Dropping alothal Troops

[Sarla Malvern]

Sarla was on a Sith Empires dropship, it was similar to Pierce class troopship but without as much firepower, but still with a lot of troops. The ship was stinking to high heavens, with this lot aboard for hyperspace jump. Well, she wished it did, the air was recycled making it worse. They had a fighter escort, to the drop zone to help make sure they all made it.

Their mission was a simple one, land storm a city and then capture a royal palace. Then tell the crown prince, to submit or die. That sounds easy on paper, in reality, this was going to be an uphill battle.

She was dressed in her Sith Battle Robes, with a fellow acolyte. A woman called @Zan and Drali, who had recently helped her out on Serenno. This was about a pirate threat they had faced and defeated, though it had cost her house in doing so. The other was a man, who thoughts eluded her. He was a tall man, who was an agent of the sith empire. His name was @Arcturus Mars, she had never met him before. Though he was beneath her and her fellow acolyte, as they were sith and he was not.

She was here to discuss tactics with them, and finalize the plan, as they are dropping out hyperspace soon, and dropping into the landing zone hot. She began the discussion My understanding this is an industrial world, so I figured they have lot heavy equipment down there. So we will have trouble from on set, I reckon as soon as we land, we should get the starfighters, to attack any artillery they have. Then get the first wave to attack the walls of the city, hopefully, they can put a hole in the walls. So we have a breach to attack, after that. The city should fall easily to our superior numbers. The Royal Palace may fall without a fight if the local noble can be reasoned with, though if not. Then we have options, from besiegement or trying to storm it and get it over with. She turned to her fellow acolyte, and asked What are your thoughts on this?

@Darasuum @Mr. Teatime

 

[Arcturus Mars]

Arcturus adjusted the position of his Javelin repeating blaster slightly in his arms to a more comfortable neutral position, the sling over his shoulder having been digging into his neck around the plating of his CQC variant heavy armor, phrik dueling gloves showing further customization. He had found himself in a hopefully brief meeting with the two other most notable members of this particular assignment. He had met neither of them before, but as he was keen to do, had read up on their dossiers. The Deucalian seemed an impressive sort, particularly considering their culture, and had some confidence she would be quite competent. Then there was the other one. As Sarla began to speak, Arcturus listened to the plan, nodding slightly at the mention of heavy industry and taking out artillery with fighter craft. A perfectly agreeable proposition, naturally. Then she started talking about the wall, and putting holes in it to attack the city, and besiegement. Hidden behind his helmet his face took on an expression of intense disappointment, eyebrows lowered, eyes narrowed slightly, the corner of his mouth tilted upwards. This clearly wasn't one of those Sith who had little military training and was aware of it, preferring to follow the military around and cut swathes through enemy ranks with a lightsaber. No, this one was one of the self important ones he tried to avoid.

Luckily his disappointment, and other thoughts or emotions, was quite hidden behind his training and Epicanthix nature, and he could judge Sarla quietly. Instead, when opinion was asked for, he spoke up from his position, barely two meters away. "They have only a civil defense force, local law enforcement, and palace guards for ground forces and our ships are designed for hot-drops in hostile areas. Starting the attack outside the city walls would give their limited force an advantage, and fighting through a breach in the wall puts out forces in a chokepoint. It's more likely to result in heavier losses, a longer battle, and needless destruction of valuable city infrastructure. I suggest landing dropships in groups to take key defensive points in the city, surrounding the palace, with the ships weapons used as gun emplacements as necessary. Should the royals fail to surrender at that point, we have more than enough firepower and men to breach and clear the palace from multiple angles while leaving a well-defended control zone around the palace. Ma'am." His tone calm and even, as always, flawless imperial tone crisp and military. His experience and training spoke out here, having been practically raised in military academies in his home culture. He knew had to take a city, and had become very familiar with Imperial technology and tactics since joining their forces.

@Sabrina
@Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

____________

❅ THEME ❅​

The woman stood nearby though everybody had given her a wide birth. Her tattooed body stood firm and apart from other people who had eyed Zan warily thus far on the journey but now just kept their distance like one did with a dangerous animal. It was probably for the best. While she meant none of the troops any ill will she was looking forward to the assualt ahead of them.

She wore her usual armor on but lacking any dark robes that were customary of the Sith image. Drab attire and hidding in cloaks did not suit her open spirit. Zan had had her not-so-new sith sword on her back crossed with her Laestein. Her long black braids and locks resting on her frame and ending in silver tips.

Zan was a warrior and enjoyed a good fight. But a poorly planned tactical engagement was not something she appreciated. Her two differently colored eyes stared at Sarla as she made her plan. Firstly, she would have made this plan before hand but it seemed that such measures had not been taken. The Deucalian inhaled, ready to voice her opinion but the Imperial Agent spoke up first. Now her eyes were on him as he made his wise suggestion.

After the Epicanthrix finished Zan would add to it. "There are no significant anti-air defenses in the city according to intelligence. There is no reason we should not land within the city limits. But our ships are large and we need to move on key points of the city. The space port is where we should land." It was a rather obvious decision in her opinion. Any civilians would try for the space port but be cut off. It was of strategic significance and had enough space to be a staging area for any following forces. The city's organization had it so traffic would flow freely through it to the space port since it was a point of interest so traversing the city on a speeder would be easy.

That was about the extent of her voice for the time being. The acolyte wanted to get off the ship and on the ground. Soon Zan would at least get to see the surface of the planet.

@Shax @ByakuyaXVTogami

 

[Sarla Malvern]

She did not like to admit it, but she was wrong. Though she wished someone told her there was no air defense, as if they are right in this and there is none, there no point landing outside the city limits. Okay if sure their no air defense, then landed in the city, near the law enforcement. This will stop them rearming, once they have spent their ammo. As she spoke, the dropship buffered on the atmosphere of the planet. They were coming in now, and soon they would know if they had air defense. The new location for the drop was relaid to the ship's captain. Land as close as you can, to the civil defense, I am sending you the location. The captain responded with Yes My'lady. Then the ship changed course, to match the new location given.

As the dropship heads towards the city, they did not feel much other than turbulence. They were safe, well safe for now. It was not long before the ship landed, and the dropship doors opened, there was an inevitable hiss. This was caused by equalization, of the pressure of the planet, and the pressure inside the ship. As the doors opened, the commander of troops, shouted the immortal words, GO GO GO, The troops streamed out of the dropship, to attack they screamed For the Empire. She was never one to go at the front of a charge, so she then sauntered to catch up with them. As she did felt she was far too important, to die to a stray blaster shot. As she moved towards the exit, she then lite up her lightsaber staff. Then took up a defensive pose, as she advanced out. No doubt her compatriots, will head out as well.

As she exited the ship, she could see the enemy was held up in their offices, trying to repel them. They should surrender, and just give up. As it means they would get live and still enjoy life, she would never understand why people kept fighting despite, when obviously the fact they are going to lose. She began to move to the building, as the shooting started to die down. She never relished killing, but she had a job to do.

@Darasuum @Mr. Teatime

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The dropship shook and rattled on its skeleton. The bays shifted and the life support crackling as it made its way through the atmosphere and down to the surface. Small leaps of fire could be heard outside from meager attempts at defense of the airspace around them, mostly comprised of blaster cannons and air speeders of the local law enforcement. For all it was worth it was nothing by comparison to the Imperial onslaught that rained down upon them, as the sky darkened with the metallic advance of the large troop carriers that brought with them the will of the Emperor.

Taalong Vorr was silent as they approached. There were other Acolytes, aspiring Sith chosen for the venture to expand Imperial power. They had been chosen for a reason, their skill and power would be most useful and advantageous to the operation. That was clear enough. The tremors they each left in the force were palpable, and Vorr could even sense them from where he was.

But Vorr did not opt for confrontation with his allies. He did not envy the power and position and clout that came with many in Sith Politics.

He was raised and trained for war. All Kaleesh were. It was a harsh and miserable life of conflict on Kalee and he was the symbol of all its culture brought to bear for the Sith Empire.

Whether it was his age, his experience, his power, or his talent for violence that brought him to his superiors to propose the attack he did not know. He did know that his name was called forth to lead the charge, to prepare the battle that would bring Lothal to heel.

A warrior he was, but the intimacies of combat required a personal approach. That was the Kaleesh way. That was his way.

His contribution had been to the operation itself. When his superiors demanded a plan of action, he had delivered it.

Why involve the Empire in a prolonged ground war, when a single swift strike would be enough? It was for this reason he had proposed the landing of the dropships, en masse, down upon the Capital City. It was he who had suggested the seizure of the Crown of Lothal would be enough to break the will of Lothal. It was he that would see the Royal family surrender or die and he that would ensure the Emperor's will be done on the world.

He gave credit to the other Acolytes, their contribution to the tactical strategy were important. Taalong Vorr cared little for such detail, he cared only if the warriors they bore would be prepared for the challenge. So the details of the landing were left to them and their own glory.

His dropships would find the brunt of the fighting, to meet the praetorian guard, whatever form that may take in their attempt to defend the palace. This was the task laid before him, and the interlocking piece to all that the Sith would accomplish that day. He would strike down and overwhelm any resistance that was met without mercy. Though not holding the most direct control of the invading force, even in the quadrant he'd fight in, it would be enough that it could wash over the Palace that a wave and secure all inside.

The dropship struck the ground, its landing struts extended. The whirring of other dropships and the ping of blaster fire bouncing off the sides of their craft were audible. A battle was to rage beyond, and they had only to charge out and join it. This was what Taalong Vorr did. This was his value and course of his life.

"Take the Crown!" Taalong Vorr roared out as he could feel the doors shift.

The doors opened. A ramp descended. The Troopers Charged. The Bolts Flew.

His Lightsaber extended.

The battle was on.

@Sabrina @Darasuum @Mr. Teatime

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________

Knowing when one was wrong was a decent quality, so long as the fact that they did not make repeated mistakes. Zan waited until the ship came in low for the landing. Before it touched down she moved to the vehicle holding area. Zan would get inside one of the Humbler class assualt tanks. There was room for four passengers, one of which would be the Deucalian woman. Not the fastest, but certainly the surest way of arriving unimpeded. The other acolytes seemed to have decided to traversing the entire city on foot, not even getting on a speeder bike. Perhaps they would rather cut down civilians than actually reach the palace.

After touching down the armored vehicles would make a fast move towards the palace. The heavy motorcade had technicals moving after and on ahead on either side. 88-V ranger speeder bikes zoomed ahead and quickly followed by technicals and redjacket assualt speeders. Shots fired from the local police as they used emergency response vehicles to try and combat the military force.

Boom, one land speeder flew end over end as the main gun of the lead tank obliterated it. The police officers blasters just pinged off the surface of the tank. Zan sat inside passenger capacity along with three other troops. The tank would take them around and securing the star port before heading towards the palace. Parked land speeders were crushed underneath the heavy treads of the Humblers. The ground underneath shook with their passing.

@Morse @Sabrina @Mr. Teatime​

 

[Sarla Malvern]

As planned she was the last of the dropship, others were far more gun ho than her. She saw one run off on a tank, cool you will get shot first. She was not going to die here, she rather, be in the rear with the gear. She was officially leading the infantry into battle, part of her wonder if this was the best way to be noticed, by her superiors. She then shouted at her men, Get a move on people, we need to take that building. There was sniper fire, and coming from it, as they closed in. She was not taking any risks and kept her guard up, as the infantry poured fire into the building. She looked up, she was making sure, that no stray shot was coming towards her. She was not a coward, but she did not want to waste her life away foolishly. So she moved in to attack the building, she was not going to die in open. She soon will be in the building, either killing or accepting their surrender. Then it would be time to move on to the palace, were the crown hopefully would see sense.

@Darasuum @Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

"Fire on the right!" A dark Imperial trooper cried out in the formation moving in towards the palace. The masked trooper was hunkered down behind some rubble that had been sourced from a building that had been obliterated by a passing shot of a thermite missile that detonated into the side when a single blaster bolt had been suspected of firing from it. The cascade of rubble had left refuse cluttering the street, and enough to make cover to fire on the loose formation of resistance that returned fire upon them further down the street.

Green and red blaster bolts were exchanged across the street in a display that was echoed in every corner of the city as more and more Imperial troops were dropped on the surface. Landing ships fit between the buildings, dropping ramps and spilling black and grey armored forces out to engage the latest enemies of the Empire. Daring to defy them they took up positions anywhere they could.

Mostly comprised of police and a clusters of armed citizenry that worked in a loose organized tandem, they were clearly no match for the onslaught of battle hardened Sith troops that bore down on them like an unleashed river upon the dry rocks of a basin in the first rains of a year. The space forces had demonstrated precisely how this battle would play out, and it would only hours, if at all, that it would take to silence the defiance of the city.

Taalong Vorr's lightsaber was in his hand, around him the Sith Troopers of his dropship, spread out and battling. As he moved so did they to exploit openings he would make. He would break through a building, in which a pair of Lothal defenders may be firing. It would be little effort to dispatch them, they were ever incapable of handling a true warrior of the Sith, cutting through them with his lightsaber as a horrific demonstration of their raw power.

This was his answer to the call of fire on the right, a directly lead engagement on the two inside the building. Troopers followed behind, now flanking the poor defenders ahead of him on them on the street, who were now forced to retreat.

They were but a block or two away from the palace, which was as close as their pilot could get them safely. It was close enough, while the other Acolytes may have handled the tactical objective, he worked towards their strategic objective.

Vorr and the troopers made quick advances through the unprepared forces before them, overwhelming them with speeders and ordinance that the defenders simply did not possess. Orders were barked from the officers which were drowned out by the screams of fighters and bombers flying overhead that dropped proton bomblets on positions that were called in by reconnaissance soldiers that took up high positions on rooftops.

It was a completely unmitigated massacre.

"Ahhhhhh!" Cried a trooper who was struck by a blaster bolt in his arm, and Vorr looked ahead.

They were a mere block away and Vorr could see the palace complex. A number of landspeeders with blaster cannons defended them and makeshift bunkers, made from supply crates and decorative stone, held the outer gates and fences. They were many and looked as though there were palace guards among them. The Sith forces coming to bear were still organizing, and were enough to begin battling for the gate, but it would be the hardest piece of the shootout yet.

"Take them!" Vorr ordered, Lightsaber in hand, pointing it to the enemy. He cut down a bolt that flew to him, and the Sith troopers spread out directing fire at the defenders.

@Darasuum @Sabrina @Mr. Teatime

 

[Darth Valravus]

___________

Sitting in the passenger compartment of the tank she could feel the power of the vehicle around her. Zan listened to the professional commands of the tank crew and watched the area around her as they moved forward. It was somewhat slowed compared to other vehicles but they were in the lead still. The Lothal locals were going to have increased resistance closer to the palace but it would only be the small weaponry of the local law enforcement most likely. Not a great of a military presence it would seem. Mediocre planetary defense forces were no match against the juggernaut of the Imperial war machine.

As they got closer she witnessed shots turning police air speeders turned to wreckage and grew somewhat tired of sitting in the back Zan was eager to get out of the awesome machine and get her hands a little dirty. "I want a perimeter around the palace when we arrive." While she was confident in her abilities, reinforcements to the palace would not be good for the acolyte's agenda. Looking back at the following ground troops she saw Taalong and a few other Sith and associated troops moving along. They were certainly a sight and it made sense that the civilians and civil servants were so worried about their presence.

Palace guards ahead filed out of the splendid building to meet the Imperial invasion. They tossed hand grenades and fired simple small arms and while they were moderatly jarring they did not damage to the Humbler assualt tanks. The gunners of the heavy repeaters took down swaths of guards, cutting down their numbers. Zan exited the back of the tank as the area head was secured. She walked around the tank. She ended up drawing her two cross bladed magenta colored lightsaber blades and broke into a run.

quickly the woman climbed the stairs, batting aside bolts just so they would not hit her, not trying to redirect them toward her enemies. Small groups of troops in the tanks filed out and joined her from behind and moved in on the palace taking some of the heat off of Zan as she bounded up the steps towards the line of palace guards. She leaped over a speeder bike, bring both feet up to do a running plank like kick and having her two sabers out to either side clothes-lining another two palace guards. She could see the troops further away coming in to reinforce her vanguard. Good, she was going to need someone out here while she stormed in. As Zanwaited she continued carved into the enemy forces with pleasure. By the time the other forces arrived the outside of the palace walls would become secured.

@Morse @Sabrina @Mr. Teatime​

 

[Sarla Malvern]

The troops had taken the local security center, without much push back. She was moving on to meet @Zan and Drali and her battle tank. They were about to take the castle, this was an opportunity, to now move up and help out properly. As by the time that tank was done, most of the fighting would be over. She moved down the streets, toward it, as fast as she could with her infantry. She saw no fighting as they moved forward, that is what she wanted. The buildings were being checked as they moved forward, for stary combatants as they head to the palace, the last thing they wanted was the enemy regrouping.

As she finally got there, she saw the chaos in front of her, had all ready unfolded. The @Zan and Drali had taken the palace, the fighting was over. She headed into the palace, in hopes to help make sure the crown, capitulated. She stepped over the bodies left in the wake of her fellow Sith onslaught, she definitely was blood thirsty one. She had crushed people with a tank and slaughter them with her lightsaber. She felt nothing for the dead, though she did think her fellow sith, was living a half life. As the way she fought, meant she would be dead before long, she was far too reckless with her own life. She always figured that reckless jobs were for the underlings, and not for likes of the Sith.

@Darasuum @Morse

 

[Taalong Vorr]

The battle that raged was fierce and one sided. It was a horrible sight for the Lothal to view as their prized palace guards were shown to be the ceremonial force that they were, and hardly functional in the face of the overwhelming onslaught of troopers, tanks, and tactical versatility that were brought to bear by the mighty Sith Empire. They were crushed as if they were a glass that tumbled off a table and was shattered upon the ground. The troops that landed on the city continued, mighty troops ships still landing further and further into the outskirts of the city, which were being crushed under the weight of the Imperial war machine. Mighty blasts and echoing cannon fire was still heard throughout, but the keen ear would know it to be the fire of the Imperials, ending the dying breaths of any Lothal resistance.

Conversely, the view of the Sith was that of confident optimism. The battle had gone entirely as Taalong Vorr suggested it would, without any real surprises. They were in fact not prepared for a crippling assault directly at their center. Though the invasion force would not be enough to contain the entire planet, it was more then enough for their city. And with the Capital City collapsed and captured, they would surely hold the rest of the world. Any resistance would be futile and met with the harshest penalty to both themselves and others.

That was being demonstrated at the gates of the palace that very moment. The resisters were brought down two at a time, hardly able to hold the walls.

Taalong Vorr had made it to the gates and cut through the troops on the very edge, his blade rending through a poor palace guard, his eyes yielding an unseen horror beneath a full face helmet. The soldier fell with a scream, but Vorr did not watch the body. He heard its thump upon the ground, and looked to the next target. His troopers continued their onslaught, moving tactically forward, and breaking through this last stand.

But there was one that stole the show. The Sith Acolyte Zan danced through the enemies defenses with an expedient wrath that would be a horrifying sight. She ripped and zipped around their defenses, pushing grenades back the force, and deflecting blaster bolts as she'd close the gap on her enemies. She was likely killing enemy soldiers at a two to one ratio of even Taalong Vorr.

In spite of this, she took a great deal of risk in what she did. She would be otherwise exposed were it not for the onslaught of troopers behind her. Still this may have been part of her plan, and Taalong Vorr could respect a mutually beneficial assault.

"FORWARD!" He ordered to the troopers, who immediately responded with a great charge and covering fire.

The attack was overwhelming. The assisted fury of Zan had divided their attention, leaving them easily exposed to the charge of the Sith Troopers were Taalong Vorr, who ended their meagre defenses, as the few remnants retreated to the palace within. Together, their assaults had subdued the outer defenses.

A brief pause in the battle was had. Though the palace guards could fire from the windows, and some did, most set up further defenses within.

"The rabble know we are here to capture their crown." Taalong Vorr announced to the other Sith Acolytes, his gruff and deep tone stern and harsh with the accent of a Kaleesh "They will aim yet to cover their escape." But Vorr and the others could sense the fear and anxiety of those within. "But they are not yet prepared to flee. We take them now!"

Vorr held up his lightsaber, the Crimson Blade holding a reflective aura of the failing light around him.

"For the Empire!" Vorr roared, knowing that they make break apart in a dozen directions and meet up in the throne room, the most defensible position of the entire palace.

With a cheer the troopers broke through the windows and doors, following the Sith Acolyte leaders, and washed through the palace until they reached the doors of the throne room together.

@Sabrina @Darasuum

 

[Darth Valravus]

____________

The deucalian side of her had urged her to push herself to her limits. Cleave deep into the enemy and make them fear for their lives at how savage her attack was. That was the way of a deucalian raider and it meshed well with some of the teachings of the sith. There was a word for it in deucalian and a special place in the afterlife for those that died gloriously in battle. Still she would not be felled today by an enemy blaster or blade.

Before Zan knew it, the red haze lifted from her vision. Blood, smoke and grime covered her armor and face. Her war paint was mixed with the dirt gained in close combat. After the fighting was done and the roar of combat turned to a distant staccato she knew the day had been one. They had taken the palace now.

She entered and only a handful of guards inside remained. They fired a few shots at her as she moved in. Behind them the nobility of the planet backed away. But one took a step forward "Hold your fire!" the guards stopped firing on Zan who still held her lightsabers at the read to deflect more bolts if they continued. "I will not have any more die for my sake." he said. "We submit." he said and reached up to take the crown from his head.

From Zan's point of view she wondered if he was doing it just to survive. But it seemed that enough of the locals had been killed that a genuine concern for his people was presented. For that the acolyte could understand. She waited until the weapons were fully lowered and then walked towards the royal leader. Hooking one of her lightsabers back onto her person she took the crown from him and backed away. When the others arrived she held it up to show that their mission had been a success. Imperial troops had fallen but it had been for a good cause. Zan was sure that the dead locals felt differently but it was now the Empire who would be writing the history of what had occurred here.

❅ END THREAD ❅​

@Morse @Sabrina​