Chainbreakers: Choices of One @Revlid
Nolaa smiles.
And it is a smile, not a smirk, sneer, or grimace, one that only broadens as she straps a shield to her arm. This is what she loves.
These face to face moments, when it falls to strength of arm, strength of will, simple endurance...there's a purity to it, a reverence that is lacking from the pull of a blaster's trigger or the flash of turbolasers across the void. Dispassionate, surgical ways of killing, distancing oneself from the spilled blood and screams...such human methods.
She takes a practice swing with the vibro-scimitar, nodding to the Archduke in approval...and then sets it down to take up the whip instead. Partly because she relishes the irony, of turning a slaver's weapon against foes clad in the livery of the galaxy's greatest slave lords...and partly the whip is simply showier than the sword.
And this fight is a show, just as surely as any she fought onboard Violet Hem. With one difference.
I chose this. This is my fight, of my choice.
She cracks the whip against the shield, opposing energies releasing a spray of sparks as she salutes the crowd...then she's running, she's bounding down the newly formed steps, the implants in her skull humming, singing as they enhance her speed, her reflexes, moving her efforts beyond mere biological limitations...
Attack attack always attack move forward if you have one ship one warrior a knife just your bare hands if you can still attack you can win...
Red light splashes against the shimmering field projected from her arm, and then she's among them with a predator's leap, lash snaring a target and dragging it into the line of fire as lightning erupts...
Bloodless carnage, pretend violence, none of the sounds are smells that would be present if she were fighting real Imperials...not yet. Soon, but not yet....
Actions:
-Nolaa picks up a great many interesting new toys from her new best friend Queen Karina the Great, and takes time from her busy schedule to blow off some steam.
-Infrastructure and curriculums at Sarlaac Base and Krayt Base are upgraded and expanded.
@Sidheach
To: Imperial Territory, Mass Transmission; Via Madine's present
[EMERGENCY BROADCAST]
[DO NOT ADJUST YOUR PROJECTORS]
[THIS IS NOT A TEST] ██████████
[There's something about a space battle that awes the mind and numbs the senses. Handfuls or dozens or hundreds of ships clashing in the void, battling in the black. Backlit by alien stars, the space between alight with livid, luminous turbolaser fire. They're terrible and horrifying and even some minor Imperial attache from the Core, having his morning kaf in the kitchenette shudders a little to himself to imagine the cost. Imagine the bloody toll, all those souls dying in the cold, in the dark. But everyone reads about them. Everyone eats them up, devours them down.Imperial Star Destroyers...Super Star Destroyers's what could be more emblematic of the Empire? What could more perfectly quantify its might, qualify its prowess? The bounty of its industry and the fearsome nature of its soldiers? Imagining them ripping through Rebel lines is exciting. Mon Cal capital ships bursting like overripe fruit is thrilling. Everyone likes a good naval engagement.
This is like no naval engagement you've ever seen. This is like no battle you've ever, ever, seen.
Thousands of ships locked in a melee, a maelstrom of fire. Threads of light binding hulking leviathans together. Hulls rupturing, atmosphere venting. Nebulon-B's and Victory II's are specks. MC80's and Star Destroyers are clots. A swarm of Y-wings rips past the recorder's point of view, ion-drives burning blue. Instantly swallowed by the storm. They might as well be motes of dust for all you can tell.
But then you see it. Something so massive, so large that it warps the battle around it. Imperial forces rallying to its flanks. Republic ships scorching the hull. It trails shattered ships in its wake, broken pieces of capital craft flowing behind it like an accretion cloud. The hurricane of battle distends, distorts around it. And you're waiting, you're waiting for the moment when it'll push through. The big ten million credit shot where the Rebels give way. Where their center collapses and the Navy runs them down.
Something ignites in the center of the city on the SSD's back. It...bends. It buckles. Fireballs blooming like flowers all up and down the length of the enormous wedge. The lights flicker, the engines dim.It loses propulsion and its drive turns into a ponderous tilt. And then you see it. You see it and you realize that you know it. How many SSD's are there in the Empire? How many have you seen on so many patriotic ads and state-sponsored vids.
The Iron Fist.
And just before the video cuts you can see the Imperial fleet convulse. See it start to fragment and feather apart, battlegroups bringing themselves out of the gyre but then it's gone and and there's just...a man sitting there. An alien. Battered and wounded, one eye covered by a gunmetal grey patch. White bandages dappled with red. Bindings across his broad, thickly muscled chest. Fraying against the coarse blue and white sharkskin. A heavy coat rests on his shoulders. His snout rests in his hand. One single black eye boring a hole into the recorder.]
Regents of the state. Empress Pallopides. Men and women of the Empire. My name is Admiral Harro Tamson of the New Republic. As of two hours ago Grand Moff Zsinj was killed in battle over Estaria. He died as he lived, bluntly and badly, and in the aftermath his men ate each other alive to escape. Your heroes fought to flee. To slice up the worlds he had bought with the blood of a million Stormtroopers.
[His hand falls and he grins and there are so many, so very many sharp-edged teeth in that smile. So much serrated white that it tickles at something in the back of the human brain. Some primitive, primal thing that remember what it was like to be hunted. To be afraid in the night. To be food.]
Look to your left.
Look to your right.
Look to your superiors.
Look to your subordinates.
When the time comes and the cost must be paid, when the blood of murdered worlds cries out for justice, who will save you? Will it be the man on your left? The woman on your right? Will it be the Grand Moffs in their palaces or your Commanders in the field?
[He leans in for a second, just a second, and slick, shining fangs and pale pink gums fill the screen.]
Do you think you can even save yourselves? You have had decades of peace. All the industry of the galaxy. Slaves a billion strong and all that you have wrought is rotten to the grain. Decrepit and decayed. And you, brave architects of the New Order, are so terrified to loosen your grips for even a second lest it all come crashing down. Lie to your citizens. Lie to yourselves. Say that you will crush us in the field, burn our worlds but what you don't understand is that our defeats do not break us, our humiliations do not shame us, and our victories do not satisfy us.
[He stands, the cloak slipping to the floor, baring his torso properly and you can see, you can see that something ran him right the fuck through. Blood pools in his bandages, oozes down his belly. Flowing and forking over the bands of muscle. The recorder tracks him and against the wall rows of soldiers stand. Commandos in dun and green, faces masked by scarves and bandanas. Skeletal smiles, monstrous mouths worked onto the thread. Blaster rifles across the chest...]
We come from the gutters. From the camps. From the ashes of a hundred ruined worlds. We are your ghosts. We are your demons. We are all your sins come to light and we will not stop. We will never stop. And you cannot stop us.
[...And outside, out in the void battlegroups flow past, fighter squadrons flit through. Fleets powering through the shattered, sundered wreckage of an Imperial armada.]
We are everything you have earned.
[The transmission cuts out. Leaving only a still image on the screen.]
With the Crimson Empire on its last legs, the New Republic would choose to continue pressing on into the Harrin Trade Corridor, wholly intent on putting an end to one of the more dangerous Imperial Breakaway States outside of the Deep Core and the Colonies where the Executor and the Bulwark were located. Under the direction of Admiral Garm Bel Iblis, who had brought his expertise to bear for the New Republic Starfleet, the New Republic would initially engage in a series of feints with the Crimson Empire, launching raids into Harrin itself from the Shipwrights' Trace while warding off a suspected attack towards New Alderaan, while preparing for a renewed offensive. Following these initial parries, the Harrin Campaign would resume in earnest with Garm Bel Iblis and Gial Ackbar launching simultaneous attacks on Lazerian and Ropagi where the battered remnants of the Crimson Fleet had prepared for one last all out stand before they could be swept away into nothingness and the Crimson Empire along with it.
In the Lazerian System, Garm Bel Iblis would find himself on the receiving end of the least resistance with but a single fleet remaining behind to hold off the New Republic in conjunction with the wide array of planetary and orbital defenses meant to keep the planet safe from would-be conquerors. Having caught wise to the nature of the Crimson Empire's defenses, Garm Bel Iblis would adjust his tactics accordingly, sweeping ahead with specialised freighters that were equipped to deal with mines before jumping in with his forces and dealing with the rest of the system defenses. Leaving one fleet to counter elements of the Crimson Fleet present in the Lazerian System, the New Republic would begin attacking defensive structures across the system, sending boarding parties to capture orbital stations, while landing troops on the surface of Lazerian IV itself. Once on the surface of Lazerian IV, the battle would, by all accounts, proceed smoothly with intelligence provided by Princess Aereena, heir to the Lazerian Monarchy, aiding the New Republic in subduing the planet in a short campaign aided by the forced withdrawal of the Crimson Fleet back to Harrin.
The Battle of Ropagi and the clash between Supreme Commander Ackbar and Supreme Commander Jax, on the other hand, would be a far more bitter fight as the Imperial Guardsman made his intent to bleed the New Republic dry more than clear to his approaching foes. Bringing his last two fleets to bear against the New Republic, Carnor Jax would harry the New Republic Starfleet all the way from Pax to Ropagi, launching raids on the fleets after using his Interdictors to force them to drop out prematurely, before ultimately confronting them in the Ropagi System. Though he may have been outnumbered, few would question Carnor Jax's determination with his personal TIE Interceptor, flanked by his fellow Imperial Guardsmen, leading the fight against Supreme Commander Ackbar over the skies of Ropagi. It would be here that the Jedi Order would have it's revenge even as it adapted to the needs of the New Republic, taking on more and more of a role as commandos rather than shock troopers, with the Jedi leading strikes behind enemy lines and attacking enemy weapon emplacements.
At the end, it would be superior numbers that would win the day and more than a little luck with intel provided to the New Republic presenting Supreme Commander Ackbar with an opportunity to bring an end to the battle before it could drag on for any longer. Learning of the location of Carnor Jax's personal bunker on Ropagi II, the Jedi Order and Rancor Squad, commandos trained by Captain Alix Krennic, would launch a strike against the Supreme Commander's location in the hopes of decapitating the enemy war machine. In true Mando fashion, as the Jedi were referred to as more and more by their fellow soldiers, the strike force would reach their destination not by gunship but by orbital drop with Grandmaster Ordo acquiring a number of orbital drop pods so that they could, in his own words, "get there quicker." Fired out of the Home One, the Jedi and Rancor Squad would crash down on Carnor Jax's location and engage the Imperial Guardsman in one last duel as the Jedi sought to repay Jax for the defeat inflicted upon them the last time that they met.
Unlike their previous encounter, however, the Jedi would not make the mistake of attempting to engage Carnor Jax on their own. Although they would duel briefly, Ghes Ordo proving the most able, it would only be to hold the Supreme Commander in place while Rancor Squad, who had their own opinions on killing expert swordsmen, prepared their own method to deal with Carnor Jax. Signalling for the Jedi to pull back, Rancor Squad would unceremoniously fire a very large rocket at the Supreme Commander who had but a moment to take note of his imminent demise before being blown to bits by the high grade explosives sent his way. With Carnor Jax now dead and distributed across the surface of Ropagi II, in tiny hand sized pieces, the Crimson Empire's defense of the Ropagi System would fall apart with his immediate successor withdrawing their forces down the Enarc Run to Roldalna while the New Republic finished severing the Crimson Empire in half with the capture of Ropagi and Lazerian.
And then the Empire attacked...
Summary
Lazerian and Ropagi Systems taken.
Carnor Jax blown up.
---
Skirmish Along the Trade Spine
Admiral Darrus Alde
---
As the Harrin Campaign commenced, Admiral Sien Sovv would embark on a campaign of his own to further consolidate the New Republic's hold over the Southern Colonies. Seeking to deny both the Imperial Warlords that had sprung up in the wake of the Decimation of Fondor and the Galactic Empire the ability to strike at him from the rear, Admiral Sien Sovv would first launch simultaneous strikes at Vulvarch and Ghorman while all eyes were turned elsewhere. Taking advantage of his positioning, Admiral Sovv would first launch a two pronged strike into the Vulvarch System from his strongholds at Bassadro and Atzerri, crossing the Shipwrights' Trace to attack Vulvarch from both the east and west while it was cut off from reinforcement. Ghorman would find itself on the receiving end of a similar fate with the isolated Imperial Warlord at Ghorman finding himself under assault from New Republic fleets dispatched from Vanik that would swiftly take over the Ghorman System before Bulwark Rar could do so himself if he did indeed intend on doing so.
Such easy victories would be but the prelude to a more hard fought battle, however, as the Galactic Empire finally committed. Intent on forcing Admiral Sovv to commit his full force in the Southern Colonies, an Imperial force led by Admiral Darrus Alde, an Alderaanian nobleman with a reputation for efficiency, would advance down the Corellian Trade Spine to Kelada before assaulting Republic positions at Devaron. Unwilling to allow the Empire to roll back the line and thereby risk having Yag'Dhul fall yet again, Admiral Sovv would do just as expected and commit his full force to Devaron and engage Admiral Alde while his offensive was still in it's infancy. Having already begun the process of constructing defenses in the Devaron System, Admiral Sovv would arrive to find the Imperial fleets still in the process of systematically dismantling said defenses and thus be left free to rescue Devaron before it was too late. The Battle of Devaron would itself be a brief affair, little more than a skirmish in truth, as would become apparent once Admiral Alde had withdrawn and word reaching Admiral Sovv of events to the south at Eriadu.
Summary
Admiral Sovv seizes Ghorman and Vulvarch.
Admiral Alde's attack on Devaron repulsed after tying up Admiral Sovv in time for events in the south to unfold.
---
The Attack on Eriadu
Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces, Rae Sloane
---
Though the Galactic Empire had suffered dearly as a result of the betrayal of Grand Admiral Grant at the Battle of Yag'Dhul and been forced to withdraw from the Southern Colonies while the New Republic surged forward as a result, this did not mean that the Empire had given up. Led by the newly named Supreme Commander of the Imperial Forces, Rae Sloane, the Empire would build up it's fleets once more and prepare for a new offensive into the New Republic, one far bolder and more daring than any before it, in order to make up for the losses sustained in previous years. Much like Grand Moff Zsinj, the Supreme Commander would mass more than a thousand ships including dozens of Imperial Star Destroyers, countless Turbulent Star Destroyers, and the Super Star Destroyers Imperatrix and Executor, the former having been refitted after a brief stint doing humanitarian work. It was an armada that had been assembled for one single purpose, a mailed fist meant to strike at the heart of the New Republic and provide the Supreme Commander with a measure of satisfaction she had been denied by constant infighting and bickering within the Empire.
Assembling the Grand Armada of the Empire at Denon, now a veritable fortress bristling with weaponry, the Supreme Commander would wait for Admiral Alde and the Crimson Empire to tie up the New Republic's primary forces in the Galactic South before launching her assault. Advancing down the Hydian Way, the Supreme Commander would brutally roll back the New Republic, decimating defending forces at Chardaan, Shibric, and ZeHeth before falling upon Malastare with all the brutality that the Empire could muster for the important staging post for the New Republic Starfleet. Sparing little thought for actually capturing the world, Sloane would decimate the planet's orbital facilities, the supply depots meant to support the Harrin Campaign, and bombard factories on the planet's forces while the defenders could do little more than hunker down and wait out the assault. Yet again, however, no thought would be given to capturing the planet and as soon as it had been deemed that sufficient damage had been done, the Grand Armada of the Empire would carry on, continuing it's rampage down the Hydian Way as it made for Eriadu and the capital of the New Republic.
Aware of the Empire's advance down the Hydian Way at this point, as the Supreme Commander had made little effort to hide her attack, Eriadu would be afforded ample time to prepare for the onslaught coming it's way. As first the seat of the Imperial Warlord, Sander Delvardus, and now the capital of the New Republic, Eriadu was far from undefended with the New Republic having fortified the system to hell and back on top of what Delvardus had done himself while he still drew breath. Several purpose-built defense stations had been constructed around Eriadu, the Eriadu Defense Fleet had been afforded the best ships the New Republic had to offer, Eriadu itself boasted planetary shields and turbolaser emplacements, and there remained, close at hand, several other fleets ready to reinforce the world if need be. Such defenses were hardly secret, however, and thus the Supreme Commander would arrive in the Eriadu System well prepared, outnumbering the Republic more than two to one, and with more than a few surprises in tow in order to better even the odds in her favour.
Beginning the Battle of Eriadu with a deafening barrage towards Republic emplacements, the Empire would swiftly move to overwhelm the Eriadu Defense Fleet while the Imperial Star Destroyers Tarkin and Sturn lugged several asteroids towards Eriadu itself in a bid to devastate the planet. Ploughing through the Eriadu Defense Fleet, the Grand Armada of the Empire would litter the space around Eriadu with red and green as turbolasers tore into orbital stations and thousands of starfighters duked it out between the warships even as ship after ship jumped into the Eriadu System from Sullust, Sluis Van, Endor, and Malastare. Calling in everything they had, including the new Liberator-class Carrier which had been about to undergo it's shakedown cruise at Sluis Van, the New Republic would desperately attempt to fend the Imperials off even as sabotage on Eriadu itself brought down shields and disabled turbolaser emplacements. Even as reinforcements under the command of Supreme Commander Ackbar closed in, torn away from the Harrin Campaign, closed in on Eriadu, Sloane would continue her work demonstrating the folly of resisting the Empire to the New Republic as the next phase commenced.
Dropping the asteroids on the planet, both of which would be broken up and would largely only damage the industrial sector due to it's shields being the first to be taken down, unlike the Senate District's shields which remained up, wave after wave of soldiers would be sent down onto the planet with the single-minded goal of devastating the New Republic's beating heart. Dark Troopers would engage the Senate Guard, Stormtroopers would grapple with Republic Marines, and everything from X-Wings to N-2s would dart about the atmosphere shooting down landing craft as the Empire sought to do as much damage as possible. Factories would be destroyed, a surprisingly beneficial thing in the long run as not a single one of them had been built to code, and the Senate District would play host to heavy fighting as the Empire made an effort to capture Mon Mothma in the hopes of forcing the New Republic to terms. It would be a bloody battle, on par with the Battle of Estaria, and one in which heroes would be made on both sides as the Empire saw officers rise to the occasion and the New Republic witnessed brave souls brave waves of laser fire to save lives and do daring deeds.
The arrival of Supreme Commander Ackbar would signal the closing phases of the Battle of Eriadu as his counterpart, Rae Sloane, deemed her work to be done. Though Mon Mothma had evaded capture, her life saved by the Senate Guard and commandos led by Captain Alix Krennic and Borsk Fey'lya, who was reportedly livid with the Empire for interrupting his interview on Late Night with Corran Horn, severe damage had been inflicted upon the planet and heavy losses had been sustained by the New Republic Starfleet. Withdrawing her forces on the planet, from Dark Troopers to Lieutenant Talia Rite, the Supreme Commander would spare but a moment to fire a few vindictive shots at Eriadu before withdrawing from the Eriadu System, pushing right through Ackbar's reinforcements on her way out. Returning to Denon, after making no effort to stop the New Republic to recapture those worlds blitzed on her way down the Hydian Way, Sloane would leave the New Republic to deal with the consequences of her attack which would prove to be quite high. With Eriadu devastated, though not to the degree of, say, Fondor, and the New Republic Starfleet mauled at the Battle of Eriadu, the New Republic has been left fuming, downright livid over the attack and the high toll reaped in civilian lives.
Summary
Sloane blitzes down the Hydian Way and attacks Eriadu.
Eriadu hit hard, severe damage done before Sloane withdraws back to Denon leaving the New Republic to pick up the pieces.
---
The Aftermath
Debris Falling on Eriadu
---
For the New Republic, the Battle of Eriadu has been an eye opener.
All across the Galaxy, images of the attack have been displayed over the HoloNet, of children weeping in the streets, the dead crushed beneath debris, of sailors floating lifelessly in space. Hopes that the attack might break the New Republic or urge caution have merely backfired as speech after speech is played of Mon Mothma, Borsk Fey'lya, Gial Ackbar, Shea Hublin, Leia Organa, and more condemning the Empire for the attacking and ecnouraging resistance in the face of such reckless hate. Though a small faction has arisen in the Senate urging peace, for a truce in which the New Republic might recover, the voices calling for vengeance have proven far louder in the face of the attack and with Grand Moff Zsinj dead and the Crimson Empire on the verge of collapse, it is almost certain that such voices shall be heeded.
Meanwhile in the Empire, the same images have been briefly played as the Republic Intelligence and later other unknown operatives showed the Empire the consequences of it's actions. For a brief moment before the transmissions were shutdown, billions of Imperial citizens were forced to watch as Stormtroopers gunned down children, Imperial Star Destroyers left craters where cowering civilians once stood, and the sight of a burning world. Though the effects of such subversion will take time to surface in full, there has already been a marked uptick in subversive activities as support for the Empire takes a hit after the security blanket that was an information blackout was briefly removed. Further, the damage done to planets such as Eriadu and Malastare have proved to be yet another blow to an already ailing galactic economy which simply cannot survive yet more and more vital industrial worlds being casually devastated in the pursuit of a so called speedy end to the conflict.
Corellia, once the Jewel of the Core, no matter what Coruscant claims, has continued to chafe under the Empire as the Corellians grow ever wearier of Imperial rule. Though the untimely execution of Moff Dezmo had seen the far more moderate and reasonable Soontir Fel placed in charge of the governance of Corellia, it has by no means solved it's issues. With the Corellian Resistance continuing to act against the Empire, even if infiltration of the movement has made it easier for the Empire to counter it, and with outside forces continuing to stir up trouble, the Corellians have grown more bold in their subversion. Workers at the Corellian Shipyards would intentionally sabotage their work, installing a hyperdrive in such a way that it might burn out after one jump for instance or wiring the engines in such a way as to cause them to flame out after a few parsecs, CorSec would make a point of turning their backs on the Governor, and so forth. Such shows of defiance would fit a trend of more passive resistance as many a Corellian could not afford to join the Resistance for fear of retribution and thus the act of non-violent resistance would become a popular one amongst those who sympathised with the Corellian Resistance.
Revelations regarding the Battle of Eriadu would only make matters worse and mere days after the New Republic and what was later discovered to be First Restoration agents broadcasted footage from the attack, Corellia would respond with planetwide strikes that crippled production and all but entirely shut down the Corellian Shipyards. Though the striking workers would eventually be broken up after a few demonstrative executions, the taking of hostages, and the threat of withholding food, it would still slow production and make evidently clear the prevailing attitude of the Corellians towards the Empire.
Summary
Corellia resists largely non-violently.
---
The Diaspora Comes Home
New Aldera
---
Elsewhere, the Alderaanian Diaspora has begun to slowly make it's way to New Alderaan. Though the planet remains young, relatively speaking, and many an Alderaanian has yet to make their way to their new homeworld, New Alderaan has nevertheless begun to thrive as many settle down on the verdant world after being called home by their new Queen. Rebuilding it in the image of their lost homeworld, New Alderaan has proven to be a quiet world currently more concerned with the construction of New Aldera, the settling of the lush valleys that dot the planet, and of ensuring that their new homeworld will be adequately defended. Above New Alderaan, the New Republic Starfleet has overseen the construction of an orbital defense-station while the Alderaanians themselves have begun piecing together a small, yet capable, defense fleet of their own to deal with pirates and their ilk. At the same time, Queen Leia Organa has continued to delegate affairs to her ministers while focusing on diplomatic efforts, her training, and most recently the acquisition of a skilled armourer who has agreed to lend his services to the Queen of New Alderaan.
In the wake of the Eriadu Pogrom, the New Republic has been shell shocked. Children cut down on the streets, devastation reigning supreme on the planet . . . the entire world has been collectively brutalized. But no matter how hurt the world has become, the planet is not yet defeated. The Republic is not yet defeated. On the streets and the ruined plazas, every able man and woman has taken to rebuilding, to removing corpses and excavating structures. Even the highest reaches of government has not been exempt.
Still in his blaster-burnt suit from his escapades rescuing Mon Mothma, Borsk Fey'lya and his aides were spotted digging out a school, attacked by a platoon of Dark Troopers during the battle. The bodies of Republic Marines, children and teachers were carefully laid to rest, while the cyborg monstrosities that the Empire employed were burnt unceremoniously. Without a word to draw attention to himself, or a request to the press to come, Borsk silently dug.
But the hero of the hour could do nothing without attracting some attention. Even in this darkest of days, the press fulfilled their solemn duty to report the news, to tell the people of the Republic and the Empire what was occurring. Microphones and holonet cams zoomed in on the dour Bothan's face, as his usual political candor failed him. While the reporters begged for comments, for news of what the Republic was going to do, for anything. Fey'lya had little to say to the reporters.
"I'm sorry. We . . . we failed you, we failed all of you. Mon Mothma had us speaking of peace, negotiating with the Empire, and with the rebellious Imperial admirals. She had us offering them quarter. Offering them mercy. What mercy did the Empire, did Rae kriffing Sloane, offer these children?"
"I'm sorry for my language, truly. But I can only see my nephews and nieces on Kothlis every time I dig out another corpse. I can't promise you much. Mothma, not I, controls the levers of power. But if I ever get the chance, I swear this to you, with every piece of power I can muster. I will not rest, anyone who believes in me will not rest, till Isard and Sloane, Senth and Kaine, Dooku and the frakking Empress herself suffer every bit as much as the mothers and fathers of these," his voice falters, "of these younglings. I will see Ederlathh Pallopides' head paraded around Eriadu for every grieving parent to see!"
"I'm sorry. It's not the time nor place to talk politics. Please, put down the cameras and the microphones, and help me. Help me dig. Give the heroic families of the Republic some closure."
---------------------
In more uplifting news, a pair of Holonet films by reclusive yet influential Rodian director Bay Lye-sfork have taken the Republic by storm, telling the tale of how Minister Fey'lya and Captain Alix Krennic single-handily rescued Chief of State Mothma from the Sith minions of the cruel part-arachnid Imperial Admiral Rae Sloane. Skyfall and Mothma Day have rapidly become the highest grossing Holofilms in the history of the Outer Rim.
A Hero's Recognition
Six days before the Eriadu Blitz
During operations in the Galactic Northeast in 7.5 ABY, Admiral Harro Tamson, in command of the New Republic's theater force, was sent to reclaim the vital strategic Columex junction.
During the approach, the Admiral's force and that of the Imperial theater commander, Grand Moff Zsinj, happened upon one another in the Esteria system. Fearless and with great elan, the Admiral ordered his fleet forward to engage the enemy, including two Imperial Super Star Destroyers, the infamous Iron Fists of the Empire, the Left and Right Fist.
Penetrating the enemy line of battle to go amonst them, Admiral Tamson forced the Imperial to fire upon his own vessels in a frantic melee, during which the Admiral was again and again surrounded and subjected to very heavy, frequent attack, resulting in severe casualties to his force. He personally led attack and counterattack on the enemy with great gallantry in spite of having to transfer vessels mid-combat when the Super Star Destroyer Left Fist destructively rammed the Admiral's flagship.
Admiral Tamson, throughout all this fighting, sustained multiple injuries, persevering in spite of them, never once flagging despite the presence of the Iron Fists extracting a grim price from the Republican fleet, rallying the Republican fleets in the face of overwhelming firepower. He did all this until fighter wings under his command successfully inflicted catastrophic damage to the Left Fist, bringing down the Super Star Destroyer.
In doing so, Admiral Tamson is responsible for the death of one of the Empire's grand architects of oppression and genocide, Grand Moff Zsinj. Not desisting but pursuing the dismayed Imperial forces, Admiral Tamson forced the Imperial to withdraw from Esteria in disarray.
Throughout the Battle of Esteria, which lasted for some seven hours, Admiral Harro Tamson showed not only fighting qualities of very high order but throughout exposed himself to danger without any regard for his personal safety.
It is, therefore, our great joy to honour Admiral Tamson with the Star of the Hero of the Republic in Gold for this achievement.
I ain't forgot how you and Eeyo helped me out when I was getting my start in this business...and I'd like to help you. Now, we ain't a patch on your old outfit, to say nothing of your new one, but what we are is sitting on a whole mess of shiny new toys and bored.
So how about this. That there Haitch Kay is making a real nuisance of hisself, running round these parts all crazy like...don't reckon I got the firepower to take him out but I bet I can run that low down dry gulcher to ground, if I was to get...say, a nice contract for you Pubbies once I find him for you to blow up?
Maybe working for that there Mr. Fey'la. He seems like he's got a good head on his shoulders.
From: Admiral Harro Tamson To: Anti-Shackle Society
Agreed.
-Anti-Shackle Society supplied with New Republic briefings on the movement of the renegade HK-Unit
-Some shipments of Deactivators made available
-Cautioned strongly against direct confrontation
From: Admiral Harro Tamson To: Head of State Mon Mothma Public
I accept, humbled and glad to serve. When the North has been closed I will return to rebuilt Eriadu for a proper ceremony.
Private
Do not lose heart. Borsk may politick if he likes but you and your office will always hold the loyalty of Endless Ocean.
-Wolfhound, Kasser, and Cygnus Squadrons recommended for meritorious commendation for inflicting the lion's share of the damage against the SSD Iron Fist
-Survivors granted bragging rights until the Republic implodes
Actions
-continue laying down improved Nav beacons to make a makeshift hyperspace lane between Bonadan, Kamar
-CSA shipyards start gearing up for the new Lucrehulk mkII, and starts producing large amounts of civilian ships, and ships for commerce.
- Training, and rebuilding the CSAN
Occurring roughly concurrent to the Battle of Estaria, the officers of the Quelli Oversector would find themselves under attack. With a number of very large bounties placed on the heads of Zsinj's more competent and loyal subordinates, planets such as Lianna, Gargon, Columex, and Gala would play host to several high profile assassinations as bounty hunters scrambled to claim the bounties for themselves. Believed to be at least partially responsible for the degradation of authority in the Quelli Oversector in the wake of Grand Moff Zsinj's death, the assassinations would see several Moffs and Captains downed while other, less scrupulous Imperials took their place. Although the Empire has no concrete evidence as of yet, it is believed that the New Republic is behind these bounties, no doubt having hoped to weaken the Oversector in anticipation of their stalled assault on Columex before the Battle of Estaria waylaid such plans.
Summary
Assassinations take place in the Quelli Oversector, aiding in the breakdown of authority Post-Zsinj.
New Republic suspected of being behind the bounties.
---
Uprising on Tatooine
The Sand King
---
After years spent raiding settlements and occasionally clashing with the Hutts, the Tusken Raiders have begun to up their game on Tatooine. Led by the so called Sand King, a name given to the warrior by the slaves of Tatooine, the Tusken Raiders have grown increasingly aggressive, attacking shipments, moisture farms, and even palaces on the desert planet with growing frequency. Though the reasons for these attacks are unknown, some hypothise that it is due to overpopulation, others believe it is merely the result of one particularly ambitious Tusken Raider leaping to the fore, while others believe that outsiders are to blame, they have proven a thorn in Drakkus the Hutt's side. What is more worrying, however, is that the Tusken Raiders have taken to liberating slaves and inducting them into their numbers, something that would be proven time and time again as former slaves, dressed in Tusken garb, were found amongst those who were attacking the Hutts. While these attacks are not yet enough to threaten Hutt control of Tatooine, they do remain a cause for concern, especially as reports indicate that outside sources have begun arming the Tusken Raiders and providing them with everything from blaster rifles to rockets capable of taking down small freighters.
Summary
A Tusken Raider, dubbed the Sand King by the slaves, has united the clans and begun attacking the Hutts on Tatooine.
An outside source is arming the Tusken Raiders.
---
Anti-Slavery Activities
A Member of the Anti-Slavery Taskforce
---
Coordinating with Nym of Lok, the New Republic has continued to make aggressive moves towards slavers in and around Republic Space. With camera teams in tow, the joint Lok-Republic force would launch an attack on Karazak, a major slaving hub, in order to bring down the Karazak Slaver Cooperative which remained one of the largest slaver groups in the Galactic Southeast. In what may best be described as a brief and efficient mission, the joint Lok-Republic force would sweep aside the Karazak Slaver Cooperative's forces and occupy Karazak itself, systematically dismantling the Cooperative and arresting several hundred high ranking members of the organisation so that they could face trial on Eriadu. Naturally the mission has been well publicised with pictures of slaves being liberated and hardened criminals being led away in chains and has resulted in Nym, much to his chagrin, becoming something of a celebrity in the New Republic after agreeing to an interview with a journalist from the Republic News Network in which his rugged good looks and gruff personality turned him into a poor tortured soul looking to do right who just needs someone to teach him how to love, etc, etc.
Coincidentally, Nym has stopped watching the news.
Summary
A joint Lok-Republic taskforce takes down the Karazak Slaver Cooperative.
REWARD: 250.000 CREDITS will be paid for the live delivery of this man BERTROFF HISSA Reward will be paid for the live capture and delivery of this man, wanted for war crimes under the Eriadu Accords.
In more uplifting news, a pair of Holonet films by reclusive yet influential Rodian director Bay Lye-sfork have taken the Republic by storm, telling the tale of how Minister Fey'lya and Captain Alix Krennic single-handily rescued Chief of State Mothma from the Sith minions of the cruel part-arachnid Imperial Admiral Rae Sloane. Skyfall and Mothma Day have rapidly become the highest grossing Holofilms in the history of the Outer Rim.
Freely Accessible via the HPA Holonet feed and other news outlets
This is a tasteless portrayal of a vicious monster, who through her actions caused unspeakable suffering to millions of peaceful sophonts of the Republic. It is hard to countenance how Suprosa Productions and Bay Lye-sfork saw fit to exert such wanton 'creative' license so terribly soon after the tragedy at Eriadu. While not explicitly stated within the film, the signs and dog whistles employed throughout are all to clear to my eyes, even as tears filled most of them more rapidly than I could bring hands up to wipe them away.
It takes only a few seconds to find an image of Grand Admiral Sloane and note the distinct lack of pedipalps, luxurious fur or bright and vivacious ruby eyes. No one deserved what happened that day, but it does not excuse this attempt at conflating old and damaging stereotypes. Those behind this deeply hurtful entry in to our young nation's cinematic lexicon owe an apology to the Harch victims of her attack, and the rest of our proud and much maligned people.
-Vestilla Arachtys, Sector Director for the Harch Protection Association
"While you all seek to delay, pretending that your hesitation is borne out of concerns for the fragility of our forces, both the Rebellion and the False Empire have been massing outside our borders, preparing to penetrate the Deep Core while we remain inactive." Dak growled as he paced across the room, heavy boots thudding on the red carpet, while his many adopted siblings waited all around him. Such family gatherings since their father, the Executor, had taken over the Deep Core had grown rarer and rarer for reasons that fast became apparent whenever the dozen or so children were gathered in one room. "If we struck now-"
"We would collide with Imperial defenses at the Imperial Centre and grind ourselves to bloody bits trying to break out of the Deep Core." Shimi countered, the plain looking woman regarding her brother with thinly veiled contempt as she lounged on a couch, one leg draped over the other, and casually skimmed over a datapad in order to appear busier than she actually was. "And before you mention it, the route to Pollillus has been detected, the Regency Council have been busy little bees, ferreting out all our little secrets to the best of their limited ability."
Bail nodded from across the room, peering out a window and down at the cityscape below, as he quietly contemplated matters. "And we have greater concerns than the activities of traitors to our species and alien dogs." He added. "Personally, I think it is far better to focus upon cleansing the Deep Core of the vermin that still plague it than wasting ships trying to kill scum that are all too happy to do that for us. I mean, they gleefully bombard planets, destroy industry, and send billions to their death to satisfy their grudges, given a few years we will need only to sweep in and exterminate the remaining few before repopulating the galaxy with humans."
"If they continue fighting, my sources have indicated-"
"Oh pleases, your sources couldn't tell an alien from a human." Noval scoffed, sitting down beside Shimi after fetching a drink from the cabinet. "Although I suppose it fits given your clear lack of intelligence."
There was a commotion, and a loud one at that, as Dak stormed towards Noval only to be restrained by three of his brothers while pistols were drawn and the room swiftly turned into an armed camp. "I have had enough of your disrespect, sister." Dak growled, still held back by his brothers. "So you take it back before I shove my fist down your throat."
"Tough words, Dak." Shimi oohed as she smirked and leaned back into the couch, datapad casually discarded, and pointed her blaster at her brother. "An awful choice in last words though because if you try, we'll have to shoot you until you stop twitching."
"Which will take a very long time, as I'm sure you remember." Noval pointed out, sipping her drink nonchalantly, before rising to her feet and staring her brother in the eyes. "Remember what happened when you helped Kellin to escape with that Rebel of hers? What happened to your fellow accomplices? If I recall correctly, father managed to make their deaths drag on for...what was it? A year?"
"Two." Bail corrected her, still looking out the window. "And then he had them cloned and repeated the process, he was quite cross after all."
"Well, I imagine we could do much better than two." She decided as Dak was finally let go, the hulking son violently shaking off the hands and stalking away angrily. "Oh don't be cross, Dak, I was only joking."
"This is no joke." Dak fumed, turning back round to jab a finger at his siblings. "Waiting does us no good, we must act now while the odds are still in our favour." He warned them before making for the door.
"And where are you going now?" Shimi asked. "Father isn't even here yet."
"To the Purity, give father my love if he even bothers to show this time..."
Freely Accessible via the HPA Holonet feed and other news outlets
This is a tasteless portrayal of a vicious monster, who through her actions caused unspeakable suffering to millions of peaceful sophonts of the Republic. It is hard to countenance how Suprosa Productions and Bay Lye-sfork saw fit to exert such wanton 'creative' license so terribly soon after the tragedy at Eriadu. While not explicitly stated within the film, the signs and dog whistles employed throughout are all to clear to my eyes, even as tears filled most of them more rapidly than I could bring hands up to wipe them away.
It takes only a few seconds to find an image of Grand Admiral Sloane and note the distinct lack of pedipalps, luxurious fur or bright and vivacious ruby eyes. No one deserved what happened that day, but it does not excuse this attempt at conflating old and damaging stereotypes. Those behind this deeply hurtful entry in to our young nation's cinematic lexicon owe an apology to the Harch victims of her attack, and the rest of our proud and much maligned people.
-Vestilla Arachtys, Sector Director for the Harch Protection Association
Ever eager to enforce the Empire's will away from his borders, which the Grand Moff would rather remain quiet and uneventful, Ardus Kaine has moved to bring an end to the New Republic presence at Ithor while it is otherwise engaged. Moving to the isolated world, politically speaking, the long way due to the Empire of Oplovis' presence along the Braxant Run, the Grand Moff's campaign to subdue Ithor would be a swift and relatively bloodless one as one might expect due to the circumstances. Arriving in the Ithor System, the Grand Moff would dispatch a token garrison, most of the fleet having scattered, and then relatively peacefully occupy Ithor itself, inflicting minimal damage to the world before installing a fairly lenient Moff unlikely to go full Tarkin on the world.
Summary
Grand Moff Kaine subdues Ithor.
---
Banking in Oplovis
A Muun
---
The Empire of Oplovis, still retaining it's position as the least troublesome Imperial breakway, has continued to benefit from the relatively peaceful nature of the Galactic Northwest with the InterGalactic Banking Clan extending operations to Oplovis in order to benefit from the stability of the state. Though the Muun, of course, remain supportive of the Empire and remain steadfast in their support of the Empress, they, like a growing number of organisations, have proven largely unwilling to stay their hand when it comes to the Empire's more nominal foes. As a result, aside from Oplovis remaining a productive member of the Galactic Community, there have been a growing number of wealthy and influential persons who are suggesting to the Regency Council that the current state of inactivity towards the breakaway state would be far more beneficial than yet another trade inhibiting war in one of the more stable regions of the Empire.
Summary
Muuns begin operating on Oplovis.
Disciples and Cults
Witches of Dathomir
---
While the Galactic Civil War continues to rage, the Disciples of the Force and the Cult of the Family continue to move about in the background. On Vurdon Ka, the wandering disciple, Promata Ren, would come upon a young Dathomiri girl named Tavion whom he would take on as a pupil, a practice that has proven popular among the wandering disciples when away from Yavin IV, and continued to establish a reputation for the Disciples of the Force as peaceful monks focused on enlightenment. At the same time, the Cult of the Family has continued to spread thanks to it's popularity with the Imperial elites, popularity that has allowed it to establish a temple on the Imperial Centre which has become all the rage amongst those aristocrats looking for a hip and trendy way of appearing spiritual.
Summary
Disciples continue wandering about.
Cult of the Family continues to spread.
---
The Devil
Ky'enai/The Ssi-ruuk Devil
---
Using her connections with the New Republic, Ky'enai has continued her one twi'lek crusader against the Ssi-ruuvi Imperium with the former Hound finally getting into the swing of things. Using intelligence provided by Borsk Fey'lya, Ky'enai would go about disrupting Ssi-ruuk shipping through the New Republic, attacking a number of freighters filled with enteched power cells destined for the Empire and Hutt Space. Naturally this has not gone unnoticed by Admiral Theraan who has taken to screaming her name dramatically whenever news of her exploits reaches him, emphasising the ai, and has increased the bounty on her head.
Summary
Ky'enai disrupts covert Ssi-ruuk shipments.
---
Devolved Security
Mandalorians on Saleucami
---
Taking advantage of the Crimson Death's withdrawal from Saleucami, though only after thoroughly trashing the place, a joint Mandalorian-Hutt force has moved in to secure the planet and dispatch the few remaining pirates and gangsters still occupying the planet. Doing so under various devolved security agreements with the Galactic Empire, the move has largely seen Mandalorians move in to secure worlds such as Saleucami, New Holstice, and later Anzat, while Drakkus the Hutt takes the opportunity to take over the more profitable enterprises on each world. Faced with the first real opportunity to expand in centuries, the Mandalorians have taken full advantage of it, swiftly establishing a presence on these worlds and ensuring that their governments pay tribute to Mandalore in the form of credits, resources, and new recruits. Naturally this has all proven rather worrying but with Zsinj dead and the Mandalorians and the Hutts ensuring trade continues to flow in spite of pirates, there is reluctance on the part of many to do anything about it.
Summary
Crim ditches Saleucami.
Mandalorians and Hutts take over Saleucami, New Holstice, and Anzat.
Enraged by Mandalore's escape from his inescapable deathtrap, Pizztov Senior has returned with a vengeance. Staging an attack on an abandoned research laboratory established by Admiral Chart, the increasingly unhinged gangster has stolen a top secret virus capable of wiping out billions if unleashed onto an unsuspecting public. In a bold declaration to the galaxy, Pizztov has threatened to release the virus on Mon Calamari, Coruscant, Eriadu, and Nar Shaddaa unless he is given Mandalore's head on a plate and one billion credits before the end of the next quarter.
For some odd reason, however, this has been ignored with one New Republic Senator stating that "if this wannabe mass murderer wants attention, he should get some sort of death ray because after Endor, I'm not budging for anything less than some sort of sun crusher or something. I don't know, Palpatine probably had something lying about of the sort."
. In a bold declaration to the galaxy, Pizztov has threatened to release the virus on Mon Calamari, Coruscant, Eriadu, and Nar Shaddaa unless he is given Mandalore's head on a plate and one billion credits before the end of the next quarter.
In the First Restoration hundreds of Chartist scientists and philosophers are gathering at the first galactic conference on the strange virus known previously as "Rip Chart". In the midst of the conference, the main goal of which was to synthesize modern findings on the "Chart Phenomenon", the proceedings were suddenly thrown into chaos by the arrival of new data from a man only known as "Piss off" to the conference members. Although there was something or other about a virus, what they were really interested in was this would influence chartonomics, since the virus was reportedly property of Chart (according to records he filed on the holonet).
After a short period of deliberation the conference's findings have been released. The above is what scientists think that, if given an opportunity to do something in a vacuum, such as being given a choice between pulling a lever sending a hyperspace convoy towards five starships or one starship, there was
a. A 34% chance that Chart would ignore the lever and attempt the creation of a bioweapon
b. A 62% chance that Chart would attempt to betray the lever and say that he was abandoning the experiment
c. A 2% chance That Chart would do the right thing, which in his mind would be to ensure that the lever killed the most sophonts possible
The galaxy is still in shock from the earthshaking developments of the conference. Also, there's a bounty for Pissoff, so you should go get him. Extra grant money.
Admiral, I require a human psychology specialist and a discretionary budget stat. I have reason to believe that I can get an idiot to unleash biological weapons on galactic capitols without it being traced back to us. We need to act quickly before someone sensible decapitates him.
From: Nolaa Tarkona
To: Bartokk Assassin Hive Xhass
My friend, you know what must be done. Kill the human, kill his family, his friends, his business associates, and his pets, but first and foremost procure a sample of that weapon.
@Sidheach
- Hive Xhass dispatched on a mission of galactic altruism, to save billions by killing Pizztov and anyone else unfortunate enough to be nearby when they find him...but mostly to get a sample of the weapon for the Chainbreakers use.
From: Sabok Vressk, Guildmaster of the Bounty Hunter's Guild To: Bounty Hunter's Guild Members @Sidheach
The number of bounties offered at large have increased recently, and two particular bounties of note have been raised by the New Republic which I wish to address specifically to the Guild. The first is the Bounty on Bertroff Hissa. The Bounty on him is not terribly high but a retrieval of this Bounty will help to demonstrate our skill and raise our Guild's esteem in the eyes of law enforcement agencies and major players through the galaxy and will help to draw business for the Guild. Support will be granted to any team or teams who wish to pursue this Bounty. The Guild will draw less of a percentage than usual for this particular Bounty.
The second Bounty is of far greater concern to the Guild, to Trandosha, and to the Galaxy at large. Pizztov the Elder has received a personal bounty of 2 Million Credits after he apparently acquired a deadly engineered virus and threatened to perform acts of genocide against a number of targeted worlds if his demands for the head of the sitting Mandalore's head are not met. Needless to say, none of the powers targeted respond well to threats, and neither does the Bounty Hunter's Guild. If Pizztov had thought to put a substantial bounty on the Mandalore's head it might be different, but he has himself become a priority target for us. The Bounty Hunter's Guild will be directing major effort and dispatching a number of Hunter Teams to capture this man. This mission comes with high risk, and the Clan Council has informed me the Guild is free to request assistance from the Mercenary Companies on Trandosha, and even some limited aid from Trandosha's Fleet. We must be sure to catch this man and attempt to neutralize his threat at the earliest opportunity, before anyone else can claim this high risk bounty, and possibly without the measures required to ensure a major world is not visited by this engineered virus, a state of affairs that will not be beneficial to anyone. If we can neutralize the threat Pizztov poses while capturing him we might see about seeing if one of the targeted powers can provide a higher bounty, however if doubt remains Pizztov will be delivered to the New Republic as requested and their intelligence agency can see about neutralizing the threat. After that it's out of our hands.
The Guild can benefit greatly from these opportunities to showcase our skill and professionalism in The Hunt, but we must succeed and succeed well. Mistakes here could cause great harm to the galaxy at large and cause irreparable harm to our reputation. We have to do this well, and do it right. If we succeed the future rewards could be great, if we fail the fallout could be terrible. So goes The Hunt. Good Luck, and Good Hunting.
To: Captain Dyre, Agent Tarkin, Lieutenant Wessiri @Sidheach
From: B -- NRI
Chart's faults come home to roost. Stop this Pizztov and eliminate any remaining projects of the late Admiral.
B
To: Ghes Ordo @Sidheach
From: Shea "Slaver Destroyer"Hublin, Minister of War
Grandmaster Ordo. The Republic must prevail upon you and your comrades to fix that infuriating fish's fuck-ups. The dignity of the Republic, and, much more importantly, the lives of trillions are at stake.
I promise you we'll even lay off the promotional Jedi Order material for, say, six months.
