Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Nov 14, 2023 17:37:35 GMT -8
Valefor had kept moving along the Horax's back before coming to a stop as he felt the beast give out beneath him as Solari consumed the beasts soul. He had pulled the Shard free of the beast when his focus fell upon the horde of Nelvaanians pouring from the gates of the Village. If he had the time and resources available, Anima's presence would have helped hastily end this battle. Instead, they would have to deal with this the old fashioned way.
His gaze fell to the arrayed Droids using the Treadspeeders as a makeshift barricade behind which they were reinforced. They had all seen better days, but for the most part they seemed fully functioning, with Arachnus at the top of that list above the others. If any of the droids were going to make it through mostly intact, it would be the good Professor. His programming and systems built and intended for an assassin spider droid gave him something of an edge over the others.
Valefor spread his wings then and gave a single flap of them, the lift and momentum taking him into the air a little and then floating down toward the front of the defending formation. Even as the Nelvaanians began their wild charge across the field, he just clutched the Hastae a little tighter to ensure its presence within his hands
I'll take the center, the rest of you cover the flanks. Once their leader is brought to hell, this will all be over...
Without awaiting any further agreement or response, the Crimson Lord charged across the field toward the Nelvaanian rush, Solari humming as it bit into the furred flesh of its crazed targets
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Nov 23, 2023 6:32:44 GMT -8
"You heard the Forge Master." Screeched Arachnus in synthetic fury. "Fire!" FFFFFFFFSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! CRACK! One last thunderous discharge from the makeshift treadspeeder barricade stabilized energy lances erupted from the conical tips of their forge blackened spears, shredding canine flesh and ripping through the ranks of the charging Nelvaanians as they hurtled down the hill towards the beleaguered droids and their wrathful master. Char blackened husks fell to the ground and were trampled into the snow covered ground by their snarling kin, unperturbed by the technological wonders they faced, driven by a bestial ferocity that was best described as feral fury. A metallic scrape resonated off the Hellriders soot stained chassis as they drew razor-edged vibro-blades from man-hide scabbards on their hip. Each blade had been produced and honed in the soul-fed fires of the Dark Forge, banged and sharpened by devout droid labourers of holy Hypori, gleaming even now under the red sky of this chaos afflicted world. Gunmetal grey, each blessed blade was crafted from sacred quadanium steel, sometimes referred to as Imperial steel for its common use by the former Galactic Empire. Metallic digits struck the activation studs of the ultra-sonic vibration generators housed in the hilts, bringing the blades to buzzing life, causing the edges to glow an ember-hot hateful orange."Forwards!" Cried the Professor, thrusting a razor limbed arm forwards towards the wave of enemies. The still surviving IG-Lancers leapt over the barricade they had created and ran headlong into the foaming savages, hacking and slashing their way up the hill, trying their best to keep pace with the red avatar of death and destruction to whom their utmost loyalty held. Blue limbs were severed in filthy red sprays of gore and blood as the vibro-blades easily parted flesh and bone, each wound wrenched wide into a gaping expression of physical suffering and unforgettable pain. The robotic spider unleashed his hungry children on the dog pack, his dome shaped and red lit head becoming a cannon of flinging black arachnids. The mini assassin droids stabbed and tore, gouging out eyes in fleshy eruptions and slashing open throats in crimson torrents of exquisitely spilt vitae. Arachnus bathed in the warm effluence spilled from the primitives dying all around them, his viral code satiated like never before by their extinguishment of organic life. Despite his devotion to the Felstorm's library, this was what the cyber-arachnid had been built for, to end the tyranny of flesh and bring on an age of robotic rule.His forelegs slit open the guts of a Nelvaanian between himself and Valefor, causing intestinal ropes to sluice out and spill into the porous cavities on his domed head, which he did his best to shake off lest they become continually clogged with heretic organic matter. "Milord!" Hissed Arachnus, scurrying up beside the Fabricator General whose Hestae was heavy with spitted Nelvaanian torsos. "On the wall! Look!" He thrust a leg forwards to indicate what exactly he was trying to draw his master's attention to, punching through a Nelvaanian's throat as the bladed tip exploded out the back of the alien canine's neck.Standing atop the bone palisade wall of the fortified village was a Nelvaanian unlike the others, swollen to gargantuan size until it was thrice as large as the tribal warriors dying all around the embattled Legios. It took no Force sensitive to see that this was the Shaman leader of the tribe, with leathery flesh stretched tightly over a heavily packed musculature, its skin such a dark shade of blue it bordered on black. That flesh barely contained the insidious etheric energy being channeled through its corrupt form, which was clearly marked by the darkside, pitted with sharpened growths of bone that protruded through its hide at the joints. Its eyes were emblazoned red coals and smoke bled from its fanged snout, sizzling with boiling froth through grit canines that were more akin to serrated daggers. It held in its clawed hands a long staff of bone topped with the dog like skull of its own kind, the empty sockets glowing with a fell witch-light that cast a ghastly green luminance across the field. It barked from its perch, before pointing its cadaverous instrument towards the field, sending two beams of malevolent energy into the corpses of the two Horax so recently slain.Those broken beasts twitched and twerked, as necromantic life was breathed into them. |
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Nov 28, 2023 14:16:15 GMT -8
Solari fed well that day, as Valefor thrust the Hastae through many a crazed Nelvaanian. Their souls were consumed by the blood red crystal and becoming one with all those that had existed within Solari at their birth and those that they had consumed since then. But Solari was not the only Crystal that fed upon the souls of Valefor's enemies. The Stone of Dromund Kaas glowed with purple radiance as the life force and souls of Nalvaanian warriors were torn from their mortal coils and turned into pure, chaotic energy. Energy that Valefor directed into his spells. Fel flame raged from a point in the air just above his palm, pouring out across the masses and setting them ablaze.
The tidal wave seemed endless, but Valefor felt no less tired now than when they had started.
He came to a stop when Arachnus appeared nearby him upon the battle field, his gaze following the metallic arachnid's outstretched limb toward the wall where the Nelvaanian Shaman stood. He remembered well the information regarding the mutated Nelvaanians that the CIS had created. But this bloated corpse seemed to dwarf even them in terms sheer mass. But that factor quickly became a less pressing concern as his focus followed the streams of necrotic magic out toward the corpses of the Horax's. Corpses that started to twitch and move under their own will once more
Curse these infernal mongrels.... Stay away from the Horax's and try not to get crushed. Bait them into the walls if you can. I'll take care of their puppeteer!
A living Horax was one thing to deal with, but a reanimated Horax was a bigger problem. But they would not be a problem for long without a hand holding their strings. Valefor cleared a small area and extended out his wings, before gusting up into the air with the aide of the Force. He soared over the battle field, before coming to a thumping landing upon the top of the wooden reinforcement. His wings retracting as he wielded the Hastae into a ready stance
You've become fat and swollen upon your own hubris, Shaman! But your power pales in comparison to my own!
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Nov 30, 2023 0:19:21 GMT -8
"Easier said than done." Muttered the Professor lowly, uneager to try his luck against the gargantuan undead abominations. Fortunately Lord Valefor had at least cleared the way to the wall for them. "Come on, lads. This won't be done until the Forge Master's banner is flying over this fort." With a vehement screech, Arachnus led the remaining Hellriders up the burning hill. Burly B2 super rocket troopers smashed their spiked chassis into flaming tribesmen, knocking their whimpering charred forms onto the ground and ending their suffering with heavy metal boot strikes brought down through burnt skulls, pulping sizzling grey matter. IG-Lancers with humming lengths of vibrating quadanium steel drove their molten edges through the throats of primitive warriors already dead on their feet, releasing boiling torrents of steaming blood as they ripped their blades free of crackling torsos. It was an easy slaughter up the hill, at least until they heard the heavy pounding of hoofed footsteps charging up the slope behind them. Surrounded by blinking red photo-receptors, the chief librarian didn't need to turn in order to see the two nightmarish Horax returning for revenge. "Scatter!"
The wedge formation of the droids fell apart as it quickly became every machine for itself. Arachnus scrambled the last of the way up to the frozen slope to the edge of the rib bone palisade, sinking his razor tipped limbs into the bleached enamel, then scurrying vertically as fast as his eight legs could carry him. The wall beneath him exploded as an angry undead horax frothing at the jaw slammed into the barrier just below him, crashing through the bone fence and causing the mechanical arachnid to fall from his elevated perch right onto the creature's charging back. He quickly recovered and proceeded to stab away at the brute's backside with his knife tipped legs, tearing flesh and puncturing bone to little effect. Reanimated by arcane means, this beast was immune to the pain the cyber-spider surely inflicted. Before he knew it, the Professor's stabbing and slashing ripped a whole right into the Horax's innards, which the assassin bot was all too happy to plunge into chassis first. Inside its guts, Arachnus released his swam of hungry children, a small army of miniature assassin bots with an eagerness to end organic life to match their mothers.
As for the other droids, they focused their attention on the second Horax, raking it with wrist mounted laser cannons that blasted charred chunks off its flanks, and plunging snarling vibro-swords hilt deep into its leathery undead hide. They hacked and blasted relentlessly, picking the beast apart piece by smoking piece. Though impervious to pain, the Horax was brought down by slow attrition, cut down to broken shards and hunks of smoldering meat.
On the ramparts, the wolfen shaman's snout twisted into a snarling rictus grin of bared fangs as it faced off against the red winged interloper. Smoke bled off his leathery lupine form as the primal magics he had tapped into consumed his very flesh, corrupting the Nelvaanian chief into a vessel of Chaos. The spirits of the damned flowed around his muscular form as an etheric shield of spectral energy, wailing in torment as their spiritual essence was consumed by the monstrous mutt. Blood drizzled from his fangs and he barked in his primitive tongue, words indecipherable for any outside the cursed tribe. Despite the language barrier, his intent was clearly broadcast in the Force, telepathically growled in a comprehensible meaning.
Not one more inch. The message was clear. Nelvaan had already been raped to this state by outsiders. First they had stole the warmth from the planets core, plunging the planet into eternal winter, then they had pillaged and transformed its people. The Nelvaanians had been used as nothing more than slaves by the Techno Union. They would rather die than submit again, or in the case of the Shaman Chief Fenris Lupercal, consort with unnatural and dark powers. His eyes blazed red with hate, while shadows bled from his form and swirled around the head of his skull capped staff as he lowered it to meet the winged demon's Hastae. You've already taken everything. All that's left...is death!
Black tendrils of shadows erupted from the shaman's staff and sought to encircle Valefor, binding him in a cage of dark energy eager to consume his life force.
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Dec 5, 2023 0:12:29 GMT -8
Fool...
Valefor braced himself as the black tendrils of shadow burst forth from the shaman's staff. He had no intention of running, instead choosing to hold his ground as the cage entrapped him in place and tried to sap away his strength. He pushed himself to his full height as the bars tried to reach out and press against his skin, but coming short against the mystical shield he protected himself with
There is so much more before death... and after it!
His eyes glowed with their fel flame colour and appearance, before an explosion of Fel Green Fire burst out from his body and burned away the cage. He shifted into an attack stance with the Hastae pointed once more toward the Shaman
But for you, there will be nothing! No death! No life! AN ETERNITY OF NOTHINGNESS!
Despite his bulk, Valefor called upon the Darkness and channeled the energy into his body, allowing him to move at speeds nor normally possible. Typically he was a Sorcerer of the Force, keeping back from direct combat to unleash his spells whilst his legions fought. But sometimes certain enemies needed a far more personal touch. Chaman Chief Lupercal was one such enemy. Pushing the distance close in, he stabbed the Legionis Hastae at the Shaman to probe the barrier. Solari seemed to feed upon souls as they struck the etheric shield, but never managed to pierce through.
Valefor dodged and pulled back as Fenris swung his skull capped staff about, the Nelvaanian growling in frustration when his hits failed to land.
Raising his hand, Valefor unleashed several fireballs of green flame upon the Shaman to bathe him in fire. But as with his strikes with Solari, they did not penetrate the beasts shield, nor did they seem to weaken it. But each failure merely provided more valuable information toward finding what it would take. He moved further around the Shaman, making sure not to fall off the walkway that ran around the top of the wall. A task made difficult by the sheer mass of his opponent.
He brought the Hastae up into a guard hold as the staff came swinging around. But unlike before, the staff caught the shaft of the spear and imparted a deal of weight which sent Valefor flying backward across the walkway. He came down hard on his back, allowing Fenris to close the gap between them. But the Demon Lord was not about to be bested by some lowly Shaman. He pushed himself to his feet and reached his left hand out, the Stone of Dromund Kaas glowing as Valefor charged the massive beast and began to leech the shield away. A look of fear passed across the lupine gaze as more and more energy was finally drained away into the Caestus. Fenris tried to strike down at Valefor, but he was already diverting some of this power into his own protective spells
Your end draws near, Shaman. There is no escape... Your people will bow down to me!
He pressed his left hand harder into the bloated Nelvaanian's side, piercing the shield and the creatures mottled skin. The creatures power started to be drawn away as Valefor positioned the tip of the Legionis Hastae beneath Fenris' chin. He watched as the glow of the creatures eyes started to dim before thrusting Solari up through its skull. The crystal swallowed Fenris' soul hungrily and added it to the collective.
Valefor pulled his hand free whilst pushing forward with the Hastae, causing the bloated corpse to tip over backwards and collapse. He mounted the body and pulled his spear free and held it high
THROW DOWN YOUR ARMS AND KNEEL!
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Dec 15, 2023 7:05:50 GMT -8
Upon seeing the demise of their Shaman Warchief, those surviving Nevalaanians that had not succumb to the flame and sword feel to their knees, the weapons dropping from their hands to crunch into the snow at their feet. A change fell over their surroundings as the last vestigial remnants of the defeated chiefs soul withered away, its body transforming into ash, blown away in the wind. Whatever primal energies he had tapped into, with his death that power was released, returning to whence it came and causing Chaos' hold over the tribe's territory to vanish. The sky returned to its glacier blue and the sun overhead washed the village in radiant warmth. Even the hoarfrost on the palisade walls began to thaw, running in flowing streams down the hill to form channels in the snow of fresh melt water. Dented, scratched, and dripping blood from their vibro-blades, the Legios Cybernetica raised their swords in the air and gave a joint synthetic chant. VALEFOR! VALEFOR! VALEFOR! VALEFOR! VALEFOR! VALEFOR! Arachnus burst out of the Horax corpse his children were devouring, his entire chassis coated in crimson, his mini-spider bots similarly gore spattered. They ripped their way free of the rotting meat to return to the pores in his head, splashing out the accumulated canine vitae, causing the red waters of life to sluice down his freakish spider frame. He quickly scurried up the side of the wall and came to his master's side, craning his domed head up to bask in the Sorcerer Supreme's magnificence."You've done it again, Forge Master." Screeched Arachnus. He looked around the village, his photo-receptors dimming in place of a frown he was unable to make. "I doubt there will be much found here to add to the library..." He looked back up at his demonic lord. "...but these mutts should come in handy. I will begin testing midi-chlorian counts at once."In the distance, a C-9979 of the Dark Fleet crested the horizon. Reinforcements had finally arrived. Late as always.
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Dec 21, 2023 22:10:30 GMT -8
He closed his eyes and turned his face up to the sun as it reappeared once more within the sky, basking in its radiance and the chanting coming up from down below. He held that pose until he heard the mechanical scarping of Arachnus' presence as the spider droid mounted the wall and began reporting away. Efficient as always. He opened his eyes and turned to look at the village as he leaned against the Hastae, his own strength somewhat diminished after such an ordeal
I could not have done it without your aide and that of the Legios... I would not also so quickly dismiss what might be found here Professor. Our forces dispatched to the Generator site will be missing quite some information which our late friend may have hidden away here. I'm placing you in charge of our forces, sweep the village, find the missing data and flush out those that remain hidden. I will tend to the testing personally. I have something... special planned. You'll also appoint our most reliable commander to oversee our long term occupation of this village...
He gave the spider droid a pat on the head as the C-9979 drew closer and closer in the background before landing and discharging the units within. Their forces sent to the Generator had also arrived as well. With the positive reinforcement given, Valefor leapt from the top of the wall and made for the village square where began carving runes into the ground and creating a number of testing circles. The Chaotic energies that the Shaman had tapped into no longer held as strong a sway here, but to say they had all disappeared was naive. His spell work was designed to tap into them and test the connection to the Force that any Nelvaanian that stepped into them had. Those with a strong enough connection would remain unharmed, whilst those with promising connections would be marked for the breeding programs. Whilst those without any potential would be scarred and forced into the lowest caste of society.
Only the strongest would be lauded and reaped for the ranks of the Forge Lords.
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Viox Savage
Blackguard Imperium
"You want the same as me. My redemption, eternal ascension. Setting me free."
Posts: 2,938 
Affiliation: Sith Order
Traffic Light: Blue
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Post by Viox Savage on Dec 23, 2023 13:12:38 GMT -8
SumpDefeat was never easy to swallow. And this time was no different for the mighty Zabrak. The abdication of his throne over the Blackguard Imperium had been less than ideally executed, thanks to the ambitious nature of his followers. Power had always been the goal. But there were those who had been much more cunning than he had anticipated. And everything had careened sideways from there. Now he was left here, hiding in some noxious swamp, while those who would have killed him without hesitation roamed freely. Unpunished for their transgressions against him. But that would change. Oh yes, it would. He was still alive. He had Natalia with him and the loyalty of the Anzat people. He also had those few devout followers who wouldn't ever abandon him. Though their number was much fewer now, after all was said and done. Regardless, he would rebuild. It was all part of his grand designs. However, this time, he wasn't going to compromise his beliefs and ideals to humor those around him. He was Sith. And his biggest mistake was believing in the Rule of Unity and imposing it on the Imperium. Like cancerous rot, it ate away at his empire from within. The weak were rewarded with living, while the strong stagnated due to a lack of challenge. All life was a struggle. Survival of the fittest. And he had failed to understand that concept deeply enough to keep his empire together when it counted. Lessons had been learned. Errors would be corrected, and his resurgence would be a glorious event. But there was a time and place for everything. He needed to be more capable of leading or commanding as he had, not in his current state. But he could still manipulate. And with the power of the dark side at his disposal, he would never truly die.
Floating in a sensory deprivation tank, with nothing more than the Force and his beating hearts to sustain him, he meditated. The voices in his skull were silent for the time being. His mind was his own. However, that would only last for a while. Since his departure from the Blackguard and the death of Darth Znalost, they had become increasingly unstable to the point that the celestial-like power they granted him had become more of a liability than an advantage. He could barely keep his Force abilities in check anymore. His mind was decaying rapidly, and his physical body...well, it had practically wasted way to nothing. Once an example of his species' peak physical prowess, he was just worn skin clinging to a skeleton. He resembled a walking corpse more than an actual living being. His fight to escape Mustafar had taken its toll on him. Sapping his life force from his body, combined with the cloned body he currently occupied, it had not been sufficient enough to contain his essence. However, that was of little consequence to him now. His physical presence was useless to him until he discarded the Elders. And rid them he would. One more essence transfer and he would be well enough to travel to carry out his tasks. Soon, Viox Savage would return... |
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Dec 24, 2023 8:49:57 GMT -8
He closed his eyes and turned his face up to the sun as it reappeared once more within the sky, basking in its radiance and the chanting coming up from down below. He held that pose until he heard the mechanical scarping of Arachnus' presence as the spider droid mounted the wall and began reporting away. Efficient as always. He opened his eyes and turned to look at the village as he leaned against the Hastae, his own strength somewhat diminished after such an ordealI could not have done it without your aide and that of the Legios... I would not also so quickly dismiss what might be found here Professor. Our forces dispatched to the Generator site will be missing quite some information which our late friend may have hidden away here. I'm placing you in charge of our forces, sweep the village, find the missing data and flush out those that remain hidden. I will tend to the testing personally. I have something... special planned. You'll also appoint our most reliable commander to oversee our long term occupation of this village...He gave the spider droid a pat on the head as the C-9979 drew closer and closer in the background before landing and discharging the units within. Their forces sent to the Generator had also arrived as well. With the positive reinforcement given, Valefor leapt from the top of the wall and made for the village square where began carving runes into the ground and creating a number of testing circles. The Chaotic energies that the Shaman had tapped into no longer held as strong a sway here, but to say they had all disappeared was naive. His spell work was designed to tap into them and test the connection to the Force that any Nelvaanian that stepped into them had. Those with a strong enough connection would remain unharmed, whilst those with promising connections would be marked for the breeding programs. Whilst those without any potential would be scarred and forced into the lowest caste of society.
Only the strongest would be lauded and reaped for the ranks of the Forge Lords. |
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Dec 29, 2023 0:16:27 GMT -8
As expected, Arachnus had expertly directed the forces of the Legios Cybernetica in converting the Village into a fortified base from which future operations on the planet and in the local system area could be conducted from. But Valefor didn't much care about such possibilities. His only concern here was the Nelvaanians themselves.
He stood in front of the cage where the gathered inhabitants were being held after they'd been rounded up. A mixture and wide array of emotions were spilling forth on the Force as the canine creatures huddled together whilst looking upon the Demon that had defeated their Shaman.
Fear. Hate. Admiration. Uncertainty. Those were the strongest of the emotions that he could sense. Now was the time to settle this matter and set a path forward for their future
Listen, and listen well... I could eradicate your entire society with the wave of a hand. The surface of this world could be reduced to glass! But being forgotten to the winds of history does not need to be your fate! I am offering you a chance to survive, to thrive! Your Shaman Chieftain hoarded power for himself! He grew fat! Deranged! Foolish! He was hell bent on sacrificing you all, for his own personal gain! He did not truly care for you! I'm offering you a future! Your people can continue on, under my guidance! Those who show potential and loyalty shall be rewarded! The Anubian Guard awaits any that can withstand the trial! Those found wanting, however, shall find their true place within society! Freedom shall be yours soon enough, but should any of you... act rashly, they will be put down. Your death will fuel the flames of the Forge Worlds and then it will be snuffed out... Forgotten....
He left the Nelvaanians to consider their options as he took a stroll through the village, examining the items that were found in the villages cleansing. In the pile out the front of the Shaman's old residence, he found what he was looking for. Books and Datapads containing information on the Generator Tech. He gathered the items together and carried them to the command centre and dropped them on the table in front of Arachnus
Secure these items and summon the Felstorm. Our work here, for the time being, is done. We shall head for Had Abaddon as originally intended. There is much work to be done. The next stretch of the path must be completed...
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Dec 31, 2023 7:01:08 GMT -8
More than a dozen glowing red photo-receptors focused their optical sensors on the collection of items Lord Valefor dropped on the table, categorizing and determining homes for them within the Felstorm in a fraction of a micro-second. From a newly installed projectile launcher affixed to the underside of modified SD-K4's underside, the Professor ejected a net of nano-filament wire that swept up the assortment of articles and wound them up into a small storage port on the bottom of his circular spider chassis. "At once, Master." His synthetic spider voice screeched from his vocabulator. On top of his dome shaped head, a small antenna extended and began to twirl around as the chief librarian contacted the Felstorm.
A few hours later and the familiar black obelisk of the Demon Lord's flagship hovered into view, blackening the sky overhead as it seemed to swallow the light from the sun in the sky. Recently converted Nelvaanians dropped to their knees and prostrated themselves before the menacing onyx pyramid, whose very presence seemed to cause the ground to rumble from the oppressive roar of its firing repulsors, bursting organic ear drums in a deafening sinister chorus.
Had Abbadon, that was where the Forge Master had said their destination lay next. From what little information the robotic arachnid assassin was able to retrieve on the Deep Core planet, he knew it would be a difficult location to reach. That region of space was rife with space anomalies from the myriad of blackhole clusters and stars near the bright centre of the galaxy. If they didn't calculate a near perfect path, they might find themselves swallowed up by a hungry gravitational stellar phenomenon, their circuits crushed and scattered across the cold vacuum of space. That was to say nothing of the Civil war currently taking place in the galactic core. They could easily be misrepresented as an enemy force and drawn into a conflict with the foolish Imperial fleshlings.
As a precaution, the Professor had recalled the Dark Fleet to serve as a support for the Felstorm in case they ran into any trouble. Red hued C-9979 frigates descended in orderly rows towards the service and launch bays built into the Star Pyramid's lower half, while another six starfighter carrier variants waited in orbit to escort the mobile Forge-City to its next destination. From the underside of the flagship, a large circular disk ejected from a hollow opening on the belly of the monstrous warship, dropping like a stone to the ground just inside the CIS mobile command centre. It slammed into the dirt with a resounding crash, scattering dust and shaking the ground. A long flexible metallic cable with a five foot diameter connected the dropped platform to the Felstorm two hundred feet overhead, attached to a large hydraulic spool that could retract it up into the dark bosom of the dread vessel. Arachnus hummed happily as he scurried atop the platform next to Lord Valefor. With a lurch, the cable pulled taught and began to lift them into the sky. Whatever awaited them on Had Abbadon, the Legios Cybernetica would be ready for it.
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Post by Nebula "Nibs" Enibry on Jan 16, 2024 21:07:51 GMT -8
[ Deni "Red Ripper" Lake | Hangar Bay | Erebus-class Dungeon Ship | Erebus ] Attn: Reaper Deni smiled warmly at the big man, “The Run's been feedin' on wha' we managed t' grow in pots. I ken whatever yeh have'll be just grand, in comparison.”
She studied the interior of the ship as she trailed behind him, and nodded, “Just a ship t' get th' job done, aye?”
She stepped into the galley and examined the place. It looked barely used. She could almost make out the exact routes Reaper might have used to get what he wanted. Without asking for or waiting for permission, the redhead strode ahead and made a note of whatever was available. While he was right that there was little in the way of a rich cuisine, it wasn't exactly, pre-made food packets either. He had everything they needed to make a solid well-rounded meal.
Looking back at him, she invited, “Want me t' whip somethin' up fer yeh too?”
He followed Deni through into the Kitchen and leaned against one of the counters as she seemed to make herself right at home. He did his best to remain out of her way. As he had mentioned, he was no master chef and thus could provide little in the way of good advice or help in her cooking venture. He waved his hand dismissively thenI ate not long before I found Nibs aboard the Run. I can survive a bit longer without any food. But feel free to make what ever you can with what's available. No one else here besides us, so don't worry about about using too much.It would be easy enough to restock the Erebus at their next destination or back at the Run, which ever happened to have food and be willing to help first Idly, Deni wondered if he was being honest or he was just shy about revealing his face in front of her. But either way, she did not truly have a say and honestly, that was his business entirely. She was just glad he was far more affable than when the Run had first encountered him.
“Well, jus' grand,” said Deni, “Let's see what yeh lef' me t' work with.”
Deni had many talents she considered herself to be well known in. Fighting was certainly one of them, but cooking something delicious with limited resources was a matter of pride and passion. She took stock of the cabinets and its contents, as well as the refrigerator. Soon she had herself some fresh eggs, meat sausages, vegetables, and instant bread flour, and a packet with mixed herbs and spices that could be added to boiling water to make a kind of spiced gravy.
Making use of the cooking pots and pans, she soon had the eggs fried, the sausages and vegetables boiled, the bread was formed with hot water, and the plate of spicy gravy was served. She portioned exactly enough for two plates, and quickly took bites of her plate without sitting down at the table in the galley. She glanced at Reaper, who'd been watching the whole process in stoic silence, and said, “If ye're shy 'bout showin' yer face, yeh c'n have somethin' on yer lonesome. It'll keep.”
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Post by Reaper on Jan 17, 2024 15:03:01 GMT -8
Dolling out Death was something he was good and effective at. But Reaper also knew the value of keeping someone alive, especially when they were not actively trying to kill him in return. Those aboard the Run had merely chosen poorly about what future they wanted, but he delivered it upon them anyway. He was not one to show mercy to those who acted against their best interests. Although, there was a certain kind of mercy in the ending of life that made such a foolish mistakes.
Such thoughts kept him occupied as Deni had got to work cooking a meal fir for 2 portions. When she was done and offered him a plate, he took it and placed it in a storage bin
I'll keep this for later. Better that you don't see my face for both of our sakes. You can't tell anyone who I am beneath this, and I won't make you waste your meal bringing it back up...
What laid beneath his armour had remained a mystery for decades now, and would continue to do so for decades to come. It meant no one could track down anyone or anything that he still cared about and use it as leverage. In the absence of identity, many had come up with stories and legends about what had happened to Reaper's face, many postulating that he was horribly disfigured. Was that story true or not? Well he was not about to take that mystery away. Better to feed into such lies to enhance the fear others felt toward him
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Post by Nebula "Nibs" Enibry on Jan 17, 2024 15:19:58 GMT -8
[ Deni "Red Ripper" Lake | Galley of the Erebus | Erebus-class Dungeon Ship | Erebus ] Attn: ReaperDeni nodded to the man's statements. She was fairly confident she'd seen plenty of ugly and horrific to not react or get that sick feeling in her gut like she used to get when she was a mere lass of sixteen. She'd hardened so much since then. But she was no fool as to lay claim to having seen everything. The galaxy was large, and the universe even larger. There were more mysteries out there than there were living beings throughout.
“It's yer secret t' keep, darlin', and I'm not goin' t' pry or anythin',” said Deni with a lazy smile, “why not show me where lowly mortals like meself will be lyin' her pretty head. Then lets get us a Troid murdererh.”
She kept her word, and made no attempts to glean what lay beneath Reaper's armour. When she returned to the bridge in the morning, Nibs' droid was active once more, and working on a console nearby, whilst they were approaching their destination.
“Time fer some fun,” said Deni, cracking her knuckles together.
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Post by Reaper on Jan 17, 2024 17:00:56 GMT -8
Sounds good...
He lead the way out of the galley then and through the ship to the crew quarters up by the bridge. Up here, several individual staterooms were located for the captain, several members of the bridge crew, and a number of other high ranking officers. Having taken the Captains quarters himself, he left Deni in the primary pilots quarters for the night. He went to his own room and slept...
Reaper had woken up a couple hours later and briefly made a trip down to the galley to reheat the food Deni had cooked and returned to his quarters where he ate behind a locked door. He managed to make it back to the bridge and was standing at the front watching out from the main viewport when Deni finally awoke and arrived aboard herself. He didn't turn his head
Thanks... for the food...
The swirling blue and white tunnel of hyperspace started to recede back then as Varonat appeared before them...
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Gráinne Mhaol & Fiach Dubh
Member
Is mimic a bhris beal duine a shron - often a person's mouth gets their nose broke
Posts: 703
Affiliation: Oglaigh na Irandoideanne - Warriors of the Iron Fists
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Post by Gráinne Mhaol & Fiach Dubh on Feb 12, 2024 4:20:31 GMT -8
A lone Y-1300 light freighter slipped into hyperspace. The Utopic Vulture to be exact. Her mission, or more precisely the intended mission of the lunatic now manning the vessel, one know simply by the surname Boland, was to protect the motley crew of subversives now under his protection, namely, Grace, Maureen, her hound and that freakish otherworldly bird that followed them , and navigate a path of discovery across the Uni wide. And this heavy burden working on his mind the man intensely focused on keeping them on course. And alive…..
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Feb 29, 2024 14:28:14 GMT -8
INTERLUDE - TERRA Prime - Excarga System
Alongside the construction project happening in orbit of Hypori building the Dark Library, a number of resources and supplies were simultaneously moved and diverted to another project. Deep on the edge of the Excarga System sat the Fesltorm nearby to the steadily growing super structure known as TERRA Prime. At this stage, just as with the Dark Library, the stations skeleton was all that existed as Overseer Contrary Aperture guided the continued progress. Worker Droids composed the bulk of the force, while a small contingent of organic and Holo-Shard workers were based out of several freighters and frigates nearby turning unprocessed and processed materials into their final state. Thanks to the nearby mining world, the project would not be short for supplies or resources
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Mar 1, 2024 22:32:44 GMT -8
INTERLUDE - TERRA Prime - Excarga System
Construction progress on the frame of TERRA Prime was progressing well, with much of the lower frame completed and progress starting on the larger upper section frame. A smaller team was split off from the main work force and their attention turned toward producing and constructing the hull armour plating and various internals for the bottom section of the station. Given the purpose of TERRA Prime was to produce the Cradle Facilities as well as act as a hub and laboratory for the Holo-Shard project, Valefor wanted to ensure all of the control systems and lab areas were constructed with expedited focus. Thanks to some forethought in design planning, the station was built with a number of bulkheads which modularised the space, allowing damage or a breach in one area to not effect the entire station. What this also meant, was that the lower half of the station could be constructed separate of the upper section
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Mar 5, 2024 17:50:18 GMT -8
INTERLUDE - TERRA Prime - Excarga SystemAs the days turned into weeks, construction progressed through building and outfitting the lower section of the station. The upper skeletal frame had progressed slowly while priority had been put on getting the control centre and labs up and running. But now priority and focus was returned to completing the remainder of TERRA Prime. What this meant, was that Valefor was able to step aboard the station and begin his work within the testing labs. Although he had not been complacent aboard the Felstorm in his study and material collection, he had been hesitant to progress any practical work. This was due to the fact that any future information regarding the Holo-Shards was to be kept within the TERRA Project, where the Cradle Facilities could replicate the processes and procedures required thanks to TERRA Prime.
Today would mark a pivotal moment for the Holo-Shards project as the move was made from the more Data-Shard based Alpha-Variant. The Forge Master had created the first true Holo-Shard using techniques to create Holocrons for the interior structure and circuitry.
A pair of Anubian Guards stood at the ready, watching eagerly as their Master moved the two identical looking bodies into place. With their work still very much in the experimental testing phase, Valefor was still using HRD Bodies for the first generation of the Beta-Variant Holo-Shards. Once he was certain that they could last and survive any potential mental degradation, then organic bodies would be worth investment. He moved behind the body hooked up to the monitoring systems and placed the small silver metallic vertebrae looking device on a specifically placed holder. The floor had been permanently engraved with the required spell work for the ability known as Mind Uploading. This was much due in part to the fact that Valefor would not be available for every time a new Holo-Shard would need to be created for the first time. After that, the Core-Casting technology would handle any backups and transfers.
He placed his hands on either side of the test subjects head and began to chant in the ancient sith tongue, evoking the spell to come forth and transfer the man's mind into the Holo-Shard. Runes on the ground slowly started to glow red as the Force flowed into and activated them. Eventually the room was cast with a red glow from the ritual circle as the man's mind was pulled from his organic brain and funnelled into the Holo-Shard, causing the faint blue crystalline structure to shine a bright blue. The runes died as Valefor finished his incantation and gently picked up the Holo-Shard and inserted it into the back of the HRD's neck. Contrary Aperture floated nearby as it observed its Masters work whilst also co-ordinating the construction.
The Demon Lord waited a few minutes as the body booted up and brought the Holo-Shard online. It was only a few moments later before the man was sitting up from the angled bed and lifted his arm, flexing his fingers. Diagnostics were already running as Valefor moved in front of the bed and performed a visual inspectionWelcome back HSB-One. Feeling awake and alert?Still feels... a bit weird. I'm definitely awake... But I'm still not fully alertSounds like the vocoder is still adjusting, but that should calibrate shortly. Left arm and hand motor controls seem good...The Anubian Guard had already placed a sheet over the old body and were wheeling it out as the physical was conducted. Knowing what such psychological impact seeing ones own body would do could easily wait. For the time being, Valefor wanted to test the bodies physical limitations and make sure his mind did not get shattered to a million pieces
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 279
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Mar 15, 2024 22:06:13 GMT -8
INTERLUDE - TERRA Prime - Excarga System
The days following the first successful transference of someone into a Holo-Shard had been spent testing HSB-1's physical recovery and limitations within the HRD Body. It became clear that without biological prompts to become tired, he could run almost tirelessly. However, the problem became that a mind unused to ceaseless operation did not handle the stress well. Thus an initial sleep cycle was introduced as part of the training to slowly acclimatise HSB-1 to his new state of existence. Regular sleep cycles were introduced at first, with the intent to slowly wean him off to shorter and shorter periods. The next round of testing included making a backup of HSB-1 and putting the Holo-Shard into storage before bringing it out and booting up a new body could be trialled to determine how storage would affect the mind. While that was happening, the first Beta-Variant Core-Cast was also tested. Alpha-Variants were pretty straight forward, since their artificial personalities had always been data. But transferring the organic to artificial and then copying it over? That was a whole new experience. As the testing continued in the lower section, Contrary Aperture continued to oversee and progress the construction progress of the upper section of the station. With more worker resources available, focus could be split between the frame and building up systems from the lower section
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