Open Flashpoint Malastare Salvaging the Situation

[Darth Tempest]

“Incoming!”

The shouts of Imperial soldiers filled the camp, followed by the roar of an artillery shell detonating nearby. The ground shook and debris was blown high into the high, creating a cloud of smoke visible from meters away. It was another plume on the horizon, no different from dozens of gouts of smoke, visible from the tent where Vahliri had established herself.

Malastare had been a disaster. With the same deft efficiency that the Consortium had struck other planets, the homeworld of the Dugs had come under attack - routing Imperial defenses and nearby fleets, while leaving no occupation force over the planet. While the ISC President purchased stake in dozens of fuel companies across the surface, the populace of the planet struggled to adapt to the vacuum left by the lack of Imperial leadership.

While the previous, Imperial-backed Doge had attempted to rally support, he wasn’t without opposition. ‘Elections’ were held to appoint a new government, and the disagreement on who was legitimate had devolved into open civil conflict. Vahliri had arrived on the planet only a few hours prior, rallying what few Imperial soldiers remained and the local milita under Doge Nathar Xurgi.

While Vahliri didn’t know the Acolyte accompanying her well - only from the mission to Ankus - she welcomed the company of the young Sith.

“I won’t pretend that the situation here is good,” Vahliri said after a long moment of silence, glancing over to the Acolyte. “We’re outnumbered and outgunned, and the Empire doesn’t have the resources to crush the opposition.” She drummed her fingers against the table. “We can’t retake the planet in the present climate.”

She rounded the table, amber eyes fixed down onto a strategic map. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t strike out against the rebels - and win resources for the war effort.” She gestured to a few facilities across the map. “Refineries that have been seized by the Pro-Independence Government, and are being operated by third-party companies. These will be our targets. If we can push the opposition out of the facilities, I believe we can strike a deal with Doge Xurgi to provide some shipments off-world.” She glanced up to Cyu.

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyutadakyr was a take only as many prisoners as you have time to torture kinda gal, but despite having grown up in a really rough part of the Korriban tribes, she'd never actually been in a real combat environment like this. The thunderous shockwaves flooded the air as guns erupted in unison, the seismic shaking in the ground as shells indiscriminately found purchase between men, machines, and mayhem. It didn't take a master tactician to see the calamity that had fallen the Empire, but in light of all this, there was at least hope that some measure of losses could be stemmed.

It was with this thought that Cyu found her way into Master Kahtal's service for the moment, offering what she could to support the war effort. There was clearly no real safe place on the planet, but there was at least a little comfort provided by having such a high-ranking member of the order lead the operation, not in the least for the Acolyte but the men as well. The pureblood was clearly a little shaken by the scene she found herself in, but fought hard to maintain her composure.

After entering the command tent and taking a position before Vahlri, standing with her hands clasped behind her back to listen. It was hard to imagine that the empire had gone from being such a dominating force in the galaxy, now reduced to...whatever this was. At the very least if they succeeded here, the war effort would have something more of a fighting chance, or at the very least a stronger position at the table.

"They'll know how important these targets are to us, no doubt they will be preparing some kind of failsafe in the event of their untimely demise." Cyu glanced over the map, trying to follow along with the master. "So you're thinking some kind of surgical strike? I suppose we only have to take it and hold out until reinforcements arrive."

The latter was perhaps more of a wishful thought, but in any case what else could they do? Then another thought crossed her mind. "Well, do we have the access to kill this other 'government'? Perhaps in the chaos, it would buy us the breathing room to fulfill our objective."

Maybe this mission would be fun after all.

@Altaris

 

[Darth Tempest]

Vahliri didn’t miss the faint pangs of anxiety that radiated off of the Pureblood - manifesting in the Force, easily palpable for a Sith Master to feel. It didn’t seem so long ago that the half-Annfyn was in a similar situation on Denon - fighting down in the trenches with Sol. It was a lifetime ago, and testament to just how far she’d come since then.

She pondered everything that Cyu had to offer, weighing it against the situation that the half-Annfyn already understood on the ground. They were working against numbers and time, but that didn’t mean the Sith were without options.

“For now, neither side will dare striking the facility directly - out of fear of detonating the fuel and causing a chain reaction across the countryside.” She tilted her head a bit to the side. “But we need to be prepared for anything, in the event that they lose control of the facilities.” Vahliri swiped her hand across the map, gesturing to a series of pipelines that ran beneath the surface and towards the facility. “These pipelines have been used to transport fuel between refineries. According to what Intelligence we have, this quadrant of the pipeline had been unused in months due to the adjacent facility being abandoned.”

“They might offer us a route inside the facility, with what forces we have. If we are lucky, it will give us an opportunity to strike out against the Insurgency from inside and root them out.”

She pondered the last thing that Cyu said. “Possible.” The half-Annfyn waved away the map. “They are deeply entrenched within their bases, and will be difficult to draw into the open. Seizing control of the facility might serve that purpose.”

@Xorism

 

[Nevizkas]

Cyutadakyr would slightly lean into the comfort that the strong Sith Master was radiating, the calming effect of a cold calculation, a simple yet effective plan and of course the powerful natural survival instinct for the empire. The prospect of hitting the facility while being mindful of the repercussions of failure weighed heavily upon the young pureblood, but so too did the potential reward.

Cyu nodded as Vahliri pointed out an entry point for them to take, a competent foe like the ISC would likely have preparations in place to defend against such attacks but she suspected a rebel government in the midst of civil war, would not.

"It would be risky to rely on the hope that the route in is clear to achieve surprise, although I don't doubt it will be. What we need is a distraction, something to draw their attention whilst we make our way in and wreck havoc before they realize we're there."

Cyu looked over the map again, hoping to make a good impression the Sith Master. Leadership decisions were new to the pureblood, often only being responsible for her own personal safety and actions. To direct others, potentially to their deaths was an exciting and unexpected pleasure she had started to enjoy.

"How about the militia? They can prove their loyalty to the empire by attacking the enemy frontally, while we get in. If they survive then they'll be rewarded and if not....well then we won't need to worry about it."

In either case, Cyu was ready to follow the Master into the hellfire of battle.

@Altaris