The Battle For Coruscant - To The Rooftops

[Sreeya]

Historical Information: Located at the iconic coordinates (0,0,0), Coruscant is the political, social, economic, and militant capital of the Republic and the galaxy at large. Home to over 1,000,000,000,000 permanent residents and countless additional travelers from every corner of the known universe, it is very commonly said “he who owns Coruscant owns the galaxy”. For too long the Republic has ruled the galaxy- it is time for the Empire to take what is theirs.

Situation: Realizing the war he had committed his Empire to could drag on for decades (and nowhere near ready to wait so long for his prize), Emperor Tusa Ujalli Hai captured Yag’Dhul late in the First Hutt War. While tactically important in the scheme of hyperspace routes, the devious Hutt had another plan- using the natural mathematic inclination of the Givin, he would develop an extragalactic hyperspace route out of the galactic disk near Yag’Dhul and emerge back into the galactic disk in the deep core. From there, his armies would navigate in a surprise raid on the capital. The effort took five years and billions of credits, resulting in a short-lived route that would soon be eliminated by a black hole. The Emperor had to move fast- all of his best fleets began pooling around Yag’Dhul. Soon, the Emperor could claim his throne.

To the Rooftops - Full : Full
Mission Objectives: Directly assault the Jedi Temple from the top down. All Jedi present must be killed- use of ysalamiri and vornskrs is mandatory. The Temple must be destroyed, and all Jedi artifacts in Hutt custody.
Expectations: Major Jedi resistance. Take no prisoners.
Assigned PCs: Mandalore the Conquerer (Darth Malon), Field Marshal Heth (Raif), Kad Orade (Sid), Ahri Vekkar (Count Sam)
Defender PCs: Xeno, Mars, Jiang, Corvis (Chars TBA)

Note: Please allow the Hutts to enter fully before responding (even with temple defenses). Afterwards, we'll establish a posting order. This is an attempt at NO BITCHING- we'll have OOC threads for clarifications, but I don't want arguing.

 

[Malon]

Coruscant. The legendary "center of the galaxy". Seat of the ruling galactic government since the Republic's inception. A change of power was about to occur. In orbit over Coruscant, the entire Hutt Armada had launched its attack against the galactic capital in an attempt to end the years of war that had followed the First and Second Hutt Wars. The bridge of the Vindication, the Mandalorian flagship, grew silent as Mandalore finished his preparations. Soldiers saluted him as he stormed off the bridge, cape billowing gracefully behind him, and into a turbolift just outside the main bridge.

The turbolift lowered him into his ship's main hanger bay. There his men awaited him. He had picked the best of the best for this assault. The ship's hanger was lined with Basilisk War Droids, prepared to do what was necessary. Around his neck was a lizard-like creature; a ysalamiri, capable of dealing with pesky Jedi Force powers. He also had his blaster, some spare energy packs, and a Mandalorian iron sword, as well as armor. The Jedi were going to have to think before attacking him.

Mandalore climbed up into the cockpit of his Basilisk, which was specially sealed to allow the short flight in space from the Vindication to Coruscant. Before sealing it, however, he felt the need to rally the troops.

"Mandalorians! My brothers, today is the day we've waited for ever since the Hutts first contacted us. Today we descend upon our ancient homeworld of Coruscant, which was the Taung homeworld long before Mandalore, and we fight the Republic menace. Below, their politicians quake in their boots, their soldiers brace for what they must know is coming, but neither of them are our targets. No. We go after their peacemakers, their magicians. Today, we will strike the heart of the Jetii Order. Their sacred temple will fall. Our Basilisk War Droids will rain down on them, and they will see that there is no hope. Now, join me brothers in the extermination of the Jetii!"

The thunderous applause of the crew and the troopers meant nothing to him. His only glory was achieved in battle. Mandalore sealed his cockpit, gave the signal to commence the attack, and launched from the shielded hanger. It only took him a minute or so to enter the Coruscanti atmosphere. The Jedi Temple stood as a monument that dwarfed most, if not all, the building surrounding it. All around him, Mandalorians had launched their own Basilisks and had followed him to battle.

Once the Jedi Temple was in effective firing range, he sent his orders to the troops via their comms;

"Our orders are clear, men. Aim your Basilisks for the roof and tear the temple down from top to bottom. Any Jedi resistance is to be killed. No prisoners. You may fire when ready!" he commanded before activating his droid's targeting computer.

He steered the droid towards the Tranquility Spire of the temple, and then pulling the trigger. The droids four laser cannons and twelve pulse wave cannons ignited and the blasts from their weapons rained down, aiming for the spire and any unlucky Jedi inside of it.

 

[Mars]

Republic. Marine. Corps.

Three words that, aside from the first one, don't really mean much when seperated. Especially not when Coruscant was in the midst of being bent over by the Hutts. Blame the raw ineffectiveness of the last few Chancellors or the laughable Republic military but the fact of the matter was that the jewel of the Republic was under siege by one of the strongest military forces in galactic history to this point.

However, strong does not neccesarily mean intelligent.

Joachim Delenzik, son of the Commandant himself, was placed in charge of defense of the Jedi Temple and the Marines present there. The temple already boasted very formidable anti-air defenses from when Colm Lorain was Grandmaster but those were pee-shooters in comparison to what the Corps brought after the partnership was all set up. From various 120mm surface-to-air missile battery's to 30mm gatling guns firing armor-defeating rounds at a rate of four thousand rounds a minute, the temple was one of the safest places to be during an aerial attack.

Apparently this little gem of intel didn't reach the Mandalore.

Temple defenses were online and ready to roll the second Hutt forces showed up in local space. Before long a small legion of Basilisk War Droids had dropped into the atmosphere bound for the Jedi temple. A single target stood out from the rest. He lead the charge and wore gold armor with a yslamiri wrapped around his neck. Feeling extra-unstoppable that day, the Mandalore rode right on up to the center spire of the temple and opened fire, leaving him a sitting duck for the plethora of defenses. With perfect syncronization, a pair of the 30mm gattling guns opened up aiming towards the belly of his Basilisk while a trio of missles launched towards the sides of the war droid. The explosives and massive armor penetrating rounds would tear the poor bastard to shreds at the cost of damage to the center spire. The rest of those floating in the air would be face by a similar barrage, as the Corps-trained artillery experts sent explosive death towards the enemy of the Republic whilst their CO directed traffic. The swarm of basilisks would be reduced to ash within a few moments of the sustained barrage if they didn't move.

"Nighty night, Mando scum."

 

[Jiang Winters]

The Republic Marine Corps were not the only defenses sent to the Temple. Fully recognizing the importance of the Jedi Order, the Crytek Naval Self Defense Force was swift to dispatch a contingent of troops to aide in the temple's defense the moment the hostile fleet was detected in orbit. With considerable forces already stationed groundside as a part of a massive force relocation operation that had been in progress, it had been only too easy to scramble fighters and dropships to engage the enemy.

Spearheaded by four AD-38 'Firewalker' Heavy Dropships carrying massive All Terrain Artillery Platforms, a dozen AD-19 'Valiant' Gunships, and four 10-fighter wings of SSF 38/A5 'Angelwing' heavy fighters, backed up by 5 YF902/S 'Dante' Stealth Fighters, the CARD defense force's leading wave boasted enough firepower to obliterate an army. Worst of all - for the Mandos! - a destroyer was being scrambled; it'd be out of drydock and over the temple within twelve minutes, at which point the roar of its flak guns would undoubtedly sweep the skies of the Mandalorian scum, while its contingent of ground troops - most of whom would be experienced and heavily armed Legionnaires - would quickly secure the area.

The fighters were lead by none other than Samanya Winters, whom Sonam had convinced to help train his pilots. When she heard of the attack on the temple, she'd been fast to don her combat gear, commander a SSF38, and take to the skies along with the rest of the CARD strike force.

As they drew close to the temple, the lead AD38, rigged as a command and control craft, flicked on its LADAR and combat sensor package. The distinctive profiles of the Basilisks lit up like christmas trees. The gunship's commander smirked and drummed his fingers along the edge of the holographic battlefield display tank sitting in the center of his ship's bridge. The Mandalorians were pouring in from the heavens, straight down into the guns of the Temple. What fools - hadn't anyone ever taught them that all anti-aircraft guns could easily fire straight up into the air?

He keyed his helmet's headset. "This is Sierra Actual. Broadsword, Dagger, Eagle, Hawkeye, you are cleared hot on all Mando targets. Lance, hang back and provide cover for all Sierra units. Valiant, take the fight right to the enemy. You are cleared to use Kali missiles on all targets."

The forces under the commander's control chimed in response, then swung in to attack the Mandalorians. Broadsword and Dagger, the Angelwing groups, moved in fast from the South and West sides of the Temple. Hawkeye and Eagle took the south, with Broadsword and Dagger flights moving in from the West. Valiant, composed of a dozen heavy gunships, came charging straight in between the two flanks.

"This is Sierra Actual. All offensive units, you are ordered to fire a Level 1 Missile Salvo into the Basilisk attack force. Repeat; level 1 missile salvo. Wipe the skies!"

The Angelwings carried on them 24 general-purpose 'Archer' missiles, each of which boasted enough firepower to bust open a tank. They were capable of locking on to and simultaneously engaging up to 20 targets. The Valiants, in addition to their heavy anti-shipping missiles, carried 18 'Baby Kali' missiles, each of which carried half a ton of high explosive ordinance and shrapnel. They could lock on to and engage 10 targets simultaneously. A Level 1 Missile Salvo ordered the forces to target and engage 10 Targets with 1 missile apiece. The combined barrage of 40 Angelwings and 12 Valiants meant that a Level 1 Salvo sent 520 missiles rippling into the Mandalorian force in a single, nigh-simultaneous wall of explosive death. Some Basilisks would find multiple missiles coming straight at them, others would find only one or two missiles inbound; almost all would ultimately feel the effects of several hundred tons of ordinance flying straight into them.

As the fighters began painting their targets, a process that would take several seconds, the Firewalkers and their Dante escorts raced ahead to the Temple. Upon arrival, the Firewalkers would unload 4 All Terrain Artillery Platforms, each of which boasted its own fortress shield generator and a powerful rapid-fire turbolaser mounted in its turret, along with its own missile launcher and point-defense laser cannons. They would provide excellent supplemental defense for the temple, while the Firewalkers would stay on station, churning out missile and gauss cannon fire to wipe out the Mandalorian invaders.

 

[Raif]

The time had come. As his pulse beat in his ears like a tribal war-drum, Heth could feel the blood-lust rising within him. Soon, he would be able to release the demon within himself like he hadn't been free to do in years.

And his Dark Passenger was aware of it. Rather then try to claw it's way to the forefront of his consciousness, his psychotic half seemed to be biding its time. It knew just as well as Heth did that it would soon be cut loose to wreak havoc on any enemy foolish enough to get in the Mandalorian Field Marshal's way.

That thought brought a slight purr of amazement from the large Tororian. Field Marshal? Who could have believed the big feline, who for so long had been ridiculed and ostracized by most Taung, had risen so highly within the Mandalorian ranks. And now here he was, helping to lead an assault on the temple of the Jetii. A deep, feral growl tore loose from Heth's throat as the anticipation of meeting such powerful enemies overwhelmed him. The big cat knew full well he may die in battle on this day; all the Mandalorian troops with him knew this. But, like them, he only had one caveat if he were to fall; die with the blood of his enemies pooled around him waist-deep.

His mental reverie was interrupted as his assault shuttle vibrated violently. It, and several others like it - all loaded up to the gills with battle-hardened Mandalorian commandos - were plunging straight down through Coruscant's atmosphere. All around the galaxy seemed to be ripping open; battles raged, heroes were made and destroyed, all as the two most powerful forces in the galaxy met each other in the most epic battle seen in ages. All of that was of no concern to the Field Marshal. His target was clear, and he was hurtling ever closer towards it by the second.

Glancing down, Heth once again checked that his armor was secure and in its proper place, then checked his weaponry. His beskad was strapped securely to the small of his back, after having been sharpened to a razor's edge; a heavy repeating slugthrower hung over his arm by it's strap, and several magazines of ammo were mag-secured to his armor in easy-to-reach places; and the newest addition to his armament, special for this task, lay within his left beskar gauntlet: a powerful taser, capable of emitting an overwhelming electric shock via two sharp metal prongs, with six back-up cartridges. The belief was that if he were to encounter any jedi, a strong electric shock could be enough to render them incapable of calling upon their magic. The men around him were loaded up with all manner of different types of weapons, but one thing that did catch Heth's eye among them was the prevalence of back-mounted flamethrowers. Mandalorian belief in overwhelming firepower was never taken more seriously than when facing a worthy opponent, and Jedi truly qualified in that regard. There were also a couple troops with ysalamiri nutrient-packs, though the small creatures were not common enough to be brought into battle in any large number.

A shout from the pilot drew Heth's attention. By this point, the small squadron of assault shuttles were weaving maniacally through the skyscrapers of Coruscant, hoping that by flying relatively low to the ground they were avoid early warning radar detection. That, coupled with the Mandalore's brave full-frontal aerial assault on the temple should allow the troops to land and secure a 'beach head' on one of the spires. Heth laid a heavy paw on the pilot's shoulder, and the young Taung stared bravely up at his commander. Though Heth and the other troopers ran a high risk of death this day, there was a slim chance they could survive the day. This pilot, and the others flying nearby, were on a veritable suicide mission. They knew it, and accepted it, and for that Heth was honored to fight in their presence.

Glancing back into the packed troop bay, Heth raised his voice as the shuttle hurtled from the artificial canyons they had been flying through and rocketed across the open air surrounding the temple. At this point they were only a dozen meters or so above the 'ground.'

[Mandalorians! Hear me! Today we fight in the greatest battle this galaxy has ever seen. Through death or victory, our enemies will forever remember our names, and fear our actions! Glory to Mandalore!!

As the echoing shouts of "Glory to Mandalore" rolled over him, the shuttle lurched under their feet. It pulled its nose towards the sky as it approached the temple building, and blasted upwards towards the tip of the nearest spire. Already they were taking small-arms fire from the entrenched Marines, and Heth knew it would only get worse as they approached the top of the spire. He motioned to his men to be ready to leap from the open bay doors, and glanced to the cockpit just in time to see the young Taung pilot give him a cocky thumbs-up sign.

And then the world turned to hell. Their shuttle, and those around them, were hit with barrage after barrage of anti-air fire. Just as they crested the spire, the shuttle began to break apart and Heth and his men were forced to leap from the proverbial frying pan and into the fire. As he flew through the air and landed on the spire, time seemed to slow down for the Mandalorian feline. He could see dozens of his men shot out of the air, or killed before they could even attempt to leap from their doomed shuttle. He could see those shuttles, ripped to pieces, hurtling towards the ground and engulfed in flames. And he could see Mandalore's flight of Basilisk war droids. For a split second this sight inspired Heth, until he saw the storm of anti-aircraft fire and air-to-air missiles hurtling right for his leader's craft. He had just enough time to think that he would be lucky to outlive the doomed Mand'alor for more than a handful of seconds before his armored feet landed on the floor of the spire.

And just like that, Heth was gone. The Dark Passenger had assumed control, and he made his presence known with an ear-splitting roar of mixed fury and excitement. The heavy slugthrower was up and spitting out death to any RMC troopers nearby, carving out a small foothold for the few Mandalorians who were landing around their Field Marshal (mostly, though, were Mandalorian bodies). The maniacal Togorian stopped firing his weapon for just a moment in order to draw his sword, then stood with his blade in one hand and his gun in the other, screaming out a challenge to any brave enough to answer it.

Come to me and die, one by one or in droves! It matters not to me! Before the day is through I will feast on your flesh, and feel your life's blood beat its last beat in my claws! Come to me and taste death, worms!

 

[Demiurge]

War. War had come to Coruscant, meeting the Jedi and the Republic Core in their cradle, and at their heart. The Hutts had fired up their machines of war, took the battle to the Galactic center, and practically dared the Republic and Jedi to put up any resistance. In the beginning, the Mandalorian vessels began their descent, raining down like streams of fire upon the skyline, appearing as a mirage, an illusion. But some felt it, knew what was happening moments before it even actually occurred.

And Jedi Master Anastasia Celeste was one of those people -- the Jedi Knights. The uncanny imprint of darkness and death was matched only by the sounds of blasterfire and sirens of invasion throughout the City of Spires. Crashing duracrete and crumbling towers echoed in-throughout the Jedi Temple's halls and corridors. Jedi Knights moved about hastily, moving the Jedi younglings to safety.

Another explosion came from above, and a portion of the ceiling caved in, descending over a group of younglings. With a gesture of her hand, Anastasia reached out with the Force and cast her telekinetic hold over the debris. "Move quickly -- now!" As the younglings made their way toward the others, Anastasia thrust her hand toward the blown-open wall, telekinetically hurling the fallen debris outside to fall to the temple grounds below. "Get the younglings and Padawans to the lower chambers! Do not leave them unprotected!" she ordered to the other Jedi Knights nearby.

Uncertainty had touched the minds of the younger, less experienced Jedi, and yet none could blame them. Such an unprovoked attack was designed to catch an enemy off balance, but uncertainty was a gripping force, and halfheartedness was a luxury no Jedi could afford. Indeed, nor could the Republic, if it would survive this hour, let alone this day. The time to fight was now, lest they be overtaken.

By the time Anastasia had reached the temple's interior battlefront, several Jedi Knights had fallen in death. Mandalorians were at the forefront, leaving little mystery to the identity of the assailants. As the Mandalorian soldiers paced themselves down the halls, Anastasia then reached out with the Force, and telekinetically crumbled the integrity of the hallway's support foundation. The corridor floor shattered, resulting in a dozen or so Mandalorians falling to their deaths in the long drop to the courtyards below.

However, it was still curious to Anastasia as to how so few Mandalorians could kill several Jedi Knights. Upon seeing another group of Jedi Knights battling the Mandalorians, Anastasia received her answer. Ysalamiri; Force sensitive creatures that are able to cancel out Force abilities. She had heard of them before, studied them, but had never before seen one. As far as she knew, it was impossible to separate them from their homeworld. But apparently, the Hutts had discovered a way.

While several Jedi found themselves powerless, Anastasia found cover, and reached out with the Force, in opposition to the ysalamiri. The ignorant would claim that the creatures could negate the Force, create an energy field of "anti-Force", they would say. But all life is connected to the Force, including that of the ysalamiri. What they were doing was nothing beyond manipulation of the Force. And if it was a Force power, it could be suppressed.

Anastasia closed her eyes, and saw through the Force, and used the Force to breach and suppress the powers of the ysalamiri. Keeping her concentration, Anastasia slowly moved her way back toward the battlefield, and ignited her double-bladed lightsaber. Unsuspecting, the Mandalorians no doubt believed her to be powerless. At that, Anastasia hurled her double-bladed lightsaber at two Mandalorian invaders, decapitating them and killing their ysalamiri in the process. Anastasia exhaled as her focus on suppressing the ysalamiri's Force barrier ended.

"Jedi, do not give way to fear! These creatures use the Force as we do! Work together and suppress their powers to defeat them -- and their masters!" Most Jedi were unable to use a power of the Force simultaneously with another, aside from the Masters, and Jedi worked best in unity regardless. Together, the Mandalorians would be defeated this day. As long as she drew breath, Anastasia would settle for nothing less.