Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
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Post by Lord Nexus on Sept 29, 2022 4:24:06 GMT -8
Wayland
The Dark Lord wasted no time upon receiving Kaine's transmission. He passed instructions to his Forsworn to ensure that his men were ready to break camp and leave at a moments notice. Along with this, he commanded them to prep the fleet crews to be ready to board, as the fleet was on its way to Wayland. After receiving affirmation that his orders were received, he made his way back to his ship, The Arrakis. The vessel's engines emitted a low whispering whine, before suddenly roaring to life as the ship lifted from its informal landing area and made its way to the coordinates sent by Kaine.
Moments later
The crescent shadow on the ground mirrored the vessel above as it made its way to the Mandalorian outer perimeter. Darth Nexus hailed the Mandalorians on the open channel, stating his name and business. Upon receiving access and landing coordinates, the Arrakis touched down. The engines fell silent, only to be replaced by the hiss of hydraulics pumps as the landing platform lowered to the ground. Then came heavy footsteps, as boots met the metal ramp; each step rang out like a war drum, in a slow ominous rhythm.
The Sith emerged from beneath his ship, clad from head to toe in his battle armor; unlike what most of Clan Australis was accustomed to seeing him in, he was not wearing his Beskar'gam, but his original armor. The armor looked bulk and archaic, yet all the same it had an ornate finish and the plates held a strange gleam indicating that it was not simply plate armor, but something augmented. Over his left shoulder, Lord Nexus carried a metallic cylinder, and in his right hand was a small chest. He was greeted by several men who he had served with in his last visit to Byss, they greeted each other with a mutual nod before the men led the Sith towards where Kaine was situated.
Darth Nexus crossed the threshold to find Kaine drinking already. He let out a low rumbling chuckle, that was distorted behind his bone helmet. Setting down the canister and chest, he crossed the room stopping a few feet from Kaine. Reaching up with both hands, Nexus removed his helmet to reveal his gruff, tattooed face. His silver hair tumbled out as well, tied in a war braid. He was a fierce sight to behold, and looked far healthier than when Kaine last saw him. The same could not be said for his Mandalorian brother at arms. A wry smirk danced upon the Dark Lords lips as he set his helmet on the table.
"You look like you got a head start on the battle without me Ner'vod...I am jealous of you."
With that, he returned to the chest, bringing it to the table and opening it. The contents inside were revealed to be a large bottle of amber liquid and several ornate metal tumblers. He set three on the table and uncorked the bottle. The smell would cause most nostrils to flare, as it smelled like fire. He poured himself a glass, and one for Kaine, offering it to him.
"Kashyyk fire whiskey, from Feral Ragnos' old collection - drink at your own risk."
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Aug 30, 2022 11:46:33 GMT -8
The silent peace of Wayland's orbit was once again disrupted, though this time rather than a motley crew of random vessels, it met a tight formation consisting of over a dozen large transport vessels. Each vessel was shaped akin to a two pronged fork - allowing troops and vehicles in the forward prongs, while munitions and cargo would remain in the stern. These vessels all glided towards a vector provided by Darth Nexus' forces, along with a series of instructions which guided them each into a designated landing zone.
The vessels did not take long to touch down, forming the outer most ring of the makeshift base camp. Upon landing in formation, the vessels created a daunting outer wall, allowing for several entrances, though these ended up becoming choke points and kill boxes respectively. With their arrival, and subsequent unloading of cargo, the camp began to take its true shape. Manned by droids, the vessels unloaded their contents, including munitions, rations, armaments and various other supplies. Heavy E-web turrets were placed at each choke point, which was manned by a squad of Citadel company.
While defenses were tightened, supplies were spread through out the camp, and beyond the walls, several units began to set up training grounds for target practice, physio and CQC replicas. A military grade command center was erected with prefab structures where the Arrakis had been previously parked. The Arrakis had moved to beyond the outer walls, where the Forsworn and Lord Nexus had set up a separate camp made of prefab buildings.
As the camp blossomed, the Dark Lord watched, smiling behind his helmet (which he always wore when he was at war). There was nothing quite like the thrill of the fight to Nexus. He convened a small council with the Forsworn, explaining his strategy for the coming battle.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Aug 29, 2022 10:53:11 GMT -8
WAYLAND - Dark Legion EncampmentThe Dark Lord disembarked the Arrakis to see a formation of men that filled him with a sense of pride. These men, who had not been on active duty for years, lacked none of their previous fervor, dedication and discipline. The first to greet the Dark Lord were his Forsworn - chief commanders of his military forces. At their head was Sanguine, the first among them, clad in his polished black battle raiment. With him stood were his four brothers in arms, all trained by the Dark Lord himself.
If Sanguine was to be the first among them, there was no doubt that his second was Abbraxis, a fierce and towering Epicanthix who was tall even among his own people. Abbraxis was the de facto second-in-command of the Hssiss - the fierce power suit wearing shock troops that sewed terror in the hearts of most that saw them on the battlefield. As such, Abbraxis wore a suit much like theirs - a modified Mark VI Power suit equipped with shield generators and stealth field generators, however his was gun-metal with red accents, while the other Hssiss often wore varying shades of blue.
Along with Abbraxis stood Vag'har, Noxis, and Ajax - together with Sanguine, these five warriors were the Forsworn, first among men in the ranks of Darth Nexus. They were his pupils and disciples, and while none of them held the title of Sith (nor did they wish to), they were all masters of the force and held unique specialties which made them invaluable assets. They acted as field commanders in the stead of their Lord, and spoke with his voice. All were tried and true in battle, and all were unfathomably loyal to the Dark Lord- for without him, they would be nothing more than forgotten remnants of a bygone era.
The five forsworn each fell to one knee, bowing a head in reverence to their master, however Nexus did not indulge in this flattery, and was prompt to summon them to rise."Stand, for we have no time to kneel with the battle ahead. Each of you must take command of a squad of Praetorians and make your units. We will be attacking our home world - and while we have the upper hand with our knowledge of Byss, we must be ready to face the unexpected. You know your duty. Command our men, and grant us a swift, undoubtable victory. We must take back our home from these invaders, and remind them that a sleeping beast is still deadly when roused." With that, the Dark Lord lifted his left arm in the air, with his hand balled into a fist, then bellowed their mantra.
"Without order, nothing exists; without chaos, nothing evolves." The Forsworn repeated his chant in booming voices, then matched his gesture, before bringing their fists down, saluting Darth Nexus by banging the fists against their left breast plates. With the salute, each of the Forsworn made their way through the camps, gathering men - some who served in the past, others who showed promise to the particular forsworn that had come across them. In a matter of hours, units were created, and the camp began to take shape. Sanguine began orchestrating commands to build the camp in a more organized sense, allowing each unit to remain as one, versus being scattered among each other.
As Darth Nexus' camp began to take form, more and more order was seen. The vessels had repositioned themselves post landing, forming a series of concentric circles acting as barricades, with the largest ships forming the outer most circle, while gradually forming smaller circles based upon the size of the vessels. Between these circles, various tarps and make shift camps had been erected. Units had began intermingling - first and foremost was the unit designated as home guard, who would remain on Wayland to protect the base camp in the event of an outside incursion. While no one but allies knew their plans, the Dark Lord saw fit to implement this contingency in the unlikely event that a spy was amongst them. The Home Guard unit, hence forth known as Citadel Company, consisted of 250 men split into 5 platoons of 50- 225 of which were Dark Legionnaires, 20 of which were Hssiss commandos, and 5 of which were Praetorians, acting as commanders for their respective platoons.
While not as powerful as the Forsworn, the Praetorians were fierce commanders in their own right. Acting as generals of the army, they too were trained by Darth Nexus in use of the force, as well as the art of war. Each of them was a seasoned and skilled warrior, and a miraculous tactician. Much like the Sith, these ranks consisted of the strong - those who proved weak were culled, only to have another take their place. The severity of their role was not lost upon them, as they knew each battle could mean life or death should they fail in their task - and some times that death came from the Dark Lord himself. As such, they were effective, disciplined and cunning - if the Forsworn were the arteries of the Dark Lords army, these men and women would be the major veins.
Among the ranks, Praetorians began to get their houses into order - answering only to the Forsworn and Darth Nexus himself, they shaped their units for their tasks at hand. All the while, Darth Nexus had established a makeshift command center near the Arrakis, and began to set up communication equipment.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Aug 29, 2022 7:26:55 GMT -8
Wayland
The usually silent space around the planet Wayland reflected the desolate nature of the planet itself - with minimal activity save for a few small sects, the planet was all but abandoned. This silence was broken, suddenly, when bright flashes erupted in the void of space. Hundreds of flashes in varying intervals illuminated the night, like a firework show - though no one was there to truly appreciate it. The last of the flashes occurred just as the planet had begun a new rotation cycle. The previously lifeless abyss (save for one ship on the other side of the planet) was now teeming with an armada of various ships.
These were not warships, however, but rather a motley fleet of transports and support craft. While at first glance, it appeared as though they were a disjointed force that seemed to gather at the same place by some miracle of coincidence, they soon fell into a formation. The ships created an orderly column, and as a whole, began to descend to the surface of Wayland - making it a point to land on the dark side of the planet.
Among these ships was a lone Nubian J-Type Diplomatic Barge, though it was clear this was no ordinary Nubian vessel. Rather than sporting the usual chrome, this vessel had an ominous matte black hull, giving it the appearance of a sinister broad headed arrow. The surrounding vessels allowed the Nubian to take point on the descent, for many knew who sat aboard. None other than their lord and commander, Darth Nexus.
The Arrakis, as the vessel was known, was the first to touch down after navigating around several mountain passes and forests in favor of a large clearing. As the vessel touched the planets surface, it was soon followed by many others - more than the naked eye could see. This clearing, which was massive and out of place for the usually mountainous and forest filled world of Wayland, had been strategically selected as a staging ground for a base camp. This was where his army would meet, and be organized, debriefed and familiarized with one another. It had been long since the last reunion of the Dark Legion, Hssiss, Praetorians and Forsworn - in the stead of many who were too old to fight stood their sons, who were brought up on tales of glory. These green boys would need to be trained, fortunately there was a fair share of veterans who could prepare them for the coming battle.
As the last of the ships touched down, the Forsworn, who were all in attendance, began orchestrating setting up the camp with their officers. While at first the camp would be sparse, this would be only for a short while, as several large transport vessels were on their way to the backwater planet loaded with supplies to prepare the men.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Aug 8, 2022 5:39:49 GMT -8
In the silence of night a shadow crept over the city moon's lower level. The shadow could not be seen by the naked eye, for Nar Shaddaa's lower levels were in a state of constant darkness save for the neon glow of signs and lights near by - it was a city of forever night. Though the shadow could not be seen, it could certainly be felt. It was subtle at first, with a looming sense of discomfort sewing itself into the hearts and minds of the citizens. It did not take long for this comfort to grow into something more sinister - through out the city, numerous minds fell prey to psychosis, hearing a cacophony of increasingly discordant whispers, while some who sought refuge from their misery in the warmth of their dreams would suddenly find themselves trapped in nightmares of their own making. The shadow targeted the weaker minds to sew fear, while the stronger minds would be able to repel the attack.
The shadow sought only one mind, however, one that would be familiar to it - one that was bound to its master through blood and war. The shadow sought the Man With No Name. Its presence would brush against his mind, though unlike those who were taken unawares, there was no whispering, nor any hints of psychosis - just one voice, low and powerful as it was slow and deliberate. The voice was one that the man had not heard in many years. It was the voice of Darth Nexus.
"Rise Sanguine, I have returned and there is much work to be done. Summon your contacts and meet us on the planet of Wayland, in the Outer Rim. Summon those who remain loyal to me."
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 27, 2022 5:28:53 GMT -8
An encrypted transmission reaches the head of orders at MandalMotors, accompanied by a data packet. The encryption is one of Mandalorian origin, and as such is easily decoded by the team at MandalMotors, though were it to be intercepted by others, it would appear as nothing more than asymmetrical gibberish. A helmeted head appears on a near by holoprojector, his features shielded by a unique Beskar'gam helmet which had an angular finish, contrasting the appearance than most traditional helmets. A voice spoke out, one with a very subtle Mandalorian accent, which would only be picked up by a fellow mando.Greetings, as per directive of Kaine Australis, I am placing an order in for a fleet. Please see the attached file with details, including blueprints to unique vessels. These blueprints are not to be sold to anyone outside of the clan. Let me know once they are ready Order Details1 Leviathan Mk II 2 Victory II-Class Star Destroyers 3 Adamant-Class Frigate 3 Teroch-Class Heavy Frigates 6 Kranak-Class Fortress Carriers Respective Star Fighter Complements Total: 408 Star Fighters 34 Fighter Squadrons total - Divided as follows10 Squadrons of Claymore-Class Assault Fighters 8 Squadrons of Javelin-Class Interceptors 12 Squadrons of 2 Seated, heavy armed variant Authentic Besul'iiks 4 Squadrons of K Wing Star Fighters End of Transmission
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 21, 2022 10:55:02 GMT -8
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 17, 2021 6:25:47 GMT -8
Darth Nexus rose his glass to meet Maximus, countering his toast with one of his own.
"May the maw of chaos wait forever more for our glorious arrival!"
Bringing his drink to his glass, he allowed himself to smile for the first time since his freedom. It was a real smile, the one that conveyed itself in the eyes, rather than the mouth. The Dark Lord had forgotten the clamor of the Mortus in his time away - yet even in comparison to before, the bar was quite alive today. Maximus and Sinistra with their coy exchange - Lamia with gears turning, hidden by the veneer of a calm and casual demeanor, and then came the Thallassan. Her aura was distinct, and familiar to Nexus - they had once crossed paths in a more...interesting...time. The dark lord's eyes shifted to the door before she emerged, and locked with hers as soon as she saw him. He sensed the trepidation, and smirked. She did remember him.
He was not the same man she had met all those years ago - the fire brand ambitious loud mouth with a penchant for drinking, fighting the wrong people and flirting with their wives - now he was a stoic, cautious man who had learned from many years of many mistakes. Even so, he gave her a polite wave and smile.
"Syren of Thallassa, I knew it was a matter of time before Manaan's charm would bring you here!"
A glint of his boyish-self could be seen in his eyes for the briefest of seconds. He turned his attention to Sinistra, who introduced herself, giving her a knowing glance, before returning his attention to his drink. He took a sip, stifling a chuckle as Syren's apprentice entered the room. Nexus glanced at the young Togrutan as she stopped in her tracks, noting her wide eyes. Clearly this apprentice was as greener than a canopy on Yavin. The sith's eyes drifted towards the holocron in her hands, before returning to Syren as she introduced them.
"Greetings Desyre, rest assured, we don't bite." He smirked, knowing a little about the Togrutan philosophy. "We are the 'necessary' evil. Think less Akul, more forest fire." He resisted the urge to make a passing joke about being a 'good little apprentice before the Dark Tide came knocking', yet figured it would probably not come off as funny to the jedi.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 1, 2021 12:17:49 GMT -8
Something was watching him, just out of his scope of perception. Rather than violently spin to confront what ever managed to sneak up on him, Malakaii closed his eyes, reaching out with the force. The void was shattered in an instant. The stillness of the darkness was encroached upon by an aberration in the force. Where there was previously a void of all things save for the dark side force, now there was a flurry of overwhelming energy - recoiling as he reached out with the force. It was a cacophony of voices, some singing, some screaming and others laughing, accompanied with emotions - a maelstrom of ecstasy, despair and primal hatred. It was everything, and nothing - unperceivable to the eye and undecipherable to the mind. It was as though chaos was given form for a brief second.
Malakaii did not recoil from this aura. That was not to say that the young man was not afraid, so much as he did not act upon that fear. If years in battle had taught him one thing, it was the simple rule "If you panic, you die.". The young man remained still as the presence suddenly withdrew itself- he did not move a muscle, nor did he retract his aura. He remained silent and static as the maelstrom subsided, waiting to see what would happen. The void engulfed everything once more, as Malakaii waited patiently, hardening himself for the maelstrom to return. It did not, and seconds turned to minutes as the young man waited in anticipation. Something else emerged from the shadows - a different aura; rather than chaotic and overwhelming, this one was reserved, reaching out with what seemed like trepidation.
The aura was foreign to his mind - ancient and powerful unlike anyone that he had encountered on Korriban so far. In its current state, it presented a cold and calculating aura, juxtaposed by an almost child-like curiosity. He felt the assessing him, probing to find out if he was a threat. After a few minutes passed, he heard a faint whisper in the back of his mind. The voice was low, gravelly, yet subdued. The words it spoke conveyed feeling more than language - though it DID say words, just not in a language that Malakaii could interpret. He felt confusion and fear, which were then overwhelmed by a sense of pride and indignance. Then finally there was anger, and what seemed like a question, or a demand. It spoke for a few moments before falling silent - yet before Malakaii had a chance to question what he just felt and heard, the voice spoke again, this time in galactic basic. His words were slow and drawn out, akin to a pensive man thinking aloud.
"A guest? I have not felt the presence of another in so long...Who are you? Why are you here? You are not Jen'ari - no...too young...and not sith. Not true Sith...Curious..."
Malakaii did not speak, as the presence poked and prodded, akin to a beast examining a stranger. He knew better than to provoke something this ancient, especially given the fact that it was buried on Korriban. Suddenly, a chilling sensation crawled up the skin of his arms and legs, causing him to subconsciously twitch. What felt akin to cold tendrils reached out from the entity, brushing over his skin and coiling around him, like vines ensnaring a statue. He dared not move, but his eyes lowered to his arms, where he felt the strange sensation - expecting to see an alien appendage wrapped around his arms, yet there was nothing there - at least nothing that the eye could see. But he knew what he felt, something was there. After a few seconds of silence as the tendrils wrapped around his arms and legs, the voice spoke once more - this time it was louder and more pronounced.
"Not true sith...but there IS potential. I taste blood and death, clinging to you like an intoxicating perfume. And...Rage...Interesting indeed...Pain, so much pain...This is why you have come. You wish to use these things to become strong...like us. Hmmmm...Curious"
Then it was gone - as suddenly as it appeared, it became one with the surrounding darkness once more. He felt the tendrils relax their grips and recede into the darkness, though the chill from their embrace remained, as well as the shameful sense of violation. The young man had shuddered before returning to his senses.
"What the hell was that..." He muttered.
Without missing a beat, the presence made itself known once more. But it had a different aura this time; rather than cold and subdued, it was manic with energy. Clearly what ever this ancient entity was, it was erratic, which made it even more dangerous. The gravely voice was gone, replaced by a higher pitched voice, one that conveyed its energy in the speed of its speech. Where before the words were drawn out and calculated, these words frenzied, almost hungry - filled with an eagerness similar to an giddy child.
"Ah...it speaks! I thought you were a mute - it is rude not to answer questions as a guest. I may punish you for that...maybe...I have yet to decide...No. Instead, I will test you, to see if you are worthy of my time. Go on then...Open the door, enter my domain..."
It disappeared once more - for a brief second Malakaii scowled in annoyance, clearly this was another test from the academy to weed out the weak from the worthy. Shifting his eyes to the door once more, he let his mind return to its military state. How does this door open? He reached out once more with the force, this time focusing on the door itself.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Jun 1, 2021 11:13:13 GMT -8
There was no sound as he fell in the darkness; all he felt was his stomach lurch as the ground crumbled beneath him, leaving only the hungry maw of some forgotten void which laid beneath the ruins. There was no time to ponder his situation, as the ground suddenly leapt up to meet him. The silence of the void was broken, as the resonating clang of metal meeting stones reverberated throughout the chamber. Air blasted from his lungs as he hit the ground, leaving him immobile for a few seconds, as his body throbbed in pain.
He sat up slowly, attempting to adjust his eyes to the darkness that enveloped him - yet they never did. Letting out a grunt of annoyance, he reached into a pouch on his utility belt, procuring a small translucent rod which he promptly snapped. A dim yellow glow emitted from the emergency light-stick, giving his surroundings some semblance of visibility. Holding it at an arms-length from him, the man swept the room, looking for any indication as to where he was. The floors were smooth - a finished black stone with pale veins streaking through it; this was not a natural formation, but a chamber of some sort.
There were no signs of life, though the faint smell of dust and cobwebs filled his nose - no one had been in this place for quite some time. That was a good thing. Malakaii Concordia had only been at the Sith Academy for a few weeks, and he was sure if another student saw him in his current disheveled state, they would surely think of him as a vulnerable target - though they would be sorely mistaken. Even in his current state, Malakaii was a physically imposing human, standing at 6'5, with a muscular physique which was reinforced by his broad shoulders and a barreled chest. His Concordia trade mark silver hair and pale blue eyes added a strange beauty which contrasted his brutish facial features - making most overlook his square chin, jutting jaw and large nose, which was crooked from being broken one too many times. While not as large as many other species, Malakaii's physical appearance acted as an unspoken warning to most that he was not one to be bullied.
Brushing the dust off of his now dented Sith trainee armor, Malakaii took a few steps into the darkness, noting that even the sounds of his boots against the stone were muffled in this dark chamber – though he knew it was not due to a natural anomaly of any sort. Even though his training had just begun, Malakaii had a keen perception of the force, and this place was strong in the Dark Side- stronger than anything on the surface of the Valley of the Dark Lords.
He wondered how no one detected it sooner and how by mere chance, and a hint of misfortune, he had stumbled across it. He had been exploring the thoroughly plundered Tomb of Marka Ragnos when he stumbled into a strange anti chamber with a monolith at its center. That was where Malakaii first felt the tug of a darkness that seemed foreign on Korriban. That alone was enough to warrant his curiosity. As he approached the monolith, the ground suddenly gave way, plunging him into the darkness of whatever this chamber was.
Upon reaching the nearest wall he could find, Malakaii began to survey the room, noting the glyphs that seemed to cover every inch of the walls, from floor to ceiling. He could not make sense of much of it, as he was not versed in the language of the ancient Sith - but given the extent of the writing, he knew he stumbled onto something that could gain him substantial favor at the academy. He followed the wall with slow, steady steps, continuing to survey the room - while some might panic in a scenario like this, he did not. If this was not a natural structure, it clearly served a purpose - and there should be a door somewhere around the room - after all, ceiling-based entries were impractical at best, and precarious at worse.
His fingers suddenly came across a slab of stone jutting away from the wall. A doorframe! He took a moment to examine the door – it was wrought of a metal as black as the stone floor, yet it had a malicious sheen to it. First the young man searched for a panel to the door, but it was fruitless.
"Come on Malakaii, how can you expect to be a Sith if you can't open a kriffing door!"
He pushed against the door, but it did not budge. Taking a step back, he assessed his situation. Locked in an unknown ruin beneath an ancient Sith ruin - one that no one had been in, probably since the construction of the tomb above it.
Why would the Sith build the tomb of one of their most esteemed leaders directly above this place, and then suddenly forget about it? He knew of several places where Jedi and Sith alike built atop ancient places of power, including the Jedi temples on Coruscant and Yavin. Yet in these cases the ancient sites were either built on to reverse or amplify the power that radiated from the source – this site was different. No one cherished this hidden place of power – instead it was tucked away and forgotten, and probably for a reason - given the Sith's thirst for knowledge and power, a place like this should have been found by now.
While lost in contemplation, Malakaii did not notice the sudden emergence of another presence in the room - it was not until he felt the rooms temperature drop several degrees, and the hairs on the back of his neck begin to raise that he was not alone.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 29, 2021 7:04:19 GMT -8
Everything happened so quickly - and so little of it made sense. It was strange enough to see Maximus and Lamia in the Mortus - but it was a welcome strange. Then the appearance of Morrigan, which left a heavy sense of unease. Yet the girl seemed oblivious to any such occurrences that befell the Dark Lord. She simply stared at him blankly, which made the Sith take pause.
Glancing down at his glass, then back at the girl, he began to wonder if his years of imprisonment and torture finally lowered his tolerance to the point of being an incoherent gobshite like the Ard Ri of the Warriors of the Iron Fist. He pushed the thought from his mind - yet like a bad hangover, it only became reinforced upon acknowledgement, as the ghost of An Tiarna himself made an appearance. For a moment, he was shocked, but that soon passed - this was, after all, the Mortus.
Though Nexus did not have a moment to acknowledge the ghost of An Tiarna, as Lord Sinistra, the woman who broke him free and raised him from perdition, entered the bar. During their prior encounter, the Dark Lord was still in a mostly incapacitated state. Yet now, he was mostly cognizant. As his old colleague greeted them with a smile, he took another sip from his glass, allowing the droid to refill it. He gave Sinistra a smile and nod as she greeted them - snatching the stopper out of the air as it made its way to him. He let out a chuckle, then placed the stopper atop the bar; he lifted his glass and tilting it towards her as his form of a silent cheer.
He took another sip of the amber liquid, taking a brief moment to admire the fact that they were all together once more - ghosts and all. The galaxy was certainly in for a treat.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 24, 2021 12:23:31 GMT -8
Lord Nexus smiled as his brother in arms - it felt strange upon his face, as he had not smiled in years. Then, without warning, the smile was gone.
It was so sudden - the silence that enveloped the Mortus, accompanied by the anxious gnaw that could often be found in soldiers the night before a fight. Lord Nexus felt her before he saw her, as an her aura brought back memories of his imprisonment. Her voice drew untold memories from the darkest recesses of his mind. He was not prepared to see her so soon, and without warning. Her, the orchestrator of his torture, the avatar of his torment. She was the voice that whispered poison into the old mans ear, resulting in An Tiarna sentencing him to be imprisoned. Her name alone made him feel ill. Morrigan.
The Lord of Chaos' eyes shifted from Maximus, to Morrigan, staring with an unblinking intensity. A hatred filled the Sith's heart, one so potent that everyone in the room could feel it. It was an icy grip around their stomach, one that squeezed without relent or mercy. Then came the anomalies that heralded the ghost of the Old Man. This only made Nexus even angrier. His mind became clouded with blood lust- rage filled his very being, to the point where he did not realize the taste of copper filling is mouth, as he bit his tongue. The tremor in his hands intensified as his eyes locked with hers. And when she spoke, there as a sudden, sharp crack, as several bottles exploded behind the bar.
If Morrigan kept her eyes upon those of Nexus, she would find the white and pale blue replaced by the iconic Sith combination of amber and crimson. He was livid. But silent. He did not lash out, but instead kept his fury on a tight leash, waiting for the single hair that breaks the Wampa's back. Even so, the entire room could sense the fury - the maelstrom that was Nexus' true aura. Up until this point, he was a shadow of his usual self, but with Morrigan present, both Maximus and Lamia could feel the presence of the old Nexus. He wanted to speak - but Maximus beat him to the punch. Even so, Nexus was ready for the inevitable. She was a young buck, groomed by her grandfather - attempting to emulate his presence. Nexus respected her once, and loved her like a daughter. But those days were long gone, and now she represented only one thing. A painful memory.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 19, 2021 5:13:48 GMT -8
Even in his weakened state, the Sith could sense the anxiety in the room upon his entry. While his perception was dampened and his connection to the force was all but crippled, he sensed a faint degree of familiarity amidst the minds within the room. Some of these men were on the Maw when Sinistra had freed him from his prison. He felt their minds recoil as he reached out - a clear side effect of their previous experience.
One mind was bolder than the rest - radiating contempt towards him. The Dark Lord let his eyes fall upon the woman known as Howler One for a moment, before returning his attention to his old brother in arms - smirking at the passing jab of 'Little Lordling'. He set his glass on the bar, allowing the droid to refill it. As Maximus came in for the hug, the Sith did not shy away, but rather met Maximus' embrace with a firm clap on his shoulder.
"It is good to see a friendly face, brother."
Nexus pulled back from the embrace, hand still on Maximus' shoulder for a brief moment as he looked at his old brother in arms. With a smirk, he lifted his hand, planting one more clap on his shoulder before stepping back.
"Though it seems the years were nearly as cruel to you as they were to me."
While Nexus was standing in a tall posture, his robes hid his gaunt physique, and his spine screamed in protest as he refused to indulge the urge to hunch as well. He did not want to show his true state - a husk of his former self. As he reached for the newly filled glass, Maximus would probably notice a subtle tremor in his hand. He pulled the glass to his lips once more, taking a sip before speaking.
"Given the circumstances of my imprisonment, I am surprised Lord Sinistra went to the effort of freeing me. But I will make sure it was not in vain."
Turning his attention to Lamia, the Dark Lord gave her a nod of acknowledgement towards her offer.
"I think a bit of carnal vice would help me reacclimate...I will take you up on your offer. For both."
With that, he set the glass down a second time to be refilled, all the while he shifted his focus between Lamia and Maximus, before addressing them both.
"Lord Sinistra mentioned needing a few tree shaken, and a few cities broken - she said you might have need for my skill set. As I am indebted to her, I am willing to oblige this request."
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on May 17, 2021 6:28:45 GMT -8
The aura of the Mortus was suddenly interrupted by a strange force. There was a sudden ebb and flow of something familiar, yet foreign, which permeated throughout. It was dark and twisted - a maelstrom of energy and emotion that made some feel ill. It was chaos.
Illumination strips flickered violently for a few seconds, and the temperature of the room dropped drastically - to the point where breath could be seen and the amphibious natives of the planet would feel a notable discomfort. Yet these anomalies were normal on Manaan - which was home to the strange, and estranged.
The silhouette of a large man appeared in the main entrance to the Mortus - looming ominously. He was not heralded by the sounds of foot steps - but rather, an eerie silence. Clad in heavy black robes, with a drawn hood, the figure resembled what most cultures depicted as death. Upon his arrival, the anomalies stopped. The room returned to normal - and the few bystanders that saw him returned their attention to their own business.
The figure stepped past the threshold, though it appeared more like gliding, giving his flowing robes and the notable silence of his footsteps. Even though the anomalies stopped, the aura remained. A souvenir of the magics used to bind him to his prison. Even though Lord Sinistra had managed to break the bonds, the residue of the shackles remained. It was powerful Sith sorcery, and all things that it touched would never be quite the same.
The figure noted familiar faces near by - one which he had not seen for some time, while the other he had seen recently but in a grim setting. He approached them, slowly pulling down hood down, allowing the light to illuminate his features. The stark silver hair of clan concordia, accompanied by a faded qukuuf of two red vertical lines under his left eye, and bold black sith tattoos along his lower jaw. His eyes were ice blue. Both would recognize him, yet his years of imprisonment were not kind. Darth Nexus was once filled with life and lust, yet now he seemed hollow - some would even say frail. The stubble along his jaw, and dark rings around his eyes did not complement his appearance - he was ragged and weary.
His eyes shifted from Lamia, to Maximus, then back. He gave them both polite nods, before making his way around the bar. Reaching under the counter, in a tucked away cubby, he helped himself to a bottle of Kashyyk Fire Whiskey - which had gathered a layer of dust, as no one drank it since his imprisonment. Pulling it out, along with a short glass which was substantially cleaner, he poured a dram into it before turning to face his colleagues, still standing behind the bar.
"Good to see some things never change...Lamia, Maximus..."
He brought the glass to his lips, emptying it of his contents. For a brief moment, color returned to his face. The sith stiffled a cough and let out a heavy exhale as the heat permeated through his body. The drink was too strong for most palates, but the Dark Lord was known to enjoy its simple coarse punch and subtle undertones that followed.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Feb 23, 2021 6:05:29 GMT -8
As the mountains crumbled, and fire and smoke filled the skies above, the ones who would remind the galaxy began to move, ignoring the warning rumbles. The Sith and his Mandalorian allies, brothers in arms, made their way as one. The Dark Lord gestured for Kaine to board the sled with his men first, casting a longing glance at the falling bastion - this was the heart of Byss, and the First Order sought to send a message by crushing it.
That was a mistake that Darth Nexus would be sure to rectify. As he looked at the cracked, crumbling walls of his home one final time, he rested a weary, gloved hand against a pillar, reaching out in the force to give his home a final good bye.
"While you may fall, your legacy shall live on, Old Girl."
And with that, the Sith mounted the Grav Sled, punching in the ignition code. The rumbles grew ominously louder, as claxtons began to echo in the chambers. Blast doors at the mouth of a tunnel slid open, revealing a dark shaft, while the door that he entered the room sealed shut. This was the end of the Black Stone Citadel - and the beginning of something new. The door to the covered transport slid shut, encasing them in a pressurized compartment.
There was a low hum as the sled came to life. The Dark Lord took his seat - grabbing a brace rail, as the hum grew to a loud whine. Then a sudden lurch and snap, as the sled came to life, screaming as it bolted from its berth, into the tunnel at breakneck speeds. The light behind them grew faint as the blast doors to the tunnel closed behind them. The tracks lead at a downward angle at a 18% incline, progressively accelerating them before leveling out. The journey would be a few hours, and it would move them far from what was once the Leviathan Rift.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Feb 13, 2021 8:19:35 GMT -8
"Master Malakaii, we've touched down, and I've got a couple of droid crews that will be coming in to offload our shipments and start on repairs here in the common area. If you'd like, we can either retire to my quarters to discuss our next steps, or we can wait until later, I'll leave the choice up to you." As the Herglic entered the common area, the Dark Lord met him with a simple gaze, then nodded. He rose to his feet - unlike the first time Dolmin had met the 'Broken Chalice', he stood at full height rather than hunched over. There was something about this place that had changed him. Perhaps it was the decades of memories that rested on the planet- but in actuality this was not the case.
Unbeknownst to the Captain, a fragment of Nexus' soul resided on Manaan, and not in the sentimental sense. There was literally a piece of him here, and the Dark Lord could feel it. That was what he sought to find, hopefully with the aid of Dolmin.
Upon suggestion of retiring to discuss the future arrangement, the Sith shook his head."It would be best to meet later. I must meet with your employers in person - and I will be sure to mention the damage wrought to your common area to ensure you receive ample compensation. Once I get a sense of the situation, we may proceed. Will you be joining me to meet them, or would you prefer to oversee the ship's offloading?" Darth Nexus was ironically a fish out of water on the aquatic planet. He knew precious little of the politics and current situation apart from what Lord Sinistra told him. He needed to be briefed and brought up to speed as to why his old colleague thought it was wise to break him from his prison.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Feb 10, 2021 6:27:28 GMT -8
As the thunderous booms echoed louder with each strike, the Dark Lord knew they had precious little time – it was clear that the First Order sought to level the entire sector – and while Nexus had faith in his construct, he was not intending to stay here. He had a mission to complete.Boom, Crack!An ominous reverberation filled the great hall as the striking continued. He pushed further into the cavernous hall, tapping a display screen on his gauntlet a few times to route further information to Kaine and his men. It highlighted a route to an exit point that appeared to not be compromised – one of the many hidden tunnels that networked beneath the earth. This particular tunnel exited 50 kilometers away from the Leviathan Rift, in a canyon – concealed by a reinforced cave entrance.::No resistance, though our friends above don't look like they're going to stop.:: The booming emphasized Kaine's point. ::Assuming our exit strategy is in effect, we'll meet you there once you've collected the payload.:: ::Copy that, forwarding you an uncompromised tunnel – it goes deep and uses a Grav Sled tram system – should get us to a safe distance. Follow the route, and verify your arrival. I have to enter my labs to acquire the packages.::With that, Nexus ran further down the hall, bolstering his speed with the force, stepping into yet another descending corridor. As he made his way to the heart of the facility, he could sense the dark alluring call of the force. With each step, it grew stronger, causing the hairs on his neck to stand. While those who were untrained often found themselves filled with dread and a sickening sensation, Nexus was attuned to this place – it was his home, and the reason why he built the hive beneath the Leviathan Rift. At the end of the stair well, Nexus was met by a pair of great black stone doors. His run turned into a walk as he approached them – the Sith was smiling beneath his helmet. There was no apparent way to open them, yet with an intricate twist of his wrist, followed by a sequence of gestures, the doors slid open, revealing that which lay beyond.As the doors slid open, a gust of unnaturally cold air, coupled with an eerie mist, snaked into the corridor. Nexus passed the threshold, reaching out in the darkness with his mind’s eye. After a moment, lights flickered to life, revealing the abyss that was before him. This part of the structure was old – very old. The heart of the darkness was a large octagonal chamber, with black stone walls and floors. The ceiling was high and vaulted – while the walls were lined with various etchings and lines. In the center of the room stood a great stone monolith, with a black sarcophagus like altar which lay at its foot. The room was completely silent, eerily so when compared to the rest of the facility – this was a place that defied the natural laws of gravity. This was a temple, consecrated on a dark side force nexus – one of the many that Byss had, thanks to the corruption of Darth Sideous. Lord Nexus did not tarry, as he knew the mountain was liable to collapse around them at any moment.
Nexus crossed the gap between the entrance and the monolith in quick, confident stride. Resting his hand on the altar, he pushed against the stone, which budged as a hidden panel sank. There was a low hum of static, before light flooded the top of the altar. It was a massive holoprojector – while this room was old, it was not without its modern aspects. Nexus reached into his pocket, procuring a data stick, which he inserted into another hidden panel – on the screen, a data transfer could be seen commencing. Images flashed on the screen, though they were changing too quickly to cohesively know what was being pulled from the drives.
As this happened, Nexus made his way to one of the walls. He mimicked a similar hand motion to the one he used on the door. The loud hiss of decompression filled the room, as a large hidden drawer slid open from the wall, casting an eerie red light from within. Nexus reached in, procuring a small black metal box, which was barely larger than a jedi holocron. Fastening it to his belt, the drawer slid shut. An audible ping echoed shortly thereafter, indicating that the data transfer was complete. He retrieved the drive, and pressed the hidden panel on the altar once more, disabling the computer. Finally, Nexus walked around the far end of the monolith, pressing his hand against the stone – unlike the room, the stone was warm to the touch. He slid his hand around the smooth surface before he found what he was looking for – a small pocket tucked away, one which he reached his hand into.There was a sudden sharp pain, followed by a low his, as a concealed syringe verified his DNA. The back of the monolith suddenly moved, sliding open to reveal a large interior chamber. As the panels doors slid open, a light emitted from it, and the Dark Lord smiled beneath his helmet once more. He reached in, procuring that which the monolith secured.Anyone who could sense the force, would note a sudden surge in its presence, the aura emanating from deep within Byss – akin to a pulse of energy. Something woke up.-Some Time Later-The walls were beginning to crumble as Nexus made his way to the coordinates where he led Kaine and his men. It was a port of some sort, though there were no ships. Instead, there was a long, narrow gravsled waiting. If Kaine and his men had made it to the rendezvous, the man that greeted them did not look the same as when he had landed, aside from his infamous helmet. He entered the chambers clad in a bulkier, more archaic armor, one which had a malicious glimmer to it. On his shoulders, there were two electrum clasps, holding a thick cape in place – the hilt of some sort of massive sword could be seen. This was the armor he was often seen wearing in holo-records. He landed as Drexl Prime, but he was leaving the remnants of the citadel as Darth Nexus, the Lord of Chaos.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Feb 9, 2021 7:42:45 GMT -8
The Sith was guilty of smirking at Dolmin's remarks. Yet he did not sweat - if Sinistra wanted to see to his death, she would have done so already. As such, Nexus emerged from his quarters, entering the common area where he sat in silence.::"You can rest easy, Master Malakaii. The Golan VIII platform known as Ahto Station will have no reason to turn us into teeny tiny bits of space debris on this or any other day. I've just transmitted our packet to them and am already receiving priority status to proceed to the head of the shipping lanes once we're through the corridor. From there, we'll begin our descent to Ahto City and I'll wrap up any business with the shipment to the VE's compound shortly thereafter. Everything okay there?”:: As the speaker echoed a second time, Nexus made his way to a near by control panel, activating the comm link on his end.Acknowledged. All is well on this end. Standing by.With that, the Dark Lord shifted his attention to more somber thoughts, as memories of this place flooded his mind. These were hallowed grounds - even without the presence of the Warriors of the Iron Fist. He was to meet with the new owners of this place - the Vegemite Enclave. Once that business was sorted, he needed to acquire equipment and make his way to the old fortress, Dun Na Manaan, to reclaim which ever piece of his arsenal An Tiarna kept as a trophy. And Nexus knew the old man would keep something as a trophy - which he would never admit it, An Tiarna Dubh was a notoriously proud and sentimental man. The Dark Lord couldn't help but be curious as to what he kept as a memento.
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Feb 5, 2021 12:18:55 GMT -8
Manaan's orbit was peaceful for quite some time - yet that peace was shattered by a bold flash of light, as the Barloz-Class Medium Frigate, known as the "Shen'Paak" exited hyperspace in a blink. They were on the fringes of the orbital scanners, a classical smugglers route, and as such, had not set off any orbital scanners. The ship drifted towards the planet in a slow yet steady pace. Aboard the vessel was a Captain, and his passenger.
The captain, Dolmin Teague was guiding the vessel towards the outer orbit, preparing to declare entry. The passenger, a man who once called the Inner Rim's Sapphire a home, was uneasy. Dolmin, who had previously seen the effects of his passenger in duress, was safely in his cockpit. The passanger, however, was seated in the common area - or rather, what was left of it.
Strapped into his seat, the man known as the Lord of Chaos, reminisced about the events that happened on Manaan. There were many wars, and many weddings. Itw as a bitter sweet return. His discomfort was visible, as he sat leaning forward with his eyes fixed on the fractured vid-display on their approach. What was he coming back to? The Old Man was surely dead by this point, but Nexus couldn't help but wonder if he was the one who asked Sinistra to free him. Approaching Manaan always seemed to make him uneasy.
As they entered the controlled orbital space, Nexus pressed a key on a control panel in front of him to page the cockpit.
I am assuming they gave you access codes to enter here? Or will this be a shorter trip than I anticipated?
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Lord Nexus
The Vegemite Enclave
Posts: 174
Affiliation: Chaos
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Lord Nexus on Feb 4, 2021 5:48:43 GMT -8
The smell of fire, Smoke and molten earth permeated as the bombardment continued - The Dark Lord sprinted down a near by corridor, ignoring the alarming proximity of the blasts as he went deeper into the facilities under belly. He finally reached what appeared to be a dead end - though with the wave of his hand, a granite panel slid aside, revealing a security panel - this was one that only he and his praetorians knew of.
As the echoes and rumbles of explosions rang from above, Nexus entered a hasty security clearance code into the panel, knowing he had to move quickly. While the majority of the facilities exterior systems were inactive, the warrens beneath ran on a separate power source, and were on stand by. With an affirmative ping, Nexus entered retrieved a data chit and connected it to his wrist mounted computer. Deep beneath the carnage, the facility began to whirl to life, as lights activated, and doors and respective blast doors let out a low hum. The panel slid back over the security pad, and a low rumbling could be heard as what appeared to be a wall slid aside to reveal a heavy blast door. He entered it, noting the rumble and definitive sound of locks clamping.
Darth Nexus went deeper still, this time in a run, as he tapped a few keys on his computer, activating containment protocols.
It was clear that the Usurper had earned his name as 'Ren', as poured endless resources into the mountain range - hoping to use the legendary 'Fire Everything' method on the mountain range. As he glassed the surface, the Dark Lord only made his way deeper into the facility. The whole while, the ceiling reverberated from surface fire.
Rendezvous with the following coordinates - according to your position, you should be near a maintenance turbo lift to take you deeper into the structure
The Dark Lord pressed a few keys on his display panel for comms, which patched into the units encrypted frequency. As he did so, he couldnt help but smirk beneath his helmet.
Such hubris.
Darth Nexus had heard fleeting tales of this First Order - all of the fire power of the Empire, yet rather than being composed of strategists and tacticians, it seemed to compose of green blooded children that had their first taste of power. The Dark Lord mused at this - he was here to retrieve data, and had even considered breaking bread with the men who took away his home, however given the hospitality, peace was no longer an option.
It was clear that the First Order did not know of the first rule of war: always know your enemy. While on the surface, the stone cracked and fused into molten glass, there was thousands of feet of mountain, and even deeper still were the tunnels that ran beneath the surface. The Dark Lord lived on Byss for many years - and was always involved in galactic war, as such, he had built this bastion with such in mind. They could glass the surface, yet these tunnels ran deep. While shields were installed, the deep roads were a contingency, for if they failed. No matter how much fire power was used, unless the First Order had a planet killer, bombardment was futile.
As the Dark Lord entered a massive turbolift, he heard the seismic charge's iconic 'fwooommmm' as it echoed through the halls, promptly followed by the rumbling of the sub-basement levels collapsing. Digging through that would take time. And with the lack of intel present, it was only a matter of time before Harnan assumed his orbital bombardment had done its job, and he would lose interest. Well, either that or he blatantly ignored the ecological effects of major glassing to a planet.
I managed to access a security panel, so systems should be active - along with containment protocols. Let me know if you encounter any resistance.
Then the dark lord let the low thrumming of the turbolifts repulsor drown out the explosion, as they rapidly descended far beneath the surface, into the great hall which he named - the catacombs. The maintenance elevator near Kaine's unit should bring him on the otherside of the room, allowing them to establish it as a primary entry point.
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