Hunt for the Warhound

[Jacobi Wylcott]

---RAXUS PRIME

Commander V’lor waved his hand dismissively at the fresh contacts showing up on the screens. “The mighty Essence needs not worry about such trivial concerns. Continue moving towards that orbital station!” He commanded with mirth for the radar crew having brought to him such pithy matters. A trio of vessels had shown up on screen and analysis showed their vectors were zeroing in right on the Dreadnought. Her captain though was most uncaring - the warship had been in service for a long time and three tiny fighters were not enough to shake his faith in the craft. “Gunners, open fire on the station.”

“Sir, will we not risk our own men on the station?”

V’lor turned slowly to regard his first officer. “Well, yes. But we’ll hit theirs as well.” Swiveling back to the fore he added, “Attack.”

Vibrations rattled the ancient warship as her turbolasers began discharging their payloads. Massively powered armaments began slamming into the station melting swathes of armor plating and igniting brief fires along the decks before they were snuffed out by the vacuum of space. Chaos favored the attackers. If the defenders could not coordinate then their fates were sealed.

Lord Adaven stood silently at the forefront of the bridge. His black robes coiled around him and made still in his presence which made him appear as a statue. His eyes were closed shut - the Force flowing through him. ’What beacon of Light is this?’ He mused to himself - little did he know it was none other than a Jedi Master and his tag along troupe. Turning he briskly made his way to the comms deck and his voice boomed. “Send word to the Warhound. The Jedi have come to intervene.”

Down on the surface of the world the Sith Soldiers were getting more and more bogged down by the efforts of the Raxus natives. Not from the quality of the forces - but of the quantity. So many droids were coming out of literal scrap caves at every single corner, it was proving impossible to mark any offensive lines and the soldiery of the Sith were ready to collapse into a chaotic melee and free for all. The only shade of any cohesion at all were the scattering of Sith Warriors. The powerful lightsaber wielding fighters of the Sith tore through the ranks of the enemy though there numbers were terrifyingly few in comparison, many fell simply by being surrounded and gunned down.

Force Commander Cizer - Sith Lord and commander of the ground assault took pause in the slaughter and sent word back to the Essence “Goliath to Essence, first wave ineffective, initiate second wave.”

The squadrons of Firesprays assigned to raining down fire on the enemy ground forces continued to do so for to cease their fire would condemn what little beachhead that the Sith had paid such a price for already. Those Firesprays coordinating the troops vectored back towards the Essence where they would pick up the second wave of troops and direct them down towards the surface.

---WARHOUND COMMAND

Rushing towards Fleet Master Lidmor came a serf with wafer in hand. Delivering the parchment on bended knee the serf retreated back to its station. Lidmor took up the page and devoured its contents through visual inspection. Eyes snapping back up he viewed his liege and with respect approached. “My Lord. The Essence reports the Jedi have arrived. As well the first wave on the ground has failed to take purchase the world. A second wave is required.”

Darth Tormentous did not move away from his current task nor did he look to regard the Fleet Master. On his mind was not so much the ground assault. Such cases did not concern him - the Sith would not lose to native scum and scrap hoarders. Be it orbital bombardment or second waves or tenth waves. The cost did not concern the Sith. But it was the Jedi that piqued his interests.

“Ready my ship.” He boomed. Turning then he stomped his way from the bridge and towards the hangar. “Send word to the Sovereign as well and prepare his vessel. We shall attend Raxus Prime and put an end to the Jedi before their meddling takes hold.”

“At once my Lord. The Kings have returned, shall I update their screens?”

Tormentous was already outside the bridge when he answered the affirmative. Lidmor, Fleet Master of the Sith Armada bowed his head in supplication and called upon the Yellow Kings. “Update. Your Lord commands you to make haste to Raxus Prime. Orders shall be updated on your way.”

Finally Lidmor turned and strode to the Ops Center and pulled up his screens. “Ready Away Team Torch. Tell them that their mission plan is affirmed and they are to begin the next phase of the operation immediately.”

[Emic Lai]

“Our lord commands me, huh?” Emic remarked, quietly to herself. She made her way hastily back to the hangar where the cargo workers were finishing refueling. Two carried a case of ammunition into Seldom Quiet’s bay. Kings milled about, checking datapads, talking amongst themselves.

Emic grabbed her kepi off of her head and made a gesture to the Kings. “Load up. We’re outbound to Raxus Prime.” The Kings marched into the open door, pushing the two cargo loaders from the ramp before it closed, and the ship lifted into the air. The King of Kings sat down in the command seat and awaited orders, as Seldom Quiet sheared into hyperspace.

[Silas Karn]

“Well Nil I have quite the opportunity for you. The chance to indulge all the least savory of your personality quirks.” The assassin swiftly replied, “Rare for my lord to not claim such as his own. Where does this newfound generosity derive from?” The Sovereign all but cackled as he granted his reply. “Well it seems in his purging of several thousand slaves prior to Blood’s betrayal Tormentous was careful not to waste the supply of Verpine to whom he had previously captured personally.”

A moment’s silence followed before Nil continued the conversation. “So, then it follows that this allotment of Verpine need to be properly accessed and made ready for my lord’s….particular manner of experimentation.” The Sovereign allowed a vile grin as he confirmed the droid’s suspicion. “Indeed, and as I have enough projects already filling my time a degree of delegation is required. Unfortunate, but alas I can’t be the one to dirty my hands with such work as it seems my title has demanded my notice elsewhere and to far greater scopes.” Nil delighted in this new proposition, took the ship to the coordinates necessary to plot the jump that would carry the pair to this new undertaking. However, an alert sounded off across the highest priority channels.

“Lord Sovereign you are to deviate from your current course and make for Raxus Prime with all haste! Further details will be transmitted in the interim.” Silas narrowed his field of vision with the sparks of hatred looming at the edge of his consciousness, “Suppose we ignore this broadcast. What are the odds it will be seen merely as coincidence or a communication breakdown?” Nil was swift as always in its deliberations, “Next to none given to whom these orders likely originate. Of course with your unlikely to suffer long-term ramifications given your capacity in oration. Yet, given Warvanus’s death, you KNOW to whom gave the order my lord.” The High Priest fumed a moment at the change of plans before relenting. “Fine, I suppose there is no easy egress from this situation. Alter our target to Raxus. This had better be worth it!” It would take only moments for the efficient droid to pivot hyperspace coordinates. The pair soon vanished from sight with a new directive.

[Zechs Merquise]

From behind Sal’s voluptuous aft, the XJ burst forth, broke right, and engaged hostile targets of opportunity be they capital ship bound or a fighter, daring all eyes to look away to the b-wing and risk a swift end. A torrent of laser cannon fire unleashed in an instant. The fighter blazing through the vile chaos with the speed and grace of the very best and most modern of Alliance fighters. A fighter unrivaled even by the majestic TIE-Defender of old. A fighter made even better by the continuous tweaks from the droid behind Zechs. Firesprays never stood a chance, except in great numbers. And some numbers they currently had against the trio.

Currently. This was going to be fun.

The XJ spun tight on a petite axis. Deadly bolts of energy flew past her. Their light dancing across the recently waxed white accents of her frame. Breaking free, she arced back to cover the b-wing. The gentle rhythm from her engines ever steady ever calm despite the shifting vectors and velocities. Her cannons pouring out destruction with every charitable opportunity. Missiles primed in their hold and awaiting the climax of the song sung by painted targets. Her droid silently scurrying through her circuits. Her pilot stoic ensnared by the moment. A fighter bound to escort duty had never looked as good as Preventer 1.

*Look. Let’s be real. This rp is probably dead dead, but this has been sitting on my computer for… OMG over 2 years. Sure, it’s missing reactions to actions that haven't been taken, but better out than in they say. So out with the post. Get 1 more on the board and on with life. *