Better to be The Devil's Right Hand...

[Gamov]

Anya stood poised at the head of the bridge aboard the Star Destroyer Manticore, a certain sense of incompleteness about her. Though the Manticore was every bit as capable a warship as any other among her class, it was not her beloved Lusankya. That ship - her ship - she had grudgingly wrested command to Alexei for the purposes of their plans. And while she had near complete faith in the General, a part of her could not help but yearn for her ship like a mother bereft of their own child. To be operating so deep in the Outer Rim with a foreign crew set the Admiral ill at ease; but any commander worth their salt knew how to turn adversity to opportunity.

Anticipation welled behind her steely blue gaze, fixed on the dingy green pearl ahead: Delrakkin. A harsh, near inhospitable world on the very fringes of the Protectorate, the world held little in the way of industrial or strategic value for the Empire. What made it special though, what had attracted the Admiral's ever sharp eye, was the enclave of rogue Force sensitives rumored to be harbored there. Since its inception had the Protectorate made clear its intentions to provide asylum to these wayward individuals. And since that time had they made themselves an unwitting target for the Empire.

So far as Anya was concerned, this was a threat like any other facing the Empire: the threat of nascent rebellion festering like an open wound. A wound which must be seared shut. Nearing their intended target, the Admiral breathed out a gentle breath.

"Report." Her voice commanded the attention of her Captain.

"Approaching orbit now, ma'am. Shall I have bomber squadrons prep for launch?"

She spared a curt nod, her eyes never leaving the world below as its mottled green surface swelled to occupy the very center of her attention. "Yes, Captain. But do not launch just yet." Pivoting on her heel, gaze snapping towards her comms officer. "Open a broadcast channel, planetary band network."

"Aye, ma'am."

Making her way from the observation deck to the communications salon, Anya delivered her message. "People of Delrakkin, this is Admiral Sevchenko. By order of the Empire, you are to hereby surrender your city to Imperial authority. Failure to comply will result in use of force." With a pitiless sting to her tone, she added, "you have twenty four hours to acknowledge this transmission." With her message away, all the Admiral could do now was wait.

 

[Kyber Krystal]

It wasn't always common for a Sith to be serving on board an Imperial vessel. Unless there was a major attack that was ordered by the Emperor, the Sith and the Legion typically operated on their own terms. But Jax was Mandalorian born. Although he had abandoned his culture amongst the Mandalorians, Jax Merrik knew the value of military service to one's government. When he had first pledged himself to the Sith all these years ago, he pledged himself to the Empire and the Emperor's vision for the future of the galaxy. A vision that Jax was more than willing to fight for. Which brought him here today.

Certainly there was no obligation for Jax to serve onboard this vessel, and his presence as a full Sith did make some of the crew a bit wary. But he was here to serve the interests of the Empire, and follow the directives of the Admiral in charge. Jax received a few details of the mission, an unaligned group of Force Sensitives that could pose a potential threat to the Empire. However, Jax had another motive in mind. If possible, recruiting these Force users to the Sith and turning them to the Dark Side would be the most optimum outcome. If they needed to be destroyed for the mission to proceed, then they would be destroyed. However, it was not his place to take over the mission. His role was to serve the needs of the Admiral in command, all for the glory of the Empire.

And so, as the Admiral made her announcement to the denizens of the planet bellow, Jax simply stood at attention, waiting for orders on the bridge. He was armed with his Lightsaber and his usual combo of Sith Robes layered on top of armour. Jax was proud of his allegiance to the Sith, and wished to display it to any who might bear him witness.

 

[Gamov]

Delrakkin - 24 hours later

"Any response?"

"None, Admiral."

Anya's gaze turned briefly sullen, an inkling of regret flitting just below the surface. Yet her posture never wavered, hands clasped neatly behind her back, shoulders square as the gravity of duty took hold at the fore of her thoughts. The people of Delrakkin had shown their hand with their silence. Their contentment to harbor fugitives and bear the burden of those consequences baffled her, but that choice was beyond her control now.

"I see." For a fleeting instant it seemed she would hesitate, perhaps even call off the attack. But Anya had not come all this way to bluster and posture. What must be done is what must be done now, there is no avoiding that fact. "Bring all squadrons up to combat alert and prep ground forces for launch."

The Admiral's orders brought the bridge of the mighty warship to life like a conductor to a symphony. Deck officers darted to and fro, comms operators began chattering back and forth as the ship's announcement system blurted out the order for general quarters. Anya spared herself a graceful sigh at the sensation of it all. Moments like these brought a swell of pride and humility to her chest. To know she had been entrusted with the authority of the Empire was no token gesture to her. For Anya it represented a purpose, a duty... a calling. Pivoting away from the observation deck, she passed her orders to the Captain amidst a brisk, unbroken stride.

"Open a hailing channel with the city."

"Yes, ma'am."

Stepping up to the HoloNet transceiver, Anya smoothed a hand across the hem of her uniform, ensuring it was just so before she was given the all clear to begin broadcasting again.

"Citizens of Delrakkin City, your time has come and gone. Whether your silence was born from defiance or ignorance I can scarcely know. But you have forced my hand, and so we must begin our grim task." Even as the first fighter squadrons shrieked from the hangar to blaze a path towards the planet, Anya made one final call to reason. "At my order Imperial forces will begin their decent, and any who resist will be swept aside. Still, I see no reason thousands must die needlessly. To those willing I offer amnesty in exchange for cooperation. Lay down your arms and you will be spared, on this you have my word."

The first Imperial fighters and transports would begin to appear in the skies above Delrakkin City even as Anya made her case for peace. A bit of cruelty on the Admiral's behalf designed to shock the local populace into submission. Peace at the tip of a spear may seem unsettling to most, but it was still peace.

"To those who insist upon resistance know this: the Empire is not to be trifled with."

Closing the connection, Anya spun to meet the Sith which had been skulking about the bridge since their arrival. His presence had not gone unnoticed, but rather unengaged. She personally detested their kind and could barely stomach the thought of one sharing a place near her on the bridge of her ship. Still, the Sith had their uses. "Jax Merrik, is it?" She asked politely. "It seems you will be taking a special place in today's operations." Anya forced a smile, if for no other reason that she could get him off her ship. "Since we are dealing with potentially dangerous rogue Force sensitives, you will be leading a detachment to apprehend these fugitives. You will find your men waiting for you in the hangar."

Anya gestured him off the bridge as the Captain returned to her side with reports on the current status of the operation. She would allow Jax to see himself off the bridge to his assigned task, presuming he was more than capable of its undertaking. Meanwhile, she would return to the minutiae of her duties.

@Kyber Krystal​

 

[Kyber Krystal]

In the 24 hours since the Admiral's initial announcement, Jax had mostly kept to himself. Something that suited him just fine. Jax was more than willing to talk when there was meaningful conversation or something of import to be discussed. But small talk was the bane of his existence. Peaceful solitude was always preferable to incessant filler conversation. It wasn't difficult for Jax to tell that this crew wasn't too keen on the participation of a Sith Marauder in a military matter. But no matter how well the Legion were trained, a rogue collective of Force Users were no laughing matter. They could be dangerous, and without proper training their abilities might have manifested in strange ways. That being said, their power could be put to use in service to the Empire. Which would certainly be an incredible alternative.

And so, since Jax really didn't have anything to do put plan his attack, he spent the majority of the next day either in quiet meditation or inspecting the various goings on, awaiting orders from the admiral in charge. She seemed a driven, focused sort, something Jax certainly respected. But it seemed no secret that she didn't care for the Sith. She had acknowledged his presence as he initially boarded her ship, but besides that her contact had been limited. It seemed the crew that she had recruited for his ship more or less shared her sentiments toward the Sith. Something Jax didn't necessarily care about. As long as that general distain didn't affect the mission, nothing would be a problem.

As the 24 hours finally reached its end, Jax brought himself back to the bridge. He stood ready as the admiral finished her speech, ready to receive his orders for the mission at hand. As the woman turned around, Jax could sense many of her emotions. Her thoughts could not easily be read, not surprising as she carried herself with intelligence and confidence. But her emotions weren't being hid at all, they were on display. As he made eye contact with her, Jax could sense an underlying feeling of disgust. If her dislike of the Sith was ever in question, it wasn't a mystery now. In an Empire where the Sith Religion was so prominent and integral, Jax considered an attitude like that detrimental. However, this wasn't a time to raise points about the unity of Sith and Military. Focus on the mission at hand was what was necessary.

"Any intel on the rogue Force Sensitives? Do you believe the city is intentionally harbouring them?" Jax asked the Admiral as he assured his com link was tuned to the Admiral's frequency. He personally didn't own a com link but he was given one by operations for communication doing the mission. "Any further information you need to be can be communicated as you see fit" Jax gave a curt nod to the Admiral as he proceeded to the hanger. He had to admit, he was a bit giddy. This would be the first time he had ever led his own battalion. This was what every Mandalorian kid dreamed of. Leading their fellow warriors to glory in the heart of battle. But this wasn't a battlefield, this was an Imperial occupation. Too many Sith were slaves to their anger and passions, willing to needlessly and indiscriminately slaughter innocent people. The Empire, as well as authoritative and powerful, needed to appear in control. Random slaughter was not the way to inspire confidence amongst the planet's denizens.

As Jax approached the hanger he was directed to, his soldiers came into view, all standing in front of an Imperial Shuttle. They all seemed young and competent, and in full uniform. There were about ten soldiers made up his detachment, a number that suited Jax just fine. He attempted to get a read on the group of soldiers as he approached. Upon seeing the Sith approach, many of them stood to attention. No doubt the stories of insane Sith commanders during missions had reached these soldiers, as Jax was able to detect clear feelings of unease. Jax considered himself no different than them, a loyal soldier fighting for the Empire. But he realized that he might have seemed a tad imposing to the uninitiated. Especially a visible cyborg in Sith Robes.

"At ease, everyone. I appreciate the respect" Jax stated to everyone. He needed to make a good impression, and inspire loyalty amongst his new soldiers. "Our mission is clear: Neutralize the rogue Force Sensitives. This is not a strict invasion, more of an occupation. None of you are to kill or execute anyone unless there is a specific reason, and do not attack unless attacked first. Have I made myself clear?" This was Jax's one rule. Needless death benefitted no one and only made the Empire look more brutal than it needed to be. This was on the fringes of unallied territory and the Empire needed to appear to be powerful and full of authority. "Yes Sir" The troops replied in unison. "Excellent, move out!" Jax directed his detachment to enter the Shuttle and prepare for their descent to the planet below. Within no time at all, the shuttle pilot had moved through pre-flight checks, and departed from the flagship. They had began to descend.

This was his first true mission on behalf of the Empire. He would not let the Empire, nor the Emperor, down.

@Gamov

 

[Sarah]

"Shall I go as well, admiral?" Soren had stayed in his own quarters, meditating as he could not bring his training droids along. He did not enjoy the way the Empire viewed Sith-supported missions, and decided to make himself as scarce as possible. As consequence for these actions he was not noticed at all. Not even for the invasion force, or maybe they just didn't want him to come along, as it sounded like they were leaving survivors, here. He waited for the admiral's command, staying near the bridge's exit so that if she said yes, he could respond quickly and get to the ground as soon as possible.

 

[Gamov]

"No intel on the individuals themselves, I'm afraid." Anya admitted with a pang of regret. "But the Protectorate has not exactly been quiet about lending their borders to these people in the past. And given the city's status as the only habitable population center on the entire planet, it makes good sense to begin our search there." A timely report from a deck officer distracted the Admiral long enough for Jax to slip away to his assignment without further exchange. And Anya couldn't help sparing a feint sigh of relief as he did so.

"Shall I go as well, admiral?"

The voice made her heart skip a beat, yet Anya deftly concealed any outward signs of shock. These bleeding Sith were everywhere it seemed, infesting the Empire like cockroaches. Smash one, and thirteen more rise out of the shadows. Disgusting. Keeping her displeasure well hidden, Anya nodded politely to Soren's request. "Yes, I believe the ground operation could use every bit of support it can get against these... scum." Her choice of words was not at all accidental, though she guessed Soren may have missed the hidden context as he slipped aboard the turbolift. "Bloody cultists."

"Ma'am, General Petrov on the comm for you."

A moment of levity washed over the Admiral, though as usual she hid any outward displays of emotion behind a stern expression. "Very good, Captain. Patch him through." Stepping up to the holo projector, Anya straightened her posture and adjusted the collar on her uniform just so. To the crew this appeared to be more of her obsessive preening - as she was want to do. But for Anya, this wasn't just some General she was speaking with, it was...

"Anya-"

She held back a smile as that familiar face shimmered to life in front of her.

"Alexei..."

@Kyber Krystal, @Sarah @Deviant​

 

[Deviant]

This is in par with the following thread, and only moments after its conclusion.​

he empyreal-class star destroyer, the Lusankya, sails through the stars and out of Protectorate space. Past lush worlds and beyond barren asteroids, General Petrov sets his course to their rendezvous point hidden deep in space. With his mission alongside Commander Ryker complete, all he needs now is wait— for Anya, and for the wedge of her own fleet, to finish off the rogues on Delrakkin. And once their sector-wide operation met its end, that is when the real business would begin: forcing the Protectorate to kneel at the Empire’s will. If this weak territory sought to resist, however, then so be it— their combined forces would extinguish whatever power they believe themselves to wield, and eat their worlds up like the Republic several years prior.

Nothing can stop the war machine of the Empire. Standing at Anya’s side, the two were a force not to be reckoned with, and through their galactic campaigns, they would take the galaxy to its heel. Order would be restored, and Alexei would be one step closer to his full potential.

“Alexei…” The Admiral echoes through his comm, face blank but eyes smoldering with a hint of affection. Reflecting a similar gaze into the static sapphire glow of Anya, he allows an awkward silence to fester in between. It’s not until he feigns a cough and answers, “Commander Ryker and I have finished dismantling the Republic sympathizers, and are on our way to the rendezvous site. I assume all is going well on your end, Admiral?”

Knowing Anya himself, he knew she would be be right on schedule. Her meticulous efficiency, acclaimed mind, and celebrated strategies were nothing new to him, or to Imperial society. To not recognize, or respect, the reputation of Admiral Sevchenko, whether rival or friend, would be ignorance at its finest. She wouldn't fail— not at something this mundane. Alexei knew that within the day, the two would be somewhere out on Serenno, sipping wine and discussing another successful campaign...

Spoiler: OoC

My recommendation: wrapping the ground campaign up within this or the next post cycle. @Kyber Krystal, @Sarah. And don't be concerned about a posting order, @Gamov and I will do our own lil' thing for the time being, and you two can just shoot posts back and forth.

 

[Kyber Krystal]

Jax sat quietly as the small shuttle began their descent to the surface, thinking only on the task ahead. Jax hoped that the citizens of this world would be operate and would not force their hand in any way. If they refused to comply, they would be destroyed, but needless carnage was so unnecessary. Especially when it came to informing people of the benefits and peace of Imperial rule. His soldiers seemed competent, ready and able to face the situation head on. A worthy quality. He expected the mission, as far as his men were concerned, to go off without a hitch. However, they would not be able to predict how the locals would react, or exactly how powerful the Force Sensitives would be... Caution was needed, as well as bold steps forward.

"Sir?" One of his soldiers stood from his seat and approached him. He appeared young, and his emotions betrayed him as a tad anxious to the upcoming mission. That was understandable and in some cases, good. Anxiety kept one focused on the task at hand, but hopefully did not lead to an itchy trigger finger. "At ease. What is it, soldier?" Jax spoke matter-of-factly but in no way threatening. He wanted to hear his men out. "There were rumours on the ship of another Sith on board, assisting with the mission, aside from yourself. The reputation of this Sith seems one that is a bit... vicious, to say the least. He may interfere with your particular approach. He may be arriving planet-side on another vessel." The soldier spoke earnestly and honestly. Jax certainly appreciated his men trusting him, even though they had no real reason to do so. "Thank you, soldier. Rest assured, I will not let that man out of control. I appreciate your heads up. Go sit down and steel yourself for the occupation. Dismissed." The soldier nodded to Jax in acknowledgement before sitting back down... Another Sith who had an interest in Military affairs. Certainly an anomaly. If his passions were in check and he could behave responsibly, perhaps he could be useful. If not...

The shuttle touched down on the planet surface on the edge of the city. This was a strategic move. Close enough to the city to convey the power and authority of the Empire, but far enough that they wouldn't look directly hostile. They were there for a specific reason and no one would be hurt if they simply cooperated. As soon as the shuttle doors opened, the soldiers quickly filed out and formed a line on either side; acting as a guard for Jax. The men were disciplined and focused, a testament to Imperial training. Mandalorian warriors were competent, yes, but their brutality and savagery lacked the precision that was necessary for this type of operation. Years ago, Kyber found that the Sith were superior warriors to the Mandalorians. It seemed the Legionares were no exception.

After securing his armour and his lightsaber, Jax emerged from the shuttle. He marched into the heart of the city, leading his battalion as they took control of the city. Many imperial troops had already landed, and had begun assuming temporary control of the settlement. The looks from the citizens ranged from intrigued to fearful to angery. But Jax didn't care, as long as the citizens did not engage, nothing bad would happen. With purpose, Jax and his men marched onward to the city's government building. If they were intentionally harbouring Force Sensitives, local leaders certainly would know about it. Jax could not sense anything yet, in terms of a force presence. But Imperial intelligence was rarely faulty. Meaning the rogue Force Sensitives either were not in the city, or they were concealing their presence with the Force.

Jax assembled his team near the municipal government building. He walked to the door, opened it and walked inside. As he walked inside, he spoke with a commanding tone to all who may be present. "By order of the Empire, and the authority of the Emperor, I ask that your leaders meet with me to discuss our occupation. Cooperate, and nothing will be damaged and no one will get hurt. Refuse, and things will become more difficult."

He awaited a response. Any response. He wondered where the supposed other Sith was, or what he was specifically doing on the planet.

@Gamov @Deviant @Sarah

 

[Sarah]

Soren quickly rushed to his ship and took off, keeping just behind the group of imperials led by his fellow marauder. This felt more like a peace mission, or some kind of recruiting process, more than an occupation, it was not Soren's usual style, but he refused to let that hold him, or more importantly, the empire, back. Just before Soren landed, he sent a transmission toward Jax "Don't worry, I'm not going to land and immediately slash up all the locals, as your men seem to think I will. I'll only attack if they do so first. " Normally Soren might be seen wearing his symbolical chains, but seeing as he needed to look more professional and approachable so as not to incite an attack, he wore his armor, keeping a hood up to disguise his face. He was still very... Distinguishable, from the other soldiers and Jax, but at least he didn't make anyone scream in terror or run away, or even to preemptively try to attack him.
@Gamov

 

[Kyber Krystal]

Jax heard the entire transmission through his com link, but made no outward appearance to respond to it. Nor did he speak back into the com. He did not want to appear like he lacked authority in this government building, and did not want to give the appearance that any of his soldiers or associates were anything other than perfectly disciplined and under control. He was a bit wary, as this other Sith seemed to know exactly what was discussed in the shuttle without being there, but as long as those skills were meant to serve the Imperial mission, that was all that mattered.

After a few minutes, a small mouse-faced man walked towards Jax. He wore what seemed to be a formal suit, with a few medals on the lapel. His hair was greyed and his face had many wrinkles. As if you could see the man's experiences with every line on his face. It seemed this was the leader figure of the city. "Thank you for being so cooperative thus far." Jax said simply as a salutation. He did not attempt to appear friendly, sensing the tone of the situation. Rather, he spoke civilly. In a way that communicated a desire to be cooperative and helpful. Jax's number one priority was the mission he was assigned by the Imperials, but he would do whatever he could to help the people of the planet help him. "Well, your people don't leave much room for wriggling, now do they?" The man said curtly. There was a sharp edge to his tone, not that Jax cared.

Jax began to pace back and forth as he spoke. He did not ask for permission or even look at him directly for long periods of time. Body language was important, and Jax wanted to convey that he was in charge here. "I'll be brief. You understand why we have occupied your city. The Empire has zero tolerance for dangerous force users in the galaxy, as they're a risk for both Imperial operations and civilians as a whole." Even though Jax was sure the man knew that the Empire knew about their intentional harbouring of the Force Sensitives, he still appeared to act in disbelief. Ignorant even. Jax knew better. "We cannot allow this enclave to remain. They're a danger to the citizens of this planet, even if they appear benign." Now came the time for Jax to make his move. "The Empire is more than willing to allow these rogues the chance to be properly trained, and made to loyally serve the denizens of the galaxy and his Imperial Majesty, the Emperor. However, we cannot allow them to simply remain unchecked. All we ask from your people is to point the Empire towards where they are hiding. Do this, and we will leave your planet. We will not harm anyone and we will leave everything in tact..." He awaited a response. He had said his piece.

"We would love to help, but we aren't harbouring any force users, as you say" The man said... a blatant lie.

Jax had a dislike for people that lied. Especially those that lied directly to his face. Jax couldn't necessarily detect if he lied or not through the Force, but the intel that Intelligence had provided was too accurate to be anything but a lie. Besides, the Protectorate had a history of harbouring dangerous Force sects like this one. But clearly the time for talk was over... Pressure needed to be implemented. This bluff needed to be called. "Think carefully, sir... Imperial forces have control of your city. I have ten highly trained soldiers who will heed my every order. And numerous more await outside... including more Sith... We want to help your city. Help us help you... Otherwise things might become a bit more tense... Do you understand?" Jax spoke with a tone that clearly suggested a threat was being made. He was fed up with talking. Action needed to be used now.

"Very well..." The man relented. "They are held up in a group home in the centre of the town. It is nearly impossible to miss. Though I warn you, they will not come quietly."
"That is fine. Imperial forces will prevent your civilians from being harmed, as long as the force users are brought before us... What are the coordinates of this group home?"

As the coordinates were given, Jax relayed them into his com. He wanted to communicate this both to Anya and to his Fellow Sith. With a quick order, he began to march out of the building with his detachment. It was time to hunt the force users down. The mission had yet to be completed.

@Gamov @Sarah @Deviant

 

[Sarah]

Soren landed and entered the building, no one seemed to notice him enter, however, the were more focused on Jax and the other man speaking, he came in around "We would love to help, but we aren't harboring any force users, as you say."
Soren knew this man was lying, as did anyone else who was there, and he wanted to interrogate the man, make him say where they were, but he knew that wouldn't be a very good idea. He waited for his fellow Sith to speak. Jax spoke with the authority of the Empire, and put the terror of it into the man whenever he utilized this. "Good, he can use his weight to ensure no civvies try anything. Or this worm of a commander for that matter." Soren thought. Once Jax sent the coordinates out to the others and ordered the men to march, Soren stood aside, waiting for the soldiers to clear out, and marched beside Jax until he was next to Jax "Well, brother, how likely do you think it is these people will attack, if the force sensitive rogues do? I am uneasy about that liar you spoke with, he's up to something, I don't need the dark side to know that much." Soren's voice was hushed under his hood, just loud enough so that it would carry to Jax and maybe one other imperial, because he knew if anyone heard them, it would be even more likely an attack would take place.

 

[Kyber Krystal]

As Jax and his detachment finally began to exit the main legislature, he finally noticed the other presence in the room. He had been so focused on his conversation with the governor, so invested in coercing him, that he did not notice the other Sith enter the room… This was the other Sith that his soldiers had worried about. However, he did not seem to be behaving in any controversial way. He seemed to be in control, as opposed to the rumours the soldiers provided. However, it remained to be seen how he would act for the remainder of the mission. Jax was technically in charge of this special task force. He wondered how this Sith would react to taking direction. Many Sith were more concerned about their own dominance rather than ensuring the mission succeeded. It would be an experiment to be sure.

“The governor is the least of our worries” Jax began as the two Sith walked side by side. The soldiers created a formidable escort for the two, but they still had a little ways to walk before they made it to the safehouse of the Force Sensitives. “Legionnaires have the city more or less under control. They’ve been instructed to use force only if necessary, but the civilians shouldn’t act rashly… Shouldn’t being the word, not won’t. Guard up”

The new Sith was an odd one. Jax certainly saw why the rumours were as they were. He had an intimidating visage to the uninitiated. There were benefits to being feared, even by one’s own allies, but the usefulness had its limits… Jax was a bit taken aback when the Sith had called him ‘brother’. It was something he used to hear when he was Mandalorian. Blood brothers, brothers in arms. He had a new clan, and he had to suppose he had new brothers… Sith brothers. “I suppose a full debrief is in order. Name is Jax Merrik. I’m leading this detachment. Orders are to neutralize the rogue Force Sensitives as quickly and as efficiently as possible… Preferably, I would like to see them turned and brought to serve the Sith, but if that isn’t possible we need to take them out. Civilians are not to be harmed and force against them is not allowed unless provoked. Understood?” Jax spoke calmly and clearly, hoping the Sith would absorb everything he was saying. Because he would be damed if he was going to repeat himself.

Eventually, the two made it to the location of the group home. Jax’s transmission had been a success, as numerous legionnaire forces had began to congregate outside of the building. Jax ordered his soldiers to get to cover for the moment and hold their weapons at attention. He marched to a nearby lieutenant, hoping to get an update on the situation. “Any activity on the inside?” Jax asked matter-of-factly. He wanted a quick update so he could move in quickly. “Nothing, sir. We sent in a negotiator into the building from the Diplomatic Corps as soon as you sent the coordinates, but… we haven’t received any word from him.” Jax had a feeling that couldn’t mean anything good. “I’m taking my troops and moving in, hold position and keep your guards up.”

Jax approached the building warily. He drew his lightsaber, but kept it disengaged. He approached slowly… surely… That is until he sensed something troubling. A powerful use of the Force. The doors to the home blasted open, as the body of an Imperial Legionnaire was thrown from the building. The soldiers neck looked askew and almost broken. Like they had been choked to death utilizing the Force. Jax ignited his saber.

“Troops, move up!” He turned to face his Sith companion. “Assume the worst. Force is permitted, but if we can manage to turn these rogues to the Dark Side then we must…” Jax looked at the corpse. “Seems at least one of the rogues had already taken a proper step”

@Sarah

 

[Sarah]

Seeing the body, Soren had a much different view of this action. Sure, the rogue had used the power of hatred and anger, which was a good sign, not to mention one of the first steps to becoming a Sith, but he also used it against an imperial, which meant he had harmed the Emperor's property. This should be punished severely, he thought. Soren drew his own sabers, and followed behind Jax. He was ready to kill. Upon entering, a few of the rogues engaged Jax and Soren with sabers drawn. Soren engaged two that had green sabers instinctively, and killed one swiftly, holding the other back as much as he could without killing them. He wanted to keep things as calm as possible, and knew he would likely be reprimanded for killing one of these feral force users. That didn't matter much now, and besides, these two were obviously Jedi before they fled, so how could they be expected to hold their own or remain loyal if they did surrender? "Stand down, and no more blood will have to shed!" Soren commanded, looking to Jax for some words to further encourage a surrender.

 

[Kyber Krystal]

Jax thought about the best way to approach the assault. The door was skinny and small, effectively creating a choke point for any forces that decided to enter. The walls of the building did not look very strong, and could definitely be destroyed by some application of either force, or the literal Force. However, it would look callous to the citizens of the city if the Empire simply blasted any building they wished to shreds. They needed to be respected as well as feared. Jax was just about to signal his troops into position when he noticed Soren storm into the building. "Kriffing..." Jax muttered to himself. As he heard multiple lightsabers come alive, he shot a look back to his troops. "Await my signal!" Jax yelled as he too entered the building.

Jax entered the building, his eyes immediately darting to Soren's assault. The rumours seemed to be true, his assault was ferocious and swift. A true killer, molded by a pure Sith upbringing. Though he noticed restraint, as he kept one of the deviants from death, if only for an instant. Jax reached out through the Force, doing to the restrained rogue what had been done to the Legionnaire. He applied pressure to his neck, slowly but surely choking the rogue. "How many more of you are there?" Jax asked, not yelling. Slowly. Calmly. He wanted to appear threatening. "Oh... a few." The rogue managed to choke out, managing to make a small smile. Jax's senses flared alive as he detected a threat nearby. Another rogue swung their lightsaber, green in colour, close to Jax's face. It was a narrow dodge that Jax made, but he didn't come out unscathed. A cut was made across his cheek, instantly cauterizing due to the nature of lightsabers. Jax, in a moment of anger, reached out once again with the Force, and snapped the neck of the smartass rogue from earlier. Jax then yelled out a command. "Move in!"

Jax's ten troop detachment quickly filed into the building, surrounding the new assailant and quickly nullifying the threat they posed. Jax once again reached out with the Force, now choking this one. "Think you're clever, do you?" Jax shot his head to two members of his squadron. "Search the house, make sure there's no others." They quickly nodded and obeyed the order, searching their way through the house. After a bit of searching, the two soldiers escorted one other down from the upper levels: What looked to be an adolescent girl. "Well, hello there" Jax said to the girl, letting his grip go on the older male rogue.

@Sarah @Deviant @Gamov

 

[Gamov]

"Initial reports from the field are encouraging. The local government has been exceedingly cooperative." Of course, to Anya 'cooperation' was an entirely subjective term. Whether the planet fell in line willingly, or was forced to heel mattered little. In the end what was important was the mission. An officer stepped into view briefly, relaying the latest updates on the operation. Dismissing him with a graceful nod, Anya beamed with satisfaction. "Well, it seems our illustrious Sith comrades have managed to locate the rogue Force users." And not a moment too soon either. She was growing weary of loitering in this system.

Turning to her tactical operations officer, the Admiral directed him to deploy reinforcements. "Deploy reinforcements to the city center and place all government officials under arrest." She had no intentions of installing a garrison on this godforsaken backwater, but neither could she allow rogue political agitators to operate freely under the Empire's watch. The fate of Delrakkin's governor, and those who conspired with him, would be left in the hands of an Imperial court. "I will be arriving at the rendezvous shortly." Anya spared a fleeting smile for Alexei when she was sure no one was looking. "If you will excuse me, General."

With that, the feed was cut somewhat unceremoniously as Anya found herself immersed in the gravity of her duties again. Officers and crew swirled about her, vying for her attention for one reason or another. It never seemed to end, and only Alexei seemed capable of providing some levity to the chaos. Sighing internally, the Admiral turned, hands clasped in the small of her back as she strode back to the front of the command deck. Soon enough, Imperial forces would descend on the city and incarcerate any foolish enough to oppose them. This would not be her most glorious moment as an officer, but every step, no matter how small, always kept her moving forward with one goal in mind: security for the Empire at any cost.

----​

The first of the Imperial transports touched down in the city to throngs of panicked civilians, still oblivious to the Empire's true intentions. As the armor clad Legionnaires filed out of their shuttles, their sheer intimidation kept most from doing much beyond gawking or passing worried murmurs to one another. Straight up the center of the city's main road they marched in perfect formation, their armor darkening the steps of the governor's estate soon enough. Bursting through the front doors, the governor and his aides froze, shocked looks painted on their faces. As the Stormtroopers fanned out throughout the room, one stepped forward, his armor decorated with crimson stripes along his pauldrons.

"What is the meaning of this?" The governor shouted, standing to face the Commander.

"By order of Admiral Sevchenko, and by the authority of the Empire, you are hereby under arrest." The Commander waved several troopers forward to detain the governor and his aides.

The governor's eyes went wide. "You can't do this!" He shrugged off the first hand on his shoulder, only to be forcefully seized again, his hands wrenched behind his back and placed in binders. "This is unconscionable!"

The Commander said nothing as his men detained the others in the room, dragging them out of the estate and all but parading them back to the waiting transports like cattle. Forcing the prisoners inside, the shuttles would lift off as a message was relayed to Jax and the other Sith on the planet. The local government had been neutralized, all that remained was to detain the last of the rogue Force sensitives and return to the fleet to rendezvous with General Petrov's task force.

@Kyber Krystal, @Sarah @Deviant​