Bum Rush

[Trixie]

Trixie, for once, was actually wearing armor. She had loudly announced that she planned to raid the Korriban Sith temple, and she was shocked to find that others wanted to join. Her personality and her eccentricities didn’t matter now that the helmet was on. She gazed ahead at the spires and the temple that stood amidst the desert.

She couldn’t guess at how many Imperials and Sith were inside, but she wanted to get to the Emperor. The Mandalorians had pushed the Sith into the last corners of the galaxy, and this would be one of the final places to hunt them down.

Trixie had the hilt of a saber in her hand, having used it to mock Sith in combat. She was quiet for a moment, looking over the horizon at the temple a short distance away. They hadn’t come with any support soldiers, and this allowed them to avoid any fleet confrontation.

“Well boys,” She said at last, “We may not make it alive out of this one,” Trixie doubled checked to ensure her weapons were in place, “So make peace with your shit and let’s take this home! Oya!”

@Darasaurus @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

Theme​

The pale sun of Korriban reflected off of his ancient visor, the sand-gold of his armor standing in stark contrast to the red sands around them. This whole planet reeked with the foul stench of the Sith, and every moment standing on its profane surface did nothing but incense him. Barely contained rage roiled just below the surface of his emotions, begging to be released against their foes. He kept in check for now, knowing that on the eve of battle he must separate the man who held such human emotions as love and compassion from the man who knew only war. They were not fighting beings deserving of mercy; they were fighting wretches and vermin, fit for naught but extermination.

Silhouetted against the sanguine backdrop of Korriban were three figures of contrasting personalities: Trixie, whose psychotic demeanor earned her a Mandalorian-wide reputation as someone to truly not kriff with; Koil, whose silent, cunning style earned him galactic renown – as contradictory as that seemed – and few could say they relished meeting him in battle; and Leandros, the face of Mandalorian vengeance, a man pushed to the brink time and time again, a man who now embraced his role as the galaxy’s most dangerous warlord.

The small Mandalorian kill-team had come alone – no fleets, no reinforcements, no support other than each other. They were here to kill the Emperor and to scour the Sith from their holes and execute them for their multitude of sins. This could be a one-way mission, and all three had accepted that. There could be hundreds in their way to the Emperor, but none of them could hope to stand in their way. The tides of fate had shifted in the favor of the mando’ade, and the time of the Sith was finally at an end. They would show no mercy, know no fear, and grant no reprieve. A river of blood would run from the throne room to the steps of this temple, they would ensure that. Every corpse that they left would be part of the blood price the Sith had to pay for what they did to his home, to his people, to his wife.

Trixie spoke up after their silent observation of the temple. Leandros turned his ancient mythosaur bone mask towards her, then back to the temple ahead. ”We’re Mandalorians,” he said, ”We’ll water the ground with their blood.” He rested a hand on the hilt of his beskad, yearning to quench its thirst for violence. He ensured his weapons were all secured and ready to go, eager to begin what was about to become a veritable massacre. Ahead loomed the killing fields, and within, their target. The rage of the Manda coursed through his veins, and his desire for vengeance spurred him to action.

Leandros looked to the sky one final time and prayed silently to the gods for protection in this battle. When he was done, he began to move towards the temple.

”Through the destruction of our enemies do we earn our salvation! Oya!”

@Darasaurus @Sreeya

 

[Koil Solus]

This was the first time Koil had set foot on Korriban. If he had his choice he would have come sooner and slit the throats of every sith he could reach. But now there seemed to be so few of them. After the now defunct Empire had made the mistake of bombing Mandalore they had retreated into the recesses of their territory. Reduced to a shadow of their former selves the Silent Badger was far from impressed.

Beside him was a member of the Werda Verda, Trixie. Leandros Solus, Mand'alor the Crusader, rounded their number out to three. They had made it to the surface of Korriban without detection. Ahead of them sat the Sith Temple, a monument to the darkside. Just looking at it made Koil's blood run hot.

The gloved fingertips brushed against his weapons. The fallen blade taken from Darth Victress was his newest addition. The knives that had been his gift to Raz were sheathed and waiting to taste the blood of the unfortunate Sith inside the Temple. The fingers curled into a fist. The joints in Koil's pale knuckles popped and was followed with a rolling of his shoulders.

The other two spoke well enough for the three of them. The War Councilor kept his lips closed but his jaw tightened for a brief moment. They would not keep their enemies waiting. Together the kill team moved towards their target to end the lives of many Sith. They'll know the real meaning of darkness soon enough.

@Sreeya @Painus

 

[Trixie]

“Well aight let’s go then!” Trixie cheered as she began to make her way towards the temple. Koil and Leandros could get a head start, but she still didn’t have a jetpack. Already she could see soldiers patrolling outside the temple. One of them spotted the incoming Mandos and quickly started to warn the others.

The Imperial had a rifle on him, leveling it and taking two shots at Leandros. About four more came rushing out of the main entrance of the temple, all armed with blasters. Trixie knew it was only a matter of time before the laser swords came out, but they would make quick work of the peons first.

Trixie caught up to engage one of the five, igniting the saber she had on her. The sight gave the Imperial pause, and that gave her enough time to slice through an arm. He screamed and stepped back, giving her the chance to lob his head right off.

Trixie didn’t stop the momentum of the blade, whirling around to bladelock with another Imperial who had been advancing on her. There was no doubt that the other two would be heavily engaged in battle, and they would start making the initial push inside.

“That green mother kriffer better be in there!” Trixie yelled as she sliced towards another man’s chest.

@Darasaurus @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros had rushed forward ahead of the pack, beskad in hand. His desire for bloodshed outweighed his tactical pragmatism, and the bloodlust in his eyes blurred together with the red sands in his periphery. Ahead, he saw only the promise of conquest, of vengeance. It had been too long since his last engagement, and though he was aging, he still yearned to clash helmet-to-helmet, sword-to-sword with the enemy. The outer patrols spotted them coming – not like they were hiding their approach – and quickly warned the others. Two bolts came screaming his way and past him as he deftly twisted to the side, his gaze fixated on the man who fired at him.

His jetpack flicked off as he slammed blade-first into the Imperial, ramming the weapon through his chest to the hilt. His death rattle was drowned out by the sounds of bolts hitting his back as the Mand’alor used the corpse as a shield. Two bolts thudded uselessly against his back, doing little more than scorching his armor while blood seeped out like drool from a hound’s mouth and collected in the sand below. Leandros slid his blade out and pressed forward with the body, quickly closing to melee range to engage his comrade. He threw the corpse forward, occupying his comrade for a moment. While the Imperial shunted the body aside, Leandros slammed his beskad into the crook of his neck, stopping only when it struck bone too thick to cut through.

The other Imperial took aim at and prepared for Koil’s engagement, leaving Leandros and Trixie to their own devices. With a crunch of bone and the tearing of flesh, Leandros slid his blade from the Imperials neck, uncaring for the gore that now spilled out and onto the ground around him. Without skipping a beat or waiting for his comrades, he charged inside, blade and armor slick with blood.

The five who made it outside were merely the vanguard, and he knew the interior of this temple would be a slog to get through on their way to kill the Emperor. His boots thudded heavily against the metal floor beneath him, but the rhythmic drumming of footsteps in the halls beyond clued him in to the rallied defense of the Sith lurking beyond. As he rounded the corner into an open entry chamber, three Sith greeted him, crimson sabers ignited as they menacingly made their stand. They looked no more powerful than mere acolytes, lambs to the slaughter while their dark masters prepared a greater defense.

Leandros reached up and grabbed one of the lightsabers on his bandolier, igniting its yellow blade in his offhand, surprising the Sith opposite him. The Mand’alor had kept these weapons for more than mere trophies, but rather reserved them for pressing moments of battle. He was a pragmatic man and had spent years with the weapons after taking his first on Onderon thirteen years ago, training with them to better understand how to kill Sith and Jedi alike.

Leandros chuckled grimly as he twirled the lightsaber, cutting a gouge in the floor where he stood. One of the acolytes foolishly charged towards him, slashing downward at the Mand’alor’s head. He swung the lightsaber up perpendicular with his opponent’s stopping it in midair, simultaneously thrusting forward with his beskad to impale the man’s chest, sending a spray of blood and organ chunks through his back. The other two Sith advanced towards him to defend their comrade, realizing their strength was in numbers.

Leandros could not recall a time when he wasn’t outnumbered.

@Sreeya @Darasaurus

 

[Koil Solus]

Koil pushed off into a trot. His hands quickly activating his gauntlet bulwark shield and also switching his jetpack to flight mode. Airborne his hands held two quickdraw blaster pistols and raced forward. In a moment he overtook the reinforcement guards ending up behind them and on the steps. Some raised their blasters to the sky causing bolts to wiz passed the War Councilors fast figure. Each of them quickly received a bolt of their own, silencing their weapon fire.

Those that were not killed by Leandros and Tixie were ended by Koil. It was easy for them to be cut down by being outmaneuvered in a heartbeat by a jetpack wearing killing machine. In this case, there were two of those.

Leandros came up the stairs quickly enough and went past Koil who was waiting for them. Trixie came shortly after but the Silent Badger let the Mand'alor take point. Both his blaster were held up at the ready the moment an enemy came into view. A tap from one index fingers switched him to his combat mode for his jetpack. Flight was not as pragmatic for the internal setting.

A trio of lightsaber weilding enemies came into view with saber glowing. One thought he was strong enough to take on Leandros alone. That was his last mistake. The others would quickly follow. One brought his lightsaber up in a rushing charge but Koil activated his cryo caster making the man stop a few meters short. His arm frozen and then a half dozen blaster bolts riddling his body unceremoniously. Trixie would have the other one.

Ammo canisters fell over the body of the smoking acolyte corpse. The War Councilor thought about picking up the lightsaber but moved passed it. They were here to kill the emperor and Koil in particular had him on his list. The three Mandalorians were moving deeper and deeper. Their silencing of any opposition prevented reports of reinforcements for the time being though they would surely come eventually. The Echani could feel the sheathed blades on his armor. If Trixie or Leandros did not kill the Emperor, he would.

They were fast approaching the Emperor's throne room. The livery and decorations growing noticably more ornate as they moved in. These were restricted halls as it was. Less Sith and Imperial soldiers traveled here and it only further showed the immense size of the halls. Koil ran with practiced stealth out of habit while his Mand'alor thundered forward with violent purpose. Today Hod'haran and Kad Ha'ringar both had champions in the field and today they would spill plenty of Sith blood.

@Sreeya @Painus

 

[Trixie]

The trio made quick work of the Imperials present, and she wondered if this was truly the might of the Empire. However, she had to remember that the Sith had all but collapsed - their upper echelon was all but wiped, and they had given up their territories. Did any of their hierarchy even stand anymore? Did it mean anything to be Emperor or Darth or whatever else they called themselves?

They poured into the academy, blasting and cutting down anyone in their path. Those that didn’t fall scattered and escaped. It became clear that high ranking Sith weren’t exactly present, and she guessed they had retreated into hiding. Trixie couldn’t help but be disappointed, wanting to have had a challenging fight on her hands.

The three began to quickly beeline towards the Emperor’s room with Trixie leading the way. She wanted more than anything to charge through the door and slice his head right off. Trixie looked over her shoulder with a grin, “Last one there doesn’t get to be in the Holonet footage of us holding up his severed head!” She cackled maniacally as she continued to run.

Trixie charged through the doors, having expected some resistance. Instead there was….nothing. She skidded to a halt, looking around in confusion. Was this some sort of a trap? Trixie stepped further into the room, shaken by the pindrop silence inside. There was nobody here, and the throne itself remained empty. The Emperor was nowhere to be seen, and the lackluster security from earlier made sense.

“Damn it!” She shrieked, “Where is he?!” Trixie kicked the throne in frustration, turning back to storm back outside. However, she passed a narrow corridor on the way and stopped in her tracks by what she saw. For a moment, she was blocking the view, and it was very unlike her to be so taken by having seen something.

“Guys…” She said quietly, the tone of voice out of character for her. She lowered her head and walked out of the way, stepping far away to allow the two some space.

Theme​

The corridor was narrow and dimly lit, and it had taken Trixie a few moments to realize what it was. The corridor led to an empty chamber, and it was very much dedicated to one thing.

The full armor of Raz Solus was in a glass case, standing upright and facing out as if she were standing there herself. All her weapons and gear were neatly piled on shelves next to the armor. It was as if this chamber were made just to treat her as a museum relic, a source of pride for the Sith and their victory. There was no sign or hint as to where her body was, only her armor and gear. The helmet was the same, the insignia and all the scuffs were the same. A small, almost unnoticeable necklace hung from where the helmet met the torso pieces, the wedding band from Leandros at the bottom of it. Whoever had stripped her of armor had shown great care and respect, even if they had been Imperial.

@Darasaurus @Painus

 

[Koil Solus]

It was not a walk in the park to get to the Emperor's throne room. But it was still easier than he would have expected. But when they arrived with an empty hall it made sense considering Darth Tagus was not present. The War Councilor growled. He really had wanted to sink his blade into the Emperor. But with both Leandros and Trixie present it was unlikely he would have had the chance anyways.

The Echani stood before the throne, glaring at it, imaging the green skinned coward that had given him his first force lightening scar. Trixie's voice drew his attention. But she did not say anything else after calling both Leandros and Koil.

The man walked passed Trixie as his eyes focused on what was down the corridor. Raz? But his eyes adjusted and saw the clear glass. It was just a holding container for the suit of armor. The woman was not inside the beskar'gam. Her soul had left the second skin long before the armor had been placed on display like some kind of trophy.

It was a surprise to see everything there. Underneath Koil's helmet his eyes moved from one piece to the next. His feet carried him closer. His hand reached up to touch the case but stopped short. The fingers slowly curling back and dropping to his side. The Silent Badger was pissed. His helmet turned to see how Leandros was reacting already knowing he would have a similar if not more overt reaction. Where are you Tagus? I'm going to kill you. The Echani's expression was contorted into anger but his body stood still and tense. "We can't leave this here."

@Sreeya @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros watched his comrades dispatch their foes with violent intent, beskad slick with Imperial and Sith blood alike. The trio made short work of any foe in their path, and soon they were storming down the halls, hunting for the Emperor. Where Koil moved quietly, Leandros stormed ahead, wanting the Emperor to hear his death approaching. The corridors grew more and more ostentatious with trophies of past glories and other useless finery. Where the Mandalorians were simple and spartan in nature, the Sith preferred the lap of luxury and to ride the coattails of their past Empire’s success. How ironic it was that now the Sith were nothing while the Mandalorians dominated the galaxy.

They burst into the throne room, ready to wade through a river of blood to the Emperor. Leandros slowed to a careful trot and looked around the room, wary for an ambush or a trap, but nothing came. The temple seemed to be abandoned, and with it their chances of killing the Emperor dropped to nothing. While Trixie shouted out with dismay and went off to a side passage, Leandros looked over the throne, wondering what kind of coward fled his own temple. He wanted nothing more than to sever the man’s head and display it to the galaxy, but it seemed that moment would be delayed further.

Trixie’s change in tone shook him from his musings, and he turned to see what had shocked her so thoroughly. Leandros entered the corridor and saw what was ahead, his beskad clanging to the floor with his jaw.

He hadn’t seen this armor in… gods, it must have been years. He spent days, weeks even, scouring the ruins of Keldabe for some sign of it, for some sign of her. He thought she’d been buried in the rubble, but the sight in front of him showed that her armor was used instead as a trophy. Koil approached the case first, but Leandros charged ahead, desperate to see his wife’s armor for the first time in a very, very long time. He shoved Koil aside to get closer to it and placed his hands on either side of the case, eyes tracing every minor detail. Every scuff and scratch was exactly as he remembered it, and he spent a while just looking into the helmet. The pain of knowing that nobody was looking back at him pierced deep, and after a few moments he simply leaned his head forward, resting his head on the glass.

His eyes caught the subtle glint of light reflecting off of her wedding band and the corners of his lips curled upwards in a very slight smile. It comforted him that whomever claimed this trophy took great care of it but infuriated him beyond measure that it was locked up in this stupid case for all to see. Koil’s words echoed in his mind as he stared at the wedding band and he nodded, dinging his mask against the glass a few times. ”I’m not leaving her here,” he said quietly, agreeing with the man. He looked down at the case’s electronic lock and smashed his fist into it, sending sparks flying and disabling the security system. Carefully, he opened the case and rested a hand on the helmet, tracing his fingers down its side.

”Go… go get me a bag or… kriff, just get me something to put the armor in.” he ordered, reaching for the necklace to carefully unclasp it. While the others worked on helping recover the armor, he put the necklace around his own neck, ensuring that the wedding band would forever be by his heart. ”I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you,” he whispered, looking at her helmet. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he blinked them away, his desire for Sith blood overwhelming his sadness. This whole planet would burn for what the Sith did to her, he would ensure that.

@Sreeya @Darasaurus