The water was still, murky green and blue it held hints of animal life. Small fish swam gently across the riverbed the ancient set of ruins had its foundation up. Its original inhabitants long since dead, her remains nothing but dust in the whispering winds of Ashal. Located deep in the forests of the sparsely inhabited world, few outsider eyes had peered upon them. Colossal, sky scraping mountains filled the backdrop, a cool mist hovering in the sky, amplifying the humidity. Life was in these ruins, dust kicked up as heavy boots marched across the stone floors. Tribal symbols marked parts of the intact walls, their meaning lost in time. As the cultists moved through these relics they could feel the gentle touch of the Force, practically covering the planet. In some areas it was stronger than others, at the strongest points it was intense enough to cause headaches to the weakest of the Force sensitives in the mysterious group. Strange avian like creatures howled and screeched overhead, circling far above the gathered cult members. These animals perched themselves on top of the high reaching cliffs that overlooked the ruins.
Heavily armored men moved up and down the steep staircases on both sides of the remnants. Many were clad in armor, and carried powerful blasters as weaponry. They were mercenaries, bound to Okussus and its enigmatic leader. These men chatted small talk, some sat to the sides and drank, others smoked and traded war stories. Almost none of them had seen the fallen Jedi master with their own eyes, they had been hired through the man's highest ranking underlings. Many had partaken in raids in nearby sectors across the so-called 'Wild Space', a sector of the galaxy where the Republic had no jurisdiction, where even the recently fallen Sith Empire did not venture into. These hired guns pillaged, looted and killed without remorse during their raiding. They were paid immensely depending on how well their efforts went. Now they simply resided in these ruins, fortifying and preparing for the possibility of an invasion by their enemy, the Republic. No one knew exact numbers, nor if there was any actual truth to the words, but they still readied themselves the same.
Heavy turrets were set up in strategic locations, two notably deployed where the water cascaded down into the riverbed. Scattered snipers darted around the area, a trio perched atop the highest point of the ruins, far up above the top of the dual staircases. They sat there in waiting, draped in camouflage. They were the first set of eyes towards the sky. To the left side on top of the cliff perched a quartet of other snipers, also clad with a different set of camouflage. In its entirely, this group of almost three dozen mercenaries was but bait. They didn't know that of course, perhaps if they got lucky some of them would survive. Of course luck always worked in mysterious ways, like the Force.
Above the outward, identical set of ruins was a small courtyard. The stairs lead right to it, it was filled with toppled statues and destroyed monuments. Grass grew through the stone tiles, to the left and right inside the courtyard were other hallways, at the ends of these Ideon Donnall had ordered his forces to spread out down these halls and ready themselves for combat. Directly straight from where the stairs ascended and through the courtyard was a long hallway, lit by torches and filled with things the Okussus had brought in as cover. Metal crates, barrels, even pieces of rubble set up in perfect locations in the hallway. It was a way of retreat in case the mission went entirely tails up, the Okussus forces could dart down the hallway as it lead through a cavern, then into the open wilderness. Ideon had it all planned out, transports and vehicles of various designs would be there in case of a full scale retreat. Explosives would be set around the exit of the cavern and it would be collapsed to halt the Republic.
Of course retreat was not part of the actual plan. He was delighted with how his loyal followers had fortified the ruins. Scattered mines, tripwires, choke points the Republic would just waltz right into. What did not delight him was that the Republic were going to interrupt the mission. He heard word of approaching ships to the sector, it was noticeable whenever anyone ventured from Republic space into Wild Space. Through the Force he had also discovered them, there were Jedi among these forces. One in particular unnerved Ideon, it was his former padawan, Vasha. It was almost certain destiny she would end up seeking him out. Part of him was upset that she had brought backup, while another part of him was oddly proud of her. She was never a dumb girl, wandering into the middle of nowhere by her lonesome would have been an idiotic maneuver. He could feel how strong she had grown, had become a noble Jedi the Order could be immensely proud of. That part of his life was over with, he was no longer a Jedi. He had gone past that.
Ideon walked calmly through the inside of the ruins, stepping into the sunlight in the courtyard, his hood raised and eyes wandering as he inspected the fortifications. As he moved he could sense all the former Jedi and Sith that had pledged to his banner. They too were readying themselves in their own ways. The elite handpicked soldiers were also there, it was important to have a mix of skills for this type of endeavor. Several armored vehicles moved through the ruins, some were simple hovercrafts with mounted blaster cannons while a few were more heavily armored machines. Two walkers moved around, mounted with multiple weapons. The Republic was in for a reckoning.
The Republic Warship, ‘The Will of the Just’ moved rather lazily through space as it approached the Planet of Ashal, already warning lights were flashing in hangars, and comms speakers were blaring orders for the crew members to begin preparations. It was organized chaos, to anyone else it would seem as if people were running in every direction with no idea what to do, but they were all well trained and knew exactly where they were going and why. The planet came into view larger, and larger, and finally the Warship came to a halt, The Jedi, and Commandos on the mission had been called to the main hangar, it was here that transports were docked, waiting to be loaded with their precious living cargo they were to bring to the planet’s surface. Bombers were docked here as well, pilots of the ships going over checklists while mechanics worked quickly to ensure they were safe to travel through the atmosphere.
Vasha stood in the middle of the Hangar unmoving as the crew of the Warship worked briskly. Watching through the open port of the Hangar she finally turned, and pressed her wrist comm and brought up and image of the Captain of the Ship. “We have already wasted too much time, and given the Cult room to prepare for our arrival. We need to move these bombers out the hangar now.” For a moment the Captain’s face took on an expression of annoyance before giving a nod, the visage retreating back into the wrist device. Almost immediately the sirens in the hangar would begin to go off, orders for the bombers to depart issued in quick secession.
Roaring out of the hangar, and into the empty space between Ashal, and the Warship the bombers went, and in little time had crossed into the atmosphere of the ancient world. Orders would come across the communications. “Bombing should be used to soften the forces, and any defensive positions located outside, and around the ruins, try to do as little damage to the ruins as possible.” The pilots would signal their affirmative and move in to begin their bombing runs only to find that there were turrets firing at them from the ground, one bomber took a direct hit to the nose quickly going up in an explosion of shrapnel falling to the ground, while another got clipped several times and spiraled into wall on the outskirts of the ruins, sending stone, and fire to gouge the ground.
“Evasive maneuvers!” The bomber leader shouted into the comms, and soon the bombers were spirally about, moving in quick jarring motions to evade turret fire, one of them eventually streaking above one of the turrets and delivering a devastating payload that blew the weapon to smoking bits. The other turret followed the offending bombers and the blasts from the cannon turned it into smoking ruins falling from the sky. “Take out that damned turret!” Another bomber would swoop in letting loose a payload on top of the remaining turret, turning it to a smoldering wreck. Soon the bombers had regrouped, though there were only four left after the turrets had obliterated three.”Let’s get this run over with.” The bomber leader said, as they began to soften the grounds of the ruins, and the surrounding forests, explosions shook the entire place to it’s foundations, mercenaries unlucky enough to be in the open and to be under the wrong cover were blown to pieces. The sniper team on the cliff side barely making it to safety before their position was turned to smoking stone. Soon enough the place looked as if war had already the ruins smoldering with smoke, several places having fallen in, the bridge now a pile of rubble.
Vasha watched what was taking place below, the bombings tearing apart the ruins. Turning she moved quickly towards a transport, and climbed aboard. Orders went out to all Task force members to board their assigned transports, it was time to go planetside. Vasha made sure that her transport was the first out the hangar, taking with it whoever happened to be assigned to it, the ship travelling as quickly as it could towards the planet’s surface. “Take us down.. The top of the ruins. The transport dropped quickly through the atmosphere, and Vasha pulled open the side door as they got closer, and closer, she noticed the snipers atop the ruins, and quickly leapt from the ship landing in the midst of the team the neon green blades of the lightsaber coming to life, the staff saber spun in deadly arcs leaving the snipers dead with smoking wounds in their chests. Standing there for a moment, she had been blind to what she felt in the force before, but now it washed over her like a wave. “Ideon…” She would whisper quietly.
As explosions tore through the ancient ruins the turned Jedi Master felt the ground shake beneath his feet with every single bomb which impacted. There were screams echoing around him as his mercenaries unfortunate enough to be caught in the attack perished. Ideon only blinked, paid soldiers dying didn’t phase him that much. They had more loyal to the cause, and more credits to purchase the service of more. Several of the bombers went down in the chaos, the others retreated quickly. It was just the beginning, now the real fight began.
Ideon stood still throughout the bombing, safe from any explosions, showing not a single bit of fear. His eyes shot upwards as he watched a figure lauch down from a dropship, landing with their double bladed lightsaber ignited as they carved into the surprised snipers which sat atop the highest point of the ruins. It hit him instantaneously, the Force flowed through him powerfully as he locked eyes with his former padawan from a distance. She was leading the charge it seemed, he once more felt oddly proud of her, then his lightsaber ignited. The crimson red blade emerged fiercely, then hummed gently as he spoke out.
“Fortify positions, they’re gonna try to drop right on top of us. As soon as they land and you have a shot, take it. There are Jedi among them, keep your guard up and reject any feelings of fear. We have the advantage.” Ideon loudly stated to his loyal forces around him, they knew these ruins, every single inch, the Republic and the Jedi did not. Clenching his lightsaber he gave one more glance upwards at his former apprentice, then thrust his weapon into the air, urging his followers into combat.
