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Post by Professor Arachnus on Aug 8, 2023 7:30:14 GMT -8
Burn... A curtain of superheated air rose off the Genosian landscape behind the forward line as heavy tracked Scythe Harvesters worked their way up the gorge towards their position. Dirt and sand boiled, filling the narrow passage with the wafting stench of burning metal, as the harvesters left a glowing orange carpet in their wake that quickly cooled to black. Anything that hadn't been pushed aside by the armours advance was now cooked and vaporized as the forces of the Fabricator General rendered the world around them to ash. Their laser cannons hammered the top of the cliff walls, exposing well dug in and fortified anti-aircraft emplacements lining the highest reaches, allowing swarms of BX-series droid commandos on single troop aerial platforms to swoop in and take them out. Rock and scorched doonium rained down on the still steaming gorge floor....Burn... Pneumatic whines and the scraping of carbon scored plate sounded as the multi-troop transports arranged just beyond the Golbah Hive emplacements began to disgorge troops. Charcoal black B1 battle droids unfolded, sparked to life by an invisible wireless signal, causing crimson coloured photo-receptors to beam luminously from awakening lenses. Each carried in their barbed mechanical digits a BT X-42 heavy flame projector, sputtering black smoke from their barrels as the pilot light of each was ignited. They were joined by brutish looking B2 super battle droids, with their twin mounted laser cannons replaced by flame projectors that bled acrid wisps of coiling fumes. The incendiary troops lined up in formation, practically chomping at the bit as artillery fire continued to pepper the battlements in front of them....Burn! Defoliators inbound. Arachnus turned his metallic cranium towards the sky as the whistling sound of incoming ordinance squealed overhead, striking the front of the hive where it erupted in an expanding pyroclastic cloud. A fiery shockwave spread out, baking the ground and surrounding stone across the hive face, scouring every available crevice and opening as flames swallowed up any available oxygen. The rolling avalanche of flame reached all the way to the front of the droid line, licking the first few units, who appeared none the worse for wear as the fires receded. Smaller fiery detonation took place as incendiary mortar rounds containing alchemical agents shattered against the fragmented battlements, creating such a conflagration that the Genosians couldn't even man the murder holes.Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn! Burn! In the background behind them a massive black obelisk descended from the sky, darkening the land as it blotted out the sun dipping behind the horizon with its gigantic bulk, looming like sort sort of malevolent temple as it came to hover over the mobile command centre. All across the planet, everywhere the Felstorm's wireless transceivers could reach, the airwaves filled with the same screeching mechanical chant."Burn." Screeched the Professor, testing the expression himself. "Burn it all. Bring forth the Aetherius Cannon!" He then looked to Lord Valefor who appeared deep in concentration, having already carved mysterious runes of arcane power into the ground, no doubt preparing whatever spell he intended to use to breach the hive. Yet as the uniquely programmed SD-K4 assassin bot focused his plethora of cybernetic eyes on the Forge Lord, something unusual affected his circuits, as though this viral software was gifted with a vision.
He saw Valefor, more demon than man, wreathed in smoke and flame as though he were manifested from it. Even as the clawed toes of his feet curled in a bed of coals, the fire didn't so much as sear the Forge Lord's rage red flesh, as it scoured him in unholy light. The Red Sage's leathery wings hung from broad soot stained shoulders, dusted with ash as every exhalation from the Sorcerer Lord seemed to exude scalding wisps of sulphur, his eyes smouldering in their sockets. Black skies overhead were further blotted by an endless armada of C-9979s flying above, visiting destruction upon the land as they rained down more fire and death. As Arachnus looked to the distance, he could see the rusted rectangular teeth of the Dark Forge, belching carcinogenic clouds of acid and heavy metals, while conveyor belts carried an assembly line of fleshling sacrifices towards a hungry coughing black pit. Above them the sun in the sky wasn't its regular yellow, but had transformed into a fiery orange ball, split down the centre by a slit pupil as black as the void. That hatefully glaring Eye beheld a galaxy vacant of life...and it was pleased.
When next the Professor blinked, the virally inspired vision was replaced by the present, as faded red armoured assault tanks dragging long beam thick links of Sith iron chain hovered to the front, pulling a modified Self-Propelled Heavy Artillery (SPHA-T) walker. Like everything produced in the corrupted fires of the Dark Forge, the Aetherius Cannon was black, featuring a droid socket where the gunners seat should be located. The malevolent spider-robot scurried across the so-recently scorched sands and clambered aboard the platform, casting one last look towards Lord Valefor who by now was deep into his spell. Whatever he had planned, Arachnus was confident the Forge Lord would crack this hive. In the meantime, it was up to him and the Legios Cybernetica to bring down those blaster emplacements standing in their way. A grating metallic squeal elicited from the socket as the assassin bot readjusted his slender razor edged legs to slide comfortably into place, feeling an electrical pulse jolt any snoozing circuits of his to full attention. The large turbolaser arm began to swivel into place, taking aim at the front of the hive."Load power cell!" Shrieked Arachnus, as two B1 engineers worked their war towards the Aetherius Cannon, carrying what looked like an odd combination of science and sorcery. Cylindrical in shape, the wrought iron core resembled an oversized power cell, studded with what appeared to be living shards the forces of the Fabricator General had harvested during their raid on the Iron Knight homeworld of Orax. The sinister cell actually used the shards life-force like batteries to power the cannon. Unbeknownst to the Professor and the other merciless droids around him, the crystalline life forms sang a song of utter terror as they screamed into the aether, begging to be spared. Their voices fell on deaf mechanical ears. "Get clear!" Fed a direct feed from the Aetherius Cannons targeting software, the Professor selected thirty-seven separate targets across the face of the Golbah Hive battlements, the exact amount of blaster emplacements left. When his targets were locked in, the cackling cybernetic spider shrieked in delight."FIRE!" The Force screamed as the Aetherius Cannon fired, unleashing a crackling blue beam of coherent energy that split into thirty-seven individual strands, each curling towards a different target. Blaster turrets detonated in a consecutive series of concussive explosions, all serving as prelude to whatever unholy conjuration Arachnus' malevolent master had in store. |
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Aug 10, 2023 2:44:56 GMT -8
As the Legios Cybernetica undertook the burnt earth drive down through the gorge, a detachment was kept aside and began gathering up the surviving Geonosians and hauling them from the metal carcasses that once served as tanks. Several Platoon Attack Craft that had their Deployment Racks converted into Prisoner Cages swiftly moved across the battle field and loaded up with the survivors. By the time they were filled and parked up upon the overlook, Valefor had completed marking out his spell seal and was busy muttering away in the ancient tongue of the Sith, reciting incantations. None approached the Forge Master as he drew upon the Force to focus his mind and reach out beyond the Veil...
The Force is an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together. No truer proof of this adage existed, than what most knew as the Netherworld. A realm that was apart of but also separate of the Mortal plane. The Ethereal planes that made up the Netherworld were carbon copies of the Mortal plane, but each existed as its own version. Energies, or a lack thereof, flooded that particular plane of existence and affected how each looked. Sometimes this meant that sometimes a world devoid of life could be the paradise it once was. But in this case, as Valefor closed his eyes on the barren rock of Geonosis in the Mortal plane, he opened his eyes to a barren hell scape within Chaos.
Little was changed, except for the seeming lack of life that existed here. But the Crimson Lord knew better than to be fooled by appearances. Since before time began, the forces of Light and Dark had existed in an eternal struggle, fighting for dominance and creating the balance of the Mortal plane. But these forces had been more than immaterial concepts, each side had a leader and hordes of fighters to throw into the fray. There were Demons down here that had been growing in strength and power for eons. Their strength merely increased as those whom were tied to the Dark Side fell to the blade of another and joined this wretched existence.
One of the strongest of these creatures, was the Demon King Anima. A being whom, almost as if on cue, rose to his full height and cast a shadow across the cliff edge. His form was wreathed in flames and clad in armour, a broken sword was clutched in his right hand as the raging infernos that were his eyes turned their focus upon the Sorceror Supreme. Valefor did not flinch one bit, standing proud and defiantThe Demon Lord of Hypori...Demon King Anima...I hear you have ambitions to become a King of your own, Valefor... Do you so readily forget our deal?It is no fault of mine, that your other minions were incompetent. Bara'duun tried to taunt his old jailer and paid the price and the Apocrypha Stones were a dead end... Little more than fairytales. I have, however, determined a new route forward. Tell me, Anima, how would you like a taste of the real world? A sampling of the power I will soon command and can use to bring you back?The Demon King did not, at first, seem too pleased with his answers, but he certainly seemed much more receptive upon mention of a sampling of the Eternus Stones. After what seemed like a long silence, Anima growled before moving his face down closer to the cliff faceA bold strategy, coming here... Know that if you betray me... It will be the last thing you do...Valefor smirked, unphased by the threat the Demon King made. He had a plan and it would work. Besides, Anima was powerless to affect the Mortal plane, no matter how powerful he was. He closed his eyes and watches as the Veil fell back into place...
What seemed like a prolonged conversation and passage of time, had happened much more quickly in the world of the living. Reaching his left hand back, the Stone of Dromund Kaas began to reach out and drain the life force from the prisons, pulling it like chains across the air and into the stone itself. Valefor's right hand then reached out toward the plane as the Aetherius Cannon fired. Clouds formed within the air, darkness enveloping them to cast a shadow across the gorge. Slowly lines of fel flame danced through the air recreating the spell seal at his feet in a much larger scale down below. The Veil kept the worlds of the living and dead separated. Nigh impenetrable unless one knew the right spells.
Funnelling the captured life essence into the spell, Valefor tore back the Veil between the worlds, allowing Anima to breach through up to his waist. The Demon King was just as impressive in the Mortal plane as he was in the Ethereal one. He steadied one claw upon the field, crushing countless foes underneath, whilst he raised up the broken blade and brought the tip straight down upon the exposed hive. With an almighty crashing noise, the dome collapsed inward, breaking open the almost impenetrable bunker. Before Anima could do more, however, the Demon King soon slipped back through the Veil and the portal snapped closed.
The Crimson Lord ceased his chanting, and fell to his knees feeling the toll of his magic catch up with him. The Platoon Attack Craft took off, depositing the remains of those now dead so that they could resume collecting prisoners. Valefor turned his focus upon the Aetherius Cannon, drawing upon the Force to recover his strengthBURN THEM OUT! BUT BRING THE QUEEN TO ME!
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Aug 11, 2023 17:20:50 GMT -8
"Advance!" Cried the vindictive spider-bot as he popped out of the Aetherius Cannons droid socket, once more clit-clattering across dusty steel on needle tipped legs of slender Sith iron. With a hiss of warming pistons he leapt with a ninjas grace to the recently glassed Geonosian ground, quickly scampering across the sparkling landscape as he raced to his master's side. In the background behind him the waiting front line of incendiary droids began their advance, entering through the opening breached by the briefly spawned...demon. The tactical droids were still processing that data. Whatever happened, it was clearly the result of the Fabricator General's magical might. The Professor's circuits ran a bio-analyzes on the Red Sage, skittering to a stop before his kneeling form."Master!" Screeched a panicked robo-arachnid, leaning his chassis towards his master's hunched over form, offering his own steely frame to support the Winged One's recovering form. "Milord, well done. See how they carry out your will, my liege. See how they bring the Forge Master's fire to your foe. They set fire to this world...for you, my lord."And they did exactly that. Great gouts of shrieking green alchemical flame spilled from flame cannons carried by droids blanketed in soot, wreaking of burnt Geonosian chitin, pouring rivers of unnatural chemical fire down mazes full of holes. Bugs burned alive and larvae boiled in their brood sacs as the machine forces of the Fabricator General spared no one. Primitive spears and sonic blasters performed pitifully against the doonium plated automatons, they responded only with more curtains of sinister fire, hot enough to blister hive walls and transform any obstacles into pillars of ash.Part of the front of the shattered hive nearest Valefor and Arachnus exploded outwards in a showering of dust and stone. A screeching FLTCH-series battle droid with a barbed metallic midnight blue chassis came charging through the expanding cloud, its photo-receptors blazing red with mechanical wroth, and its armour plating was pasted with the gooey chitin of geonosian warriors it had clearly butchered. It raised its bulbous right arm and took aim at a fleeing insect, trying to escape through the hole created in the fortifications. A coherent crimson lance seared its way through the air from the barbaric droid's wrist cannon, striking the bug in the back, instantly boiling its gooey innards inside its protective carapace, causing the bug to explode into steaming pieces the moment it struck the ground.:: Kill! Maim! Butcher! Bleed! :: Snarled the droid's vocabulator as picked up a piece of broken boulder and used it to bludgeon a bug trapped beneath the rubble that still appeared to be squirming. The droid smashed the insect repeatedly, going beyond reasonable measure to ensure that it was dead, never satisfied until its metal digits were dripping with bug blood. :: Slaves for the foundries, sacrifices for the Dark Forge, souls for the Omnissiah Diabolicus! ::"That is Titanicus, Forge Master. One of the rescued droid units from Orax that those heretical Iron Knights were blaspheming with their uncouth practices. The Dark Forge provided a new processing unit for the droid, T10-1KU5, albeit one with a bit of personality. To put it bluntly, my lord, the droid is an idiot" Explained the Professor, before raising his voice and hissing at the wrathful automaton smashing around the ruins. "Titanicus, you dolt! Cease this pointless rampage. The bugs are inside the hive. Everything out here is already dead."The FLTCH droid paused in its pulping of another bug corpse and focused on Arachnus a moment, sizing the SD-K4 assassin unit up, weighing its chances. Thirty wickedly glowing red eyes emerging from cavities on the Professor's chassis quickly dissuaded the gladiator machine against any mutinous action. It twisted its metal cranium towards Valefor, then bowed its head, causing bug goo to sluice from its blood stained cranium. Titanicus then straightened and lumbered back into the hive, smashing through walls as it sought more bugs to squash. It was around this time that the Professir recieved word from inside."Master! They've found the queen! And she's a big one."
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Aug 15, 2023 15:08:34 GMT -8
As Arachnus arrived to his side, Valefor used the mechanical mass to haul himself up to his feet once more, the strain upon his abilities having been quite great. But he would survive, and once the Attack Craft returned with new prisoners, he would sacrifice their lives to reinvigorate his own. He gave the Arachnus' chassis a pat with his ungloved hand as he watched the scenes of destruction unfold
Fear not, my friend. It will take a great deal more than that to defeat me... Let us enjoy the warmth of the flames your brethren have lit.
Slowly, but surely, his strength was returning to him, and the first of the Attack Craft had returned with a handful of survivors from whom Valefor drew their essence and added to his own strength. It was then that his focus was drawn back to the battlefield and the emerging hulk of an FLTCH-series Battle Droid. Orax was still fresh in his mind, given it had been the last stop they'd been too before arriving here. It was a good chance that Titanicus had been one of the former Iron Knights he had struck down personally in the assault upon the Citadel. But now the Battle Droid fought for them.
He watched silently then, as the FLTCH droid stared Arachnus down before wisely conceding and bowing its head in subservience. Valefor pushed himself onto his own feet, enough of his strength having returned for such an action whilst using the Legionis Hastae to support his upright posture. He smiled as the news was delivered of the Queen's capture
Good... We should examine our catch. Stun rounds only, I'd rather she remains unharmed before I start my work on her...
Despite his weakened state, he strode rather briskly forward with the air of the Hastae. A vanguard of B2 Battle Droids took the lead to chart a path through the burning hulk that had been the Hive. They would have to work fast to retrieve this prize before too much of the Geonosian Hive caught fire and collapsed. The other hives would be given this as a message: stand against the Crimson Lord of Hypori and be burned.
A few minutes passed of navigating the close-knit tunnels and chambers of the Geonosian Hive before they arrived to the chamber of the Golbah Queen. As promised, she was quite large, filling more than half of the massive chamber dedicated to her. Several Battle Droids of various makes and models stood arrayed around the Queen, some with blasters raised and set to stun, while others were hauling on chains that were being wrapped and tightened around her enormous bulk
Quite the catch we have here...
The Queen let out a hiss whilst the existing chains were tightened and new chains were wrapped around her. The far off rumble of a "Worldsplitter" Plasma Drill could be felt and heard carving a path from the surface down to the royal chamber
Hush, your highness. You reign here no longer...
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Aug 20, 2023 10:53:04 GMT -8
Coherent emerald fire boiled through the ceiling and bisected the room as the plasma drill bored down into the royal chamber. Simultaneously the first tremors could be felt at their feet as on the other side of the planet, a swarm of newly arrived C-9979s had begun bombing runs of the Gehenbar Hive. Even such a distance away, the rumble of several thousand tons of proton ordnance had a reverberating effect, vibrating the dust from the Professor's slender razor tipped legs. Arachnus and his mechanical children busied themselves preparing the queen for Valefor's ministrations. Construction droids with massive shunt arms or cranes on heavy tracked vehicles all worked in tandem to disassemble the Geonosian Hive, piece by piece, even as a giant shadow eclipsed the light of the sun overhead. The Felstorm had drifted from its place hovering over the command centre and now took up position over the Golbah Hive, as the anti-aircraft emplacements had all been destroyed at this point. Commander Beelzebub directed its numerous point defense emplacements to picking off anything trying to flee the rubble.A Sith iron collar with spikes lining the inside was welded shut around the Queen's neck, marked with runes of binding. Sinister machinery with spools of copper wire and crackling lightning rods were installed in the chamber while ray-shield and tensor fields generators were brought online, suspending the insectoid broodmare in place. Transparent tanks full of luminous green alchemical agents were stacked in orderly rows, with long surgical cables running direct fluid drips into the alien's chitinous carapace. Elsewhere, some tunnels were purposefully collapsed while others were expanded to encompass the massive amount of materials that were being transported below, with some droids already paving duracrete over still smoking bug-holes. Little was understood about the hiveminds range and level of control, so for the interim a sensory deprivation helmet was placed over the queen's head, blinding and deafening her in equal measure. Finally, with the fall of the hive, battle droids gave way to interrogation and surgical droids.Arachnus busied himself in the centre of the gutted chamber, now more mechanical dungeon and lab than royal hall, focusing his plethora of gleaming red photo-receptors on a tactical display linked to the Felstorm. The holographic rendering showed thirty of the new C-9979s in the bomber configuration rain down an unnecessary amount of proton bombs, disturbing the planet's tectonics with their fury, turning their secondary objective to a dark smear on the map before they even had time to prepare a ground assault. That just meant they could move on to their third and final objective, the Stalgasin Hive, Bug Central. The Professor could be seen arguing with two tactical droids when Valefor came over to investigate. The spider-bot's venomous tone screeched with obvious irritation."...we don't want them to be surprised. We want them to be afraid!" He snapped synthetically, turning as his 360 degree view spotted the Sorcerer Lord approach. "Ah, milord. We were just debating the Legios Cybernetica's strategy for defeating the Stalgasin Hive.""With what we now know, our latest projections of losses in a straight assault on the Stalgasin Hive are much higher than initially anticipated." Said Tactical Droid, T3-B9, monotonal. "Logic dictates...""Don't talk to me of logic. My internal processor came from your replacement, you overpriced abacus!" Chief Librarian, calm yourself. Stated a holographic projection of Commander Beelzebub. I agree with T3-B9. If we proceed with your plan we will lose most of your B1 and B2 units. A more methodical approach is called for to limit operational losses.Frustrated, the Professor looked around the table for support, finally turning his scattering of glowing red eyes on the Fabricator General. "They've brought it, Forge Master. The prototype from Project Eternal." He looked back at the other droids, all who were either shaking their processing unit receptacles or were pretending not to be paying attention to the exchange. "That, combined with my own Mecha unit, will be enough. I know it will." Like a puppy dog desiring a bone, he stared up at Valefor, almost pleading.
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Aug 21, 2023 16:29:47 GMT -8
With their victory assured, Valefor oversaw much of the immediate works that took place to subdue and secure the Queen of the Golbah Hive. With the Gehenbar Hive eradicated, the Stalgasin Hive would soon fall next. Once that was completed, it would be time for a new Queen to rise and a new Hive would replace them all. Valefor pressed a clawed hand upon the massive womb of the Captive Queen as the various instruments of her servitude were attached. She was barely a formed thought, but the Crimson Lord could already sense the biological processes beginning to split cells and replicate out. A smile formed upon his face as he turned from the work that had started and turned his focus upon the work still yet to be completed.
He crossed his arms over his chest as he arrived to the meeting of the Droid commanders, each with their own preferred approach to dealing with the Stalgasin Hive. They bickered like children, trying to get their Father's approval. It was good, because it sparked debate and the propagation of better ideas and plans. However, today it seemed he would need to interject once more as Arachnus spoke of his preferred plan to crush the hive, while T3-B9 and Beelzebub advocated for a much more reserved attack. He shifted his gaze from Arachnus, to T3, to Beelzebub. Unfurling his arms, he let a hand come down to rest upon the Arachnid's head, petting it
Our forces, what ever their losses, exist for the glory of the Dark Forge. If they fall in combat, then they shall be rebuilt by the Dark Forge to be stronger and better. Our army is Eternal, raised back to fight once more after defeat. Let the bugs worry themselves about operational losses and their own mortality. Prepare our forces for an assault upon the Hive. We will strike it down and imprint a message so deep into what ever collective DNA remains that they will remember it for generations to come. Victory is already ours, it is merely a matter of how much of my patience you are willing to test with long drawn out conflict... Perhaps it is time that the Dark Forge be given the chance to correct any defects...
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Aug 22, 2023 8:10:06 GMT -8
A mechanical whir sounded as interlocking gizmos inside the SD-K4 assassin droid purred as the Fabricator General stroked the top of his chassis, causing several of the miniature metal arachnids inside to vie over the attention of his fingers, jockeying for position atop his fire blackened dome. The Professor leaned into the displayed affection and even vented puffs of scalding steam from its joints as it made obvious its place in the pecking order, before the gathered droid commanders. It was the static laced synthetic tone of Commander Beelzebub that broke the tension first, currently the furthest away from the stewing Demon of Hypori, thus also perhaps the safest.That will not be necessary, Forge Master. Said the Super Tactical droid somewhat tacitly. Updating. Of the other droids gathered, whose photo-receptors had turned positively green with envy at Arachnus, they seemed to briefly freeze. Suddenly their glowing lenses went dark, then flashed back on, as though they had all been rebooted. Even the Professor paused beneath the Red Sage's attention as he to received an update. In the far corner of the room, the FLTCH-series droid Titanicus snorted to itself. :: Tickles. :: It's vocabulator boomed.Update complete. Stated Beelzebub. New battle strategy formulated. The Felstorm is moving into position for an orbital drop. Which was obvious, as the walls and ceiling around them shook as the massive star pyramid floating over the ripped open hive began to rise higher into the sky. In its place, C-9979s of the Dark Fleet could be seen swooping in, carrying more equipment and materials as every available effort was being made to rebuild and fortify the hive, now that it was under Eternal control.For his part, Arachnus led his master back outside the hive. Based on his own calculations, they had just enough time to launch their attack on the Stalgasin Hive, crush it thoroughly, and then return to be there for the birth of the new Geonosian Queen growing in the old queen's womb. Upon reaching the debris strewn gorge that reeked of freshly formed glass, a modified Hyena-class droid fighter was waiting for them. It shared the same signature black as the rest of the spider-gear produced by the dark forge, featuring a droid socket where traditionally the bombers head would be located. Like a mechanical jumping spider, the Professor hopped off the ground and landed on the fuselage of the bomber, quickly easing himself into his prearranged place. His circular chassis protruded, much like the Hyena droid's head would have. In the second position where a static secondary head was typically located, the bomb bay had been hollowed out to create an encapsulated seat, creating with Valefor's girthsome dimensions in mind."Your chariot awaits, Master." Shrieked Arachnus excitedly. "We'll return to the Felstorm's hangar and drop onto the battlefield from high orbit. The Dark Fleet is already moving the rest of the Legios into position for the final assault."
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Sept 11, 2023 19:29:31 GMT -8
Like dominos toppling over, the defenses and last shred of resistance by the Stalgasin Hive crumbled like so many other cities and worlds before it, pounded to rubble by the machinations of the Forge Master and his mechanical legions. Mecha-Arachnus for his part added to the pyre, his flame projector bathing the retreating Geonosian warrior caste in green gouts of alchemical flame. The destruction was pleasing to him. These organics offended his cybernetic sensibilities, they deserved to die if only for the crime of their unworthy existence. Metallic mockeries of the defenders descended in mass, swarming over the hive like angry wasps as they dragged terrified insectoids out of their holes and put them to the flame or sword, meting out righteous viral justice. The Professor could have continued all day, save for the fact that his communications suite began to bleep with a priority transmission from the Golbah Hive.Expending the last of his munitions, the spiteful spider-bot emerged from the top hatch of his modified MT-AT, quickly clambering across its mechanical surface. Lining up a shot on the Red Sage's battle-mech, the cyber-arachnid fired a magnetic grapple cord at Valefor's vehicle, striking the right shoulder. Without concern for the considerable height, the viral SD-K4 assassin lunged off the head of his spider-mech and swung over to his master's armoured red hulk. Scurrying across its surface, he crawled across the mech's head, stopping in front of the Fabricator's General's view as his plethora of glowing crimson photo-receptors locked eyes with his beloved creator."Master!" Screeched the Professor in panic. "We just received a priority transmission from the Golbah Hive. The queen has gone into labour! The Princess is coming!" By his calculations, if they left immediately they would just make it there in time to witness the birth.
He swung the massive sword across his back and locked it into place before lumbering across the field toward a nearby C-9979. The Mech launched itself up atop the Frigate as the Carrier took off into the air and bore its payload across the barren surface back to the Golbah Hive...
The flight over was uneventful, save for the updates from Commander Beelzebub as droids descended upon the two Hives and began their reconstruction works. The Queens had been killed and any remnants scattered to the winds. Overall, it was an inevitable outcome, though Valefor had conservatively expected a bit more resistance. But the day was won and Geonosis now bowed down to the Forge Master and the Sith Eternal.
AS the C-9979 passed over the Golbah Hive, Valefor worked the controls of the Mech, launching it from atop the Carrier and free-falling down through the air. Shock absorber systems activated as the legs impacted the ground and brought their momentum to a sudden stop. Without skipping a beat, he knelt the Mech down and launched himself from the access hatch and rushed down the access tunnel to the royal chamber. The Former Queen of the Golbah Hive remained suspended in the air, her restraints still attached but now clearly in a state of labour. Fel streams of magic spiralled up from the seal below her, penetrating the massive womb and affecting the growth of the Queen within.
He grabbed hold of his spear and used it to steady himself as he caught his breath from the rush down to the chambers as the last few moments passed. The chamber quickly filled with groans and screeches as the Queen's body tried to birth the thing within it. But soon the room was filled with screams of pain as the surface of her womb was distorted and stretched. Valefor let a grim smile cross his lips as the crest of a head pushed outwards, the skin forcefully adhering to it. A blood curdling scream sounded out from the Queen as the womb suddenly split open as claws and teeth pierced from within and tore apart the flesh prison.
The smell of rotting flesh and various internal liquids rolled across the room as steam rose from the black carapaced form that rose from the remnants of the womb. A screech filled the air once again, as the droids hid from sight and the carcass fell to the floor as the restraints powered down. Valefor stood undaunted as he took in the large black headcrest that looked like a massive kite, his gaze moving down to the curved face and then back to her gangly form from which multiple limbs sprouted and held her up. His gaze then falling upon the skeletal tail at the end of which was a blade like tip. Unlike her host, the progeny was slimmer in weight and size, but no less a Queen in her own right and capable of performing the functions required of her.
In those few silent moments, the Queen's lips pulled back into a snarl, as if preparing to engage a threat. She screamed toward Valefor, but the Crimson Lord didn't flinch, instead he calmly reached out his ungloved hand toward her. A few more moments of silence passed, before she stepped forward and pressed her face into his palm and nuzzled against it. That vicious smile growing once moreGood morning Zevene, Queen of the Necronids. Upon your birth, I bequeath you reign of Geonosis. The Old Queen dies, and a New Queen rises. Glory... to the Necro Forge!Several of the B1 Worker Droids appeared from cover first and took up the new rallying cry, their mechanical voices echoing across the chamberGlory to the Queen of the Necronids! Glory to the Necro Forge!Zevene's head rose up from Valefor's hand and let out a screech. Her vocal cords were not developed for physical speech, but he could feel her telepathic voice upon the edge of his consciousness. Repeating the phrase and thanking her Father |
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Sept 13, 2023 18:00:15 GMT -8
Glory to the Queen of the Necronids! Glory to the Necro Forge! The same communication was broadcast loud and proud from the powerful transmitters of the Felstorm across the entire planet, and taken up by every hateful droid of the Legios Cybernetica. Its chorus shook the very ground, inspiring fear in the Geonosian survivors. Even the Professor who had been hot on the Fabricator's General's heel took up the chant, screeching in synthetic delight."Glory to the Queen of the Necronids!" His vocabulator shrieked at maximum volume. "Glory to the Necro Forge!" The Professor's near numberless and brightly blaring photo-receptors were transfixed with the creature so recently given birth, the Demon's daughter, Queen Zevene. Slowly scurrying on eight razor limbed legs, he neared the frightful creature, enamored with this marvel of sorcery and science. "She's beautiful, Master. You must be very proud." Added the cybernetic spider, coming within reach of the Necronid's lethal looking claws. In less than a breath the alien intellect focused its massive eyeless cranium on the robo-arachnid, then swept one of its monstrous claws towards him. The SD-K4 assassins finely attuned proximity alarms alerted it just in time to leap out of the way, pouncing up into the air like a jumping spider, twisting around so that its legs impacted the ceiling and held there well out of the Queen's reach."She's a feisty one, Master." Said the Professor, hanging upside down from the ceiling. "But her Uncle Arachnus loves her all the same." Scurrying like a...well, spider, the academically inclined assassin made his way back down to Lord Valefor's side. His glowing red eyes briefly flickered as he received another update from Commander Beelzebub. After a moment he shared the information with the Forge Master."Milord, Commander Beelzebub reports that the Felstorm's presence will be required while Geonosis' new defenses are shored up, but has made a C-9979 of the Dark Fleet available to ferry us to our next destination." |
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Sept 14, 2023 16:54:53 GMT -8
He continued to pet Zevene's head up until the moment that Arachnus got close enough that she swiped at the Mechanical Arachnid, causing Valefor to step to the side before closing back in. He let out a small chuckle at the interaction, resuming the head pats
Very proud indeed...
His focus moved to Arachnus as the Professor delivered an update from Beelzebub regarding the Felstorm's need to remain at Geonosis. He gave Zevene a final pat
Stay here for now my dear. Birth the start of your hive, once the works upon the old Stalgasin Hive is repaired, move there and continue to grow the Necronids. We can begin proper construction upon the Necro Forge once your Hive has grown...
Yes, Father...
Zevene bowed her head, letting out a screech as she turned around and began to rip and tear into the carcass of the old Queen. Valefor shifted the spear into his right hand as he started off up the ramp toward the surface
I suppose one of the C-9979's should be fine... Instruct Beelzebub to ensure he collects my Mech and yours and stores them back aboard the Felstorm...
The C-9979 touched down on the surface and its giant doors were swinging open as Valefor and Arachnus reached the surface once more. While he had intended to spend some time working on the Overseer project, such plans were put on the back burner. But all was not lost as he loaded up into the C-9979 Frigate and the doors closed. By the time he made his way up onot the bridge of the ship, the Frigate was already pushing up through the atmosphere and made the jump to hyperspace
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Dec 3, 2023 23:53:25 GMT -8
Prowlers in the Night - After the conquest of Geonosis and the Acquisition of the Stone of Korriban
Geonosis had been conquered and slowly - but surely - the Necronids under Queen Zevene were expanding their population and control across the surface of the arid world. But whereas the Dark Forge had a beating heart of flame and steel, the Necro Forge was a living organism in the form of the Necronids with Zevene at its centre. Everywhere the Necronids were, became part of the Necro Forge upon Geonosis. Each old droid production facility and laboratory that was repaired and brought back online joined the Necro Forge and became another resource by which to propagate the Necronids. But is also served to aide Valefor in the completion of his most secretive and long sought after projects. Amalgamations of machine and flesh.
It was within one of the Forge's laboratories, that several scientists and acolytes were gathered around Valefor and offering their assistance as best they could. Years of research and reverse engineering of the CIS' mechanical zombie secret project had lead to this moment.
As the decaying corpse laid out on the table, doctors placed and affixed mechanical augmentations to replace severed limbs and torn out organs to make whole that which was broken. The final touches saw the cadaver dressed in a suit that served a dual purpose of survival and protection should the process prove successful. Something that Valefor had no doubt in his mind about as the chest was left exposed whilst a pair of doors were thrown open. Behind them stood a wall of metallic bars which kept a dozen or more prisoners locked up. They looked scared, huddling in a corner as far away from the Demon Lord as they could
The preparations are at last complete... Now let us see if we have a sacrifice strong enough to awaken the dead once more...
He stalked over to the bars and lifted his gloved palm toward those within. The Stone of Dromund Kaas glowed purple as it drew forth the life force energy of those gathered within, causing each of them to drop in quick succession. As the last prisoner fell, He closed his grip, holding the power in place as he turned back to the operating table and resumed his place once more
zami kinisirsa, tu'iyia nutki tuti nindz armijio driyi. Sosûtari dzok tu'iyia atki tuhu wir, diâ dira nairi ir ri akûti iw tu'iyia zûtaikima. zami kinisirsa, tu'iyia nutki tuti nindz armijio driyi. Sosûtari dzok tu'iyia atki tuhu wir, diâ dira nairi ir ri akûti iw tu'iyia zûtaikima. zami kinisirsa, tu'iyia nutki tuti nindz armijio driyi. Sosûtari dzok tu'iyia atki tuhu wir, diâ dira nairi ir ri akûti iw tu'iyia zûtaikima.
He began the chant quietly at first before slowly raising his voice, which was slowly taken up by the Acolytes. Soon their voices were echoing about the chamber as the power Valefor held in his hand was slowly seeped out into the chest of the corpse. The incantation was maintained throughout the process, rising up to a fever pitch as the last of the stored power left the Caestus. The Crimson Lord's free hand making a motion which caused all voices to cut. Silence settled across the chamber as the last echo was consumed and all attention was turned to the man's chest.
One moment...
Two moments...
Three moments...
Just as one of the doctors was about to speak up, a dull beating sound echoed across the room once. Then twice. Picking up pace as sensors started alerting to the patients condition. The suit was sealed up quickly before the once dead man shot up into a seated position, his mechanical hand shooting out and crushing the throat of the same doctor from moments before. Valefor moved around the table, the Acolytes and other Doctors quickly pulled away from arms reach
Welcome back... The first of the Prowlers has been born this day. How do you feel?
:: I feel.... dead... ::
Good... You feel that which you will inflict upon those I deem your enemies.
:: Of course, Master... ::
Soon, they shall fear the name: Darth Necrotus
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Feb 22, 2024 15:52:58 GMT -8
Project: SORORITAS - Post the Death of Lord Garrax and the birth of Arch-Duke Panik The Greater
The Necro Forge had been slowly growing the Prowler project, with many new subjects having been born. Meanwhile the Dark Forge had been outputting droids for the Legios Cybernetica alongside the Alpha Variants of the Holo-Shards. Research and work was well underway toward the Beta Variant of the Holo-Shards which would further augment his forces. However, Valefor was not one to rest upon his laurels and wait. The information he had learned from Garrax had shed light upon a rot at the very heart of the Sith Eternal which needed to be dealt with. And Valefor had a new solution for this matter.
Sequestered away in one of the laboratories of the Necro Forge, scientists were busy working under the direct supervision of the Demon Lord and a pair of his Anubian Guard. Thanks to the generous donation from Lady Astera, they had a base template DNA from which to work from and sequence. Hundreds of combinations were being trialled to see what benefits and strengths they could extract out for the SORORITAS. They would be gene-forged warriors that would be loyal to Valefor with no potential entanglements to the Supreme Leader and his most loyal circle upon the Council. Certainly there was some risk run in using Astera's DNA, but she had not been named by Garrax's dying breaths and had joined the Sith Eternal some time after the others. So where such matters were concerned, the Forge Master was quite confident.
As it stood, an initial batch of test subjects were already well on their way to maturation within Cloning Pods which lined one of the hallways within the converted facility that lead deep into a mountain. Once they awoke, their mettle would be tested and trialled to see who was the strongest and worthy of surviving
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Feb 26, 2024 16:12:54 GMT -8
Project: SORORITAS
When the test subjects had reached maturity, they had been run through tests and simulations and trials to find out just how successful the work had been. Those with traits that had taken were studied further before being destroyed and the next round of test subjects were created. It was time intensive work, as trial after trial had to be conducted to ensure that each successive test took and held onto the changes made. Sometimes they would have to revert back several changes to implement a later change earlier or use a different method to bind the genes such that a later change would reinforce and hold them in place. Valefor was present at all times, overseeing the work and providing guidance and his power when needed.
After innumerable iterations, everything was at last perfected in its composition. The 1st Generation of the SORORITAS was finally birthed from their tanks and began their training regimen. Standing at 7 foot with well developed musculature already - which was further augmented by a number of cybernetic enhancements - the newly christened Forge Maidens were a sight to behold. That was before mentioning their silver hair and blue eyes. But they would look quite imposing once equipped with the KAIBURR Armour Suits that Darth Astera had made specifically for the Forge Maidens. But first, they needed to spend some time adjusting to the physical world with the flash training they had been created with.
Valefor stood in the observation box that overlooked the massive underground training arena which had been sectioned off into multiple divisions, in which groups of 8 SORORITAS were working together. Beside the Forge Master stood Darth Astera, observing the clones that had been based upon her DNA. Given the secrecy with which he had been conducting this project with so far had meant that the Director of Technological Advancements could not just call in for updates and to see how things were progressing remotely
They've come a long way since the first iterations, now boasting a number of... improvements. Dragus' indirect contribution of some Zabrak Nightbrothers proved rather valuable...
So long as he made no contributions of his own DNA...
Fear not, Lady Astera, I ruled out any such option long before I began this project. Those born of his progeny seem to have an uncontrollable urge to try and kill their father. Which, for the time being, is not a desirable trait...
Good, good... And they're loyal to only you?
Yes, they have been trained to recognize my voice and scent and can detect imposters. However... They do seem to still also have a soft spot for their mother, so they can't be ordered to kill either one of us...
A crimson blush shaded Astera's cheeks as Valefor made his comment about her being their mother. She crossed her arms and gave a dismissive huff to which the Demon Lord let out a chuckle of his own
Soon they'll be an almost unstoppable force once equipped with the KAIBURR armour and the weapons made for them...
How sweet of you...
Shut it... Or I will take them away.
You are cruel, but not that cruel. Besides, you know I only jest.
She kept her attention and focus out of the window down into the arena, clearly not wishing to look over at him and pay his comments any further mind
A few more days and they'll be ready to gear up. After that.... Well it won't be long...
Too right you are...
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Mar 6, 2024 18:14:52 GMT -8
Project: SORORITAS - 2B
The last several weeks had been an intense training regimen ever since the moment she had awoken within that tube. She was aware of who and what she was - after all it had all been imprinted within her mind during the growth period - knowledge which might have broken and crushed weaker minds. But not her and her sisters. They had all embraced that knowledge, revelled in the idea they had been created specifically for one purpose and to be the best at that purpose. But now training was over, and they would soon prove that they were everything the Forge Master hoped for.
She was quickly jostled out of her thoughts as the line behind her pushed into her back as they tried to move forward. Several identical lines stood outside several identical doors, through which they were passing to receive their new gear. In her moment of thought, she'd missed the green light alerting her that it was now her turn to step forward. She stumbled forward a little and recovered well as she strode toward the door trying to pretend like everything was fine. However, as she passed through the door everything became less fine as she was confronted by Darth Astera. She had expected some lackey to be waiting to check off her presence and assign out her gear, but to have the woman whose DNA she was based off of here... It was unexpected
Step forward...
Astera didn't even look up from the datapad as the Dark Lady's hand motioned her forward. She shook her head before taking the couple steps into the marked area on the floor at which point Astera finally looked up
Fascinating... He said you were special, but I was dubious of such a claim that any one of you was different from the rest. But... He was right...
Ma'am? What do you mean?
You will find out in due time my dear... Right, gear loadout... Please put on the body glove over your under-suit and retake your position...
She stood staring at Astera for a moment longer, wondering if she should question the Dark Lady further about her comments before deciding against such a course of action. She stepped over to the wall then and pulled on the body glove which was marked "2B". Up until now, they'd been fitted with and trained wearing only their under-suit leotards, but now they'd have proper gear.
With the suit on, she stepped back onto the marked area at which point Astera tapped some controls, causing several panels to retract back and allowing robotic arms to reach down and start attaching the armour. At one point she had to take a step into each boot, but otherwise she stood still until the helmet was lowered down onto her head. The HUD activated, displaying some launch information before kicking into gear properly and displaying various data stats. Astera looked up and seemed to admire her handiwork before producing a small metallic vertebrae
As commander of the second unit, you've been assigned an AI companion to aid with your duties. You'll find there is a compartment in the back of your helmet to plug this into...
She reached forward and picked up the device between her thumb and forefinger before reaching behind her head and inserting the device. A small green check mark appeared briefly as the first time interface ran up
Valefor calls it a Holo-Shard, the specifics are not important right now. But what you do need to know is that the consciousness within can interface with your armour and its systems, so get to know it well. For the record, please state your name
Yes ma'am, I am designation two-bee
A small confirmation chime sounded as the interface completed and registered 2B
Operator profile confirmed, two-bee. I am hsa-ess nine.
Excellent, proceed on to the next area, your graduation is waiting...
2B had so many questions she wanted to try get answers for, but Astera seemed unlikely to provide them. So after a moment she strode forward toward the exit door
One final thing... You look good.
She couldn't stop herself turning her head to look down at the woman who was by most definitions of the word her mother
I... T-thank you ma'am...
Run along, your sisters are waiting...
She gave a nod of her head before exiting out the door, HSA-S9 was already busy chatting away as he reviewed the suits systems and the flow of information coming in from her squad mates. But 2B barely took any of it in, instead focused on the fact she now had a proper name and had met Darth Astera. It was truly a eventful day. But as she crossed the open hall toward the stage, she knew there was still yet more to come. She found her Squads assigned row and took her position as her other sisters were busy doing the same
Project: SORORITAS
Valefor relaxed and watched from the command centre as the SORORITAS passed through the armouring rooms and came out fully geared up. Given the sheer number of them, the task had been delegated down to several staff members. All of them except for one room that was. In that one room, Darth Astera had personally volunteered to work. It was hard to tell if she'd done so out of some maternal curiosity or she had read his reports and wanted to greet some of them in person. What ever the case, she was in much more direct contact and could mostly oversee any trouble, which Valefor could keep his eyes on the overall picture.
A few hours passed before finally the SORORITAS were all gathered into two columns leading away from the stage. 20 squads stood at the ready clad in their armour with the only signifier of their difference being the name on their suits. With them all assembled, the Demon Lord took to the stage
SORORITAS! That is your name now! It is a name which your enemies will fear and your allies will envy! But you will crush them all beneath your boot! But you are mine! You kill who I tell you to kill! You protect who I tell you to protect! You rank now as Forge Maidens, meaning that any forces of the Forge Worlds will answer to your commands, even the Forge Lords. So use them well when you need them. For now, you will receive your next assignments and begin your service. Dismissed!
A salute went up before support staff directed the units off to a myriad of meeting rooms where they would receive their deployment orders. Some would be positioned on the Forge Worlds, others on the Felstorm and the Dark Fleet, while others still would conduct covert operations for intelligence gathering. Valefor took his leave of the stage and headed back up to the command centre to await those that had been assigned to the Felstorm
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Mar 19, 2024 18:25:31 GMT -8
Project: SORORITAS - 2BDespite being 1 of the 2 squads assigned to the Felstorm, the last couple weeks had seen her squad remaining within the training facility. But to 2B's surprise, as she was heading for one of the arena exits, she noticed that they were not the only ongoing guests. While the rest of her squad headed off to the showers, she split off and took one of the staircases up into the viewing stands. Sure enough sitting there was Darth Astera, the Dark Lady seemingly relaxed and studying the arena set up and occasionally glancing down at a ring upon her right hand. 2B rolled her shoulders before jogging down the stairs and coming to a stop just beside the Director. She gave a nod of her headMa'am...Two-bee... Do you regularly not shower after training?Astera hadn't even turned her head to acknowledge 2B's presence, but yet knew who exactly had approached her. Except for the name designations on their armour, they were all nearly identical or close enough as to be almost impossible to differentiate them. Perhaps the Dark Lady had seen her looking up at the stands at the end and merely deduced it would be her approachingNot usually, no. But... well... permission to speak freely?heh... you don't need to ask my permission. But permission granted. What is so burning that you feel otherwise constrained from saying?Why do you linger here Lady Astera?Astera seemed to be so caught off guard by the statement that her head turned toward 2B and focused in upon her visor. It was hard to read the white haired woman's reaction, but certainly it had not been an expected questionCome again?Sorry, I... I was just wondering why you are still here? My sisters have all been trained up and equipped with gear for deployment. But yet you are still here, with eight of us who are all loyal to the Forge Master's command... He could order us to kill you at any moment...A smirk graced Astera's features before she seemed to look back out over the arenaAnd yet, he won't... Of all the places I could be right now, this is the safest to be.Is it because you're wedded to him? The ring... he has one just like it...Gods no... Valefor is a capable enough ally, but marriage... HAH! Not the life for me by a long way. Perhaps one of convenience to be sure, but never one for love. As for the rings, they were gifts from a... mutual acquaintance of ours.Oh...Astera turned her focus back on 2B then, seeming to meet her gaze despite the opaque visor making it impossible for anyone to see through itIf you really must know, I'm here to observe you, and you're still here to protect me, even if Valefor hasn't explicitly told you as such yet. So for now we are paradoxically keeping one another here.But why... What's so special about me? We're all Sisters, what's different about me?That's what I'm trying to figure out. Valefor seems to know, but is remaining rather tight lipped... Rather droll of him if you ask me. But I suppose I can enjoy a brief holiday figuring it out. I have my suspicions, but we'll see which one turns out to be true... Will that be all?Ma'am? Uhhhh, yes...Then you're dismissed. Go have a shower...2B wasn't really sure what had happened, feeling a little lost by Darth Astera's comments. But she gave a quick salute before heading back up the stairs and down into the changing rooms below. Her sisters were mostly finishing up their showers as she got undressed, still trying to work it all out. Astera seemed to remain something of a mystery as ever before and trying to get clarity only seemed to lead to more questions and make things as unclear as before
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Post by Professor Arachnus on Aug 10, 2024 8:18:57 GMT -8
Location: Geonosis (Arkanis Sector) | Stalgasin Hive | Court of Queen Zevene In the stifling heat at the heart of a Geonosian hive stack, the Chief Librarian of the Felstorm found his spider-self in the throne-room of the Demon's Daughter, the Necronid Queen Zevene. Arachnus was forced to repeatedly dab a handkerchief held in his left fore-mandible over the numerous lenses of his photo-receptor banks, wiping away building condensation in the humid inner environment, as he completed negotiations with Arch-Duke Panik the Greater. The Fist of Empress Zevene was a terrifying sight to behold, its elongated eyeless head and black carapace a twisted reflection of the Geonosian form, evolved into something far more deadly by the mutant womb of the Hive's merciless monarch. Elarinya might share her father's good looks, but based on the observations of the Necronids by the Forge Master's mechanical manservant who perhaps knew the Demon best, it was clear Queen Zevene was a much closer reflection of Valefor's splintered soul. The speaker grill of the Professor's static laced vocabulator screeched at half volume as the academically inclined assassin-bot finished espousing pleasantries."...please give Empress Zevene the Supreme Leader's deepest regards. It is with great regret that he could not attend in person; alas, the demands on our esteemed leader are great and many. Said the spider droid synthetically. "I'm sure you understand.""Of course." Hissed the Queen's Fist in a series of easily translated clicks, draping a clawed forearm across its chitin armoured chest, bowing ever so slightly. "I shall pass along His Majesty's kind words to the Empress." Utterly unnecessary, as everything the Arch-Duke saw and experienced was shared with the Necronid Matriarch through the telepathic connection of the hive-mind. Somewhere deep beneath the surface, the Empress was basking in the adoration expressed by her father's automaton. The same clawed appendage held against the Arch-Duke's chest swept out and indicated an adjacent hall. "Would you care to see them?"Arachnus' plethora of photo-receptors brightened to the point of burning out their bulbs, bathing Panik in a sinister shade of crimson. "I'd be delighted. Lead the way, meatb...Arch-Duke." The logic circuits of the Professor's droid brain were still adjusting to their recently updated parameters. The eight legged metallic arachnid scurried after the Arch-Duke as the Necronid Champion led the tip-toeing robot past a transparent view of the Hive's gestation chambers were Necronid larvae were in various stages of maturation. They observed several examples of the Nantex-class territorial defense starfighters hanging precariously off the sides of the Hive, clamped in place on either side by magnetic docking arms. The insectile pilots were never found far from their machines, who from birth were melded with their machines, forming a lasting bond for life. They were as naked as the day they were expressed as maggots from the womb, save for the old-timey aviator caps they wore, replete with goggles that sat across their faces despite the cockpit of each starfighter being enclosed and the Necronids lacking eyes. Arachnus had just negotiated the purchase of several hundred of the agile defense fighters for the Dark Fleet. Due to the unique nature of the vehicles, each came included with the pilot to which it had been bonded, whose loyalty to the Hive could be assured even across the vastness of space by the parasitic brain worms squirming around inside their insect skulls.In the dust covered landing fields just beyond the Stalgasin Hive, the first C-9979 modular frigates of the Dark Fleet could be seen coming into land, gracefully gliding over the red sands of Geonosis like metal dragonflies. The Arch-Duke paused and motioned below where CAT-Necronids prepared moved repulsor-beds laden with blade tipped fighters towards the descending transports. "So, what do you think?"Lowering his rear legs while raising his multi-segmented mechanical fore-limbs, the Chief Librarian inclined the view of his domed chassis and swiveled, turning from the view to regard Arch-Duke Panik."I just have one question. Does it come in red?" |
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Valefor
The Sith Eternal
Posts: 284
Affiliation: Sith Eternal
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Post by Valefor on Sept 14, 2024 22:01:32 GMT -8
Darth Astera - Project: LOCOMOTIVEWhere as on Kamino Astera had made incredible efforts to keep Project: LOCOMOTIVE under wraps and from the prying eyes of certain Reptiles. Here on Geonosis, Lord Valefor had arranged a hidden away facility that was part of the Necro Forge. It had served as one of many possible site's for Project: SORORITAS before the Forge Master had decided upon the facility close to the Stalgasin Hive. With that in mind, it meant this place was off the records and no one but those directly involved with the Project would know its location.
The base came fully equipped with training facilities, living areas, medical facilities, and the most important one: arming & armouring facilities. It was those last facilities which made Geonosis so vital to Astera's plans. Yes, she could have also run the cloning part of this project out of this facility as well, but the Kaminoans had facilities that would provide better long term support. Plus even if someone discovered the Nu-Momoa's on Kamino, their departure from the world was one among many and would not be linked to her work here.
Speaking of her work here, Astera had made her way to Geonosis as the first batch of Nu-Momoa's were finishing up their training regimens and were to undergo their initiation trials. She took her seat upon the Throne up in the VIP Box Seat, providing her the best view of the arena below. Meanwhile Technical staff were littered around with computers for recording data and observations about the fight to come. This, above all others, was the most important test of her work. Two portcullis gates rose at opposite ends of the Arena
She had taught him a very valuable lesson back then, using a kiss to drop the temperature of his lips, mouth and throat to the point they had been afflicted by frostbite. Grekal had saved the whimpering fools life by removing the infected flesh and attaching that mask that Xuir needed to be able to breath and speak. She hadn't understood why her Master had saved Xuir's life back then. These days however she was certain it was merely for the thrill of the science. But where her Master's curiosity had spared the fool, she would correct that mistakeBegin!Nu-Momoa #SDT696 gave a thumbs up of acknowledgement with his left hand, whilst Xuir kept his focus on the Nu-Momoa. She could already imagine what Xuir was thinking as the lightsaber snapped to life and he charged across the arena floor. #SDT696 didn't seem phased, giving a quick stretch with the trident shaft slung across his shoulders. But despite its positioning, #SDT696 had it swung around in his grip and parried the Lightsaber as it came down and stopped. She could feel the panic bleeding off the Sith Lord-turned-Cultist as he realised the mistake she knew he was making. To believe the weapons her Nu-Momoa's were wielding did not contain a Cortosis Alloy was a tactical error.
#SDT696 shrugged the blade aside and brought the butt end of the trident into the side of Xuir's face, knocking the man into a stumble. The Masked Cultist touched his cheek before charging at #SDT696 again, swinging his blade violently to try and overwhelm the Nu-Momoa. But #SDT696 kept pace, the trident's shaft always filled the previously empty air where Xuir hoped to slice from. For a time, that was how the fight went, Xuir wildly slashing and striking only to be blocked and stopped by #SDT696. As Xuir started to tire, he turned to throwing out blasts of Force Energy which #SDT696 dodged and charged forward through. The butt end of the Trident came down hard and fast, smashing the mask and tearing it off into 2 pieces which clattered across the ground.
Xuir fell backwards, struggling for breath as he scrambled backwards, the fear and weight of defeat finally becoming real for him. #SDT696 didn't hesitate as he moved over the broken man and aimed the blades of the trident downward. Xuir was shaking as he tried to beg for his life, but #SDT696's only mercy was to slam the blades down right into the man's face. The metal pierced flesh and bone to bring about a swift end to Xuir's life. Leaving the trident embedded through the corpses skull and into the floor, #SDT696 turned toward the throne and gave an exaggerated bow. A door in the wall below where the Throne was situated opened up, allowing #SDT696 to make his exit.
Astera picked herself up from the Throne and down into the Initiation Room where several people were waiting. #SDT696 was fitted into a body glove before being guided to the middle of the room to step into a pair of armoured boots. Astera watched on as the attendants got to work collecting armour from stations around the room and fitting #SDT696 with them. To the untrained eye, they would appear as black coloured stormtrooper armour with a bit of a Mandalorian style twist. But looks were deceiving. Much as in the Arena, anyone that underestimated this armour would find themselves dead quickly.
Supplies had been gathered from across the expanse of the Sith Eternal territories and supplied to the arming & armouring facilities to produce a Durasteel-Cortosis Alloy. This provided the armour with a good mix of strength, lightness, and lightsaber resistance.
Astera was pulled from her thoughts as the cloak and helmet were fitted on #SDT696. It gave her a moment of pause as she studied him
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