Rayia Icceni's Story

Rayia paced the bridge as alarms blared " What is happening!" She ordered
" We don't know but it is sucking us in!"
"Fire all thrusters get us out of here"
"Thrusters at full mistress and still nothing!"
"Brace! Brace!"

A light flashed and she ship went dark...



Another flash and out of it appears the Shadow of Korriban any ships close would already have her on scanners.

" Report!" Ordered Rayia
" This system matches no known system but our scanners are picking up much traffic from the planet below"
" Raise shields and power weapons...I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Five more flashes brought the rest of Rayia's fleet though the now six Harrower class dreadnoughts formed up.

"Seems the rest of the fleet got pulled though too..." Spoke Rayia she then clicked the comm "Reaper Fleet check in!"

"Rexis checking in"
"Sunstriker checking in"
"Jinx checking in"
"Dark Avenger checking in"
"Crescentia checking in"

"Shadow of Korriban receives... Now listen up all ships ready for battle we move toward the planet no one fires without my order."

"Should we not find a way back though whatever brought us here?"

"Negative, the way shut as soon as it sucked us though only way is forward now"

The fleet fell in line charting a course for the planet below them.

Rayia's fleet loomed closer to the planet. " I since much death...and darkness" Rayia states

"We are picking up readings of a super volcanic eruption...." started an officer before another cut him off
" No need for sensors you can see the ash cloud even from up here"

Rayia closed her eyes sensing with the force "There is much fighting...Against something dark...It is hard to see..." She paused and opened her eyes "There is also a Jedi down there."

"A Jedi!?"

"Yes, captain a Jedi...This just got more interesting take us in"

"Yes mistress! Reaper fleet move in!"

A twinge in the Force...Incoming Darkness. Kinara slowly blinked. "Commander....get all the civilians back onto the transports and then set up a refugee camp down in the city....Something came up, we must get them off the Eagle." she said.

"Roger Roger."

The complaining civilians were ushered into the transports, and within minutes, they were all off-ship, and in a refugee camp being set up by those strong enough to do so while the Droids took their transports back to their respective ships.

"Bring the ship around, all ships defensive Formation, all power to Shields and Weapons, wait for my signal." the Droid Commanders blinked green in acknowledgement. The entirety of Kinara's fleet, seven Venators, four Tartans, and one heavily modified Valiant, turned towards the Fleet of the Sith before her. They placed the Obsidian Eagle, the ship that carried Kinara aboard, at the back of the formation, with the Tartans in a boxed formation just in front of it to provide point defense. The Seven Venators spread out evenly to maximize defensive fire and shielding between the seven of them. This formation was nigh impregnable.

On the bridge of the ship of the Sith, a blinking communication light would appear. An open transmission from the Obsidian Eagle. If accepted, a hologram of Kinara would appear, wearing her Old-Republic Battle Armor with her hooded cloak on around it,the hood of which was up.

"You've a lot of Nerve approaching the fleet of a Jedi Purge Survivor, Sith. Speak your business." she said, almost growling it out. Kinara looked every bit as beautiful as she did intimidating in that armor, though the hologram would likely not show all of it. "You are out-gunned, and likely out-experienced. I suggest you leave now while you still can, and let me be on my way." The Massive Turbo-Laser batteries turned towards the Ships of the Sith's fleet, and the Proton-Torpedo Tubes of the Venators were also Loaded. One hell of a paddling was imminent depending on the words of the Sith, and her actions.

Jedi purge? The words confused Rayia where she was from there where hundreds if not thousands of Jedi. She had to play this right the Jedi had her outgunned and she was in a strange time and place but she couldn't show that weakness.

"You have a lot of anger for a Jedi..." Rayia said "You also have much arrogance to underestimate me and my fleet."
Rayia then grinned "Perhaps there is more in common between us then you know."

"You and your fleet are from thousands of years ago if you do not know of the ships in my own Fleet. I recognize your Dreadnoughts. Harrower Class; used by the Sith Empire thousands of years ago during the time of the Old Republic. You are out-classed, Sith." Kinara said. She ignored the words of her Anger; Kinara wasn't a full Jedi, nor Dark Jedi, but a Grey Jedi. She did what she wanted, when she wanted, with who she wanted. Usually.

"Now then, if there is so much in common between us, I can assume you'll let me pass? I've a job to do." she said

"Thousands of years you say? Old Republic? Strange...But I sense that you speak true..." Rayia said then turned to her crew " Seems we missed a lot of history boys and girls...But damn do we look good for being thousands of years old"

Laughing was heard as Rayia turned back to the hologram Jedi "Seems I will have to find a new place in this time...Should be interesting... Now Jedi one request before I let you go. I wish a log of the history from my time until now....I have much catching up to do..."

Kinara raised an eyebrow at her request, but shrugged. "Beam them a complete history of the galaxy from the time of the Old Republic to now."

"Roger Roger."

"There, now you've got your history. Enjoy it, and try not to piss off the locals....this galaxy has many more surprises than I care to admit." With that they ended communication and went to her captain's chair. "Take us to Hyper Space, Destination, Ariel."

"Like, the woman or...." at a glance from Kinara the Droid punched in the coordinates. "Roger Roger!" and with that, the fleet began to move, zooming past the fleet of the sith first, dreadnoughts sizing each other up, waiting for the metaphorical pin to drop and open fire upon each other and blow the other fleet into the dust. But no pin dropped, and once Kinara's fleet was clear, they zoomed off to Hyperspace, to Ariel.

The Earthshakker rounds shattered the earth beneath the bunkers, which was unfortunate because they were anchored into that earth. Without anything to anchor to, the vibrations caused the bunkers to shift and toss, sending the troops in them over the sides and into the dirt.
This also had the unfortuate effect of shorting out the generator powering the shields, which then proceeded to launch all the projectiles they had collected in an outward burst at about three hundred feet per second. If you weren't behind cover, you were shredded, armor or no.

But the biggest event in the short time before the rod could complete it's charge, was the missile heading to the cobalt Glaive. Captain Ean Falcor lost his patience at that point. "Oh HELL NO!" He shouted, glaring at the missile, which then proceeded to freeze in mid air, before exploding. Even the explosion was contained, creating a beautifully destructive bubble of fire and shrapnel which burned itself out in the air.

"I'm absolutely done with this." He said, turning his glare on the soldiers assaulting his men. A sudden and excrutiating pain, like that of nails on a chalkboard in their minds, would fill every part of every soldier of the imperium. Their commander got a different treatment however. For him it would feel as though the ground had dropped away, and when he looked up, it would be as though the stars had reshaped themselves into a giant humanoid form, which then proceeded to slam it's palms together, with Rogal Dorn in between them.

Ean smirked at that moment as the Rod finished charging. He wrapped himself over Tiffany, then called out to his troops. In a single, synchronized and explosive movement they dove towards the rod, and away from the imperial soldiers.

A moment later, and an explosion of sound and light occured, like that of a lightningbolt, only slightly quieter. Where once Ean and Tiffany and all the IMP's stood, there was now only burned and scorched patches of earth and stone, and a smell like burning hair and skin.

Aboard the Glaive

Ean stood, then grimaced and cried out in pain as the nerves in his body kicked in and started protesting about the burned patches of exposed skin all over his body. Thankfully Medics were on site to receive him and his charge. "Emily... you really do think of everything." The Captain said, insisting that the Medics take Tiffany to the infirmary before himself. He had one more thing to do before he could take a nap.

A conversation.

The Imperium commander on the ground would be recieving a comm signal at that time, and should he choose to accept it, these were the words he would hear. "Very close boys, very close. Almost had us, Unfortunately for you though Almost doesn't count except in horse shoes and hand grenades." Ean's voice, jovial in spite of his pain, grated through the earpiece. "Do yourselves a favor and don't take this too personal, alright? It's not the first time I've given you guys the slip, and it certainly won't be the last. Also... Do me a favor and tell your leader, the uh... god emperor, i guess, That he oughta be a bit more gentle with the people he rules over. I mean yeah sure, Duty to your country and all that is nice but... well... to be blunt, punishing a victim who tried to save others at the cost of their own life... Not exactly a great PR act. The girl you guys were so intent on killing was the victim here.. if you need more proof, look up Elysium, and the guy who made it. That should put you in the right track."

"Until next time, and uh, by the way... Heh.. Your Aim Sucks."

Most if not all the marines had hid behind a piece of cover as generator launched its projectiles around. They were not foolish enough to stand outside of cover for any long amount of time.

However soon the Space Marines fell to their hands and knees caused by a horrid feeling. "Psychic...witchcraft..." One marine muttered as they did their best to hold on. Their entire being was in pain, but as the Imperial Fist space marines, they endured excruciating pain daily.

For Royal Dorn However, he felt as if he was falling. As he did she stared down a humanoid being made of stars. He was not scared, not even slightly. He had endured the horrid depths of the warp, he had seen horrors beyond horrors. He remained with a calm expression as the being slammed its palms together.

In the next moment he was back in reality, along with a parting message. He did not need to reply, nor did he felt anything from his words. Let him vent out his insults, it did not matter to him in the least.

The massive marine soon stood up as Imperial Guard reinforcements arrived on sight. "The situation is now over, the enemy has retreated. Begin repairs on the entire area, including the gate that fell." Dorn ordered and the Guardsman went right to work.

Another day, another mess that needed to be fixed. "My Lord, I have news that Commisar Ciaphas Cain has found the man responsible for the drug that plagued the city...however he has vanished...Emperor watch over him while he is in danger, but I wanted to let you my lord to know." A Guardsman gave the news to Dorn while down on one knee. With a quick nod the Guardsman stood up, saluted and went to go fix the city.

With his job done, it was time to return to base.

Curse of Aetherkind

Aboard the Glaive the two Jinhai remain on the bridge while Plinth was in extended surgery. They could not assist. Here they served quietly reading the almanac and listening to the thoughts of Myrkul's Vein regarding the situations of its sub-beings. The combat between mankind was not their own without permission of the Emperor. They nonetheless observed for the needs of an impartial record for the Emperor of Mankind. One spoke up in their emotionally pale voices of whirling dust.

It spoke to Ean as he terminated communications, "The Living Emperor has stated dissatisfaction with the beliefs and behaviors of His subjects. It is the assertion of Myrkul's Vein that your status remains as neutral regardless of combat. The new instance of Humankind created by the Aetherkind has no actions of importance ascribed to it and remains neutral beyond considerations of the tainted. Do you need reconstitution, Humankind Ean?"

Once more into the Pyre

Of the first to storm his way into that bunker the bright flash and thunder was heard from Otto's living weapon against the shadow creatures. Witchfire-charged slug rounds of Gunnac's make they seared whatever was not human and by the Emperor's will be they purged. The weapon was a heavy-bladed thing responsive to Otto's wrath at the shadow creatures attacking civilians here. They attacked as a singular being but unfamiliar with his machine spirit's xenothirst Otto was unable to hold back his advance with the rest of the Imperial Guard.

When the librarian appeared somewhere down a blood-soaked hallway Otto was the first guard to burn. The lightning seared his flesh and armor away but his mind would not fall. The force broke his limbs and the mind would still not lay down to die. For a long minute Otto's mind was just pain and blackness. The crinkle of metal signaled his weapon reconstructing just as Otto's will returned to force out the pain. A smoking, seared corpse hauled itself to its feet with a stub for an arm. The throne of mankind still burned hot as a True rekindled slowly extended fresh flesh and even scraps of his armor under every piece of ash.

The voice was ragged and harsh, "Otto Hannig, Imperial Guard. I can't see you, right now, but you librarians never did care about friendly fire. I understand the imperial fists more now I think. Every time it hurts I care a little less."

The bones grew bright red leg muscles pouring out more blood than he ought to still have. Otto realized something while his brain operated under a conflagration of pain. Seems he couldn't go unconscious by the pain though he sorely wanted to. Everything hurt. Every nerve was on fire and what didn't hurt was numb.

A eye reconstituted in its blown-out socket to look at Carnaelgaar then he screamed out the pain from a livened sense with a bloodied cry. Otto then writhed in pain while supported by a scorched wall, "Sorry. I'm trying to care a lot less right now. Forgive me if I talk to keep the pain at bay. 'Cause seems Myrkul and the Emperor won't let it push me under anymore. Lucky me."

Otto turned to stumble his way out of the cleansed bunker with a single good eye and the gleaming psi-tech shotgun slithering at his side.

All knowledge to the Primarch

Dietrich pulled a gleaming ferroplasm bolter clip from his pack among four there. A faint white light emerged from the socket as the manifestation plant began manufacturing a replacement. Approaching his primarch Dietrich held up the clip that slowly moved bolter rounds into view as if they were loaded from the bottom.

Dietrich saluted, "I have returned from rekindling with new resources, Primarch. The Jinhai have repaired my armor with their own technology until a Techmarine of the Doom Eagles constructs a forge for the Imperium. I can manufacture ammo and deliver it to nearby brothers. Directly to their clip. Tech-priests may educate the machine spirit for ammo required of it."

The response against the presence of the Legion was swift, as was the reaction of the Legion itself. Shifting its focus to purely harvesting, by the time their enemy was able to bring in their more powerful weapons, the Legion paused as droves of its forces were depleted by the shots. Soon, a screech rang out across the bunker they inhabited, and the Legion sank into the floor,vanishing into the shadows of those they'd slain, taking the bodies with them.

They would find other means to replenish their numbers.

Rayia poured over the history the Jedi had given her when an unknown message came though.

Rayia listened then turned to her crew "Sounds like the place for us... Prepare the fleet for jump"

The path was set and reaper fleet vanished from Terra space appearing again near the great space station

" This is Grand Admiral Rayia Icceni of the Neo-Sith we heard your message and seek a place here" Rayia hailed the base

" Neo-Sith?" Questioned an officer

"The Sith Empire we followed is long dead... We needed a new name." Answered Rayia as she waited for the base to answer her hail.

The comms were silent for a while while Rayia waited. Static buzzed forth first before River spoke. "Welcome, Grand Admiral! I have some conditions." each and every single gun-battery built on the newly fixed up Space Station swiveled and aimed at the Sith Fleet. "You and your crew are more than welcome to stop by any time, your business and living here is greatly accepted, but my conditions are thus: I ask that you follow the only rule here: Don't fuck with me. The other conditions are as follows, your fleet cannot be in the vicinity of the Station. This is Neutral Space, I won't have you turn it into a hiding place for the Sith nor a staging ground for an empire." River's tone was simple, and stern.

"If I am Understood, then please move your fleet to the nearest Star-System and have it sit there, you may come with a Shuttle, and seek out your home in the Residential District. Rent is payed directly to me until someone comes in and wants to be a land lord, in which case rent is payed to them, and I take ten percent."

The holographic image of River lounging on her couch with a bottle of beer in one hand and her pistol in the other appeared before the Sith Grand Admiral. "I repeat: Your business and money are welcome; your Fleet and Empire are not. This is Neutral Ground for all." she smiled, taking a sip of her beer.

"Well that does present a problem...My fleet has nowhere to go we have no home and no empire....This feet is all we have."
Rayia stated then paused so that could sink in before turning to the hologram "I propose a deal that will benefit us both...You give me and my fleet leave to stay and in return we will aid in the defense of this place. We need a home and I'm sure you could use an army to help defend this place. So what say you?"

"There has to be a place willing to buy some stuff off of me...Or even hire me...ugh..." The mercanary known as Russian slammed his head on the desk of the bridge as he had just run out of money and along with that all of his food stores. One could only live so long with vintage booze.

As he groaned, he soon peered at his star map and noticed where he was. He had done a job in this sector, and he did not get paid...all he got was a bunch of strange rocks and a energy rifle. Granted he had yet to weaponize the strange rocks, they would make great armor but...he had nothing to make a chasis. A mercanary had a hard life...

However once he passed by the space station, it actually look inhabited. He had an oppurtunity here. "Testing, testing. This is Russian of the 'Fortress Of Epicness' and I am requesting permission to land to sell some equipment. Please...help a mercanary out...I am down to my final noodle cup...scratch that, I just ate it..." He spoke unto his comms and hoped someone would pick up and not shoot him out of space.

"Tough shit!" River responded to the first statement. "And no. My offer stands as is. We are Neutral; self sufficient. We need no outside help protection nor want it. She stood and drank the last of her beer, tossing it to the side. "Having a big ass fleet sitting on my doorstep ain't exactly good for business, nor for my promise of neutrality unless it's got my symbol on it. And quite frankly, you don't look like River Scully material." she said sternly, staring at the Sith through the hologram.

"My deal stands as is: You are free to come and go, you are free to buy, sell, trade, do some drugs, whatever. Hell, sell your body on the streets for all I care. But no fleet." She said, holtering her pistol on the thigh-holster and crossing her arms over her chest.

It didn't take long for someone to hear the message, after-all it was practically broadcast for the universe to hear.

Navigating to the Onyx galaxy was no small chore, but the finely attuned Bifrost drive of the Keeper of Abassid enabled a trek that would have been perilous, to be rather simple.

Half an AU beyond what was once a graveyard, a massive multicolored portal belched open, powerful energies swirling around like an angry vortex, a vortex that belched fourth a small task force of roughly a dozen warships, the markings of the United Aschen Empire prominently displayed on their hulls.

Their mission was simple, investigate the origin of the transmissions, and report back to Fleet Command.

Newly promoted Admiral Clegg stood silently inside the CIC of his Command Carrier, Wide-spectrum sensors tracking the movement of what appeared to be an unidentified fleet, along with ruins, and a large space station.

Clegg silently turned to his communications officer.

"Anything?"

The officer shook his head.

Clegg slowly nodded, turning his attention to his Executive officer next.

"Get a squadron of Raptor Talons, and an Assault Condor prepped, with a Marine strike team in five minutes."

--

As the portal snapped shut, the Keeper of Abassid was accompanied by five Hastati class cruisers, a dozen Picon class frigates, three Athena class missile cruisers, and four Aegis point defense cruisers, along with a single Iconoclast class Battleship.

It was not a fleet designed to make war, or launch any sort of sizeable offensive, rather the accompanying ships were tasked with providing escort for the larger Command Carrier.

Settling into a Phalanx position, the Aschen task group remained silent, and still.

Sensors blazed and River darted her eyes to them. Aschen. Interesting. Didn't think they'd care enough to come to another galaxy in Neutral Space to care. And a single Ship, carrying a Merc ready to buy and sell goods. Shrugging, she cut off the feed to the Sith Ships and moved to respond to Russian in his ship.

"Welcome, Russian. You are cleared for docking in Hangar-Bay Nine. Maps are posted on the walls in holo-screens to help you find your way around. Enjoy your stay, and remember the rule: Don't fuck with River." was all she said before moving to patch herself in to the Aschen comm-network.

"Welcome, Aschen, to Jarrako Downs, I hope you're here for either scouting or business. I won't tolerate Violence towards my Space Station. I will extend to you the same offer I will extend to everyone else who comes with a fleet: You are individually welcome to stay here, and do what you please, but your fleet must go outside of my Neutral Space. I will not be associated with any creed, Empire, religion, etc." she said to their commander. "Otherwise, enjoy your stay, and remember our one Rule: Don't fuck with River." she said before ending her side of the transmission and waiting for replies.

"Very Well my fleet will depart as soon as my shuttle and escort have safely landed...I am sending you the link to my personal comm so you may relay docking information and so we may speak in private" answered Rayia

Rayia then turned to her crew " Ok as soon as I land take the fleet to the nearest unoccupied system keep ready to answer my call should anything come up"

Rayia turned and left the bridge heading towards the hanger where her shuttle and personal guard would be waiting.