Cestus Team Fiction

Sith Bloodfyre

14-05-2008 20:50:58

Aloha and good morning, ladies and gents.

Kazarelth and I have been talking about doing a run-on now for the team to help us all get to building the Team's history, the Team's bonds, and purposes for being; all that good stuff. I've finally had some time to get down to business. You'll have to forgive me, and I ask it sincerely. I've been so busy with my internship, I don't always have a great deal of time. But we're hoping this can be a progressive run-on, something that maintains activity throughout a good length of time, and something that can be built into chapters and such, so the Team can keep this living and dynamic/progressive/fun/all that goodness.

A couple simple rules, if you don't mind.
1. Clan Summit and Team members are allowed to post in this run-on freely. You want to be involved? Join the Team. We will try to keep the Team limited to about 6 members, though. If the Team is already filled up, or you just want to go solo for a while, or whatever? No worries. Email Kazarelth and myself. We'll invite you in and get you set into it (or help you with opener ideas) once you get in touch with us. All Cestus members are encouraged to be a part, but you still need to email us first, and find out how you can be involved.
2. Be active within the run-on, within the group. An average of one post a week is needed to maintain sufficient activity for yourself. If you post three times in one week, cool. At least one is needed. If you're going on vacation, try to make a few --good-- posts before you leave, or let Kazarelth and myself know, and make a couple of good posts when you get back. Either way, just try and maintain a decent average of activity. We all go through spurts, or periods of busy lives and such. Just try to maintain your activity as much as possible.
3. Write well. Use spell checkers if you need to. But the main point is, have an idea of what you want to have happen in your post, and accomplish it. Think about the run-on as a movie. It has high, action-packed points, and dramatic, dialogue-driven parts. Long story short? Make good posts, make sure they fit. Don't bounce around. Add to what has been done before.
4. This is the Team's story first, the House's story second. Think about it that way. Blend yourself in as a part of the Team. This is not the story of how Sith Bloodfyre's life is just so full of intrigue, and plotting, and people coming after me all the time, whom I single-handedly defeat, but I bring everyone along for the ride to see how a Sith Master hands people their asses. Your life has bearing on the Team. If something or someone is a threat to you, and it comes at you, the Team (or House, or Clan) will likely have some involvement, and will work to assist and defend and strengthen you. But none of you are swept up in the drama of my life as pawns and minor characters, so remember that when you are posting, and I will too. I promise.



* * * * *


The reconstruction of the old Victory-class Star Destroyer that had once served as the flagship of Tarentum was proceeding according to plan, even if those plans were, at times, delayed or altered by the passages of time and intergalactic drama that affected even Yridian space. The Corsair still resembled its old self on the exterior, but within, the old ship had been rebuilt to fit the needs of Cestus. Those persons who had spent countless months or years serving aboard the old vessel were growing accustomed to the changes, and finding the old girl's spirit still rested within the remodeled shell.

Sato and Welshman had taken over direction and leadership of the House, along with directing the reconstruction efforts. The destinies of these two Sith were no inextricably intertwined with the life and future of Cestus. Both were quite adept leaders, but neither of them had the stomach for the administrative minutiae that the reconstruction efforts brought. So it became a rather common sight for the two to be joined by various foremen and accounts, or other insignificant beings whose job it was to assist the House Summit with managing the project and the expenses, along with anything else that only Oberst would probably have any insight into. Perhaps Anshar. The two of them were rather adept executives.

Yridian space was still busier than at many other times during its history. Refugees still sought sanctuary within the borders of Tarentum's territory. The Yuuzhan Vong were still the worst foe the galaxy had known in years, even pushing the Dark Brotherhood from it's newest homeworld. And yet, even the Force would not, could not, show its servants of either the Light or Dark Sides that the time of the Vong's supremacy was coming to a close. The galaxy could not prophecy that darker times were edging closer. And though it could not foretell the events, the Dark Side could certainly put things into motion for its favored servants...


* * * * *


Now is a good time to introduce your character, and figure out where you want to start out being. Get yourself inserted in a benign kind of way, and then we'll get the story initiated and rolling. Thanks much!

Ji

15-05-2008 00:12:05

Golden sunlight shone through the dust-storm engulfing the Corsair and bathed Cestus' new base in brilliant hues of gold and brown. The light, dimmed by the sand swirling through the air, shone softly through the make-shift curtain in Huldrych's quarters. The room, built to resemble his old lab, was the only comfortable place Huldrych had been since he was discharged so long ago. The walls were coated with a dark brown rust. His desk was buried in gadgets and half-working droids. Deactivated droids lay scattered across the floor in various stages of repair. So much work to be done.

Huldrych had lately been establishing himself as the ship's primary droid mechanic and most droids reported to him when their systems or hardware needed tuning or repair. He sat up from his bed. His new legs shone with a metallic beauty in the dull light. His refusal of cosmetic cybernetics caused many within the clan some measure of distress, but not Huldrych. He beamed with pride whenever they so much as caught the slightest glance of his eye. He had not revealed them yet to his compatriots. They would have to be satisfied with the occasional mechanical whir of gears or the click of metal against the floors of the winding corridors inside the Corsair. For now he would continue to conceal them within his cloak. There was still much work he had to do on them before they would operate at 100% capacity.

Huldrych's rifle hung proudly above the door. An old Chiss hunting charric, it had been heavily and illegally modified over the decades it had been passed down through his family. The wood, though heavily oiled and dim, still gleamed under the light, and the dark black metal remained in utter opacity. Several notches were carved into the off-side of the rifle's stock. Huldrych typically preferred more noticeable trophies, but under the circumstances of the recent operations throughout the Yridia system, collecting trophies was relatively low on the priority list.

Seating himself at his desk Huldrych began another long day of repetitive work.
Droids enjoy repetition.

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0110000101101100110 10010111011001100101
010 0001

Kazarelth

15-05-2008 12:26:45

Kazarelth Talismarr’s chamber was not too far removed from the Chiss’, yet his room was in direct contrast to the mechanical Hunter’s. Where Huldrych’s room whirred and clinked with constant and continual activity, the young Necromancer’s room was deathly quiet.
Its walls bore many marks, created by its inhabitant when many of the older cabins were destroyed. Some were old signs of the knowledge and Krath. Others were more sinister in nature, as they hid shyly away from the dim light that shone from the exit door. Various scribbles also adorned the walls. Some arranged in little ‘stanzas’, and almost visually poetic. Others were sentences that repeated and spiralled into the central void. Others yet were magnificently written in a bold hand. Still others scratched, scribbled, fizzed and died away.
Hopeless writings of those spirits who thought Death was their invincible saviour. From life’s intricate and insolvable miseries.
The Watcher’s insipid bloodlust stemmed from his desire to tinker with every possible fetter he found. Enhancing his knowledge of the unknown and the mysteries of Life and Death was the only thing he cared about.
Not one of the screaming and moaning and none of the anguished cries moved him.

The gentle opening and closing of the door caught brilliant golden sunlight peppered finely by the sandstorm’s shadows in a moment of time. The Omwati’s tall shadow pierced through his room, and the writings once again plunged into the semi-dark of the chamber.
He had brought with him some more Grails of Life. He needed those vials when he experimented with his own powers. Even though his knowledge of the Force was not mature enough, his powers of Necromancy had grown and solidified over his time in the Clan. Yet, his frail constitution delayed many of the exhausting ordeals he had to go through in his search for answers.

Kazarelth looked around the room for his latest fetter. A shard of a common crystal with a drop of blood somehow embedded onto its ‘geometrical centre’, as he noted it down. If it was really blood, that is.
He knelt down and placed the fetter in a circle on the floor. He chalked it again with his finger, as a purplish glow emanated from its circumference.
And another wayward spirit was pulled from beyond the Shroud and was made to bow at the Knight’s feet.

--

It was quite some time before Kazarelth struggled out of his quarters with the bloody shard in his hand. He staggered to Sith Bloodfyre Tarentae’s chamber. He wanted answers.

Vai

16-05-2008 12:56:40

Running through the dark corridors of the Yuuzhan Vong mothership, Vai turned to see how far his captors were behind him. Anger was coursing through him, his hands were shaking. He would not be captured by the Yuuzhan Vong again. The Jedi turned down another corridor and encountered another Yuuzhan Vong. Using his new found strength and power, Vai crushed the skull of the Yuuzhan Yong with his bare hands. With a smile on his face, he continued his escape. All a sudden there was a loud metal bang, and then another.

--

Vai awoke in his bunk, drenched in sweat from another dream of his captivity by the Yuuzhan Vong. It had not been a year since those events transpired, and his hate of the species had lessened none.

--

The protector opened his door and found it was his master. Vai bowed deeply before Battlemaster Sato Tarentae and spoke “Master, how may I serve you?” Sato could sense what was troubling his apprentice and informed Vai to let the anger continue to grow and use it to become more powerful. Vai smiled and bowed at his master. The Quaestor then informed Vai to ready himself and report to his office.

--

The Journeymans room was sparse; it had simple hard bunk in one corner, a small desk with a computer terminal, various reference books arranged neatly in a cabinet. It had a small window that provided some light. The light was little concern to the Fierree, as he had become adapted to seeing in the darkness during his captivity.

Vai quietly moved among his room getting ready to serve the house in any manner he could. He walked the corridors of the Corsair, bowing to his seniors, and arrived at his masters office. Vai was curious of what Sato had planned, and was ready to serve.

Sato Khan

18-05-2008 18:25:09

Sato's eye snapped open as he adjusted himself uncomfortably upon his throne. The high backed chair, made to his specifications, bristled with the broken and twisted blades of a hundred felled opponents, the object served a simple lesson: one can never rest easy.

The powerful mental summons the Sith had sent out to specific members of his command, still reverberated throughout the Force. And it was not long before there came a loud knock at the far end of the chamber, announcing the arrival of those summoned. With a broad sweep of his left hand, the Quaestor sent out enough Force energy to cause the heavy doors to open.

Each of the Dark Jedi he had summoned, save Bloodfyre and Welshman, who stayed several steps behind, dropped to one knee before the dais where the Quaestor sat, their heads downturned, eyes focused on the deck. "Rise," Sato's silky voice commanded from within the dark shadow of his cowl. The Quaestor stood and gestured to his Aedile to take the second large chair, one step beneath his own on the dias, and bowed to Bloodfyre, before resuming his seat.

"You have been summoned, because THIS House is vulnerable. Our recent losses to the Vong, and the recent political instability wrought by the subversive actions of certain refugee elements, has left us weakened. And that is most unacceptable." So saying, the Sith pulled the cowl of his robe back, revealing the face of a young man furrowed with lines of frustration. "Even with Protectors now wielding sabres, there remains a woeful lack of experienced warriors for us to call upon. Therefore I am sending you on an....assignment to prove your mettle as a group."

Sato paused for a long moment, taking in each of his Dark Jedi. With a gesture of his hand, a pile of datapads flew into each of their hands. "On these you will find both the OP-Order and pre-mission briefing for your excursion. I want this team bonded and blooded by the time you return. If you fail to complete the mission as a team, or simply fail in the objective, then don't bother to come back." So saying the Sith leaned back, cloaking his face in shadow. "Welshman will stay here, as we have much to discuss. The rest of you begone."

Kazarelth

22-05-2008 12:27:29

Kazarelth's eyes saw Khan and Corsair's shadows darken the entire hall just before the large doors slid close with the precision required of a Victory-class.
The summoned members walked past him, slowly. Battlemaster Karel lent a hand in support of the frail Omwati, his friend and subordinate. Karel's uncanny compassion with his House-mates had become commonplace for the Dark Jedi of Cestus. His strong arms coupled with a gentle lift from the Force helped support the staggering Kazarelth.
He was still weak from the encounter with the rather assertive spirit the unknown fetter captured for him. And Bloodfyre had not started answering when the summons from the Quaestor was felt by him.

The young Knight was still pondering over Sato's words. He had called five members of Cestus. Nothing beyond the common House-ties bonded them. Yet, they all had a purpose. Not one of them had spoken aloud, but everyone had the same thought.

"Why us?"

Protector Azexel shuffled past the two of them, quickly bowing in respect. He was a new 'recruit', so to speak. Yet, his adeptness with the Force grew exponentially with time.

The Chiss Hunter also walked ahead, his mind whispering mechanical whirrs as he strode with mechanical accuracy. He took pride in mechanics and mechatronics more than the direct application of the Force. The fact that he had not acquired the lightsaber, told more of his love of his rifle than the dislike of the Force-user's weapon.

Sith walked with his heavy, measured footsteps behind Karel and Kazarelth. His mind was on the Knight and his overuse of Necromancy. Yet, something else piqued the Shaevalian's interest. It was Sato's apparent 'order'. He had not read the datapad, as had none.
They were waiting to get to their respective chambers.

Ji

27-05-2008 17:56:25

The Chiss strode silently through the hallways of the VSD 'Corsair'. He could feel the servomotors and CPUs inside his head whirring and humming as they accessed and analyzed the information divulged at the meeting. Huldrych was less than surprised. With the recent losses the House had taken keeping the Yuuzhan Vong tide at bay as well as infighting amoung the clans, the Corsair was badly exposed. Most of the House's fighter complement had been destroyed or was in some level of disrepair and, if attacked from space, it was unlikely the VSD would be able to hold out for more than a couple of days. Akth'uldryc'hasse was becoming more and more convinced that the mission would involve the theft of military hardware beneficial to the House.

No matter. Whatever the mission was, Huldrych would be ready when the time came. Slipping his datapad into a pouch inside his cloak for later examination he strode through the maintenance bay of the VSD. Droids would have to be reprogrammed and delegated to the other techs while Huldrych was away on the mission.

(I will leave this as it is, pending a change in character. If no change is decided upon, I will proceed with my line of thought :))

Sith Bloodfyre

28-05-2008 20:30:34

Huldrych turned to head off towards his room, but felt a shadowy hand lightly tough his shoulder. As the Chiss turned to see who was seeking his attention, a wispy personage continued to float down the hall, turning its visage to the Rollmaster after drifting away several meters. The wraithly figure beckoned Huldrych onward, inviting him to follow, and then turned again to drift further down the hall.

It was perhaps the first time Huldrych had seen such a figure, but certainly not the first time the droid-loving Dark Sider had heard of the restless servants of Tarentum. Forgetting his work for a moment, the Jedi Hunter turned and followed the wispy being as quickly as he could.

Karel continued on his path to assist Kazarelth as the Omwati was still trying to recover his strength from his recent ventures with the powers of Tarentum’s Necromancy. Bloodfyre followed behind the two, watching the subtle, yet unspoken interactions between the two. In the closing months of Bloodfyre’s second term as Consul, these two men ahead of him had been chosen to lead Cestus, and had formed an unbreakable bond between them in their time serving together as Summit of the House. It was rewarding to see how their lives had been shaped by the actions of having been Consul. Sith was generally not one to ponder his own impact upon the Clan, but at times, he could not help but recognize it.

As Karel and Kazarelth turned to head into Kazarelth’s room, Bloodfyre tapped Karel on the shoulder and inclined his head away from Kazarelth’s quarters, saying nothing, but expecting the two to follow. Karel gave the Sith Master an inquisitive look, but the two had been friends and allies for long enough that both Karel and Kazarelth willingly followed the Shaevalian away from the dormitories.

Within half an hour, Bloodfyre, Karel, Kazarelth and Huldrych were within the shuttle docking bay of the former Star Destroyer that now had a dorsal opening for docking as opposed to the former ventral bay opening that was now built over into a solid durasteel floor. The four stood there, and though Bloodfyre had yet to say a word, the other three knew he was waiting for something. Or someone; Vai Azexel, most likely.

“Precisely,” Bloodfyre finally said softly, answering the thoughts of the other three. “He’ll be here shortly. One of my servants is leading him to us.”

Within short minutes, the wispy personage that had led Huldrych to the bay now led the Protector in. Huldrych studied the wraith with the intense gaze of a scientist. Karel had seen this type of being before, and paid it little attention. Kazarelth, however, was quite curious about the spirit, and made a mental note to question Bloodfyre about it when the opportunity first presented itself.

“Master Bloodfyre,” Vai said, bowing slightly, “and my fellow peers. I have come as requested.”

“Vai,” Kazarelth said somewhat weakly, “you are now a part of this team. You are not our inferior. You are not our subject. You are our ally.”

“Kazarelth speaks the truth,” Karel nodded. “Consider yourself one of us from now on. No one here is superior to any other. Except perhaps Bloodfyre, but he’ll be the first to tell you differently. And in the many years I’ve known him, I’ve always felt as though he considers everyone in this Clan his equal.”

“I’ll try to remember that,” Vai nodded quickly, and stepped in a few feet closer, now completing a circle that the five had formed without conscious thought.

“I suggest we begin our quest now,” Bloodfyre began, “and put it off no longer. The future is always in motion, but I sense great things in the coming months that we must prepare for. Indeed, some of these happenings may be initiated by our upcoming quest.”

“Then let’s get down to business,” Karel said bluntly.

Ji

02-06-2008 04:22:47

The Dark Jedi gathered in the hangar observed the arsenal laid out before them. They had been busy for the past several hours collecting any and all manner of weapons, garments, equipment, and artifacts which they might need on their journey and now Huldrych was laying the last load atop a cloak spread across the floor. Bloodfyre, Kazarelth, Keral, and Vai had been busy sorting out what they would need while Huldrych moved supplies. In addition to their personal weapons (lightsabers and blasters) the group had gathered a substantial number of hold-out blasters which were now being slipped into dozens of holsters between the Dark Jedi and several vibroshivs being gently hidden within sleeves or boots. The group's pockets bulged with oxygen recyclers, artificial rhodopsin injectors, detonators, grenades, high-value credit chips, and blasterpacks.

Huldrych's own backpack lay next to the entrance to the hanger, already laden with what he would need to keep his rifle in good working order: an expensive, after market cleaning kit, several silencers of different length and quality, his tool kit, and enough ammunition to eliminate an entire garrison. The rifle itself was leaned against the wall next to his backpack... a Slayn & Korpil 1284 projectile rifle (licensed by KiSteer to the Verpine). The slugthrower's elegance did nothing to betray its voracity and only the blaster burns, power remnants, and dings were evidence of its decades long career in the elimination of corporate competitors across the galaxy. Huldrych hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder, stuffing a few last minute additions into it before striding over to the others.

"Have you assembled all required gear?" Huldrych's voice still hurt to use on occasion. In spite of being in the Dark Jedi Brotherhood for a significant period of time it was not enough to make up for over forty years of pure hive communication, where no sound is uttered.

"We have. Are you sure you have everything, Huldrych? We won't be able to come back if we've forgotten anything," replied Kazarelth, half-jokingly. In fact, Huldrych had likely compiled almost half the Corsair's commando-equipment and arsenal in the past several hours, having been assisted by his droid hive.

"If you refer to Dizzy, he will meet us in the main hangar," answered Huldrych, completely missing the joke. Dizzy, Huldrych's long-time companion, was a DZ-70 Fugitive Tracker Droid, illegally modified for intelligence gathering and spotting on assassination missions. He was adept at remaining hidden while feeding information on a target's location and back-up to Huldrych during their assignments and had become an integral companion to the Verpine assassin.

The other members of the team chuckled to themselves, slapping Huldrych on the shoulder as they passed on their way out of the old, derelict hangar towards the dorsal docking bay, from where they would depart.

Ji

03-06-2008 22:58:13

Having wound their way through the halls of the Corsair, the team entered the hangar through the main thoroughfare. The jury-rigged dorsal hangar was a marvel of improvisational engineering. Dozens of interior walls had been knocked away and new durasteel flooring had been riveted to the bottom of the deck and painted a matte-gray to reduce glare of the immensely bright overhead lights, whose glow permeated the massive area. Overhead, five large portholes allowed a scant amount of sun through to the inside of the hangar, the dust-storm outside causing the rays of light to glow an ominous orange, contrasting obscenely with the bright fluorescent hangar lights. Each of the four outer portholes, arrayed in a diamond pattern around the inner porthole, was large enough to slip at least six fighters through at a time and the middle porthole was easily big enough to pass a small corvette or large freighter through its diameter. Each dorsal hole glowed with an energy field, keeping out the hostile, foreboding weather, as well as any would-be infiltrators. Both maintenance and service droids scurried about the chamber in droves, most of them programmed (or at least upgraded) by Huldrych himself. They went about various tasks: refueling ships, touching up paint jobs, tuning up engines, or dismantling old, decommissioned fighters and salvaging parts.

The clamor and grandeur of the hangar, however, did little to distract the team from what lay before them. Arrayed in a circle, facing inward, before them were five sleek, obviously retrofitted, TIE Hunters. The ships were painted in a matching endor-green and black pattern and the transparisteel viewports shone with an amber tint suggesting the canopies were brand new. Each had a Sith number painted on the side, corresponding to a member's position in the team. The only thing missing was a curious blank circle of paintless gray on the forward-left portion of each fuselage.

The team's reverie was broken as Sato emerged from behind the central fighter.

"Welshman and I decided you could use a little more speed and fire-power than the Lambda Shuttles we usually issue have. They're not brand new but they've had almost no use and have been sitting in storage for the past 15 odd years. They came in last week and we've had the droids and crews working almost non-stop to get them ready. They have new SFS P-sz9.7 twin ion engines, upgraded SFS ND9 hyperdrive motivators, upgraded Siener sensor-suites and targeting systems, and pack quite a punch with dual SFS L-s9.3 laser cannons, dual Borstel NK-3 medium ion cannons, and twin proton torpedo launchers. I expect to have a logo on my desk by the time you return. I don't like those empty spaces. They're ugly. Besides, the droids have becoming impatient to finish these damned things. It had better look nice too or I'll let the droids use their imagination and you'll end up with a big solid, pink circle. Enjoy."

Before the team could even reply Sato had shouldered past them, disappearing off to other parts of the hangar inspecting other newly ordered craft.

"Nice..." Kazarelth strode towards his respective ship, elegantly placed at the head of the formation. The other team members dispersed towards their own ships as Kazarelth gave his fighter a closer examination. Practically every piece on the ship, down to the rivets, looked to be either brand-new stock parts, or expensive (typically illegal) modifications. Climbing up the side of the ship and finding the key-code to open the canopy taped to the seal, Kazarelth allowed the slightest, exasperated and amazed sigh to escape him. Keying in the code, he popped the canopy and settled into the combat webbing, clasping the pilot harness around himself. A green and black flight/combat helmet and breath mask, matching the ships' pattern, lay atop the instrument panel and Kazarelth deftly hoisted it and pulled it down over his head. The helmet, much like the ships, had a similar empty gray circle on the right, frontal region where the logo would eventually be applied.

Glancing out the forward viewport to the right and left Kazarelth could see his squad-mates pulling their own helmets on. Even Huldrych, with his insectile, abnormally shaped head had a helmet. More of a hood with a mask, really. Kaz wondered to himself how much that cost. It would have had to have been imported directly from Slayn and Korpil, all the way in the Roche Asteroid Field. Sato sure was putting a lot of faith in the team returning in one piece. Kazarelth keyed his mic, opening the squadron channel with the basic chin movement selector interface.

"Green Squadron is our temporary designation. Power up your systems and perform your pre-flight checklists." Kazarelth assumed that each of the members had as extensive a piloting history as he had. Karel had received much training as a formal Jedi and virtually all Jedi learned to pilot fighters to some degree. He had also served the Dark Jedi Brotherhood with distinction for almost three years. A certain sign of intensive fighter experience. Vai, with his experience in orbital skydiving and other thrill-seeking ventures had almost surely flown in combat before. After all, having fought in the Yuuzhan Vong War with the Jedi for so long, it was almost guaranteed. The immensely powerful Bloodfyre had served with the Brotherhood for almost a decade and, during his tenure as several of the most important positions in the clan, would have had unlimited access to some of the best fighter technology on the market. Huldrych, Kazarelth knew, had flown a great deal for the Verpine both before and during the on-going Yuuzhan Vong War.

Several seconds later Kazarelth's helmet comm pinged and the squadron began sounding off their readiness:
"Green Two, two lit and in the green," Karel, Kazarelth's wingman.
"Green Three, both engines at 100% optimal performance rate," Bloodfyre, second flight leader.
"Green Four, our primary thrusters have attained maximum performance rating and all systems check as clear and in the green," Huldrych, Bloodfyre's wingman.
"Green Five, engines lit and status shows green," Vai, who would be flying as Bloodfyre's second wingmate until the flight expanded into a full squadron.
"Green Leader, engines prepped and ready for launch." Kazarelth could barely contain his excitement as he reopened his squadron channel, "Oh and Four, from now on just say 'two lit and green'."

"As you wish, Leader of Green Squadron," replied the Verpine, a species notorious for over-designation within names.

Chuckling inwardly, Kazarelth engaged his repulsorlifts, lifting his fighter gently off the ground towards one of the dorsal portholes without bothering to get clearance from the droid manning the traffic control station who was now blatantly screaming threats into his ear through the headset.

Glancing over his shoulder, Kazarelth saw the rest of the squadron lifting off to form up on his tail. "Maybe this mission won't be so bad after all," thought Kazarelth as they cleared the energy field with a distinctive *fwipp*.

Kazarelth

06-06-2008 13:00:18

The Hunter was a decent vessel; yet for a trained Defender pilot, the Hunter’s capabilities were always missing the mark of the tough, brutal and decisively brilliant Defender. Kazarelth shook his head a little, knowing he had been misled slightly by the shininess of the re-equipped Hunters. He was hoping for a shot at his fighter days, before he was given command of the Creeping Death.
Nostalgia became his companion until the squadron rendezvoused with the Chancellor. The looming ship crystallized before the squadron, as the comm. channels lit up in every fighter.

“Green squadron, you have been authorized to dock with the Chancellor. Proceed in order--”

The drawling mechanical tone was a trifle subdued by the clicking of the Verpine. Its instinctive radio-seeking brain somehow liked listening to the communication directly rather than through an intermediate. Kazarelth disliked bugs. He usually stood at arms length away from Huldrych. It seemed to have noticed this, what with its tinkering with datapads (surpassed only by the Omwati himself) and dossiers of the fellow team-mates.
He sighed, thought the better of asking four to lay off, and docked his ship with the Chancellor.

--

“—And you have been assigned to the infiltration unit codenamed Gauntlet, as you obviously know. You are to discreetly search for items S1 and S2 within the premises… once you find it.” Oberst’s said, in a commanding tone. “You will be led for most of the part by your CO, Commander Nium.”

“Are there any other items of note, Marshall?” Karel spoke out.
Oberst’s eyes replied with the most tenacious irritation that yes, there were palpably quite a few artifacts hidden inside the facility.

Kazarelth’s lips widened by a fraction, as he saw the interaction. Yet, he knew, that this military-ish mission would be the cause of discomfort to most of his team. Especially to him, since he lived off the Force. His hands gripped the blaster with a certain amount of uncertainty, just the same as his body cleaved without consent to the stoic uniform of the soldier.
More discomfort would be added, definitely, as other Clan members would join them in their search. That would indeed cause friction.
As if on cue, Oberst said, “And remember, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Be civil to all the Clan members, soldiers. We move out in fifteen.”

The group hovered together as they tried to digest much of the information given to them. Datapads were much easier than facing Oberst. It was rather disturbing to see the Death Dealer in full military regalia and his hideously dangerous looking face ogling at each person distinctly, as if to weed out any seeds of confidence in them. At least, that is what the Omwati felt. Bloodfyre looked at the young Knight, and smirked for a fraction of a second, and turned his gaze to Vai, who had been silent for a long long time.
“On to business then.” Karel said. As bluntly as ever.

Sith Bloodfyre

09-06-2008 14:37:14

It wasn't long until the members of the Cestus drop team had changed gear and were prepared to initiate their part of the mission. Intelligence and extraction was what it all came down to. Kazarelth was taking on the guise of the squad CO, Commander Nium. Karel was dressed as Commander Nium's assistant, Lieutenant Javossk, while Vai, Huldrych and Bloodfyre had all taken the guise of run-of-the-mill additional TIE pilots. Each of them wore flight suits and heltmets, but Kazarelth and Karel appeared to be more decorated in their own, befitting of officers. Blasters were holstered on hips, and lightsabers tucked away underneath their flight suits, and the drop team was ready. They walked quickly toward the hangar bay, and all hopped into their respective TIE Hunters as one.

There was a new squadron designation on each of the ships, as a logo now filled the space Sato had noted to them earlier. Huldrych had suggested it, and none of the team had any issues with his suggestion, or with the piece of artwork the Verpine had also offered up. For the time being, their designation would be Rapax Squadron, with Kazarelth and Karel being one and two, respectively, and Bloodfyre, Huldrych and Vai remaining three, four and five. The logo was a rather interesting piece, looking more like a bird of prey looming over a squadron of older-style TIEs. It certainly looked like an elitist TIE Squadron insignia. It would help them play the part for now.

Ignition sequences were completed, not only by the five of the Cestus team, but by seven others who would join them to complete the squadron. These were seven additional pilots from the Clan’s forces, pilots who had volunteered for the mission. Each of these pilots was not only skilled at flying, but had also received additional training so that if a ground fight was ensued, they would not be a liability. As Huldrych was find of saying, they were basically “flying commandos.” The seven Dark Siders and their seven squad mates departed from the Bothan-class Assault Cruiser and headed for the surface of Prakith; more specifically, toward Prak City.

None of those who made up the newly-dubbed Rapax Squadron had ever been to Prak City, but it was now their duty to reconnoiter it, send information back tot heir compatriots, and then make it out with certain items that were considered valuable by the Clan’s Summit.

“At some point, you’re going to need to brief us more fully on the items we’re to look for, Commander,” Bloodfyre said, hailing Kazarelth by his assumed rank.

“You’ve heard of the prototype technology called ‘Star Vision,’ if I’m not mistaken, Jezaard?” Kazarelth used Bloodfyre’s own assumed name.

“So that’s what S1 is,” Bloodfyre nodded, even though Kazarelth would never be able to see his motion. “And S2?”

“A lesser-known sister prototype,” this time from Karel, “Shatterstar. It’s supposed to be able to penetrate Star Vision’s holograms at the source, and jam out the hologram projector if Shatterstar is brought within 500 feet of Star Vision.”

“Wow,” Vai spoke up. “You’d have to get incredibly close to do that. How are you supposed to get that close to it with another ship?”

“You don’t,” Kazarelth responded. “Shatterstar is an addition to a proton torpedo. It Deactivates the explosive capabilities of the torpedo, but locks onto Star Vision’s signature and imbeds itself into the hull of the ship carrying Star Vision as much as possible. It’s not a surefire way of disrupting the hologram, but it was the only option they looked into at the time.”

“So they decided to build a defense against their own technology,” Huldrych surmised, “in case anyone ever brought it against the creators. Intelligent.”

“And now it will belong to Tarentum, if we have anything to say about it,” Kazarelth stated firmly. “No forget about it. Maintain general traffic as we get in closer. We wouldn’t want them eavesdropping on us as we make our approach.”

Kazarelth

20-06-2008 05:42:20

None of the team had ever been to the Core system’s for a mission after the Incursion. Indeed, none had gone on a mission out of Yridian space since. Yet, the battle team led by the Krath Knight Kazarelth Talismarr seemed to have an otherworldly confidence. Assisted by tender caresses from the Force, the Omwati calmed himself down for the mission. Gaining entry to what still looked like an evanescent portal to him would be a tough job, and doing so with New Republic soldiers all about them was going to be a lot tougher.

“Prak City garrison. This is the Rapax squadron of the Chancellor.” Kazarelth hailed the garrison with a certain pride in his voice when he uttered the name of his squadron. “Do we have your permission to land…?” his voice delectably licked the sides of arrogance.
In reply, the lieutenant’s steely and vividly irritated voice replied in the affirmative, making a slight, almost inaudibly sarcastic comment of the pilot’s operational tone.

“We’ll see you we land, lieutenant.” Karel Tarentae’s voice swooped down onto the garrison officer with a coldness that was unnatural in normal humans.
The lieutenant thought of something to say in reply, but thought the better of it in his wisdom and kept mum as he waited, with a sudden chilliness condescendingly making way into his heart. He awaited the entry of the Rapax squadron.

The twelve ships forming the squadron neatly aligned themselves for entry into the planet. Swirling within the atmosphere, the wings of the Hunters tore the fabric of the increasingly thickening air, as the twin ion engines screamed with passion. The wing-shafts had become burning red by now. The pilot-capsules had by now become opaque to the world outside, enveloped by the heat developed by the friction between the material and the ions of the atmosphere.
Soon, the energetic material dispersed, offering the team the first glimpse of the plateau-city they were supposed to ‘infiltrate’ in their search for the secret facility. The city looked grim in its outlook, the effect the warlord-rule of Brill.
In a tight formation, the squadron circled the city lightly and one after another came to a halt above the spaceport, and gently set their fighters on the hangar-clips. The ominous TIE Hunters provoked several cautious stares from the New Republic soldiers, who would later add to hushed talks and spin tales of the “elite Rapax who could do missions far from the reach of the Wraith squadron.”

The workers in the hangar slowed down in their work, to see the pilots of the ‘famed’ Rapax squadron (as it had become now), as the pilots disengaged all systems and popped out of their cockpits. The Verpine, Huldrcyh, was the first to set its foot on the ground. It clicked nervously as it saw a good deal of eyes scour its length and breadth; its antenna swaying precariously upon its head did not help the situation. Sith Bloodfyre, a Shaevalian came out with his thickly oiled hair- not even dented by the helmet- and waited for the rest to hop out. The Omwati, Kazarelth, walked out, superciliously ignoring the awed stares of the lowly workers, as the others followed him. Vai Azexel and Karel stepped forward, and the other seven Clan pilots followed their lead.

“Corporal, get us some detailed maps of the area. And get us that lieutenant who takes care of space-traffic. I need to have a little chat with him.” Kazarelth spoke in the harshest tone he could muster to a young officer.
“Jeezard, would you be so kind as to coerce our young friend to come to us…?” He hailed Bloodfyre under his assumed name. They had all taken up new names in a bid to stay even the slightest remembrances from surfacing.
The Sith nodded and followed the corporal, while the rest trailed their “Commander”. Talismarr had lost his initial awkwardness with the uniform and the military-style of speech, and had cleaved considerably well to the form of ‘Commander Nium’.

The team made for the cantina, as was usual for pilots. It was there that the next plan of action would be decided.

--

“…Star Vision allowed for an entirely realistic holographic projection of the host vessel to be created. The image could be scanned and targeted by enemy vessels, and it could even fire in sync with the host vessel. However, it could neither receive nor give any damage.”

Azexel read the short paragraph on the Star Vision program, with considerable respect. This was one of the first few Imperial remnant programs he had come across, and was reading the rest of the entry with a child’s curiosity.

Sith Bloodfyre returned with the lieutenant in tow, who looked a fair bit shaken. The Sith Master’s lips had barely moved ever since they landed on Prak City, preferring to communicate with the Omwati by modifying the Force – an action the Omwati preferred more – than by modifying the air between them.

“Ah, lieutenant, I must thank you for offering yourself for our service. You see, we are in need of a guide to these unfamiliar parts…” Talismarr’s voice trailed off, leaving the officer in dire need of an excuse. His mind was buffeted by the strains of an “invisible hand”, as he would have liked to call it. He mildly told the team everything he knew about the area they questioned him about, and presented to them a collection of topographical map-files of the area, and left in quite a hurry, confused as to what “orders” the officer in the cruiser in space was talking about.

Kazarelth smirked as he arrived at a plan in his head.

--

They regrouped near the exit of the hangar, discreetly in two groups. Kazarelth had taken Bloodfyre, Karel and the three of the Clan’s pilot/fighters. They were to approach what they assumed to be the heavily guarded “front door” of the facility, while the Verpine, Azexel and the rest would try to gain entrance via the caves surrounding the area.

Communication was paramount, he knew.
‘The bug would be useful farther away from us, especially away from me’ he thought as he checked his blaster once more. He felt his lightsaber hugging his hip beneath the clothes as his separate team hopped into a troop transport and burst out too the city.

“We will avoid all contact with the Red Police” Karel shouted above the din, “isn’t that right, commander?”
Kazarelth nodded and replied, “If we do, we know what we have to say, right?”
They gestured grimly.

--

“This is it, commander,” Jeezard spoke up, “this marks the probable location of the front door of the facility.” He pointed towards a massively huge cliff.
“A secret entrance, then?” Ilando, Karel’s assumed persona, asked.
“I am led to believe so. Commander, I suggest we do not spread out, since something tells me that the Red Police is patrolling the area.” Jeezard gravely said. Bloodfyre’s sensitivity to the Force was credible, and the Omwati nodded. He felt the Shaevalian’s concerns, as he attuned himself to the surroundings.
Myriads of yellow dots made themselves visible to Kazarelth as Sith siphoned some of his Vision onto the young Knight. The cliff, or its insides rather, was teeming with activity. And a squad of the Red Police had positioned themselves in front of what would obviously be the door.

“I’m not sure if it is the door, though.” Jeezard said.
“Let’s find out, shall we?” Commander Nium replied.

--

“You are… who?” The Red Police commandant asked the team.
“Rapax Squadron.” Ilando said with a sneer in his voice.
“Never heard of them.”
“You’re joking… right?” Jeezard incredulously asked.
“No… and no one told me about your alleged search and destroy mission. I must make a call and--”
“You don’t have to, you know?” Nium’s hand moved in tandem with his mind, in an attempt to trick the commandant’s mind. That was enough for the rest of the paramilitary group to raise their blasters in suspicion.
“I beg your pardon, commander?” The humanoid commandant asked, his hand on his blaster holster.

The three Dark Jedi descended upon the militia like their fighters- like birds of prey. In those precious few moments everything as over. Lightsabers ignited and disengaged, blasters shot and were still, as the battle started and finished.
It was during this extremely short-lived fight that Kazarelth noticed the “door”. Hidden beneath an invisible sheath of an energy field not unlike what defended the Corsair, in Koros.
He noticed a small perfectly shaped rock near it, and with some enhancement to his sight, he could clearly see the number-pad on it.

“A little bit of access would help”, he said to his teammates. Karel obliged, Seeing through the intricacies of the machine, the Battlemaster easily unlocked the device.

The huge energy field dispersed in a small opening, and revealed a durasteel door that opened with a soft whirr.

“Oh, and Jeezard…” Kazarelth requested the rest through his eyes, glancing at the dead soldiers.

He could see them awaken. They sluggishly roamed around listlessly, animated by Bloodfyre’s immense knowledge of Necromancy. The Watcher smirked minutely and followed his team.

Sato Khan

30-07-2008 22:43:34

Within the confines of his inner sanctum, Sato's meditations focused on tracking the progress of his errant Battle Team. They were progressing, albeit very slowly toward the culmination of their objective, but impatience still tugged at the Quaestor's psyche. If delayed any longer than was njeccessary, the Sith suspected that the window of opportunity would be forever lost, and that his hand would be forced in severely punishing the members of the team...for their failure.