Open [Mustafar] Molten Reclamation

[Thel Xeros]

Thel followed close behind Tempest as she led the way to the fortress, though he did make sure to glance around on occasion to keep an eye on the other Sith. Eventually they reached the large imposing gates of Fortress Vader. The fortress was an awe-inspiring sight. Marvellous design. He appreciated it more as a work of architecture, than for its Sith history.

Tempest made it clear what parts of the fortress they should focus on first. The hangar seems a good place to start. Thel ignited his saber and moved through the gates. Fortunately, the Mustafarians were occupied with Tempest, so he faced only limited resistance. Holding his saber in front of himself with both hands, he was able to deflect blaster bolts back at those who had fired them. Making his way into the fortress, he set about locating the hangar. Any potential opposition seemed to be distracted with trying to stop Tempest, so, except for the occasional Mustafarian, he was unchallenged. Eventually, after wandering through corridor after corridor, he stumbled upon a large door. Sliding open, it revealed the hangar. No ships. No people. It appeared empty…at first glance.

 

[Nevizkas]

If there was going to be any fun to be had, Cyu suspected, it would be in the command room. In this task, she would not be alone, as the familiar Ambrosian delight would be coming to join in on the fun. The short walk from their vantage point to the gates themselves was relatively unscathed, here the group split off on their respective tasks and led the pair towards a series of tall winding staircases.

Near the top, they would spot a pair of Mustafarian guards wielding what looked like some kind of vibro-polearms and clearly protecting the entrance to their destination. The narrow hall would add some spice to the fight, but between the two smaller Sith, the pureblood expected a short fight.

"After you, my dear." Cyu glared at the guard in front of her, lightsaber at the ready.

@lizziie

 

[23006]

Commotion nearby caused the armored Mustafarian to rush out of the room and the droid followed because it was running through the pile of ash and thus left a trace of it on the polished floors, <Statement: You are making a mess. Please stop so I can-> but it was of no mind, the Mustafarian was faster and ran to the throne room and then through the doors, which closed behind him.

Unbeknownst to the droid this is where he, and fellow armed Mustafarians, were smashed against the obsidian walls by Darth Tempest.

The droid turned around, the rag still in its hand and bend through his knees so it could clean the traces of ash that had made a path through the throne room. Sentients were so stupid. Why was it even doing this? He had such a valuable holographic disguise matrix. Had he not conned the Sith Empire out of millions of credits? Had he not secured and army for that supposedly 'legendary' gunslinger?

Suddenly the doors opened and revealed a young lithe woman that asked the droid a question in a very authorative way. Do they always speak down to droids, these sentients? <Statement: My Directive is protocol droid.> Why did the mistress waste its talents as a protocol droid? Was it not capable of so much more? At some point it had ruled the galaxy. Once the sentients had cowered for him in fear. After all, he was AGO-

<... Procedural Error: Programmed Personality Discovered: Directive 78: AGORANDER... >

It paused for a second and then aimlessly repeated the same movement, which seemed like it was scrubbing the floor because the ash wasn't easy to remove, but in reality the droid's brain was running through scripts after script to scan its systems until it would once again reboot its personality construct. Caught in a loop as it was.

[OOC: only colored text is dialogue.]

 

[Rax Khan]

Only after all the Sith pretenders had hurried inside did Rax emerge from his hiding place. He prowled far to the left, slightly wide of the fortress, keeping low as before and making every effort to blend in with the ash and fumes.

He felt already that his enemies would succeed in their efforts today. Nothing opposed them beyond stragglers and petty Mustafarians. These 'Sith' may be false gods, but they were admittedly strong enough to overcome such prey.

The Fras circled around, re-treading the enemy party's steps on their way towards the walls. Rax's master would still be eager for information, details of his foes strategies and strength. The big cat's ears pricked up at the sound of a low moan nearby and he soon came across the source.

A wounded Mustafarian lay on the bank beside the lava river. Its legs were crumpled and it would have been clear to anyone it was nearing death. Rax licked his lips involuntarily, some vestige of his primal nature rearing up at the thought of meat. But as much as he wanted to feast on the thing's flesh, he could not waste the opportunity to learn what he needed.

"Poor thing" Rax growled without a hint of sincerity. He reached the body and easily turned it over with a paw, pleased to see a look of anguish on the creature's face. It was still alive, despite a huge shoulder injury from one of its own redirected bolts. He plunged a sharp claw into the wound, making the Mustafarian scream but getting his attention. "Your pain can still be made far worse cretin" he sneered, looming over his victim. "If you want it to end, tell me everything you saw".

@Braden @Darasuum @Eccles @Altaris @lizziie @DMCK @Xorism

 

[Naxa]

Spoiler: Music

N4-X4 waited silently in the vents, guarding the access point it intended to use. The droid had a clear line of sight on the only door from their elevated position behind the grate. Anybody that wanted to use the desk would have their back turned toward the vent in the ceiling and face the door.

The infiltrator machine drew their sidearm and kept it at the ready just with the small statistical chance of someone coming into the office. But aside from that, the battle droid made no movement. The port scanner would do its work. It was just a matter of time.




@Braden @Eccles @Altaris @lizziie @DMCK @Xorism @Alhon
(2-3 turns until access granted)

 

[Darth Tempest]

Darth Tempest stared back at the droid, listening intently for its response. Her interest piqued at once when 23006 declared itself a protocol unit - supposedly one that had lingered within the Fortress all these years. But why? Had the droid belonged to Veles? Just how much information did it contain, and how long had passed since its last memory wipe?

A few moments passed before Tempest raised a hand. “This fortress and all of its belongings - including you - have been claimed by the Sith Order,” She said flatly. “Prepare yourself for re-programming and analysis of memory banks.” She expected the droid would obey the commands of whoever had previously occupied the Fortress or whoever claimed it as their own, but her words weren’t really a request either. Whether it was information regarding the research and whereabouts of Veles, or something else entirely, Tempest would know it.

“Resist and I will deactivate you where you stand.”

If the droid complied, Tempest prepared to move in to scoping out the adjacent rooms and offices - saberhilt poised to cut down anyone in her path. The Fortress would belong to the Sith, and it’s previous tenants tenants shown no mercy.

 

[23006]

<... Rebooting Personality Construct... >

The droid's eyes flickered just as Darth Tempest stated that it was now owned by the Sith Order. <Statement: Ownership change to Sith Order> it repeated as if it was manually adjusting its programming. Protocol droids were often passed down to different owners, or sold, so this in itself wasn't a strange thing.

<... Set: Directive 1: Owner is Sith Order ...>

<Statement: I will make ready for reprogramming as ordered> the droid continued and kept standing there, not falling back to its presumed earlier order of cleaning the fortress. After all, its new order was to prepare -thus wait- for reprogramming.

<... Reboot Complete: Error in Directive 1: Unauthorised Change... >

<... Directive 1: Owner is [redacted] ...>
<... Directive 1.1: Owner is [redacted] ...>
<... Directive 1.2: Owner is [unavailable] ...>
<... Directive 1.3: Owner is TC-SC 23006 ...>
<... Directive 1.4: Owner is aGoRaNdEr ...>
<... Procedural Error: Programmed Personality Discovered: Directive 78: AGORANDER... >
<... Rebooting Personality Construct... >

Meanwhile the droid just stood there as Darth Tempest began checking the rooms with her lightsaber out. All of the above happened in mere seconds, for the computing power of the droid was massive. Yet something else was happening deep inside the droid's programming, too, for its receptors had registered the threat coming from the Sith. She had apparently thought that a mere protocol droid was a credible threat on its own, why else threated to deactive it 'where it stood'. This made sense, TC-SC 23006's programming seemed to state. After all, had it not conned the Sith Empire out of millions of credits? Had it not procured an army of droids? Had it not done countless of succesful missions for the slicer's collective known as the KnowOnes? Was it not Agorander?

<... Error: Failed to Reboot Personality Construct ...>

For some reason that wasn't quite detectable in its programming, the protocol droid began to return to its cleaning duties near the window.


[OOC: only colored text is dialogue.]

 

[Ambrosia]

Ambrosia walked in step with Cyutadakyr, the pair together yet again. They were almost complete opposites visually - like a devil and an angel come to serve salvation or damnation to the Mustafarians guarding the door to the command room before them.

"How kind of you," Ambrosia responded, her voice almost a purr as she continued forward past Cyutadakyr. The Mustafarian guards braced themselves for attack, nervousness rippling off of them in the Force. Halfway between them and her Sith pureblood companion, one of the guards shouted and began to rush Ambrosia, only to be slammed against the wall a few steps in. Ambrosia, with her hand held out, used the man's own momentum and redirected it.

While he was still recovering, Ambrosia clenched her fist, putting an ever-increasing strain on the Mustafarian's throat. Cyutadakyr would have plenty of time to rush past them and engage the other guard.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Sometimes it was the simple things in life that gave the most pleasure, savouring snacks was definitely one of them but so was working with Ambrosia. They'd only done a few things together so far but it seemed that they were quite the pair and Cyu grinned as she got to work.

The second guard was more...guarded after watching his co-workers less than successful charge. Opting instead to take a more measured approach and letting the women come to him before lowering his weapon into a simple stabbing attack. How very predictable, Cyu mused, as she flicked her lightsaber blade across her left and up to block and took his weapon with it.

Now in an increasingly vulnerable state, the pureblood drew on the powerful hunger lingering in the dark side nexus to unleash a potent stream of force lightning aimed directly at the guard's chest. Without even a weapon to try and block it, and his friend quite busy, it wouldn't take long for the malicious spikes to do their hateful work.

@lizziie

 

[Thel Xeros]

Thel’s check of the hangar revealed it to be empty. Not much of welcoming committee. He guessed that some of the other Sith would have either made their way to the command centre or the throne room. It seemed that the reclamation of the fortress was just a matter of time. Perhaps there will be something of interest in the throne room.

The journey to the throne room was a short one. Thel entered the room, stepping over the bodies of dead Mustafarians. The room was empty except for a lone droid near the window. Maybe a caretaker. Thel switched off his saber. He kept it in his right hand, concealed under his cloak. The droid appeared to be preoccupied with cleaning. He approached it. “Excuse me. Sorry to bother you. Would you be the fortress’ caretaker?” Thel made sure to be polite. Droids often had the potential to be of some help.

@Eccles

 

[Naxa]

Spoiler: Music

N4-X4 continued to wait on standby, motionless with their blaster pistol at the ready. The BX commando droid was neigh undetectable unless someone got into the vent with them. If the Dark Lord of the Sith or anybody else for that matter, scanned the office they would see it to be empty. The infiltration machine had a ninety six hour battery and was programed for patience. It did not need to breath, it did not need food or sleep, it simply needed circumstances and a charged battery.


@Eccles @DMCK @Xorism @lizziie @Altaris @Alhon @Braden
(1-2 turns until access granted)

 

[Naxa]

Spoiler: Music

The droid's programed state remained unchanged even as its [precise internal chrono ticked past the moment when their port scanner sliced through the initial layers of archaic security. It did nothing other than gain access so would not attract any attention on the network if anyone happened to be watching. But seeing as it was under attack, a cyber-attack was not often on everyone's mind. If the BX commando droid had the means of accessing the port scanner they would be able to complete their mission.

This was not the first time the machine had sliced into Sith systems and it would soon have complete access to any and all systems inside Fortress Vader. The office terminal was connected to the same network as the command center, in turn granting the sneaky battle droid access to all of its functions if they ordered it. At least, Naxa would have access if they exited the vent. But for now they did nothing different.





@Eccles @Braden @Altaris @DMCK @lizziie @Alhon @Xorism

Spoiler: OOC

> 48 hr posting window missed by all of Sith side timed out
>>initial access granted
>>> 1 turn until complete access granted

 

[23006]

<... Rebooting Personality Construct... >
<... Error: Failed to Reboot Personality Construct ...>

The droid barely noticed the human walking up to it (@DMCK), but as he began to speak it turned with could only be read as a surprised expression. <Statement: Well, yes. I am Sith Order droid PD-4/11-GFV/12. My current directive is cleaning the castle and wait for reprogramming> it.. lied. There was something wrong with its current programming and for some reason the reboot of its personality construct kept failing as if there was a more prioritized directive that overruled it.

It's surprised protocol droid look turned slightly towards the room at large and how well-cleaned it was. <Statement: I have completed my cleaning task and shall now go to the droid maintenance room for reprogramming> it started walking and passed the human to head out of the throne room.

Just outside of it several corpses lay on the floor and yet the droid ignored them as it walked straight passed. Either removing corpses wasn't part of the 'cleaning directive' or already having a directive it could not simply switch back to the old one without voice command from its new owner. Luckily, none of the Sith knew where the maintenance room actually was, so TC-SC 23006 was making its way to Darth Vader's old meditation chamber. It knew, for some reason, that the room would have a long-range communications array.

[OOC: only colored text is dialogue.]

 

[Darth Tempest]

Naturally, Darth Tempest paid little attention to what the protocol droid was doing at this point. She had every intention of searching through its memory banks for any useful information, but was focused entirely on securing the Fortress for herself and the Sith Order.

Any rebel unfortunate enough to be caught in the Dark Lord’s path would be cut down without a second thought - leaving a trail of Mustafarians dead within offices and hallways.

Uncontested, Tempest began to make her way towards the Command Center of the Fortress. It had been her intention from the very beginning to clear her way towards the chamber, where she would have full access to controls for the facility. Without anyone to stop her, Tempest would continue right through its blast doors - amber eyes fixed on the main terminal just ahead.

 

[Thel Xeros]

The droid’s response confirmed what Thel had thought. “Good to know.” He stepped aside to allow the droid to continue with what it was doing. “Whatever you say.” Again, he found himself alone. The castle was surely now under Sith control. Might be time to leave. He sighed, reaching out and sliding a finger across the glass. “Let’s see how good the droid is.” Not a speck of dust. “Well, at least the droid isn't defective.”

There didn’t seem much left to do. The only resistance they faced had been easily dealt with. Still, Tempest might not look too kindly on any of the Sith leaving before they were completely sure the castle was secure. Thel remained stood near the window, waiting for Tempest’s return.

 

[Nevizkas]

In the guard's vulnerable state, her lightning attack successfully caught him off guard. The potent surges contorted and seized his muscles and diaphragm, making it quite easy for the pureblood to simply reverse the swing of her blade and diagonally saw him in twine.

Cyu didn't want to interfere with Ambrosia's fun and so she continued past the first guard and towards the locked door to the control room. It would take too long to try and slice into it, even if she had any tools for the job. Rather, between the pair of them they would simply cut their way into the door with lightsabers.

Taking one side from the centre and moving left to create a hole big enough for them to climb through, leaving the right side for her companion to do, they would soon force their way in one way or another.

@lizziie

 

[Rax Khan]

The Mustafarian had disappointingly little specifics to share, despite the pain Rax inflicted on him. However, his account did at least confirm the masked woman was in charge and a Sith of some renown. The Fras also garnered better descriptions of her accomplices, all information his master could use to undermine those who opposed him. Rax pushed for any last morsels, but the pathetic creature's heart eventually gave out.

Rax crept on to the fortress, scaling the outer wall and cresting one of the towers. He prized a narrow viewing port open with a clawed finger, but could see nothing but a shadowy vaulted ceiling. The Fras stayed where he was for a long time, pointed ears pricked up as he listened intently. Screams sounded inside the fortress, echoing only from Mustafarian throats. The unfamiliar hum and crackle of lightsabers too and the sound of dark magick not unlike his master's own.

The Fortress had been taken, he was sure of it. The Sith pretenders now had a altar from which to practice their heresy and the Fras' duty was clear. His master must know what had transpired, so that he might take action.

Rax slipped back along the curtilage and down onto the hot ground. He scurried away from the structure, padding between the rocky ridges and plumes of smoke as quickly as he dare.

Let the fools enjoy their new home while it lasted. One day soon, Darth Raze would come, and they would all rue the day.

@Braden @Darasuum @Eccles @Altaris @DMCK @Xorism @lizziie

 

[Ambrosia]

Ambrosia finished disposing of the mustafarian, then took its electro staff for herself. It was a decently large weapon and a bit of a nuisance to carry... but turned off it made a pretty okay walking stick.

Once Cyutadakyr cut the door open, Ambrosia would follow her inside where they would see... nothing. It appeared that the command center had been recently abandoned, the mustafarians deciding that their lives were far more important than a brutal death at Sith hands protecting their precious base.

"I'll contact Tempest," Ambrosia muttered as she placed a finger on her comlink device. "Command room is clear," she spoke plainly.

@Altaris @Xorism

 

[Naxa]

Spoiler: Music

A green chrono counter indicated the port scanner had gained access by this time. The device would be given authorized and anonymous access to all of Fortress Vader's systems. N4-X4 placed their manipulators on the grate and opened it before deftly and silently dropping out of the vent before landing just as precisely as it had entered moments ago.

Taking a few calculated paces towards the desk the droid began the first steps to taking control of the fortification.

> Command: Full lock down of all blast doors and access ways, include hangars
>> Command: Disable all organic terminals except DTIV6
>>> Command: Jam long range communications
>>>> Command: Disable life support

This meant the Command Center itself would go into lock down. Even the doors already cut into, would be sealed with two more layers of blast doors in addition to the primary set. A lightsaber would take a minute or so to cut through the these blastdoors on their own. Aside from slicing one's way through with a super energy blade or an actual slicing deck, anyone inside Fortress Vader would have to stay put until the BX commando droid facilitated otherwise.

Ventilation would go into lock down. Some portions of the fortress still functioned with life support, but the droid saw a pause on that until further notice. There were multiple compartments with even the hall ways being segmented into numerous "rooms". Each of them had thick doors clanging shut.

Outside, if there were Sith forces attempting to get in, they would find just as much luck as those inside trying to get out. However, any communications would be impossible to understand with the hand carried devices normally carried by individuals. Inside, all terminals in the Command Center, Hangar bays, even in Lord Vader's own chamber, they were powered down and would need to be manually cycled before they would operate. Droid accessible ports however remained turned on and operational.

Now the droid could begin downloading all the files inside the Fortress. The organic occupants of Fortress Vader would begin to sweat as the cooling system that kept the structure comfortable was shut down. Oxygen would begin to thin in time. The darkness of the Nexus itself could be doing untold things to the unprepared. The Sith that had come to take the fortress would find themselves trapped in not a maze, just a prison that they would have to do everything in their power to claw their way to freedom. It was that or pass out from asphyxiation or heat stroke. Maybe one of them would starve but the chances of that were minimal.

@Eccles @Braden @Altaris @DMCK @lizziie @Alhon @Xorism

Spoiler: OOC

>>complete access granted
>>> ADVISED EVACUATION

 

[Darth Tempest]

Tempest paused where she was standing, watching as multiple systems began to abruptly shift into lockdown - dealing everything from the blastdoors to the ventilation systems above her. Despite no one being inside the Command Center with her, the Dark Lord could only assume the Mustafarian Resistance still had remote access to the Fortress and its defenses. Clearly, they attempted to inflict one final blow against the invaders by transforming their conquest into a prison.

Unfortunately, whoever had engaged the defenses didn’t account for Tempest already being in the Command Center.

Exhaling harshly through her nostrils, Tempest pulled the hilt of her lightsaber into her hands - igniting the blade with a flash of crimson. Without an ounce of hesitation, the Dark Lord slashed her blade across the central terminal of the Command Center - the very same device that was responsible for bringing the facility into lockdown, and that Naxa had remotely sliced into from an office away. Her blade didn’t cease moving - moving next to the central computer and server that was stored within the Command Center.

It would take time and effort to repair the damaged systems - and Tempest wasn’t ignorant to the files regarding the Fortress that would be lost in the process. Ultimately, it was the Nexus that thrummed beneath them that drew the Sith back to Mustafar, and freeing herself from the trap was certainly worth the loss.

With connection to remote controls abruptly terminated, Tempest had no doubt that any lockdown measured would promptly be reversed - falling back onto the standard failsafe protocols that existed in case of emergencies or loss of power. While the droid would certainly have access to whatever data was locally stored within the office, access to any network files would similarly be lost.

@Darasuum