For Your People

[Levi Solus]

Ancestral Retreat, Shu-Torun, 2213 local time​

Ambient​

It was the first campaign Levi was leading, and, truth be told, he was nervous. He had a few reasons to feel nervous—he was just barely a member of the Alliance, leading a campaign that was pretty much his responsability completely. If this went sideways and rebel lives were lost, it would be on him. It could affect how the rest of the resistance viewed him—how well he integrated. That aside, it was the second push into Imperial territory, and being on a Sith planet made him feel a bit apprehensive; he constantly felt like someone would recognize him, even though he doubted anyone even knew his name.

Alongside another rebel—a man named Elix from the Core or something like that—he was sitting at a grand table in the Ancestral Retreat's many dining chambers. The king had organized a feast for tonight, and Levi and Elix were just two more faceless guests among hundreds others in arguably the planet's most important attraction. The Ancestral Retreat was a sort of sanctuary for the people of Shu-Torun, used for important events and considered one of the planet's wonders. It was sacred and had never been attacked before, though he supposed tonight could change that, assuming Imperials knew where to look.

The rest of the campaign was well underway, with a team hijacking a delving citadel while another turned a village of miners to the rebel cause, in hopes that it will cause a domino effect of good intent to spread through Shu-Torun. Perhaps the Imperials would storm the Ancestral Retreat and start shooting—it was certainly expected of them—but it would mean losing popular support—it was, after all, a sacred site.

As dinner was well underway, the King rose from his seat and excused himself, heading off down a hallway toward a room around the corner. Levi elbowed his companion, eyes shifting from the King and then back to their table. "He'll call us over soon," he remarked, his voice low and blending in well with the chatter of Shu-Torun's nobility.

Despite it all, he was armed and armored, just in case the Imperials saw fit to interrupt their meeting. His armor was hidden under his formal gown, as were all of his weapons, so he just looked like yet another noble.

@Ecclessey

 

[Elix Lorso]

Elix had been having a splendid time with the lady seated next to him. She was a bit older, about twenty years, but he wasn't counting and was amused by her flattery and subtle advances when the Jedi so rudely interrupted him. Truthfully, the spicehead rebel had some issues with the Jedi and their constant getting in the way of his fun. First there was that one on Sullust who had prevented him of pursuing that gorgeous Cathar fighter pilot and now this edgy looking guy made it impossible for Elix to truly enjoy this marvelous feast.

That isn't to say the older woman wouldn't have looked a bit funny once they found a secluded place in the palace and she discovered he was wearing armor underneath his fine clothes, not to mention the fact he carried an additional blaster pistol and two small grenades on his person. He didn't think she'd know the look of the three extra powerpacks he carried for the R-5.

Confident his cover as innocent feaster was intact, Elix took a sip of the brilliant champagne. "I must confess, Madame-" he said, ignoring Levi and returning his focus to the older woman, "-I do think I've never been on a feast this splendid."

@vamp

 

[Levi Solus]

If Levi knew what Elix thought of him, he clearly didn't show. The Jedi hopeful had just finished a meal he had been particularly invested in—a salad, which was perhaps the most un-Mandalorian food possible—and was looking forward to the main course. Unfortunately for him, one of the King's servants approached, scroll draped around his lower arm, his eyes scanning the crowd for the two rebels.

"His Majesty King Siris, 23rd of his name, rightful King of the people of Shu-Torun and liberator of the oil dukes will see you now," he murmured, poking his head in between the two men so that only they would hear. Levi gave Elix a knowing look and rose from the table, a bit irritated that he wasn't able to finish his meal but eager to get this over with.

The servant lead them down that same hallway and into the chamber, where the King awaited, sitting atop a comfortable-looking throne. "His Maje—"

"Yes, Kal, they get it. Please leave us," the King interjected, waving his hand like he was swatting away a fly. The servant nodded and left the chamber, locking the grand double doors behind him. Two guards remained, sitting at the King's left and right respectively, armed with generic-looking WESTAR rifles.

Levi took a moment to survey the chamber, his eyes scanning it in the few moments that it took to walk 10 meters ahead, stopping 5 meters away from the throne. There were 10 more behind it, all empty space, and 20 to Levi's right, with 20 more at his left. The ceiling was large as well, reaching up about 8 meters above the floor. Most of the chamber was empty space, the throne being the only place to properly take cover behind, as well as a few tables and chairs here and there.

"King Siris," he greeted, bowing. "Thank you for meeting with us."

@Ecclessey

 

[Arsenio Ulgo]

.

Arsenio smirked wickedly, observing from the shroud of shadows in one of the adjacent hallways that overlooked the dining hall. Salads? Who the hell eats salads? He thought to himself, unlike the Jedi who was probably in love with some pansy-esque Vegan diet, the Imperial Agent was a carnivore and preferred the true meals of men. He and his accomplice, the beautiful Sith Crusader Sarla Malvern were already gathered in the Retreat's dining hall. However, Arsenio has kept his eye locked on the King as he retreated into the back hallway, and knew immediately the devious scheme likely undergoing.

Imperial Intelligence had identified Siris as a potential snake, the greedy monarch had been rather vocal about his displeasure regarding the Imperial tariffs and fee schedules. It came as no surprise that the Empire had already predicted his tendency to flirt with betrayal, a grave mistake that would cost him dearly as well as the alliance operatives who had seemingly entered into the mix. As the servant spoke to the two Rebels, the words could not be heard however his actions were loud and clear. As the servant turned his back and moved towards the Hallway, albeit with both the Jedi and the Rebel some paces behind him, this is when Arsenio sprung to action. Grabbed in his imperial armor, twin pugio blasters on his hips along with his assortments of grenades, he wielded his Gladius blaster rifle for now.

Suddenly standing out of the shadows, his concealment was well guarded until this very moment as he fired two bolts with his Gladius blaster rifle towards the Servant's back. As the man was unaware of any potential assassination and considering the two Rebels were not in anticipation neither, he assumed his attack would land truly. Tranquility and peace of the dining room was sharply broken, as screams ushered out and several patrons began to frantically run for the doors. Arsenio laughed maniacally, now at a position of approximately 30 meters South of both Levi Solus and Elix Lorso. Several dining tables scattered between them, the dimensions of the dining hall nearly 70 meters by 70 meters, allowing plenty of opportunity for evasive movement as well as utilization of the tables for cover. If there was to be a stand off, this was the place for it.

Arsenio chuckled, his Gladius blaster rifle now seemingly drifting towards the direction of his adversaries as he moved in a northwestern direction. Senses on alert and eyes fixated on the two men, a devilish grin would come to his lips, hidden underneath the visage of his helmet. The Agent appeared as a gargoyle, a tool of death and demise, his words echoed from behind the voice scrambled function of his armor. Deep and brass, they carried with them a wave of Imperial hostility as the agent made his threat.

"Tell King Siris that he is late on his taxes, and the Empire is here to collect..."

@Sabrina @Ecclessey @vamp

 

[Sarla Malvern]

Sarla smiled as @Arsenio Ulgo spoke, about taxes. She then stepped out into the open, she was wearing her new personal armour. As she did she saw the traitor @Levi Solus he use to be a member of the Sith Order, but no more he had left them, to join Jedi of all things. She then addressed him, Crusader Solous your mission is complete, and your new baby and wife are waiting for you on Korriban, congratulations. She was lying through her teeth, but she did in such a brazen way and no hint in her voice that she was. She only knew of him, as he looked Echani, and she has a thing for Echanis, then again what right-thinking girl did not. She then continued, as she lit up her one half of her lightsaber staff. I would not be surprised if you make it is and become a Sith Lord, after the information you have given us, and an easy kill. She looked at the rebel @Elix Lorso as she said that, this was an attempt to sow the seeds of distrust between them, even if he survived this day. The might always be a bit of doubt between them. She was roughly about twenty meters from him. Also twenty meters from Solous, but they were both in front of her. As she spoke the people who were none combatants, began leaving the room, in somewhat of a hurry. She took her stance and readied herself, to deflect any shots fired at her back. She also had about 30 meters between her and agent @Arsenio Ulgo, so they could not be pinned together.

@Ecclessey @vamp @Faded Truth

 

[Levi Solus]

Levi nodded to the servant, rising from the table and following him a few steps behind, his eyes scanning the party. Even though the Ancestral Retreat was a sacred place, he still couldn't help but feel on edge—Imperials always weaseled into every little crevice, not giving much thought to local customs. It was why he wasn't surprised when a man stepped out of the shadows, rifle in hand, and fired at the servant as he was just about to enter the corridor. Levi swung into action, charging a few meters to cover the distance left and taking cover around the corner, in the corridor the King had gone down earlier, about 40 meters away from the man (@Arsenio Ulgo)—lightsaber in hand.

A woman—an Acolyte, by the looks of it—spoke up shortly after her companion, and it earned a confused look from Levi, which she would sadly not be able to see as he was around the corner. "Solus, not Solous!" he called from around the corner. "Also, I left the Sith when I was an Acolyte, so I don't know what the fekk you're on about, lady."

Most of the ore dukes and other guests had cleared out, though a few brave ones remained, sticking to the edges of the room to watch the fight but not draw any attention. "You can't do this!" one of them yelled from behind the non-FS Imperial, desperation clear on the woman's voice. "This is a sacred place! You can't do this!" The Imperials didn't realize that they were alienating the population of an entire planet with their disregard toward Shu-torun's customs.

Levi gathered the Force to himself from the moment he reached the corner, building up for an attack—or defense, depending on what happened next.

@Sabrina @Faded Truth @Ecclessey

 

[Elix Lorso]

The older woman had put her hand on Elix' leg and was massaging it both slowly and suggestively, which all in all greatly improved Elix mood for a moment until -ofcourse- it was ruined by the arrival of the King's servant. She immediately returned both her hands to her cutlery, afraid the servant might report her indiscretion to the King, which combined with the "knowing look" from Levi caused Elix to pout.

Rising from his seat about the same time as the Jedi did, he immediately noticed something was awfully wrong when the unmistaken sight of an Imperial soldier appeared fully armed and fired two shots with his rifle. Elix didn't wait to see where the bolts were aimed at and ducked behind the table and from line of sight of both Imperials. He then began to move along with the dispersing crowd as he took his R-5 blaster pistol in his right hand and a grenade in his left.

Luckily, both Imperials began shouting across the giant dining hall and betrayed their relative positions to him. Taking a halt when he was sure the Imperials wouldn't know where he'd be, Elix put in his earpiece and whispered to establish comms with the Jedi: "So much for getting lucky, eh?" He joked, but his mind and body were on edge, alert and ready to fight for his very life.

He was about ten meters away from the Jedi, thirty from the male Imperial and another thirty from the female Imperial.

@Sabrina @Faded Truth @vamp

 

[Sarla Malvern]

Sarla smiled as @Levi Solus replied, she then saw @Elix Lorso move. He was backing away from her, which was quite rude. As she listened to Echani, correct what she said. That actually made her smile, he had a sense of humor, which is unlike a Jedi, maybe he could come back to the fold. Though that would require his surrender, which she was unsure he would do, well Echani pride and all that. As he spoke, she kept her thoughts on where @Elix Lorso was. She could not see him, but she could sense where he was rough position was. She then used the force to push the tables, a little till she knew which one he was behind. Then slammed that table hard with the force. She was planning to crush him against the wall, he would not die form the attack, but he certainly be out of the fight, if it was successful. So if @Levi Solus tried to alter its course he would have a hard time. She also maintained her stance and some concentration to defend against incoming shots. As traveled towards him, she said to @Levi Solus Well Misty your beautiful wife, and your daughter Esmy, are going to be very upset with you. She had made names up in her head as they spoke, she was enjoying it, and might try this to complete stranger one day. Just to see how they react, just for fun of it.

@Ecclessey @Faded Truth @vamp

 

[Arsenio Ulgo]

.

Arsenio chuckled as he watched his shots land true, the servant shrieking forward as the blaster bolts seared through the unprotected flesh and causing the man to tumble down in a bloody heap. Simultaneously, his eyes caught notice of both Levi Solus as well as Elix Lorso in movement; the agent himself planting with his left foot and suddenly strafing towards his own right. Grabbed in light armor, he was quick and mobile, making him a difficult target to hit. Elix Lorso was smart enough to dive for cover behind the table, momentarily disrupting Arsenio's visual line of sight on him, however, the agent's primary target still remained the Jedi.

Levi Solus charged the few meters and before Arsenio could get an acquisition on him, the Jedi slithered into cover behind the hallway, exchanging some rather hilarious verbage with his crusader ally. As he moved, Arsenio kept his reticle towards the Jedi's body while his own positioning ready to defend and trigger finger prepared to interrupt any attacks should they come his direction. His free hand, flicked the pin out from the fragmentation grenade and he rolled it towards Elix's former position near the tables before the rebel removed himself from the agent's line of sight.

He hoped his attack in conjunction with Sabrina's would work to flush out their opponents; His current location permitting him to maintain a visual on the Jedi should he exit cover as well as of Elix Lorso should he choose to engage.

@vamp @Ecclessey @Sabrina

 

[Elix Lorso]

As Elix moved in cover the tables behind him started to move a little, probably in an attempt to flush him out, which prompted Elix to peek his head out towards the armed Imperial (@Faded Truth). At the same time he raised his blaster pistol and fired once at the Sith's upper torso. While the grenade that the Imperial was in the middle of throwing was nowhere close enough to Elix' position to hurt him, so it wasn't to interupt it at all, but merely to take advantage of the split focus between aiming at the corner Levi was hiding and priming a grenade with one hand to land a hit that would be extremely difficult to evade.

The Czerka representative was also keen on saving his own ass and the second after his shot, fully realizing that the Sith (@Sabrina) would be able to see him and would no doubt attack, Elix dived forwards. If the Sith got her planned attack off, the table that she slammed with the Force indeed crashed into the wall beside Elix, only missing him narrowly. The frag grenade exploded where only moments ago the older native woman had suggestively massaged Elix' leg and while neither Levi nor Elix were anywhere near its radius, the memory of the feast was forever soured.

Only when the Imperial (@Faded Truth) and the Sith (@Sabrina) reached higher ground by standing on top of the tables, would they now be able to see Elix, who had dived behind another row of tables, but due to the grenade going off at the same time as the table being smashed into the wall -tablecloth and fried chicken and all- it was almost impossible to confirm whether or not the rebel had managed to evade it.


@Sabrina @Faded Truth @vamp

 

[Levi Solus]

Drawing his pistol with his free hand, Levi poked his upper body out from behind cover just long enough to shoot at the Sith while she used the Force on the tables. It was two shots, one aimed at her upper left body while the second was aimed at her lower left torso which would break her concentration long enough to buy Elix some time.

Fully aware that the other Imperial may shoot at him while he was vulnerable, Levi would poke back into cover the moment the shots had been fired, not even sticking around to see whether the bolts had struck true. He was out of cover then back in like lightning, not giving the man enough time to shoot at him. Even if he did, he was far away enough that it would take some time for any bolts to arrive—and even if they did, he had his lightsaber to deflect them.

@Sabrina @Faded Truth @Ecclessey

 

[Sarla Malvern]

Sarla saw the table hit the wall, she was not sure if @Elix Lorso was behind it. As something did not seem right, what she was unsure what it was, but it did not seem right. Then two shots were fired at her form, @Levi Solus they were not well-aimed shots, and she quickly deflected them. As she did he was back in cover, like a sniveling coward, which is not what she expects from an Echani, he was most disappointing. She then tossed a thermal detonator towards the broken table, it would land between the broken table, and the tables that were still intact. The blast would wipe out the broken table, as well as several of the other tables. This would include the table @Elix Lorso was behind, as well as the others near him. She also began to move forward, so she was closing the gap. So by the end of her move, she would be only twenty meters away from his current position.

@Faded Truth @vamp @Ecclessey

 

[Arsenio Ulgo]

.

Arsenio was already on the move as he waged war against the Rebel scum. The grenade activated in his left hand however as he saw the Rebel peak out of cover and the trailing coattail of the blaster bolt, he continued in his movements. As such, the blaster bolt would find air and the location where his left shoulder used to be, striking the civilian that was attempting to flee behind him. He released the grenade without any particular aim as he was fired upon, seeing as the explosive went off near the elderly woman previously flirting with Elix. Her innards and flesh being torn asunder along with the crackling of wood and fried chicken.

The lightly armored Arsenio was quick and mobile, keeping his aim upon Levi but not fast enough to interfere with his shots on Sarla. Unknown whether Elix had survived the attack or not, Arsenio proceeded with caution, eyes scanning with his cone of vision towards the location of both Levi and Elix’s prior, watching as Sarla got her thermal detonator off and managed to deflect the attacks thrown her way. He too would take cover behind one of the other tables, prepare to defend as necessary.

For now, Arsenio remained on alert, maintaining the aim of his Gladius rifle in his adversaries’ direction in case either of them attempted to launch another surprise attack. It was evident that this battle would be unlike the Sith Lords of lore, a cat and mouse as the duos danced around the dining hall.

@Sabrina @vamp @Ecclessey

 

[Levi Solus]

She deflected his shots, sending them flying off toward the ceiling. Levi knew it by the sound of plasma hitting plasma, not even needing to look to make sure—but looking nonetheless, because vision was important in a battle. From his position, he was able to see the Sith, a pillar being the only thing separating them. He wasn't sure where the Imperial had gone—if he had gone anywhere—but he remained vigilant nevertheless. Levi poked his head around the corner again, spotting the man behind a table. He fired 3 bolts—one at the space above and to the Imperial's left so that it would hit if he stood, one at the Imperial's center mass through the table, which had no blasterproof capabilities, and one above the man and to his right, aimed to strike him in the lower torso if he stood and strafed right again.

Levi ducked back in just like before, not letting himself get shot at. He left the Imperial to dodge the blaster bolts—if he didn't, good. If he did, good for him. The Jedi hopeful was not looking to overstay his welcome out of cover, so he remained hidden around the corner. The only thing that could get him—assuming the Sith remained focused on Elix—would be a grenade, but he was more than prepared to throw it back if he saw one coming.

@Faded Truth

 

[Elix Lorso]

Elix hadn't been idle while the Sith deflected the Jedi's blaster fire and crawled further away from his last known location as fast as he could, thus further away from the broken table. He was in survival modus and while he hadn't looked whether or not his bolt had hit the Imperial agent, though however unlikely a clean evasion was considering the agent had been standing still, there was no indication that he'd died.

Suddenly the explosion of a thermal detonator trashed more tables behind him, but again narrowly missed him. As the Sith had been throwing the grenade almost at random towards the table she smashed earlier, the blast radius had come just short of Elix' current location. Still, with the chaos of more table parts, tablecoth and fried chicken flying around it would be even more difficult to pinpoint Elix' movements without the high ground, which neither of his opponents had taken.

By now he was fifteen meters from the Imperial and heard the blaster fire coming from Levi's position. Trying to capitalize, Elix looked underneath the tables, spotted the Imperial (@Faded Truth) and rolled the adhesive grenade in his hand with considerable speed so that it would reach and detonate at the Imperial's location while the latter was busy trying to dodge the Jedi's blaster fire. Considering his field of vision it would be almost impossible to see the grenade coming in time and it would detonate the second it reached the Imperial, making it impossible for him to kick it back or anything. Likewise, since it was rolled underneath the tables, the Sith had no way of intervening as it barely if at all entered her line of sight. If it hit it would subdue him in place long enough for either Levi or Elix to land a blow that would put him out of the fight.

Immediately after rolling the grenade, Elix moved again, crawling away in cover to make sure the Sith was unable to find him.


@Sabrina @Faded Truth @vamp

 

[Sarla Malvern]

Sarla moved forward again, and then decide to destroy the last of the tables. There was not many left, and she thought she saw the rebel move under it. So she tossed another grenade, it would land on top of the middle table, of the ones that are left. Then he would have no more tables, to hide behind, and she would be six meters from him, ready to block any shots fired. As she did she threw a second grenade at the Echani position as well, she used the force to make it go past him. She was going to force them to run or come out in the open. she had enough of them, and it was time to fight, in the open.

@Faded Truth @Ecclessey @vamp

 

[Arsenio Ulgo]

.

Arsenio kept his vision locked on the general location of his two adversaries, and thus as the Jedi peaked over behind cover and opened fire, the imperial agent was prepared in his defense. Instead of running out from the position of cover, he simply dove to his right further behind the table; the two high placed shots would miss entirely while the one aimed at the table would break through its wooden frame. Splinters and shards flying but as Arsenio had dove, the remnants of the blaster through the wooden table would be in the position where he was previously, thus allowing the agent to effectively avoid the shots.

Arsenio smacked his left arm upward of the adjacent table, flipping it over to conceal his figure from his enemies; as the adhesive grenade rolled towards him, it exploded but the epicenter was interrupted by the barrier he had just cast in front of him. He sprang to his feet immediately afterwards, sprinting in a counter-clockwise notion in the direction of Sabrina while his attention maintained itself on the two Rebels. He allowed his comrade to throw the second grenade, his movements enabling him to place into a position where the crawling form of Elix was visualized and thus he opened fire, two bolts aimed for his center mass. @Ecclessey

@vamp @Sabrina

 

[Elix Lorso]

The Sith moved fourteen meters through splintered tables, smashed food and cracked bottles of bubbles and somehow assumed Elix would've idled the entire time, then when she thought she was only six meters away from him she threw another grenade at an approximate location of where she thought Elix would be. Both worked in the rebel's favor.

She made too many assumptions and as she only knew of his location through the guess of seeing him look under a table, then had to grab and activate a grenade which detonated a slow four seconds later, Elix was well outside the 5 meter radius and was not affected physically by the detonation.

Elix hadn't seen the Imperial's immense feat of strength of flipping a long heavy table in an instant as if it was nothing, but he had come at the end of the long row of tables and that prompted him to act. Turning just after the first grenade detonated, he quickly aimed at the Sith (@Sabrina) and fired twice at center mass just as she was turning around to throw a grenade towards the Jedi (@vamp). At this point the Imperial (@Faded Truth) hadn't fired at Elix yet, but the latter did see the Imperial sprinting towards his Sith companion and knew instantly that his position brought considerable disadvantage.

After getting off his two shots, Elix immediately dashed to his left towards a pillar. Due to there being only six meters between himself and his two opponents it would not only be practically impossible for the Sith to block his attack, seeing as she was turning around to prime and throw a grenade towards the Jedi, but it also gave Elix very little time to evade the shots from the Imperial (@Faded Truth). The first bolt caught him mid dash on the left side of his chestplate and the second thankfully missed by barely an inch as the Imperial's hadn't accounted for Elix's sudden movement to his left.

Barely a second later the forty-something rebel found cover behind the pillar.

@Sabrina @Faded Truth @vamp

 

[Sarla Malvern]

As she grabbed the grenade to chuck at USER=11186]@Levi Solus[/USER]. Then @Elix Lorso moved out the way of the other grenade and shot at her. Two of the shots hit her in the stomach, she crumpled and passed out and was dying. Her life force was ebbing away, quickly.

@Faded Truth @Ecclessey @vamp

 

[Elix Lorso]

Elix had seen the Sith go down from his peripheral vision just before he got into cover behind the pillar. His chest was hurting big time and he felt his clothing starting to stick to the flesh on and around the blaster mark. He knew he couldn't afford another hit like that.. actually, he had no idea. He had never been hit before..

Somewhat panicking by the sudden realization that being involved in the rebellion could very well mean his death, Elix opened up the comm line with the Jedi; "I saw the Sith go down-" he said breathlessly as he peeked around the pillar towards the Imperial, who stood near his fallen companion, "-but I'm-" he suddenly swung his arm out of cover and aimed his pistol at the Imperial (@Faded Truth) before shooting twice at the human's center mass and quickly retreating the arm into cover. "-I'm hit as well."

He hoped that the Jedi, naturally more powerful than Elix would ever become, would be able to quickly incapacitate the Imperial. Still, he kept his ears and eyes open for any signs of an attack against his person.

@Sabrina @Faded Truth @vamp