Skies of Fire, Reign Down Upon Thee

[Zach]

Skies of Fire, Reign Down Upon Thee

Sith Celegian Sith Master rested idly inside the reinforced tank of his life support system. Oonoo patiently awaited the fleet to arrive at its destination as he contemplated the events of the attack. He'd taken two Squads of star ships from his command to lead in a joint operation with the Chiss Ascendancy, while Darth Animus himself led the assault. The renowned Sith Alchemist had proven to be more than insane on several occasions, but Oonoo didn't dare doubt his capabilities in the field. The Sorcerer's supposed facade of insanity served well to make his enemies underestimate him, however. It would be their last mistake, after the Sith Lord finished at Sriluur. Oonoo and his ships would be focusing their efforts on a different target, however. Both fleets would strike simultaneously, fighting on both fronts against the Imperial Knights.

Oonoo remained still, closing off his mind from the rest of the universe as he focused to himself. He was drawing the Dark Side around him, clearing his thoughts and engulfing his mind in the pleasure of an inevitable victory. 'It won't be long now,' he thought to no one in particular. His species communicated purely through telepathy, making it easy for him to directly relay orders to his forces and control an invasion from one point. His practiced Battle Meditation in leading an invasion grew stronger by the day, ever critical point in the war progressing as his tactical mind developed. There would be little time left in the galaxy for the Jedi and their allies.

The Impending Doom, Oonoo's own personal flagship, coursed through the blueish hue of hyperspace surrounded by the rest of his gathered ships. The giant Super Star Destroyer was of a Star Dreadnaught class, larger in size than most other ships and commanding in its abundance of armaments. Amongst the fleet of ships accompanying the Celegian general were three Imperial II-Class Star Destroyers, all equipped with a Regiment of invading forces, while the flagship carried two. The Super Star Destroyer's immense size and abundant armaments carried a separate regiment of forces to combat in space while deploying troops to the ground. It served Oonoo well as a base of operations, and allowed him a global view of the battles that were about to being. Six other Dreadnaught-Class Heavy Cruisers flanked each side of Oonoo's ships, ready to eliminate any patrolling forces when Animus engaged the enemy. Each heavy Cruiser held a Battalion of troops, ready to be deployed with twelve starfighters providing air support. Each of the major sections they'd planned to attack was sure to be overwhelmed, but Oonoo prepared for the worst.

His numbers paled in comparison to the fleet of the Chiss Ascendancy at Sriluur, but orbital domination in this case was not his goal. It was the actual invasion and complete suppression of Imperial Knight forces on the surface of Ubuuqa that took Oonoo's priority. Silas was more than capable of handling whatever resistance he met on Sriluur, and elimination of the measly forces residing on the Sith's Folly would be no difficult task. It wouldn't be long before it was buried once more beneath the ever-building sands as an ancient relic - as it meant to stay. On the other hand, Oonoo's target would merely burn to the ashes from whence its creator's came. The execution of the Imperial Knights at the Pallopides Estate he'd been ordered to carry out was not far away.

A sensation in the Force came to the Celegian Dark Sider then, filling his mind with the essence of the Dark Side. Oonoo felt the power of a preordained victory pulsing through his tendrils, echoing in reverberation as he focused to his forces. 'The time is near, my soldiers,' he thought telepathically, reaching even the officers working on the decks of the surrounding ships. 'The Imperial Knights have existed in this plane for far too long, and it is now our time to cleanse the galaxy of this repugnant excuse of Force users,' he iterated, sneering to himself in silent disgust. The Imperial Knights were nothing more than a force of boy scouts branching off from the adults of this war. If they thought their single grounded Star Destroyer stood a fraction of a chance against the might of Darth Animus and the fleet of the Chiss Ascendancy, they were sadly mistaken. The fate of their leaders at the estates on Ubuuqa were even slimmer. The Sith Master's forces would dominate on the ground, if by some chance there were any survivors of the initial bombardments. These measly knights didn't offer the challenge of a full-scale onslaught. No, Oonoo's chance to emerge victorious in glorious warfare would come soon enough, but not today.

The Sith Master's fleet exited hyperspace, propelling past the sudden transition of cloudy blue to sparkled black. The planet drifted harmlessly in a steady rotation, slinging the basic docking stations around it in orbit as if it was another normal day. The Sith fleet popped out of nowhere, suddenly appearing with a surprise attack upon the ground forces. This was by no means a battlefield; that would imply there was a resistance worth recognition.

'Take us toward the planet, Captain,' Oonoo ordered to the officer on deck, using his proficient skill in Telepathy to let him know his exact meaning. The Captain nodded once before reaching for the intercom system, relaying his orders to the rest of the fleet's Captains. "Prepare to engage," he called, watching the ships slowly drift apart in formation. As the fleet got closer enough to the planet, the captain clicked the speaker again, "Launch all dropships and fighters on General Oonoo's signal," he finished, keeping the intercom by his face, but releasing the button. He kept his eyes strained on the Sith Master, dedicated in entirety to following his every command to the letter.

Oonoo spoke out to the entirety of his fleet then, just as his ships were slipping into position. 'The planet is yours. Bombard the surface,' he called, shortly followed by a barrage of blaster fire and missiles careening down to the cities below. A moment later, the assault slowed, allowing each of the cruisers to begin deploying their transit ships, altering their weapons trajectory directly to the Pallopides Estates as they took a defensive formation around the descending transports. The before-mentioned forces each traveled down to the planet, battalions and regiments dividing into predetermined teams across Ubuuqa. The Imperial forces would soon overtake the planet's primary forces, and the Pallopides Estate would either burn to rubble or fall into Sith control, serving as their base of operations once taking occupation from the Imperial Knights. The exact lines of territory and distribution of resources with the Chiss Ascendancy would be worked out later, but it was none of the Celegian's concern. Only the upcoming battle took his attention.

 

[DeathToll]

The skies over the Pallopides Estate were, today, particularly beautiful. Birds flew past as if time stood still in this paradise, lost. This Imperial Knight's base was not known to many, and even fewer were allowed free passage. Its defenses were thought to be brave in comparison to many others of its kind. But against this massacre, there was no defense.

In came the evil of nightmares worse than any reality thought possible. And down came the fire of their ammunition, decimating the outer layers of the estate easily. All life could not escape this enslaught. There were back-up plans already set in place. There were men and women deep under the barriers of this base's levels. They would not soon survive. Defenses were near crippled, and the turrets of the estate could not be positioned in time.

So many died outright, their voices calling out through the Force over a great distance. So many still were to die, now reacting and now setting up their once great base as but a bunker used as walls around them to bring the enemy in close for a hands on battle. The Imperial Knights here left would not go without a fight. None here feared for their lives, and none here wondered what they fought for. These were a higher quality of men and women loyal to their cause, serving duty and honor above all else; to serve the Light side of the Force had been their dying wish. All of them now would wait until the enemy came in for them. They would not come out, even if it meant being burried alive. And if the enemy came in, they'd make sure that no Imperial Knight survived and they'd take every god-damned enemy with them!

 

[Zach]

As the Imperial Knights fell under the Celegian Sith Master's siege, an echo cried through the Force. Their deaths could be felt under Oonoo's concentration in orbit, basking in the power of the Dark Side. He felt everything that was on the ground, sensing the anguish of those still barely alive in the Pallopides' ruins.

The dropships flew overhead as squads prepared themselves for deployment. They would be led under the Sith Major, and Oonoo's apprentice, Arcturus D. Grim. Flares of blaterfire rained overhead and around the planet as the ships passed over the Pallopides Estates, releasing several drop pods from beneath their hulls. Sith Acolytes and Stormtrooper Commandos plummeted to the ground, smashing through the burning wreckage of the Imperial Knights' base. The pods exploded outward as rifles and lightsabers flared to life, soldiers pouring into the hall. Shots were fired as soldiers rolled, acolytes darting into combat as their lightsabers clashed with those no long for this universe.

Dropships landed just outside the area, pouring more troops into the clearing to rush the estates. They were quick reinforcements, but whatever resistence they met would quickly be kput down. Stormtroopers sprinted across the grass while others mounted their vehicles, storming the estates and surrounding it. None would escape on this day - there would be no survivors.

Oonoo felt the battle from orbit, sensing the motions of his soldiers as they filled the battlefield and slaughtered the Imperial Knghts before them. Those already inside met the Force users and surged with the Battle Meditation the Celegian Sith master fueled them with. Even he had to admit though, the Imperial Knights fought ferociously, and without fail. As outnumbered and doomed as they were, the Knights still fought viciously. Many of the Sith's forces fell, but the estates were overwhelmed. 'You've fought valiantly, Imperial Knights... But in vain. Die knowing that you kept your honor to the last breath, and be gone from this universe,' the Superior Sith general called telepathically. He could feel the resilience in their Force presences, sure that they would choose death before capture.

Before long, the Pallopides Estates were empty, desolate. Only the desecrated bodies of the Imperial Knights remained, aside from Oonoo's apprentice. The rest of the Sith forces remained outside, allowing the acolyte to thrive in his victory. They were triumphant, as expected - none could stand against the might of the Sith Imperium. Oonoo gave a final burst of morale through his troops, congratulating them on their success. Cries of victory and cheer could be heard through the Force, just as their counterpart of deaths and despair echoed through the galaxy. Troops filled into the remnants of the dominated building and gathered the bodies of their fallen enemies. Any survivors of the Imperial Knights would be given an example of what was yet to come. Their corpses were taken aboard the dropships and brought up to Oonoo's fleet. They would be dealt with later, for public view.

 

[Mr. Teatime]

"Priority transmission, sir. From Boonta." The message came crisp and clear over the intercom of Commander Gibbit's office. Arthur Danielson Gibbit, despite his unfortunate-sounding last name, was a decently-known and trusted imperial commander, reflected by the Commandant's trust in him as a defender of the Empire's border. The man looked irritated, but alert, by the interuption. He had a fairly large stack of papers that needed work done, but priority was priority.

"Send an active copy to the Commandant's office, and play it on screen." Commander Gibbit.

The message was, of course, a report from the patrol from Boonta. Apparently Boonta was under attack and the patrol was able to send it's report before engaging.

Fantastic.

"Lieutenant, mobilize the attack fleet and send it A.S.A.P. The alliance scum will pay for it's trespassing."