Fall of Tion

[Master Buggie]

**Hyperspace, Perlemian Trade Route**
**Cresh Fleet**
**Keldabe-class Battleship The Azure Wind**

The massive transparisteel viewports of The Azure Wind 's bridge were rendered opaque once the fleet had been ordered to hyperspace. Admiral Anak Idris was many things; cerebral on one side, ruthless on the other. She held few superstitions, but she wasn't willing to risk the entire bridge crew going into hyper-rapture by viewing the swirl and flashing lights of hyperspace. It was an easy precaution to take, in her estimation. There was nothing that the mortal mind could comprehend taking place outside the viewport anyway.

The communications officer called out that the fleet was receiving an incoming hypercomm transmission from the detachment that had been dispatched to Ossus. Admiral Idris ordered that it be patched through to the holoprojector a few strides away, and took the message. All of this was made possible though the private HoloNet infrastructure that the Blue Star Pirates had spent decades developing. Idris mused that the Hutt Cartel would pour salt over their mothers to have just a fraction of the infrastructure that the Blue Star Pirates had access to. As the projection of a Zeltron captain came up on the holoprojector, Admiral Idris ordered them to report.

The detachment that had been sent discovered through long-range scans that no warships remained in orbit. The last reported information that Cresh Fleet had been transmitted reported Task Force Liberty's location in orbit over Ossus. Their absence now confirmed earlier reports of the Galactic Alliance fleet crossing the Perlemian for destinations unknown. Admiral Idris processed the report and decided that there seemed to be more to uncover. She gave a brief order for the detachment to hold position near Ossus and send a squadron each to Rhen Var and Galidraan. Perhaps there the fleet could gather a few more scraps of information as to what the Alliance was pursuing.

For the rest of Cresh Fleet, they continued to march onward toward their next waypoint.

[Jacobi Wylcott]

---RHEN VAR - LISTENING POST

The gates of the listening post’s front wall gate free and unnaturally crumpled like a waffer of tissue paper under the command and immense willpower of the Dark One. It was buffeted by the horrendous screech of too much steel being tortured so badly. With but the flick of his hand those gates came off and the Dark Lord of the Sith moved into the compound using the torn up gates as a shield against aggressive fire. As his proximity to the defenders decreased so did his waves of darkness increase upon them. Those brave souls or ones still foolish to have remained standing were now assaulted by the unabated full power of his aura and it was unlikely many save for the strongest of will could remain.

His senses expanded into the compound now and he noted that the defenders morale was impressive despite their circumstances. This was curious indeed. To complicate things more the men still on the walls were able to not only stand their ground amidst a torrent of Warvanus’ lightning attacks but also in the face of several Sith Razorfighters strafing the compound and Skipray Blastboats making violent torpedo runs on key structures - whats more those still on the walls were firing down on the landing forces of the Sith and reaping an impressive toll.

Something was amiss and if this continued then the Sith attackers would risk suffering too many losses too soon. It would damage their staying power and they’d have to drop the second wave too early. This simply would not do. Tormentous’ eye scanned the falling snow as it cascaded down upon the multitudes gathered here - his senses extended until he felt the bright aura and radiant visage of the one responsible for keeping the hopeless defenders from routing. That dead right eye fell upon the distant and kneeling form of none other than Ben Kenobi.

Darth Tormentous spat a violent curse. The Jedi Master Kenobi was the single most renowned Jedi in the known galaxy. Despite the Jedi Coalition not treating him as was his due, the Master was a living legend. Where Tormentous was the nightmare of the galaxy, Kenobi was the great symbol of hope. No wonder the defenders were still holding their ground despite impossible odds, they were barred by Kenobi himself. Tormentous raged but he did not blindly collapse from his anger - it focused him as he fed off his own high emotions which granted him even more strength, focus and power.

Without hesitation he took the massive tonnage of steel and hurled it at high speed at the communications dishes. If anything he would eliminate their ability to communicate with their additional forces that were coming to help them. A lack of coordination would be imperative as the Alliance wouldn’t know where to land their forces properly. Without the intelligence as to where to reinforce a carrier could drop in a bad location and their cargo could miss the engagement entirely or even land in the crosshairs of Sith guns and get cut down.

He’d thought about casting the steel at Kenobi but in this he was playing the long game. He could deal with the Jedi himself, knocking out communications was a strategic goal that would pay off in the long run.

Now without the gates to bar the fire - blasts began screaming in at him. At once the five Sith Warriors began receiving the fire but as Sith they were not disciplined soldiers and soon they would move forward and break the line in search of their own personal glory and Tormentous would not stop them for in the end he did not need their protection - to have five Sith Warriors running amok within the outpost would be a guarantee for many dead Alliance and untold damages to their little base here.

Darth Tormentous stalked forward, Alliance Soldiers took up firing positions to cut down the Dark One before he could take another step. But as the red bolts came at him, he delivered unto them an explanation that this foe was far beyond them. Reaching over his shoulder his gauntlet clasped down upon the leather bound hilt of Jidai Maras. As soon as the connection was made the Dark Side of the Force cried out in glee and bliss as the Darkness unfolded around him. It swamped his foes and devoured their high spirited morale. The Sword of the Damned screamed out of its clasp from his back as he swept it out and bisected the nearest two men, his free hand caught a blaster bolt and bounced it right back at his attacker, he moved with incredible speed just wading into the Alliance Soldiers and felling them like grass to the scythe. Men cried out in terror as he came at them and there was nothing that they could do to stop him.

It angered him that the Alliance would send such chaff to stand in his way. How dare they suspect these men could hold him back even for the briefest of moments. The arrogance of it was astonishing and it just angered him all the more.

Tormentous and the five Sith Warriors parted the defenders who had been too slow to fall back. The fools had thought themselves capable of holding the line - they paid with their lives as Tormentous and his five left a trail of bodies in their wake.

As he marched through men he swung and one ducked away, rolled and shot at him. He was forced to take pause to redirect the shot with his sword lest he be shot. Then it was that he recognized the outfit and gear of the Jedi’s militia corps - the Antarian Rangers. These men were the best of the best. What a shame they would die for such a pithy cause. Had he been anyone else perhaps the Rangers could have properly fought him - because he was who he was the man was granted this instant of defiance before Tormentous sent him screaming to oblivion.

The Ranger was caught by the Force and crushed straight down into the snow and as Tormentous passed by him he nonchalantly swept his sword down and relieved the Ranger of his head which he then brought up and cast the decapitated head forward to land in front of the Jedi pair that still had yet to involve themselves in the melee.

Their advance was slowed drastically by the Battle Meditation and a pair of towers that were literally lighting up the attacking Sith troops, but the Dark Lord and his five Warriors swept in without pause - and even then the War-Bringer was yet to begin his own path of destruction. The Alliance wasn’t routing - they would die to the last man for their insolence.

---RHEN VAR - AERIAL SKIRMISH

The Lord of the Warhound had originally sent one wing of Razorfighters and one wing of Skipray Blastboats with one squadron of Firesprays carrying troops here to Rhen Var. Against the paltry forces of the listening post they were unmatched and essentially in the clean up phase of shooting down the rest of the Alliance fighters. But with the sudden arrival of additional Alliance Navy Starfighters the scales weren’t just balanced even but tipped into the Alliance’s favor as they too had sent two wings with two supporting squadrons. The dogfight above Rhen Var had become a hail storm of explosions, crashing fighters and stray bolts falling to earth.

Razorfighters were overwhelmed with their mission of aerial superiority and they could not fully defend the Sith Firesprays which were dropping troops in flight groups of four. Down on the ground the second flight group of Firesprays had just landed and were dispensing their Dawn Patrol contents when a flight group of Y-wings from Gold Squadron strafed one ship and nailed the other with warheads.

The Firespray hit with warheads erupted in a fireball and took its entire squad with it, the strafed Firespray launched back off the ground and flew back into the dogfight but not without leaving behind half a squad of wounded and killed ground troops. From this point on the landing forces of the Sith would have to be more cautious as they attempted to land additional forces - otherwise their stationary Firesprays would fall victim to the predatory and very veteran Y-wing Bombers.

Of the hit flight group two Firesprays launched back off the ground without unloading their troops, they’d have to circle back around and attempt the drop again, their decision to take back off and circle around had saved them from being hit hard like their counterparts had been.

Then it was that a single jet black TIE Defender with three escorting fighters dove down into the aerial skirmish over Rhen Var - it seemed perhaps the Sith aerial situation wasn’t as dire as perhaps it was made to be seen.

[Kell Sangros]

One of the Firesprays that had been unleashing its arsenal on the listening post would unleash its instruments of death before doing a pass to circle aroun and repeat. The firespray was flanked with one of the razorfighters, the Firespray had made another approach it had unleashed a proton torpedo towards the listening post. It was not dead on but it was close to one of the sniper-nests the Alliance had setup, the Torpedo was followed with a volley of fire from the Razorfighter for added good measure aiming for one of the communication dishes.

=Listening Post Gate=

Tormentous was not the only one who picked up on the resiliency of the Alliance. It had felt unnatural to him, and he recognized it as once, he recognized it because he knew the technique he had learned it during his apprenticeship. It was one he could counter but to do so would require taking him out of the assault.

“Battle Meditation” he had muttered.

He had to give the Alliance this they were fighting the good fight, which made them good adversaries, the listening post was ripe with fear but also determination and valor. Warvanus would grant them the death they deserved. Win or Lose Warvanus would be triumphant, this was his element, and this was his domain. Not Rhen Var but the battlefield, it had been one of the few instances where the War-Bringer the Lord of War felt at home. He was not sure if Tormentous had heard him or not he knew that his Master knew as well, as he had made his move to the gate at which the War-Bringer ended his lightning assault. He looked up at the wall and he grinned a little grin. For the briefest of moments he observed the fighters, the defenders on the wall. It was glorious. He breathed in the air of the battlefield, and now it was time for him to act.

He drew upon the Force to boost his leap it was enough to land on the wall (Force Jump) and into the thick of the fray. His movements were fluid as if he was doing a dance. He had landed near a trio of Alliance soldiers. He threw a side kick to one, sending him off the wall, he knew it was not a fatal fall. One came at him from behind which he threw a back kick, and then using the troopers own energy against him had casted him as well off the wall. The third trooper had opened fire at Warvanus With the use of the Force (Absorb/Dissipate Energy) he redirected the fire back towards the trooper and his allies. One of the bolts was a near miss which distracted the trooper long enough for Warvanus to throw a front kick sending him to the ground as the trooper who was being bolstered by Kenobi’s Battle Meditation would not quit as he rose to his feet again. He followed it with mid hook kick to the gut, and like the others Warvanus had casted him from the wall. He would not end them, he would leave it to the Sith Warriors and Troopers that were well into the thick of it by now.

Warvanus continued his advance, he could sense his Master below. He could feel the bright inferno through the Force that was the Jedi Grand Master. He had met the infamous Jedi Master on two occasions, the first as a collaboration, the War-Bringer’s folly, the second time had been in battle as adversaries when he had sprung a Force deaf Tormentous from its clutches. Warvanus had grown even stronger since that encounter. He had also felt other presences that told the War-Bringer they had some degree of knowledge in the Jedi Arts but to what extent he did not know. A trio of Alliance troopers came upon him, He reached out with the Force and wrapped those invisible fingers around the man’s throat, as a audible crunch could be heard the man dropped dead. (Force Choke) The second one, he had crouched to avoid a blaster shot aimed at him, While crouched he drew his dagger from his boot. And moved in on the one in front of him while crouched he drew the dagger across the upper inner thigh of one of the men, he knew he had cut an artery and the man began losing blood at a rapid rate. Warvanus grinned and then rose from the crouched position and threw the dagger at the one who was behind him the same one who took a blaster shot at him, the knife had missed but it bought Warvanus precious seconds for him to draw and activate his Lightsaber. The trooper shot again using a mid level block he re-directed the blaster shot back to the man aiming high, he was hit in the face with the shot. He was not dead not yet but unable to see he was screaming his arms flailing as he fell off the wall. He had been wearing a helmet so he was unsure on the extent of the injury. He did not care it was another fly dealt with.

Warvanus saw someone off a bit of the way from him. He did not recognize the young burnette woman, but through the Force he could feel Eve’s resolve, the Force and her fear. Fear that felt pushed aside, mentally pressed down. She did indeed possess Jedi training. He drew on the force and levitated the bleeding trooper and then with the push of his mind hurled him in Eve’s direction. She would if she could have the choice to soften his fall and heal him or deal with the Sith and let the man bleed to death. Warvanus continued his approach along the wall, his senses open to the Dark Side his mental shield raised (Force Shield) and his activated lightsaber at the ready. He took another breath, yes he indeed felt alive, even stronger when in the midst of battle.

[Ben Kenobi]

The snows were ice cold, but they ran red with blood. The Sith were on the move and even though the defenders were giving up the fight of their lives, they were not capable to holding the line against Darth Tormentous. Maybe they would have been able to hold even then but then came Warvanus and his vicious intent cost the Alliance yet more lives. The situation on the walls had swiftly become untenable. Where they would have routed entirely and ran for their lives in fear they instead formed up firing lines by squad and ran cover to cover. When one squad got behind sufficient cover they would fire on the attackers with great volume to allow the next squad to bound to the next place of cover, be the cover a set of boxes, walls, crates, or even a crater blasted by the overhead bombing runs of the Sith Skipray Blastboats.

With this orderly withdraw back to the interior lines of defence the Alliance personnel took vastly fewer casualties than they would have had they dropped their rifles and ran wildly. It was this controlled withdraw that prevented the Sith from immediately capitalizing on their immediate gains.

Regardless though of the well drilled withdraw thanks to the Battle Meditations, the withdraw was still a morale boost for the Sith and they would obtain better positioning including their own cover. This would surely initiate a much more severe firefight between the two forces as an attacking foe from cover strikes at an entrenched defender.

Ben Kenobi remained in place, kneeling in the snow. He was completely shut off from anything going on around his immediate area which was dangerous. But it gave everyone under the Alliance banner a better fighting chance against the Sith. He could feel the danger as it encroached upon Evelyn and as the great enemy tried to attack her morale by casting a decapitated head at her and then a horribly wounded man, her resolve would not crack under this pressure. Evelyn Swann’s natural determination was already incredible, with Ben’s meditation backing her up she would surely be unmoved.

Just as the battle seemed to be evening out in balance, a Sith Firespray flew in low and fired warhead salvos at the defending towers. There was little time to react and less that anyone could have done. The Firesprays left behind them two towers burning and dead men within. One tower collapsed and fell across the walls to the exterior. The other tower crumpled straight down, crushing defenders inside.

Without the superior elevation with which they could fire down and snipe at the attacking Sith, another advantage had slipped out of the Alliance’s grasp. With dwindling manpower and strategic limitations, the defenders of the Listening Post were being pushed back whether they wanted it or not. Honestly the only hope to defend was in the Antarian Rangers. Though where one tragedy would befall the Alliance, they would receive a boon.

Coming in from the star struck skies came two full wings of Alliance Starfighters. T-65XJ X-wings flew down and engaged the Sith Razorfighters who were previously running wild without opposition. BTL-A4 Y-wings drove down into the enemy and struck at vulnerable targets and even punished the landing Sith troops. E-wing Interceptors screamed in at breakneck pace to harry the enemy bombers and support where they were needed all while the graceful form of the A/SF-01 B-wings as heavy fighters brought down the hammer and struck foe after foe down while providing the ground forces the air support they finally needed.

Morale skyrocketed for the defenders at this point as a pair of B-wings shot overhead putting down an enemy fighter, the men on the walls fist pumped and cheered at the passing. Already a request for CAS (close air support) came in from the command center for a flight of B-wings to come down and drop some heat behind the gates where Tormentous had just gone through; the call wasn’t on Tormentous specifically because he was within friendly lines and any strafing run would kill many more Alliance personnel than it would the Sith so instead the focus was on the gateway where the Sith forces would soon be pouring through in the wake of their Lord.

[Varn Badaash]

The Sith were pressing hard and tearing through what Alliance troopers that couldn’t fall back. For many there this was the living embodiment of Hell and if it wasn’t for the Jedi they would have broken already. As Alpha team called for the front line to pull back the second line of defenders rose from their positions to provided covering fire and give the encroaching enemy new issues to think about.

The Sith cultists would soon begin to feel the pleasant warmth of the Alliance heater systems that had been placed along the path, this was far from unusual on an ice world such as this. Little would they know though that they had all been set up for a different purpose on this day. A few of the Beta team rose up and fired off a few shots that were not aimed at the Sith but instead at these heating units and shortly after a series of small explosions lit up the area around Tormentous’ protectors causing sudden chaos for the Sith. The opportunity was seized by rest of the troopers who concentrated fire on who were meant to protect the Dark lord. Amongst the laser fire was blasts of shrapnel that if the Sith tried to deflect would merely cause the shrapnel to super heat before hitting there targets.

Varn watched the ensuing chaos of the battle below waiting for his opportunity to attack. His scope was trained on the Dark Lord but the shot was still blocked by the remains of the front gate. This suddenly changed but not for the better as the Dashade watched the ball of durasteel come flying in his direction. Varn cursed in his native tongue for not bringing more explosives with him before he dove from his perch on the dish. The steel ball crashed into the main support and the sound of metal stressing filled the air. The dish twisted and bent but did not crumble to the ground for now, as long as the fighter were kept back and the Dark lord distracted the dish would be able to be easily repaired after the battle was over but for now their long distance communications were crippled.

Varn slammed into the snow below as several metal fragments from the door sprayed around him. If he couldn’t provide cover fire from above he’d needed to get in the fight down here. The dark grey alien dashed across the ice and snow arriving shortly at Evelyn’s side. He gave the Jedi a curt nod, glancing briefly at Kenobi’s still form before raising his T-21 and taking several aimed shots at the encroaching Sith warriors. Thanks to the Dashade’s natural disconnect from the Force his attacks would bypass some of the Sith’s defenses giving him a slight edge as long as they were at this distance.

[Evelyn Swann]

Everything in front of Evelyn was heated chaos more or less. Smoke from burned corpses and ground underneath the snow, not to speak of flying snow from the blasts of firepower all around her as snow continued to fall naturally as well. Even though the brave men and women of the Listening Post were still fighting and doing their utmost to stand their grounds, the Sith seemed to just move through them like they were nothing but weeds among poisonous plants. Every death, every life taken, sent big ripples of disturbances through the Force itself, and it took its toll on Evy's heart. But she also knew deep down that such was true war, and the brave people fought for what they believed in. They'd rather give up their lives fighting to the end than live in tyranny and enslavement. Her grip tightened around her vibrosword and her blaster as her hazel coloured eyes saw the Sith's determined direction. They were heading Ben's and her way. And the darkness emanating from them, as well as their eyes... All that evil... Had she met them before she had become a Jedi, Evelyn would have lost to her fear long ago, but not today. Her determination and peace within herself, made sure to keep her steadfast against their darkness and intimidating appearances. She would not bow down.

Reaching out through the Force, she began to locate the five Sith that had run in different directions to cause more chaos and death. So, at the moment they were seven Sith in total, with the two of them being much stronger than the other five. It was quite easy to sense through the Light Side of the Force. Evelyn had to be mindful about this. Her eyes scanned through the outpost of what was left and what was destroyed. The first defense was down, and with the Sith so swiftly cutting down the LP's fighting soldiers, Evelyn knew that she had to help them in a way. Then one of the Antarian Rangers' head was thrown at her way, and she could feel herself clench her teeth. These Sith cared not for anyone or anything but themselves and their own gains. How typical of a Sith. As the head was done rolling and came to a stop in front of Evy, she glanced at it for a second before directing her gaze back up at the Sith trying to toy with her mind. Really? She thought, shaking her head slowly. It was gruesome yes, but young Miss Swann had seen far worse on her travels. She had been to planets where this was a common thing each and every day because of the Empire. Sith was usually more messy yes, but she would not give in to such taunts. She knew better.

As if a head wasn't enough of a hosting gift, the other strong Sith upon the walls thought it was important to throw a bleeding trooper her way at high speed. Per mere instinct, the young woman swiftly dropped her weapons to the side as she twirled to easily get her grey-ish robes off, the snow that had fallen on her now gone as she tied one arm to one of the tables near her. Just as the bleeding trooper came right at her, Evy moved and grabbed hold of the other side of her robes. The trooper's speed caused her robes to tear in the lower end, but nothing that couldn't be fixed. The most important thing was that the trooper's deadly flying had been taken care of and he was lying unconscious on the ground on top of her Jedi robes. She could sense through the Force that he was dying. She knew they had done this on purpose. Were they trying to test her resolve? If so she'd say bring it on. They had a thing coming if they'd think for just a moment that she could only do one thing. She was not there to look pretty, Miss Swann was there to defend and she would do so with her life on the line if she had to.

Looking up when she heard the Alliance Starfighters, she couldn't help but smile. It would seem that when it came to troops the odds had evened out more. That was a start. Not to speak of the warm shrapnels from the exploded Alliance heater systems. She was proud, they used their environment to their advantage. But they were not done. As if the Force had granted her the best timing so far, Varn came rushing to her side giving a respectful nod which she returned before signaling another Antarian Ranger nearby to join them and help the wounded trooper behind her and Varn. Like the Jedi, Antarian Rangers usually had a bacta shot or medical pack of some sort in their pouches attached to their belts. One couldn't prepare enough when it came to battle and war.

The young Padawan then saw that the Sith were targeted by different positions, and she thought that now was the right time. Closing her eyes, she called upon the Light Side of the Force, helping her to move through the outpost with her mind's eye, going out further, stretching her mind to get more specific positions on the five Sith roaming around taking incoming fire already as well as the Dark One himself. There! Grabbing her comm.-link still focused with her eyes closed, she quickly asked the Fire Hounds to release the package on certain locations within the Listening Post itself, making sure they would not make mistakes of friendly fire as the troopers were already behind the second line now and needed just another small boost against the damaging warriors.

Some of the defensive AA guns guarding the Command Center as it was one of the most important locations of the outpost, was moved in position, filled with sharp tools that Evelyn had gathered earlier. Now was the time to use them, to give the Sith a bit of an annoying distraction so they could try and even the odds just a little more. The AA guns released fire and out came all kinds of sharp tools ready to inflict damage upon those whom would be careless enough to ignore them. The two guns switched between firing in order to refill with the nasty things that one thought to only use for repairs. Everything could be used.

Opening her eyes once again, Evelyn Swann took a step to the side to kneel and grab hold of her weapons lying in the falling snow. She aimed at the Sith, her sword ready as well. No matter what they tried, she would stand her ground and keep Master Kenobi safe. She and Varn would work together like they had done out in the freezing and merciless field. There would not be one moment where she would lose her attention on the Sith. They would not get to him, and that was that. She was indeed a very stubborn one, able to make things difficult for her enemies for starters.

[Annan Rainwalker]

"Fear is a disease; hope is its only cure."
— Journal of the Whills 21:617
Soundtrack: Last Jedi Trailer Music

MC90 heavy cruiser Liberty, en route to Rhen Var
Tobali system, Thanium sector

The Mon Calamari Operations Officer at the console at the right side of the Bridge turned around in his hoverchair. "Realspace reversion imminent, Captain."

The Captain in question merely nodded, trading a glance with Admiral Valark. Jedi Master Jade Winters opened her dark eyes finally, settling into position. Her meditations upon the Force had already disclosed many secrets; she was fully cognizant of the danger they were jumping into.

Five... four... three... two...

The raging blue violently dissipated as if having never existed as the streaks of light melted back into fireflies perched against the curtain of the void. Immediately, they were flanked starboard, port and aft by four cruisers, three frigates, a gunship and a corvette - Tactical indicated at the entire fleet had reverted successfully. Perhaps just to be sure, Valark spared a quick glance to his right, through the wide viewscreen at the piscatorial portside of the Alliance cruiser Maria which flew in close formation starboard of the Liberty.

"Ops, Tactical, status update!" Captain Antilles was almost shouting as the viewscreens lit up with tactical displays of the ongoing skirmish before them. The engaging starfighters were visible through the egg-shaped viewports of the Mon Cala cruiser against the icy brown backdrop of Rhen Var like moths dancing about a campfire.

"I detect multiple enemy fighters in orbit and planetside in the air, Captain," the Ops Officer began his debrief. "Our vanguard however, seems to have outnumbered them. Our fighters are holding their own."

"Where are the enemy fleet ships?"

"Scans are picking up none, just fighters, Sir."

"Why would...?" Antilles' eyes narrowed.

"Stay sharp. They're coming," Valark interrupted, speaking with an authority that could only come from experience. Sparing a glance at the Jedi Master, who nodded, merely confirmed what he already suspected.

"I'm picking up a transmission from the Listening Post," a blue-skinned Togruta communications officer perked up from the second-to-last console, left of the bridge, as she patched the transmissions she was receiving to the main bridge. "It appears our ground forces aren't faring as well, sir. The Sith forces outnumber ours, and have breached the outer perimeter. We've got Rangers down there, and... Jedi Master Ben Kenobi it would seem--" static, "I think we just lost a couple of communications dishes, Captain."

"Reestablish contact, Ensign! It's not like we have just two communications arrays down there," Captain Antilles barked out. "Hail the Solaris and tell her to send down the tanks alongside our Quick Response Unit, the First Vanguard, and mobilize all ground forces across the fleet!"

"Aye, Captain," the Ops officer acknowledged.

"Admiral," Masters Winters spoke up from Valark's side, causing the commanding officer to turn to her. "Master Kenobi is alone down there, I'm not presently sure if even his apprentice is with him, and I can sense, even from here, the vileness emanating from our multiple enemies. They outnumber the Jedi defenders," she paused, knowing that no more needed to be said.

"I would much prefer your motivating presence and your precious advice up here, Master Jedi, but if it is something that needs to be done..." He nodded.

Jade smiled at him. "You're more than capable of commanding your fleet even without our counsel, Admiral. In your extensive career you have brazened far worse odds many times before," she encouraged as she turned around, making her way back across the Command Bridge to the turbolift doors. "May the Force be with us all."

Valark closed his eyes and sighed. "Aye. We're sure as a quacking duck gonna need it."

Multiple dropships would subsequently be launched from the Liberty, the Maria, and the Solaris, carrying within them a complement of T1-B Hover Tanks, heavy tracked T3-B tanks, the forty Alliance Troopers that comprised the First Vanguard alongside ten Jedi, among them Jedi Master Jade Winters herself. The much-experienced and Jedi heavy Rimfire Flight from Strike Wing Esk, already in Rhen Var's orbit, was ordered to provide cover to the dropships, enabling their safe landing through the skirmish.
_________________________

Rhen Var, planetside
Tobali system, Thanium sector

Jelan Widom was many things. An Echani by birth, an Alliance starfighter pilot by choice and, having finally decided to do something useful with her Force-sensitivity, she had recently joined the Jedi Order, having only recently graduated Initiation. She had been declared a Padawan learner, but had yet to be assigned a master before her present call of duty had rendered her here on Tion, right in the thick of it. Presently, she would be known by her call sign, Grey Five, hailed as having the best reflexes in the entire Grey Squadron of B-wing assault starfighters that presently flew about the Rhen Var airspace, largely as a result of both her Echani heritage and her Force-sensitivity.

S-foils open, Jelon had sights on and her targets locked on a singular Firespray bombarding the Listening Post, pulling her B-wing into a three-sixty degree roll just fore of it. She reacted the moment it came back, along with its Razorfighter complement, for a circle run, pulling her stick to yank her B-wing above and behind it in a pitch, bringing in the range of its ion cannon.

A press of a button and the Firespray should be out of the sky. The Razorfighters would perhaps attempt to avenge their lost comrade, but were quickly engaged by Grey Three and Grey Seven as Jelon once again pulled a clockwise reverse barrel roll with reverse thrust, pulling herself away from the heat, feeling her duty done.

It was then that her heads-up display lit up with the CAS, and Grey Five entered formation with the rest of the squadron in response. She smiled slightly at the fist pumps they got from the friendlies down below as they swooped down and crossed the Gates. Bringing her assault starfighter near, Greys Two, Four, Six, Seven and Nine flanking her, they quickly rained scarlet down onto the Sith ground forces attempting to follow via Tormentous' breach of the Gates.

It was then she saw it, a sudden movement, out of the corner of her eye. Steel tonnage, multiple chunks, flying through the air at breakneck speeds. She reacted in literal moments, lending credit to the myth that Echani could predict their opponents' moves, pulling an almost ninety-degree snap reversal to peel away and bring the tonnage into her line of fire. The first two chunks of launched steel hit the two anterior communications towers, but the remainder were shot ablaze and away while still airborne by Lieutenant Widom's unrelenting crimson volley, saving the more posteriorly oriented communications arrays.

"Whoa, awesome save there, Grey Five!" she heard in the interflight comm and smirked.

"Thanks, Gold Leader," yanking her stick quickly, Jelon again pulled her fighter back towards the rest of Grey Flight, bombarding the Sith forces with cannon-fire and the occasional warhead, where warranted.
_________________________

Rhen Var, orbit
Tobali system, Thanium sector

Annan felt it. The powerful probe in the Force; someone was reaching out with their senses, searching, analyzing.

A new player.

Reaching out with the Force and following the probe back towards its origin, his nitid blue eyes quickly spotting the rapidly descending jet-black TIE defender. The sight of the vessel brought Annan back to his earliest days, at the Imperial Flight Academy, and he narrowed his eyes. They had just received word from the Liberty, not long after it had arrived in system, that their somewhat limited intel had suggested that Master Kenobi needed back-up; the strong-in-the-Force kind. He had been considering landing himself if that were the case, but now this complication had presented itself, and Annan knew he had to keep at least this one off Kenobi's back.

"Four bogeys, three around one, point-six-two," Annan commed the rest of his flight before easing his stick back to drop a little speed as he peeled away from the rest of his flight, before accelerating rapidly into a J-turn. His wingman, Greens Four, and Greens Three and Six quickly followed, understanding his intention to engage the hostile TIE defender.

Bringing the TIE/D within range of his targeting computer, the Jedi Knight let loose a hail of heavy laser cannon fire, intending to pull Sovereign off course and keep him airborne. His wingmen would proceed to engage the enshrouding Razorfighters in due course.

[Silas Karn]

***Warhound***

“How much longer until revision ensign?” The powerful voice of the Moraband’s captain boomed out across the bridge. “Five minutes sir,” the stern officer replied. The captain took a deep breath and then shouted orders, “Bring us to combat ready status. Everyone to their stations. I want communications coordinating the fighter elements the moment we arrive. Positioning is going to be key given our assignment. Should we fail in our charge, not a soul will need to worry about Darth Tormentous’s wrath.” The captain’s final remark made it clear that there would be no retreat once the fleet arrived.

***Rhen Var, Orbit***

It seemed the Sovereign’s efforts had been far more successful that he could have anticipated. The mere act of seeking out the adept had drawn their notice and brought their ship to bear upon the priest. Of course the mere act of destroying this pilot held little interest for the Sovereign. Rather as the High Priest drew closer to the practitioner he sensed an oddity that held far greater implications that some skirmish between two starships. ‘Such great power and yet it lacks the light. Perhaps this one is no Jedi?’ Such musings were swiftly interrupted as the XJ-Wing unleashed a torrent of heavy cannon laser fire.

“Evasive maneuvers recommended my lord,” the cold metallic monotone of the assassin droid warned. The former battlemaster’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the aggressive fighter through his targeting computer. Knowing his accompanying warriors would take to the pair of wingman the priest devised an alternative. With several swift manipulations the TIE Defender pivoted violently, spinning towards its starboard side as the Sovereign reduced his rearward shielding to its lowest setting. With half of its maximum output reduced the power was equally divided between augmenting the defender’s forward shields and its peak velocity.

Additionally, the High Priest managed to target lock the nimble XJ and unleashed a single concussion missile. The action did not come without consequence as even with the speed of his maneuvers Sovereign’s ship was engulfed with hostile fire. However, thanks to cycles of experience in piloting the priest managed to pass his attackers by, at immensely close range, only sustaining a twenty percent loss of forward deflector shield capacity and taking three well placed glancing shots to its port wings and lower frame.

“That should keep his attention long enough to make an impact,” Sovereign noted as he unloaded all four of his own heavy laser cannons on the nearest alliance fighter before cutting his engines and violently banking toward another target. Opening this next attack with the Defender’s twin Ion cannons Sovereign’s tenacity shown as he established the threat of his presence. After a torrent of laser cannon fire upon his final target Sovereign altered trajectory planet-side. The High Priest had assumed with the potent connection to the Force the XJ wing pilot had held the single missile would not end them pre-maturely and if it did they were not worthy of his attention.

“Take the reins Nil, it is time to set the stage.” As the assassin droid filled the role of pilot Sovereign reached out through the Force and attempted to touch upon the mind of the source of his interest. ‘Follow me, Fight me, save your allies.’ Sovereign granted a moment before adding ‘Refuse, and see their lives forfeit.’ (Telepathy) The depth of understanding would rely of the powerful acolytes own knowledge and connection to the Force. However, it was clear that if the Sovereign was not dealt with a great many lives would be lost.

[Master Buggie]

**Outer Rim Territories, Spadja Sector - R-5**
**Edge of Stenos System**
**Keldabe-class Battleship The Azure Wind**
Once the fleet had emerged from hyperspace and had been accounted for, Admiral Idris called for the comms officer to open up a tight-beam transmission to all Blue Star Pirate vessels. The fleet had assembled in some of the nearest territories of Imperial space that stretched toward the Perlemian Trade Route. Stenos, despite its proximity to the major hyperlane, was a relatively backwater world, with its most notable feature being the hieroglyphics etched into the walls of its cities. The Ithorian admiral intended to waste little time in this system.

"All vessels, stay on the Wind. This planet may have some antiquities, but they're not what we're after. There's richer spoils ahead, let's stay on our course and keep probing. Calculations for our next jump coming shortly; keep our route back stored in your navicomputer's memory banks, per standing orders. Azure Wind out," Idris announced, signaling to cut the connection as confirmations came in from each ship.

It wouldn't be long yet, as the fleet was traveling along known routes. Within minutes, the powerful navigation computers of The Azure Wind would have the next jump calculated and transmitted to each vessel in the fleet. The Stenos system was hardly worth the Empire defending by the admiral's estimation, and any token patrols would have to be far out of reasonable fuel range from Stenos itself to run across Cresh Fleet.

---
**Outer Rim Territories, Thanium Sector - R-6**
**Galidraan System**
**Galidraan, Far Orbit**
A squadron of StarViper-class attack platforms burst from hyperspace over the Galactic Alliance world of Galidraan. Finding nothing of interest around the most notable planet of the system, and seeing nothing register on the long-range scans deeper into the fringes of the system, the squadron made course for the rendezvous point at Draukyze and entered hyperspace.

---
**Outer Rim Territories, Thanium Sector - R-6**
**Tobali System**
**Rhen Var, Close Orbit**
The squadron leader of a group of StarViper-class attack platforms, not unlike the ones dispatched to Galidraan, counted down the reversion to realspace. Upon his ship's reversion to realspace, the rest of the squadron followed, and they emerged into the thick of the Galactic Alliance Task Force Liberty. Dropships streamed from the hangar bays of the heavy cruiser that had to be the task force's namesake and sensors reported numerous wings of fighters already engaged in orbit.

"Contact! Contact!" the squadron leader reported on the squadron-wide channel, "All fighters, evasive action-- we're on our way out. Rendezvous at Draukyze at all costs; we need to alert the admiral!"

[Jacobi Wylcott]

“Thirty seconds! On your feet! Rifles up!” Internal lights of the Skipray Blastboat snapped on red - the signal to get ready. As one his squad rose from their seats and checked their blaster rifles, the sounds of charging weapon platforms whistled to life one by one. Each soldier checked the gear of the man in front of him. But Varin ‘Skorch’ Nedine stood stoically and eyed each of his ten man team as he chewed on his unlit cigara stub. The red lighting reflected off his bald head and drained into the crevice of the burn scarring that covered the left side of his face due from eight long years of serving the Lords of the Sith Order. He had taken to these men and trained them, kept them sane from campaign to campaign - sure - more than half were replacements but each and every one was treated the same, as soldiers and champions of their caste.

Skorch held his own rifle and notched a knife kiss to the stock which added to his tally of twelve. Each mark represented a deployment, a hot drop into the sights of the enemies guns, a challenge overcome. This would be no different. His Lords desired this world of snow and ice to succumb to the greater power of the Order then he would ensure their will be done.

“When you hit the ground, keep moving forward. If you get lost - find me and rally. Keep. Moving. Forward!”

Time ticked down further and he observed the facial expressions of his men - they were worried yet confident. The nervous tensions of not knowing exactly what they were running into. He knew this look well, even held it himself once, now it didn’t matter, nothing really mattered save for the praises of his Lord and Master.

Turbulence ceased finally. The cabin pressure released and a vent of ice cold air shocked them all when the lights went green and the drop ramps fell into the snow only a split second after their Blastboat hit the snows of Rhen Var. “Move move move!” He cried and Skorch was the first man out - blaster fire immediately fell upon the landing craft in accurate sheets, he was burned more than twice in that moment and he heard a grunt behind him as no doubt one of his ten fell to hostile fire - he’d not know for sure as there was no time to turn around.

Skorch charged out into the falling snow. Flakes swamped his vision from the wash of the Skipray’s initial landing blasted a cloud of power into the air. Ahead of him one of the Skipray erupted in flames as the walled defenses challenged it with a rocket, the vulnerable landing craft stood no chance as she blew apart, burning screams of the men inside beat on the doors to get out - an intense heat rolled over him and he was forced face down into the snow drift, so hot was the explosion to him that the paint on his armor had bubbled and nearly caught fire. But his stumble was momentary as he was again on his feet and charging forward again.

Other landing Skipray were launching back up by now, one squad was taking cover and returning fire onto the walls from the burning tomb of their fellow Skipray. Ahead was the gates. And there HE was. Standing in the mid of the open fearless and unmoved by the fire sending bolts of red death - his liege and idol - Darth Tormentous himself. The Emperor of the Sith Empire. And he was ripping the gates down with his supernatural powers.

Awe stilled his feet as he took a knee and fired up into the upper walls to provide his Lord with covering fire. All around him his squad arrived and joined his fire to the walls. Then he was punched to the ground as Darth Warvanus himself, the Warhound Lord and War-Bringer, cast his hands up and dwarfed the Sith Soldier’s fire unto the walls - actual lightning fired from his fingertips and screams followed in his wake. It was awe inspiring.

The Sergeant climbed back to his feet and resumed his fire just as the War-Bringer leapt into the skies and onto the walls. Then the gates came off and were hurled like toys. Twin towers that were firing down and causing significant damage to the Sith landing parties erupted in flame and fire as overhead Sith Bombers screeched by.

Darth Tormentous moved in with his five Warriors screening him as he dominated the opposition. It was time - “Charge!” Skorch cried out and his squad was first into the breach! Each heart pounding step brought them further and ever closer.

That was when his world turned upside down. The height of exhilaration, following his Emperor into battle, ended bluntly as massive rifts of snow exploded into the air. Bolts of high powered cannons fire punched into everything around him - he was airborne - this he knew for certain. His men were gone, they’d not even had a chance to scream out in terror or dive for cover. They never saw the Alliance B-wings coming.

The last thing Skorch saw was the fist pumps of the dying pockets of defenders before his world went black forever.

---INNER WALLS

Darth Tormentous moved in swiftly. A five man team of security personnel stood in his way and he waded into them as if they were noting but chaff. Several shots ripped off at him and with sharp movements of his sword he slammed each attacking round away, even one into the general direction of the not too distant Jedi, whether it was accurate or not he wasn’t sure - he had more pressing things to attend to.

His first action was lightning fast and Jidai Maras was thrust into the chest cavity of the initial foe. Stepping into the thrust he sent his free elbow crashing into the impaled man’s face to dislodge him and cast him down into the red snow. The rest hesitated to not shoot their fellow - it had killed them all. With great speed he surged in and gripped one by the neck and squeezed - (Feed on Dark Side) with the Dark Side surging into his body and strengthening his every action he fed from their fears and he returned them full force - the man’s neck was crushed in a sickly display, his head cocking to the left unnaturally. He was still alive as Tormentous cast him into his friends. He punched out and collapsed another man’s eye socket before sending his massive sword through the right arm to bury itself in the chest. The severed man fell away gurgling and sputtering.

Then it was that the Force alerted him to impending danger. Around him were heater units, large barrel-like obstructions and they were pleasant enough to pass through - well they started to blow up as improvised explosives! Tormentous himself was very near one and had he not held the premonition of his senses of danger he surely would have been cast down hard - though with time to react he gripped the fourth and fifth foe to him and imposed the two terrified men inbetween himself and the detonations.

They screamed in pain as fiery shrapnel shotgunned them in the backs. Then another and another detonated. One was behind Tormentous and he felt the fire on his back as his proximity was near. Burning holes punched into his cape, shrapnel panged off his armor, a sharpness stung into the back of his neck - not anything near a killing or debilitating blow but once the adrenaline wore down he would have to dig the shrapnel out of the muscle. Another detonated and ahead it staggered one of his Warriors though failed to take him down fully, that glory came from the AA batteries that diverted from the Sith Starfighters to focus on the incoming attacking troops. An improvised arsenal of sharp things and nasty trinkets burst from the AA guns and rained down on the Sith Warriors and Tormentous.

The wounded Warrior - he only had time to look up before the shrapnel obliterated him. He rose to his feet clawing at his exposed face as nails and broken glass and all manner of horrific shot was in his face. His eyes were bloody ruin and his neck was red flapping meat. He finally hit the ground dead - victim of Antarian Ranger blaster rifles finishing him off.

Back behind Tormentous had their been survivors of the CAS they were struck harshly and left bleeding in the snow. To see grown men cry - it was a gruesome thing. Tormentous himself ripped the two wounded men he’d used earlier up and around to shield himself from the worst of the incoming shot. One man died instantly from the shot yet one was badly suffering. He cared not for these whelps and cast them away once the shot concluded. He was wounded and very - very - angry. The Dark Side of the Force brought his dead right eye to settle on the Jedi Padawan and his glowing yellow left too. His eyes accused her of half this trickery as the Force told him had originated from the she-witch. He started walking forward and he then noticed the massive Dashade - what a wondrous creature - his senses felt the alien yet could not truly sense it. A marvel truly. What a shame that it would die here before he could deliver it to the High Priest of the Sith, Sovereign, and have it dissected or experimented on. But it seemed that these two fools were standing in the way of the true goal - The Grandmaster of the Jedi - Ben Kenobi.

Another of his Warriors fell backwards and dead in the snow, victim of a combination of treacherous shot and Ranger fire. Three remained - one of the single blade wielders were down as well as the dual blade wielder. This left one carrying a lightstaff and two more single bladed Warriors remaining. Back behind them the Sith Soldiers were renewing their charge - this time though they weren’t solely concentrating on the gateway for entry and were scaling the walls where they were beginning to take up firing positions and use their first bit of real cover since this battle had begun. Indeed, this battle was far from over.

There would be no calls for the two to stand down, no issued challenges, no taunts - he was furious that these two pups would dare to defy him - he lifted the Jidai Maras to aim at first the Padawan’s heart. Lightning began to leap across the sword’s beautiful mirrored surface. Several arcs of lightning skipped from his sword and struck the ground around him, or metal which sparked and crackled in his wake.

Darth Tormentous’ fury was to be unleashed, these fools would suffer for it - all of it - and then he would have Kenobi’s head - finally.