Archive for Rebels A Star Wars Roleplaying Community
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Xander Vos
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The Game of WarKorus Zhett gazed out at the boundless plains before him. The hills rose and fell like waves, caught in an endless tidal motion, stretched as far as the eye could see. Some could get lost in those hills for days on ends, driven to madness in an attempt to find their way out. Korus and his men, however, held the codes to the safest and quickest passages between the hills, and valleys, and mountains and gorges of this desolate planet, a map that indicated where each of his opponents lay.
Korus and his 50,000 troops - made up of Mandalorian Supercommandos, Battle Droids of varying sorts - Battle Droids, STAPs, Super Battle Droids, Magna Guards and Droidekas - and regular recruits - had been ordered to this world, along with his three opponents, for what could only be described as survival of the fittest.
What would follow would be a battle that could be as unpredictable as any. Alliances could be formed and shattered, trusts set and broken, and fools manipulated to other's ends. All that mattered was that at the end of it there would be one winner, and one winner only, the recipient of the Republic-grant worth two hundred million credits. Korus smiled, a small motivation for the carnage he was being permitted to wreak.
He gazed out the viewport of his own shelter - guarded by shields to which only he held the key, and surrounded by landmines of which only he knew the location - searching the skies for signal to begin. His magna guards stationed behind him stood silently, and unarmed battle droids manned stations reporting on the status of the numerous turrets that defended his station from hidden implacements in the hills around his shelter.
A red flare shot into the sky, the crimson sparks that it emitted hung in the air for a moment, then, gracefully, they tumbled back towards the ground. That was the signal.
The Game of War had begun.
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Lord Invictus
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Invictus sat in his leather-covered seat, staring blankly (he had no eyes to reveal emotion) at the man before him. His devoted commander, Laguran, would serve him to his dying day. That does not mean Invictus would show him mercy. Given the benefit of the lack of weapon lethality, force sensitive attacks were extremely useful... when less than five people were in combat. However, torture was an extremely practical usage of the force in this particular instance.
The guards behind Laguran's eyes bulged as they felt the extremely small waves of pain emanating from Laguran's upper chest, yet the colonel stood stoic and devout to endure the torment. Invictus grinned as he slowly squeezed every droplet of energy and breath from Laguran, bringing him to the point of death before allowing him time to recuperate.
"Now, tell me...." Invictus snickered, his white orbs gazing blindly at Laguran behind a matte black veil. "What are your troop reports?"
Perhaps more frightening than Invictus's willingness to torture was his reason for it: nothing other than his own pleasure.
"What types of troops are here?"
"Our own forces? Most are improved B-1, B-2 and B-3 Battle droids. The rest are humanoids and heavy-droids. We number slightly over 50,000."
The forces were substantial: his droids were plentiful and precise, if not endowed with much strategic skill. His humans were elite and would be perfect for raids. And the rest... they'd, simply, be unstoppable tanks.
Invictus's own fortifications were substantial as well. They complex was, quite literally, built into the golden mountains. Several feet of snow covered most streets and centres, and protruding from that snow were the thousands of cannons manned by B-1 Battle Droids dedicated to hitting anything close... and taking it down in seconds.
Invictus's own fortress was the only large building. It was an enormous black-marble Gothic spire built toward the heavens. In peace, it would be his place of meditation. In battle, his home would be in the concrete bunkers below the tower. His fortress was nigh-impregnable, but his dependence on droids was unfortunate. A solution to that issue was his reliance on humanoid infantry as an attack force, whilst his droid armies were not exposed to combat.
Invictus pulled himself to his feet, stalking to his nearby holovision screen, making preparations to negotiate with the other commanders.
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Darth Splinter
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"No no, the coolant goes there. N-just back off!" uttered a frustrated Captain Zhakeas Rhike, as he shoved an incompetant astromech droid off. He shook his head in disapproval as he secured the E-WEB's power source to the turret itself.
"And...there...we go!" He smirked as the turret powered up. At that second, a flare pierced the clouds, much to his bewilderment. Then he realised that was the go signal. Was Zhett starting this thing now?
"Blast!" He pushed the tools aside, picked up his carbine, and scurried to the main fortification. He dropped into the first trench he saw, coincidently it was his Platoon. "That's more like it." He picked up his com-link and called to the fortress in which Korus Zhett was stationed. "First Platoon is ready, sir!" He confirmed.
It was on.
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Xander Vos
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"Excellent Rhike," Korus said, as his Captain notified him that his platoon was ready and awaiting command. "I know I ordered you to supervise the turret operations during this battle, but plans have... changed. I want you to take the First Platoon and oversee an attack on the base in the North-East ((Thilus', I don't know his character's name)), you'd be surprised, but I suspect you shall be receiving help."
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Crozeus
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Thousands of voices roared their approval as Crozeus stepped up on the stand, looking over fifty thousand soldiers, all pumped up on stims, and all brainwashed into complete servitude. Crozeus looked to the sky and simply closed his eyes, letting the cheering fill his mind, until he was almost brimming with confidence. He then raised a flat palm, and almost instantly they fell silent.
"My soldiers." Crozeus began, his voice amplified by speakers across the courtyard. "Before us today is a challenge like no other you have faced. In the four corners of this planet stand four armies, each willing to do death to one another, each led by an extremely powerful and capable general."
Crozeus paused, looking with the faintest of smiles at the troops looking up at him. He pointed at one, near the front.
"Am I better than them?" He asked., his voice low.
Without hesitation every soldier roared his approval and the smile broke full onto Crozeus' face. He had been a Supreme Commander, and he had won many victories before. This would be no different, despiet the equal numbers and, he assumed, equal commanding capabilities of the generals. His plan was already set out, and individual squads began on their missions, singing the propaganda chant his aides had cooked up.
The Game had begun, and even sweeter, his men knew nothing of what really would happen.
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Darth Splinter
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"Right, sir." Confirmed Rhike. He looked over to his platoon. They consisted of mostly humans, and a few humanoids. A Duro and Zabrak here and there, but nothing much. They were all armed with rifles, scoped or carbine. Light explosives like fragmentation detonaters, breach charge, and a couple of thermal detonators.
"First Squad, take the lead in an arrow formation! Second and Third Squads, cover our flank. Fourth and Fifth, you take center with me! Finally, Sixth squad, I want you to head 40 meters in front of First Squad and scout the land ahead. Go!"
Like coordinates punched into a hypernavigator, the Platoon advanced forward without hesitation. Weapons lowered, but battle ready. Rhike smirked contently as the carried out his command. He wouldn't openly admit it, but he enjoyed the power. It wansn't too much that overwhelmed him, but not too little where it was a simple Pazzak move.
After the squads got into formation, Rhike caugh up with Forth and Fifth squad. He spoke loud enough and before Sixth squad headed off so everyone heard him. "We're due Noth-East until we come across another base. If Zhett is correct, the people there are likely to open up on us. So Sixth squad, shoot the first thing that moves."
The leader of Sixth squad nodded, and they lighly ran up to an acceptable distance ahead.
***
It seemed like it had only been 20 or so minutes when they were out of visual distance of their base, while it had been much longer. A Human sniper and Duros trooper paced up to Rhike. The Duros was holding a holo-map. "Captain," Began the Duros, with slightly broken Basic "There a small stream slight east of us. If we follow, it will cut traveling duration down lot."
The Human sniper cut in. "Not to metion the mounds on the sides of the riverbed provide good cover from enemy scouts and blaster fire." Rhike nodded. "Sounds good. Contact Sixth squad and have them redirect."
***
An hour or so had passed, and all sqauds but Sixth had stopped for a break. Rhike was leaning up against the firm trunk of a towering tree along the riverbed. He took a large gulp from his canteen, and checked his cabine. The the crackle of his com-link pierced the the peaceful silence. "Sir, I think we've found the base. We're just about 80 meters ahead of your posistion."
Rhike rolled his eyes, then replied. "Copy. We'll be there." He looked over his men, and stood up firm, carbine in hand. "Gear up. We're heading out.
***
They finally caught up to Sixth squad, and before them was another, rather large, outpost((Thilus')). This had to be the one Zhett metioned. "I'll contact Korus. First, Forth, and Fifth, take sniper positions in the brush. Second, keep watch on our flank, and Sixth, you will slowly and stealthly make your way to the rear of the base. Contact us when you reach it."
He turned his back and paged Korus once more. "Sir, we believe we have reached the base. We are at the moment setting up battle positions and advancing." While he awaited the reply, he heard the an officer in his platoon preping Sixth sqaud for the attmept to reach the outpost. The other squads were getting into sniper positions.
"Carry something light boys. We can't afford to be weighed down." He commanded
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Darth Thilus
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"Reekni ooal keh taui! Get the power back up, NOW!" the Rodian OPDS (Outer Perimeter Defense Supervisor) Eebla Naubik growled and bashed her hands into the stainless durasteel surface of her desk, where she sat in the middle of the control room in the tower of the small primeter defense outpost "Tearr Nulusi's Breach", a circular room with great panoramic windows which allowed one to survey the surrounding area.
Her rage was met with the neutral, metallic tone of a slightly faulty protocol droid's response.
Status: Processing requestestestest... Processed. Rereresult: Reparationstionstions... at... 98%...
Status: Gagagathering data... Success. Estimated time in... sixsixsix minutes... 23 seconds... 21 seconds... 19 seconds... 17 seconds..."
The Rodian lady held up her hand.
"Quiet, please. As soon as power is up again, contact Commander Thilus and inform him about our situation, and search for the reason for the shutdown. We cannot afford this happening during a siege."
The droid bowed stiffly.
"As... y-y-y-y-youyouyouyouyou... Resetting. As you say, mymymymymymylady." He then turned and started to move away from her.
She suddenly lifted her head and raised one finger.
"Oh, by the way..."
The droid stopped, and its head turned 180 degrees to face her.
"What's the status of our probe droids?"
"Bububuried in the ground along the perimeter. Won't be funcfuncfunctioning until powpowpower -ksssh- back -kshhh- beacon operatatational."
She nodded.
"And they had their short range radars installed? The long ranges were removed?"
The droid's head vibrated for a moment, before it became still, and it answered.
"Yes. Maaaay I ask why-y-y-y they were remoooooomoooooo -ksssh- ed?"
Eebla grinned and put her hands together.
"We don't want our trap to be sprung too far away from the enemy, now do we?"
(( They pop up from the ground if anyone not wearing Thilus' special signal transmitters moves within ten feet of their "burial site". They are buried two and two, one scout probe droid, and one probot with more lethal weaponry. While the scout probe is still active, the probot's fire becomes deadly accurate. ))
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Xander Vos
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Korus sat calmly in his outpost as Rhike's forces approached Thilus' base. He was being constantly updated by a man who was part of Rhike's forces who was in constant contact with Zhett, announcing their position as they drew closer to their enemy.
As they drew closer, the man interjected, "Sir, if I may ask, how do you propose this meager force take on the entire installation? It seems like madness."
"It seems that way, doesn't it?" Korus said merrily, swinging backwards and forwards in his chair, confidence giving the gift of relaxation.
"Sir, I don't understand."
"Oh, you will soldier. Just carry out what I've asked and attack the Commander's outpost."
"Almost there sir."
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Crozeus
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Concealed in the shrubbery to the north east of Thilus' outpost, hundreds of eyes wacthed in silence as Korus' forces advanced. In the trees and on the ground were fifty men armed with prototype DC-36X MkII sniper rifles, their scopes trained.
Behind them, five hundred mercenary war veterans, armed with disruptor cannons, lay in wait for the signal to advance. Around the hill lay two thousand, on either side, of Crozeus' elite - the Extraordinarii. Behind the hill itself was a company of two hundred Pulse Cannons, and five hundred Canderous assault tanks, both with defensive screens and armed crews. All they needed now was a signal.
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Lord Invictus
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Half of Invictus' airforce of Vulture-wings were now violently hurling through the sky toward Thilus' base of operations.
Armed to the teeth with missiles and machine guns, the ships were formidable opponents. Even more powerful a trait were the ships'- controlled completely by droids- intent when damaged: suicide runs. If and when their armor began to crack and break, the enormous Vultures would simply release all missiles and weapon ammunition, creating a bloody gash of destruction, and then they would, rather dramatically, hit the ground, overheat their fuel, and release an inferno of gas-flames. It was rather brilliant.
Invictus was rather ashamed: it had been only hours earlier he had initiated a peace treaty with Thilus. But this was an opportunistic game, and assisting Crozeus' and Xander's forces from the sky gave in opportunities... many opportunities.
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Darth Thilus
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Thilus stood, hands closed behind his back, and listened nodding to Eebla's breifing.
"I understand. But you have power now, I hope?"
"Yes, lord."
"What about the beacon?"
"It's operational within our area, but the connection with Vorr Mak's Breach was severed, and we've not managed to regain contact with them yet. They might be experiencing the very same problem."
"You are saying that the southern perimeter probes are disengaged?!"
"Unfortunately, lord."
Thilus put his hands down on the comm panel and took a deep breath.
"Send out one third of the probes to Vorr Mak. Make sure all the scout probes carry a message about the situation... encrypted of course."
He could hear the OPDS swallow loudly.
"Err, milord... You yourself personally requested the encrypters' removal, since it was necessary to install the short range scanners."
Thilus frowned, closed his eyes, and started to rub his temples.
"You are saying that if they are captured by hostiles... they will know of it as well...?"
He remained silent for a moment.
"No. We cannot have that. If we are to lose Vorr Mak's Breach, then so be it."
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Eebla stared at the comm with rage lit in her eyes. Her lord well knew that the supervisor of the southern outpost, IPDS Meenu Shafrim, was her husband. He KNEW! Could he be so cold?
She spit on the comm and cursed Thilus' name, before sitting down in her chair with her head buried in her hands. The faulty protocol droid, who actually was labelled B4I-8U, approached her.
"According to my databanks, I've been used as a tool several times in paaaaast wars to circumvent the orders of several Commanderrrrrs. That's why I've nevevever been fully repaired. A faulty droid easily mamamakes mistakakakes."
Eebla lifted her head and stared at the droid.
"You... you really...? I... well, do it then..."
He bowed twitchingly, and staggered away to the droid control panel.
"So, a third wawawas it?"
"No," she grinned, "send them all."
They both peered out the giant panoramic windows towards the shivering ground, where probe droids made their way up from their well hidden locations, before slowly floating southwards.
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RainaRose
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She was waiting silently at the head of the army, waiting for the moment that the signal from Crozeus to attack came so she could do her Duty as the Armys General and carry out their success. Arms and ready, she wait, her hair pinned back and her eyes dancin with the anticipation of the battle. This promised to be a fun war.
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Xander Vos
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Korus listened on intently as the three sets of forces closed in on the hapless Thilus' base. All necessary forces were accounted for. Well, almost.
Flicking to a seperate comm channel, he commed his Mandalorian Captain, Krash Vhed, leader of a platoon of rocket-bearing Mandalorians, concealed five klicks from Thilus' base.
"Vhed, are you in position?"
"Yes sir. We'll be ready to take down Thilus' aircraft if and when he deploys them. He'll have no idea we're here."
"You're sure no one can detect your presence?"
"Our camoflage equipment was checked three times before we set out sir, not even Invictus or Crozeus' forces know of our existence, and can't. What a surprise they'll get when we leap in to lend a hand," Vhed chuckled.
"Excellent," Korus said thoughtfully, "I believe Thilus is intending to spring a trap involving his air forces, so be prepared and on alert."
"As always sir."
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Darth Thilus
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Thilus sat at his communications panel and growled loudly, and once again attempted to hail Tearr Nulusi's Breach.
"Naubik, come in! I order you to answer!"
He held his breath for a moment, waiting for an answer. None came.
"Is ANYONE there?!"
To his suprise one of the outpost's command center servo droids responded.
"Greetings, lord. How may I assist you?"
Thilus sighed.
"Is the OPDS there?"
"No, she is not. I've been ordered to take control of the facility temporarily."
"What's your label?"
"IR-2L8, lord."
"I see. Well, if that's the case, bring up a fifth of the probes and let them stand ready."
He could hear the humming of the droid working in the background noise of the comm.
"I'm terribly sorry sir, but the probes are unavailable."
"WHAT are you talking about?!"
They have all been activated and are en route to the Vorr Mak facility. None of our probes are left."
As soon as the droid had finished his sentence, Thilus ripped lose the panel and flung it out through the interior of his command center, where crew members, artificial and otherwise, turned their heads and pondered about the situation.
"EEBLA! GAH!"
"Milord...?" A Sullustan male approached him.
Thilus turned and put both his hands on the man's shoulders.
"Make ready the TIE/Ds, and charge up the battle droids. When they are done, send 50 Assassin Droids and 500 AP-3s to Tearr Nulusi. We must take back control!"
The Sullustan hurried away to the back of the giant vehicle/command structure, while Thilus struck out with his hands and asked loudly:
"And WHY aren't we MOVING YET?!! Get the fuel lines repaired, or I'll be feeding YOU to the engines as replacement!!!"
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Xander Vos
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((Taking control of Splinter's character momentarily))
Rhike gazed out at the outpost arrayed before him. It seemed unusually quiet for an integral link in Thilus' chain of defences. He tapped his foot impatiently as he gazed about, awaiting the signal that it was time to attack. Invictus and Crozeus' forces were surely nearby but he had received no sign from them.
"Zhett," he said into his comm unit, "I'm not sure whether it's a trap, but it appears as if this outpost is undefended. Permission to attack it without Invictus and Crozeus' assistance?"
There was a pause at the other end of the comm unit, and then Zhett's voice came through, "Permission granted, Captain, but approach cautiously. If it's a ruse to draw our forces out into the open, I'll have our Supercommandos open fire, retreat under cover. If you are able to invade the outpost successfully, notify me, as this will greatly alter our plans."
"Yes sir," Rhike said, and gestured at each of the Lieutenants under his control.
His forces spread out, and the men checked their weapons, tensing ahead of the coming charge.
"Steady," Rhike hissed, and raised his arm. Pausing, he glanced out once more to make sure that everything was still clear, and then dropped his arm, dashing forwards with a roar.
Several squads hung back, snipers with their scopes trained on the outpost. The rest of the squads rushed forwards, brandishing their blaster carbines like blades as they rushed forwards towards the outpost. Fifty metres to go. Forty. Thirty. Twenty.
Ten.
There.
Rhike reached the outer wall of the outpost, and paused, still bemused at the lack of resistence. Firing his grappling gun up onto the wall, the men around him followed suit all along the long wall. Reeling the wire in, the men rose silently towards the top of the wall, and as they reached the top silently rolled across and down onto the ramparts.
Rhike fired twice with deadly fast accuracy at the two guards who were about to open their mouths to call for help, and gestured for the rest of his men to follow him.
"Coast is clear, First, Fourth and Fifth squads, get over here, we'll be needing you to storm the main complex," Rhike barked into his comm as his men regrouped in squads, marching forwards silently towards the installation.
As his men began scaling the walls around him, Rhike glanced back, gesturing for them to flank the bunker from the other side, and on the count of three indicated the time had come to storm the shelter.
Three demolition experts rushed forwards, setting off timed charges along the locked doors into the bunker, before hurrying back behind cover. As the charges went off, they sent plumes of acrid smoke shooting into the bunker, distorting whatever lay beyond.
"Move, move, move," barked Rhike as his soldiers poured into the bunker, pouring fire into anything that moved. As the smoke begun to settle, and the firing became more fierce, Rhike settled behind cover with First squad, and poured fire into the less well defended enemy positions.
The element of surprise and shock clearly worked strongly to their advantage, and it almost seemed as if the enemy soldiers did not believe they could have been there, as if something should have notified them to Rhike's presence. Whatever the case, the six elite squads made quick work of the disorganised rabble, and cleared the lower level of the bunker.
"Third, Fifth and Sixth squads remain here," Rhike ordered, "Set up a base of operations and begin contacting Zhett, I want him notified that we're in and moving on securing the entire area."
"Yes sir," saluted the Leiutenant of Third Squad.
"Whatever happens this day, we can stand proud knowing that we have scored the first victory in this conflict," declared Rhike, "And we will not lose."
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Darth Thilus
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"Sir?"
A human female technician cautionsly approached Darth Thilus, where he sat meditating in his own chamber in the mobile command center.
"Sir? Optics tell us that Tearr Nulusi's Breach has been overtaken by Zhett's forces."
Thilus pulled down his hood and slowly nodded at the technician.
"Then they won't be of any use defending the outpost. Re-direct the dispatched force to intercept the probes instead. When that is done, they shall proceed to Vorr Mak, and defend the facility there from now on."
She nodded.
"As you say, milord."
Thilus turned to a ten feet high statue of a Sith that had been erected in his chamber. It depicted a heavily robed sith with his face covered by a circular mask, with only a narrow slit to see through. He gestured accusingly into the air. At his left side stood another heavily robed Sith, who was half-turned at him, his head tilted as if he was listening to the accusations.
"History repeats itself. Tearr Nulusi, the dark Darth Tonitrus, was the first to fall."
He eyed the left statue, the one wildly gesticulating, and grinned.
"It seems it was true then. They didn't lie about this place. This was the site where they fell."
He cackled loudly and left his chambers.
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Xander Vos
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Holding up a cautionary hand to make sure his men remained silent, Rhike led his men quietly up the small stairwell to the upper floor, knowing that using the turbolift would all but announce their presence, as bad as a glowing neon sign pointing at them screaming "LOOK WE'RE THE ENEMY, SHOOT!"
From beyond he heard the maddened giggles of someone who sounded remotely female, and the metalic clangs of a droid moving slowly around the office. Counting down with his fingers, Rhike reached one, and smashed the door open, drawing forth a shriek of surprise from the woman.
Rhike opened fire without thinking, thankfully his weapon now set to stun, dropping the woman in an instant, and several of the droids around her by overloading their systems. Spinning on his knee, Rhike fired rapidly into the advancing mass of men surging towards their position.
Fortunately, the office had been designed with a slant incorporated, with the platform overlooking the surrounding area based at the top, with several platforms descending towards the turbolift, where most of the guards had been stationed, giving Rhike and his men, who had thoughtfully chosen the stairs, the higher ground.
And everyone knows the higher ground lends enormously towards victory.
Within moments the mass of men lay moaning and twitching in a smoking heap, and as Rhike holstered his weapon, his men rushed between them, disarming them and tying them up, so as to not cause a scene as they regained consciousness.
Flicking his comm to Zhett's secure channel, he reported his success.
"But sir, how did you know that nothing would go wrong once we charged the outpost?"
"An anonymous tip sent me the codes to the probots buried beneath the ground surrounding Thilus' outposts. He now has nothing of any notable strength to defend himself against an invasion from my men. I've also been notified that beneath your current location is a hangar containing a notable amount of Tie/D Fighters. They could prove useful if you have any pilots amongst your men."
"I'll be sure to check sir. This is indeed an interesting turn of events," Rhike mused, "Do we know who gave us the codes?"
"Oh, I have an idea..."
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Crozeus
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Crozeus sent the signal to his General. Instantly the compound shook with heavy artillery blasts, tearing through buildings where Thilus' troops still held. His snipers picked off anyone who posed a threat, even some of Korus' troops. Soon after the initial bombardment, his Extraordinarii advanced in a pincer, closing up the compound from outside. Canderous assault tanks positioned themselves at range from the doors. Now Korus' forces and Thilus' were trapped against one another.
Crozeus opened a channel to Korus. "Just tell me when you are done."
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Darth Thilus
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"Spast!" Thilus swore. "I don't know what to make out of this.
Assuming that they don't blow their way through the walls, they'll have to move through Vorr Mak..."
He swirled around and pointed at the nearest droid supervisor.
"We don't have time to intercept the probes. As quickly as you can, send the dispatch force to Vorr Mak with the warning. We'll let the IPDS solve this problem."
"Sir. They have already arrived."
------------------------------
Meenu was furious. At his feet lay the remains of the dispatch force, the probes hovering, blasters primed, all around him.
Did the Sith actually believe he'd help him, after what he'd let happen to his wife? He'd show them.
He sat down in front of the interlink control panel and increased Tearr Nulusi's Breach's core's activity.
He'd make sure he took care of Thilus' precious TIE/D stealth units.
He'd blow the place apart.
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Lord Invictus
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"Sir," a B-3 droid mumbled awkwardly. "Sensors indicate a large portion of Crozeus' and Khorus' forces are preparing and executing an assault on Thilus' main troop convergence. Orders?"
"Betraying Thilus will be.... regrettable... as an ally he shows much promise," Invictus snickered, enjoying every last thought of treason. "However, all must be betrayed today. Send a significant force of humans- perhaps 500- to Thilus' base. I happen to know, through his various ultimatums sent to me- that he is in possession of a large number of artillery that pose a threat to my Vultures. I want small portions of the human troops to disable those gun: I can't have Thilus threaten me, nor can Crozeus capture them. Once the guns are disabled, or once they are nearly destroyed, I want my Vultures running Thilus and Crozeus thick with bombs, torpedoes, and bullets! The human troops that are nowhere near Thilus' destroyed artillery should engage Crozeus' own troops, whilst the humans in Thilus' base disable any new threats. Also, the Vultures should make destroying Thilus' and Crozeus' air units- should any pose a threat- their top priority."
"Yes, sir," the droid responded, ingesting every tidbit of information thrown before him.
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Xander Vos
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Korus monitored the situation and his lips tightened in surprise. This he hadn't expected. Never mind, it merely turned the situation even more in his favour.
"Rhike, now's the moment. I need your men piloting those TIE/Ds. Get them out of that installation and into the air. I want them covering Invictus' forces. Help him tear apart Thilus and Crozeus' men. Our plans have been accelerated. It is regretable that I must so quickly turn on new found allies but this situation could work to my advantage. With our entire droid force still here with me, and a large porportion of men and Mandalorians here as well, now's the time to strike."
"Vhed, Rhike's going to be releasing men in TIE/Ds. Paint them with allied targets, and target any hostile aircraft that may pursue them. If that doesn't appear to be necessary, I want your men targeting any hostile ground forces that threaten the rest of Rhike's men, or Invictus'. This battle will be harsh and bloody, but could see an end to this conflict much sooner than anticipated."
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Darth Thilus
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Thilus entered Vorr Mak's Breach, with his Honor Guard in tow, and was met by a dark trooper sergeant, who brought with him the captured IPDS Meenu Shafrim. He nodded at the sergeant, who brought the Rodian outside. Thilus stood silent, waiting.
And there he heard the blaster fire. Two shots.
He entered the building, where servo droids now had taken the seats of the former occupants.
"Status?"
"It seems he's overloading the reactor core of Tearr Nulusi, milord. The temperature has reached critical heights."
"And how goes the battle?"
"It seems that they have engaged each other. Though... Invictus' and Korus' forces aren't engaging each other."
"Is there a possibility that they've made a pact?"
"Quite possible, milord."
"Hmm. The only forces I have stationed there are such loyal to Eebla, and those are without doubt expendable. The stealth units are a rather serious blow, but nothing compared to the batallions I have remaining. So, I could let them annihilate Crozeus, let the core detonate, and hope for it to bring the rest down... But if it doesn't... Korus and Invictus against me..."
He scratched his chin with his thumb and index finger.
"Milord?"
Thilus frowned.
"Attempt to halt the core's rising temperature, and send two FROMMs, what's remaining of the dispatch force here, and 500 ordinary TIE/Ds to assist Crozeus' forces. Let a group of probes scout ahead and near him. If he opens fire at us, let the core burst and withdraw all forces; let the place become a smoldering junkyard."
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Crozeus
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Crozeus watched as Mandalorian supercommandos appeared out of nowhere and attacked his advance troops. He saw Invictus' Vultures bearing down on the outpost and nodded. He then sent another signal. "All units, pull back!"
Instantly, despite losses, his troops turned and retreated under the cover of deadly sniper fire. The troops returned to him and Crozeus ordered them to fall out back to base, to mine all entrances and to position what artillery he could in secure hillocks along by Crozeus' fortress.
His fortress sat at the end of a long winding path through the rock. It was over a kilometre of sheer drop from top to bottom, from the cliffs to the trail. Crozeus had made sure that there were only two entrances to his fort, one only he knew about, and the trail.
The pulse cannons got into position and rained hellfire on indiscriminate targets, while his men set up positions by natural checkpoints and manned fixed defenses, like AA guns. More men camoflagued themselves and took position above the trail, ready to cause havoc on any coming along behind them. The rear guard layed mines and traps for any pursuers.
The way he saw it, he held the second most numbers, only just behind Invictus. Korus had lost a few, and Thilus a fair amount. He was more than happy to defend his little fortress, and let them have their war.
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Lord Invictus
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"Now is the time to strike!" Invictus roared to his second in command. "All non-engaged Vulture's shall begin bombing runs on Khorus' fortress! Currently engaged Vulture's shall cease all engagements with Thilus while I negotiate with him. They will, however, begin strafing Khorus' troops in the battle and, when victory is assured for Thilus, will move onto Crozeus' own troops and fortress. As none but Thilus have deployed anti-air guns, victory is nearly assured on current battlegrounds! I also want twenty thousand troops of droids and humanoids marching on Khorus' fortress immediately, and I want them accompanied by almost all vehicles and heavy personal: particularly Dwarf Spider Droids. All remaining troops should be on high alert and defend our own fortress. This should be the equivalent of DEFCON 1."
"Yes, my Lord," hissed his second, stalking off to a computer base to relay the most recent orders.
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Darth Splinter
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Rhike took the commands Zhett poured in him steadily, confirming shortly after with the typical 'Yes sir'. The base shook violently as Crozeus' cannons pounded the outpost grounds to the beat of a massive drum.
"Form up!" Belted Rhike over the sound of explosions and artillery fire. "I want a thermal charge in each of those turbolifts. We'll take the service stairs. I want this blasted place in disarray by the time we're flying our butts out of here with some TIE/Ds." A group of demolition experts armed some thermal charges. They forced open the lift doors and placed an armed thermal change in each one. They sent the lifts to the top floor, set to detonate within a minute or two.
Rhike and all his other men had already started their mad dash to the hanger in the service steps. Rhike and five others rounded a corner slowly, peeking around the corner. A gaurd, possibly a captian, was signaling two troops their way. "Open up!" commanded Rhike.
Within seconds, the hallway was covered in friendly blasterfire. When the triggers let up, two corpses lay flat and charred on the corridor floor. Then, out of cover, the captian came about armed with a pistol. He fired a sucession of two fairly accurate shots in Rhike's direction. The first was planted in the center of a friendly soldier's head next to Rhike. The body sizzled and clanged to the floor. The second clipped Rhike's right leg.
He grunted in pain, and before he could lift his carbine, the hostile officer was pelted with rapid blasterfire from Rhike's men. "Damn." He uttered to himself, in regards of the dead soldier and his own leg. "Keep going!"
**
BOOM!
The door was incinerated by the breach charge and Rhike's men stormed the hanger, blasting anything with a blaster than wasn't one of their own. Rhike entered slowly after, only to see a few pilots and gaurds piled on the floor. "Well, hop in!" A multitude of soldiers, including Rhike himself, climbed into the first TIE/Ds they saw. Rhike, and about 20 others got into TIE/Ds, while he commanded the others to attempt to destroy the hanger then find alternative means of escape.
The hiss of the air seal tightened as the top hatch closed. In seconds, the flock of TIE/Ds flew out of the hanger, almost gracefully. Rhike tuned the ship comm to Zhett's frequency. "This is Rhike to Zhett. My men have obtained the TIE/Ds. They are also trying to demolish the hanger with charges. Awaiting your confirmation."
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Xander Vos
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"Do it," hissed Korus from between his teeth. Things were falling apart, fast. Invictus, who had sworn an oath of allegiance to him whilst they focussed on the other two, had betrayed him, and would pay dearly for his betrayal.
His forces under the command of Krash Vhed, still concealed in the forests surrounding Thilus' outpost knew what to do once Invictus' Vulture craft made themselves known as hostile units...
***
Krash Vhed grunted in pain as a particularly close blast sent showers of dirt and rock splintering against his armour. As the dust cleared, he resettled himself, gazing down the scope of his proton tube, aiming through the air at a wave of Vulture craft that were lazily spinning in a circle to come in for another pass.
Labelling the lead as the main priority, and the five others as secondary targets, he designated the target to the seven or eight supercommandos lying near him. As the Vulture droids leveled off and flew towards them to begin a fresh barrage, he roared, "FIRE!" And rocked in the ground as the powerful proton torpedo sped from his shoulder tube, and joined the other eight torpedos in the air. As soon as the rockets detected they were targeting a craft already designated 'terminal' that is, enough fire power was being directed at it to destroy it, they swerved away, targeting multiple secondary targets.
Krash had to shield his eyes as, in a violent explosion, four of the five Vulture craft splintered into a flaming explosion in mid air, and a moment later a wave of heat hit him and his men, overloading their airconditioned suits and sending a wave of sweat over their bodies.
Cheering privately over the comm, Krash grinned, "That'll teach that lying nerf herder to betray the Mandalore, right boys?"
***
Korus' mind was racing at the shock of the betrayal, and he barked an order at an aide to open a comm. line to Thilus' base.
"It seems you were correct. As I don't believe I have openly attacked any of your loyal forces, I request that our alliance be honoured. The manipulating traitor Invictus cannot be trusted, and as the fighting is taking place at your bunker, I find it unlikely he would merely leave you in peace and retreat once more. However, I propose an alliance. Overwhelm the rest of Invictus' forces, and storm his bunker."
((May as well have SOME alliance talks happen in the RP.))
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Darth Thilus
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"I doubt I have a choice. You are in possession of my codes, and as my enemy you could do horrific damage with those in hand. I'll re-route my dispatch force to your position." He then cut the connection.
"But, milord, the dispatch force will be mowed down by Invictus' Vultures before they can even enter the probe field!"
Thilus stood silent and said nothing, gazing out the windows of the command center.
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Lord Invictus
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Invictus' last one hundred Vulture's continued making their assault on Khorus' base. On the horizon, clearly visible from the fortress, was the looming army of Lord Invictus. Heavier vehicles in the army launched sporadic artillery into Khorus' capital, aiming for vital constructs, heavy concentrations of troops, and anything that posed a threat to the Vultures.
The Vultures themselves went unopposed for the time being. Spraying down thousands of rounds of bullets every minute, the starfighters mowed down anyone foolish enough not to take cover (in the panic this represented many a platoon of shocked men). The Vulture's occasionally tossed a proton torpedo or more deadly weapon into the fray in an attempt at total annihilation: Invictus didn't value Khorus' base as a strategic position. However, the majority of bombs and missiles were launched into any clusters of "heavy" units posing a threat to the Vultures, or buildings.
The armored transports were now halting, crashing with a thud as they through their frontal lids open. Immediately, thousands of droids, combined with a few hundred humanoids, rushed out and began a devoted charge toward the enemy. A few well-aimed sniper shots picked off the occasional droid, but the panic of enormous Vulture droids zipping by with torpedoes or landing, driving an iron spike through your own officer, managed to scare most men into taking cover.
***
"I want the one-hundred Vulture droids previously assigned to attack Crozeus strafing Khorus's troops near Thilus," Invictus reported, muttering a few curses and insults to his chief commander. "All troops at home should be on DEFCON 1: be prepared for a counterattack on Khorus', Crozeus', or even Thilus' part. Get all extra troops in bunkers, and arm all turrets. I also would like to take up commanding my troops from the Bunker-" the general obviously understood "the Bunker" and could differentiate it from "a bunker"-". Relative to the siege at Khorus' fortress, do not let any heavy units or turrets become armed. The Vultures should be able to, for the most part, take care of that. Vultures should also cause heavy damage to unit clusters and constructs opposing our forces in any way.
"Spiderdroids and vehicles that are able to enter the fortress should lead the way through all sections of the enemy's last base. They should use any and all force: there is no unnecessary force. Throw everything you have at the base on the part of heavy units. Humanoids should take out tactical positions and support the spiderdroids. Finally, swarm them with the B-series droids."
The plan was not ingenious in any way: the moments of its execution, however, were. Khorus was weakened substantially and his base was relatively undefended (much of Khorus' most powerful force was sent to crush Thilus), he had betrayed his allies just in time for Invictus to begin an assault, his enemy Thilus was now pressing the armies back, and Invictus' own base was untouched. In addition, Crozeus was on the retreat.
"Execute this immediately," Invictus ordered. "I would also like more conferences with Thilus. He may be our only ally, and we're the only faction who hasn't declared war with him."
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Darth Thilus
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Thilus' droid forces had surrounded Tearr Nulusi's Breach, blasters aimed at the entrance to pick off anyone who would try to make their way out through there. Little to no movement was detectable among the cold mass of metal that stood silently, ever gazing through the dark corridor that led into the outpost. Among them stood Thilus, arms crossed. He tilted his head slightly towards a protocol droid on his left.
"Open a channel to Invictus."
The droid hissed for a moment, and then nodded to sign that a channel was open.
Thilus nodded.
"Invictus, Korus' forces here are trapped in a corner by me, but if you could, I'd just love some air support. I don't want to be blasted sky-high by my stolen TIE/D stealthers."
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Crozeus
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Before anyone had advanced, Crozeus had ordered several units to erect large speakers over tree canopies and the like. He spoke and his voice was reflected along walls, rocks and other natural formations so all could hear.
"I don't like to be betrayed. Invictus, Thilus, if you so wish, and ensure that my remaining men are kept free of any attacks by Korus, I would be happy to provide you with artillery support."
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Crozeus
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((Move it to the discussion people.))
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Lord Invictus
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((Khorus told you that because he's getting thoroughly owned, or it appears so, on all sides.  ))
"All troops at Khorus' base should establish defensive positions and blockade the citadel!" Invictus roared to his commander, now relaying information. "Unload and construct all available siege equipment- all vehicles should have a turret of some sort- at Khorus' base! Keep troops on high alert and surround the facility! Bombard them without end... All Vultures at a siege should continue with their primary objective of destroying all threats to them and to the ground forces. Maintain the original suicidal protocol: when damaged, crash into the highest concentration of troops possible.
"I would also like the 100 Vultures near Thilus' base to continue hammering down upon Khorus' retreating army..." Invictus continued. "I myself will see to it that my ties with Thilus remain intact, and that an alliance with Crozeus, who I am sure will overlook the minor aggressions made toward his troops during my assault on Khorus, is established. All remaining troops should maintain a DEFCON 1 status at the citadel."
Invictus' head nodded, his eyes seeing only void, to his general before silently stalking to a conference room, tossing himself carelessly into a matte-black leather throne constructed of only the finest black marble skeleton. He blindly gazed downward, his cloak sagging over his eyes, as his hand gracefully flicked to indicate his desire for negotiations to commence.
The previously blank velvet-like holoscreen crackled as two images, one of Thilus and of Crozeus, appeared, divided by a thick white gash in the center of the screen.
"I understand we all seek to establish an alliance," muttered Invictus, his voice hardly recognizable from that of a voice-synthesized criminal's. "I would like to apologize to you, Crozeus, for the unfortunate miscalculated decision I made when inflicting upon your troops. For a few moments, I was unable to separate you from Khorus and deemed it necessary for... well, that is behind us, I hope.
"As you surely know, I have made it quite clear that my loyalties and ties to Khorus are severed," Invictus continued coldly. "As we speak my troops are establishing a long-term siege position at Khorus' own citadel. My heavy vehicles are launching a barrage of artillery into the heart of his sickening regime. My Vultures continue to sap his army of every last ounce of manpower, and my armies are readying for an onslaught of terror to crash upon him. A siege in and of itself cannot fail: it is a matter of waiting to his attacks, and reacting appropriately.
"If he doesn't make an effort to fight me, then I will simply starve him out. I doubt he was prepared for such an assault this early on in our... campaigns, so it is unlikely he has begun establishing strategies to combat an enormous siege. As he has sent few troops from his base, it is also unlikely he will be able to surround and crush me. Even if he were, my troops are currently digging trenches and strategic havens... There is only one way he can immediately break an attack: a direct mobilization of troops and counterattack on my own assault. This will also be fairly difficult, as it forces his troops to abandon their cover, opening them to my Vultures' and artillery's lines of fire, and they will be assaulting a trench line, or what I hope will become a trench line. Here comes my only weakness.
"The total defense is not yet established. My army is not yet impregnable. Therefore, I am relying entirely on the momentum of my attack to give me time to establish a concrete facility there: he will also rely on this time to coordinate and plan a non-suicidal counterattack. Until that time, my only defenses are unoccupied Dwarf Spider and Crab Droids, Vultures, and the hope my troops will have reaction time quick enough to react to a counterattack. At this time, I doubt anyone has the capacity to launch a large scale scale assault and then execute it. It was luck alone that allowed me to begin a siege whilst Khorus' attention was elsewhere. I ask of you, Crozeus, artillery support in bombing his stronghold, and of you, Thilus, troops to bolster my ranks. Khorus is the Mandalore: he must be stopped immediately."
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Xander Vos
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((You wanna play it like that, huh?))
Korus hissed in vexation as one hundred Vulture starfighters came screaming towards his bunker, firing their turrets at the bunker. Whilst those around him flinched, Korus sat stock still as the rounds dissapated against the powerful deflector shields that surrounded the base.
"Order forward Anti-Air Turrets to open fire, I want those Vultures destroyed before they make another pass. Have MandoB come around and open fire as well with their proton tubes. MandoC and MandoD can take up positions at the two outposts and open fire from there, I don't want any of them getting through."
"Yes sir," one of his aides nodded.
**
MandoB - made up of two hundred Mandalorians - scarmbled to the cliff top overlooking Zhett's bunker. As the AA turrets ripped open holes in the ranks of Vulture droids, the captain sighted a squadron of Vultures flying in low to rake the turrets.
Opening fire with those around him, the rockets took off, obliterating the squadron before it became much of a threat. As he and his men quickly reloaded their rockets, from far in the distance, similar streaks of light took off, tearing through other squadrons.
As the Vultures regrouped for their second run, their force had already been more than halved, as the AA turrets, relentless in their attack, continued to pummel their ranks.
**
Korus nodded in approval as, with each run, the Vultures numbers gradually began to diminish. Turning to his aide once more, "That seige equipment looks rather worrisome. Order the entire droid army to march out and confront it."
"Yes sir," the man nodded once more. With the lack of any aircraft, Invictus' army was now safe to attack from land.
**
A terrible crunching sound - perfectly in time - could be heard throughout the valley, as Battle Droids, Super Battle Droids, STAPs, and Droidekas marched, flew, and rolled forward in their respective ranks.
The sight of 19,000 varying droids baring down on the position must have been unnerving for the far smaller force that Invictus had foolishly sent on its own.
As his men sent panicky sprays of fire into the droids ranks, the Battle Droids and Super Battle Droids opened fire, cutting huge swathes in Invictus' ranks, as the STAPs surged forward, raking fire over the enormous siege machines, and the droidekas rolled throughout the ranks, causing as much havoc as possible.
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Darth Thilus
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Thilus' AP-1-Cs rounded up the Mandalorian forces around the Tearr Nulusi outpost, gathering them in a group with his forces forming a circle around them. The clicking and buzzing of gyros was near overwhelming, and Thilus thought he could spot an ounce of discomfort among Korus' soldiers. Thilus raised his comm and hailed Invictus.
"Will do. But I need to take care of these fellows first. Strafe above us on low altitude; I don't believe that if the stealthers are still around, they will wait to see their comrades... executed."
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Lord Invictus
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((Is it fair that I bring my personal ship- a small fighter- in here? I guessed so, as it's part of my character's package))
"Sir, the Vultures at Khorus' base were instantly destroyed... it also would appear the information relayed to your troops discussing the development of a long-term siege facility was not entirely understood, as our troops are crashing onto them..." Invictus' commander reported, twitching inconsistently as Invictus' grip of the force crushed his ribs. "Sir..."
"You have failed me, commander," Invictus hissed, his grip tightening. "Your troops are being torn apart while you hide here! You haven't taken it onto yourself to correct the situation, I presume. Then I will take command."
The Commander dropped to his knees, heaving large globs of blood from his throat as the lest embers of his being left him.
"Ready my ship, captain," Invictus roared to a nearby guard, flinging his arm around dramatically to backhand an 'insolent knave' standing nearby. "I would like to set course for Khorus' base.... enable all cloaking devices... keep my bodyguards here..."
***
Due to his immense grace, it would appear Invictus levitated to the Heroditus' (his ship's) entrance. From there, he strode to his command center, took personal control of the fighter, and zoomed off into the sky. His fighter-gunship combination was outfitted with superb weaponry... for dogfighting. On the battle field, it could be, quite easily, in fact, used as an anti-infantry and anti-turret unit, but its practicality toward constructs would be debatable.
Instead, the Heroditus' crab-like claws protruding from near its cockpit would serve as a quick way to puncture through buildings whilst the ship levitated silently in place. It could quite easily also be used as an anti-infantry weapon, literally tearing anything in his way apart. De-bowling his foes was one of Invictus' favorite pastimes. Due to the excessively large amount of weapons and controls that must be operated at one time, a force sensitive was the ONLY being able to pilot the Heroditus.
Invisible to radar and to most naked eyes, the Heroditus hovered through the skies at hundreds of miles per hour, arming up weapons and shields.
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Crozeus
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Crozeus nodded, accepting the proposal. "I expect battle droids to replenish the men I lost." Invictus nodded, it was only a few dozen, nothing major.
***
Once again snipers, this time well over five hundred of them, had taken up positions. Most of them scanned Korus' base, looking for targets to call the artillery down upon, whereas others looked for easy kills, and easy kills they found. The officers would go first, and since Korus' forces were made up of a lot of troops colour coded, it was easy to find out who was in command of a particular group - those who bore yellow markings or armour.
That was why so many of Korus' troops became disorganised in setting up positions against the air strikes ot the advancing troops, because their leaders would find themselves with a bolt in their heads from an enemy more than two miles away.
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Xander Vos
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((Interesting to have your ship as the mispelled name of the Father of History))
Korus over saw the battle, and indeed it went well. His droid army was tearing through the ranks of Invictus' men, preventing them from deploying their seige weaponry. Despite his droids taking immense casualties, two would fill the place of any that was destroyed.
His Magna Droid Bodyguards stood at his back protectively, gazing on with a souless carelessness as their bretheren were mown down by Invictus' blasters.
The droidekas were wreaking the most havoc, their miniature shields and heavy blasters were ripping into the hulls of Invictus' vehicles, and tearing men literally to pieces on the spot, sending them screaming to the ground, or in some cases, leaving no chance for noise to escape.
Everything was going as forseen.
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Darth Thilus
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One of Thilus' henchmen neared his venerable lord with caution, knowing that Thilus didn't enjoy suggestions.
"M-milord, the battle has moved to Korus' citadel, and I doubt this outpost is in any danger anymore."
Thilus slowly nodded, and turned to the man that'd spoken, another Selkath, just like himself, hunchbacked and short. Thilus patted the man's shoulder.
"A good suggestion, my friend. Go see to that." he said with something that the old Selkath underling hadn't seen on his master's face for a long time; a warm, appreciating smile. He nodded, a tad confused.
"I... err, well... yes... of course... milord." he hurried away and Thilus hailed the control center on his bridge, and one channel to Invictus at the same time.
"Send 4,000 of my TIE/Ds, and let their route go through here. Invictus, we will pick up your Vultures and escort you to Korus' base. Oh, and command, send us a troop carrier while you're at it, will you? I'll dispatch my dark troopers."
He cut the connection and motioned to the captured Mandalorians to move inside Tearr Nulusi's Breach.
---------------------------
In a matter of minutes Thilus was deafened by the roaring engines that distinguishes the TIE-brand. They circled his outpost like a massive swarm of foonta-beetles, and he well remembered how painful a sting from such a creature is.
And there it is. Thilus had dared to deploy it, and by that he'd suprised himself.
Towering over the northern forest, crushing trees beneath its heavy feet, was an AT-AT. He grinned. The forces are gathered, the Mandalorians safely stowed inside his outpost, and the dark troopers stood ready.
He snickered and hailed Invictus to let him know they were ready to move out.
The ball is in movement...
The cards have been shuffled...
The die has been cast...
Let the game begin!
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Lord Invictus
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The Heroditus hovered gently above the carnage, slowly and meticulously powering down all cloaking devices. Khorus' awed troops gazed up at the matte-black demon blocking the sun, leaving them open to attack.
Yet, that wasn't the single most terrifying feat Invictus accomplished. In the brief pause of battle, his vessel's crab-like claws seized a Mandalorian officer from the fray and, one pincer at both ends of the body, artistically shredded the armor and flesh to bits. Six separate chunks of body dropped to the battlefield, causing a tremor to quake through Khorus' lines.
Invictus' droids were, stoic as droids are, unaffected by the barbaric torture. His humanoids, however, were severely shocked. Many of Invictus' own troops gagged on bodily fluids hacking up their throats, dropping to their knees in disgust.
Fortunately, the droids continued to rampage through Khorus' lines in retaliation. Many had taken to attaching bayonets to their rifles, charging anyone foolish enough to turn their back to the enemy. Invictus' dwarf spider droids marched steadily toward Khorus' base, nearly unstoppable and completely resistant to the average bullet or blaster. Their legs crushed many a trooper underfoot, and their enormous turrets easily took down ten men at a time.
Whilst allowing his own blasters and guns to ravage the enemy troops, Invictus continued to maneuver the Heroditus away from threats. However, at sporadic intervals, he'd seek, whilst cackling maniacally, officers, droidekas, heavy units, and even turrets to literally tear apart.
The pain and suffering Invictus could easily sense with the force penetrated him, entering the black heart of his very soul. It was the greatest feeling he ever had: to feel himself extinguishing the essence of a surprised being, tearing it apart with control over every aspect of life and death. Occasionally he'd even lower his ship onto a group of enemies, squashing them all as he pressed against the ground.
His ship was, though proving effective as an anti-infantry unit, immensely efficient when destroying a force as a whole. The Heroditus could quickly kill an officer (identifying them was an easy task), demoralizing enemy troops due to the grotesque nature of the attack, then destroy any sort of turret or heavy threat in sight in a matter of moments.
Since Invictus' arrival, seven squad's had lost officers to his enormous death-machine, whilst his enormous war machine would grind the rest of the panicked men, along with many "normal" squads, into the dust under the heel of an iron boot. Even more Droidekas and STAPS have fallen to proton torpedoes, and the amount of battle droids being slaughtered was uncountable (on all sides).
Having given his own troops the time needed to set up a real defense against the counterattack, Invictus hovered away in the Heroditus, preparing to observe the battle and hit elite enemies when necessary.
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