Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:29 am by William Reign
*Admiral Hunt watches the wreckage of dozens of mighty warships rain down upon the island of Mariunhus, and with it he sees all dreams of hope for the Dark Jedi Order burn, shattered into as many pieces as the flaming wreckage that now proliferates the skies. Not only was his master dead, but all the great leaders who he had respected; great leaders whom he had fought with and served. And now word reached him that Admirals Kil'ra and Cage were dead also; two titans of naval battle who, with Hunt, and reigned over the forces of the Order and helped forge them into one of the most potent militaries in the galaxy. He had hoped to preserve Reign's legacy by continuing to serve here, but now he saw the folly of his ways. With all the others gone, he was about the only thing keeping it alive. But he was too old and cynical now to try keeping alive something even his master had given up on.
Seated in his command chair aboard the bridge of the 'Praetor', Hunts orders an encrypted channel opened between all ships of the Praetorian Battlegroup, as well as the Defence Platform "Vidar" and those ground stations known to be totally loyal to him.*
:: Attention all loyal sons and daughters of the Praetorian Heritage. You have one hour to make it aboard a fleet vessel, or you sever ties with us forever. Your time starts now ::
*The hour passes quickly, with hundreds boarding from all over the planet. Many are Epicanthix or Togorian, but others hail from Agamar or Thyferra; all those who hold the Praetorian bond and the House of Reign dear to them. And as the hour ends, the fleet sits in orbit above Mariunhus, still giving no outward intention as to the activity or purpose. All still appeared as it had hours before. And yet much had happened, and more besides was coming. Hunt opens a closed channel, encrypted so only Battelgroup ships could hear it*
:: Praetorians, the Dark Jedi Order is dead, and the time has come for us to sever all ties with this planet, and return from whence we came. But first, I believe our late lord would require we suitably mark his grave. So, in tribute to the Sage, be prepared to fire on the Villa Obscurum on my mark. But first, you shall be receiving hyperspace coordinates presently. Plot your courses and prepare your shields; when we leave, we shall be leaving quickly ::
*After giving them all a few minutes, Hunt continues*
:: Praetor, Ares, target Villa Obscurum. Achilles, target PTL Installation One. Hector, target PTL Installation Two. Broadsides, be prepared to fire full diamond-boron missile barrage to cover our retreat if necessary. All ships, on my command............FIRE! ::
*As dozens of heavy turbolaser beams blossom from the two Pellaeon-class Star Destroyers and arch down untowards the Villa far far below, more arc out from the Victory II-class Star Destroyers to target the W-165 Planetary Turbolaser Installations on Mariunhus and on the mainland. After a good sixty seconds of all-out fire, the turbolasers cut off and all the ships begin to move towards a hyperspace vector, well in advance of possible contact by any ships that were not already close by in orbit. Meanwhile down below, the streets would be running red with molten duracrete and the screams of the innocent would echo through the force forever*