As the Ravensbeak made its final approach to the temple, Garrern motioned to the figure standing at the back of the bay, apart from the rest of the soldiers. It was a heavy demolitions droid; the once bright orange pain of its chassis burned and blackened by the scars of perhaps one too many explosive mishaps. KD-50 (that was the droid’s identifier) however outright refused to get repainted, citing instead that the scars made him looks “all cool and camouflaged”. With the heavy clink of his metal feet the droid made his way over to the sith.
- “How come you fleshbags get to have all the fun?” – He quizzed with an annoyed tone, quiet enough not to be heard by others. As lenient as Garrern was with him KD was not stupid enough to openly show disrespect in front of the sith’s subordinates. – “Why am I sitting this one out Gar?”
Garrern looked the droid over, as if mulling over some thought then replied in an equally quiet tone.
- “I’ve a special mission for you KD, be discreet.”
The droid cocked his head to the side, perhaps the only one with enough perception to notice the unusually grim infliction in Garrern’s voice.
- “Is something wrong?”
- “Perhaps. I’ve had a dark premonition for this mission.” – Garrern then nodded towards the reserve stormtroopers who were not partaking in the assault. – “Take three troopers with you and prepare heavy ordinance for deployment.”
- “I get to blow stuff up?” – The droid failed to conceal his excitement.
- “Let’s hope not. Keep a voice channel open to me, exclusively. Move quick and quiet.”
With that he turned around, his cape whipping some unfortunate passerby technician in the face and headed towards the bay doors. It was undue for a commander to show worry in front of his soldiers, however to ignore the premonitions and not prepare would be even more irresponsible. Garrern simply chose to split the difference.
Garrern’s landing was perhaps a bit heavier than his compatriots, courtesy of the heavy armor, but he was always of a mind that landing with a bit of an impact made for a more intimidating entry. His brow furrowed under the helmet as he looked over the fortified defenses however. Ravensbeak was running stealth all the way through since they entered the system… so who alerted the guards? And with enough time to set up fortifications no less. The future he foresaw was coming true, and that was a great weight on his mind. Thankfully he instructed Rodecay with this possibility in mind, and the ace pilot skilfully veered the ship around and mowed the firing line down before they could cause trouble.
Maegr immediately proceeded to blow down the doors of the temple and head inside, Arianna in tow, as expected. Garrern sighed and hanged back waiting for Ansgar and the troops to land. Rushing in from the front was acceptable for a surprise attack, but if the enemy knew they were coming their attack pattern had to be changed.
Perhaps realizing the same thing Ansgar immediately approached the sith.
- “We were expected. Change of plans?”
Garrern nodded and raised his fist, the Shock troopers falling in line and awaiting orders at the sight of the signal. He looked over the hastily assembled ramparts and fortifications then raised his head to look at the anti-air gun.
- “The defense is too light; they had little time to prepare. If the force is with us they have not evacuated yet.” – Garrern turned to the commando. – “Split your men in two groups and go from the sides. Keep the enemy from fleeing the temple and drive them inwards onto my blade.”
He ignited his lightsaber as if punctuating the order.
- “In the meantime you personally take however many men you need and secure that AA gun. If they knew we were coming they could have requested air support from the capital. Ravensbeak will need support. Relay the new objective to Rodey and move out. Once you’re finished – find and keep an eye on Sond and Ari. Go.”
With the orders given Garrern turned around and headed into the temple. Maegr and Ari were nowhere to be seen, having most likely went off on a rampage elsewhere. Looking around the empty chamber he noted the mural painted on the limestone of the far back wall. Not by any means ancient it was a scene depicting the demise of the old Emperor at the hands of Darth Vader. The true triumph of light side over dark: the moment where the strongest sith chose to abandon the dark side. He couldn’t help it but get an eerie feeling from the mural. He had to destroy it. Had to.
Air shimmered in his clawed hand as Garrern gathered force into it for a second before thrusting out and letting it explode. The deafening roar of the Force Blast echoed off the walls as the unyielding, indiscriminate power of the shockwave crashed into the wall, limestone shattering and crumbling under its force. Dust filled the air but Garrern could still see the dozen or so guards that were scampering in a panic, on the other side of what used to be the back wall. Many of them were on the ground, knocked out by the shrapnel from the blast. Few panicked blaster shots whirred past him but he didn’t even bother deflecting them – they were never going to hit. The two jedi among the guards however drew his eye; temple instructors by the look of their clothes.
"Time to get to work" Garrern thought to himself as he stepped over the rubble into the room, limestone dust hissing as it hit his blood-red lightsaber.
- “How come you fleshbags get to have all the fun?” – He quizzed with an annoyed tone, quiet enough not to be heard by others. As lenient as Garrern was with him KD was not stupid enough to openly show disrespect in front of the sith’s subordinates. – “Why am I sitting this one out Gar?”
Garrern looked the droid over, as if mulling over some thought then replied in an equally quiet tone.
- “I’ve a special mission for you KD, be discreet.”
The droid cocked his head to the side, perhaps the only one with enough perception to notice the unusually grim infliction in Garrern’s voice.
- “Is something wrong?”
- “Perhaps. I’ve had a dark premonition for this mission.” – Garrern then nodded towards the reserve stormtroopers who were not partaking in the assault. – “Take three troopers with you and prepare heavy ordinance for deployment.”
- “I get to blow stuff up?” – The droid failed to conceal his excitement.
- “Let’s hope not. Keep a voice channel open to me, exclusively. Move quick and quiet.”
With that he turned around, his cape whipping some unfortunate passerby technician in the face and headed towards the bay doors. It was undue for a commander to show worry in front of his soldiers, however to ignore the premonitions and not prepare would be even more irresponsible. Garrern simply chose to split the difference.
Garrern’s landing was perhaps a bit heavier than his compatriots, courtesy of the heavy armor, but he was always of a mind that landing with a bit of an impact made for a more intimidating entry. His brow furrowed under the helmet as he looked over the fortified defenses however. Ravensbeak was running stealth all the way through since they entered the system… so who alerted the guards? And with enough time to set up fortifications no less. The future he foresaw was coming true, and that was a great weight on his mind. Thankfully he instructed Rodecay with this possibility in mind, and the ace pilot skilfully veered the ship around and mowed the firing line down before they could cause trouble.
Maegr immediately proceeded to blow down the doors of the temple and head inside, Arianna in tow, as expected. Garrern sighed and hanged back waiting for Ansgar and the troops to land. Rushing in from the front was acceptable for a surprise attack, but if the enemy knew they were coming their attack pattern had to be changed.
Perhaps realizing the same thing Ansgar immediately approached the sith.
- “We were expected. Change of plans?”
Garrern nodded and raised his fist, the Shock troopers falling in line and awaiting orders at the sight of the signal. He looked over the hastily assembled ramparts and fortifications then raised his head to look at the anti-air gun.
- “The defense is too light; they had little time to prepare. If the force is with us they have not evacuated yet.” – Garrern turned to the commando. – “Split your men in two groups and go from the sides. Keep the enemy from fleeing the temple and drive them inwards onto my blade.”
He ignited his lightsaber as if punctuating the order.
- “In the meantime you personally take however many men you need and secure that AA gun. If they knew we were coming they could have requested air support from the capital. Ravensbeak will need support. Relay the new objective to Rodey and move out. Once you’re finished – find and keep an eye on Sond and Ari. Go.”
With the orders given Garrern turned around and headed into the temple. Maegr and Ari were nowhere to be seen, having most likely went off on a rampage elsewhere. Looking around the empty chamber he noted the mural painted on the limestone of the far back wall. Not by any means ancient it was a scene depicting the demise of the old Emperor at the hands of Darth Vader. The true triumph of light side over dark: the moment where the strongest sith chose to abandon the dark side. He couldn’t help it but get an eerie feeling from the mural. He had to destroy it. Had to.
Air shimmered in his clawed hand as Garrern gathered force into it for a second before thrusting out and letting it explode. The deafening roar of the Force Blast echoed off the walls as the unyielding, indiscriminate power of the shockwave crashed into the wall, limestone shattering and crumbling under its force. Dust filled the air but Garrern could still see the dozen or so guards that were scampering in a panic, on the other side of what used to be the back wall. Many of them were on the ground, knocked out by the shrapnel from the blast. Few panicked blaster shots whirred past him but he didn’t even bother deflecting them – they were never going to hit. The two jedi among the guards however drew his eye; temple instructors by the look of their clothes.
"Time to get to work" Garrern thought to himself as he stepped over the rubble into the room, limestone dust hissing as it hit his blood-red lightsaber.
