The dagger shape of the Star Destroyer Patriot hung in space over Ord Mantell, the deep blue colour of the ship all but hiding it as it traversed the face of the planet so far below it.

As the vessel's temporary commander stepped onto the bridge and saluted, the Galactic Defence Initiative's Supreme Commander rose and saluted.

"Lupercus Darksword," he said. "Welcome. You may depart once my shuttle has cleared the area." The other nodded, and Dxun Isstal gave him a small nod. "Good luck."

Then he was gone, sweeping down the cooridor and towards his shuttle. Within minutes, the shuttle had launched. The small fleet turned and, with precision made possible only by hours of practice, made the jump to hyperspace.

Their goal was in sight: Gallinore would be liberated.

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The former Prince of Hapes remained silent as the Supreme Commander left, and instantly the men were in action. Hustling quickly, they were in hyperspace, expecting on a few days travel time til they reached their destination. More than enough to begin plans for the taking of the planet.

But luckily, Lupercus had transfered himself to his personal flagship the Blood of Hapes before taking the Fleet into Hyperspace. Onboard, but with other Sith stationed on all the other GDI craft, Lupercus stretched out on his pallet, thinking about the coming conquest. On a leash next to him lay the sleeping body of the New Republic pilot he had driven insane during a raid on New Republic forces for booty. The man whimpered slightly in his sleep, the dirty body convolsing slightly as the Dark Prince sent a wave of hate induced pain through his already painwracked mind. After a while, he tired of toying with his trophy, and tapped into the semi hive mind he and the other Hapan Sith had developed. All expressed eagerness at the possibility of Hapan plunder, and at the chance that Darth Talus would arrive, strengthening the Darkness that awashed their hearts and souls to their very core.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Soon my friends. Soon...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

Mining Facility 991b

Gallinore

The man kicked the older figure roughly in the chest, throwing the fragile elder across the room. The other let a smile play his expression at the continued crunching of those old bones as they smashed into the wall of the mines.

"Old man, think you get rest? Think you get peace? You work for us!" he lifted his E-11 blaster rifle, and took aim at his thigh, blasting away with sadistic glee. The old man let out a horrific cry that only caused that smile to morph into an excited smirk. "You like that old man?"

"Lieutenant!" a deeper, burlier voice called from behind him. Immediately the young man froze and paled as the shadow of his master draped over him.

For a long, lingering moment, the cruddy, brown cavernous walls of the mine were filled only with the sounds of the drops of water as they dripped from the natural passages into nothingess, or met more of the rust-colored stone.

Finally the well dressed Hapan emerged from the shadows, glaring at the tormentor. The old man's eyes lit with hope.

"Why are you torturing that poor prisoner?" he asked disdainfully, and the lieutenant hesitaed. "Is it because he will not work?"

"Y-Yes sir...he collapsed and refuses to get up."

The Hapan sighed. "You would do that to a prisoner? How cruel of you!" The old man began to rise, hope building in his mind and soul with every word. "That is a horrid waste of ammunition, just kill him and be done with it."

The old man's heart sank as surely as did his skull as the oncoming blasts from the captor's lasers, and he collapsed to the ground. The hapan simply left as abruptly as he entered.


EDIT: Nothing here either.

<font color=808080>When Empire of Rogues stakes it’s claim,
On planet strong, yet strafed by pain,
With help of Darkness, fit in stride,
And travelling space, so far and wide,
Then will there be, a new day dawned,
Cruel Master’s fates not shall be mourned,
Lackey of Power, Apprentice of Dark,
On this bare World, that Death will mark,
Innocents freed, from oppression, greed,
And in Dark Light, be there no need,
Fetch will bounty, rot will bone,
For this Dark Lord on his Dark Throne.


Darth Talus, Sith Lord and ruler of the Imperial Star Destroyer Carrion sat in a solitary silence on his throne, the darkness of his bridge surrounding him, and the void of space filling his front viewport. Around him, minions of his will and word struggled to fulfil the tasks set before them by their Lord, not daring to disturb him.

Talus sat in contemplation, not noticing those around him, but concentrating on the outside, on what would be, soon...

With a flash, it came to him. Seconds later, a call came up from one of the officers working a sensor station. He was rewarded with a quick death, as Talus broke his neck with a thought before discarding all thought of the man. If he had been an insightful one, he would have learned his Lord’s habits by now, and would not have interrupted the Sith.

Talus stood, and walked a few paces forward. Before him, the fleet of Lupercus Darksword waited, newly arrived from hyperspace. Talus smiled, baring his teeth.

“Hail them.”</font>

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> As Lupercus reclined again on his bunk, his trophy asleep on the floor, its chain fastened solidly around his neck, a beep sounded in his cabin. Leaping up, the man began barking. With a glare, the barking was reduced to a slight whimper, and with a backhand blow to the mans face, the trophy reverted to silence.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"Yes...?"

"Your Majesty? We have just reverted to Hyperspace, as you would well know, and have just recieved a hail from an ImpStar Deuce calling itself the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Carrion<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->. How should we procede?"

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Talus...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

"Patch me through, i wish to speak to him from here. Route it through to my cabin."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Another beep sounded as the man did as he was told, and moments later the figure of Darth Talus sprung before him, the Rogue Sith reclining slightly on his throne.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"Darth Talus, Greetings. I am Lupercus Darksword. How may i help you?"

<font color=808080>”I know who you are, Darksword,” Talus hissed, his translator converting vocal patterns into recognisable speech. The Sith walked forward, his holographic image moving toward Lupercus.

“And it is evident that you know of me, too.”

Talus, onboard the Carrion, motioned to the side. Within seconds, the holographic display in Darksword’s room changed to show a three-dimensional map of the system, replacing Talus’ cloaked image. The Carrion was a red blot on the map, whilst Darksword’s fleet was indicated as a series of blue diamonds, strung close together in a defensive formation. The rival colours were easily separated by several hundred kilometres of black space, but that distance would close quickly if a battle was to ensue. Off slightly north of Darksword, but an equally small distance away from Talus, was Gallinore. The planet was a highlighted green, whilst all other astral bodies in the system were a dull grey, not even affording a name tag.

After a few seconds, enough time for Darksword to take in and memorise the specifics of the map, Talus’ image reappeared centre screen, studying Darksword.

“I also know why you are here, Darksword. Don’t think that you’re the only one with sources in this galaxy,” he scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. Talus could feel the pang of annoyance through the Force, and latched onto it. Immediately patching through to his new sensor officer via a mental link, he located which ship Darksword was riding on. Talus smiled, as he saw from his expression that Darksword understood what had happened. The Sith was in a playful mood, and normally would not have divulged that information.

“Oh, and you can do a great deal to help me, Darksword. I know of the circumstances with which you acquired this little field trip to take your cub scouts out on, and I know that your employers would be more than generous if help were offered.” The Carrion’s shields strengthened just noticeably, and forward lasers began processing targeting solutions for the Blood of Hapes. “Wouldn’t they.”</font>


OOC: He’s not going to fire. Just making sure that last bit wasn’t accidentally misinterpreted.

(OOC:Yeah, i kinda guessed that! Dont worry.)

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Lupercus rose from his bunk and with a flick of his wrist the hologram of Darth Talus was transfered to the portable projector. As he begun to walk out of his cabin towards the bridge, the projector floated a few feet infront of him. He studied the face the Sith before replying.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"Most likely Talus. And i, more importantly, would see a great benefit if you assisted in this endeavour."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> By now they had reached the bridge, and the main Heads Up Display was being shown on the main holocom. It showed the <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Carrion<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> as a neutral gray shape, the rest of his ships in green, and the ships to which the Galactic Defence Initiative had assigned him were in blue.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"Is that an offer?"

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Nodding to his comms officer, he sent the GDI fleet moving off in the direction of the planet, only a few Corellian Gunships and a Golan I Defence Platform standing between the Sith and their plunder. Pausing for a moment as he gauged Talus' likelyhood of agreeing, Lupercus sent him a coded message.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><!--EZCODE CENTER END-->

Pick some ships if any you wish to assist your efforts, and i shall take the remainder. Any plunder you wish from the planet is yours, as well as perhaps some ships later...

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Hapan Sith smiled as he sensed the other Siths impending decision about to go his way.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Soon...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> he thought, <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Soon i shall be rich beyond even my Avarice, and perhaps have gained a mentor strong in the Dark arts...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<font color=808080>Talus nodded once, slowly, going over the list that Darksword had sent him. The minor fleet was an impressive one, even if nothing compared to that of the Empire’s or the New Republic’s. These days, it seemed, if a corporation or government could simply scrounge up enough manpower to put into space just the smallest of defence fleets, they considered themselves geniuses, and instantly prepared to use that fleet for something other than defence.

Talus had seen it happen dozens of times before, when a faction would get so up themselves with the ability to propel their own ships through space, they thought of galactic expansion. That meant more manpower, more resources, more ships.

But more often than not, the attackers would be vastly outnumbered, and all the hard work would be for nothing. Forces in their entirety would be committed, and when destroyed, would leave their homeworlds ripe for the picking by the ones initially being attacked.

This was not the way it looked to turn for Gallinore, however. Whichever faction had put forward this mighty plan had definitely done their homework, as Talus could see from reviewing the attacking force, and comparing it to that which would be in defence.

There was no question as to the outcome of the coming conflict. It could be won with just half the supplied ships in attendance, but that would cause the attacking side to take yet more casualties.

Of course, the more undesirable variable would be the defending forces simply surrendering, and not calling for conflict at all.

Talus couldn’t let that happen.

“Your forces are inferior, Darksword,” he said after a moment’s more thought.

“But I will use them, if only because it will make this so much easier.” The Sith knew that he could tackle the defences with only a handful of ships, but was preparing to use all of those available, if only to feel the fear of inescapable destruction from those who would seek to oppose... and those who would surrender.

“I will command half of all ships, sorted by type. You will take the Interdictor, and you will leave this link open for the duration.” The Carrion had already begun to move toward the planet, as were the other ships. “And I will take my share of profits from this attack, at my discretion.”</font>

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Hapan grinned the smile of a man deemed clinically insane.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"Of course!

Whatever you can kill, is yours! And whatever belonged to them! Excluding the planet of course..."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> Lupercus sent out a signal to the Carracks and two of the Victory Class Cruisers, telling them of their new commander. Then he sent out a Fleetwide communique.<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"Lauch all fighters. We only have 2 Nova Class Cruisers and a Battle Dragon to go up against. Then an enternity of plunder!!

Its time."

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> The Fleet of GDI ships moved at safe combat speed to engage the 3 ships they had to challenge when suddenly another Fleet appeared from around Gallinores moon. 3 Corellian Corvettes, 3 Gunships and an Escort Carrier. Instantly the Fleet moved to intercept this new threat.

Meanwhile, the 4 Pirates ships charged at full speed towards the other ships, all of Hapan make. The captains all had bloodlust in their minds, the death of these enemies would stay that bloodlust.....

Well, until they reached the planets surface...<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->

"What the hell?" the Hapan dignitary asked as he looked at the almost primitive sensor array, seeing the countless ships suddenly picked up in range.

"I don't understand it," the young man who was at the station said in return, his eyes blinking rapidly, "one second they weren't here, and now they are, full force...fully organized...they couldn't have jumped out of hyperspace that way."

"That's because they didn't," the Hapan said, rising to his full strature after his last statement. He stroked his jaw, crinkling up that beautiful uniform awarded to him from his days in the Hapan navy. The glory days of Chisaii Kyofu, the days before that heathen Vessana took over.

Now all he had was a small resistance faction that had yet to make itself known. Or had they? This fleet was here for something...it was a battle fleet. They did not need a battle fleet to colonize a planet...

"Defenses?" he asked.

"Well...uh...we have two squadrons of My'til Fighters...um...and two Battledragons," the younger man responded. That wasn't enough.

"Well then," he responded, turning to leave, "we'll have to beat them with their own greed. Offer them this week's harvest of the gems."

The radar boy was a bit taken back by this...but he nodded, and sent the communique through.

"Attention Unknown Warships, for your retreat we shall offer you our week's harvest of our gems...turn back at once and leave on representative for our cargo ships to meet."




Those aboard the Lady Mary overheard the attempted bribe, they heard their attempt to try to weasel their way out of their reckoning. As tempting as it would seem to a common man, PeFauna were not corrupted by such things as greed. They had no desire for money, riches, or glory. They wanted only one thing: to uphold the emperor of the Rogue Empire.

Their mere presence here sent shivers down the spines of those capable of using or sensing the Force, a whole handful of them, very rarely were they found in their battle meld in such numbers. It was almost horrifying.

They were calm, their stark black robes unwavering as they sat aboard the transport that was already breaking atmosphere. Each one held their customary shulaekas, the ancient weapons of the PeFauna. They worked similarly to lightsabers, except in an axe's form, and in the hands of one who could wield the cortossis staff it was one of the deadliest weapons in the galaxy.

"Get ready!" the comms unit flared, and the men all rose from their seatings. Their robes dropped, so all that was left was their starch black cortossis armor, and their ebon cloaks, shielding the mass arsenal they held among their bodies.

It took a few more moments, but the rear door busted open...and they began leaping...just leaping. First one leapt with grace, the second one as much so, then when they found the anti-grav packs were safe, the rest leapt as well.

They drifted to the surface of the planet, until they stooped down on the rough, rocky ground. Their dark clothes made them nearly stealth this late at night, the only way one could tell they were there was the rattling of equipment they wore.

The packs were dropped, the staves were replaced on their backs, and their T-21s were drawn. They began moving quickly to the first mine.

This would be a wonderful demonstration of PeFauna special ops.


EDIT: Nothing here, hmm...Isstal wrong? It may be so...