Ask [Rago] Redemption Comes in the Form of Ash and Fire

[Malou D'Amaris]

While the people of Aeten II had agreed to meet, the leaders of Rago refused even simple communications with Avillion when an invitation to talk was extended. They slapped the hand of the Sith Kingdom with the disrespect of radio silence, and it was disrespect like that which had prompted this event. Planets which came peacefully would be treated well and annexed into Avillion; planets which did not would be as well, but their leaders would suffer first.

Malou stood on the bridge of a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer, and on either side of the ship flew two Onager-class Star Destroyers. Both were supplied by Darth Caelestis (@Braden Drake ) for the three to use during this particular invasion. They had just dropped out of hyperspace to appear before Rago, and the panicked communications down below as Rago's navies raced to the defense began to filter through the ship's comms. Though her face remained that same shade of calm, Malou was alive with excitement. She did not have the pleasure of commanding the naval forces on Namadii; her master assigned her to the ground. But now, with three ships and two others she had called to aid her, she did have that pleasure.

"Scanners indicate we have roughly twenty to thirty minutes before Rago gets their forces together." Malou's image would appear as a hologram to Wiley and Aadya, location depending on where the two had located themselves (whether that was on the bridge of the two other ships or preparing to lead a squadron). They would be able to see her, though due to the nature of her Sight she would only be able to hear their answers. "Our target is the capital. Focus fire on government building until their forces come to the offensive."

With the conclusion of the message, the battle began.

tags: @Darasuum @Logan

 

[Wiley Winnz]

Spoiler: Theme

The black and ashen robes of the dark side Champion stood in front of the holoprojector amid the bridge of the Onager-class Star Destroyer under his command. Underneath his mask the man was grinning from ear to ear, practically giddy with excitement still at having such a vessel at his control. But over the transit the man had been able to conceal it thankfully well enough. If anything it put him in a good mood though he knew to limit his expectation for bloodshed.

The Champion's Onager was joined by two Acolytes who certainly had their own connections. It was their influence that allowed them to get three warships of this size. Wiley however had approached Darth Malicia and gained two Gozanti Bulk Cruisers and now had a bolstered compliment of TIE/FO starfighters and troopers. This paled in comparison to what he now possessed. The chance to command and utilize the grand warmachine was an honor for the ex-Jazaq.

The world before the flotilla grew closer with each passing moment. There was no need to scramble starfighters or direct the devastating TIE/IT starbombers that were dangerous enough in their own right. Those were kept in reserve for the time being and all small craft was kept in their hangars and attached to their docking clamps. The weapon systems onboard the Onager class were known for specializing in orbital bombardments and targeting fortified terrestrial positions with minimal surrounding collateral damage. This was a perfect job for the dual barrel partical cannons the hammer head shaped capital ship was held.

He was getting to make the command to fire a superweapon. Oh he couldn't help himself from getting giddy. Part of him wanted to even press the button himself but he also enjoyed the act of executing the command for such a thing. The long range sensors were active and the bridge crew relaying details about ship traffic in the sector. Twin heavy turbo lasers thundered in orbit. The inverted hammer like shape on one side of the triangular resurgent and mirrored by the other was sure to be captured by the personal recording holocapturer he had on. Mostly that was just for his own replaying pleasure later.

"They don't stand a chance." He said and watched the cannon fire rain down on the structures. Many would quickly fall from their own structural integrity in the first few moments. A prolonged barrage would not even be necessary. Unless of course they had a shield generator. Then it would take actually a couple of minutes with the kyber crystal powered weaponry at their disposal. But even then, the Champion doubted a planetary defense force of some backwater planet was going to have the firepower and numbers to take on the trio of capital ships, escorts and compliments.

@lizziie @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

The bridge of the Aacklay - the Onager-class ship provided by the Darth - was quiet, the silence only interrupted by the background noise of control terminals. Aadya stood near the helm, hands folded behind her back, staring idly out at the slipstream of hyperspace.

When it came to invasions, Aadya had little experience entering battle with air superiority. She had always been one to put boots on the ground and engaging with the enemy face to face. Her mind drifted back to Dantooine, images of a small Sephi Jedi bruised, battered, and broken flashing behind her eyes like old home movies. Maybe that sort of violent intimacy wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

An annoyed grimace formed beneath Aadya's mask. Dantooine was something she no longer wished to remember but knew that it had been the catalyst she had needed to achieve something greater within the Order - and a small part of her still hated that. As the small Sith armada dropped out of hyperspace and Rago loomed in the distance, Aadya resolved that in the end, whether she hated it or not didn't matter. It wouldn't change what she had done.

We don't need to completely decimate the city to achieve our goal, Aadya said over comms, watching as the ship commanded by Wiley started raining hellfire on the capital districts. If there is nothing left for the people, what choice will they have but to rebel Sith rule? Desperation begets violence.

Aadya knew that Wiley was a Champion and therefore could technically tell her what to do, but she had never really been one to give respect to someone based simply on their title. Typing a couple sets of coordinates into console in front of her, Aadya smirked slightly, her eyes sparkling with veiled malice.

Chisels work better than sledgehammers, Wiley. Aadya said with a huffed chuckle. You don't need to take their lives if you simply crush their spirit.

The particle canons of Aadya's ship fired at the coordinates she'd entered a few moments ago: all but one of the major hospitals in the capital center. With almost nowhere to take their wounded, the ground forces would likely have to start scrambling, throwing away much of any coordinated response they might have been capable of.

Awaiting your further instruction, Malou.

@lizziie @Darasuum

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

"We need to try to do as much damage to their offensive forces before they get them off the ground."

The ship's admiral stood nearby, relaying information to Malou as she spoke to Adaya and Wiley over comms.

"That being said, destroying government buildings should be our priority. We want their government in shambles."

Malou swung her arm to the left of her, signaling for the officers on deck to move to heed her instructions. She moved swiftly to the front of the bridge, extending her view out to view the destruction which occurred below. Her ship was nearing the atmosphere, and the capital, though far, was growing steadily and slowly closer.

Gunfire began to rain down from her ship, the turret and canons targeting the city's ornate city hall. Though her face was stoic, she felt a bubbling of excitement grow within her. Malou did not acknowledge the dark side of the destruction occurring below; she only knew this would bring her, her master, and the Sith glory.

tags: @Logan @Darasuum

 

[Wiley Winnz]

Though Aadya couldn't see it nor any of his own bridge crew, Wiley rolled his eyes. If they were going to be prudish about distributing destruction and lacked the stomach to bend the planet to their will, then it was no surprise that the Champion had been brought on this mission. If it was just the two Acolytes, things probably wouldn't get done and half measures taken resulting in later consequences. "Clearly you've never done home renovations, Aadya." He replied to the girl that had probably never had to break down a wall or anything with her own muscle. Why had they brought literal superweapons if they weren't going to use them.

The other young female voice came in over the inter-ship channels encouraging the opposite of her companion. A hum of approval came from the man as he withheld any order to decrease the firepower being brought down on the planetary targets.

Starports were places Wiley was very familiar with. Each of them had certain similarities and even ones the man had never visited could be navigated by the Champion. However today Wiley didn't intend on visiting the planet's starport, not yet anyway. Instead, Rago's planetary starport had covered hangars and rows of ringspeeders, orbitblade airspeeders, and other craft meant to defend. These would have the targeting of the Onager class star destoryer adjust their aim and reduce the scrambling defenses to smoldering craters.

"Scan for ground based anti-aerospace defenses. They'll probably wait for us to scramble small craft before powering them up." He ordered his own ship but kept the link open for the other two sith to hear. With enemy's planetary defense force having its wing of small craft decimated in the blink of an eye, there was little to stand in the way from the flotilla of Sith ships approaching the planet if Malou gave the command. Wiley wanted minimal casualties on his own side if it could be helped and turbo laser fire was cheap. If there were anti-air spitfire droids or other anti-air crawlers, he wanted to know about it before he ended up getting reports of losing valuable assets.

@lizziie @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Aadya shrugged her shoulders after listening to what the other two had to say. Wonton destruction was always an exhilarating thrill ride, sure. But here it just seemed so... anti-pragmatic. Oh well, she wasn't the one leading this operation. Didn't seem worth arguing over method.

Commanding a ship from the bridge was already starting to bore Aadya. Signaling to the ranking officer to assume command, Aadya starting making her way towards the hangers. She'd much rather engage the defenses in a starfighter.

I'm going to lead a squadron when we hear word about those anti-air sweeps. She said to Wiley and Malou across their comm channel. Though at this point, I'm starting to wonder if this place is going to cobble together any defense at all.

It would take Aadya a few minutes to reach the hanger but she'd be listening intently for the all clear to launch fighters.

@lizziie @Darasuum

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

"Okay." That was her response to Aadya's head's up through the comms.

Malou walked forward towards the massive window on the bridge of her ship, her hands clasped loosely behind her back. She looked down upon the planet as the sky rained with canon fire. Chaos had erupted in the city, and those not scrambling to man the anti-aircrafts were ushering civilians out of the city as quickly as possible. It was a few moments before she noticed the movements on the horizon. When she did, Malou quickly opened her comm link to warn Aadya and Wiley.

"There's a squadron of fighters coming just east of the capital."

It looks like they deployed from another city. If they wanted to continue their seige on the city they would have to deal with them quickly.

tags: @Logan @Darasuum

 

[Wiley Winnz]

The Champion of the Dark Side watched blooming fire and dust clouds left in the wake of the raining ordinance from the Magmatic. Scanners and visual tools helped him and the bridge crew zoom in and watch the destruction take place on the surface of Rago. Each reverberation of the batteries firing brought a sadistic tingle running from the base of his feet and rising through his body until it ended at the base of his skull where it met his spine.

The damage would not be extended and the barrage would cease after the targeted government buildings were raised. While Wiley enjoyed destruction, he had not ordered any fire on pointless civilian targets. No small craft had been launched yet by the time he heard Acolyte Rasheer's update. He debated whether he should head to the hangar of his own ship and join her. There was only so much fun that could be had standing on a bridge.

Opening up a channel to his own forces he had some new directions to give. "Gozanti cruisers, along with Cresh squadron, backup the Aacklay." The additional twenty starfighters and two bulk cruisers would adjust their formation and meet the forces of the Acolyte. There were other cities on this planet and not all of the defenses had been discovered yet. Twelve starfighters and starbombers respectively would remain in the Champion's hangars on standby.

At the warning of approaching smallcraft Wiley immediately sought their location. He hooked both thumbs around his belt and tapped his index against the side of his hip. "hmmm...." Having already sent a number of starfighters to assist Aadya, he hesitated on helping her any further. Part of him wondered what would happen if she was sent spiraling towards the planet's surface in a catastrophic ball of metal and slag. Would her master be angry with him or wouldn't that just be the breaks for an acolyte. If the young woman was capable, she would pull through. The murmur devolved into a him just buzzing his lips and leaning onto the windowsill of the bridge. Placing both palms on the space and leaning to the point where he was almost touch the glass, Wiley gave another order to his bridge. "Move the Magmatic closer to the nearest city and align with the planet's gravity. Focus shields on the underside and let's see if we can trick them into revealing themselves." A prompt aye aye was given. After they rooted out anti-aerospace weapons they could begin landing troops and securing a more terrestrial hold. The few hundred soldiers onboard each of the star destroyers could hold the city. But they wouldn't do much good in orbit.

@lizziie @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Malou's warning of scrambled enemy fighters came just as Aadya slipped into the pilot seat of her Interceptor. Aadya wasn't an ace pilot by any means, but the speed and maneuverability of interceptors always meshed with her natural instincts when it came to flying.

The engines roared to life, Aadya and a group of 11 others taking off as a single squadron. As the lead fighter, Aadya zipped off towards the east, the others keeping formation around her. The enemy fighter squadron was clear on the horizon.

All wings report in. Gold leader standing by. Aadya said over comms. Each one would chime in in order as the squadron closed in.

Continuing to take the lead, Aadya would push her starfighter as fast as she could, firing the main blaster cannons as she approached the enemy. A few bolts clipped a fighter in the left of the formation, sending it screaming towards the ground in a fireball.

Turning into evasive maneuvers, Aadya couldn't help but smile as the adrenaline of battle started pumping through her veins.

@lizziie @Darasuum

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

Aadya got the warning, and Wiley had sent fighters to assist her. Good. It was more or less a waiting game from here if she could take them out. The Sith had the advantage here. As long as they didn't stop firing, the city would stand no chance. The planet would be theirs within the hour if things went smoothly.

The opposing fighters wouldn't be much trouble for Aadya. Rago didn't often see conflict and the pilots themselves probably didn't have the best training. Wiley's ship was closing in on the nearest city, hoping to reveal the location of any waiting forces. It was a good idea, especially seeing as the city immediately began counterattacks.

Shots from the city would begin to fire as soon as Wiley's ship was in range, sending loud crashes against the ship's shields as the anti-aircraft lasers made their mark. They were scattered out pretty evenly around the city but did not appear to be well protected. Seeing this, Malou activated her comms.

"Aadya, you see those canons? When you finish with the opposing fighters, see if you and your squad and takeout the anti-aircraft canons so Wiley and I can bring the ships in closer."

tags: @Logan @Darasuum

 

[Wiley Winnz]

The Star Destroyer was immense. People often underestimated the size of an Imperial class star destroyer and had forgotten what sight it could give on the horizon. It blotted out the sky for many as the warmachine descended into low orbit with it's shields focused on defense. Collumns of smoke and debris climbed in the atmosphere from the precise impacts of the Sith naval forces. Flashes and glints in the sky would give the civilians with the naked eye the inkling Rago's planetary forces were dwindling.

The laser cannon batteries waiting in hiding lit up the belly of the Magmatic. Turbo-laser cannons sought out their origin, holding fire at first under Wiley's command. Point defense lasers activated as missiles were launched even from desperate alley ways and airspeeders. The rapid fire beams causing ordenance to explode before reaching the ship. The onager class star destroyer had certainly garnered the city's remaining defenses. "Sir, our shields can't take much more of this." One of the deck officers reported.

"Targets?" He asked and turned towards fire control. "They're mobile sir, not emplacements but an assortment of vehicles and on foot, using the streets and buildings as cover." It sounded like a surprise coming from the imperial accent of the officer. Wiley, the ex-Jazaq knew hit and run tactics would be the only option the Rago renegades would have left.

"Fire on any that are still actively engaged and then scramble bombers." The star destroyer would continue to draw the attention of the city's anti-air defenses, the faint outline of the Magmatic's capital shields rippling beneath it told that it was going to fade. There would be a period before the second shields would activate. Maybe the bombers would divide some of the attention while also targeting the defenses in the streets. "Tell the pilots to not use their proton bombs. I don't want to level this city. Give an update to D'amaris and Rasheer if they aren't busy. I'm going to the hangar. Once the shields fall, scramble the rest of your starfighters."

His command given, the Champion turned and headed to his ship. The surface of Rago needed to have ground forces to best root out. Establishing a beachhead in someway and putting boots on the ground asserted the Sith's presence. Not only had the Sith Order come to this system. They weren't just visiting. They were her to stay. Marching to the hangar it wouldn't take long for Wiley to set eyes on an impetuous class interceptor. A shudder ran through the star destroyer as the first impacts hit the outer armor of the star destroyer. A klaxon blared causing the starfighter pilots to scramble and begin take off procedures.

@lizziie @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Acknowledged, Aadya responded to Malou as she cranked the yoke of her fighter to dodge incoming enemy fire.

Reorienting her fighter, Aadya fired off a few shots from her guns and took out another bogey. Whoever this planetary defense force was, they were clearly not as well trained as their Sith counterparts. Gold Squadron was ripping through the enemy fighter screens like a lightsaber cheese knife through soft brie.

Gold two and three follow me, Aadya said as she adjusted some settings in her fighter. We're going to take out these canons before they actually do some real damage.

Tearing off from the formation, Aadya headed for the nearest AA canon. They were easy enough to spot as they peppered the underbelly of Winnz's star destroyer. Approaching one of the canons, Aadya primed her concussion missiles and let two of them fly after a short lock-on period.

Her payload found its way to the target, causing the whole canon to go up in a pile of molten durasteel. With a hard bank, Aadya would target the subsequent AA canons as she rocketed over the city. With the help of the others she'd had follow her, the canons didn't really stand a chance.

It wouldn't take long for Aadya to take out the canon emplacements scattered across the landscape. Unfortunately, Gold 2 would be caught in some cross fire and careen into the last canon to take it out. Unfortunate, but appreciated in the end.

Completing her objective, Aadya and gold three would return back to the rest of the squadron and look to take out any fighters that still managed to remain airborne.

@lizziie @Darasuum

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

Aadya and her squad had taken out the anti-aircraft canons, which was the opening they needed to bring the ships in closer. It seemed she was able to do it before Wiley's shields broke, which was even better.

"Lady D'Amaris, anti-aircraft canons have been neutralized. Champion Winnz is sending bombers in after mobile forces on the ground. It seems the people of Rago are falling back to hit-and-run tactics. Acolyte Rasheer has returned to her squadron."

Malou noddd after the officer finished speaking. Like Wiley, Malou thought that getting feet on the ground was going to be the best way to deal with the remaining defenders without causing too much additional damage to the city.

"Send down troop transports A through F. Tell the commanding officers to seek out and eliminate the mobile fighters, then regroup at the capital building." With a quick yessir, the officer dipped away to relay her commands.

Malou opened comm with Aadya. "Finish picking off the remaining fighters and return to your ship. We need to get our ships under the atmosphere and start getting feet on the ground."

45 minutes to capture.

// One more post from the each of us and I'll end the thread on mine :)

tag: @Logan @Darasuum

 

[Wiley Winnz]

First boots on the ground, it felt good to stand on another's world in conquest. The sweet smell of some wooden building reduced to cinders wafted through the air and the hint of plasma discharge joined it. The man moved forward through the streets as the forces of the Sith Empire landed more troops and assets. Treadspeeder bikes zoomed through the streets tracking down any running defenders. The heavy starbombers were quick enough to use versatile launchers, tracking low flying civilian airspeeders carrying rocket launchers. The last remaining protectors of Rago trying to fight the inevitable occupiers would be driven underground if they didn't die in combat. Wiley didn't even have to get his hands dirty on this matter.

With all the anti air being devastated, the troop transports were able to make faster trips to the Magmatic. Repeated trips would have scores of them coming every couple of minutes. As soon as they landed and their compliment of troops landed they took off and began bringing more down. It wasn't long before the entire battalion had secured the area around the capital building. The Sith champion would be waiting patiently as the others would join him on the surface in this victory.

@lizziie @Logan

 

[Aadya Rasheer]

Yessir, Aadya said as she regrouped with her squadron.

There were still some enemy fighters trying to take anyone down that they could, no mater how futile their overall effort had proved to be. Aadya couldn't blame them. They were going to die anyway, might as well try to take anyone you could down with you.

It took not much more than a couple more screening runs from Gold Squadron to clear up the sky of enemy air support. Figuring it would just be waste of time to fly her fighter all the way back to the star destroyer just to hop on a shuttle, Aadya instructed her squad to head back while she found an open spot to land.

Following the throngs of sith troops towards the city center, Aadya would spot Wiley near the capital building and make her way towards him with a nod.

All they needed now was for Malou to bring the hammer down and subjugate this place like it deserved and they could call it a day.

@lizziie @Darasuum

 

[Malou D'Amaris]

Boots were on the ground. Vehicles were patrolling the streets. Walkers were being deployed.

Resistance forces were made up of little more than zealous old men and surviving soldiers. It didn't take more than thirty minutes for their footholds to be cleared out. Those who fought back were shot. Citizens were being told to remain in their homes, or be shot down in the street. For those who lived there, it was a terrifying experience, but for Malou? For Aadya and Wiley? It was a beautiful victory.

"Citizens of Rago—" Malou's voice rang out on speakers from every station, every radio, and every channel they could hack into. For some, it was just her force. For others, it was her form and figure dressed in armor, standing still with her hands folded neatly behind her back. "Today is a monumental day in your planet's history. Today is the day you will join the Kingdom of Avillion and experience prosperity through the goodwill of the Sith. Surrender your leaders, raise our flag, and no more harm will come to your city. You have fifteen minutes." At that, the feed cut. The acolyte felt a burning sense of pride well up in her chest. Whether it came willingly from here or not, the planet was theirs.

Fifteen minutes later, on the dot, five men and women were brought out from the capital and forced to their knees on the steps of the building. As five shots echoed through the air, a new flag was raised above the building. Troops patrolled the streets while mechanics and engineers came down in new ships to begin repairs.

Rago was theirs. So cool!

tags: @Logan @Darasuum