute Admiral Valark was already standing in the center of the chamber, hands clasped behind his back, eyes on the main viewscreen, which had calculations displayed in blueprint wireframe over a magnified external view of the Tobali system.

Aware of the reverential glances of the multiple Alliance officers who manned the standard five consoles about the periphery of the wide space, arrayed on raised platforms facing centrally, Jade strode to the middle of the bridge exuding a charismatic confidence that could only emanate from a seasoned Jedi Master like herself. Her very presence seemed to fill everyone around her with renewed vigor. Their typing ticks suddenly got louder, more energetic.

Valark stood even straighter as she stopped beside him, something which had, a moment prior, seemed impossible, she thought with a slight smile.

"How are we coming along, Admiral?"

"I took your advice, and recommendations from Ops and Tactical, into consideration before ordering the launches. A grand total of seventy-two XJ wings in six flights form our Strike Wing Esk. A grand total of seventy-two Y-wings, also in six flights, forms our Bomber Wing Isk, flanked on either side by a single squadron of E-wing interceptors, Hornet Squadron, and a single squadron of B-wing assault starfighters. These constitute our vanguard, preceding us to Rhen Var. Their ETA for realspace reversion at the Tobali system, zero-zero-zero-five galactic standard hours," the curt Admiral responded. "For the rest of us, zero-zero-thirty hours. Our remaining complement of squadrons shall be strategically deployed when we reach there. However, I fully expect our reinforcements to hold until we revert."

The trace of a smile slowly faded from Jade's face, her eyes taking on a faraway look as she began her silent meditation.

_________________________

<Drop, two minutes to reversion,> Annan reminded his astromech from behind his helmet, the vocoder modulating his voice into his distinctive, vaderesque bass. The droid in question twittered back an acknowledgment. Pulling himself straighter, the Jedi prepared himself for his XJ-wing's deceleration. Centering himself in the Force, with a few short breaths, he released his stomach-lurching anticipation and anxiety into the Ethereal Light. With trained ease, he focused on the here and now, concentrating on his objective and not worrying about anything else.

<One minute. Drop, bring weapons on-line and arm the torpedoes,> he would not take any risks. The Force was blaring around his head. They had to go in 'hot' and all of them knew it. <Everything reads green - excuse the pun,> Annan gripped the control column tightly. <Alright, Drop. Bring us out.>

The astromech twittered back in affirmative as the endless blue clouds and the swirls of the chaotic, extradimensional lighting of hyperspace streaked into fine points falling as distant stars against the darkening backdrop of realspace. Rainwalker glanced to his right, seeing, to his relief, Krysulla and Enders appearing at his starboard side, the latter waggling her fingers at him in jest. Suh-Merz and Muunilles took up their positions towards his port side. He could see the remaining squadrons deployed pop up as bright dots on his heads-up display, even as he could sense them through the Force. They had all made it.

Not a moment later, Green Leader's voice lit up in the comms. "Green Leader to Strike Wing Esk Leaders. Call in and verify," she ordered. Immediately, the static on the comms was replaced with life.

"Viper Leader to Green Leader. Standing by, with flight."

"Red Leader to Green Leader. Standing by, with flight."

"Hawkeye Leader to Green Leader. Gotta say I'm so proud o' ya, sistah! Totally in one piece, with ma' homies."

"Hawkeye Leader, kindly desist your idiocy. White Knight Leader to Green Leader. Standing by, with flight."

"Ooh, that hurt!"

"Rimfire Leader to Green Leader. Standing by, with flight."

"Green Leader to Strike Wing Esk. Form up to surround our bomber wing per Formation Krenth," The mirth in Green Leader's voice was palpable through both the Force and on the comms, being met with a round of concord. "Green Leader to Green Flight. Call in," she ordered next, this time on the interflight comm signal.

<Green Two, standing by,> Annan responded immediately, then waited as all twelve of his flight had called in.

"Green Leader to Green Flight. We're taking up fore. Form up, lock S-foils in attack position," Green Leader commanded. "We are going in hot, Green Flight. Accelerate, full speed towards Rhen Var."

Annan closed his eyes and reached out, towards the rapidly enlarging planet before them. Immediately, he recoiled, blue eyes snapping open behind his helmet, his starcraft jerking as he pulled the control column a little too hard out of shock, before he quickly stabilized it.

The unadultered malevolence, that bottomless void of darkness and vainglorious bloodlust that had been Padawan Rainwalker's boogeyman so long ago, back when he had been but a hot-headed, juvenile apprentice. He had only come close to this cesspool of rancour once, before a successful hyperspace jump had ensured his survival. He had, fortunately, never even met the monster that projected it, yet it had been his very first encounter with the Dark Side. Annan distinctly remembered losing many nights of sleep to nightmares induced by the ethereal impact of his fledgling encounter with the Darkness.

Annan had faced many Sith since then. He had faced Darth Blood himself in mortal combat, yet he had dreaded neither that maniac nor the rest of his ilk. Vile as they were, they were also quite puerile. Some even made Annan laugh.

Not this one though. This one, Annan Rainwalker truly feared.

<... Tormentous...>

_________________________

Rhen Var
Tobali system, Thanium sector

Firesprays and Skipray Blastboats hitherto let loose upon the frozen heavens of the ice world would suddenly start having their work cut out for them. Certainly, they started blowing up at far higher rates than previously, as the concentration of Jedi and Alliance fighters and bombers in the skies of Rhen Var seemed to have suddenly quadrupled. X-wings let loose red laser-fire and proton torpedoes upon the Sith starfighters and bombers even as the relatively slower Y-wings dropped out of the sky to take out a Sith dropship or two every now and then, the Alliance ground artillery suddenly finding the aerial support they had been in such dire need of.

"Gold Leader to Gold Flight. Nuke these filthy gravediggers outta orbit!!!"

The vanguard had arrived.

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Task Force Liberty (15 Capitals)

Rhen Var planetary extrication force (10 Capitals)

CGS Pale Horse (CEC Corellian Gunship)
CR90a Pale Rider (Cr-90 Assassin Corvette)
M/STRK Midnight Run (Modified Loronar Strike Cruiser)
MC30c Startide (MonCal-30c Frigate)
MC30c Reef Home (MonCal-30c Frigate)
MC40a Destiny (MonCal-40a Light Cruiser)
MC80b Maria (MonCal-80b Medium Cruiser)
MC90 Liberty (MonCal-90 Heavy Cruiser) {fleet flagship}
NBEF Redemption (Nebulon-B Escort Frigate)
STRK Solaris (Loronar Strike Cruiser)

Complement:

Assault Wing Herf (B-wing) (3 Squadrons) [1 squadron presently on Rhen Var]
Bomber Wing Isk (Y-wing) (6 Squadrons) [6 squadrons presently on Rhen Var]
Interceptor Wing Dorn (E-wing) (6 Squadrons) [1 squadron presently on Rhen Var]
Strike Wing Esk (XJ) (6 Squadrons) [6 squadrons presently on Rhen Var]
Interceptor Wing Aurek (A-wing) (3 Squadrons)
Strike Wing Aurek (XJ) (2 Squadrons)
Heavy Assault Group Dorn (2 Squadrons)
Liberty Transports (1 Squadron)

Ossus planetary defense force (5 capitals)

CR90a Ciaphas (Cr-90 Assassin Corvette)
MC80a Prideful Star (MonCal-80a Medium Cruiser)
MC90 Fair Wind (MonCal-90 Heavy Cruiser) {flagship, temporarily assigned}
NSBC Glory (Neutron Star Bulk Cruiser)
TPF Gallant (Titan Patrol Frigate)

Complement:

Assault Wing Herf (B-wing) (3 Squadrons)
Interceptor Wing Aurek (A-wing) (3 Squadrons)
Strike Wing Aurek (XJ) (4 Squadrons)
Heavy Assault Group Dorn (1 Squadrons)
Liberty Transports (1 Squadron)

[Silas Karn]

Moraband broke from its hyperspace travels to properly group the fleet for arriving at its final destination. It was during this respite that Sovereign sought to form an advance strike team in order to more properly assess the situation. With barely more than a few signals three of the warriors that had arrived with the High Priest were swiftly allocated starfighters to accompany him. Departing the mighty vessel Sovereign plotted the final jump while awaiting for the warriors to signal their readiness. Once granted, Sovereign’s defender burst from sight for what only seemed like moments before witnessing the massive skirmishes surrounding Rhen Var.

Some swift scans would soon reveal what the High Priest could already feel, the Sith were outnumbered. “Join the others, prioritize already damaged targets.” Not but a few cold tones across the com-channel were granted in response acknowledging the priest’s orders. “It’s almost as if they don’t trust you,” Nil chimed in as the Sovereign turned his attention elsewhere. Quite unlike most practitioners of the Force the High Priest did not employ the Force to aid in the piloting of his ship. Instead, when the deposed Echani Lord called upon the living waters of the ephemeral it was to employ the peerless senses to which he had attained (Sense Force User).

Thanks to the successful raid on Kashyyyk alongside Kenobi’s near omnipresent meddling the priest would have been a fool not to make absolutely sure a counter strike against such numbers was not bolstered by such a foe. Seeking the strongest, most stalwart mind of those assembled it would surely fall to an adept Sovereign had yet to meet face to face. However simply tracing the flow back to the entity most wholly dependent upon its presence in order to eliminate it with a dog-fight would not satisfy. Sovereign sought a much more personal engagement. Allowing the three starfighters to precede him Sovereign allocated fifty percent of his rearward shielding forward while slowly increasing the throttle toward the TIE Defender’s maximum velocity. The mere presence of the Sith would likely aid the High Priest in drawing out his target, further tightening the hold Sovereign would hold over the field.

Unlike the swift exodus of fighters it took several long minutes to properly group and plot final trajectories for the remainder of the fleet. All told it would take a little longer than half a standard hour for the ships to reach their destination. During this period Sovereign would lack any additional reinforcements. Yet the efficiency to which the fleet arrived and most particularly the timing there of was of critical importance.