Phoenix's RP Training Mission on the Moon of Dxun

Darth Suspiria

Darth Suspiria, feeling her apprentice Phoenix is ready for such an undertaking has sent him to the planet Onderon's moon of Dxun. There he will need all of his skills to survive.
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Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

A battered YV-100 jumped out of hyperspace on the outskirts of the Onderon system. Old freighters like this were a common sight here, although this one differed from the rest. It wouldn't land in Iziz, for it's pilot wasn't here for trade, vacation or entertainment.

Phoenix fidgeted uneasily in his seat, he already saw the green sphere of Onderonian moon - Dxun. The moon was chosen by his master as a site for his first mission, it was dangerous and held many secrets - a perfect challenge for a sith. To think, Darth Suspiria never told her apprentice what he must do in this Force-forsaken place. And wandering among nasty beasts without a purpose wasn't Phoenix's idea of a good time. Clicking several buttons on the control panel Phoenix quickly established communication with Kuat. A small hologram of his master appeared before his eyes. "Milady, I have arrived to the system, landing on Dxun approximately in half an hour. But first I request some details of my mission: the list of objectives and position data on them" - Phoenix said.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

Darth Suspiria

"Darth Suspiria answered her apprentice through the holocron. You must wait for the instructions to come from another source. Be patient Phoenix!"

She closed the link.
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High Mage Serratus

At that very moment, a mysterious figure with flowing jet black hair and tight-fitting rancor leather armour appeared on the holo. The figure blurred his already beshadowed appearance using the Force, as well as crackling his voice.
"Land at these co-ordinates."
A bunch of symbols appeared on screen. The figure disappeared.
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If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

Phoenix rolled up his eyes, blasted sith masters, always speak in riddles. Now what was that suppose to mean, and what in Bane's name is 'another source'? As much as Phoenix hated plunging into the unknown, he had no other choice. Directing his ship towards Dxun, the young sith still wondered what will he find there, and what dangers he will have to face.

Upon entering the atmosphere the ship shook violently, grinding sounds could be heard almost everywhere inside. "Hold on, you pile of junk" - Phoenix muttered. When this is all over he has to find a new vessel, dying in a ship crash wasn't exactly the most glorious of ends. Finally the trembling was over as soon as the ship passed Dxun's stratosphere. Phoenix sighed with relief and started to look for a suitable clearing to land. The jungle seemed to cover the entire surface of the moon, although from time to time Phoenix could swear that he saw some ruins or reaimns of ships. Considering Dxun's past, he was not surprised. After several minutes of search Phoenix noticed a suitable place, a clearing in the jungles just large enough for his ship to fit.

YV-100 touched down, sending another shudder throughout the hull. With a loud hiss the ramp opened, Phoenix came down, looking around sharply. In a place like this danger can hide behind every tree. The sith checked his equipment: lightsabers, a blaster pistol, several military rations and 3 thermal detonators. The weather wasn't favourable either, heavy drops of rain pattered against the ship's hull, Phoenix robe was already wet. The conditions were not the best, but it wouldn't stop Phoenix, he resolutely paced into the jungle, allowing his instincts and the Force to guide him.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

((Is there a reason that you snubbed me?))

The mysterious figure stepped out of a bush. His long black hair snaked back into his head, turning a strawberry blonde. The racnor leather armour shimmered gold before transforming into a strange dress-like garment. The tall figure shrunk to a slightly more compact size. He smiled.

"Greetings young Phoenix. I am Darth Serratus. I am a friend of your master and volunteered to see if you have what it takes. Listen carefully, for our time is short."

Serratus pointed towards Onderon.

"The seasonal oxygen bridge connecting the atmoshperes of Onderon and Dxun will close soon. Without the aid of your freighter, you must cross from Dxun land to Onderon land, before the oxygen bridge closes. You may do this however you see fit, as long as you start on Dxun land and finish on Onderon land before the bridge closes. Even if your distance from Onderon is off by a centimetre, nay, by the estimation of a single human hair, you have failed the mission. That does not necessarily mean that you I will judge you unfit, but strive to complete the challenge nonetheless."

Serratus smiled widely.

"Now, in addition to having to break free from Dxun's gravity, cross a waning bridge of gas and landing on another planet, you will have many things working against you. First, there is the flora and fauna of the planet. The jungle is thick, difficult to navigate and filled with many dangerous beasts, notably two species of, as I believe Darth Suspiria put it, giant flying reptiles.

Secondly, you will have me. I am a weapons and wildlife expert of the Empire, I was raised by Wampa on Hoth for 10 years, later spent three years on Tatooine in the Krayt Graveyard, I am notably one of a handful of people to ever make it out alive and I am the only person to ever live there. I spent another three years working as a mercenary for Borba the Hutt and approximately another three years as a Jedi. I fight with lightsabers, hunting knifes, gaderffii, D'skars, Sat'skars, Coyn'skars, various other weaponry and I am quite the shot with a blaster, though of course there are those who surpass me.

Today, I am carrying a bryar pistol, a b'hedda, a gaderffii, two lightsabers, an Arkanian baton, a vibrosword and a Cycler Rifle. I will utilise the terrain as weaponry too and I will most likely attack you mounted on several of the indigenous fauna whom I am well-equipped to control thanks to my upbringing. I will do anything in my power to stop you. You have a five second head start, now get going."
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If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

[OOC: I am really sorry, didn't see your message. Strange, I checked the thread twice and noticed it only today Confused

]

Without a word Phoenix dashed into the jungle, forcing his way through the indigenous flora. The sith with bizarre hair surely wasn't far behind, so Phoenix made haste, luckily he himself had experience with the less pleasant fauna, many fierce beast inhabited the forests of Cholganna where he trained under the jedi. Phoenix's mind rushed, searching for a solution to the task that was placed before him. He could swear he heard this somewhere before, but where...

After several minutes of Force-accelarated running the young sith stopped and looked around. No signs of Darth Serratus. Still Phoenix was sure that his pursuer is nearby, probably preparing a nasty surprise for him. A deep roar interrupted Phoenix's thoughts, he quickly turned to face the source of that sound, just in time to see a relatively large boma that clearly intended to make a meal of him. When the beast charged forward, Phoenix leapt in the air, somersaulting in flight and landing behind the boma. Before the lumbering predator could turn to face it's prey Phoenix slashed his lightsaber at the creture's back, severing it's spine.

"Bane's blood!" - the sith spat - "Wait a second... Bane!" A sudden realization flashed in Phoenix's mind - according to the legend Darth Bane tamed a flying beast, a dxunian raptor, and used it as his mount to get to Onderon. "Great... Now I only need to find a giant hungry flying beast and befriend it" - Phoenix thought the hardest part of the mission will be to find a way to travel to the planet, he was wrong. At any rate there was no time to lose, without any further hesitation Phoenix continued his way through the jungle, but now he concealed himself with the Force cloak. Even if it doesn't work against Darth Serratus, it will help him avoid some beasts for sure.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Darth Serratus set off quickly on foot before pulling out his b'hedda patt,ing his sack of booma and taking to the trees. Phoenix had made a mistake in using a Force Cloak, following his time with Lord Nihilus, Serratus's presence in the Force was strong enough that someone cloaking themselves in the Force was like someone attaching blacklights to their bodies while trying to hide from an Umbaran.

As he ran and swang from branch to branch with his b'hedda, Serratus started dipping the tosser end of the b'hedda into his bag of booma while making the swinging motion, effectively bombarding Phoenix while keeping time with him. After firing sufficient booma, he looked around and quickly subjogated a Zakkeg.

Now riding on the back of a living armoured tank, Serratus drew his Cycler Rifle and started shooting.
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If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

Discharges of energy exploded on the ground around Phoenix, that was surely not a common thing. Glancing back on the run the young sith saw exactly what he expected - Darth Serratus. Whatever he was throwing, Phoenix had no plans to experience contact with it, so he quickened again and started moving right and left to evade the incoming projectiles. The Force cloak clearly wasn't effective, so Phoenix decided to desist from using it, for now at least.

After several minutes of pursue Serratus disappeared for a short while, though Phoenix held no illusions, the sith will return and soon. He was right, no more than a minute later deafening crakle of trees being broken marked Serratus's return. One quick look at the beast Serratus was now riding was enough for Phoenix to understand that he has to run, really fast.

Beasts of the jungle from small cannoks to vicious maalraas made haste to get out of zakkeg's way, those who weren't quick enough, were crushed by the mighty predator. Phoenix ran at the limit of his speed, suddenly a bullet whizzed barely an inch from his ear. The second one grazed his shoulder, leaving a small bleeding cut. Cursing everything, the apprentice pushed himself even harder, now each step made his lungs hurt. The next moment Phoenix found himself on the very brink of a steep. A large river beared it's waters on the bottom of the precipice. Without an option to go back Phoenix flinged himself from the verge.

Phoenix's body hit the water, sending flashes of pain through his legs and back, yet he couldn't allow himself to be distracted by such trivial things as pain. With a considerable effort Phoenix forced himself to move through the turbid mass of water. The Force allowed him to hold his breath far longer than a simple human could, so Phoenix swimed under water for several minutes, to put Serratus out of his scent. Finally he came to the surface and moved towards the shore. In a situation like this respite was an impermissible luxury, so Phoenix made haste into the thick selva, carefully probing his surroinding with the Force. Hopefully he could find a skreev soon enough.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus halted the zakkeg at the edge of the drop. He put his Cycler Rifle on his back and pulled out his b'hedda. He sent a barrage of boom flying at a cliff overlooking the river, sending a tumbling of rocks down into the canyon. Without checking if he had succeeded in striking or subduing Pheonix, he hopped off the zakkeg and patted it, sending it off before quickly locating a vicious drxel. He subjogated it with the Force and took flight, drawing his Bryar pistol and preparing to swoop and bombard Phoenix.
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If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

Blood-chilling howls from the sky and blaster shots that followed them meant more trouble, taking a second to examine the beast Darth Serratus rode now, Phoenix mad haste to the thickets. That beast will have considerable trouble making way through there. This decision had a number of drawbacks, a pack of maalraas was the most notable one. Phoenix ignited his lightsabers jsut in time to meet the attacking predators. The fight was short but furious, sith's lightsabers cut down several beasts, others fled. Although one of them managed to leave a deep bleeding cut on Phoenix's side.

Forcing his way through the thick vegetation and waving away swarms of local insects Phoenix considered what is the best way to subjugate the flying beast. He still didn't have enough skills in the Force to do so. "Bane, help me" - the young sith muttered, too bad he didn't pay respect to Bane's altar before emarking on this mission. Still smething gave him confidence and with no obvious reasons Phoenix turned away from the path he followed. Obeying his intuition the sith made haste forward, pushing the predators he encountered away with the Force, it was enough to drive most of them away. Those who attacked were dispatched quickly.

After ten minutes of walking Phoenix reached a rather large clearing. There he saw exactly what he was hoping to find - a dxunian raptor feasting upon dead boma. Too consumed with eating, the predator didn't notice a sith that just appeared from the jungle. Carefully Phoenix approached the skreev, that finally turned it's head towards him. With an angry roar the raptor soared up to the skies, a moment later it sped down, aiming at the sith. In the last moment Phoenix sidestepped to evade the beast, and when it passed by him the sith grabbed it's long scaly tail. The skreev soared up again, carrying the human with it.

"Stupid beast" - Phoenix cursed as he clambered at the skreev's back. It took some time and much effort, but he succeeded, even thought the flying reptile threw itself from side to side trying to get rid of the human on it's back. "That's it, lizard, now I am your master. Bow to my will!" - Phoenix hissed as he grabbed the creature's neck to stay on it's back. Clearly the skreev had it's own opinion on the matter, and it didn't coincide with the sith's. Howling angrily it threw itself down, turning in wild somersaults to throw down the insolent human. Phoenix pressed himself to the creature's back, doing his best not to fall. He tried to use the Force to subjugate the creature, but with little avail. Finally growing tired of the constant rolling and twirling that almost made him sick, Phoenix reached to he lightsaber and ignited it. When the skreev again tried to throw him down, the sith seared the creature's side. "Want to play the hard way?!" - Phoenix spat angrily as the creature howled in pain. This expirience seemed to make the skreev more compliant. Finally Phoenix managed to instill the urge to obey him in the beast's mind. He extinguished his saber and directed his mount to the Onderonian surface. Knowing that Darth Serratus isn't going to let him go so easily Phoenix spurred the raptor and constantly looked around, trying to locate his pursuer.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Darth Serratus smiled. The boy had gotten his hands on a skreev. However, Serratus's drexl was superior in aerial combat, speed, size and physical prowess. Serratus ordered it forward and drew his shockstaff. He quickly activated it and began jabbing at the skreev's wings, as well as the occasional jab at Phoenix.
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If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

As expected, Darth Serratus soon returned with more nasty tricks. The skreev howled with anger as the forcestaff jabbed it's body. Phoenix himself received several sensitive prods under his ribs and he could understand skreev's frustration. Losing his mount was not an option, especially when they were more than two kilometres above ground. "How in the Emperor's name do you carry all those weapons?!" - Phoenix exclaimed and suddenly grabbed the staff when Serratus tried to hit him again. Luckily he managed to place his hand on the pole, but still discharges of electricity striked his side, leaving slight burn. Phoenix pulled the staff with his right hand, but suddenly the skreev dived. Phoenix had to grab the raptor's neck with both hands to remain in place, so he dropped Serratus's weapon. They still were quite far from Onderonian surface, in fact Phoenix wasn't even sure that they left Dxun's atmosphere, this made the young sith feel quite uncomfortable, he had to find a way to stall Serratus, or he will not succeed. Phoenix forced his mount to manoeuvre wildly, this was the only chance to stay out drexl's reach. An idea flashed through his mind, a wild one but it might work. Phoenix urged the raptor to soar up, leaving Serratus and his drexl below. Quickly he took one of the thremal detonators he took with him, set the detonation time and dropped it. The grenade fell, drown by Dxun's gravity and in a moment it detonated in the air not far from Darth Serratus.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Darth Serratus laughed.

"Collapsable!"

After the struggle, Serratus swooped to grab his shockstaff, he felt the thermal detonator fall behind him. Just as it was about to explode, Serratus swung around and hung from the drexl's underbelly. The explosion ripped through the air and the drexl was killed but Serratus was merely flung down towards the moon's surface. He quickly drew his b'hedda and use the force of the explosion as momentum for a furious swing, before launching himself back into the atmosphere with a Force-augmented push like none he had ever used. He reached out with the Force, locating a skreev of his own and subjugated it. It swooped beneath him and he started once more after Phoenix, this time wielding his vibrosword and Bryar pistol.
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If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

Phoenix smirked as the lifeless carcass that once was the most vicious predator of this world fell down. That was a large relief, the young sith spurred his skreev, they drew neared to the Onderonian surface by the minute. A disturbance in the Force alerted Phoenix, he glanced back and saw Darth Serratus mounted on the dxunian raptor. "This guy doesn't know when to give up, does he" - he muttered and pulled his own blaster. Fortunately Serratus still was a good distance behind, but the gap between two sith shortened quickly. Holding the skreev's neck with one hand Phoenix half-turned so that he could fire at his pursuer. Taking several moments to aim he started to pull the trigger, sending hails of blaster bolts in Serratus's direction. Although it was unlikely that any of the shots could hit their mark, the second sith was still far away.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus smiled. They were right in the oxygen bridge. Now would be the perfect time to pull his master stroke. He drew his lightsaber and used Soresu to knock the blaster bolts back at Phoenix's skreev, killing it. He decapitated his own skreev and leapt from its back. Outside both gravity pulls, the Sith were hovering in the bridge.
_________________

If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

"What the?!" - Phoenix exclaimed. He expected to fall down like a stone, still it didn't happen. Clearly there was no gravity in this place, which could only mean that he left Dxun's atmosphere. Fighting Serratus here wasn't part of Phoenix's plan, but with his mount killed there was no way to get to Onderon. "Perhaps..." - Phoenix muttered and glanced at the body of dxunian raptor that still floated nearby. Phoenix fired several more times while he pushed himself to the skreev's carcass. The beast, even dead, can still be usefull. He grabbed the creatures tail and Force-pushed the body towrds Onderon.

With Darth Serratus not far behind Phoenix appied maximum of his Force energy to push the dead skreev forward. Soon he felt that his speed increases, finally he reached Onderonian gravity well. The skreev fell down ever faster, the young stih pressed himself to the reptile's body and prepared for the moment when he will hit the ground.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus frowned. Phoenix had fled like a coward rather than face him. This would not earn him any favour. Serratus had refrained from unleashing his final trick, if his master stroke was the oxygen bridge, then he didn't know what to call this. He used the Force to compress the oxygen around him until he was cloaked in a shimmering armour which distorted his appearance, save for where he had left a space to breathe. Continuing the compression, he crafted wings out of solid air and propelled himself forward with the Force until he reached the Onderonian atmosphere. He then glided through the air with his shimmering wings trailing behind him, in hot pursuit of Phoenix. The oxygen bridge was going to close within a few minutes, so he began erecting barriers of compressed air to slow or stop the lad's progress.
_________________

If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

The dead skreev dropped like a stone, Onderonian surface was no more than three hundred metres away now. Phoenix chuckled quietly success is at hand, he made the right choice when he decided not to fight Darth Serratus, otherwise he would be hindred long enough for the oxygen bridge to close. Suddenly his fall slowed down, a disturbance in the Force hinted that this is Serratus's doing. Phoenix spat several curses, he is to close to he goal to be stopped now. Concentrating all his will, the young sith commanded the Force to rarefy the air in front of him. Destroying the barriers wasn't easy at all, Phoenix felt almost completely exhausted, but he wouldn't stop, not now. Only a hundred more metres to the ground... With considerable willeffort Phoenix dispersed the last wall of compressed oxygen, now nothing stood between him and his goal.

A second before skreev's carcass hit the ground Phoenix pushed himself away from the dead beast, launching himself about ten metres up in the air. The dead predator finally reached the ground with a loud crash, even this mighty beast couldn't withstand such a blow. Blood and splinters of bones spattered around, the beast was now nothing more than a deformed pile of flesh. Phoenix on the other hand landed on his feet, the Force cushioned his landing. The young sith stood on Onderonian ground, battered, with many wounds and bruisers but still quite satisfied with himself. The oxygen bridge still remained. Now the only thing he had to do was to wait for Darth Serratus. Something told Phoenix that this is not over yet.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Darth Serratus smiled. The lad had been resilient, and he had done it. He landed quickly and dispersed his oxygen armour. He nodded towards Phoenix.

"Very good my young foe. You have done well. I will inform Darth Suspiria of my opinion privately. Now however, I have a small task for you. Well, relatively small. I need you to take this clutch of eggs..."

He pulled out a large bundle.

"...to Kira Fortress and place them in the highest tower. Then I need you to evacuate the building. Leave the rest to me."
_________________

If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

Phoenix looked at the bundle of eggs and blinked in amazement. "And what are those, may I inquire?" - he asked suspiciously. Of course Phoenix would do this, he had no choice anyway. But if he has to break into a well guarded fortress full of Beast Riders, he'd prefer to know what exactly he is carrying, just to make sure there are no nasty surprises. The sith recalled some large building he saw during his rather rapid descend on the surface, probably it was the Fortress. Great, it was no less than 10 kilometres away from their current location.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus smiled.

"Those m'boy are drexl eggs. I have designs on Onderon and I need Kira Fortress under my control. These drexl are the children of my pet drexl Tafira. Tafira will do anything I tell her and her children will do anything she tells them. They will procreate and soon I will have a small army of drexl holding the Fortress under my command. Now, go, while I get Tafira ready."
_________________

If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

"Will do" - Phoenix nodded and took the eggs. Without further questions he made way into the jungle. Too bad that both skreevs died, it would be far more preferable to fly rather than walk. On the other hand a small airing wouldn't do any harm, at least Phoenix will regain his strength after the hard chase back on Dxun.

Picking his way among the forest Phoenix enjoyed the walk, at least there were no annoying insects, and far less vicious beast. At first he didn't encounter anything more dangerous than a herd of cannoks that were easily scared away. After about hald an hour of unhurried pace Phoenix felt more or less rested and moved in double time, Darth Serratus probably was in a hurry. Quickening himself with the Force from time to time Phoenix reached the Kira Fortress without much trouble in no more than an hour. Now came the hard part.

The sith concealed himself with the Force cloak andclimbed up a tree, from here he observed the patrols, memorating their routes. By Phoenix's estimations infiltrating the fortress wouldn't be too hard, the only problem would be to draw away the guards from the entrance. He leapt down from the tree, checked the bund of eggs he had to deliver and silently moved forward. Even though invisible, Phoenix still moved very carefully, avoiding the patrols and laying low if one of the Beast Riders came to close. Soon he was not far from the main entrance, the guards looked relaxed and lazy, seems they didn't see much action lately. Phoenix smirked and used the Force to penetrate their minds, one at a time. He simply instiled an urge to into the nearest bush to do the deed. Chuckling quietly as the first guard rushed from the gateway, Phoenix continued his work. In a minute all guards were too busy with their hygiene to pay attention to the gate they were supposed to secure. The sith proceeded into the fortress, staying in the shadows when possible.
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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.

High Mage Serratus

Serratus chopped his way through the undergrowth with his lightsaber. Operation System Dominance was underway, two of the five Operations of the Onderon Project had begun. He smirked. Once this and Dragon Sun were complete, that would only leave Shadow Force, Full Metal Paladin and Dark Swimmer. He was broken from his thoughts by the screech of a particularly large drxel. Tafira looked magnificent as ever, she was one of the largest drexls in history. Serratus walked up to her and stroked her knee.

"Whoah girl, let's get ready to go."

He drew his bryar pistol and kept his lightsaber at the ready before taking off and going back towards Kira Fortress.
_________________

If you see dreadlocks and a staff coming towards you very rapidly, you're in trouble.

Darth Mortis · Sith Warrior Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 164

Not surprisingly, Kira Fortress was full of Beast Riders. Almost each corridor was guarded, even though the patrols weren’t very zealous in their work, it still complicated things. Phoenix smirked; he could almost believe his task will be easy… No matter, at least this will be interesting. Suddenly Phoenix stopped and hearkened to the gruff voices that ringed from behind the corner. Probably some guards were headed his way. The sith flattened himself against the wall, even unseen he could still attract unwanted attention with a single wrong move. As the voices drew nearer he even held his breath. Phoenix could hear his heartbeat reverberate in his ears, he watched carefully as two large guards passed by him. He waited until they were gone from sight and with a sigh of relief continued his way. Phoenix still needed schematics of the fortress to find the tower and the best way to get there, and he had a plan o acquire it.

After several minutes of sneaking around the sith found what he was looking for – a lone guard. The man was clearly bored and didn’t pay much attention to his surroundings, a perfect target Phoenix sneaked to him from behind in swiftly grabbed his neck with one hand; with the other he pushed his lightsaber against the guard’s back. ”If you utter a single sound, I will kill you. Understood?” – he hissed. The guard began to node his head, clearly in horror. The sith smirked and dragged his victim into the nearest room. After sealing the door he turned to the captured guard – “Now listen carefully, scum. I want some information; tell me where the chief security officer’s office is. I believe this is a fair trade for your worthless hide.” The man’s voice trembled as he spoke – ”It’s… it is in the western corridor, fourth door on the left… you’ll immediately recognize it when you see it.” Phoenix leaned over to him – ”You are lucky I shouldn’t leave any mess in my wake; otherwise I would rid the Galaxy of your pathetic existence… You will forget you ever saw me.” When speaking the last phrase Phoenix waved his hand, commanding the Force to subjugate the guard’s mind. The man blanked out for a moment, and when consciousness returned to him, the sith was long gone.

Sneaking past the lazy guards was easy, but now Phoenix thought of a way to deal with the security officer, it is highly doubtful he would allow someone to tamper with his computer console. Going through the door was not a good option. Phoenix looked around and noticed a ventilation shaft. “Excellent” – he thought and with the Force removed the lattice. Then he quickly pulled himself up and climbed into the vent.

The sith crawled through the shaft, checking every vent he passed. In addition to moving silently, he had to be very careful with the bundle of drexl’s eggs. Still he proceeded rather quickly and soon he located the security room, as expected the officer was on his post, observing numerous monitors that transmitted images from every corner of the Fortress. Once again Phoenix drew upon the power of mind control. The officer suddenly remembered that he has some business far from his office. The sith jumped down into the room, time was shot. He inserted his datapad into the main console and downloaded a small virus-program that would allow him to override any password in this system. Soon all the data Phoenix needed were in his datapad, time to proceed. Before leaving the room he set the alarms to trigger within half an hour. Since the officer was gone, Phoenix simply walked through the door and made way to the tower.

Seemingly endless caracole led to the tower’s apex. After sending away Beast Riders that guarded the entrance Phoenix made haste to the top. His lips twisted into a victorious smirk, he found it rather amusing that the Galaxy is filled with weak-minded fools so easy to manipulate. At the very apex the sith climbed through the window, he carefully pulled himself up, holding on to the dents in the stones. With the Force’s help it wasn’t very hard to climb even on a sheer wall. Soon he reached the roof, there he placed drexl’s eggs just as Darth Serratus instructed. By Phoenix’s estimation the alarm will initiate in fifteen minutes, he still has time to get out of the fortress. But going back the same way he came was too long. Phoenix took a grappling hook attached to a long rope and after he made sure the rope is fastened safely the young sith began his descend. Still concealed by the Force cloak he didn’t have to worry about some guards to see him.

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Ruthlessness is the kindness of the wise.