The Battle of Naboo: The Emperor's Retreat (DEATH ENABLED)

[Brandon Rhea]

Spoiler: OOC Note about Death Risk

Unlike the rest of the Battle of Naboo, the "no death/maiming/incapacitation/capture" rule DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS THREAD. By entering this thread, you agree to the normal risks of combat.

Over a millennium ago, a battle was waged on the planet Naboo, sparking a conflict that led to the fall of the Jedi and the Age of the Empire. Now, a thousand years later, Naboo once again finds itself in the midst of playing a crucial role in shaping the future of the galaxy.

Not long ago, the Galactic Rebellion sent a fleet of vessels into Imperial space to uncover a truth that the Dark Lords of the Sith desperately wanted hidden: the Empress has an heir, and both are Skywalkers. The truth was revealed when one Rebel from the doomed fleet broadcasted a transmission of hope, sparking a fire across the galaxy.

Though both the Rebel and Imperial fleets were mysteriously destroyed, one part of the Rebel fleet had broken off from the rest during the escape from Imperial space. They made their way through Hutt Space and into the independent territories of the Outer Rim, where they hid on Naboo from the pursuing Imperial forces.

But the Empire found them.

The Star Wars RP
Battle of Naboo: Emperor's Retreat

​

Tracking the Rebels through Hutt Space proved less difficult than the Empire had anticipated. The Rebellion had paid off the right crime lords in order to make it through Hutt Space undetected, but that was on their voyage into Imperial territory. The Rebels did not have that luxury on the way out, as they made their desperate run back towards the Outer Rim. Many crime lords, including some who had been paid by the Rebels in the first place, were more than eager to make a nice profit from the Empire.

A massive Imperial fleet dropped out of hyperspace around the tiny planet of Naboo, quickly forming a blockade around the planet in a sight eerily reminiscent of the blockade a millennium earlier. There were no clear defenses to speak of. The Gungan Defense Force, tasked with the protection of the entire Naboo sector, was holding back somewhere in another star system, waiting to see which side triumphed before choosing their own side. With no initial opposition, the Empire immediately began sending its forces towards the surface, most of which headed towards the Grassy Plains on the outskirts of Theed - where they would use the plains as a staging area for their primary invasion of the planet's cities and villages.

One city that the Empire immediately turned its attention to was Char, sending a Star Destroyer and all of the troops and armaments it housed towards the city. It was located far from Theed, and was in fact more populous than the planet's millennia-old capital. It was once called Moenia, but had grown over the centuries into an industrial city that provided vital supplies for the entire planet. Though more populous than Theed, it was far smaller, leading to a crowded and congested city.

At the center of the city was the Emperor's Retreat, the former private sanctuary of Darth Sidious that the city had expanded to encompass. No longer the private retreat of a long-dead Sith Lord, the Emperor's Retreat had become a museum to remember the horrors of Sith tyranny and the brutal oppression of the Galactic Empire - an all too relevant commemoration for the people of Char, and all of Naboo.

But the city held something more than just memories of imperialism, and the Emperor's Retreat was more than a museum. Naboo was largely neutral in galactic affairs, but there was a rebellious element that had been growing in the city. Most on Naboo were too highbrow and, well… Naboo to do anything about it. But many wanted to push Naboo into fighting against the Empire, and now was their chance. It was a mix of Humans and Gungans alike. Char itself was one of the few urban Gungan populations, housing a host of Gungan exiles largely estranged from other Gungan populations.

Together, they were prepared to fight for their planet...no matter the cost.

The Battle of Naboo continued.

 

[Sierrien]

It seemed to be an auspicious time to visit Char. Strictly speaking, she wasn't here on vacation, but rather to gather supplies for a few of the orphanages she had taken a liking to back in Theed. Since she was here anyways, she had decided she might as well take in the sights of the city as well. That had turned out to not really be very much to see; it was a highly industrial and congested city. People were everywhere, the great crowds of them rather imposing to someone who had grown up alone in the middle of nowhere. It had taken her two hours longer than it should have to make her way to the 'museum' that she had been told about. The Emporer's Folly they called it, and she was promised that she would enjoy what it had to offer.

So far she didn't agree. It was all relics of a long dead Sith; she was pretty sure she could feel the taint of the dark side on them still. Or perhaps that was just her youthful imagination, but either way she was left with a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach, like some ghost was going to jump out and attack the young Padawan who had dared to enter such a 'hallowed' place. It was a mostly nervous girl who therefore was making her way through the museum, worrying about things in a personal scale. So when she noticed that most of the other people inside the museum were starting to move around and buzz in a concerned or scared pattern, she quickly took notice. What was going on that would make them all worry? Maybe there really was a ghost? Everyone seemed to be moving towards the exit, so she followed suit.

As she neared the exit, everyone outside seemed to be looking up, some of them pointing - and then they all turned and ran, presumably to find their loved ones. Because as Aluae came to a stop just outside the door and looked up, the color slowly drained from her face. Instead of the beautiful sky that had been present when she entered the museum, there was instead an ugly fray monstrosity of a ship. Was she dreaming right now? How could there possibly be a star destroyer hanging just over the city? Unless.. The Empire had learned the Jedi were here, and had come to crush them. Had the Jedi brought an imperial army here to knock on Naboo's door?

She shifted her purse, opening it to pull out her lightsaber. What an excellent day to wear her civilian clothes, she thought. A simple white belted dress currently clothed her, and simple shoes not necessarily meant for moving around in quickly. But when the imperials came knocking... She was pretty sure she didn't have time to run and get changed. Instead she shifted te saber in her hands as she stared up at the star destroyer, wondering what she alone could possibly do that would help.

 

[LaPurple]

At the front of Char's perimeter defenses sat jedi Saviin Junar. He sat atop a kaadu lent to him by the Gungans of the city. They too had joined in defenses, those who could at least. Their town had little of their own defenses, but between some of the Gungans, Rebels, and Naboo Security forces, there was enough resistance to put up a fight against the Imperium.

As the lone Star Destroyer's shadow blanketed Char, their senses of hope were crushed. Fighters scrambled out of the massive ship making their way down to the streets. Joining them were an endless sea of Imperium troops consisting of Stormtroopers, AT-ST's, AT-AT's, and more.

The initial Imperium assault was lead by a pair of AT-ST's acting as escorts for the host of Stormtroopers marching at the city gates. Men and Gungans alike stood on the wall if the main gate. At the cmand of one of the rebel leaders, the blasters had begun firing. While the Gates of Char still stood, it was only moments before the heavy firepower of and AT-AT sent it flying backwards ontop of a group of soldiers.

This was Saviin's moment. There he was at the front lines of the gates...or hole in the wall. A sizable defense stood behind him on a mixture of speeders and beast mounts native to Naboo. The planet was Saviin's homeworld and he was prepared to lead this group against a seemingly unwinable battle.

Looking back at the soldiers he raised his saber staff above his head igniting both sides. Let us take back what belongs to us! For Naboo! For the Rebellion!" the man shouted before beginning his charge. A roar of soldiers joined him and a stampede could be heard behind him.

Speeders were faster and quickly took the lead. Saviin pressed his kaadu to keep up and it did not disappiont. As the Imerium troopers neared the fallen gate, they began firing into the cavalry. Speeders crashed and animal riders fell. The majority of the gates forces still remained when they clashed head on.

Saviin leaped from his kaadu and into the marching troopers. He swung his saber staff in a circular fashion all around his body. Five Stormtroopers around him fell dead. On his left and right rebel soldiers were now all amongst him, fighting their own fights now. It had begun...

 

[The Kyzer]

"Captain, our forward units have made contact with the Rebels in and around Char. They seem to be well-entrenched here. I recommend calling for another-"

"Another division to bolster our attack? No, lad, I will not share my glory this day. Prepare for a full assault on the city. Give them a single barrage from the turbolaser batteries. Let them feel some Imperial power."

Around the massive Star Destroyer Vindicator, massive globs of sickly green energy coalesced briefly before lancing down toward the city. The turbolaser blasts struck the ground simultaneously, allowing everyone within a few mile radius to feel the barrage. The outskirts of Char now burned brightly as a swathe of destruction was cut through the city. Still, the Imperials were very careful to not disturb the Emperor's Retreat. Even now after more than a thousand years, Palpatine garnered a great deal of respect from the Imperium.

Meanwhile, just out of range of the defenders, Titan dropships released their cargo onto the battlefield before scurrying back to the Star Destroyer for more. Eight massive AT-AT/a's and eight AT-ST/a's slowly trudged forward, guns blazing. Four thousand Imperial troops were deployed alongside the massive units. Unlike the assault on Theed, this was a fully-directed military assault. The Star Destroyer's full complement of TIE fighters were also deployed, though nearly three-quarters were droid-piloted. The six VAAT/i gunships that now launched out of the Vindicator's hangar were not, however. Loaded with Stormtroopers and Sith alike, these gunships had one objective: secure the Emperor's Retreat.

Aboard one of the dropships, a tall figure dressed in Mandalorian armor held on to the overhead hand-bars along with the Stormtroopers around it. A massive engraved plate hung on its back and a small armory of weapons adorned its body. Beneath the T-shaped visor, a beautiful young woman with piercing eyes waited. Today, true justice would be meted out unto the galaxy.

The dropships landed in a courtyard a few blocks from the Retreat in a circular-formation. The monster known by a few as Adrasteia took her first step onto Naboo.

 

[Clayton]

"Charlie-Alpha-Sierra, location 9-9-0; 3-2-7. Over."

"Charlie-Alpha-Sierra, location 9-9-0; 3-2-7 confirmed. Over." Replied the purring voice of Shar Karthassin. His TIE bomber's engines screamed as he and others in his squad broke off from the main flight. Imperium troopers had encountered stiff resistance, it seemed, and wanted to shake things up.

Fortunately for them, proton bombs packed a good deal of shake. They even had some boom mixed in.

The holographic HUD blinked into existence, displaying an attack run and the enemy position that they were fast approaching. Barricades and manned turrets. Even a light armored vehicle or two spewing forth rapid-fire laser blasts. "Let's give them hell, boys," he said eagerly. They dropped down to attack altitude, barely 50 meters off the ground. The bomb sight glowed a soft green, displaying where on the ground the bombs would strike. "V formation, maximum spread. Let's get this done in one pass," he ordered. His wingmen entered formation with him, and seconds later the formidable bombs began to fall. Laser-fire from the armored vehicles shifted to intercept the bombers, but too late. Their payload had already been deployed.

"Bombs away, good work, let's get ou-" sparks flew and his TIE shunted heavily to one side as a massive laser blast almost completely shredded one of his wings. "I'm hit! AA, they've got AA break off, break off!" Shar snarled ferociously as he wrestled with the controls. Aerodynamics were well and truly screwed. Smoke streamed from the outside of his ship, and he could smell burning. He couldn't gain any altitude, the only thing he could do was drift off to one side. He took a look at where he was headed and groaned. The heart of the city. Shar was going down deep in enemy territory.

His only consolation was the concussive sound of the bombs going off, utterly destroying the fortifications put in place. More sparks flew from the controls and he released them with a hiss. He grabbed the emergency ejection levers and pulled. With a bang the top of the TIE flew off and his seat shot up into the sky before falling, its descent slowed by an opening parachute. He watched as his bomber crashed into the side of a building, stone and debris sprayed out and flames erupted from the impact site. This was not good.

 

[blstrgmr]

Moving quickly with a speeder through the city streets, Tyler Prospero was eager to set up his position since the Destroyers snapped in from hyperspace. Parking at the front of the museum, he briefly noticed a girl removing a saber from her belongings. Jedi? Padawan? Prospero didn't have many interactions with them. However, they had the limitless potential to be very deadly in a situation. "Jedi!," he'd call out to her. It was strange how his shyness and usual awkward social manner disappeared when there were enemies to neutralize. "Name's Prospero, if it matters," The rebel reached into a pack on the speeder and tossed her an earpiece, matching the one he wore. He listed off a frequency. "I'll be providing overwatch somewhere up high. If you so feel the need to bound into combat on the frontlines and inspire some of our guys, I'll cover you. Call me if you have any...special requests. Max range is a klick."

Turning the engine of the speeder off, he lifted a his personal scoped rifle from the back supplies and slung it around his back, the same with a standard Rebel's blaster rifle. It would appear that Prospero was all business at the moment. Looking around quickly, he'd find his perch about half a klick away from the museum. A building lightly away from the museum with a high, yet not obviously high tower. "See you when the dust settles," the sniper would say, making his way through the museum and using a service shaft and ladder to make his way to the ceiling. With a few carefully expert hops and climbs, he'd eventually make his way across rooftops of gradually increasing height until his position was achieved. Surveying the small area at the top of the tower, he'd find the roof being lipped about chest high and...shoddily constructed. Thankfully, there was a decent amount of room to lie prone. Placing the blaster rifle against the wall and getting his stomach with his rifle, he used a small torch to cut away a large chunk of the lip to sight through. Bipod deployed and suppressor screwed on tightly to not immediately give away his perch, he aimed "downrange", ready to acquire infantry targets coming into the city. His rifle, being a slugthrower, would be much harder to trace back to his location than a blaster would.

 

[Phoenix]

Corto watched as the ominous shadow of a Star Destroyer settled over the city. He was all too familiar with the payload and soldiers that even one ship of that type could carry. Somehow the Empire had found them and it was now going to be a brutal fight just to make it out alive.

He scrambled to throw on a lightweight suit of armor and made his way out to the city gates. As he arrived he was stunned as the massive blast of an AT-AT walker took down the gates and the soldiers standing under them. The Empire ha mounted a lightning war and the Rebellion hadn’t been ready.

He quickly climbed to the top of the wall surrounding the city to find a perch to view the battle. He went prone on the top of the wall and aimed his Verpine rifle through a small crack in the wall, created by the recent explosions. From here he could see a number of Imperial walkers surrounded by Stormtroopers and an army of Gungans led by a Jedi going forth to meet the enemy. Go get ‘em boys, he thought. It was an impressive sight to be sure, and one that he hoped wouldn’t end in peril for his allies.

Time to do my part. He began surveying the Imperial squads looking for individuals who looked like officers or team leaders. After a moment of surveying he found a soldier dressed in the BDUs of an officer. Stormtroopers were hurriedly moving to and away from him. Although he couldn’t see the rank insignia from here he guessed the man to be a Major as a higher rank likely wouldn’t be this close to the front, but who could really tell. Slowing his breathing and calming himself he sighted in on the man’s torso. Waiting for that moment between heartbeats, he gently squeezed the trigger until it broke under his pull. The round soared from the rifle and struck the officer in the chest, much to the dismay of the three stormtroopers standing around him.

Although he would have liked to relish the fact that he had done some small thing to help the battle he knew that in reality it was such a small thing as to likely go unnoticed in the grand scheme. His thoughts were interrupted as he saw a platoon of Stormtroopers break off from the main assault force and head to an alternative section of the wall. “Rebel units on the East wall, we have an Imperial platoon moving to the Northeast section of the wall. They look to be carrying demolition equipment,” he said over comms, hoping that someone might respond. In the mean time he swung his rifle to his left and prepared to engage this newfound threat.

 

[Richie B.]

Norin heard that Naboo was a peaceful planet that most of not all Mandalorians found no interest in because of the lack of warriors an most importantly a lack of imperials. But after getting a feelings plus hearing something about th Rebellion going to Naboo. Norin know that the Empire will soon come to Naboo an that he will be getting revenge soon, so he took the first shuttle he could find to head to the planet. The pilot was a di'kutla man but he didn't need to be smart to take him were he wanted to go, he hated the fact he doesn't know how to pilot a ship but he hated more being taught so he choice to just let others drive him. Once they had made it to the Nabop system he realized he was right, the empire has come to Naboo an brought a sizable fleet he told the pilot to land on the planet but the pilot was being a hut'uunla an wanted to leave the system but his fist solved that pretty fast. The pilot tried to head to a small city away from most of the fleet, but was still detected an was soon shot at, eventually the ship was forced to make a emergency landing but was divertered to a much larger city were there was fighting.

The clash landing wasn't the best landing he has ever been on but after surviving it he was going to start complaining about it. Norin checked on the pilot but saw there was nothing he could do to help him, the ship was a wreck an he know that right now there was imperials out there an he wasn't going to just sit back an wait for them to come to him. Rage build up within him an forced the ramp of the ship to open considered that he was so damaged that it was falling off helped, he ran towards the city wall knowing that's where most of the fighting will be, but as he ran he came across a firefight between some Imperials and Rebel soldiers. He ran towards the Rebel line which was behind several abandon speeders, several were wounded an he knew they weren't going to make it out of here alive if he didn't do something. He lifted his head up an saw the Imperials all standing up an in a tight formation firing at the Rebels which were hiding behind the speeders, he wasn't proud seeing Rebels hiding but his rage against the Imperials took over an after going into a abandon shop went to the window breaking the glass with his elbow and started firing with his carbine at the Imperials. Most hitting there mark but after a couple of Imperials dropping the rest wised up an began trying to find cover but Norin wasn't a forgiving guy an kept up firing not giving the Imperials much of a break, but as the Imperials scrabbled for cover the Rebels began firing also an in the next few minutes all the Imperials were died. He felt a since of pride at the sight of the Imperials dead but remember that several of the Rebel soldiers were injured, he ran towards the Rebel lines which at first aimed there rifles at me but one of the soldiers that saw what happen realized I was the one who saved there butts an told the rest to drop there weapons.

"Get out of the way an let me have a look at your wounded." Several of the soldiers were confused an looked at each other.

"I said get out of the way before I have to add you to the list that needs treatment." That got them moving they moved the wounded into the shop I was in an took up defensive positions from the windows, and the two doors. Most of them had some form of injury but most were serious. I grab my medical kit an began working on the Rebels.

 

[BLADE]

Put on your shawl, pray and pray
Crush the velvet and smooth it out
The hearse is ready, steady
Light the candles to pave the way

Beat thy breast
'Is it not good'? --No!--
Moan with shudder'd grief
Into the mouth of she is gone

She was your mourning light
Your working week
And ending rest
All that is left now

Is to take her shroud
And clout your grief
With clouds of heavy reign
- Balthazar's Dirge

Balthazar Gallo woke. He sat up and gently shook off a feminine brown hand from his chest. He could not say that he had found peace. But purpose? Aye, that right enough. Char was a city on the precipice: humiliation and harsh treatment at the hands of Theed, of New Bastion had congealed into a farraginous ressentiment. It was quite ready to grasp the tailored lapels of Respectable Naboo, of Theed, and shake it roughly crying, "By Jove, by the Force. Stand. Stand ready to fight. For the sake of your children, have some decency and fight with us or against us!" But this was readiness and it was feeling. And feeling is not doing. Even a Jedi knew this.

The intermediate step was rather simple: organize and organize and agitate and get your teeth knocked out eh (Char police were not... understanding of political differences) and then organize again.

Parishes and aldermen. Local drinking clubs and pubs. Balthazar Gallo had worn and worn out his old Imperial galoshes (and Force was there not a heavy-footed) and weighed more pockets and hands with rifle and blade and imperial credit too --some were all to keen to slough off the dominion of temperance (if not the Empire or the Naboo elite.) He had gone hoarse and drunk too much. He had crushed his pamphlets and his old imperial rosettes to his chest to try and stir at the maw there.

Some had listened. Many had not. The Knight was not a natural at it. At this. This simple linking feeling: to solidarity, to smirk at japes and jokes, to mold the meat of the city to strengthen its sinew and bone into something more. The people of Char --human and gungan both-- suspected his easy step and his plummy accent. Begrudged his bearing (a younger Gallo might have described it as a noble one; he was not so stupid in his dotage.)

But ah they respected his scars. And approved of his willingness to shoulder burdens. They saw him at the dock, affixing kelsons with sheer brawn, christening the old coke-iron and bent babbet with sweat. They saw him at the ships, flaying his hands into bloody stumps with the steel hawsers and hoisting the crane-head that had stove in poor Goodman (1) Illryn's head. Pallbearer? Well he'd pitched in a couple of cred, as did Illryn's trade union. The widow had been inconsolable in her happiness: Char-wife. (2)

It was hardly enough now. A dozen arsenals by Oldtown and the Oubliette quarter. A wall abutment strengthened with old duracrete. Even the unionist (3) chapel stripped clean by its own Vicar in the name of the defense of Char "and all its holy soot."

He fitted himself slowly. Spauldrons and gorget; they scraped over his under-armor and tightened --his companion admired his body but it was not the same as when he was a young man.

Good enough for a scrap or two though. It'll have to be.

Laced up the knight-iron like latticework over his chest. Adjusted his greaves. And then turned.

Yelena sat up. Their bedcover came up to her waist and the rest was frank nakedness. She was a woman of scarce fifty and five. Handsome now, and fleshy, with eyes as brown as life-amber. Beautiful once. Yes. Breath-taking. And a good drinker, a quick wit, and a cook... well her inn was the finest without the finery.

"You're leaving then?"

He put on his old marshalling gloves, wrapped them about his old blade hilt... and thought of reaching out. But if he wrapped his arms around her... No. Some roads are not to be traveled.

Balthazar strode towards the bedroom window and looked out. They were on the sixth floor and the morning was clear enough to see out through the mushroom-sprawl that was Char. Though clear, the air was dank and smelled of sweat-earth and industrial coal (it was Char after all).

'Bout to rain then.

He could see walls of durasteel and columns of artillery surrounding the east side of the city. A score and another score of thousands in their white masques marched towards the centre-north.

By the Ashwater (4) gat, in the South quadrant, a salient of a half-hundred thousand --by his lights-- was making its way, marching in the dull cadence of imperial prepotence. They were spearheaded by heavy armor (useless in the narrow streets, he thought with a snort.) In the west, reserves. That left the North wall. He'd heard Jedi were there. Oft-soft. Flashy. But kind and well-meant. Their blades might be useful. And he knew the local gungan population. They were not to be underestimated. He thought on his own armament: rifle and pistol first. Knife and dagger-blade. Lightsaber for... well for last. A dagger-shape in the far horizon brought up the rearguard of the armor: AT-STs and tanks and all.

He turned to affix the Pendragon (5) seal to his chest; the ruby was worn now and the lion more fainant than rampant and stared frankly at Yelena; she was dressed now in the customary denim longjohns and blouse of the Charriste.

"You're leaving too."

"Aye, luv. It's a siege."

He knew she meant to fight of course. It was a reason for his... affection. Not love, nay. He could not feel that. Perhaps... perhaps in a different age. But.

"Over by the Labour Old Guard?" (6)

"Aye."

She tied her hair --it was brown and wavy though shot now with streaks of iron-grey-- with a red ribbon.

"I gave you that."

"Aye you did," she frowned at him, "I wanted a new stove, you wanker."

"I think you've gotten a good use of it."

Her features softened.

"Perhaps."

They stared at each other for a moment, and then he pressed a kiss to her hand; she rolled her eyes but smiled winsomely.

"No regrets."

"No. No regrets, luv."

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Yelena's daughter, Rhynde was like her mother in features --soft and intelligent-- though her hair was straight and red the color of blood. Her skin was darker --more copper than ripened wheat-- and in her youth she was all her mother's old glory. Except for her ears. They were rather unfortunate; even Yelena enjoyed taking the piss out of her for that.

Balthazar could not. That would have been too fatherly a thing and... it was not a former slave's place.

"Hey old man."

"Rhynde."

She made a thumb and pointed it back over her shoulder, "Lads are at the pub. Getting pissed. Reckon I don't blame 'em"

He dimly heard the crooning of "Char My Love," an old town standard.

"You comin' underground? I know Mum was going to Labourton..." (7)

Balthazar nodded. He'd noted two the approaching shadow of the Imperial Star Destroyer as well.

"I suppose I am," he said quietly.

BOOM.

On instinct, they each dove to the side. Balthazar splayed out in an alley and heard it. Bomber strafe. A stand of cocofruit (8) was torn asunder; stabbed through with filaments of red and orange flame.

"You alright old man?" Rhynde was already up.

"Aye."

The old vendor (he'd supplied Yelena, thought Balthazar) was not so lucky; all that remained was carbonized remains.
Rhynde reached for a tooler (9) and out came two longrifles. She was a slight girl but seemed to shoulder the thing as if it was no burden.

To Balthazar she threw the other. It was heavy indeed.

"You take the lead fooker, I'll take the other."

The bombers wheeled back to make another bombing run. Balthazar reached into the Force, centered himself in it. He heard the wind and his heartbeat.

BANG! BANG!

Rhynde's shot flew true: the flanking fighter-bomber went up in flames.

His was less true, but the beam-shard of his super-heavy blaster clipped its wing true enough. Down, down, down it went.

The Force still sang in his veins and he had barely to think its gossamer reality before plucking out some of the stall-wreckage. He shaped it like clay. They were claw and fang and sword. Dozens of the tiny little projectiles. Made for the great cocofruit bomber. Oh he saw the man eject out of the bomber. Saw him float like a spore hundreds of meters up in the air, desperately careening to and fro to avoid fire and ash and death. He pitied him and what's more--

I pray for your soul, brother.

But he did not hesitate.

The impromptu projectiles, the flotsam of steel and wood and jagged bone flew at speeds faster than sound or blood or hate.

He did not have time to confirm his work, of course. Already Rhynde was hustling him to one of the old maraisdomos (10).

And that was when the Empire set the sky on fire.

(1) A Charriste religious and political title: part vicar, part local councillor. Often unrecognized by Theed --save for the Federalist factions.

(2) An old guild-sanctioned marriage for the purposes of securing social services (the family is considered a universal superaltern form on Naboo); rates of dissatisfaction in such marriages are shockingly high, and thus the dysphemism.

(3) One of the factions in Theedite politics opposed to the Federalists; they are for unitary government and disdain the claimed privileges and rights of the city of Char.

(4) The old Moenian river, long turned to murk by industrial runoff

(5) The Imperial Knights Sigil of one Balthazar Pendragon: a lion rampant with paws holding aloft the system of bastion. Ruby and gold.

(6) A traditionalist labour union in East Char; lately a hotbed of Insurrectionist sentiment.

(7) Labourton was one of the traditional hustings of all the local syndicates and unions when standing for election. These biennial proceedings were only occasionally (and rather grudgingly) recognized by the capital.

(8) One of the few plants hardy enough to grow in nearby Char. Hardy and tangy with fibrous pulp. Very popular with both Gungans (for which the cocofruit was also a mild analgesic) and humans.

(9) Maintenance boxes the size of a small speeder hidden all over Char; lately used by the Insurrectionists to hide weapons

(10) The local argot for the NBC protected (the sewer systems can be rather... explosive) tunnels which lead many hundreds of metres underground unto the expansive Char waste system.

 

[Sierrien]

"Jedi!" someone called out to her, and she blinked as she looked towards where it had come from. The Sith couldn't be here already.. she barely reacted in time to catch the thrown object, and then she shifted it in her hand in order to figure out it was a comm device. She set it to the frequency he told her and then brought it up to clip it over her ear. "Aluae." she responded as he gave his name, and then she nodded to his plan. "Sounds good. I guess I'll see you on the other side. At least.. hopefully. Stay alive, stay safe. May the Force be with you." Her hand gave up to give a salute, though she wasn't really a military girl so it didn't look a thing like a normal salute. He would probably get the gist of it anyways; and then he was gone and she was alone again. She blew out a sigh as she looked towards the far away gate to the city, just in time for the star destroyer above them to suddenly start glowing a sickening green, moments before its giant cannons lit up the ground and made it shake. It shook so bad that she could feel it here, even though she was quite a distance from the entrance. It made her eyes go wide; this was the kind of power a star destroyer had? No wonder it had earned that name. How were they going to survive this?

Well, not by standing around anyways. She was about to look around to find a way to get down to the fighting when she saw something that made her blood run cold. Six drop ships were making their way towards her - or rather, towards the building she was standing just in front of. She had no idea what they wanted, but figured there must be some kind of strategic advantage to taking the museum. Or perhaps there was some kind of Sith weapon they had somehow missed all these years inside it. Either of those, or whatever else it was that they were after - she couldn't just stand by and let them have it. They were Sith and Imperials, and Sith and Imperials were evil. Right? She was pretty sure they weren't good, at least. And whatever they wanted here would also not be good. She shifted her saber in her hand as she moved to stand in the entrance to the Museum; she was going to last about ten seconds standing here alone, but hopefully she could garner some form of support before the enemy arrived. She had seen them land a few blocks away; that gave her about a minute she figured.

Her hand came up quickly to the comm she had been given and she spoke to her new friend, or at least the man who would be her new friend if he had the right answers to her questions. "Prospero, they just landed drop ships a few blocks to the south of where you met me. I hope you brought reinforcements; otherwise the two of us aren't going to last very long in defending the heart of the city." Here's hoping he was somehow part of the rebellion and could call in some reinforcements. She ignited the pearlescent white blade of her lightsaber and shifted her body to face the way the imperials should be coming from, seeing if they would just be coming in guns blazing or if there were any Sith with them to take the lead. She did her best to calm herself, though she was currently facing down what was likely her last stand. She didn't know of any Jedi in the vicinity and she had no way to get in touch with the rebellion other than Prospero. Her eyes shifted upwards for a few moments as she sent some thoughts and prayers through the Force for reinforcements. Maybe it would listen.

 

[The Kyzer]

A brilliant flash overhead caught her eye. Her HUD quickly identified the stricken bomber's IFF along with its pilot as he slowly made his way back to the ground. Imperial. There was a moment where she evaluated the pros and cons of rescuing the fool. Then came the bomber's explosion in close-proximity to the pilot. The poor fool was nearly engulfed in flames and his ejection-seat's repulsors were failing...rapidly.

"Continue on to the Museum," she told the Stormtrooper Captain near her, "there's something I must attend to."

The stricken pilot was falling. Quickly. Well, no one could say that she'd abandoned someone. Looking back on it, Adrasteia was completely unsure why she even cared for the pilot's fate. He was a moron who was foolish enough to get shot down and should have to live with the consequences...by dying. And yet here she was sprinting with the Force aiding her and now leaping into the air to intercept the fool. They made contact roughly ten meters from the ground. The Sith warrior drew on the Force a bit more to slow their fall until it was safe enough for her to stop. This meant that she landed with a tumbling roll after releasing the pilot's seat while the pilot, still in his seat, skittered across a small courtyard before bouncing into a fountain.

The tall woman took a moment to examine her surroundings. It was a large circular area surrounded by three-story buildings on all sides with narrow alleyways branching off of it. The Naboo people loved private yet communal areas like this to converse with their neighbors. One could barely see the battle from this location, and she knew that no one would really be able to see into it from a distance. Her HUD placed her nearly six blocks from her target, the Museum. Well wasn't that just lovely?

Meanwhile, the two hundred Stormtroopers that landed with the armored woman were within a single block of the Museum's entrance, killing anyone who got in their way.

 

[Richie B.]

Once my work was done on most of the troopers I looked around 8 injured but can still move, 3 that can't move, only 1 death, an 7 unwounded soldiers not much of a group, I walked towards the window hoping to find something, until I notice several drop ships heading towards the center of the city. Now he knows that he isn't the best at military strategy unlike his dead adopted father but it most be something bad, he looked towards the soldiers knowing that he was about to make a really tough decision.

"You seven there seems to be some drop ships heading to the center of the city we need to get there now." The soldiers were confused at first of course until one of them seem to have realized something.

'That's where the Emperors retreat is!' The rest of the soldiers seem to have figured it out also but I just pretended to know what they were saying which wasn't hard since they couldn't see me through my helmet.

"Lets go now! We will have to come back for the wounded later." Of course they were hesitate but eventually they knew that the wounded were completely helpless when one of them stood up.

But also that the Mandalorian standing right in front of them could kill them all if he wanted to so it wasn't the best idea to argue with them. They began running through the streets heading towards this Emperor's retreat, a silly name Norin thought but than again he has heard worse during his time alive. As they ran they noticed how the star destroyer turned green an speed up a little bit, which was surprising because the Rebels were almost dead just from having to keep up with him, he didn't feel sorry but as a treated field medic its his job to help others no matter the cost. But with Imperials so close to him his rage just kept up building an he felt stronger because of it, call him weird but he could almost feel how scared the Rebels were. He stopped near the center of the city an saw what he thought to be a jedi standing out in the open with no one around her but it was weird he could have swear that it seems like she is trying to breath out hope an confidence but it could have just been his imagination funny what the heat of battle can do for you. Eventually the soldiers caught up they were out of breath an nearly dying I turned to look at each soldier judging if they need any medical help but it seems to be only fatigue and the lack of bravery they seem to be suffering from.

"Ok guys looks like it a glorious battle is about to start lets go meet the jedi an see if my munch is correct." Most of the soldiers were happy to see the jedi, guess they were only following him because of fear or because he seem to know what he was doing. He didn't care because right now the only thing going through his mind was the sense that he was finally going to get revenge on the sith whose monsters that have no honor or dignity. He walked slowly towards the jedi and Rebels just ran towards her leaving him behind, when the jedi saw them he just quietly continue to walk towards her, a small smile appeared under his helmet though no one saw it or could tell but he was glad he finally got a chance to see a jedi in action though he never did when he fought in the core worlds he was glad for a second chance for honor. Yet he reminded himself that the sith were near by with there Imperial lap dogs answering there call for destruction without any thought of honor an his anger once again resurface an he felt his rage burn giving him strength for the next battle ready to smell the blood of his enemys.

 

[Clayton]

Wind buffeted him like a sparrow in a full-on gale. He was dropping too fast. The back of his hard-shelled seat was struck by a seemingly thousand small fragments. Some poked through and jabbed uncomfortably into his regulation armored flight suit. Then something big and armored hit him. His bomber? No. A woman. It all happened quickly, and a few seconds later he slammed into the ground, the seat skidding and scraping against the stone until it caught the edge of a poorly laid, too high cobble and flipped over into a fountain.

His ears swept backward and laid flat on his head. Water! He hated being submerged in water! His suit was airtight, but he could feel the unnatural cold of it, the pressure of it. Shar's hand scrabbled for his vibroknife and quickly slashed the restraining belts. He shoved the seat off of him and sprang lightly out of the pool. Water streamed from his suit in rivulets, dripping onto the cobble to form a disgusting puddle.

Shar took a deep breath, scanned his surroundings, and determined they were in no immediate danger. The armored woman was looking at him, and he looked back. The farghul slid the vibroknife back into it's sheath and tore off his breathing apparatus. His gloves followed, cast aside into the filthy, cold, unnatural, nasty fountain. His eyes darted between Adrasteia's lightsaber, and the giant slab of beskar slung across her back. Ah. He recognized her. The Sith with the shield. The hot Sith with the shield. He grinned and spoke in a low, purring voice. "Ahh, to be rescued by and to fight alongside Mandalore the Sith? I think this is a great pleasure, no?"

 

[The Kyzer]

Adra ripped off her helmet and grimaced.

"What did you call me?"

There was an almost-palpable edge to her voice. Hatred and rage bled off of her as her eyes began to take a darker tint. Adrasteia slowly placed her shield on the ground and unclipped her jetpack. Someone was in for a beating.

---

Outside the city proper, the AT-AT/a's had engaged the defending insurgents. Large swathes of land were transformed into smoking ruins by the onslaught. Stormtroopers charged forward, firing as they came. Local commanders urged their troops forward as the pilots of the advancing AT-ST/a's grouped their rushing mechanical mounts onward. The din of battle could be heard all around the city. The pillars of flame became a single massive cloud of smoke and ash.

 

[LaPurple]

The fighting at the city gate was interrupted by the Destroyer. Bombs dropped from the skies and slowly fell to the city below. Many were killed in the massive blasts and those who were not were tossed around by its wake. Saviin was no exception. As the ground shook, the jedi dropped to one knew during one of his swings. Those around him had to regain themselves before fighting once again. When they did resume, it was in full force; on both sides.

As Saviin cut a stormtrooper diagonally, he was taken aback by a call through the Force. It was a familiar presence...that of a friend. It was impossible to determine exactly who though with all of the distractions of the battlefield around him. "You will not be left alone. I will come!" the jedi yelled out with his telepathic abilities. Flourishing his lightsaber against his foes, all he thought for the following moment were whether the caller had heard his message.

Before he could aid his fellow jedi, he had to complete his task. The force he had charged into battle were not some simple first line of defense against the marching Imperium. Rather, they were meant to stall. The man pulled up his wrist communicator on his gauntlet. "Are the detonators in position yet?

He had offered to lead a force against the initial wave of the Imperium to give the rebels near the city wall enough chance to plant demolitions along the route to the center of Char. If the Imperiums wanted to use bombs, so could the Naboo. The jedi resumed the fight and checked his remaining forces while waiting for a response from his comm.

Roughly half of his cavalry team still was standing. The rest had fallen to either the bombs or Stormtroopers. Regardless of the response, they would have to pull back soon. Otherwise, all of them would be dead. Just as Saviin was about to call the order a man rang through "This is Captain Rigala. Demolitions have been placed at the entrance to the city. Soldiers are still placing them further down the streets. We have turrets ready to cover your retreat if you pull back now."

Wasting no time in responding to the Naboo man, Saviin shouted "Pull back! Back to the city!" He filled himself with the power of the Force and pushed our with his arms. Those who stood in front of him were thrown backwards. It was his chance for an escape.

The jedi began sprinting as hard as he could from the marching troops. Running through the ranks, Saviin swung his blade into the back of a stormtrooper who was seconds away from shooting a Gungan fighting from the back of his kaadu.

The Gungan made eye contact with Saviin realizing what he had done. Riding over he quickly reached down a hand, "Yousa coma with meesa. Now." The man did not hesitate to jump up onto the beast. Quickly it ran back to the walls. Saviin could not help but to look back and see many of the rebes get shot down in their retreat. All he could do was defend himself and this Gungan. Which he did by deflecting several blaster shots headed for them.

"Thank you for saving me." Saviin said gratefully before jumping up onto the city gate's arch as the beast ran under it. He turned once standing to look out at the impeding forces. The jedi had regrouped with the rebels on the walls.

 

[Richie B.]

While we waited for the Imperials to come marching down he personally got the soldiers behind cover ready for battle, the jedi seem to be getting ready for battle which got the blood to pump faster within me ready for the great fight that was to come. With the time he had he took out the Beskar from his back an gave it a look for a few moments it wasn't in the best shape since everything it has been though it was old a it showed he only hoped it would last for one more battle before he needed to find a new weapon. His Carbine was out an he was already looking down his sights watching as the storm troopers marched down unopposed.

"Jedi is you have anything up your sleeves now would be the best time to do something." though he hated the thought of getting help he wasn't stupid enough to think they would survive without help. He didn't look at her just crouched an looked down his sights waiting of the storm troopers to get in range of his weapon. He hoped the Rebels were hidden well enough so when they start firing they would scared the Imperials some but he doubt that, as they got closer the sound of there march got louder it was glorious such a great battle this would be he thought I only hope that he lives long enough to tell the tale of such a battle. He inched his finger to the trigger waiting for the start of fight.

 

[Clayton]

Shar's tail twitched in annoyance. His left ear flicked. "Really? Over that? I didn't realize I caught you, or rather you technically caught me thanks by the way, during your period." He too, removed his helmet. If he was really going to fight this silly Sith, he didn't want the unnecessary weight or bulk. The helmet fell in front of his feet, spinning in a lazy circle. Shar moved his weight onto the front part of his feet, and slid one foot out to the side more to lower his center of gravity.

"So what are we gonna do? Fight, do the roll around, buy some drinks later?" His mouth and attitude drove superiors up the walls. It was partially, no, mainly why he didn't get many promotions. And aggravating a Sith was probably not the best idea ever, but he couldn't help it. Farghul loved causing trouble and making bad jokes. It was in his blood. He felt another wise-ass question bubble forth, and even though it would make the situation worse, he could not stop himself. "If you don't like it, then why the armor...vode?" He cringed inwardly. Why did he add in the last bit?

 

[The Kyzer]

She could hear the roar of blood pulsing through her ears as she slowly removed her utility belt. She tossed it, and what other weaponry she carried, aside and began to approach the fool. Adrasteia could feel the chant of her ancestors calling out for his blood. The pilot needed a lesson. He would learn what real pain felt like today.

Of course, that was before the vode-comment. That one simple line changed nothing and yet everything. In the blink of an eye, Adrasteia's lesson plan transformed into what some might call homicidal ideations. She could think of nothing other than to feel his spine snap in her hands. Still, his shot at her armor made her realize something. Adrasteia was about to fight an unarmored foe. Well that simply would not do. She quickly disengaged her armor's locks and shimmied out of the oversuit. Wearing naught but her under-armor, she was ready for combat.

"You will regret coming to this world, fool," Adra hissed, her voice crackling like a fire. She slid her left foot forward and raised her hands in front of her, palms open. There was a slight breeze that blew through one of the alleyways but it could not avail the tension in the air.

Suddenly, she charged. Graceful and fleeting as a pouncing Sand Panther, Adra closed the gap between herself and her opponent in a quick three-step jump that was amplified slightly with the Force. She came down with a powerful kick aimed at the Farghul's chest. From there, she would perform a jumping corkscrewing pair of side-kicks at his skull.

 

[blstrgmr]

Tyler pressed to his earpiece, sighting in his scope for the range as the dropships touched down. "Aluae, I said that right? Aluae. Listen closely to my instructions and you'll get a bit of an upper hand. As the man calling himself by Prospero was dialing in his sights, he gained visual on the Imperial Mandalorian woman. All the words he'd say would be over his short-link comms to Aluae. "Looks like...I don't know. Important looking woman in the middle of it all. She might be...Sith? Mandalorian? I can't really say. I'm going to hit commanders and medics, see if I can stir them up and get them in disarray. I want you to order any gungans or rebels around you to engage in hit and run tactics, use the narrow alleyways to choke them off. Their numbers count for nothing in a tight kill-alley."

Sighting the correct dot of the sight in on the woman's chest, his finger began to tighten around the trigger...until she burst off as a TIE Bomber fell out of the air. "Ah, frack. Lost visual on the high value, she's fast. Jumped and bolted like you wouldn't believe. I'm doubtful I'll be able to get a clean hit unless you can get her standing still. Will continue to update. Moving onto next target."

Re-aligning his sight with the deploying garrison, it was clear that the commanders were the highest priority. They gave orders well. He respected that. They were cutting in quick and fast...but they needed to be stopped. Finding a trooper that many were zipping back and forth to for orders, he waited until the figure gestured with his arm. This would reveal a weaker point for the shot. Under the arm, which needed to articulate, would reveal the perfect entry point. Timing it with his next gesture to push forward, Prospero squeezed the trigger of the rifle. A suppressed crack would sound out without a flash due to the suppressor. The 7.62mm round soared through the air, dropping slightly at the range and penetrating into the body, dropping the commander instantly. One down. A small victory in this uphill battle. Prospero would now be forced to wait a minute or so. The shot would not be traced easily in any sense of the word.

Pulling the bolt and chambering another round on the slugthrower, he shifted the barrel slightly to the left through his little hole in the wall. The moment a trooper rounded a corner to point their weapon at the Jedi woman he was watching over, he'd sight in and pulled the trigger, letting the round punch through their chest and dropping them to the ground. Not instantly dead, but they'd bleed out in a mere minute within that armor. Click-clack. The bolt chambered another round of the magazine. "They're starting to round the corner. Duck into an alleyway, stay hidden. If you can let a bit of them pass, I'll hit their head, confuse 'em, and you hit hard and fast before retreating. Make sure to minimize their firing angles. We're gonna get through this, alright?" He was trying to reassure more himself than her, but everybody could use encouragement.

Grabbing his equipment and moving over to another side of the roof for a different angle, he set the bipod on the lip of the wall and set up, sighting in on the groups of troopers nearest to rounding the area to the Jedi. Another unit leader. A slight moment waited. They raised their arm to gesture and form up around the street's apex. "Big mistake, you crink." He mouthed quietly and fired again, reenacting the angle from before. The round flew and enterred, hitting the man's armor, then body and bouncing around in his chest until a loss of momentum was had. Enough damage was done that he bled out within seconds. Click-clack. The bolt was pulled again. The medic began to inspect their fallen leader. A bit waited. As the medic began to do their work, he'd wait until they had their tools out to choose his moment. Crack, went the rifle. The round soared, slamming into the helmeted trooper, just under the eye piece. Prospero couldn't confirm penetration, but it was likely that the force of the round would knocked them out, if not caused other severe damage. Either way, they'd be on the ground. "Hold out without me for a minute or so, I'm relocating." Prospero would gather his rifles and pack up, quickly making his way toward a new rooftop and a better angle.

 

[Sierrien]

Aluae brought her hand down from her earpiece as she listened to what Prospero had to say. Some kind of Sith or Mandalorian woman she would have to watch out for. It seemed her main opponent was going to be regular Troopers though; that was good for her. Then another apparent rebel came running up and spoke to her, and he had.. her eyes quickly counted. Seven rebel troopers with him. She let out a low sigh and waved them all forward. "Take up positions where you can guard the entrance to this building; I'll see if I can thin their ranks while our overwatch confuses them." Not the best plan, and not exactly what Prospero had said - but she didn't want to risk the rebel's lives like that. It would be incredibly dangerous to try hit and run tactics against such overwhelming odds. So she would do it herself, instead.

She slipped out in the direction the troopers were coming from; they were closing much faster than she'd like. She ducked in to an alley then, her lightsaber deactivated as she stood waiting for the troopers to start passing her by. She was still listening to Prospero as her reported on their progress and his own in shooting them. They were about to come around the corner, he mentioned, and then they were to the level of her alley. A pair of ranks passed her by, and then she heard a shot and saw the troopers come to a sudden halt, suddenly in a bit of disarray. That must have been the 'confusing them' that Prospero had mentioned. Well, it was her turn to keep up her end of the bargain. Her lightsaber ignited with a snap-hiss and with a quick burst of force-enhanced speed, she darted out from the alley. Her blade slashed quickly back and forth as she made her way across - none of her strikes aimed to kill, but rather maim. Taking off limbs was a decently good way to get people out of the fight, and she wasn't one to kill. Even if it was a battle they would probably lose with that mindset.

She made it across to the far alley without getting shot, and only a few blaster bolts had even been let out as she was in the middle of the troopers; too many shots would lead to them all blasting each other down. As it was a few of them fell to friendly fire, and then Aluae was through the mess of it and in to the alley opposite where she had started. She ducked quickly down a corner before the troopers could get to the entrance and shoot her in the back; she had managed to dismember a handful of troopers, but it had taken a bit out of her as she had used quite a bit of force speed there to keep from getting herself shot. She would need to rest before doing -that- again. Not really the huge impact she needed to make. She was still moving though, circling back around towards the entrance of the museum that the imperial war machine was moving towards.

She heard Prospero say he was repositioning and she radio'd an acknowledgement as she shifted back in to the entrance to the Emporer's Retreat, calling out to the few rebel forces entrenched here that the Imperial Troopers would be on their doorstep shortly. And then all hell would break loose. She would mostly be hiding in the entryway, as she wasn't necessarily great at deflecting blaster bolts, and hoping that there was some kind of reinforcements on their way. Surely one of these rebels would be bringing help, right?