Ask The Unstoppable Machine

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn had been pleasantly surprised to find out that he'd be working with Altair for this particular assignment. He didn't have many friends in the Sith - or at all for that matter - and having a familiar face in a stressful situation was about all he could ask for. He kind of hoped Altair felt the same. Truth was, Varyn had been pretty shaken after Dantooine, which meant it arguably wasn't his best showing. Would things be better now? Well, they would at least be different. Varyn had come to accept the things he was doing for better or worse. He didn't want to reflect on what that said about who he was becoming.

As part of training, the various military academies had sent students on IAF deployment to Telos. They were rather far down on the totem pole when it came to actual rank, but being Sith earned them some bonus points in terms of importance... or resentment as Varyn had discovered was the case with some troopers. He supposed it was the nature of things. He was pretty sure he'd heard a Sith Master say once that there were only two types of people in the world, those with power and those without, and Varyn was certain the woman would have chalked this up to resentment over power difference.

A rather brooding-like captain by the name of Spiers had been assigned to show them through the operation, and although the man looked perpetually like someone had pissed in his coffee, Varyn had heard excellent things about him: fearless and determined.

With a full Imperial Corps' worth of troops on the ground, the rear staging area where they set down was packed with people. Varyn didn't know how many camps had been set up across the planet, but between the ships flying overhead, the armor being unloaded, and the thousands of troops he saw at this camp alone, there was no question this was going to be one of the largest campaigns he'd been a part of so far. Vastly different than many of the smaller, precision operations he'd undertaken with only a handful of Sith.

Dressed in his usual all-black IAC armor, Varyn headed over to find Altair and get their first assignment. Or, actually, it was distinctly possible they'd be expected to just "shadow" the officers. He swore sometimes being back in an academy again was like being treated like a child all over again.

He rolled his eyes and pushed the thought from his head as he pushed inside the tent that he and Altair had been assigned.

You ready? he asked.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair had heard a lot about Telos and none of them were good things. It was a planet that was attempted to be taken multiple times and always near the same site - a seemingly cursed temple. Each time the battle went sideways and even the former Empress and Jedi Grandmaster were forced to flee the last assault. While Altair would have flatly refused if this engagement was for the temple again, it appeared the Sith finally decided to try different tactics this time.

He was already in the tent when Varyn entered, adorned in his officer uniform but not donning the helmet just yet. He surveyed the other Champion briefly before giving him a nod. They had a positive shared experience on their last mission and it had been a while since they last worked together. The nosy side of him was wondering if Vahliri was actually dating this guy. Rumors often floated around the Sith social circles and Altair was certainly popular and connected enough to hear them. Varyn was the loner type but even he wouldn’t be that oblivious to where he didn’t hear things circulating as well.

“All right listen up,” The Captain barked at last as a holographic terrain map projected between them, “For anyone wondering - no we’re not gonna go after the temple,” There was a collective sigh of relief from everyone, “Our first objective is the foothill town of Amul,” He pointed to a strategically located town that had mountainous regions on three out of four sides, “TSF has people positioned along the mountain ridges surrounding the town so we need a way to neutralize them before we can capture the town. The good news is that we have the element of surprise. They have no intel on us yet so their numbers are more lax.”

“We should go in with a smaller group,” Altair said, “People familiar with the terrain and staying camouflaged.”

Telos was difficult because of all the snow and ice - half the battle would simply getting positioned to do something effective.

Dice: 14/20 for element of surprise.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn's eyes squinted behind his helmet, not in anger or scorn but in that way that he was trying to read something that was just outside of clear vision. In this case, the thing he was trying to read was Altair. Not overtly through the Force or anything so intrusive, but just gaining a sense of who he really was. When they'd first met he was very stiff and formal, then they went through literal fires, and then things relaxed. Now they were back to formal. He mulled over the reasons for that and came up with an unhelpfully large number of possibilities.

Maybe Atlair had negative feelings about their last operation. Maybe this was just him being formal - probably appropriately to be honest - around command. Maybe it had something to do with the rumors he'd heard about he and Vahl. Varyn may not have been the most social person, but he still kept his ears open. He hadn't asked and Vahl hadn't offered the information - no shock - but he could guess. He mentally frowned as his mind opted to recite the rumors to him just in case he'd managed to put them out of his head.

Alternatively, maybe Varyn should stop overthinking things. Yeah, like that was going to happen. He was almost grateful for the briefing to start so he could be distracted.

It didn't take long for his mind to be completely buried in what they were doing. His eyes swept over the map projected on the table. It could have been worse, he supposed. Understrengthed force of locals, but they had strong defensive positions. Nothing the IAC couldn't handle, but he already knew it'd come at a cost.

He nodded to what Altair said. If they could take the ridge line they would have an excellent firing position for pushing on the rest of the town.

Sounds like you just volunteered, Champion Din, the Captain said. Aurek, Besh, and Cresh companies will be making the main push from the South once we've secured the ridgeline. Dorn and the remainder of Esk that doesn't accompany you will remain in reserve, he went on.

In all their wisdom, someone at Regiment has plans for this town and doesn't want to risk a rock slide or avalanche, so there will be no air or armor support, he said. There was a collective groan from those gathered. The job just got exponentially more difficult.

Lieutenant Siethman will be taking second platoon and our two cadets on the mountain assault, he said, motioning to Varyn and Altair. Any questions? he asked and paused for a moment.

Get ready to kick some teeth in. Good luck gentlemen, he said. The gathering began to break up and Lieutenant Siethman - who looked less than thrilled to have the two "saber jockeys" along - motioned for the pair to follow him.

Second platoon knows how to handle a job like this. I don't want you two jumping up in the front with your sabers and getting in my men's line of fire. Are we clear? he asked. Oh yes, Varyn just loved being the "new guy" again.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair quirked a brow when the Captain implied he volunteered, “Didn’t know I had a choice,” He quipped back with a faint grin. He listened to the rest of the briefing, finding no real holes in it so far. After the infamous avalanche last time, he couldn’t blame them for not desiring air support. Altair shrugged at the last comment, “I want some solid snipers then,” He said curtly as he stepped out of the tent.

The air was always cool and brisk on this planet, but he was largely unaffected by it. He kept his helmet off for now. It was a bit of a hike to the village according to his datapad, and he took inventory of all their equipment and the soldiers themselves. Thankfully, there were snipers amidst their ranks which would hopefully make the ridge neutralization an easier time.

Altair fell behind the group, letting the enlisted track ahead. He wasn’t the type to feel the need to always be showboating up front and preferred to let the experts do their jobs. This did mean that he fell into step beside Varyn.

“Long time,” He said as he walked, casting a brief side glance at him, “I never see you at the social events. Too cool for ‘em?” Altair quipped as a grin appeared on his face. While the tiefling wasn’t sure he planned on becoming bros with Varyn, he wouldn’t act like a jerk with him either. He had to actively keep his mind off the other stuff, though most of him was confused on why it was even a factor at all. Vahliri was perfectly at liberty to date whoever she pleased after all.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

They separated from the briefing room and as the others readied their gear, Varyn swapped into some more camouflage-appropriate cold weather gear. Black didn't really go with snow, after all.

They set out not much later, and he could already feel that familiar sense of anticipation and anxiety creeping up in him. He had been in several fights, but he had yet to really develop any sort of pre-battle rituals. He knew that many soldiers swore by them as a way to calm the nerves or put the mind as close to ease as you could get, but nothing had ever stuck for the young Jedi.

Once again, he was thankful for the distraction as Altair slipped in next to him. He glanced over at the other Champion.

Yeah, it's been a minute, hasn't it? he agreed with a nod. There was definitely a slight tension between them, and he could guess they both knew what that was about. He wondered silently if things got kinky with those horns followed immediately by a "what did you just say" in his own mind. He shook that thought off as quickly as he possibly could and then really, really tried to shake the thought once again of Vahl involved.

The other man's quip and grin actually made Varyn crack a smirk of his own. I'm flattered that you think I'm that cool. Don't I just ooze cool? he said, chuckling slightly, the words laced with very obvious sarcasm as he poked fun at himself.

Nah, I probably should come out for more to be honest. I went to one of the formal ones and had a nice time. Coming out and being social really cuts into my brooding time, though, you know? he said, trying his best to remain deadpan as he said it.

Congratulations on getting into Ziost, that's no small feat, he said, trying to keep things polite and not get into a you-know-what measuring contest with the other man. That just... well, it wouldn't help anyone, and it was better to keep any uncomfortable feelings he had in check. He was pretty sure he'd heard once in a class that that was considered an "immature coping mechanism" but screw those people. Well, Varyn, maybe you're being immature. Am I really being immature? The compliment was genuine!

The internal monologue with himself was - as usual - endless and very self-judgmental.

I'm almost surprised you have time for parties. I've heard they basically slam you with assignments constantly, he said. While factually, people worked at their best when they actually had some time away from their work, he'd not run across many Sith who actually embraced that mentality. Another thing that pointed to the fact that Altair and many of the other Sith he'd met were different. Not as cookie-cutter as the Jedi would have led him to believe.

They continued plodding along until the town came into view in the distance. Lights could be seen glowing as the sun began to slowly set in the distance. Night would give them the advantage again, which was good. Lieutenant Siethman went down the line, splitting everyone off and making sure everyone was prepared and had their jobs. As it turned out, Varyn and Altair got assigned to protect the snipers, which he was pretty sure was just a hope of keeping them out of the way.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair couldn’t help but chuckle softly when Varyn sarcastically mentioned being cool. He could always respect when a man could laugh at himself. The tiefling continued to walk beside him, “Being broody sounds exhausting,” He admitted as he walked, “Always gotta keep your face all screwed up,” He pointed to his horns, “I keep people away with just these,” He said with a grin. He had to admit that Varyn had diffused a bit of the tension with his quips.

“Thanks man,” He said genuinely, thinking back on how difficult it had been to get into Ziost, “My family was real thrilled,” Altair said cheerfully, “And congrats to you too. Didn’t know you wanted to get into military shit after our last mishap,” He didn’t forget how Varyn had to deal with that runaway intel operator on their last mission.

“I don’t have time for parties,” He said before he flashed the other man a grin, “I make time and sacrifice sleep,” He shrugged, “Always gotta network in the Sith. Doesn’t matter whether it’s your mouth or dick doin’ most of the talkin’,” Altair laughed before gazing ahead. As they got closer to their site, the tiefling crouched down and positioned himself behind a boulder to keep from being visible.

He looked through macrobinocs, spotting movement along the ridges. From the looks of it, there weren’t too many soldiers and they were spread thin. He handed the binocs to Varyn to look through, “They’ll have to time their shots and pick them off one by one without the others noticing,” Altair explained.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Dude, it's so hard, you wouldn't believe it, he said in response to the other man's comments about being broody. By now his face was a wide grin and he was certainly feeling a bit more relaxed himself. The fact of the matter was that he needed to enjoy life. Well, needed might have been too strong of a word, but he wanted to enjoy life. Being a Jedi and being willing to lay down your life was great, but he was still just a person. And as much as certain portions of the Order may try to turn them into droids, they weren't droids.

Really? I dunno, seem kind of cool, he said, remarking on the horns. Though, now that he thought about it, he could see how not everyone would think as much. He gave a genuine smile as Altair mentioned how happy his family was for him. It was so easy to forget how normal they all were.

Yeah, I wasn't sure for a while either, he admitted, but ultimately he'd been drawn back to it. He figured there was a great deal for him to learn, and to squander his time in the Empire would have been a waste. The mixed feelings he had about what he did... they had to be put aside. While he was with the Empire, he had to be with the Empire, not just in name.

But don't worry, I have your back, he assured. The last thing anyone wanted to think was that the man next to them wasn't going to be there when they were needed. Varyn wasn't going to be that person. The funny thing was that when he was boots on the ground, in a way, none of the causes really mattered. It was the people next to you that you were fighting for.

The comment regarding which head was doing the talking got more of an awkward chuckle out of Varyn than anything, and he once again tried not to think about who Altair had been with before. *Cough cough,* Vahliri.

As they settled in on the ridge, he took the offered macros and scanned over the ridge before his eyes fell on... something. He zoomed a bit and followed what he saw. It looked like a second path of some sort. The first Imperial squad moved up the ridge and Varyn watched them advance for a moment before handing the macros off to Altair again.

See that, he said, pointing in the general direction so that Altair could take a look. Looks like a ladder and a second path, doesn't it? he said. He had a growing unease in his mind. A shadow and a threat that seemed to loom over them. He'd learned enough over the last few years not to ignore it when it prompted him.

I thought I saw something moving over there, he said. He wouldn't have to voice aloud to Altair that he was concerned about an ambush. The Tiefling would be able to put it together all on his own.

Next to them, the first crack of a specialized rifle went off. They were slugthrowers specially requisitioned for the snipers so they would be as close to silent as they could be. If Altair looked, he would see a small red puff in the distance sprayed against the snow where one of the snipers had picked off the first of the guards.

The pair could risk checking the 'second path' out, but this was a military operation. Getting permission would have been the smarter course even if they were technically parallel ranks with the Lieutenant. Things got weird when you were both a Champion and a Cadet. They had more leeway than most others, but that could quickly be stripped away. It would probably be more prudent to let the Lieutenant know and let him make the call...

 

[Altair Din]

Altair looked over at Varyn when he said he would have his back. He gazed at him for a moment before giving a slight tilt of his helmeted head, “I know you do,” He said quietly in turn, sincerity in his voice. Regardless of whatever personal matters or concerns there were, on the battlefield Altair knew he could count on Varyn.

The tiefling took the macros back and looked through them to spot the second path. He glanced over briefly when their snipers began to take out some targets. So far no one had been alerted and it allowed Altair and Varyn a window of opportunity. Altair looked over at the other Champion, “How good are you with ranged weapons? If you can cover me, I can head over there to investigate,” It would mean they would both have to move from their positions and work in tandem to allow Altair to explore further.

Depending on his answer, Altair issued the order for the enlisted to maintain their positions and he relayed his plan. He could tell they were conflicted as it was technically not informing the man in charge, but Altair technically outranked them so… In the end they nodded in agreement.

Altair made his way down the side from where he was, barely avoiding slipping on ice as he did so. He was more thankful than ever for his tail that allowed him to maintain some degree of balance. Meanwhile, if Varyn wasn’t watching carefully, one of the guards would pop up on the opposite side and spot Altair. The man immediately brought up his rifle to aim towards the tiefling to shoot him. Varyn had a quick choice to make - either let it happen or act right then. No one would be the wiser either way.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn nodded at Altair's question and his implied plan. I passed quals, he said, referring to the qualifying weapons handling required for the IAF. He wasn't exactly a special forces marksman, but he could get by. He was no stranger to having a blaster in his hand, and had used them plenty while on undercover work.

Varyn grabbed one of the rifles brought up from the reserve gear, and moved along the ridge to support his fellow Champion.

As the two Sith slipped away, there was an odd mix of feelings from the men they left. Some felt relief - whether because the two were leaving or because the two were going to handle things, Varyn couldn't tell - while others seemed to feel anxiety that the two were slightly breaking protocol and the plan. In the end, Varyn decided that like his plan to go undercover in the first place, it was better to ask forgiveness than permission.

He picked a spot with a good overlook and placed the rifle against his shoulder and the snow embankment in front of him. The rifle barrel swiveled quietly over the ridgeline across from him, taking in for any signs of the enemy. The enemy? Wasn't he the enemy? Weren't the men he was covering the enemy? Those same questions he always faced came back to him now. As sure as they ever were, Varyn didn't feel like he had any great answers. What he did know was that answers or not, he'd have to make a decision soon.

The Force ticked at the back of his mind, warning him of the shooter moments before he appeared. It was one of the greatest strengths of being a Jedi or Sith, but it also meant that Varyn then had to make a choice.

Time almost stood still for a moment, and a dozen things ran through his mind. He thought first of the night on Ajan Kloss. The friends who had been killed at the hands of the Sith. Then he thought of his mother, killed by a gang that a Jedi had fought back, but not wiped out. He thought of how his father had been killed years later by the same gang, and it was Vahliri, a Sith, that had wiped them out. She had gone far enough to prevent something like that from happening again. He thought about his conversation with her on Raxus and the way she had with such quiet confidence told him that to make changes, he needed to gain his own power first. To be a match for Raze, he couldn't be weak.

He thought about his conversation with the Senator of Rattatak and the questions they had both raised. He thought about the things the Jedi said vs what they did. He thought about the hatred he had felt in their soldiers on Dantooine and he thought about how it was no better than the hate that filled members of the Empire.

He thought of it all, and for a moment, he weighed Altair's life against that of this random man who he would never know.

And then he squeezed the trigger.

The rifle bucked almost silently against his arm, the hardened metal buttstock leaving a bruise as the slug flew downrange and slammed into the head of the sentry. There was a moment's spray of pink mist, and it was over. No one would ever know. No one would ever care.

There was almost a sense of relief that swallowed him. The questions, concerns, and second-guessing seemed to be replaced with a single-minded goal. Everything seemed... clear.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair heard the shot ring out from Varyn and assumed the other Champion had spotted someone. The tiefling turned back and gave him a quick thumbs up in case he saw, appreciative of the cover provided. He continued on his way, walking along the tricky path to cut across to the other side.

Meanwhile, the enlisted were making great progress with the sniping. The soldiers that popped up were taken off guard thanks to the element of surprise. Within moments, there was a clear path to descend down towards the town and capture it. With the threat neutralized, they began to quickly approach down the slopes towards the village.

The tiefling finally arrived on the opposite side where Varyn had spotted a path. Altair climbed along it and hoisted himself up over the edge. He came up on the other side and was suddenly face to face with….a child? It was a small boy in a thick jacket with wide eyes. He shrieked, turned, and bolted. The tiefling’s face furrowed in confusion as he stared after the child. That was when he looked around and spotted countless footsteps along the snow. Altair quickly began to follow the footsteps and came up on a slight hill. When he looked over it, he brought out his macrobinocs and looked through them. He could see a massive group of civilians hastily making their way away together. The child he came across quickly ran to join the group.

“What the…” Altair whispered to himself as his face furrowed in confusion. It then occurred to him that the entire town was being evacuated and emptied. His eyes slowly began to widen. Altair quickly reached for his comlink, “ABORT! ABORT! THE TOWN IS STAGED! IT’S A TRA-”

That was precisely when an explosion erupted behind him. Right where the enlisted were. Right where Varyn potentially still was. It would be seconds before an avalanche would rumble and begin.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn steadied his breathing, his sights momentarily swiveling over to Altair to watch his advance, and he saw the thumbs up, eliciting a low, amused snort. They did make a good team, didn't they?

His scope swung along the edges of the village again and it seemed odd that there were so few people. True enough, it was night, but there was no nightlife? He didn't really think anything of it at first, but the continued lack of further opposition seemed odd. Almost too easy.

He heard the crackle of the message on the comlink before everything turned to chaos. There was a crack like thunder and a flash of light that was enough to almost stun him if it weren't for the shaking he could feel pulsing through his organs as the concussive blast struck him.

The Champion was thrown to the side, his body slamming into a snow bank that quickly began to shift. The troopers around him didn't fair any better as the snow began to slide. Varyn tried to scramble back to his feet, but none of his attempts to gain a footing and leap out of the way were successful.

The first wave of snow pummeled into him as he scrambled, over the top, knocked once again off of his feet. He could see other men swept away and buried under it and he, too, was eventually engulfed. Everything became a swirl of white as his entire world was thrown on its end.

He must have blacked out because the next thing he knew, the comm chatter was buzzing in his ear. He wasn't even sure which way was up and which was down. The weight of snow pressed in on him from every side, and he thanked the Force that he wasn't dead and nothing seemed broken. That sense of relief was quickly replaced by a sense of panic. Panic that he was buried, panic that he wouldn't have enough air, panic that it was already hard to breathe with all this snow around him.

He groaned quietly unable to reach his comlink to activate it. He tried to slow his panicked breathing, reaching out to the Force. He tried to touch Altair's mind amidst all the panic and chaos, hoping he would be able to hone in on the feeling. Because if not... well, Varyn didn't want to think about what happened "if not."

You better start channeling the Force to lift this snow if not. Dying's not an option, he told himself for almost no other reason than to just keep himself calm and not panic.

 

[Altair Din]

Varyn would feel the crushing weight of the snow pressing down on him and burying him deeper and deeper. He would be completely unable to move as more and more snow piled on, the abrupt pressure and weight breaking his focus as panic would begin to settle in. His chest couldn’t rise for him to take a breath and the slimmest bit of light disappeared above him. It felt worse than drowning as he was caught paralyzed and unable to move in any direction. He would be faced with his own death staring him in the face with every limb weighed down by snow.

Air would leave his lungs and his head would begin to get dizzy. There were no sounds he could hear and no matter how much he cried out, no one could hear him. There was nothing but darkness. Time stood still and seconds slipped by.

Varyn would be almost mentally removed from the situation by the time a sound began to erupt. It began with distant shuffling and progressively grew louder and louder. There was a massive pulse as the pressure from his chest began to slowly ease. Without warning, hands plowed through the thick layer of snow to grasp the front of his armor. He was physically yanked up with force until he could see the familiar silhouette of horns against the backdrop of the bright sun behind them.

Altair physically yanked Varyn out from beneath the snow pile, setting him down on the fresh bed of snow next to it. The tiefling loomed over him, “Are you okay, dude?!” The concern in his voice was apparent as his comlink blew up. He had to speak into the channels while keeping an eye on Varyn and the other Champion would be able to hear Altair’s voice almost like an echo, “We’ve been compromised. They knew we were coming. We lost all our men - the entire village is under an avalanche. I think we have a mole,” He rapidly fired off before looking back down at Varyn to make sure he was okay.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

At first the snow began to move as he focused on the Force, but as the seconds ticked by and the air in the tiny space and in his lungs expired, it became harder to focus. His mind seemed to drift away as hypercapnia and narcosis set in. Fear like streaks of red tore through his mind, there was nothing in the galaxy but the moments of panic that ticked by as he realized this was the end. All he'd been through, all he'd fought for, and he would die on Telos, buried under a ton of snow, and drowning in air.

He was barely even aware of what was going on when Altair grabbed him and hauled him out. His lungs kicked back into gear on their own and he ripped the face covering of his gear from his face, gulping in whatever he could get.

I'm fine, he lied through gasping breaths. Go help the others, he said, waving a hand. It was only a few moments later when Altair didn't move that things began to settle in. There were no others. He couldn't sense any other lifeforms in the Force.

He buried his face in his hands for a moment, trying to right himself. Trying to clear his mind or find his center, but all he could feel was the shake of his hands as the adrenaline finished coursing through him. It took him several seconds before he realized what Altair had said.

A mole? Who? he asked, though the question wasn't so much to Altair as just the general air. There was no way Altair knew either and Varyn once again ran his hands over the top of his head. His breathing was starting to slow now and he pushed himself back to his feet, surveying the landscape to see what was left in the wake. It had all been washed away. The village, the men, everything was covered in a blanket of snow and ice. He couldn't believe he had survived, and it occurred to him that there was one reason for that.

Thanks, Altair, he said. He spared them both from a long sappy moment, but it still needed saying.

I see it, we have two options. We either go back to Esk company and report our concerns, he said, his voice betraying that that wasn't really his first choice. He doubted they'd listen, and even if they did the investigation would be so caught up in red tape nothing would ever get done.

And would that be so bad? Do you want the mole to be found? he asked himself. What better way to prove yourself than digging out another spy? Deeper into the Shadows. After all, whoever this was nearly killed you and did strike a major blow to the offensive, he tried to justify it.

Or we go after the insurgents ourselves. Force them to give up their source or find information on them, he said. It was clear he thought this was the better of the two ideas.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair simply nodded when Varyn thanked him, “You woulda done the same,” He stated simply, not bothering to pause and ponder whether that was true or not. The tiefling considered their options and thought of another idea. He wasn’t the biggest fan, but it could prove to be most effective.

“I saw where the civilians began to head,” He said as he pointed back towards where Varyn had identified the path, “It’s beyond that ridge. They’re all out in the open and marching towards something,” Altair explained, “We could…hold ‘em hostage to lure out the insurgents.”

It was a very Sith plan and he knew it, but such was the nature of their work. However, would Varyn go for it? With only the two of them left, the plan would be impossible without his help. Altair didn’t comm anyone else just yet, silently waiting for the Champion’s answer.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn pushed himself back to his feet, brushing the snow from his clothes as the adrenaline barely began to subside. He checked his lightsaber and other gear as he thought about what Altair suggested. He... well, he didn't really love it, but maybe they could do it without actually harming any of the civilians.

He knew even as he thought it that it probably wasn't very realistic. You have to do what you have to do, but maybe you can find an alternative, he thought.

If we have to but there might be someone we can capture for the information. Surely some of the TSF went with the civvies, right? How are you with mental manipulation? he asked. Mind Probe wasn't something he had been taught by the Jedi, but he knew how to use a mind trick. They weren't all that different. Together they might be able to pull it off?

Varyn, you're literally suggesting ripping someone's mind apart. Well, it's better than killing civilians.

Let's head on and see what we find, he suggested. Yeah, just keep moving. Forward, always forward. No more looking back. You've spent enough of your life second guessing yourself.

He moved quickly - or as quickly as he could through the snow - and followed the path Altair had pointed to, starting to mull over in his mind what they were up against.

Kriff, they just buried all these people's homes and probably sacrificed a whole squad just to kill what... a platoon? he said. They were going to fight tooth and nail, weren't they? Scorched earth to the last man. It was going to be a grisly campaign at this rate.

People should know when they're conquered, he said, the words rang even more in his head as he thought about what he'd said about the Jedi over the last year. They'd had their opportunity to stop the Sith and failed. They needed to either make peace or find another niche away from warring with the Sith. They needed to know that it was too late.

Overhead, he saw bombers flying on to another city or town, and the distant sound of explosions rang out. The other assaults had begun, and he wondered how many of them would result in massacres because of this mole.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair shook his head, “I’m absolute shit with the mental stuff,” He admitted, “I can do the basic mind trick crap, but I bet a particularly stubborn person could overwhelm it,” He shrugged, not afraid to talk about where his skillset didn’t lie. He rose up and began to walk with Varyn, looking over the valley below that was now covered in snow. The terrain here was terrible and any misstep or even a loud echo could trigger an avalanche from the looks of it.

The tiefling nodded as Varyn spoke about the lengths the people went to stop the platoon, “They may not have known it was just a platoon,” He gazed out over the snow, “These people know their lands way better than we ever will. They’ll prolly set up sentries and wait for us to walk around in the open and pick us off,” Altair may have wanted to kill these enemies, but that didn’t mean he didn’t respect their ingenuity. Their commanding officer had made some serious errors in underestimating both the TSF and the civilians. This campaign would be incredibly tough even without any overt actions.

Altair scoffed at Varyn’s statement about people knowing when they’d be conquered. He made his way towards the path that led to the opposite ridge, taking one last look down at the valley, “Would you, Varyn? Would I?” He said grimly before he hoisted himself up over the hill. Altair handed Varyn the macrobinocs.

“Take a look,” He said, “I didn’t see any soldiers with the civvies, but see if you spot any. If you zoom in a lot, you can prolly see they’re following a very specific trail. They’re dusting their footprints too,” Altair explained, knowing that the civilians were doing everything in their power to keep from being followed.

“We can track them on foot or in an aircraft,” He explained, neither option ideal. The aircraft would loom above and make noise and tracking meant wandering into terrain they didn’t know how to navigate, “What do you think?”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Well that was unfortunate, but Varyn couldn't say he was surprised. Varyn wasn't a specialist in the mental either, and from what he'd seen that usually came when you were... more mature. Masters and Councilors had a real fetish for mind things.

Yeah, not really my specialty either, he said. Maybe they would have to reconsider his suggestion. For now, though, he traipsed through the snow along with Altair, trying to step carefully and really not eager to be buried in another avalanche. He said a silent thank you to the Force when they managed to get on semi-solid footing again.

He nodded when Altair talked about how well they knew this land, and it was... quite true. The realization that they were totally outmatched settled in his stomach, but he wasn't going to turn back now.

Yeah... we'll have to be careful. I wonder if there's somewhere to flank around, he said, but shook his head as soon as he'd said it. They would know their land better than either of them, as Altair had just said. Kriff.

He thought about what Atlair said in response to him. No, Varyn would have fought, wouldn't he? Or was he admitting to defeat by turning his attention to climbing in the Sith? Was he giving up on the Jedi? No, not really... just taking a different path. The Jedi had betrayed themselves in many ways, and there was still good he could do for them here. This was the only path to peace.

He took the macros and looked down, watching the civilians as they dusted away their tracks and considering what Altair said.

I'd love to go by air, but I don't think that's a very realistic option. We'll be spotted and shot down and never track them back to their camp, he said. Not that he loved tracking them on foot either, but they were Sith. Surely they could handle whatever was thrown at them, right?

I don't see any soldiers either, he agreed, hand going back to tap his saber hilt to reassure himself.

Which I assume means they're on overwatch, he said, swiveling the macros to scan the surrounding mountains.

Think we can catch up to them and draw out the ambush? he asked. I can draw fire and you work through the overwatch troops, he said. It was only fair. Altair had been the blaster-bait last time, it was Varyn's turn.

Head over to that ridge. That's where I'd post up, he suggested, pointing to another mountain-ridge that gave overlook of where the civvies were heading. Varyn would head on, looking to cut off at least some of the civilians and play catch up. Surely with old, sick, and children he could outpace them... even through the snow, right?

He pulled his clothes tighter around himself against the biting cold and pulled his saber hilt out to hold in his gloved hand.

For Altair's part, he would head up to see that the mountain pass was slick with fresh ice, but he would see the occasional missed boot print to tell him he was on the right track, though how many people he faced was still a mystery. For all the pair knew, they were going to stumble across an entire battalion.

 

[Altair Din]

Altair shook his head at Varyn’s suggestion, “I ain’t the best from range,” He admitted to the other Champion, “I’m much better up close. I’m gonna track them and try to see what they’re planning,” He explained, glancing out towards the group, “I don’t think catching up will be as easy as we think. These people know this terrain way better than we do.”

He clapped Varyn on the shoulder, “You looked out for my ass once, I know I can count on ya,” Altair grinned at him before popping the helmet back on. This would leave Varyn to go towards the ridge and himself to follow after the civilians. Altair knew better than to trust the ground beneath his feet as he slowly began to make his way towards the townspeople. He also carefully ensured he was concealed behind mounds of snow or boulders to hide his approach.

The air was biting and cold and Varyn would feel the full brunt of it. Altair was resistant to extreme temperatures but even he felt uncomfortable in the weather. It began to snow after a moment and the skies were gray and gloomy. The tiefling commed Varyn, “You holdin’ up okay?” He asked, concerned about his human companion, “I’m makin’ decent progress but they show no signs of slowing down,” He was impressed by their resilience. They were all covered in thick fur clothing and were trekking expertly through the snow - even the children.

After a moment they began to funnel into a crevice between two tall mountains. Altair didn’t follow them immediately, concerned about any cover they had, “Do they have sentries posted above the gorge? Can you see?” He commed Varyn, hesitant to follow the civilians into a trap.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn headed off toward the ridge, somewhat touched by the confidence that Altair had in him. He tried to step carefully as he covered the icy path, thankful for the Force's influence on his movement and hoping it wouldn't betray him by sending him plummeting to his death.

His fingers were stiff, and even with the cold weather gear, he felt like he was losing feeling in his fingers. Prickles of cold spread all along his legs and he started to itch. He pulled the covering up tighter over his face, right up against the goggles.

Kriffing cold, but otherwise fine, he said. I've got a few boots here and there, but nothing else right now. No sign of any stationary... was all the further he got when a blaster shot cracked through the air. It tore just passed his head, and he ducked instinctively, saber flashing to light.

And that was when he realized there was no cover.

Kriff, it's an ambush! he shouted out, deflecting a shot into the ground near him. He fell back along the path, his foot slipping on the ice and sending him sprawling onto his back as more blaster fire rang out.

From the ground below, Altair would be able to just barely make out the flashes from where the fight was taking place.

I'm going to try to fall back and loop around. Assume there's contact on the ridge! he shouted, scrambling roughly back to his feet and falling back, trying to reach the boulders he had passed a handful of meters back.

 

[Altair Din]

“Varyn!” Altair called out as he heard the sounds of blasterfire over the comms, “VARYN!” He prepared to shout again until he heard the champion report it was an ambush.

“What the fuck, again?!” Altair cursed as he watched the civilians disappear into the gorge. Instead of pursuing, he turned and doubled back towards Varyn, “We’re ditchin’ this until we can find the mole. Send me your location when you get a chance!” He said quickly. If it weren’t for Varyn’s warning, he likely would’ve dropped dead the moment he set foot into the gorge.

This meant they would lose the trail on the civilians and any soldiers accompanying them. The weight of loss began to weigh heavily on his shoulders. The storm was getting worse, visibility growing scarce. They had lost their men and now they had lost a lead. Altair was beyond frustrated at the turn of events, but he wasn’t foolish enough to walk into a gorge and get killed in an instant.

“Where are you?” Altair called out in the comms, the snowstorm picking up. He used his arm to shield his eyes, his legs sinking deep into the snow.