Heat

Music Appreciation Thread

Reviving this thang.

@Altered Tundra 5/10. It's not really anything special, I didn't hate it or love it but it was okay. The piano was pretty cool at the start though.

Gotta post this due to the gif.

Searching! Original and fandom pairings inside! [MxF] [FxF]

Gonna bump this back to life. Have some time to do a like three 1x1s. Would love to do either of the Mass Effect plots in anticipation of Andromeda.

No Turning Back - Into the Abyss

Congrats @Subject Zero!

Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

Denso Halsa

Denso Halsa

Species: Kiffar
Age: 27
Gender: Male
Faction: Jedi Order
Rank: Jedi Knight
Master: N/A
Former master(s): Jedi Master Otunzo Ze
Time/location of capture: During the Sacking of the Temple on Coruscant

Concerning you

As a prisoner, your wardrobe is limited. When you were captured, how do you look and what clothes do you have on now?

I was captured at the Temple during the Sacking. I was wearing my Jedi armor. I had worn it for many battles, it is similar to a Republic trooper’s but lighter in its design. My most noticeable features are the tattoos on my face, they signify me as a member of clan Halsa back on my homeworld. I have since severed connection with my pre Jedi life, but the tattoos are a nice reminder of where I’m from. My hair is black and long, it is shoulder length and braided. My skin is a tan shade and my eyes are brown. I stand 6’2, my frame muscular and athletic from years of constant physical activity.

You got captured. Did you make any mistakes that led to this, or were others at fault?

(TBA)

The Force is your ally. How do you use it?

My ability with the Force is not as strong as other Jedi Knights that focused on it, I put much of my practice into martial combat with lightsabers. I am capable with the Force, I know the basic Jedi powers such as mind trickery and telekinesis. I was one of the few Kiffar that were born with the natural ability of Psychometry. It is an incredibly useful power, but a potentially dangerous one if used upon dead bodies. I know how to use the Force to stun my enemies, a helpful ability on the battlefield in particular. This is something I refuse to do. I am also trained in Crucitorn. I was trained by my master, during our first days fighting together in the war. He felt it was a necessary power to know in the event I was captured by the Empire. The Sith are known for their barbaric methods of torture, Master Ze figured the power would help me resist any physical torture. I have trained myself in the power, but never used it in an actually applicable situation. I should be able able to withstand a solid amount of pain with Crucitorn, but I fear anything more extreme might cause the power to falter in my usage of it.

Having the Force did not keep you safe. What other skills can help you escape?

I’m a talented commander, years of fighting on the frontlines earned me the respect of the soldiers serving with me. I’m very capable at creating battle plans, even on the fly. Setting up an ambush, creating a diversion, just some of the tactics I know well. I also have a sharp eye for detail, able to remember the smallest details. It is difficult to catch me off guard. I’m a talented tracker, my natural psychometry aiding greatly with that. I can follow a person’s trail for miles. I also know how to use a blaster, though I’m nothing more than an average shot.

What was your life like before you got captured? Which major events shaped your life?

I was born on the Kiffar homeworld of Kiffu located in the outermost reaches out of the Outer Rim. I was a member of Clan Halsa, we were a small clan compared to many of the others, but tight knit. My natural psychometric powers got me notice, about one in one hundred Kiffar are born able to use the power. I was five years old when a Jedi had came to my homeworld. They took notice of my sensitivity to the Force, and spoke to my clan's elders about turning me into a Jedi. After some persuading, the elders agreed for me to go with the Jedi. I was then brought offworld to the Jedi Temple on Alaris Prime.

The journey there and my arrival was not something I enjoyed. During my life on Kiffu I had not seen many off worlders, the few that I had seen were simple merchants, people I never interacted with. The Jedi that took me off his homeworld was the first non Kiffar I had ever spoken to. Another thing that I did not enjoy was the change from my arid, almost boring homeworld to the bustling jungle covered Alaris Prime. Though in time I would become used to it, even come to enjoy it. The world was teeming with fascinating, sometimes dangerous wildlife. In my free time on the world I would often track some of the most intriguing creatures and just watch them from the trees. There was a peacefulness to the nature of the world.

After the initial shock of the new world my training began. My people had encountered Jedi before, told tales of them visiting our homeworld. I had never seen one with my own eyes. I was scared at first, but felt I needed to become one as I had already left my homeworld, to return now would mark me as a coward and bring disgrace to my clan. So, I began my training as a Jedi. Once I reached the appropriate age, I was apprenticed to a Togrutan Knight, Otunzo Ze. Otunzo was a skilled swordsman, one of the best knights that was trained in Jar’Kai, a form that harnessed the use of dual lightsabers. His master taught him this form, and it would become the one I trained in the hardest myself.

The war called and I entered it, guided by Master Otunzo. My master and I were given commanding roles on the frontlines, which is where I would find myself most at home on the battlefield. Alongside dozens of soldiers fighting at the front, no real glory to be made. That wasn’t what I wanted anyway; the unity was what I liked the most. The soldiers respected me, and I respected them. My master and I took part of numerous battles as the war went on, for some time it seemed like we would both survive the war.

Then that changed one fateful day, Master and I were rescuing civilians from a destroyed building. We scavenged through the rubble for any signs of life, it seemed like a hopless endeveur until we found a few people. They were Civilians hurt by the war more than anyone else. Many of them had lost family members and friends. We were loading them onto transport when a Sith battalion appeared and attacked us. It was a huge force of footsoldiers and a terrifying Imperial walker, a three legged monstrosity dozens of meters tall with weaponry on its front and backsides. Otunzo, a small group of Republic soldiers and I defended the civilians but there were just too many Sith troopers.

I was hit by a stray blaster bolt, sent to my knees. Master ordered me onto the transport, a Republic soldier pulled me away from the battle as I watched Otunzo charge right at the Sith. I struggled to get free and help my Master, but was too injured. His lightsabers lit as he drew the Sith’s attention, cutting down several of their soldiers and badly damaging the walker. Then blasters hit him from every angle. He gave his life to protect me and the few innocents we managed to rescue.

I was reassigned to a new master, Gar Halcorr. Master Halcorr aided me greatly in overcoming the death of my former master. In the few years I spent under his tutelage he helped to echo the importance of constant self improvement as well as inner calmness. My time as an apprentice would soon come to an end; I would pass the Jedi Trials on my first attempt. I headed right back into war; it was where I was most at home. In my first battle as a fully fledged Knight I ended up in a tight situation, Sith forces had surrounded a small company of Republic soldiers and I. We were forced to barricade inside of a small building, windows broken, doors barred shut. For hours the sounds of war were all I heard, blaster fire, explosions, screams of death.

I watched many of the men I commanded die that day. I still recall the stench of death and sight of twisted bodies piled upon each other. My own men and Sith soldiers who tried to push the tide of war in their favor. This is where I als omade the mistake of using my psychometry power on a corpse for the first time. As I touched upon a fallen Sith soldier I experienced his last moments. It allowed me get a small insight upon the battle plan of the Imperials, but the pure rush of overpowering emotions shock me to my core. I swore never to use the power like that again, that brief moment I did the closest I ever felt to the dark side of the Force. Ultimately the hell ended for me as Republic reinforcements arrived to save the day. I escaped the battle with eleven of my men. We had 80 at the start.

Recently I received a padawan of my own, a young Echani named Khan. He is a strong young man that I strive to make stronger while enforcing the Jedi ideals in him. My padawan and I were captured during the Sacking.

How do you keep yourself calm in captivity? How do you keep your will to escape strong?

I meditate upon the Force when I can. I think of the men that died under my command, they wouldn’t want me to the break to the Sith. They had families to fight for. I have to survive. I also think of my apprentice, Khan, how disappointed and broken he would be if I fell to the dark side. I try to find humor in my imprisonment. I often mock and joke at my captors, and try to make my fellow captives laugh. Humor can be found in the oddest places.

How well do you hold up under pressure? Do you have a high pain threshold?

Crucitorn helps me to further endure physical pain as well as my faith in the Light Side of the Force. The Sith are notorious for their brutality, I have mentally prepared myself for it. I learned Crucitorn years ago, my master had insisted upon it encase I were ever taken as a prisoner of war. I haven't used it in a torture situation but I know how to do it well enough. Unless I am under very heavy duress I should be able to survive utilizing it.

Lightsabers. Though you lost yours, it would be good to know what style(s) you use.

I wielded two blue lightsabers, though I did not start of training with two. The first form I was taught was Shii-Cho, which I learned with just one lightsaber. I am of average strength with this form. I’m trained in Ataru, while I am no master in it I am skilled in the form. I am capable in using it when wielding two lightsabers as well as just one.

I’m highly trained and skilled in the lightsaber style of Jar’Kai which is built around using a lightsaber in each hand. Years of training have helped me develop a ferocious way to attack opponents with overwhelming swings of both blades. Sheer speed is often enough to bring down some enemies. In a duel I shift to using one lightsaber for offense and the other to parry blows. I have also taken it upon myself to learn Djem So, it fits with my style of combat well.

Have you encountered other prisoners or Sith in the past?

(TBA)

Out of Character

How powerful is (s)he in the Force?

Denso is strong in the Force, he is best in the martial combat side of it. His Force powers having taken a backseat to his talent with lightsabers. He’s a difficult opponent to defeat and would help the Sith Empire if he were fall to the Dark Side.

Has your character encountered members of the Strike Team / Rescuers before?

(TBA)

Nobody with any sort of wisdom wants to speak of their flaws. Especially not to their enemies, so what are your character’s flaws?

• He limits his Psychometry out of fear. In the past he has used it twice on corpses, in these situations he experienced intense, powerful emotions from the bodies. Each time he used it on the corpses he experienced the finals moments before their deaths. Both of these instances are one of the few times he could recall feeling genuine terror and as such only uses the power on inanimate objects. Even then he tries to avoid it unless it's necessary. More usage of the power upon corpses could very well lead him to the Dark Side.
• He’s better in groups, he feels best when he’s among others. Solitude isn’t something he enjoys like some others do. Denso is a very social being.
• He can be judgmental this ties in with his strong sense of justice. He’ll often form his own judgments on people based on initial impressions or associations.
• He has a strong sense of sarcasm that he’ll often times go too far with. He has a strong sense of humor in general and tends to mock enemies which sometimes doesn’t go in his favor.
• Denso has been affected by his intense time on the frontlines, his years of battlefield combat has brought him sights that deeply affect him. Sometimes he goes through brutal memories of dead friends and companions. If left untreated long enough this could break him and fundamentally change him as a person.
• Denso has an ends justify the means kind of stance, which is quite unusual amongst the Jedi. Everything is fair in war,and if it gives the advantage to the Republic then he won’t think twice about at least considering it. If they lose the war then he believes it is game over for the Jedi.

Is your character any good at holding out against torture?

Yes. Crucitorn is a useful power in this field. His master trained him in it, though this will be the first time he has used it. The Sith are notorious for their brutality, he has mentally prepared himself for it. Physical torture he should be able to handle, unless it's incredibly brutal. Mental and emotional torture would be a different story, Denso's unique experience as a frontlines combatant has given him an almost soldier like viewpoint in some situations. If this is exploited in torture correctly in mental or emotional torture, then it could be an effective way to 'break' him.

What is your character’s personality like? What motivates him/her?

Denso has a strong sense of humor, which he will use often. Even in bad situations he’ll tend to crack jokes. He’s a friendly man, one that can easily make friends, but recent events have impacted him. There’s sadness inside of him from all that he has seen and heard. War effects everyone, he is no different. He tries not to form close bonds with others out of fear of them dying on him.

He has a strong belief in the Jedi Code and way of life, though he has some issues with it. More so the Jedi Council and some of their decisions. A firm believer in justice, he thinks the Jedi should concentrate more on bringing down the criminal underworld. Breaking apart the gangs that infest it, and stopping their crimes which are often ignored. The Jedi should try to actively make the galaxy a better place. Denso also believes that the Republic and Jedi should not be afraid to make the more difficult decisions in war. Because if they lose the war then they will both be wiped out by the Sith Empire.

Do you have any limits as to what is “ok” to happen to your character?

I don’t want Denso to die early, but I’m pretty open to whatever happens to him. As long as it's run by me beforehand then I won’t have a problem.

Do you want your character to escape?

Not early on.

how easily do you wish to be captured?

He’d put up a fight for sure, he wouldn’t let himself or his padawan get captured without serious resistance.

What do you think your character is doing in a few IC months?

He’s either escaped his captivity and continued to fight the Sith, having stayed loyal to the Jedi way. Or he’s fallen to the dark side and embraced the other side of the Force.

Daven Auter

Daven Auter

Species: Chev
Age: 18
Gender: Male
Faction: Sith Empire
Rank: Apprentice
Master: Jewel Namore
Former master(s): N/A

Concerning you

You are a Sith, but not every sith looks the same. Describe what you look like.

I am not a tall man standing 5’7, I am slightly taller than my species’ average height. My frame is lean and athletic from constant training, I have pale white skin with a notable scar which runs down my left eyebrow from my hairline. Healed whip marks and burns adorn my back. My eyes are violet with no eyelids, they are instead protected by transparent membranes. My blonde hair is cut short and I have no facial hair. Outwardly I appear very human. My facial features are masculine, with high cheekbones, a strong jawline, smaller eyes, thin lips and a straight nose. I wear the standard robes of a Sith though mine are more colorful, I think they reflect my individuality. My ]ed double bladed lightsaber is tucked into my robes, clipped to the inside. It is a difficult weapon to wield, but one that is brutal in combat.

A Sith knows the ways of the Force. How do you prefer to use it?

I am talented with the Force and trained in its powers, I know the basic Sith powers, levitation, speed, etc. I also know Force Lightning, a useful power for a Sith. I can also use the Force to make my enemies fear me, they run away like cowards in an entertaining fashion. My powers help me the most in combat.

Known Powers:

• Basic Sith Powers - About average for his age and experience, could improve with training.
• Force Lightning - Slightly above average in capablity and strength with this power. He favors it in combat, mixing it in with his rapid paced lightsaber styles.
• Force Fear - Weak, he has just learned the power. Would probably work on weak minded beings, but anyone with resistance to the Force wouldn't be harmed by it.

All obstacles have to be removed or overcome, so what skills do you possess to aid you?

I am a skilled combatant, my master trained my well though I am not close to her level. I would be a difficult combatant for a Jedi padawan, or even a younger knight. Anyone greater than that and the odds start to be stacked against me. I can hold my own as an unarmed combatant, having taught myself some martial arts. Not the largest man I use my size and quickness to my advantage as I make rapid, agile strikes. I use the Force to aid me in unarmed combat, though I'll always prefer to use my lightsaber to fight. From my master Jewel I have learned basic slicing techniques.

I’m relatively calm, composed and charismatic for a Sith, though I’m still learning Sith ‘politics’. I can get some other Sith to like me, but I have no experience with manipulating others. I am also a bit paranoid of being manipulated myself, I'll try my best to get others to like me, but I have to be very careful that I do not play into their hands.

Everyone has a past. What brought you here and what challenges did you have overcome to reach your current situation?

I was born on the planet Vinsoth in the Outer Rim Territories. Early on I was separated from my family, by the time I was able to walk the Chevin had put me to work. My people were nomadic, we followed the herds of native backshin, farming on the native land they would lead us to. We had to walk miles on foot while the Chevin rode comfortably in wheeled carts.

My slave master was a particularly mean and disgusting Chevin, Raor Nar, he would often beat slaves out of enjoyment. I still remember the first beating he gave me, I was still a child and he whipped me painfully. Over the years I received more beatings, I was his whipping boy. I hated the beast. Nar would also stage brawls between his slaves, I was often forced to take part. He did not allow the other, often older Chev to take mercy on me. I learned to defend myself in these crude fights, all for my slave master's amusement.

My friends and fellow slaves were sold off world, any artwork we made was sold as well. I was a talented painter, something that my slave master noticed as he took my completed paintings then sold them for a profit. I thought I was going to be stuck with Nar for my entire life, he didn’t seem the intent on selling me. Nar went up the hierarchy as a slave master. He'd earned a reputation for being able to get the most out of his slaves as well as raising them to be productive. The constant cruelness had its merits for him. He acquired a space shuttle then began to make routine trips offworld to a nearby space station, a way for him to further increase his profits.

On one of these journeys to the station I had gone side him mostly to lug along any supplies. I noticed a mysterious robed figure approached Nar. I was a still a boy, eleven years old. I always knew about my Force sensitivity, just never what it was. There was something strange about the robed figure, I couldn’t put my finger on it at the time. One of the travelers on the station walked into me and knocked what I was carrying from my hands, breaking a vase. I was very upset and lashed out at the traveler, knowing Nar would blame me for it. In my anger I lunged out to punch him, I unknowingly used the Force to push him away. He launched off the ground, slamming into a market stand. I did not kill him but did leave some bruises. As my slave master came to reprimand me, The robed man intervened. He spoke to Nar, persuading him with the Force into selling me to him at a far discounted price. He convinced Nar that I wasn't worth beating, that he could stick me in the mines. The sadistic Nar agreed and next thing I knew I was sold off to the stranger.

He’d revealed himself as a Sith warrior who noticed my Force sensitivity. He told me of a great war fought in the stars against a corrupt Republic and a misguided order of Jedi, the ideological enemy of the Sith, the powerful, righteous Empire he fought for. Back on my homeworld some of the oldest slaves told me nighttime tales to this. Of giant ships launching lasers at each other over planets. Duels between combatants wielding glowing blades that could slice through metal like it was paper. I had thought of them as just fantasies of a far away galaxy. They were the truth, and my apparent destiny.

My life as a slave was over, the only life I had ever known. The Sith told me I was to be brought to an academy on the distant world of Korriban. He said I’d need to be strong and smart to survive there, I took his words to heart as I was enrolled at the academy.

The academy was a brutal place on a barren world, I didn’t make friends with any of my fellow students. It reminded me of home, how intense it was. The overseers in the academy were brutal and demanding but they were nothing compared to the Chevin. I was used to beatings, I could take a fair amount of physical punishment. The students were taught we were competitors, the strongest of us would become warriors that fought for the glory of the Empire. The weakest would die.

My status as a non-human became my enemy. Speciesism was an open practice at the academy. I was taunted as a member of a beaten down, docile race of slaves. The other students were brutal about it, I was the butt of many jokes but the instructors were worse. They’d routinely remind me that I was a slave, and would never be anything more. I began to hate myself, hate my origins as a slave. This brought my emotions to a height, I used the anger to help me push through and prevail over my competitors.

A large part of the life of a Sith were the dark politics that drove the Empire they fought for. Life as a Sith was brutal, lying was a necessity. Nar had always taught me to be honest with him, he beat me whenever I lied to him. In practices of Sith politics where I was expected to lie I would often make mistakes. Fail at selling false words, the overseers would punish me for this. I gradually learned to become less honest, I'd never survive with pure honesty.

During the brutal years on Korriban I took a deep interest in lightsaber combat, I showed more promise there than anywhere else. Jokes about my height would be shook aside as I used my compact frame to strike with rapid movements. Shorty after my fifteenth birthday my time at the Academy concluded, I was recognized as an Acolyte and become an apprentice to Jewel Namore. She is a tough woman, demanding but immensely powerful. For the last few years I have served her, learning each day. She chose me because I have potential and am utterly devoted to serving her, and becoming stronger from her teachings.

We all learn about lightsaber combat, so what form(s) and skills in fighting have you found reasonable to learn?

Right now I only know one form, though I have not yet mastered it, I am quite skilled in Form IV: Ataru. I have taken after my master having watched her rapid, dazzling moves with close interest. My frame helps with this, I may not be an imposing figure but I am a quick one and use this to advantage in combination with Ataru.

How do you relate to the other characters and how do you see them?

• Jewel Namore - My master, a powerful Sith Lord who has helped me greatly with her training. She does not show kindness but I do not expect it. That wouldn’t help me get any stronger. I do all that she asks and follow her without question. She does not approve of my negation of my Force powers, it is something I will have to work on.
  (TBA other relations)

Out of Character

How powerful is (s)he in the Force?

He is trained with the Force, though he has neglected his powers in Force in favor of lightsaber combat which is what he currently excels in. He only has a few known Force powers and prefers his lightsaber over anything else in a battle. Daven uses the Force in the martial way, his currently known powers apply best in combat. He still has potential for improvement, though it is obvious he needs to work much harder to become someone powerful with the Force.

Has your character encountered members of the other factions before?

(TBA)

What is your character’s personality like? What motivates him/her?

Daven is somewhat docile and shy for a Sith, he doesn’t really make threats or have a serious ego. His early life as a slave had a way shaping this type of personality. He’s not open about speaking of his early life, or his heritage. He doesn't let it show that he is ashamed by his beginnings, he'll try his best to ignore remarks about his past life though it is possible to get under his skin. He holds self hatred, he still thinks of himself as a failure. That he's the member of a worthless, pitiful race. He hates the speciesism within the Sith, even now that he is outside of the academy he feels others looking down upon him for being born into the wrong species.

He’s a bit quiet, following Master Namore’s commands wholly. He is also quite curious, often posing questions to all that he meet. He possess the typical dislike for the Jedi, propaganda in the academy embedded that in him. He has not interacted with any Jedi though, only in battle never in a social setting. He thinks the Republic is utterly corrupt and misguided. The people in Republic space would be best under the rule of the Sith Empire.

Daven also has a very intense dislike for slavery, mistreatment of slaves around him brings up painful memories. He realizes that it is an integral part of Sith society. His masters uses slaves, and he does as well. He tries to treat slaves around him well, often just simply ignoring them. If they make mistakes in dealing with him or Jewel then he'll lash out against them, something lingering from witnessing his old slave master do many times. After these bouts he'll feel regret and self hatred, the last thing he wants is to be like Nar. Beasts like that deserve death.

Torture is not something he likes to do, though he understands sometimes it is essential in order to turn Jedi. He avoids using whips from bad memories of those being used upon him, leaving Daven's back covered in scars.

He’s motivated by vengeance against the Chevin, slaughtering the entire race and freeing his people. He personally wishes to painfully end Nar, if the beast still breathes. For that dream to become a reality he needs to become more powerful, he hasn’t voiced this dream to his master.

Nobody with any sort of wisdom wants to speak of their flaws. Especially not to their enemies, so what are your character’s flaws?

• Becomes uncomfortable when slavery is the subject of conversation, refuses to use whips in torture from bad memories of being whipped by his slave masters.
• His Force Powers aren’t as strong as they could be, having neglected them in lieu of a focus on combat. Other Sith can pick up on this, as well as his wasted potential in the Force.
• Acts cautious around other Sith, he’s heard tales of how treacherous they can be with each other. He won’t outright display or voice this caution, but he’ll be thinking it. The only one he trusts is his master.
• He holds deep self hatred, much of it over his past and failures as well as his status as a member of a slave race.
• Still has much to learn on Sith politics, he has an understanding of it from his master's teachings as well as the academy. But he is not master Sith politician.

Sith tend to be loners who don’t seek to interact with other Sith except when it is business. What will cause your character to initiate interactions with the other Sith?

Well if his master tells him to interact with others then that’ll be one way. He’s a very curious man, so he may approach them with that in mind.

Do you have any limits as to what is “ok” to happen to your character?

I’m pretty open to anything besides him dying early, just run it by me first.

How would your character go about trying to turn Jedi?

The usual torture, he doesn’t particularly enjoy doing it but it’s one effective way to turn a Jedi. He’d also use their philosophy against them, try to show them all they can achieve with the Empire. The Republic is corrupt, the Jedi Order stagnant, Sith are men and women of action, etc.

The Jedi can take prisoners too. Is your character eligible for captivity?

Sure, there’s a chance he could turn to the Light if captured.

What ideas would you like to try or accomplish with your PC in the IC?

I'm not entirely sure yet, Daven doesn't seem like the typical Sith. He's an ex-slave, torture makes him uncomfortable. It'll be interesting seeing his progression, especially considering who his master is.

Does your character have any secrets useful for the GMs’ plots?

@Ellri@Fallenreaper@Sundered Echo

Finally made the asked changes to the sheets.

Star Wars - Rancor Company

Clank.

Clank.

Clank.

The unmistakeable sounds of the heavy boots of Stormtroopers echoed into the ears of Zulhg. Even over the sound of the alarm ringing around them. His breathing had slowed, his movement totally still as his squad and him awaited the arrival of the plastic boys. They each knew the unmistakable sounds of them, more resembling marching insects than a group of highly trained soldiers. The hallway they had stationed in was long and narrow, doorways to the side provided cover for each of the ex slave soldiers. As soon as the first Imperial soldier came into sight, blaster bolts slammed through the air. A dark mark appeared on the chest armor of the all white clad soldier, he went down with a grunt. His fellow Stormtroopers took aim down their side of the corridor, and the hallway was silent except for the sounds of combat.

"Take this you plastics!" Zulhg exclaimed as he popped from cover, a thermal detonator in hand. The red light lit up as it was released from his hand, then the explosive soared through the air and clanked against the floor.

Two stormtroopers in the vicinity stared at it, then the detonator ignited. Taking out the duo in a blaze. A smirk briefly appeared on the Quarren's tentacled face before he felt a blaster shot impact into his shoulder. Pain surged through him for a moment, as he ducked behind cover. His armor absorbed most of the impact but he shouldn't have been hit. It was a rookie mistake. He peered back around, blind firing his A280C down the corridor. He counted thirteen helmets, easy odds for his squad of misfits to overcome.

"Delstee, help us out here. Pull something from your belt of magic!" Zulhg ordered to the Ugnaught in front of him. The compact alien briefly holstered his heavy blaster, then pulled two flash-bang grenades off his belt.

"Eyes!" CPL. Delstee exclaimed before he flung both grenades down the hallway, one right after another.

Zulhg shut his eyes, as did the others in Chain-Breaker Squad. The explosives went off, two eye piercing flashes accompanied by a loud ringing. Several of the Stormtroopers were affected by the site, unable to get away shots as their attackers hurdled forward. Then Zulhg yelled as he bounced from cover, hurdling forward with rifle in hands.

"Forward, charge!"

Zaghirr and Jaa each let out feral screams, more comparable to roars as they bounded forward. Breaker Squad closed the gap between them and the plastics. Jaa slide to the floor, aligning the bipod of his heavy blaster rifle with the floor. Then he squeezed the trigger with his clawed hand. The weapon shook as bolts emited at a rapid pace, a few slamming into soldiers, others not. Surpressing fire was the key here. As the Stormtroopers recovered from their daze, Breaker Squad seized the moment.

One by the one the identically armored troopers went down, Zaghirr pulled one from cover and put his weight on the dazed soldier, crushing his throat. Another thermal detonator landed, sending a trio stormies into the air. The scene was one of total chaos, bodies rolling around. It descended into a brawl as the number of Imperial soldiers dwindled to where it was one less than the number of alien special operations aces hammering them. PFC. Zessom laced several blaster bolts into a stormtrooper at point blank range, as Zaghirr hit another with a bowcaster bolt.

Zulhg leveled his rifle into the stomach of another one right across from him, then he fired off bolts in an automatic fashion. The stormtrooper hit the ground hard, that oh so satisfying sound of their armor impacting onto the floor. Another was taken down at the same time, Onhar and Jaa both hammering the unfortunate soldier to an early grave. PFC. Janrenk fired into a plastic boy as they poked their head from cover, going down with a scream.

One left. Zulhg had him in his sights, still tucked behind cover as the nameless trooper watched his comrades go down in heaps. A tentacle twitched as Zulhg aimed down the sights of his blaster rifle, as soon as the bastard moved he'd be finished with. Zulhg watched the all too familar white armor flash, and squeezed the trigger. He could only watch as his fired bolt slammed into the ground, another of his squadmates having stolen the kill. Someone behind him.

He spun around, only to see his second in command, SGT. Bren with a smirk on his skeletal face. Smoke emitting from the tip of his sniper rifle. A perfect headshot, Zulhg couldn't be mad at his favorite sniper for that beauty of a shot. He rose his hand upwards, his thumb towards the ceiling, then walked forward and surveyed the post view of the battle. He counted the number of Stomtrooper bodies as he walked, then paused in front of a large set of double metal doors, sealed shut.

"Is everyone alright?" He asked as he stared at the doors, then back towards his group of seven soldiers. Each one of them moving towards him as they gathered together to assess the situation.

"No one died, sir. Which is a positive, some got hit but its nothing a little bacta can't fix." The Nosaurian medic stated as he moved to apply bacta to Jaa, who had been struck in the left chest by a blaster. His fur burnt a darker shade.

"Good, good. See to it that any injuries are patched up, private Janrenk. Now about these doors." Zulhg started to say, before his words trailed off as he shot a glance at Onhar Delstee. The Ugnaught likely formulating an idea to breach through the doors with an explosive.

"Just be careful, get the doors open but don't rip a hole in the ship." Zulhg said as he walked away, patting Onhar on the back as the alien went to work. He pulled something from his bag, then kneeled in front of the doors. The others just watched for a few moments, then the Ugnaught moved away from the door, waving everyone else back. As they all ducked behind the safety of cover, Onhar flicked a switch on his wrist. The hallway shook, and an explosion went off. There was now a large hole directly in the center of the doors, wide enough for them all to walk right through.

"Nice work." Zulhg said as they stepped out into the open, through the hole into the starfighter control bridge he could see two Imperial personal staring at them. Mercenaries were in there as well, a trio of them, no Stormtroopers though. One of the mercenaries fired his blaster rifle, the shots ringing out, another did as well. Breaker Squad returned fire as they moved towards the newly created entrance into the bridge. One mercenary went down, as the third fired their blaster.

As the group of aliens stepped inside the bridge, Zaghirr went down with a yelp. He'd been hit in the stomach, the smell of burning fur in the air. Janrenk knelt down beside the wookie, and began to help with immediate medical attention. Zulhg's eyes narrowed at the sight, then the assaulting mercenary went down hard. The last surviving one dropped his blaster as his hands shot to the ceiling. The two Imperials made the same gesture as Breaker Squad secured the starfighter control bridge.

"Is Zaghirr alright, private?" Zulhg asked as he looked towards his now injured squadmate and the medic. Janrenk knelt over as he applied bacta, trying his best to patch the wound up.

"He's hurting a lot, sir. I'll try my best to patch him up."

"Alright. I want these three bound up and taken alive. Jaa and Zessom, set up a perimeter on that hole we came through. Alert me if you see anyone heading towards us. Delstee, take control of the bridge controls. Sargent Bren, you assist him. Help our flyboys out there." Zulhg ordered rapidly as his men moved around the bridge, he then rose his hand towards his ear to speak into the comlink.

"This is Corporal Bens, Chain-Breaker Squad has secured the starfighter control bridge. We're held up in the room and awaiting further orders." He said as he sent a message through the communications channel. Then his hands went back to his blaster rifle, he didn't believe their fight was over yet. No reason to as the action continued around the ship and outside of it.

No Turning Back - Into the Abyss

Michael stared at the orb in his hand with wondrous eyes, he ran his fingers around it even as the security agents began to question him. His entrance into the greater orb must have been alarming to the others in his group. He had been locked inside of it momentarily, though Mackenzie’s frantic banging against the outside of it had taken a backseat to the strange noises that emitted from the orb which he now clenched in his hand. The device was dead silent as he clenched it tightly in his palm.

“What the hell happened, Smith?” Gurrera asked him as the man took a glance at the orb, then back towards where the larger one used to be. It had since collapsed upon itself, a strange turn of events.

“I simply touched the outside of the larger orb, one part opened up to me and I stepped inside. Then it locked me in there with only this smaller orb in the direct center. This device was glowing, the only light inside the otherwise empty greater orb. I picked it up then the outside collapsed. The whole series of events felt so strange, it’s still very fresh in my mind. Excuse me if I did not properly explain it.” Michael stated in a straightforward tone of speaking.

Perhaps he would converse with Dr. Phillips or Mackenzie later about it, reveal how it made his systems react. They were the ones that knew of his true state of existence, he didn’t have to keep up the charade of being human around them.

“Are you hurt?” Edwards asked in a cautious manner of speaking as he too glanced at the orb.

“I feel fine, there was no pain in any of it. We should head back to the rest of the team, tell them about this.” Michael said with honesty. He did not recall any feelings of pain throughout the entire moment, just bizarre sensations, sights and sounds.

Then the android noticed the hordes of greyish-blue insects, as did the others on his team. Alien lifeforms? More feelings of fascination careened through Michael. Then his sensors picked up strange readings amongst the insects as he gazed at them. The faint blue glow they gave off caused him to blink in surprise. These lifeforms were not entirely biological, that realization only made the android more interested in them. As the group moved to join the others, he noticed some of the strange insects moving towards him. It was likely the orb he clenched had something to do with this. So many curiosities on this world that Michael wished to learn more about.

“You seeing this, Gurrera?” Agent Edwards asked his partner, even after listening to the brief chatter erupting on the comms, as a few Agents checked in with confirmation of “glowing insects” marching down the thick trunks of the strange trees that took over much of the area.

“Affirmative. I’m calling it in.” Gurrera said plainly in his slight Spanish accent, watching the several dozen fauna as they made their way slowly in unison. “Chief this is Gurrera, over.”

Scrambled sound waves came back in response, unsure if there was even a voice to go along with the distortion. The Agent again pinged the comms, only to receive the same gnarled feedback. Edwards did the same, however his communications unit failed to engage at all, giving off a dim indicator light on the receiver.

“Shit.” Edwards said shaking his head while fiddling with the unit’s console. “You think the others are experiencing the same interference?”

“Possible.” Gurrera said, keeping an eye on the insects that continued to converge near their position. “But we’re also closer to the center of this shelled-out shit hole of a city, so who knows if we just have the worst of it.”

Edwards smirked. “You’ve always been an optimistic guy G, I don’t care what anyone says about you.”

“A realist, hombre.” Gurrera gave a firm pat on his partner’s shoulder. “A realist.”

Agent Edwards looked over at Mackenzie who, at the moment, he couldn’t tell if she was intrigued or concerned about the current situation, or perhaps even both. Stepping closer to her, he pulled out the communicator’s battery pack and main controller from his vest pocket, and held it out toward the young girl.

“First of all Ms Newton, you put on one hell of a poker face.” He said with a grin. “And second, we’re having trouble with our communications, do you think you could take a quick look for me? And I say ‘quick’...” He turned his attention to the trees. “Because I don’t think we’ll be sticking around this area too much longer.”

Mackenzie nodded quietly as she took the controller from Edwards. She was a little confused at Edward’s statement. She had never had a good “poker face” and she had been told so on many occasions by Amara. Perhaps that’s because they had grown up together. Either way, Mackenzie thought she wasn't doing a good job hiding her uneasiness. Michael occasionally looked over at her with that quizzical and fascinated look.She tried to control her shaking hands as she looked over the device. All she wanted to do was to return to base as quickly as possible, though she was currently thankful for the distraction. She turned the device over, pulling a small tab off the back to reveal its insides.

“Ah, Agent Edwards?” She said looking back up after a few quick moments. “ As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with the controller, something else must be interfering with it.” She then clipped the tab back into place and handed it back to Edwards.

The suddenly Mackenzie’s knees went a bit weak and her stomach lurched. She had to reach out and brace herself against Agent Edwards, who thankfully caught her. With all the excitement going on, she hadn't realized exactly how hungry she was. She needed to return to the Beast as quickly as possible before she got a major headache. Every now and then her blood sugar would drop if she didn't eat properly.

“Wooo, You alright Ms. Newton?” Edwards asked surprised, though his reaction was lighting fast. He held her steady for a moment letting her regain her composer.

“Yes, Sorry about that. I just need to eat something.” Mackenzie let out a deep breath. Edwards looked at her like he didn't believe her, still holding her. “ Hypoglycemia is a bitch sometimes,” she then smirked letting him know she really was alright. He let go hesitantly, but he rationalized that if she was making a joke she must be alright.

“Hey, if you two are done, I think we might want to get a move on. I would hate to be surrounded by these things” Agent Gurrera said not taking his eyes off the strange creatures.

What Are You Listening To?

New Mastodon, ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

Warhammer 40,000 - The Schism of Man [30K Heresy-Era Retelling]

@agentmanatee@ClocktowerEchos

I don't think I'm going to join. Apologies but I'm pretty loaded up on RPs as it is. Best of luck with this though, it looks like it's gonna be awesome!

Star Wars - Rancor Company

"Remember, Captain said limited explosives. Don't blow a huge whole in the side of the ship and send us all into space. I'd be fine with it if we were in a planet's orbit or something, could you just imagine all the chaos then?" Zuhlg said with a tentacled smirk as he eyed Onhar, his voice lecturing in tone but it was mostly in jest.

He liked to keep up a friendly rapport with his squad-mates, it helped relieved some of the immense pressure they were under. The Ugnaught simply rolled his eyes in reply. Being outnumbered wasn't an unusual situation to a special forces team. Still while the Quarren would never admit it, he was a bit nervous about the mission. He had the utmost faith in himself and his soldiers, but they had gotten lucky on Anaxes. They'd all made it back in one piece even when that mission had gone awry. Zulhg was not the biggest believer in luckiness, but that was an example of it for his men. Of course the incredible talent of his team probably had something to do with it as well.

"Sargent Bren, what are our odds of making it out of here alive?" Mos Zessom inquired. The skeletal Givin simply stared at him for a brief moment, formulating an answer inside his mathematically focused mind.

"Don't say it. The odds are in our favor though, Maker knows that." Zulhg interrupted gently with a raised hand and another calming smile.

Then the seven soldiers of Chain-Breaker squadron took up strategic positions in the corridors right as the Captain ordered them to do so. Zulhg quietly removed his blaster rifle from its sling, he could see the aliens under his command making the same motions. Then he ducked behind cover, his mind going to more primal thoughts. How many Imperial dogtags he was going to take this day, it was his duty as squad leader to try to claim the most. The thought further calmed the Quarren.

today is the day

Next four years in a nutshell.