[IC] A Galaxy in Twilight[Lord Gressh/Zarkun]

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Blocking strikes from two separate droids, I push them back and counter attack, but find about as much success as Becca did, though the fact that we could cut into meant this was a derivative plating, like many of the others. Pulling back, I block and counter attack a third droid before grabbing the first two with the Force and slamming them together, the weakened chest plates shattering on impact and leaving their inner workings exposed. "Becca, blunt force!" Pulling them towards me, I spin and slash through their chests, destroying the droids.

[Lord Greshh]

Becca Twilight

I nod, then reach out with the Force to grab the nearest droid. I try to focus my energy into the mental hand wrapped around it’s body and squeeze, while simultaneously swinging it back and forth into the walls, ceiling, and it’s fellow droids. At the same time, I am also trying to block incoming attacks from the droids that avoid getting hit.

When I’m finished, I toss my droid’s useless husk aside, then huff in exhaustion. “We’re gonna need a lot of blunt force if we’re going to take all these down.”

Jorah Rook

Outside the hotel, we are still fighting off the Republic troops that have not retreated yet. From the direction of the Senate District, I can see a shuttle coming towards us. “Enemy Reinforcements! Shoot it down!” A moment later, one of my men fires off a wrist rocket towards the shuttle, hitting it dead on and sending it crashing towards the lower levels of the buildings.

Hayden Twilight

I grip the controls of the shuttle tightly, fighting to keep it from smashing me to my death. “Idiot Mandos...” I activate the crash webbing just in time for the shuttle to smash into the hotel, breaking through the wall and skidding me into a lower hallway. “YEEHAW!!!”

Becca Twilight

I sense the shuttle a moment before it crashes through the wall and wipes out the remainder of the droids. “Woah! That ought to do it.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I stand a moment and just look at what had happened along with the holes in the hotel. "I...uh...alright, well, I don't know what just happened, but let's go see who's in the shuttle."

[Lord Greshh]

Becca Twilight

"Be careful." I raise my lightsaber and slowly approach the shuttle, ready to fight in the pilot isn't friendly.

Hayden Twilight

The emergency hatch pops open and I jump out, Jude slung over my shoulder. "Okay, not the landing I was hoping for. Those Mandalorians are getting super trigger happy up there." I look at my mom and Uncle Jerus. "So... I guess I'm here to help."

Becca Twilight

"Hayden!" I lower my weapon. "What happened? I thought you were with Gavin's team." My eyes shift to the body on her back. "Is that...?"

Hayden Twilight

"Jude." I say bitterly, lifting him off to show them his blaster riddled body. "He tried to distract the droids so we could shut down the shields. Sucal just watched as the droids blasted him." I swallow back the rising emotion in my voice.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"Those Mandalorians up there have been fighting for their lives against a Republic attack, so they might be a little jumpy." I still smile ruefully beneath my helmet until she shows us Jude's body, which turns my rueful smile into a sharp grimace. "That's...if that's true, then something's pushed him over the edge. Which only makes him more dangerous."

[Lord Greshh]

Hayden Twilight

“Then now is the time to finish him off once and for all!”

Becca Twilight

I shake my head. “No, now is the time to be most cautious. If Sucal was willing to sacrifice his own son, then he is not playing games anymore. We can’t go rushing in unprepared. Besides, we still need to finish repelling the Republic forces here.”

Hayden Twilight

“So I’ve heard. Personally, I think t battle in Senate Plaza is more important. The Mandos are pushing towards Presidential Palace with everything they’ve got, and the Revolution is gearing up to capture the Senate Tower. Oh! Speaking of which, they have a new type of Sith Hunter Droid.”

Becca Twilight

“We’ve noticed.” I point to the humanoid droids crushes under Hayden’s shuttle. “They’re are definitely more skilled fighters than the big chunk old brothers.”

Hayden Twilight

“What? No, not those. They have a fourth version; a cat like droid with claws and teeth and razor tails. I fought a couple before coming here, and I’m assuming there are more back at the tower.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Kicking over one of the droids Hayden's crash landing had smashed, I groan when she mentions the new model. "You know, I almost feel like at some point, Sucal just went 'how many different ways can I use these models to kill people?'" I shake my head and glance up the stairs. "Well, we might want to let them know the attack's been repelled. We aren't loosing this command center."

[Lord Greshh]

Becca Twilight

“Good idea. I’ll have Hunter gather his top warriors to plan for a better defense just in case though.”

Hayden Twilight

“Hunter? You mean Kam, right? Or did he get blasted?”

Becca Twilight

“Long story. Kam is Hunter, and he is also... well, your cousin. Ryder’s son, or rather his MIND is Ryder’s son. His body is Kamari Ordo...” I struggle to find the right words. “You know, it’s all just...”

Hayden Twilight

“Crazy Force shit. I get it. I’ve been to the Dark Side.” I ponder this new information for a moment. “Well, I guess that explains a thing or two. When I first got here, I mentioned that Korre’s baby snapped Ryder’s neck and Kam nearly had a breakdown. Didn’t realize I was talking to the guy’s son.”

Becca Twilight

“You what!? Oh, I was afraid he’d found out. I wish it could have been under better circumstances. Knowing you, you made it as blunt as possible.”

Hayden Twilight

I shrug. “Maybe I did. I prefer it that way over bearing around the bush. Kid was gonna find out one way or the other.”

Becca Twilight

I shake my head in exasperation. “Whatever. It’s out now. I sense Hunter has a lot of conflict over this, but I do not believe he harbors any I’ll will towards Korre or the child. It isn’t in his nature to kill in cold blood.”

MEANWHILE

Hunter Ordo

I stand over the body of a Republic Officer right outside the Medical Center. I caught up to him just in time. “Is this what it’s come to? Soldiers murdering defenseless wounded?”

In the back of my head, a voice whispers “Not defenseless. Let it die.”

The voice sends a shiver up my spine. I shake my head to try and clear my thoughts. Before I realize it, my left hand is hovering over the door controls, and my right hand is on the trigger of my blaster. Catching myself, I pull both hands away and back from the door.

A moment later, a different voice speaks over my helmet comm, informing me that the Republic forces are retreating, and that command center remains ours.

“Good. Make sure all of our data backups are secure. Restore whatever was deleted, and inform Mand’alor of our success. I’ll... be right up to meet you with you.” I turn and hurry away from the medical center.

The closer I am to Korre, the stronger that dark feeling gets.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"That kid now has more than enough combat experience in his brain to turn you into Sith pie, remember that dear niece." I finish tinkering with pulling an armor plate off one of the droids and stand up straight. "Well, guess our next goal should be taking and holding the Senate Tower. How big are these feline Sith Hunters? And how many?"

[Lord Greshh]

Hayden Twilight

"Two or three cats at the least. About the size of a nexu, which I'm guessing was a main inspiration. They seem pretty tough too because even Temari Ordo's weapons couldn't take them down. And my lightsaber just bounced off of their armor."

Becca Twilight

"Same armor as their cousins then. Hopefully they have similar weaknesses. HJ's Intel on the first generation Sith Hunters was invaluable. I wonder if the Foundry had any schematics on the newer models."

Hayden Twilight

"If there were any, either HJ forgot to mention them or the New Empire rushed him out before he could find anything. Speaking of which, were is HJ? I'd have thought he'd have been with you when you rushed over here."

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"Unless it was Hank who did the shutdown and server sweep. I doubt this New Empire sent any of their techs when they found out dad was sending an HK unit to aid with the attack." Looking out towards the site of the battle, I turn back towards Hayden. "Knowing your cousin, he's going to show up where he's needed when both we and he least expects it." I pause. "They're going to need reinforcements at the tower, aren't they?"

[Lord Greshh]

Becca Twilight

"Very likely, though I don't know if there are any reinforcements to spare. The warriors Ava left here were barely enough to hold off the Republic attack, and even fewer remain if a second attack comes."

Hayden Twilight

"Gavin was planning to rally the Revolution to help hold the Senate Tower, but I'm not sure if he was successful or not. Now that I've done what I came back for, I'd honestly rather go back to help them then stand around here..." As I speak, a thought occurs to me, and I look at Jerus. "Oh, but before we do anything, I meant to ask you; where are Dad and Cosen? You're back from your little hunt for Stoneheart, so I assume they are too. How did everything go?"

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

I grimace, but decide cutting to the point is the best way to go about it. "Poorly. We managed to lure both Stoneheart and Draxxal out and the latter of the pair is now dead, but..." I sigh. "Your dad's lost an arm and Cosen's pretty banged up, she still can't stand too well with the number head blows she took."

[Lord Greshh]

Hayden Twilight

I can't help but gasp in surprise. "Oh no. Is Dad okay? Where is he?"

Becca Twilight

"In the makeshift medbay, along with Cosen and Korre. He's alright, though he's not going to be fighting for a little while. And he'll have a mechanical arm to match my leg. And Cosen will be alright too, so you can let Gavin know. But Stoneheart got away, and... well, we have no idea where he's run of to."

MEANWHILE

Lord Stoneheart

I stand atop one of the many high rise buildings of the Senate District. Down below, the soldiers and war machines of the Republic battle against the legions of Mandalorian warriors and their Revolution allies. All of this was the result of years, maybe even decades of building tension. A forest fire stoked by the many hands, my own included. Now, the blaze threatened to consume all Coruscant.

Even then, this was all just the prologue. For I know the war will not be won through the clashing of armies. Victory will not come from the deaths of thousands; only the death of one. That is what I am here for. While the masses weakened themselves slashing and jabbing at the body of the beast, I would strike at it's head.

With the pass-codes I'd looted from Draxxal clutched in my gloved hand, I look out across the rapidly darkening skyline towards my next destination: Presidential Palace.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"But we might have some idea where he'll go." I turn to look out the hole Hayden's shuttle had put in the wall. "He's after the same thing we all are, the end of Jorg Sucal. He's gonna head straight to the Presidential Palace."

[Lord Greshh]

Hayden Twilight

I scoff. "I wish him luck then. That place is the most heavily guarded on the planet. The Mandalorians are having a hell of a time trying to even get close to the palace. He's he expect to get inside?"

Becca Twilight

"Think tactically. If most of the security around the palace is focused on the Mandalorians, they won't notice one assassin slipping in. Especially one as quiet as Stoneheart."

Hayden Twilight

"Well then, either he kills Sucal for us and saves us the trouble or he gets himself killed and gives us one less problem to deal with later." Hoisting Jude over my shoulder again, I start towards the stairs. "I'm going to see how Dads doing, and also find a place to lay Jude down until the battle is over." I don't wait for a response before going.

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

Watching Hayden walk away, I turn to Becca. "When this is over, you need to take that girl to a spa, and maybe remind her she's not quite the adult she thinks she is."

[Lord Greshh]

Becca Twilight

I chuckle lightly. “Yeah, I imagine getting Hayden into a spa would be like getting a cat into a bathtub. But hey, maybe if Syn and I work together, we can convince her a girls day out wouldn’t be too bad.” I frown slightly. “It might also help her get more in touch with her more peaceful side. I know she’s rejected the Sith, but I still sense a lot of darkness in her.”

[Zarkun]

Jerus Je'and

"We'll get her back, it just might take some time." Starting up the stairs, I glance back. "I'll meet up with Kamari, you should make sure Jakito's OK."

[Lord Greshh]

Becca Twilight

“Okay. Hayden will probably end up joining you at the senate tower later. She seemed pretty insistent on rejoining the fight, though maybe Jakito’s injuries will slow her roll a bit.” I continue up the stairs. “While I’m at the medical center, I should see how Xan is doing with Korre. It can’t be easy to deliver a baby in the middle of a battle.”