Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938 
Affiliation: Sith Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Viox Savage on May 13, 2019 19:22:48 GMT -8
SS Dantius - SoroSuub Endurance-Class Fleet Carrier.
Slicing down the incoming attacker, there was a shriek and the body collapsed in a writhing heap. Gritting his teeth beneath his helmet, Orien growled into the comms.
Stand firm! The Dracus is upon us...
While never having been exposed to any of the various outbreaks, Orien was certain to have studied the history of the Dracus. At least to a degree. As it was a foe of the Sith'ari many years ago and, more recently, the First Order, Orien knew what he was dealing with. Though, according to all reports, the Dracus had met its demise when the Order's former flagship, Sol Invictus, was destroyed. Apparently this was either a surviving batch, a secret stash of Cain Dracus', or a resurgent of the vile parasite. Either way, it wasn't a situation the could tackle lightly. Shifting his grip on the saber hilt, the Knight charged forward, hacking and slashing his way through the shambling corpses that were now surging towards the newly arrived dropship. As the Sith Advanced Troopers pushed forward, Orien commed the AAL that had dropped them.
Take off, now! Minimum safe distance. Contamination and quarantine protocols are now in place. Contact the Admiral and inform her of the developing situation. I will report back when I am able.
Glancing back at the AAL as it lifted off, spun about and then exited the hangar, Orien cut down another shambling corpse, then slammed his fist into the emergency override of the hangar's controls. Klaxons blared and red warning lights flashed, casting an ominous red glow across the hangar. Thick durasteel shutters slid across the hangar opening, sealing it off from the outside and containing the parasite within. Motioning to two of the troopers, Orien barked orders.
Find out trapped troopers. We'll need their firepower. The rest of you, secure this bay! Double time! Leave nothing alive!
Blaster fire erupted as the Sith Advanced Troopers engaged the shambling corpses and gunned them down with extreme prejudice. The only thing that Orien could note being off, was how incredibly uncoordinated the Dracus seemed. The holos depicted them fighting ferociously in perfect unison, until the host's corpse was physically unable of moving. Here, they were disarrayed, confused and lacking that unison that made them so deadly. While it was certainly important to note, right now it made putting down this outbreak much easier.
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Dread Lord Havok
The First Order
Posts: 947
Affiliation: Sith, darkside, Adventists of the Eye, Imperial Remnant
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Dread Lord Havok on Jul 2, 2020 9:03:04 GMT -8
A Lambda Shuttle rose from the planet surface from the temple near the one settlement on the forested world.
The shuttle oriented itself on the galactic plane for hyperspace travel, and then entered hyperspace.
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Aug 8, 2021 11:59:11 GMT -8
Pzob's Orbit - Imperium Zannah-Class Star Destroyer: Imperious
As the Rampant Savage, the A.I of the Sith'ari, issued orders across the Imperium, the Imperious was already exiting hyperspace above Pzob. Personal flagship to General Xethuys, the General had been sent here to deal with Overseer Aden Vykus. Ever since losing his posting on Iridonia during Vallius' coup, Vykus had become complacent in his duties, seeming to favor his own personal ambitions rather than the Imperium's. This had been brought to the attentions of the Sith'ari. Allowing this to continue, the Sith'ari and his Empress devised Operation: FRACTURE. In short, the Imperium's borders were going to shrink and reform around a much more defensible swath of territory. Certain Overseers had been included in this operation. A handful hadn't. Vykus had been one that was selected to be disposed of, for a number of reasons not just including his apparent dereliction in the past months.*
*Standing on the bridge of his flagship, General Xethuys issued orders.
Contact Overseer Vykus. It's time to begin cleaning house. He will be given the option to participate in Operation: FRACTURE, however I expect him to resist and attempt to coerce those under his command to revolt against us.
Moments later, Vykus' image appeared on the bridge of the Imperious.
General Xethuys. To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure?
Beneath his helm, the Sith General smirked. Vykus had no clue. Otherwise he wouldn't have so readily replied back. This was going to be fun.
I am here, Vykus, to execute Order 212. All Blackguard personnel are to withdraw from Pzob immediately, by order of the Sith'ari.
The image of Vykus laughed.
Still carrying out orders of a dead man walking, Xethuys? Do you hate your traditional upbringing so much that it's blinded you to the truth? I refuse to recognize the authority of the Sith'ari. He's neglected Pzob and blamed me personally for his insolent son's coup. And what has he done to remedy the situation? Nothing! You want Pzob's resources? You want MY Shock Troopers? Come and get them. And before you attempt it, Colonel Stryker won't be of any use to you. I've already sequestered him and those loyal to him. The remainder of the 501st is loyal to me. I'll be waiting at the garrison base for your arrival, General.
And with that, the transmission was cut. Clearly Vykus was much more resourceful than anticipated. Not that it mattered. The Imperious alone had the resources to force Vykus out of his hole and persuade the remainder of the 501st to rejoin the fight against traitors such as Vykus. But his orders were clear. Those that refused Order 212 were branded a traitor and expelled from the Imperium. And as such, they were to be executed with extreme prejudice.
Signal the fleet. Alert both Major General Dorn and Lieutenant-General Wallace. Pzob falls today and the traitors will be purged. By the Sith'ari's orders. All glory to the Imperium!
Invading Pzob wasn't his idea of remedying the situation, but his orders were very clear. And the wrath of the Sith'ari was not something he wanted to experience first hand. With Aralak Division, stationed on the Imperious to act as the initial invasion force, with the support of Field Army Omega Tantalon, Pzob would quickly succumb to the Sith'ari's demands. He was here to guarantee that. As the ship moved into position over Pzob, shuttles and fighters began launching, heading towards the Blackguard Outpost on the surface below.
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Aug 8, 2021 15:09:48 GMT -8
Pzob High Orbit - Imperium Zannah-Class Star Destroyer: ImperiousThe rest of Xethuys' fleet had arrived. Or at least the four Gage-Class Transports and two Imperial Assault Transports carrying Field Army Omega Tantalon. The 300,000 trooper army was more than enough to overrun Vykus' base and capture all remaining intel and data that may have lingered there. Controlling Pzob's orbit, along with the satellites that defended the world, gave Xethuys the ability to essentially blockade the planet without use of a massive fleet. Which made any chances of escape or even reinforcements from another of the excluded Overseers highly unlikely. Ultimately, the order and operation played on the typical warring and self-preserving nature of the Sith. Each of the Overseers that were marked for execution would fend for themselves, uninterested in lending their strength to help any of the others. Hopefully in this instance, the traditional Sith behavior would play out and the Sith'ari's predictions would be accurate. Though they usually were. With Aralak Division already launched and securing a planetary LZ, Omega Tantalon would be able to land with ease. Especially since a portion of Aralak had been assigned to the old Stormtrooper Base where the planetary Ion Cannon was located. Fortunately it hadn't been used yet. And with any luck, it wouldn't be. At least not against Xethuys. For now though, he would continue to monitor the situation from up here. Though he really wanted to deal with Vykus himself. Hopefully he'd get the opportunity to put him down. Hopefully.
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Innon'Ruuk
Adventists of the Eye
There is a beast in every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand.
Posts: 592
Affiliation: Order of the Eye
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Innon'Ruuk on Aug 15, 2021 20:34:02 GMT -8
Exiting hyperspace one-lighthour away from Pzob, galactic edge side.
1 Tector Star Destroyer ”Infidel” (1,600m)
NPC's: OE Shadow Guard: Overlord Styxus.
OE Overseer Droid
The Overseer Droid sets condition yellow and orders all sensor suites to work, weapons spin up, safeties removed and orders the all stop. Now they wait.
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Aug 16, 2021 9:19:17 GMT -8
Pzob Hight Orbit - Imperium Zannah-Class Star Destroyer: ImperiousA blip on passive scans was picked up, while the fight on the surface continued. A lone Tector-Class Star Destroyer. Just barely on the edge of the sensor range. According to the results coming in from the passive scans, the ship had come to a stop and had powered up its weapons. Though it made no hostile actions towards the Imperium ship seated in Pzob's High Orbit. Passive sensor pings had managed to piece together a partial Ident for the ship. While not a guarantee, it seemed that it belonged to the New Order of the Eye, a faction long thought dead. Clearly there were still bits and pieces that were still operating, though no where near its former strength. Given that the Imperium had no quarrel with the NoE, there was no reason to take action against the lone Star Destroyer. Though they would continue to keep an eye on it, just in case intentions changed. Which wasn't unheard of. When one raided a thought dead faction's bases and strongholds for information and relics, and eventually to claim abandoned territory. If those that had been apart of said faction were still around, depending on their purpose, they tended to be a bit ornery over the loss of territory. Not that it mattered much now. Once Aden Vykus was dealt with, the Blackguard had no intentions of keeping Pzob under their thumb anymore. It was too far out of the way to adequately defend, which would stretch resources should the Imperium come under attack either now or in the future. And given that Jen'ari Znalost was no naval strategist, abandoning specific outlying worlds was a sound strategy. They just had to deal with the rogue elements in their ranks and withdraw the rest of their forces from the planet, then it would be ripe for the resurgent NoE to reclaim, should they so choose.
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Innon'Ruuk
Adventists of the Eye
There is a beast in every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand.
Posts: 592
Affiliation: Order of the Eye
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Innon'Ruuk on Aug 16, 2021 15:49:30 GMT -8
"Infidel"
Synthesized voice Comms send the encrypted databurst to the Hand of War
The SD held its position and condition yellow.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,409
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Aug 19, 2021 5:28:05 GMT -8
Location: Herios Sector - K749 SystemIn the black reaches of the endless void, a hole in the immaterium realm of hyperspace opened up, spewing forth a blighted war hulk that streaked across the star line as it rapidly decelerated from light speed. Its hull was midnight black and spotted with razor sharp protrusions, giving the weapon heavy star destroyer an even more sinister appearance. This ship was known as the Covenant of Blood, flag ship of a being once known across the galaxy as the Famine Lord, though who in recent years had been seemingly absent. It drifted from the hyper lane, engines cold as the momentum from its jump into the system still carried it towards the singular world in the vicinity, orbiting an individual star.Yet despite the wicked vision the ship presented to any who looked upon it, the true terror it epitomized took place within its tormented hull. Slave gangs were put to the whip and blade as they were beaten to a frenzy, forced to work at their stations until they died on the spot and then were replaced with fresh captives taken from wherever the black ship dropped anchor. Walls coated in grime and layered in flayed skin, floors slick and sticky with old blood, pestilent air choked with toxins and rancid stench...home, to Dragus. At least, when he was away from Pzob, which he had been for some time. The vessel presented an open wound in the Force, bleeding screams into the aether.Click, Clack! Click, Clack! Click, Clack! Click, Clack! Click, Clack! The tell-tale sound of claws tapping on the cold metallic deck of the bridge signalled the arrival of the serpentine Sith, slowly stalking towards the main view panel, the only illumination the shrouded portion of the ship provided. Blood red eyes that shone like boiling orbs of blood stared at the planet of Pzob coming into view. A sharp thud startled the crew at their work as a black scaled tail hammered the deck, ending in a sharpened spike coated in virulent matter."Do not announce our arrival. My brother will have sssensed our presssence." He hissed, playing with a ring displaying an emblem the galaxy had not witnessed in some time. A bright ocular orb swathed in flame, fitted in a dark iron band that sat on one clawed digit. "Have the Grimblade made ready. The cradle of the Eye callz to me."Blessed Pzob, the cradle of the Eye and home to the Order. The City of the Eye that once surrounded a citadel of dark stone might be no more, but he could still sense the beating heart of the planet deep in the forest. The original Sith Temple whose roots went deep beneath the surface and poisoned the land with fell sorcery was still there, calling to him and urging a reunion of the galaxy's most evil.Dragus turned to leave the bridge and made his way towards the hangar bay. Along the way he passed darkened halls caked with filth, the only light was the glaring red eyes of his children, occupied with their latest meal. Wet meat dripped between razor sharp fangs as sharpened claws tore at a slave unfortunate enough to turn the wrong corner. They were so precious, his children. A robe of human skin hung from his shoulders, swaying with the swish-swish of his tail.As for the Zannah-Class Star Destroyer "Imperious", in high orbit around the planet, they weren't at all concerned. The warship would open fire when the Covenant of Blood came into range, or they would not. Either way the beckoning of the Eye's chosen was not to be denied. Dragus could no more resist the call than his children could turn down a free meal.
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Aug 19, 2021 10:36:32 GMT -8
Pzob's Orbit - Imperium Zannah-Class Star Destroyer: Imperious
Another ship had emerged from hyperspace. Much closer than the first, though it made no indication of its intent. While the first ship had only partially been identified as a possible Order of the Eye warship, this one was clearly identified. the Covenant of Blood was the flagship of the Famine Lord, Dragus. Having had prior interactions with the Famine Lord many, many years ago, this ship's identification had been put into the system by the Sith'ari himself. Viox Savage had dealt with the New Order of the Eye and Dragus specifically in the past, therefore he was known enough to be considered a tentative ally. Times had changed, as had alliances and even people, so there was no telling whether or not the Famine Lord was going to ignore the Imperium Star Destroyer in orbit, or attack them. The ship was ready, just in case, though no hostile actions would take place until the intent was revealed. They would either announce their intentions or simply carry on as they wanted. Either way, the Blackguard would be out of the way as soon as they were able.
Inform Lieutenant-General Wallace that it's beginning to get crowded up here...make haste with his objectives so we can vacate as planned without irking the returning Order of the Eye Lords.
Xethuys issued his order to the communications officer, so that the forces on the surface would be made aware of the developing situation in orbit.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,409
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Aug 19, 2021 13:10:40 GMT -8
As the Covenant of Blood gently slid into firing range of the 'Imperious', its turrets began to swivel, angling themselves towards...the planet. In fact, they hadn't even raised shields, exposing their dark hull to anything the universe saw fit to throw at them. The black ship simply drifted into an orbit of its own, seeming to circle Pzob as the world spun in its natural rotation, like a patient predator stalking its prey.
Meanwhile, Dragus had reached the hangar bay and strode up the ramp of the Grimblade, his personal transport. As he ascended the ramp, two furry beings appeared from within the gloom of the ship to greet him, genuflecting before their wicked master. Scaled hands emerged from within the robe of tanned flesh, stroking two furry heads affectionately before running a talon each along their scalps, sending shivers down their tiny spines.
Shortly thereafter he found the cockpit and seated himself at the pilot's station. Already warmed up for him, he gripped the controls and activated the star courier's repulsors. The nimble vessel rose off the hangar bay floor and glided towards the opening. After exiting the hangar he throttled up the engines and shot towards the surface of the planet, a course plotted for the Sith Temple deep within the forest.
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Innon'Ruuk
Adventists of the Eye
There is a beast in every man and it stirs when you put a sword in his hand.
Posts: 592
Affiliation: Order of the Eye
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Innon'Ruuk on Aug 19, 2021 15:49:18 GMT -8
"Infidel"
The Overseer Droid is notified to The Famine Lord's vessel on approach to Pzob, it orders it's crew to Red alert status and make way for the homeworld.
Synthesized VoiceTake us in, Disintegrate anything in our way, put us alongside the Scaley one's ship.
Looking out the bridge windows, Overlord Styxus stood unwavering, statuelike, even at this distance, he could feel the pull of the holy-land upon him. He thought of old days gone by when Eye was a Dark force to reckon with, he relished in the idea of a resurgence as the dull blood Red Tector Star Destroyer moved forwards at Pzob.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,409
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Aug 23, 2021 9:26:04 GMT -8
Deep within the blighted hull of the extensively modified Imperial II-class Star Destroyer, Covenant of Blood, a demon given flesh form stirred to a state of wakefulness. Long had it lain dormant behind the bars of its iron wrought cage, forced to feed on the scraps of rotten meat brought to it by gangs of slaves unfortunate enough to be tasked with just such a duty. Every now and then it enjoyed a somewhat 'fresher' meal when one of the unfortunate wretches came too close to the cage. The ground was littered with the desiccated bones of said slaves, cracked and drained of their marrow. The hold was absent of light, as with most of the rest of the ship, leaving the monster in the perpetual midnight gloom.SHREAH!!!! The beast let loose an ear shattering shriek, deafening those within the vicinity, inspiring new waves of fear throughout several decks above. What could stir such a creature from its long slumber? What had changed to cause it to protest its incarceration and to tug at the thick iron bands of its chains? Only one singular being had ever had such a profound effect on the monster.It's mother. A hydraulic hiss sounded, followed by a loud mechanical groan as the doors of the hold began to split apart to reveal a dozen armed cultists, possessing a maddening gleam in their eye and a sickly pallor to their sun deprived skin. They herded in slaves with equipment and six large panels of quadrasteel. Lit plasma-torches cast shadows and sparks about the hold as the six panels were welded in place around the cage, atmospherically sealed to withstand the pressures of the cold void. The better part of an hour was spent piecing together what amounted to a drop pod for an AT-ST walker, though no such mechanical contraption was inside this particular pod. It should have taken two hours time, but the cultists were fanatical when it came to inspiring hard work from the slaves, scouring the flesh from their backs with fresh strikes from gore slicked whips of razor wire. The scent of fresh blood caused the beast within the pod to struggle against its bonds, slamming into the internal cage and bending the bars to nearing the breaking point. Desperately the slaves finished sealing the beast away, bowing before their tormentors when the work was complete. For their reward...death. They screamed and they cried as the cultists left, sealing them in the hold as the large mechanical doors closed behind the last of the cultists. In the darkness, somewhat obscured by the constant raging of the creature in the pod, the pathetic whimpering of the unworthy was a tune of despair that fed the cyclical loop of hopelessness that projected as an aura from the very bones of the Famine Lord's flagship. Their suffering was short lived.A second set of doors hissed, albeit louder as an exterior hatch was opened exposing the hold to the cold vacant expanse of the void. Atmosphere expelled out into the unforgiving dark speckled by starlight. The slaves screams were stolen from them as the breath was ripped from their lungs. Within seconds they had been expelled from the hold, sucked out along with the large pod that now floated towards the upper atmosphere of Pzob.A fitting sacrifice to the Almighty Eye for the safe return of a creature touched by its all-seeing gaze. All glory to the Eye!
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,409
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Sept 2, 2021 3:40:12 GMT -8
In orbit around Pzob, the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer 'Covenant of Blood' began to turn away from the planet and reorient itself towards the nearest hyperspace lane. Inside the blackened hull of the warship, the screams of torment from the slave gangs and crew practically bled out into the aether, disturbing the currents of the Force and saying to anyone with a connection to the malevolent fey: "Here something terrible happens". Slowly the ship's engines warmed as it gradually moved up to speed. As it cleared the naturally formed gravity well of the planet and the hyperspace coordinates were locked in, the destroyer leapt into the unpredictable corridors of hyperspace.
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Dread Lord Havok
The First Order
Posts: 947
Affiliation: Sith, darkside, Adventists of the Eye, Imperial Remnant
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Dread Lord Havok on Oct 2, 2021 11:18:00 GMT -8
A small fleet dropped from hyperspace. Their transponders initially were squawking an FO frequency before they switched to an NOE frequency. If challenged the ships would be able to provide the necessary clearance codes designating them as part of Lord Havok's "Doomsday fleet"
On NOE tactical displays, the Fleet displayed the command flag and authority of Admiral Malice, Havok's right hand man. Though in this case the Admiral was designated with the code name "Magnetar" and Havok's code name was "Quasar."
1x Gladiator III destroyer, Argo (carrying the ranking Flag Officer) (Magnetar)
1x Free Virgillia class "bunker buster", Waster, (Captain Montilla)
1x -CUSTOM C-ROC Gozanti-Class Cargo Cruiser, Spook (redacted)
Once in orbit over the planet, the Spook broke off from the fleet and took its trajectory in an decaying orbital arc that would take it over the forests close to the Sith Temple.
Readings would indicate that three individuals performed a high altitude jump from the Spook.
The Spook would continue to loiter in a circular path over the area at a high altitude to provide specter-like heavy aerial artillery support as well as gathering reconnaissance, illuminating possible targets for orbital strike coordination with Havok's other assets. The bunkerbuster, Waster, maintained an orbital position over Darth Tyna's drop zone, ready to use orbital strikes to bust bunkers, or turn sections of the forested terrain into craters. The Argo was there to intervene if anyone attempted to interfere.
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Commodore Starkiller
Adventists of the Eye
"By the will of the Eye, you will die."
Posts: 109
Affiliation: Order of the Eye
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Commodore Starkiller on Oct 4, 2021 6:24:11 GMT -8
First there was the Emperor, who in his infinite wisdom bestowed a blessed gift upon the galaxy in the form of a super-weapon known as the Eye of Palpatine. Through the warped and morally bankrupt actions of a misguided few, the original construct was destroyed and thus the unworthy denizens that spread across the vast expanse of the Empire were deprived of this extension of their Lord's love. Do not despair, for in his divine foresight the all knowing deity had deemed fit to create a second construct, which he concealed deep within the Pzobian nebula, hidden away from all but a few that knew of its existence. It was this creation that the first Council of the Eye had dedicated themselves to protecting until such a time that Palpatine returned to his chosen followers and saw fit to unleash his glorious Eye upon a galaxy of non-believers. That Council eventually transformed into a New Order, which in turn eventually became known simply as the Order of the Eye, a name whispered from the mouths of parents to inspire obedience in their offspring. 'Eat your brocolli, children, or the Order of the Eye will come and get you while you sleep', said mothers and fathers as they sat their children down at the supper table.
During the height of the Order's existence, when its borders stretched from one end of the galaxy to the next, it left in place an extensive network through which it could oversee the commoner chattel that was theirs to do with as they saw fit. Even after the Order removed itself from the affairs of the galaxy at large, these parts remained, decaying and falling into disuse. Yet within the system of the Eye's cradle, circling holy Pzob in all its dark green majesty, some lingering fragments remained in working order.
Turning end over end as it rotated around the planet, an object the size of a shuttle circled the globe, its magnification lens turned towards the sacred sight before it. It spoke with numerous brother and sister satellites, sharing data on an old but still functional NOE network, unwilling to let the degradation of abandonment and neglect see it shuttered completely. Nothing would please it more than to serve in this capacity until such a time where it ceased to function. Fate, however, had other plans. Fate and the maniacal manipulations of a mechanical monster with a viral cybernetic soul. As it orbited the world before it, it received a data-packet from the surface, which it proceeded to unzip and analyze. This particular data-packet contained a program it has been violated with before, time and time again.
Starkiller.EXE
Though the satellite was far from sentient, it released a terrible technological shriek into the dark void of space as the Commodore's viral code began to take root and subvert its systems. In the cybernetic realm home to connected machine spirits, an insane cackle broke the calm as the Starkiller Virus took over the machine and began to copy and and paste itself over and over again until there was little left save the Machine Lord's twisted iron will. A burst of burning gas erupted from the satellite's maneuvering thrusters, pushing it further into its current orbit around the planet until the forces of gravity took over, grasping the the machine like the claws of a predator. Numerous calculations had gone in to a very precise set of moves, placing the satellite on a very specific collision course with the planet.
Twenty-five minutes.
That was the length of time it had left in service to the Almighty Eye. After that, it would be one more sacrifice to heap upon the pyre of offering to a dark god.
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Dread Lord Havok
The First Order
Posts: 947
Affiliation: Sith, darkside, Adventists of the Eye, Imperial Remnant
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Dread Lord Havok on Oct 16, 2021 18:09:38 GMT -8
On the bridge of the Waster.
"Sir, I am reading a navigational hazard for the Spook." The ensign alerted the officer of the watch. The officer walked over to the ensign to look over her shoulder at the screen she was pointing towards. "Scanners show a satellite in a rapidly decaying orbit." The ensign, Ms. Roald, pointed to a blip following a curved arc on her screen.
"Huh." The Officer of the watch, Lt. Kamenosk, wasn't fully familiar with the import of what was occurring. "That's one of the old ones, part of the Pzobian network. Ms. Roald, your analysis?"
"Collision hazard, sir. It's currently at a higher altitude than the Spook and its path will intersect the Spook's operational circuit. Doesn't seem to be in a guided fall..." The ensign switched the screen to another setting showing a side on graph of the the satellite's angle of incidence to the atmosphere. "I tried to run a diagnostic on the satellite system but my access seemed to be locked out by a Starkiller.exe program. Once it entered the atmosphere several minutes ago it started tumbling, and I've been reading sporadic thruster activation which has made the potential path harder to anticipate. But there is a chance it, or debris as it breaks up, may strike the Spook."
"Ah, I see. Good work." The officer grasped that it would be his ass if a satellite were to hit the Gozanti gunship while it was providing essential fire support to a ground team. "Comms, notify the Spook. Have them keep their eyes open for any falling satellite debris." Those things tended to burn up in atmospheric re-entry.
"Sir, since it seems to be malfunctioning, we could just shoot it." Ms. Roald wanted to be be helpful.
"Target practice? It is a shuttle sized target..." Lt. Kamenosk gave this idea due consideration. This was a warship designed for precision orbital strikes: the gold standard of orbit-to-ground warfare. Small fast moving target, might be an excellent exercise for their gunners. "Would that create any additional risks for the Spook or the ground team?"
"It may create a wider debris field cone, and we don't know how large the pieces will be." The ensign was still uncertain of the cargo payload of the satellite. "Some of the satellites carried weapons, or ordinance that could be used against invaders. We don't know if the weapons are still operational."
"Have you plotted a trajectory of where it may impact?"
"Sir, it seems to have made a set of very precise moves, placing the satellite on a very specific collision course with the planet." Ms. Roald ran a quick set of calculations through the simulator. "In all likelihood, the satellite or a debris field will undershoot the ops zone." The operational zone was the sinkhole marking the entrance to the subterranean caverns containing an asset of great importance, codenamed "Good Boy." The Gamorrean village was not in the ops zone.
"Can you be more specific? Can you calculate the probability of the satellite striking the Spook or ground team, or the probability of debris spread?"
"Let me see.."
"Comm, Sir, the Spook is asking if they should relay the information to the ground team." The communications officer called it out. "They just received a fire mission."
"Spast!" The officer of the watch had to make a decision and allowing the satellite to burn up may endanger the Spook. But firing on a Satellite while the Waster needed to be ready to for additional fire missions was, itself, possibly going to deprive the ground team of a portion of the Waster's firepower. They should be ready for combat regardless, if the Spook was engaging. Officer Kamenosk made his decision: "Bring all batteries from stand-by to Stand-to..."
The various bridge control teams began responding to the orders, and the bridge lighting switched to a yellow tint.
Fire control:("Aye Aye!")
"... duplicate orbital strike firing solution for Spook's fire mission on fo'ard batteries." Kamenosk continued issuing orders.
Firing control: ("Fo'ard Batteries acknowledged, Aye.")
"Aft port battery to target the satellite, Aft starboard to remain in reserve." Kamenosk was not fazed by the flurry of activity around him.
("Aye, Aye to Port, Aye to starboard.")
"... Notify the captain."
Boatswain: ("CAPTAIN TO THE BRIDGE")
"Ops, Ground team status?" Officer Kamenosk wanted the full picture before opening fire on the satellite and potentially producing a cone of flaming, falling, debris.
The warrant officer at the operations consul piped up. "Preacher 1's signal is no longer tracking. Last reported at the O.Z. He has likely gone subterranean. Quasar-2 is 5 K.M. to the East. Blasterfire and explosions detected in her immediate and East-adjacent grid square." The warrant officer pointed to the ground grid squares NB432789, and NB432790 on the holographic display at his terminal. "LOMM's beacon is heading east in her direction, but negative visual on his position due to thick smoke cover. LOMM is downwind of a forest fire, origin unknown."
Other reports filtered in as the ship's stations were brought to a yellow status. ("Aft batteries ready.")
Ms. Roald finished her analysis of debris simulations and reported. "There is a risk of falling debris to the Spook and the ground team if we fire on the satellite prior to it descending below Spook's altitude of 75,000 meters. At that point, the risk will only extend to the ground team, which, according to the operational plan, should be underground by now."
"But two of our operators are still above ground. What risk then?" Kamenosk listened while watching the fire control status blink in readiness.
"Very little risk, if they take cover, or are below ground by then." Roald's subtext was that the ground team should be doing their dam job. "If they are out of position and exposed, a direct hit by debris could be catastrophic." Roald's eyes were unblinking. The simulations showed that the shuttle-sized satellite could break into as many as 32 chunks that weighed between 1-5 metric tons each. Or it could vaporize completely. She continued. "The fragments should reach terminal velocity as they descend to 10,000 meters and at that point, ground teams should have at least 15 seconds to take cover. I believe this represents a reasonable risk to the ground team."
Lt. Kamenosk nodded in approval. "Very well. Ensign, you will monitor the altitude and notify Ops to tell the operators to take cover once the satellite fragments reach 10 KM." Lt. Kamenosk pulled his code cylinder from his breast pocket and solemnly walked over to the fire control station. He placed the cylinder in the command receiver on the console. "Log entry: Officer of the Watch Kamenosk, authorizing friendly fire on Order of the Eye satellite, to prevent interference with ground mission Rho-Alpha-1 and eliminate navigational hazard to gunship Spook." He looked grim. Friendly fire authorization to fire on OE assets was there to prevent mutiny, and also empower commanders to put down mutinies. It also placed responsibility for friendly fire on an individual, if the action was later questioned. He had every reason to do things by the book.
Captain Montilla arrived on the bridge and joined the OW (officer of the watch) at Fire Control. "OW, Status?" Before the Captain could take control, he wanted to make sure he was up to speed on the present situation. The OW would remain in command until the Captain relieved him.
Kamenosk saluted, but directed navigational hazard ensign Roald to brief the Captain. He returned his attention back to Fire Control. "Confirm firing solution. Communications, notify the Spook of the plan."
A meter away, Ensign Roald briefed the captain. ("Captain, Waster's Batteries are Standing-to. The Spook just received a fire mission. We are authorizing friendly fire on a falling satellite that poses a navigational hazard to the Spook, and is unresponsive to commands. We are using one battery, to fire on the satellite while..." ) She continued as Kamenosk remained in command of the situation for the moment.
A comm scan alert sounded.
BREE BREE!
("Comm scan: Hyperspace alert! Inbound starship dropping from hyperspace!")
Captain Montilla glanced to the tactical display. The signature of a capital ship popped into existence heading towards Pzob from the hyperspace lanes. Admiral Malice on the Gladiator III Argo was probably already responding to that.
("Communications: Argo reporting inbound friendly.")
A moment later, Montilla could see the transponder on the inbound ship resolve green and display the ship information. Belphagor. Something about that ship always made him feel uneasy.
(Tactical: "Victory III star destroyer Belphagor taking up station, no effect to present operation.")
The Aft-Port Battery tracked the falling satellite ready to fire once the target reached 75,000 meters over Pzob.
Tactical display current Doomsday Fleet assets in the Pzobian system: The display also report that an additional ship, the Beowulf, had also arrived though it was not showing up on scopes.
1x Gladiator III destroyer, Argo OPERATION FLAGSHIP (carrying the ranking Flag Officer) (code name Magnetar)
1x -Victory III Class Star Destroyer - “Belphagor” TF2/TF3LEAD (Cpt. Gagarin)
1x Free Virgillia class "bunker buster", Waster, (Cpt. Montilla)
1x -CUSTOM C-ROC Gozanti-Class Cargo Cruiser, Spook (redacted)
1x CUSTOM U-Raider Class corvette, Beowulf (Cpt. Gritzel)
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Nov 12, 2021 15:55:26 GMT -8
Pzob - High Orbit. Imperium Zannah-Class Star Destroyer: ImperiousThe General's flagship, and the General himself, were still in Pzob's orbit, for longer than initially expected. However, their task was nearly complete. Shuttles and landing craft were returning troops and armor back to the ship, while the troops on the surface that belonged to Omega Tantalon were being loaded up on their respective vessels down on the surface. One shuttle, with an escort, was carrying the apprehended former Overseer Aden Vykus. Xethuys ensured he was waiting in the hangar bay as the shuttle touched down. As the ramp extended, the flanking guards escorted the Zabrak down the ramp. He was bound with stun-cuffs on his wrists and a neural disruptor collar around his neck, to prevent him from utilizing the Force to aid in his escape. From beneath his helmed head, Xethuys spoke, while procuring a small handheld holoprojector from the folds on his cloak.What what it you said to me? Oh yes, "Still taking orders from a dead man walking?" As you can see, the rumors about the Sith'ari's health were greatly exaggerated...Thumbing the activation, the holoprojector sprang to life, playing the broadcast from Kamino, showcasing the Sith'ari's return to the forefront and his execution of Magister Thedas. Watching Vykus' reaction, Xethuys grinned beneath his helm.Hmm...yes, you have every right to be afraid, Vykus. I was charged with handling your execution or your capture. Ultimately, the terms of your fate are up to me. Killing you outright would be a mercy, sparing you the inevitable meeting with the Sith'ari. Lifelong incarceration had its perks, certainly, however, maintaining prisoners costs resources. Resources that would be needlessly wasted on you. And we don't needlessly waste resources. So...I have decided to turn you over to the Sith'ari to decide your fate. Maybe he'll torture you, make you beg for your pitiful life...or maybe he'll let the Empress feast upon your lifeforce? Drain you so that nothing but an empty husk remains?The General sneered at Vykus, noticing his eyes widening in fear.Regardless of what they decide to you with you, it is guaranteed to be a fate worse than death...you might want to enjoy your stay in the brig, perhaps come to terms with whatever demons you have left...once we arrive at Mustafar, you fate is sealed. Take him away.Xethuys waved Vykus and his guards away. At least now, the insolent Zabrak had something to dwell on for the duration of their journey. Still grinning beneath his helm, Xethuys made his way back to the bridge. In less than an hour, they would be leaving Pzob to its own devices.
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Darth Xethuys
Blackguard Imperium
Posts: 85
Affiliation: The Blackguard Imperium
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Post by Darth Xethuys on Dec 2, 2021 12:23:26 GMT -8
Orbiting Pzob, the Imperious was joined with the rest of General Xethuys' fleet while the Blackguard withdrew from the planet after successfully quelling Overseer Aden Vykus and his attempted rebellion. After ensuring nothing of value was left behind, the Imperium vessels had vacated Pzob's orbit, abandoning it to the potential resurrection of the Order of the Eye. Reforming and reshaping the Blackguard's borders had excluded Pzob and made the Imperium's territory much more manageable. Pzob was no longer the Blackguard's concern. The orbital defenses had been disabled and abandoned, leaving Pzob's orbit littered with derelict Imperial Defense Satellites. Potentially, the debris field held value to those willing to salvage it, but beyond the satellites themselves, there was little else of value left behind.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,409
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Dec 6, 2021 6:49:50 GMT -8
Emerging from the Pzobian nebula, a tartan-class patrol cruiser burned hard as it pushed its engines to the limit, running at maximum speed and beyond as power was transferred from other systems. Warning alerts and errors shrieked ceaselessly on the bridge displays, while flames and bits of shattered havod alloy trailed from wounds in its hull. Its top speed could match that of an X-wing, but even that was barely enough to escape the horror it had encountered in the cloudy depths of the space anomaly. The vessel's transponder registered it as the 'Pride of Pzob', originally intended as a little more than an in-system patrol ship. Plumming the depths of the nebula was not entirely within its ordinary mission parameters, but a triggered sequence of code had been sent to its flight crew and none were willing to question the dark desires of the Great Devourer. So plum they had, only to find something in those treacherous depths of the void. It pushed towards the planet, no longer finding a dry-dock in orbit as it had decades earlier, just derelict satellites and a giant forest green orb.They would have to perform the repairs themselves, assuming what they had found didn't come after them. It had been a close call but the moment they had left the nebula, the entity within had stopped pursuing them. Almost like it was forbidden to leave the obscuring cloud of gas.On the bridge, Demona Vilebride cleaned gore from her serrated length of exogorth tooth, fresh and still glistening wet. She used a ragged scrap of a deceased member of the crews uniform to perform the deed, soaking the fabric through and through. It was hard to explain what had happened. Upon encountering the...thing, they had found, several of the crew had turned on their fellows like mad dogs, forcing Demona and the others to put them down. It was almost as if something had reached into their minds and compelled them to madness. She had once seen something similar when serving aboard the Covenant of Blood, but even that paled in comparison to this. They had been beyond any form of reason. Stepping over a fresh cadaver, the umbaran commander of the patrol cruiser leaned over the comm officer at his station, placing her dark lips next to his ear. As she spoke, her tongue occasionally caressed the communication officer's lobe."Send a message to Him through the old channels. Let Him know I think we've found it." She then stood up and stepped back, grinning momentarily despite the damage done to her ship and the many tasks now heaped upon her agenda. For what seemed like forever, only the Lord of War knew the location of the object, refusing to share that information with the rest of his brothers and fellow High Lords. Not anymore, so it seemed. Curiously, it had been easy, almost like the entity had wanted to be found. Something had changed, she just wasn't sure what yet. Demona bent low and grabbed the collar of one of the crew corpses from the floor and began to drag it off the bridge with her, leaving a wet trail of blood in its wake.
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Dragus
The Sith Eternal
In front of the Empire, to all you Vader haters out there. We'll blow your planet up.
Posts: 1,409
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Dragus on Dec 25, 2021 7:02:32 GMT -8
Continued from here. As the Grimblade traveled through the spiraling blue bands of hyperspace, Dragus basked in the afterglow of his shared passion with Lil'Kaan, reclining on a heated duracrete slab that served as his bed. A thin sheet was draped across his lower half, while the ewok serving as his bunk mate for the night lay curled in a ball beside him, whimpering in quiet suffering after the exertions it had been put through. Its fur was matted and damp, with patches missing in clumps, fresh claw marks crisscrossing its punished little body. The saurian Sith stared up at the ceiling, sucking on the end of a narcotic death stick, slowing savoring the euphoric high as his thoughts drifted to elsewhere.Things were beginning to come together. Two out of four of the black alters he had been bade to construct were already charged, the remaining two to soon be so as well. Darth Astera was building a mechanized replacement for his brother, the Lord of Death, to wield the staff required for the ceremony. In his visions he saw that Xeononon Solomon, the Imperial Knight whose righteous path had been disrupted by the Hungering One's malevolent influence, would bring the ring of power to him when the time came. With the tusken child's aid he would soon have the stone to cap the staff and serve as a conduit between the alters and that which they were to power. The only thing unaccounted for was the blood of a pure Jedi, but that was a small matter. Even though there weren't as many left these days, he was confident he could acquire that without difficulty. Then once all the parts were collected and the feast day of the Eye had finally arrived, all his many years of labours would come to fruition, and the entity he served above all else would finally awaken.Inhaling deeply, he took a long drag from the death stick, exhaling wisps of rich smoke from his slit nostrils. He reached to his bedside stand and wrapped his claws around a glass goblet of Pzobian blood wine, bringing it to his scaled lips and dipping his forked tongue into the crimson liquid sloshing around inside. He savoured the sweet acidic taste, slightly toxic though it was, before returning it to his night table. It would have been easier had his brothers been around to assist, he thought bitterly. Bacca still slumbered in a cryo-pod, awaiting what he couldn't say and frankly didn't care. There was no excuse why this burden had fallen on Famine's broad shoulders alone. Mortale was beyond reach, possibly having finally departed the physical plane in favour of the realm of chaos where the spirits he so loved to commune with existed in a more corporeal form. Kaan, well, he had never counted on him and that hadn't really changed much. The malaise of madness he suffered from seemed to have consumed him entirely, leaving naught but a broken shell of the Sith he used to be. There would be no help from that quarter. That left Havok, who had found a place for himself within the ranks of the Empire they had used to conceal themselves from prying eyes so that the great work might continue. He could have perhaps asked for his assistance, his mind was the sharpest of all five brothers, yet a part of him was too excited about the prospect of doing something that even the Great Seer's powers of dark prophecy couldn't have predicted. The look on his face when the time came would be reward enough. He took a final drag from the narcotic stick before pressing it to the slab he slept upon and rubbing out the flame. Slowly sitting up, he oriented himself as the world around him danced and swirled in a hallucinogenic fog.Wow, he might have overdone it a tad.Focusing his mind in this state proved a challenge, but that was what made it such good practice. He allowed the resentment he felt over his bitter isolation from his evil extended family to well up in his breast, churning and boiling as those emotions served to channel the insidious currents of the malevolent fey throughout his body. Fear was the easiest thing to feast upon, as there was plenty of that to go around, but nothing tasted quite so sweet as loathing. He could sense Kr'Naan's dissatisfaction with her current predicament, even as she slumbered, and he supped upon it. There was of course the descendants of celestials aboard, who while grudgingly accepting their lot in life, still cursed the day they became a part of the Famine Lord's flock. Finally there was his own self hatred, the icing on the proverbial cake, never quite content with all he had accomplished because at the heart of it he knew he was just the pale reflection of another truer being. As the wicked currents of the dark side circulated his body with its ethereal poison, the chemical cocktail in his system fizzled away and the world became clear again. The rest he blinked away as he sat up in bed, swinging his talon tipped toes over the side onto he cold metallic floor.Completely sober and awake, he quickly got changed into a fresh set of robes. Rather than the grotesque self stitched fleshy layer he had worn on Nar Shaddaa, he opted for one of his midnight hued shadow silk robes, sliding the cloak over his shoulders. He attached his hook ended lightsaber hilt to the left side of a reekskin belt wrapped around his waist, then reached for a single bladed axe mounted on one wall of the room. As his claws wrapped around the worn leather handle, his mind was filled with visions of past carnage, while rage rose inside of him like surging black bile. As he attached the axe known as Bloodeater to a hook on the right side of his belt and released his hold on it, those emotions and visions receded away, leaving him feeling empty and hollowed out. He suppressed a shudder and moved on, grabbing a serrated iron spike from one of his drawers and ramming it into a mount on the end of his tail, then locking it in place with a hard twist. Garbed and armed, he walked out of his bedroom and into the ready room as ship reverberated with a familiar vibration. "Right on time." He hissed. They had exited hyperspace, which could only mean one thing.Dragus ascended the lift to the second floor and strode into the cockpit, standing between two chairs where Lil'Havok and his ranat assistant were currently seated. Placing a clawed hand on the top of either seat, he leaned forward and peered out the viewport at the vast green orb in front of him. They had finally arrived at the cradle of the Eye. |
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