The Battle of Kafane [Trials of Heroes]

[Dmitri]

Ikora Kal and her Korun master had been on Nimia when it fell. They had come from Naboo, investigating the disappearance of Braeden Vallen in the area. The young Jedi Knight had fallen off the grid, and the two Jedi had been concerned. Nimia was the friendliest neutral world in the area, next to Xoman Three, and they had hoped to hear word on Vallen. However, while on the planet, two Empyreal-class Star Destroyers and three Leviathans emerged in the heavens, assaulting the planet. The Sacred Band of Ziost and its magical pets rained down onto the planet. With Darth Andredd and Lady Caileach leading the charge, the planet dug its feet in and tried to stop them. However, the effort was futile. Seeing defeat arising, the Nimian militia began fleeing the battlefield. Ikora and her master were left to duel Darth Andredd and Sith operative Luca Jissard. Ikora managed to elude her opponent in the confusion of a crashing Icarus shuttle, and reached her ship. Prepping for takeoff, Ikora had front-row seats to the ensuing combat between Darth Andredd and the Korun Jedi. Her master showed great skill, appearing to have the upperhand. However, occupied with Darth Andredd, the Korun had been oblivious to Luca. Sneaking up behind her, the Sith stabbed Ikora's master in the back. Sensing the life slip from her master, she finished prepping the ship, and took shots at the two Sith. The two Sith fled into a nearby building, and the Jedi pilot soon found Sith starfighters nearing her position. Left with no choice, she ascended to the heavens and accompanied the Nimian militia in its departure from Nimia.

Ikora Kal and the Nimia militia fled to Kafane, a pooor agriculture world with planetary shields. Both parties gambled that the Republic would hail its request for aid due to its importance in feeding the local planets. When Empyreal-class Star Destroyer Froideur did arrive, the planetary shields were already erected and word had come that the Republic was on its way. To Ikora and the Nimians, it appeared that finally they had a break. However, as Ikora soon sensed, hope was just a fool's errand. The Jedi Knight had sensed a dark presence approaching the shield generator. There was no question it was a Sith.

The Sith in question was Liith Sonne. She had been hand-picked by Darth Andredd in an reconnaissance mission to Kafane days ago. The Nimian militia wasn't the only one to realize the importance Kafane held, and as such had his eyes set on Kafane for a future conquest. However, Lieutenant Skahl Krusair's patrol's interference at Dirha had muddied his plans. A War Leviathan meant to accompany the Star Destroyer to Kafane and overwhelm the planet had been dispatched to Dirha to stop the mess there. As such, the Empyreal-class Star Destroyer's bombardment was ill-equipped, capable of withstanding the siege long enough for back-up to arrive. However, Liith, seeing only one ship in the sky, knew that something had gone wrong and plans had changed. She herself would have to adapt. If the ship could not bring down the shields, Liith would. Using her skills in stealth, she approached the first of the guards and slew them with ease. The cannon fodder were cut down with little effort, hiding herself well. However, though to mortals she was invisible, her delight in doing more than recon had reveled in her thoughts, hints of darkness seeping into her aura, detected by the Jedi Ikora. Ikora was not trained in the arts of stealth, and thus the Sith knew she would have company soon.

@Danee @saam

 

[saam]

Time was all they needed, and as the shield was activated before the star destroyer appeared overhead, hope filled her with the belief that they could resist, that they could hold back the assault. Since her masters downfall Ikora had taken up the reigns and filled the shoes that needed to be filled. She had organised the militia as best she could, though she was no leader, and merely acted out of what she thought her master would have done. She had known her well enough to copy her in this, but it was superficial and Ikora didn't really feel confident leading these people.
She peered out of the command center windows and up to the Star Destroyer hovering over the planet. She had had little time to really process what had happened, but now as things settled just before the storm, her eyes went into a daze and she replayed the prior battle.

The Sith was across from her, a tall menacing foe. Explosions seemed to fill the air about them throwing up dirt and rubble already littered on the ground, and to Ikora it all signaled the turning tide of the battle; the Jedi and Nimians were being overwhelmed. Ikora had clashed blades with the Sith, feeling her strength, gauging her distance, and yet the duel was over as soon as a shuttle came spiraling out of the sky and smashed into the earth between them in a fiery blaze. Ikora took that chance to regroup, finding her ship she started it up. Through the ships front window her eyes kept drifting up from the controls and to her master who fought gallantly against another Sith. Resisting the urge to join the fray Ikora knew what her master would have said had she gone down there.
Firing up the engines she was prepared to make accent, keeping the bay door open for her master to jump on-board, but those plans would not happen. She barely saw the other Sith sneak through the smoke and dust, before she cut down her master, stabbing her in the back. Ikora reserved her emotions, but she watched intently and would remember, holding no remorse for what she'd do next time they'd meet.
As the dust cleared momentarily, she caught one last look at the Siths face, whether she imagined the enjoyment on her face or not, Ikora would come after her. Some debris hit the ship bringing Ikora back to focus, she quickly reached out and felt her master slipping, firing the ships guns at the two sith, they evade into nearby buildings. Starfighters came down bearing their own fire upon her ship, knowing it was too late to do anything else she grudgingly left to meet with the retreating militia, promising herself that should she be able to return, she would come for her masters body.

Ikora opened her eyes, calming herself, she accepted what happened, it was as ka bid but the events remained to fuel her in duty against the Sith. Then she felt the disturbance, and it neared the shield generator. A Sith had infiltrated the facility. The importance of that generator was unconditional, Kafane would fall should it be destroyed. Immediately she got onto coms and ordered all nearby militia to the shield generator, they would buy her time until she could make it there herself, though the nagging thought that she had just sent men and women to the slaughter was in her mind. She did not enjoy it but for the greater good, sacrifices had to be made. Leaving the command room she hastened her way towards the shield generator at a full sprint.

@Danee

 

[Danee]

Having been assigned to recon duty on Kafane at first, had been torture for Liith, the planet itself was practically nothing but a large farm which happened to send some of its produce to nearby planets, which gave the planet enough value for the both the Sith and the Republic to want, or that is what she assumed. When the orders came in that she was only there for Recon purposes and had to lay low until the Sith armies arrived had filled her with distaste for the mission. During her brief stay she had so far managed to pick out locations which looked like Shield generators of sorts, in her report they had been mentioned but she hadn't been told to do anything about them, so instead she decided to just keep an eye on them. As the days passed she figured that nothing was going to happen, since it was probably the definition of a backwater planet, however, the activation of the planetary shields had tipped her off that something was about to happen.

Hurrying to pack up her small camp and securing it on the speeder she used for transport she headed to the rendezvous point where she'd meet Lord Andredd and report back to him what she had discovered during her brief mission. When she arrived at the designated destination she waited, and waited, there was no sign of an invasion and as she looked up into the sky she saw a single Star Destroyer in orbit she got back on the speeder and headed to towards the Shield generators. If the reason for Lord Andredd's delay was the shields protecting the planet from the Brotherhood, she'd bring them down.

Returning to her old campsite she went through her bags and brought out her robes, having been packed away to not draw attention should anyone see her at first. Now, they would help her disappear. Covering the speeder in leaves and branches she then headed off by foot towards the facility housing the generator. With her blades in her hands she had arrived at the facility, being guarded by a poorly prepared military force she had cut her way through the guards with deadly precision, the pitch black robes giving her an reaper like appearance had only helped instill fear in the men and women guarding the station as their final moments arrived. Attaching her lightsabers to her belt she took a moment to breathe and expand her senses, giving herself a view of the surrounding area.

She counted the life signatures of a few more men or women inside the building, but there was also a beacon of light approaching the station. Liith had company. Masking herself in the force she withdrew from the room and pressed on, she had to reach the Generator as soon as possible, because if the Jedi was here, soon their armies would be too, and Lord Andredd's forces would be outnumbered.

@saam

 

[saam]

Ikora had been running for a few minutes now and neared the shield generator. She had kept her coms on, hoping for the militia she dispatched to give her some word of the Sith but everything was silent. No doubt the intruder was aware of her presence by now, using the force she tried to locate them once more, it was futile. They had masked themselves. Nevertheless Ikora was certain of their goal and cut down the final corridor to the generator rooms entrance. Finally she had a moment to catch her breath, two militia stood by the door and nod to her as she approached. She inquired, "Anything?"
"Nothing."
"Alright," reaching for her coms she said "Squad two, do you have anything?"
Quickly a male voice answered her question, "No maam, no sign of them."
Ikora considered what to do, what her master would have done, "Have guards posted to all exits. We know what the Sith is after, I'll be here for them. If they slip away make sure they do not leave."
"Copy that."
Turning to the two militia by the door, Ikora ordered them inside the generator room. After the door closed she stood and waited for the Sith, lightsaber at the ready, calming her mind and building up the force within her.

 

[Danee]

Using the Force to guide herself towards the generator room she moved silently through what seemed to be a quite empty building, save for the large concentration of lifeforms not too far from her current location. She could feel the Jedi, radiating light against the encroaching darkness that grew as she moved through the corridors. Drawing closer to the source of the light she knew that a head on confrontation could end badly. Heading back she tried to find an alternate route into the room but it seemed nigh impossible, for the first time in a long while she was starting to feel a sense of urgency as the clock ticked, she had no idea how long it'd take for the Jedi and the Republic to arrive outside Kafane's orbit and engage the lone Star Destroyer.

Placing her right hand on one of her hilts she removed it from the belt and held onto it tightly. Moving back down the way she had just walked she slowed down almost to a halt, she hadn't been able to find an alternative way into the generator room, there was no doubt that the Jedi was either inside the room itself or just outside it, the large concentration of lifeforms made it hard to distinguish which was the Jedi and which was just cannon fodder. Deciding it was time to move for the Generator she looked around, the corridor was mostly empty save for some papers lying around, nothing which could be used to her advantage if the Jedi was waiting on her outside the room.

Lowering her shroud she revealed herself to the force, allowing her to focus more clearly on finding the Jedi, sensing the proximity a whole lot closer than she had expected she came to the conclusion that her opponent was not within the generator room, and thus was without backup, for now. Moving her remaining Lightsaber hilt to behind her back she removed her robes, now that she'd be facing an actual opponent she needed the mobility, so she let the black robes fall to the ground as she walked around the corner.

Seeing an Iktotchi woman down the hall, Liith grinned and erected a force barrier to protect her from any force abilities that the Jedi might throw at her. With a long hissing noise the crimson blade appeared. There was no need for words, she was but an obstacle, blocking Liith's path to her objective.

 

[saam]

The Sith appeared down the hall and Ikora ignited her lightsaber after seeing the red blade spark to life. Stepping away from the door, she issued one final command, talking into her coms she said "The Sith has arrived at the generator room. I will take her, do not interfere." Several militia acknowledged the command and then the line went silent, finally a man's voice, earnest and rough said "Good luck." The signal blinked out.

Ikora took several more steps down the hallway towards the Sith, her demeanor was of one taking a casual stroll though she was prepared for what the Sith had in store, the force continually building up about her person. Stopping about halfway down the hall she angled her body towards her foe and waved her lightsaber coolly, "What is your name?"

 

[Danee]

Stopping as she watched the Jedi approach she turned her right foot just slightly towards the right, giving her something to either launch herself from at her opponent, or something to brace herself against if her opponent did the same. Listening to her deliberatly deny herself any backup from her allies inside the generator room, Liith was confused as to why anyone would give up an potentially vital advantage.

When she was addressed and asked what her name was, she remained quiet, there was no reason for words, obstacles were nothing but a nuisance and did not deserve to hear her voice. She calculated a way of approach and pressed on. Her right hand squeezed the lightsaber firmly as her left hand joined just beneath it.

Stepping forward she moved her right foot forward a distance that she felt comfortable in with in case she had to pull back, then repeated the process with her left then the right once again. Her bright red blade angled towards the Jedi as she advanced. The Jedi made no attempts in hiding her gathering of the force, so Liith braced herself mentally, reinforcing the Force barrier she had erected earlier.

 

[saam]

The Sith ignored her and begun to plod forward in cautious approach. Ikora was indifferent but still felt it was a gross fault of character to deny ones knowledge of whom they were fighting. Nonetheless the Sith had their reasons and for this women silence was her prerogative.

Continuing to coolly wave her lightsaber, Ikora studied the girl and noted her stance before deciding to act; the girls stance was leaning heavily on retreat should she be overwhelmed. Such caution was admirable however those clunky steps also showed a lack of confidence. In a instant Ikora lunged forward, quickly closing the gap between the pair, her lightsaber slashing across in several swift strikes aimed at her opponents torso.
While her mind was ready to anticipate any offensive her foe might throw back, she also sought to lunge after the girl should she try and pull back.

 

[Danee]

Liith watched as the Jedi spun her Lightsaber once again, showing off was all well and good, but in a situation like this, actions like that should, in Liith's opinion, be cut out completely. As the Jedi watched her Liith continued to slowly move towards the enemy. She remembered her lessons with the Blade master on Korriban and was prepared for almost anything the Jedi could throw at her, as they seemed to restrain themselves from using the Force as a weapon and instead as a crutch to fall back on, unlike the Sith. She felt a shift in the force, moments before the Jedi launched herself at her she dragged her right leg back followed by her left as the Blue blade danced towards her.

Raising her own Lightsaber she deflected the strikes, forcing the blade off of her own and to the sides as she pulled back. As she watched the Jedi prepare for another launch of attacks, she raised her own blade and pressed forward, denying the advantage of being on the offensive to the Jedi. Aiming her blow at the Jedi's right side, her crimson red blade came down at an angle, keeping herself safe from a direct counter attack aimed at her torso.

 

[saam]

The Sith blocked Ikora's barrage quite skillfully, and quickly acted to reverse the order of things and attack herself. Ikora shifted to meet the red blade bearing down in offense, before quickly releasing a small blast of force energy to try and off balance the Sith. Slashing out with two wide strikes, keeping distance between herself her foes blade, she pushed forward.

 

[Danee]

As the two blades clashed against each other there was a loud hissing noise, Liith knew that standing still in a saberlock would be pointless and could prove fatal with a single mistake. Before she had time to act she felt a sudden blast of the force against her, had it not been for the Force barrier she had erected earlier it'd caused her to stumble backwards, instead it just pushed her slightly. However before she had time to retaliate the Jedi swung her blade with two wide strikes in front of her.

Deflecting the first strike and pushing herself backwards she distanced herself from the Jedi. Liith's left hand let go of the hilt in her hand and moved behind her back momentarily before she brought it out front again. Smirking a second blade ignited and the Sith moved forward to meet the Jedi's advance. Her right blade coming in from the left below her waistline as the Sith kept the Left one close to guard herself from any counter attacks.

 

[saam]

As Ikora pushed on the offensive Liith nimbly stepped back, her hand going behind her back to produced another saber. Ikora knew that she'd now have to keep her wits about her now, but she also knew that there would be less strength in each strike by the sith, giving her an advantage in that regard.
As the Sith advanced and swung, Ikora battered away the lightsaber before quickly slashing at her guard. She did not attempt to lock sabers, especially now that Liith had more maneuverability, rather she was looking for an opening. Seeing one after her strike, Ikora kicked at the Siths leading knee, looking to force the Sith to change her stance and ultimately step backwards.

 

[Danee]

A grin appeared on Liith's face as her bringing out the other Lightsaber had seemingly put the Jedi on the defensive, as her right blade was battered away by the Blue counter part she angled her left blade to intercept the incoming Jedi blade, blades briefly clashing together as she guided the Jedi blade down towards the ground rather than the guard of the blade. When the Jedi then raised her foot to kick towards Liith's legs she slid her Right forward and her left knee in besides it, putting her at an angle towards the Jedi.

With this new approach she used her left blade in a similar motion as before, coming low from the right up towards the left whilst the Right blade, instead of being defensive, came in from the left up high and down towards the right.

 

[saam]

The Sith changed their stance and dodged her attacks, though now she had left herself with a narrower positioning, one where she could not properly brace herself against powerful attacks. Ikora saw the opportunity and acted quickly. Letting go of her duel grip, she splayed out one hand and sent a shock of force at the Sith, just as the red blades where in mid-swing. As the women's force barrier had since absorbed the previous strike, there was no chance it could stave off another, alongside the fact that it had more power behind it.