Ask Invasion Liberation (attempt) Of Denon

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin, in a million years, couldn’t have predicted the level of insane that his target was. By the time he entered his mind and found the disaster there, it was too late. The outburst began to draw attention as intended, but it also had the potential for backfire as he suggested locking the building down. Another man strode over towards the maniac, stopping short of slapping the lunatic across the face. The Jedi Master could sense the rage pulsing from the other Sith, and he watched him move to shove one of the padawans. Sevrin made no move to help. Padawans here knew what they signed up for. This was no drill.

The Sephi began to walk towards the main stairs as the elevators were reported non functional. He was caught off guard when a big bag landed with a heavy thud near him and the two padawans with him. His gaze flicked up at the orcolan, and so did that of the civilians. The security guards sprang to attention at once, leveling their blasters and pointing up at the very visible orcolan.

“HANDS IN THE AIR OR I’LL SHOOT! HANDS IN THE AIR, PALMS OPEN! ALL CIVILIANS ON THIS FLOOR LEAVE THE PREMISE!” One of them shouted, while the other kept his gun leveled while calling in a bomb squad and escalating.

The civilians were screaming and running in different directions. Sevrin was no different as he quickly moved and physically pushed Thelian towards the exit, “Go! Get out of here!” He said sternly. If the level was about to blow, he wasn’t going to endanger the padawan. He was already alarmed that Vren was en route.

Throughout the commotion and discreetly, Sevrin ducked out of sight, slinking to the side and moving into the staircase that was away from the lobby. He rapidly began to make his way up the stairwell, hoping the padawans knew better than to follow him.

Meanwhile, a flood of Imperials barged into the building, at least ten of them all with their guns trained on the three on the second floor, giving the bag a wide berth. Five of them broke away to run up the main staircase, only a few flights behind Sevrin. Except they would pop out again on the second floor while Sevrin kept going. If Jade, Cairo or Draugr moved out of sight, they would be peppered with blasterfire.

Bomb squad would arrive within minutes to inspect the bag.

@Darasuum @Altaris @Orbit

 

[Vinry Forge]

As the Kel Dor sith started having a panic attack in the middle of the atrium, Vinry wondered if one of her companions had missed with the poor thing's head, or if he was just stereotypically crazy and having an episode without any external influence. Either way, it was a distraction, one that she expected her companions to make use of. It couldn't do her much good, seeing as she was right at the epicenter of this little disturbance, but she could help create more chaos.

She was about to think of a way to do the same when someone on a higher level took the choice out of her hands. As the bag came sailing through the air, and screams of bomb and incoherent fear spread around them Vinry's eyes widened at the the sight. Some part of her brain struggled to follow the line of thought that would have brought them to do that, while her body sprang into action. She was a Jedi, and even when on a super secret, high priority, undercover mission, she could not switch off how she acted in such situations. Maybe that's why she could never be a shadow, she lacked the ability to compartmentalize her thoughts and think things through.

So she acted like a Jedi should, by moving to help. And it just os happened that the people closest to her were Sith. Bad people, but still people. So she did the only thing she could, she jumped towards the masked Sith (@Taz), tackling him and bodily slamming him to the floor away from the bag's trajectory. "Bomb!," She shouted, echoing words that were already ringing out around them, and as they slammed to the ground she let herself bounce of the Sith and roll to the ground by his side.

It took a moment or two, but once the bag didn't explode she had a moment of clarity in the chaos as people ran all round them, everyone rushing to get away from the bag, be it by moving towards the stairs, the exits, or just hide behind something. She turned her head to look at the masked Sith, letting shock and fear show on her face.

"Whta..what happened? Are you okay?"

@Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Sreeya @Tulos @Darasuum @Fine Dining Set @Scoobert @Taz @Orbit

 

[Thelian Lsai]

Thelian had spent years at this point as a padawan of the Order – day in and day out, undergoing rigorous training that sought to disciple his mind as well as his physical body. Suffice to say, none of that prepared Thelian for the level of batshit insane that was Bir. The Echani couldn’t help but go wide eyed as the Kel Dor’s mental defenses fell away almost instantly, watching as the Sith began to bellow out with unhinged laughter. It was exactly the kind of distraction they had hoped to achieve, though the threat of a lockdown wasn’t missed by the Echani – briefly manifesting as a bit of worry on his features.

Silver eyes briefly flicked towards Gabriel for a brief moment, but otherwise the Echani didn’t bother to make any additional progress towards the Padawan he’d just been smiling at. He had no attachment to the boy that would’ve tempted him to do so, and any movement in that direction was likely to draw when more attention to them.

He purposefully didn’t linger. He knew that they would only have a few moments of distraction before the commotion from Bir died down, and they needed to make for the stairwell before it did. Thelian only made it a few healthy strides in that direction before his attention was drawn towards the object thrown from the second level – watching almost in slow motion as the demo charge landed a few steps away from him and Sevrin.

He stared in complete shock, rapidly glancing between the explosive and the Orcolan who’d thrown it – confusion immediately wrecking his mind as to why the Sith acolyte had thrown a bomb into a crowded building filled with Imperial civilians. Quite frankly, of all the things that he expected to happen when he departed for Denon, inter-Sith terrorism really wasn’t on the Echani’s bucket-list.

Thelian was snapped out of his own thoughts the moment that Sevrin physically shoved him, stumbling forward a bit in the direction of the exit before glancing back in the Jedi Master’s direction. He heard the stern command to make for the exit, and his eyes followed the man as he proceeded to make his way towards the stairwell.

Despite being told to do so, Thelian made no moves to remove himself from the building. He knew that the bomb squad would be arriving within minutes, and that the entire facility would be going into lockdown – ensuring that he would be no possible way back in. Moreover, there was not a chance in the Galaxy that he was going to tuck tail and run while the rest of his colleagues remained within the building.

Completely disregarding Sevrin’s stern command, Thelian discreetly followed after Sevrin – ducking out of sight and making a beeline for the main stairwell that led up towards the second level of the atrium. He was quick on his feet, bounding only a few steps behind the Sephi Jedi and dodging just a few flights above the approaching troopers. Naturally, the Echani had no intention of stopping once he crested into the second floor – continuing to move towards Vren and past the commotion with the three Sith.

@Sreeya @Mr. Teatime @Orbit @Wit @Darasuum @Scoobert @Taz

 

[Gabriel Morales]

Well, distracting the tall and obvious Sith seemed to working. Maybe a little too well, judging from the lifted hand. The Dark began to reach toward him, the young man's eyes widening slightly.

Then the commotion from Bir proved more important and Gabriel was shoved aside, falling to the ground and sliding a little ways. Once he was out of eyeshot his expression quickly reverted back to plainly neutral and he looked around to see how everything else was going. This was when he noticed the Orcolan above tossing what looked at first like a grubby laundry back down to the first floor. That concept alone was confusing, even moreso when the loud thud it made against the ground told Gabriel it wasn't laundry.

Holy shit! Did that big, crazy bitch just throw a bomb sack? All the yelling folks certainly seemed to think so. And so did half the guards in the room judging from all the pulled weapons and screaming about hands. Vinry even went to tackle the tall dude while the others were skulking their way elsewhere. Gabriel's reaction was to scramble from the floor and dive behind the nearby desk as the closest source of cover. He ran right into one of the guards who'd leapt from his seat to start barking orders and was promptly shoved away, the armoured man yelling at the top of his lungs to evacuate the floor.

Gabriel went on his way, but not without taking a little something extra from the very distracted guard's belt during the chaos. A keycard sat in his pocketed fingers as he swept himself into the chaotic crowd of panicked civilians that flowed in the opposite direction of the Imperial Peacekeepers who'd burst onto the scene. Their bodies shoved and pushed, sweeping people toward and out the exit. This meant Bir especially since he was already on his way out, while Gabriel managed to get back near Vinry and Aziz amidst the crowd, weaving between bodies along the way to keep them in sight.

Peacekeeper bomb squads would show up soon. They'd need to figure out the next step pretty quickly.

@Wit @Altaris @Sreeya @Tulos @Darasuum @Fine Dining Set @Scoobert @Taz @Orbit

 

[Vren Mallick]

Vren was walking up the stairs when apparently everything just broke down in the main atrium, crazed shouts from a Sith demanding that the building be locked down echoing throughout. The Echani could only assume the mind trick from both the Jedi had worked a little too well. People around him stopped momentarily, wondering what was possibly happening but that's when a bag had been thrown onto the first floor from above. It was exactly the fuse to light the match after the outburst prior and people immediately assumed the worse and thought it was a live bomb, shouting the word and running in all directions.

Even if it was a bomb or not, Vren no matter what was going to head up the stairs but thankfully, his cover would remain as he mingled with the civilians around him sprinting up the stairs too in a hysterical matter. Believing it was a bomb, they had no intention to go back down to the first floor and cross the explosive's path when it could set off any moment, leaving the only option to be up.

The small group arrived at the second floor, a mix of maintenance workers and regular civilians as they stumbled into another dangerous situation. There were two people being held up by guards, both of who strangely appeared as Sith as well and just added into the confusion of the whole debacle that was happening. Vren had no idea what was going on but he still had an objective and that hadn't been squandered yet.

The group of civilians split up from that point, some just rushing into nearby rooms in order to take cover from the bomb and avoid the arrest of the Sith, adding to the hysteria on the second floor. The other half of the people continued up the stairs further to get out of the way of the danger fully and wait it out, that group being the one that the Echani was in as he scaled the stairs two steps at a time like the scared citizens he was with.

As he bounded the steps to the third floor, he made sure to be intermingled with the crowd as he still kept his signature hidden, perfectly blending in with the craziness happening. The entire time he still hadn't known the bomb had been a fake and just tried running as fast as he could.

@Wit @Altaris @Mr. Teatime @Wit @Sreeya @Tulos @Fine Dining Set @Darasuum @Taz @Scoobert

 

[Bir Vuul]

As the back of Aziz’ hand caught Bir’s cheek, his head swung to the side then snapped back. For a brief moment the Kel Dor could only offer an expression of shock as he recuperated from the assault but before long, his brow twisted into a glare of defiance and mistrust. Who was this man who felt as though he needed to intervene in Bir’s quest to save thousands of lives? Why did he not feel the desire to claim the honor that would come from protecting the people of Denon from further hardship? Why was he being chastised for doing his duty in the name of the Empress? Unless…

”You! You!” Bir declared loudly, fingers of flesh and steel both clenching together at his sides. The answer was clear, so dreadfully obvious. This man was a vile pretender, an agent of the Republic, a wolf in sheep’s skin. ”Jedi!”

Bir never was presented an opportunity to follow through on his maniacal suspicions as soon thereafter, a bag had been tossed from the second floor balcony and had landed amongst those who gathered within. How foolish he had been! The Jedi was here before him and he had played into his hands! He had ushered those he had sworn to protect into the center of the atrium, grouped them together like cattle! And now Aziz' plan to eradicate them all in a fell swoop had culminated to near success!

Demands soon cried out for the building to be evacuated, throngs of civilians surging towards each exit that would take them back out into the street. Being so close to the west entrance previously used by Vinry and Gabriel, Bir found himself ushered out of the building amidst the confusion and mayhem. Not amongst them, however, was the Jedi nor his accomplice. Soon thereafter, Sith forces would stand guard of each entrance to deny entry to anyone other than the soon to arrive bomb squad. The building had been placed in lockdown, much as Bir had desired, presenting a rather unique dilemma for the Mad Champion.

He needed to intervene, to save any who remained within! How could he ignore the desperate plight of those who remained unaware of the danger they would soon face? He could not! He would not! Breaking free from the crowd and circling around to the south side of the building and away from prying eyes, he would look upwards. If he could reach the top, if he could access the main terminal at the peak of the tower, he could broadcast a warning to all of his brothers and sisters across the entirety of Denon! With the focus of Sith forces on the entrances of both the west and east sides of the building, Bir leapt into the air as he had a thousand times before and gripped the edge of a window sill. His left foot found support before launching himself up yet another floor, leaving him hanging from what would be the exterior of the third floor, away from any windows to avoid detection by the cancerous would-be Sith that resided within. It would be a long climb, but it was his duty and he needed to see it through.

@Scoobert @Taz @Fine Dining Set @Darasuum
@Sreeya @Orbit @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Wit​

 

[Aziz]

For some reason what the Champion expected to happen, was the Kel Dor snap back to reality. However that was not to be. In fact his assault of the other Sith only seemed to send his mind further down a path of madness. As a glaring looks of contempt and hate took hold over the Kel Dor's face, the crazed fool shouted the accusation of Jedi.

Aziz's left hand was still at his weapon. Expecting the crazed Sith to do the very same. The human Champion took his hilt in hand, thumb on the activation switch. When the woman from before (@Wit ) tried to tackle him. As their bodies slammed together Aziz thumb would flick the switch and activate his blade. IF it hit, it would likely enter the liver area through the gut and out her kidney area. However it would be impossible to tell in that slipt second.

As they slammed to the ground, pleading look came over the woman's face as the word, "bomb", left her lips. The woman then slumped off him and rolled to Aziz's side. The human Champion sat up, blade still activated in his left hand. As the atrium was a room of chaos that the black armored Sith had missed the reasoning for.

Quickly then, he looked to the second floor where he knew Darth Draugr to be. His eyes locking onto what he had believed to be another Sith, now holding a weapon on the Sith Lord. Just as other security forces had arrived. Aziz stood then to take some manner of control. "You five, clear this floor and lock it down. No one else inside until your bomb squad clears, whatever it is. Once it's cleared send a droid for that one." Pointing to the woman he just ran through with his blade. "She was hit by mistake trying to save my life. The rest of you, sweep the building of any none Imperials. Leave the traitor to me. "

"Yes Sir!" The troopers answered in unison. The first five moving to the exits to guide people out, while the others moved to follow not far behind Sev (@Sreeya ) To do as they were told, and clear the building of none Imperials. All ten would follow the orders of the higher ranked Champion. Aziz however would not wait, and would not bother with the stairs. His anger and irritation with Bir and now this Acolyte would feed his connection to the dark side. Allowing him to take a running force assisted leap, grip the hand rail of the balcony, and vault to just behind and on the left side of Cario (@Fine Dining Set ). "Lower your weapon, Now"

@Scoobert @Darasuum @Tulos @Mr. Teatime @Orbit @Altaris

 

[Darth Draugr]

What seemed to be a normal day turned into absolute chaos. First Bir starts blabbering about who knows what, then two familiar faces had arrived in the building though it would take a second to remember them, and now Draugr's apprentice has just tossed what could only be assumed as a bomb onto the first floor of the building and caused for Cairo to foolishly point a weapon at Draugr as well as a group of around 10 Soldiers. All the while Draugr stood annoyed, thinking of who he had seen.. and he hasn't even had a sip of his BlueFizz Fwaygo yet.

"Do not be foolish boy, drop the weapon before I drop you. As for you Jade, you have ruined my morning and now you will pay."

As the guards made their way to surround the group of three Sith. Draugr would look at them all, good soldiers they were. And luckily for Draugr good soldiers follow orders.

"Troopers, seems to be that Jade wants to destroy or buildings and put my life at risk. Detain her, I must reach the terminal room and call for transport."

The troops all shifted their aim to the Orc Acolyte and Draugr would make his way to the main stairwell. There he noticed the Sephi and Echani that he had a familiar feeling about. The Echani boy's face flashed in the mind of Draugr as he remembered them from the battlefield. His face pained from battle, angry, frustrated with their emotions. Though their were no yellow irises. They weren't Sith.. though Draugr can remember him from battle... Something was off. Now it was time to investigate.

"Cairo, Aziz.. we might have a problem.."

The Sith Lord made his way into the stairwell and making his way up to the third floor. He stood through a group of civilians rushing up, now he is making his way to the terminal room. If he can find the ones he remembers then he would stop to ask them where they know each other.

@Darasuum @Taz @Fine Dining Set @Sreeya @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Orbit @Wit @Tulos

 

[Jade Thumakah]

Cairo's voice echoed through the atrium, making it clear what held the satchel now resting on the first floor. She had continued to follow from the level above her targets even as they turned to run but not for the exit. The sound of blasters charging and leveling at her half visible figure from the first floor. All the while, her eyes flicking between the three prime suspects, scrutinizing their actions and building up the force in her legs. She was not anything special when it came to sensing things with the Force. But enhancing her own physical being was one of the few things she excelled in. "I am really hoping for this to pay off." She said with equal parts honesty and confidence. The smaller beings below her with the crutches of combat. Blasters were easy tools to use and not worthy of true warriors.

At her nine o'clock she figured the intelligence officer had leveled a blaster as well but didn't look directly at him even as he proceeded to shout a command at her which the acolyte ignored. Nothing was in her hands which had so recently been cleaned. Her manicure could do with a touch up but the alabaster skinned digits raised to her head and she took a step back, then another and a third. Draugr's voice making it clear how he felt about the matter seemed to make the tusked grin of the Orcolan persist.

If she was fired upon for simply doing that the woman would do her best to get further away from the edge and out of the line of fire from the guards below. Cairo's blaster pistol was similar to his words in that it was directed at both her and Darth Dragur. She did not want her master to take the blame for her choices. What better way than to draw further attention. What better way to prove herself than against difficult odds.

Moving with as much speed and strength as she could muster, the acolyte made last contact with the second floor on its hand railing with her feet almost bending the metal. Her body launched itself up a level to grab hold of the third floor railing. Her moves were rapid and fast enough to avoid any blaster bolts aimed up into the building as Jade's movements took her hulking form counter clockwise and up another level with another powerful leap with the Force. Blaster bolts would ping behind the woman and strike the the railing behind her where she was a moment ago. Whether they were stun bolts or lethal, Jade treated them the same and avoided them altogether.

As soon as the Orcolan had grabbed hold of the fourth level railing, she vaulted over handrailing and would be out of line of fire from anyone below. The next stop were the only other stairs. Technically the acolyte could keep leaping up but then she just increased her chances of getting shot. The stairs would be the next stop and then from there she could make sure to cut off either of the two Echani or the Sephi if they were going up a level. If not, then she would have hell to pay for later. But seeing as how doughy Senin was, she couldn't imagine the punishment would be difficult for her to overcome. Low standards and all.

@Scoobert @Taz @Fine Dining Set @Sreeya @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Orbit @Wit @Tulos

 

[Cairo Kisufi]

During his time working alongside Imperial Intelligence, which had frankly not been too long, Cairo had learned so much from his non-Force Sensitive colleagues. While he was undercover on Denon, he learned even more from the subjects of the Empire. They were normal people, who wanted peace and prosperity, and saw the Empire as a revolutionary force capable of delivering it. Cairo was beginning to see what they saw, too. Empress Andruil had what could be considered a progressive regime for the denizens of Empire, outlawing slavery and investing heavily into the infrastructure of the worlds they occupied.


As a result, confidence in the Empire had started to grow. Denon, specifically, was the host to a message symbolizing the consolidation of the new Order. This place, this single planet, was of such importance to the Sith national spirit that the Empire hoped to use it as a model for Sith rule. Efforts went in to propaganda, into placating the civilian . It was likely this symbolic and strategic importance that led the undercover Jedi here today.

The one sticking point, ironically, from Imperial civil and military authority was the Sith themselves. Beings of such tremendous and terrible power, they refused to cloister themselves in small temples like their Jedi counterparts. Cairo thought this to be positive, that the Sith should use their powers to help guide the galaxy for the better. He thought it was cowardice that drove the Jedi away from governments, from true power.

But there were rumblings from the non-force sensitives - the soldiers, the subjects - about how truly ludicrous the Sith had a tendency of being. Rumors were abound that Darth Calestis refused to enter combat unless he was naked, and would set himself on fire just for the opportunity. That Darth Draugr was actually a human in makeup and sitck-on horns who just happened to be obsessed with a Darth Maul cosplay. That the Eternal had attacked Firrerreo because he ate some bad Firrereean tilapia once. That the ISC was, secretly, the holdings of some random Sith Lord who was playing the galaxy as puppets.

All insane theories, of course, but at the core of them was a kernel of truth. A truth playing out within this moment. Force-using Sith had a wide degree of levity, even as children and apprentices, that gave them their spoiled-rotten and bloodthirsty attitudes. There was a general consensus of fear towards the Sith because they couldn't be expected to behave in a rational manner. Any old Force Sensitive psychopath would be picked up off the street and given a lightsaber and an infinite amount of trust by the Sith Empire, and that their personal holdings had no obligations to their subjects, soldiers, or even, non-Force Sensitive superiors.

The Sith lived like marauders to their own people. Doing what they wanted, taking what they wanted, killing any who disagreed. It was no way to justify the new, progressive society that they were on the cusp of building. Perhaps that's what Emperor Palpatine saw, and why he did not ever regrow the Order beyond himself and chosen apprentices. The blow to morale would be too severe.

Because today, there was a severe blow to Cairo's morale. He looked mouth agape at the sight before him. His fellow Sith, clad in armor and with the power to help, seemed to take no interest in the bomb that was just thrown. Bir had disappeared like a goddamned lunatic. Draugr let his apprentice be taken in with little more than a curious statement. Jade behaved like she had never spoken a Galactic language in her life, responding to the threat of guns on her by leaping off the balcony to crawl up the railings.

What the fuck is happening?

Gunfire from the other soldiers added to the general chaos of the scene as Jade ran. Cairo, meanwhile, was actually speechless. He had holstered his blaster upon Draugr and Aziz's orders, and was thus too slow to redraw and refire the weapon.

What the fuck is happening?

If there was another bomb in the building, it was a risk to whoever was in here. Was his life worth that risk? Why did every one of his fellow Sith seem intent on just wandering upstairs?

These were the true tests, the moments that were meant to rattle acolytes. Dying here to a random bomb planted by an acolyte for Maker knows what reason would be stupid. But, willingness to die in service of his Empire is what would set him apart from his fanatical Sith counterparts. No, he would resolve, here and now, to save the lives of his comrades.

If no one else would behave rationally, Cairo would. And if he died, he would die dutifully, a hero to his Empire rather than a public menace. "Soldiers! Stop shooting! Stop shooting!" He called to the troops around him, firing at Jade and likely hitting civilians, other soldiers, and Champion Aziz himself in the crossfire. Unless the Imperials around him acted like one, like a singular unit commanded by a single Empress, the day would end in disaster. He threw up his hands, a universal sign of surrender, in the hopes that the soldiers around him would take note and delay their fire in the crowded building.

@Sreeya @Scoobert @Wit @Darasuum @Taz @Tulos

 

[Vren Mallick]

Vren would have been caught in the general hysteria if it was under normal circumstances but there was a reason he could remain focused and it was at the top of the building. If any of them stopped, everything that had happened so far that had been set up by Sevrin would have been for naught. The whole planet was waiting with bated breath to receive support from somebody and the small group of Jedi was their best opportunity and it couldn't be wasted.

With that singular focus in mind, it was easy for the Echani to hone in his mind and continue up the stairs with haste. In the span of a few seconds, the guards began firing upon one of the Sith who was trying their hand in acrobatics, once more adding to the confusion as allies fired upon allies. For some reason, only an Acolyte was attempting to calm the situation instead of adding to the mess. The sound of blasters firing made the civilians that Vren was mingled with scream in terror and sprint up the stairs, giving him an excuse to really utilize his speed as he reached the third floor and continued on.

The guards that surrounded Jade had their weapons drawn and centered, all of them confused about what they were supposed to do. The Sith Lord that had first been a suspect was allowed to walk away before instructing them to arrest the woman. Deciding to just listen, one of the guards began to step forward toward Jade until she decided to make a run for it, at least in their mind. With no words offered and her own Master asking for her arrest, they saw her running as an act of solidifying her status as the terrorist and they opened fire on her. Despite her being aided by the force, there was still a squad of them with their weapons already trained on her. With the distance short enough and her lack of defense, she would be peppered with blaster bolts the moment she ran and most likely make her drop to the first floor once she tried to jump.

The third floor would be the last point he could use civilians as cover, the rest arriving there on an empty floor and immediately diving into nearby rooms to wait out the carnage. Vren would just continue on sprinting as he would turn quickly to run up another level of stairs, practically reaching the fourth in a few long strides. Speed would be their advantage as the building would eventually be locked down and he couldn't be bogged down by guards.

Sevrin and Thelian should have been behind him if they weren't held up but Vren wouldn't offer a glance back, not wanting to risk slowing his speed as he trusted his fellow Jedi. As he ran, the padawan would remain vigilant then and be ready to react in case someone tried to intercept him.

@Sreeya @Wit @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Tulos @Taz @Scoobert @Fine Dining Set @Darasuum

 

[Vinry Forge]

As Vinry moved to tackle the Sith, a shout of Jedi went up, and as anyone would on hearing such a claim in the middle of a Sith command center, she turned to look. Of course being mid lunge she couldn't really just switch her attention from Aziz to Bir, but that split second redirection of her attention, a slight turn of her body to follow the shout which for all she knew was someone blowing her cover, was enough to just sufficiently re-orient her body that the lightsaber blade that sprang to life grazed across the front and side of her horse instead of tearing right through her.

It might not be fatal, but it did still hurt like hell, and a scream escaped her lips as she rolled off the Sith and landed on her back on the floor. Eyes turned to her, smoke rising from the easily visible injury that her hands barely covered. Eyes were also drawn to the blade he held in his hand, bright red blade held alight in the middle of the atrium with an injured woman lying at his feet, a woman who had in everyone's eyes just saved his life.

"No," she shouted before he could move, laying on the drama thick and fast as she raised a trembling hand to point towards him, "please stop!"

That seemed to do it as some soldiers in the atrium, who had been pushing and shoving towards them through the panicked crowd, emerged to see the scene and raised their weapons at the Sith. They had heard the orders from above, orders to stop a crazy Sith who had tried to bomb the building, a Sith who was now to be taken into custody. So seeing an injured woman pleading for mercy on the floor, and a Sith standing above her, it did not take much for them to realize this was an accomplice of the crazed Sith. Add in the fact that another had just pointed at him and called him a Jedi made him that much more of a target.

"Stop where you are and put your weapon down!" Shouted a soldier as weapons were pointer at the masked Sith, stopping him in place before he could run off like his crazy Orcalan companion or speak up to defend himself. "Put it out and raise your hands where I can see them!"

@Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Sreeya @Tulos @Darasuum @Fine Dining Set @Scoobert @Taz @Orbit

 

[Gabriel Morales]

Lots of extra things happened. Fortunately for Gabriel, most of them weren't directly his problem to deal with. Seyugi and Jedi training both included a lot of task compartmentalization, different for each, but meshing well enough when applied. The young Padawan's task wasn't off with the others- it was those near him. Keeping track of visually distinctive targets in a crowd leaned more to the Seyugi side of things and here it came in handy.

Vinry was assumed to have her business more or less in order. So when the seemingly nuts Kel'Dor started to wander off, Gabriel followed. Gabriel wasn't well versed in "teamwork" aside from being advised to at least try adapting what he knew to that purpose. In this case that meant sticking to what he did best in order to back up everyone else. That, and always keeping eyes on his 'target'.

As Bir left the crowd to sidle off so did Gabriel. Crowds of panicked civilians scatted in all directions and the young Padawan blended right in right until the Kel'dor snuck into a side alley on the south side of the building. From within the mess of passers-by the Force reached out toward Bir as he leaped upward, pulling him away from the building to stifle his climb, turning his jump into something more awkward and off-balance. At the very least it should keep him out of reach of the window sill and force him to land back in the alley.

Gabriel kept a constant eye on him, judging next steps based on the Kel'dor's reaction. Not as if he could just knife him- nor did he really want to.

@Tulos

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin kept charging up the stairs, his long strides taking up several steps at once. He could hear footsteps and commotion directly beneath him. He didn’t look back, barreling after Vren and fully believing the bomb threat was live. However, it was clear that the padawan was still focused on completing the mission. Was there a possibility of still getting it done?

The Sephi passed the fourth floor now, knowing he would arrive on the top floor within moments. He could sense the pulse of the Force a floor or two down. He knew he would have to contend with a Sith if the man wasn’t stopped. For now, Sevrin channeled the Force and prepared for any eventualities. He was one floor away from the terminal level.

 

[Thelian Lsai]

Commotion had completely consumed the first and second floors of the atrium, and Thelian used it to his full advantage to slip past the crowds and follow after Sevrin. The Echani rapidly dashed up the stairs – moving two-steps at a time in order to ascend towards the top floor of the command center. Even with the threat of the bomb on the first level wasn’t lost on Thelian, he pushed onward - intent upon completing their mission no matter what it took.

Naturally, the Echani felt the same pulse in the Force that Sevrin had – a chill running down the Padawans spine as he felt the Dathomirian Sith Lord climbing in their direction. It was a presence the Echani had felt once before - that spark of familiarity drawing him back to Dantooine. Prepared for whatever was to come, Thelian silently drew the Light into himself – bracing to defend against whatever hostilities lied ahead.

@Sreeya @Mr. Teatime @Orbit @Wit @Darasuum @Scoobert @Taz

 

[Darth Draugr]

Draugr made his way further up in the building passing through the crowd on the third floor. Many began exiting through the windows to escape on the fire escape route. Smart for the civilians to make their way out of the building, Draugr had to press on though. The terminal room would be his way of contacting the troops necessary for a security sweep of all individuals in the building. If Jade was to throw a bomb onto the first floor their must have been reason. Either she was working with someone against the Sith, or she felt their was risk of infiltration.

Just as he had made it close to halfway through the third floor, he felt the usage of the Force below. It wasn't but a short burst. Unfortunately Draugr knew what that meant as it was clear his apprentice tried to escape. If she felt the need to run, she must have been committing treason. Though no Sith would be dumb enough to do that around the entire building of Sith, so she must have help. Meaning if this building is being targeted.. then Draugr came to the realization of just exactly who he had seen.

Thelian, the white haired Echani that had bested Senin in combat on Dantooine. Draugr had watched that fight as best he could when fighting his own battle. The boy had promise and held a darkness within him. Perhaps Jade was working with him.. that was until the Sephi popped back into his mind.. The image of the Sephi was on an Acklay. The only place Draugr had been around Acklay was on Felucia. When he was being attacked. The Sephi was a Jedi as well. Though Draugr never caught the name, he remembered they fought briefly.

They were heading up the building.. the only thing worth anything up there was..

"The Terminal Room."

Draugr immediately went to his comms to speak to all Sith in the building,

"All Sith, this is your Lord, Draugr. There is a Jedi infiltration in the building. At the least two Jedi, but you can count on more being in the building. I have eyes on two heading to the Terminal Room. We must deal with the Jedi scum immediately!"

Draugr began running at full speed up the building to try and intercept the Jedi before they can do any real damage to the room. He would also use his dataphone to remotely lock all doors leading to the terminal room from the fourth floor and up. Stopping the Jedi and eliminating them was the number one priority.

@Sreeya @Tulos @Mr. Teatime @Taz @Orbit @Darasuum @Altaris @Fine Dining Set @Wit

 

[Bir Vuul]

So proud was Bir in his attempt to scale the rear of the command center, certain that if he gave it his all that he would triumph over these claimants. These foul pretenders who wish nothing more than to bring not only this building but all of Denon crumbling to their feet. How could they have infiltrated their perfect defences? How could they have fooled Lords and Officers alike and gotten so far? Why had this task of protecting all that was venerated of this world fallen upon his own shoulders, rather than his brothers and sisters within?

These were nothing short of the manic, nonsensical ramblings of a mad man as he leapt into the air. By now, the effects of Sevrin’s mind manipulation had fully dissipated, leaving only his flawed reasoning to rationalize the attack they were now subjected to. But were they truly so insane? Jade, Apprentice of a Sith Lord, had lobbed a satchel of explosives amongst a crowd of innocents! How absurd! A fellow champion denouncing Bir as a fool for alerting them to the danger? Most suspicious indeed! And where was Xeno?! His longest standing friend! Why had he not stomped on the throat of his Apprentice before she had the opportunity to sow fear amongst the common folk?!

Just as the Kel Dor prepared to reach his hand up to grasp the nearest ledge, lost in his own thoughts whilst considering what had transpired thus far, a whisper of the Force teased his senses before the invisible energy secured itself around his midsection and tugged him out and away from the building. Desperately he stretched his arm forth to grab something, anything, but was left wanting. Instead, he twisted and turned his body until he impacted the ground on all fours.

The source was difficult to find at first, being that Bir was still alone in the alley. Some distance away in the streets, clogged with civilians as they curiously observed the building they had been evacuated from, countless faces peered upward with caution. Shrouded eyes scanned them carefully, wary of what he had now known to be true; Jedi were indeed here on Denon. Nothing of note was immediately forthcoming, not until the Kel Dor finally locked gazes with the bright blue eyes of a young man who had his focus on Bir himself rather than the chaos that had captured everyone else. A sinister grin plastered itself across leathery cheeks as Bir’s right hand dropped to his lightsaber whilst his left raised and projected the Force forth with the intent of coiling itself around Gabriel’s throat and pulling him from the crowd. He was careful in this endeavor, certain to not harm any of these people who he had sworn to protect. If he was being observed, halted from his climb, then he would have to suffice with capturing a prisoner.

@Mr. Teatime​

 

[Vren Mallick]

Vren still held his course and raced up the stairs toward the top. With no obstacle or interception provided by the Sith, the Echani was at his full speed and quickly bounded steps with ease. As he reached the door for the last floor and stuck his hand out to open it, a pair of lights above would flash red as the door locked itself. About a second afterward, the lights flashed green and unlocked, Vren clicking his tongue with satisfaction before entering as he spoke to himself, "Thank you, Sevrin." It paid off to be prepared.

As Vren jogged through the floor, he found a hallway that led to a set of double-doors, a small stream of people exiting despite the orders given by the Sith, a sign above reading, Command Center. With a burst of speed, he closed in on the room and swung the door open before shouting loudly, "EVACUATE NOW!" Most of the scared staff didn't even realize that it was a sixteen-year-old as they just heard the order and seized the opportunity to leave after hearing all the firing and bomb threats.

With the admin staff fleeing through the doorway, Vren was able to see who was remaining behind and that it was a lone guard. The padawan pushed through the crowd, using them as camouflage as the guard wouldn't shoot into the staff. When Vren broke out from the people, he immediately used the force to rip the rifle out of the guard's hands as he scanned the crowd, the man trying to control them as his rifle was held by one hand. The weapon was lifted straight up and into the light above, shattering the glass as it fell down on the guard and made him cover himself instead of pulling out his blaster pistol.

Vren then simply just used the force to send a blast of concussive energy to slam into the guard and knock him out cold. With a flick of his wrist as he rushed over to the terminal, he muttered to himself, "Thank you too, Master." The training he was receiving from Alex was showing results and he couldn't be more pleased.

The padawan approached the terminal as memories of instructions flashed through his head, Sevrin informing all of them in case only one made it to the terminal. Using an access code that one of the Jedi Master's informants provided, it would disguise the order given to the Sith Fleets above to be from one of the Navy commanders. The gist of the order to the fleets would be to lower their weapons and allow an FWA fleet, that had been "commandeered", to be allowed entry in order to be refitted and used for training exercises. It would allow their fleets to close in at a deadly distance and free of defenses before it was too late.

@Wit @Sreeya @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Tulos @Taz @Fine Dining Set @Darasuum @Scoobert

 

[Sevrin Valtiere]

Sevrin realized that the bombs were duds at last, though it didn’t lower the tense atmosphere. They were in a sticky situation and they had a small window to still pull off their objective. Vren went ahead, still keeping focused on the task. The Jedi Master could hear the hasty approach of a Sith from below, his sensitive ears picking up every word announced since they were coming closer. He telepathically told Thelian to be ready.

Channeling the Force to himself, he put himself just slightly out of view at the top of the stairs. His keen eyes could barely make out the horns of a Zabrak before he unleashed a tremendous Force push. It would be enough to knock him way back and potentially over the railing to the floor below. The Sephi did nothing else, keeping his focus on blocking the path to the terminal room. He would engage anyone that came here.

With Thelian further back, he was positioned to assist with the attack to keep the Sith Lord at bay. The goal was to buy Vren enough time.

@Wit @Mr. Teatime @Altaris @Tulos @Fine Dining Set @Taz @Scoobert

 

[Thelian Lsai]

Thelian could feel his heart pounding against the confines of his chest as he rapidly ascended the stairs that led towards Sevrin, Vren and the terminal room - adrenaline pumping through his veins. He didn’t know if the bombs had been duds all along or if someone had intervened to disarm them, but the Echani knew that the threat of the explosives was behind them. Thus, his concern remained fixated on the Zabrak Sith Lord moving several strides ahead of him.

The Echani purposefully kept himself distanced behind Draugr, putting himself just out of view. He knew better than to attempt to engage the Zabrak alone, but his position meant that he was poised to assist Sevrin in whatever confrontation seemed inevitable at this point. The Echani paused for the briefest moment when Sevrin’s telepathic voice echoed within his mind - warning him of what the half-Sephi intended and to prepare himself.

Just as Sevrin channeled the Force into himself, Thelian did the same - drawing the Light into his body and allowing coalesce and build around him. He watched for the moment that the Sephi Jedi unleashed that powerful wave of the Force, extending his hand at the same time to coil invisible tendrils of the Force around the Zabrak. Thelian violently swiped his arms to the right and towards the railing - adding to the strength and momentum of Sevrin’s push in order to send the Zabrak sailing over the edge. More importantly, the Echani used his grasp to guide the direction that Draugr was propelled. He attempted the Sith lord directly into the wave of Sith Troopers that were making their way up the stairs - effectively turning the Zabrak into a horned bowling ball.

If successful, Thelian would continue to make his way up the stairs and join Sevrin above - intent upon keeping the path to the terminal room blocked from Sith interference, no matter what it took. As he ran, the Echani reached into his jacket and pulled the silver hilt of his lightsaber into his hands - keeping the blade unignited for the moment.

@Sreeya @Mr. Teatime @Orbit @Wit @Darasuum @Scoobert @Taz