Conquest of Capricia: Part III - The Marzullo Connection - The Battlegrounds - Forums

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1 10:32am 06/01/02

Kneel Before Zod!

<font color="yellow"> History....

 Five years ago, the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the planet of Capricia. Their attack was so devestating that Capricia lost it's fleet, it's government, and it's chance at victory.

In that moment of dispair, with nothing left to gain and everything to lose, the people of Capricia were given to monumentous acts of heroism, bravery, courage as well as a fanatical recklessness. Everything they had was thrown against the Yuuzhan Vong and their Chazrach warriors... men, women and yes, even children. The emotional and mental savagry of the Capricians surprised the Yuuzhan Vong Master Shaper, Tallien Yzan, into reevaluating their conquest of the planet.

As a result, the invaders, quite inexplicably to the Caprician mind, left. With a fifth of the entire planet's population dead and everything in ashes, the individual Houses strived for positions of power plunging the planet into a Civil War that lasted for another two years. The Clans left Capricia during this time (known as the Exodus) to reorganize and strengthen...away from the Caprician conflict as well as the conflicts of other factions of the day. Following the Civil War, the Clans returned to claim their rightful place and position in Capricia, as it's shapers. Since then, the planet has existed in a state of military buildup and martial law... always paranoid..always worried...always with the fear that the invaders may return.

Now, they have.

 The story so far....

Caprician System
Brin -  secret clan retreat
Capricia -  Regency Capital
Tirus -  major colony
Providence -  major colony
Kendra -  gas giant
Minos -  mining colony

The shadow has been cast over the Caprician System. In response to the mining colony Minos' capture, The Regent sends a fleet to investigate and, if possible, liberate the tiny planet. Adalric Cronus, of the Imperial Syndicate, led the fleet into an ambush laid by the Yuuzhan Vong resulting in heavy losses. Adalric's forces have been presumed lost by the Regency Command, a heavy blow to the moral and Capricia's first military defeat in the alien conquest.

During this time, Yuuzhan Vong spies plant a virus (called the "Leveller of Empires" by some unknown scientists) that takes root on the colony of Tirus. The effects begin to destroy the colony.

What is left of the Caprician Fleet is split to protect the remaining colonies. Tyscio Zier, leader of Clan Tyscio leads the main fleet to Tirus where he confronts the Yuuzhan Vong virus, losing several landing parties. The Caprician Star Destroyer  Judicator carries troops and arms to the colony of Providence their forces headed by Jedi Master Leia Organa Solo of the New Republic. With Providence's and Kendra's orbit changing, Organa finds herself cut off from the rest of the system.

Things are not right with the Vinda Corporation's losses near the Caprician System. Seth Vinda, CEO of Vinda Corporation heads a task force to aid the suffering Capricians. His fleet with himself, a bounty hunter named Mattimus, and Miles Johnson, a Vinda Corp. employee exit hyperspace into a trap laid by the Yuuzhan Vong. In an effort to aid Scipio Arien, leader of Clan Scipio, Achinta Vega, Mr. Vinda's personal assistant, and C4, a Sith bounty hunter, exit hyperspace near Minos and are thrown into the fray as Adalric's shredded command tries to rally.

House Parliament Member, Jorrum Gerrard's plans are still in motion as his Caprician Ambassador to the New Republic prepares to stand before the Council and plead their case. The small taskforce fears there will be nothing to return home too if more time is lost.

Herridian Wye, leader of Clan Herridian, returns from his exploratory mission only to find his homeworld up in arms and the Regency Command in fear of having the Yuuzhan Vong viral horrors visited upon their planet.

The Yuuzhan Vong intiative is cemented with Tallien's revelation to Tslah Vhess, War Coordinator, of a special genetic ability inherent with Capricians. One that could thwart their efforts at galactic conquest and the will of Yun Yuuzhan forever. It was an ability that manifested itself during the last battle of the first invasion..and was the reason for their departure.

The invaders are torn between their careful, methodically planned genocide and the fear that the Capricians would soon learn of their own genetic makeup thus formulating a response to the Yuuzhan Vong aggression. A response that they may not be able to counter.

Fear wins out and the decision is to strike!

Providence prepares for the inevitable assault, Tirus provides a glimpse to how far the Yuuzhan Vong are willing to go, and Capricia dares to play a gamble.

..for within the archives of Brin rest the fragmented accounts of a legendary empire. An empire that made the galaxy of the day shudder. An empire that, inexplicably, disappeared several years ago from the galactic scene, never to be seen or heard from again. It was said to have fallen to the "Leveller of Empires".... spurring on the search for a weapon, a tactic, something that might aid in Capricia finding a way to combat the vicious pathogen created by the invaders.

..and so the hunt is on, starting from the fragmented accounts of Elrood's fall, hoping to find a trace to a planet lost to history, the very heart of the once mighty Marzullo Empire...

Cuzzko

The stage is set, as Capricia banks not only their hope but possibly the hope of the entire galaxy on the recorded exploits of one ambitious man.

Itala Marzullo.

Our story begins here...</font>

Omnae

2 1:46am 08/01/02

Kneel Before Zod!

"The future is always in motion, young Korban." the aging man lets a grin show and for one brief glimpse Tyscio sees the man at a younger age.

We are all children in grown up bodies....

"At least, that is what a Jedi Master would say.  I say, that the future can be slowed, possibly captured, if you know what you want."

The grin falters...

"But, alas, no one truly knows what they want anymore. Our lives are so short, sometimes one needs to try very hard to make an imprint on the tapestry we call life."

"Capricia never made an imprint, did it teacher?" young Korban suddenly asked.

The aging man suddenly turned toward the boy in surprise. "Now where did that connection come from?"

"But it's true! The Sepan Sector came under the control of the Empire....before that, the Old Republic..."

The teacher laughed softly...

"There is history and then, there is history Tsycio."

"What do you mean?"

"Young man, you've still much to learn and we enter subjects not appropriate. When you are older..."

The old man put his hand on Tyscio's shoulder," ... you will see the tapestry Capricia made once... a long time ago."

...a long time ago..

... a long time ago..

Tyscio Korban snapped back to the present as the light began to split and break off...

 How long? he thought in sudden panic.

He turned to see the grim faces of the soldiers in the trenches, and realized the thermal conductors in his body armor were turned high.

"Better turn that down, Sir." volunteered a nearby soldier.. "The damn thing can get you drowsy."

Tyscio fumbled with the controls as a chanting was suddenly heard... being carried by the chill of the wind.

"Aye, Sir. That's been going on in intervals for several minutes now."

Leia was not in sight and he turned toward the middle structures the people of Providence errected. The roofs were low to avoid much notice...

and the ground was turning white.

"Picked a hell of a time to come," muttered a nearby colonist.

"What about the  Judicator?" Korban suddenly asked.

"Haven't heard from it in a while, or so the rumor goes.. don't know for sure."

"Sir!.. there's... there's something moving!"

"Get into the bloody trench!!" came another shout toward Tyscio and he jumped in and heard the belated, "Sir".

The chanting grew louder.

"Incoming Ladies!" shouted a gruff Seargent, and Tyscio tore his eyes from the moving shadows in front of him to see a ball of plasma strike the line a ways down.

The plasma lit up the sky momentarily and for a split second the shadows were revealed. Lines of Chazrach warriors were seen and when they became visible they let out a rather loud yell and started running forward.

"Looks like your  Judicator is otherwise occupied." another colonist muttered when the general order went out.

"North wall! Their charging the North wall..."

 The trenches I am in... figures..

"All batteries fire!"

Tyscio unslung his rifle blaster and hefted it up to his shoulder, the wind biting against his cheeks as he suddenly pulled the trigger at the oncoming shadows.

The kick of the rifle surprised him and he held on tighter and fired again.

 Rookie mistake, his mind chided.  You are going to be sore tomorrow..

I just want to live to see tomorrow!! he retorted to his mind.

*

Mathias moved toward Leia.

"My lady, the North Wall has come under attack. Nothing seems to be attacking the Agriculture or Power areas or our rear wall.

They must think us weak in that long stretch of trench and that the line will break."

Leia Organa Solo

3 5:11am 08/01/02

Jedi Master

While Tyscio Korban had been taking a short nap, the light traces that had been spotted earlier had been tracked as they met the surface and began to disgorge huge masses of inidentifiable objects, presumably Yuzzhan Vong troops....

Now the ground and the structures around Leia Organa Solo trembled as another Yuzzhan Vong plasma ball smacked into the Northern defense line.

Beside her a grim Mathias shielded his eyes as more dirt and debris rained down on them.

"We need to watch out for flanking forces, I'll bet anything they're trying to draw all of our defenses to the North so that they can march in relatively unimpeded from the rear". Leia frowned, and fingered the lightsaber hanging at her side.

 I should be up there with the front lines, not back here...

Mathias nodded. "That is a very likely possibility."

A larger chunk of debris thunked off of Leia's helmet by chance, startling her. She watched it hit the ground and make a crater in the piling snow.

"We're only a small ways back from the front lines, I can be up there in less than five minutes from now, the troop transports are ready to move out now. I can do a lot more there than here."

Mathias looked perplexed, but that expression turned into one of understanding, and he nodded. "Stay in contact, we'll keep you updated."

She nodded thanks and farewell, then retrieved her heavy blaster rifle from a nearby supply crate it had been leaning against. The transports were just starting to crawl forward, so she hopped into the nearest one, and with that was sped off to the front lines.

The front lines were already hell, the plasma balls had wreaked havoc on the back ranks of the trenches. Leia's transport had to stop far back, and en masse she and the other soldiers piled out and rushed forward bent low, diving into the trenches as quickly as they could, for odd projectile things where whizzing in from all directions.

Leia landed next to a gruff Seargent shouting orders on her right.

"Reserve reinforcements are here, Seargent! I can't guarantee there will be more." Leia had to yell to be heard over the din of the battle, and as the Seargent slapped the shoulderplate of her armor in acknowledgement, she nestled her rifle against her shoulder and began pouring fire into the looming black mass of enemy troops.

For Leia the transition from the more organized Command lines at a safe distance behind the trenches to the chaotic rage of the front lines took only 5 minutes, but she had expected what she had been presented with, and she was able to make the millionth mental transition of the day smoothly.

 Like old times.... though I can't say I'm glad there's a connection

The front lines of the enemy were falling steadily under the unrepenting Caprician blasterfire, but the spaces vacated by the fallen only filled with even more living. And the defense was starting to take losses as well.....

Herridian Wye

4 5:51am 08/01/02

Approached By The Union

Elrood

The Caprician cruiser  Avatar settled into orbit around the dead world of Elrood and Herridian's soldier's escorted him to the surface as the shuttle moved quickly enough over terrain that had once been home to a base of the Marzullo Empire.

"Looks like they tried to build three shield generators.." a soldier commented, pointing to the half finished construction. The Marzullo maroon color was seen in different spots, as if as hastily as construction was going on, so it was abandoned.

"Set us down over there." Herridian ordered.

The Caprician shuttle setted down near an ATAT laying on it's side.

"What the bloody blazes happened here?" a soldier asked.

"Remember our mission," Herridian ordered. "Lieutenant? See if you can bring the base's main computer online. Seargent, get the slicer ready to do his thing."

"Look, sir! Jedi!"

Herridian moved to a crumbled outer wall set a distance back from the main base construction and saw the Jedi religious icons carved on it's outside.

"Perhaps the Jedi stopped them here?" a scientist offered, taking holographic recordings.

"I don't think so... but our knowledge of this area is fragmented. Let's see if we can identify any more Jedi structures before we get too excited."

GomorranKay

5 5:57am 08/01/02

Approached By The Union

Capricia

 Tracking Station #4 identified unknown objects exiting hyperspace in extreme scanner range. Tracking Station #4 was subsequently destroyed by invader fighter craft.

Regency Command went on high alert.

Omnae

6 6:20am 08/01/02

Kneel Before Zod!

Clannus Prime! How many of these uglies are there?

Tyscio thought as dirt rained down on his spot in the trench. The dirt was hardened by the cold that even small debris hurt.

"What the hell???" shoute a soldier as a Yuuzhan Vong warrior fell to his rifle blast only to get up and continue charging.

Tyscio turned his rifle to that warrior and fired, knoocking the charging alien on his back. It didn't move.

"My .. my rifle's frozen!!!" shouted another soldier to Tyscio's left and a comrade ran toward him, tossing him a rifle taken from a dead soldier's hands.

The plasma blasts were coming from somewhere deep behind the alien masses.

"We're being chewed to bits .." he hissed through clenched teeth.

The Chazrach and Yuuzhan Vong warriors moved quickly, almost too quickly.

 there's nothing there... his mind told him as he tried to use his force ability to stretch his awareness.

All he found were voids of nothingness.

Closer the enemy warriors got, their charging yells getting ever louder and suddenly, they were on top of the defenders.

Tyscio fell backwards against the opposite wall of the trench narrowly missing the bug that was thrown at him ("Thud Bugs" as a nearby soldier called them).

His finger held the trigger and the alien's head exploded spreading it's insides all over Tyscio.

Before he could even think, another alien warrior jumped into the trench and swung a small living blade at his chest.

The body armor deflected it though Korban still felt the impact and he rolled out of the way as another soldier's rifle blast lanced over Tyscio (on his back) striking the alien square in the chest.

The warrior staggered back but steadied himself. He never was given the chance to move forward again as Tyscio brought his own rifle up firing, knocking the armor creature clean off and blasting a hole into the alien's chest.

Tyscio quickly stood up and brought his rifle to bear once more on the charging figures and continued firing.

The small numbers of alien warriors that pushed past Tyscio's position were taken down by the trench line behind them.

The plasma shots seemed to be narrowing in on that second trench line.

 They seem confident that they can penetrate the first line.., he thought in the brief seconds it took to fire a blaster rifle.

Leia Organa Solo

7 12:35am 09/01/02

Jedi Master

The alien warriors had reached Leia's line of trenches now. She was in the second line of trenches, with plenty more behind her, but the enemy's rate of progress was astounding.

They had just gotten pounded with plasma globs, and now the plasma fire moved back one more trench line to number 3 as the warriors advanced in to fight the remnants of the trench.

Leia was mechanically aiming and pulling the trigger at any head she could find. Targets seemed easily identifiable by their, well, ugliness. She had learned with only a few wasted chest shots that the armor the enemy bore could not be penetrated with a normal blaster. Her mind had already changed from why the enemies were not falling with direct hits, to another impending problem.

She could not feel these... species... through the Force.

A Yuzzhan Vong had crept up on Leia from one side while she was occupied taking out a warrior in the opposite direction, she had not detected his approach. On pure instinct she whipped around and slashed into the warrior's throat with the short blade mounted on the muzzle of her blaster. His blood rained down on her like a revolting warm rain.

Leia barely took notice of the fact that she was being covered in thick, black blood instead of the assumed red before she had to dive out of the way of the corpse as it collapsed into the trench. Leia landed hard on her stomach, and scrambled away as a living Vong landed in the trench next to her. That one was not living for much longer, two soldiers attacked him from behind before he could even regain his bearings, and one stabbed a knife into the back of his neck.

Somewhere during that scramble Leia had lost hold of her unweildy blaster rifle, so she clambered out of the trench and crouched down, lightsaber now in hand. A Yuzzhan Vong with another one of those hissing staff things took Leia for unarmed, and he swung at her neck. But she ignited her saber, and a brilliant green shaft of light suddenly flashed into existence, bringing the slash to an abrupt halt.

The Yuzzhan Vong was caught off guard, not to mention surprised by the green shaft of light that had appeared out of nowhere to intercept his killing blow, and he backpedaled furiously. But Leia had also been caught off guard and was unable to follow through with her move: she had expected the blade to slash through the staff, and it hadn't.

Leia spun around and swung her blade into an unsuspecting Vong's chest. But the blade did not penetrate the armor and instead stopped dead, jarring her horribly. She backpedaled, barely dodging a responding slash from the Vong. She caught another blow with her saber and flung it aside. This warrior wasn't sure what to think of her saber either, and did not learn of it's extreme lethalness until her blade found his throat and smoothly decapitated him.

A Chazrach was in her sights now, and her saber was already coming around to slash at it.

 Who, what, are these....things?

Tyscio Zier

8 3:46am 09/01/02

Jedi Master

Tirus

“Sir, I need help!” the man in white started without preamble as Tyscio Zier watched the man’s holographic figure appear.

“Doctor, calm yourself. We are sending as much personnel and equipment as we can spare.” A sudden look of concern appeared on the Tyscio clan leader’s features. “The Quarantine hasn’t been broken has it?”

The doctor’s shoulders sagged a bit but then he blew out a sigh, “No.. thank the Maker! The entire colony has been infected, and the first are beginning to die. Sir, it’s.. it’s not pretty...and deadly fast.” the doctor turned to an aide off the holonet projector and brought a report back into view. “This bug is damned fast...”

“The last transmission burst from Capricia indicated that this was the same bug to wipe out the Marzullo Empire.”

“Who?” the doctor asked rather fatigued.

Zier waved his former statement away, “It doesn’t matter. Basically, we are to continue doing what we can, if not cure it then hold it at bay as best we can and hope that Herridian pulls a surprise out of his hat.”

“Pray?” the doctor suddenly remarked.

“Don’t turn Jedi on me, too!” Tyscio snapped.

The doctor laughed gruffly and nodded. “We will do our best but remember, we are working with the best the colony has to offer and that is nothing compared to the facilities aboard the  Tribune.”

Zier accepted the mild rebuke yet said, “The Fleet is off limits to anyone who’s been to the planet. Personnel needs to be carefully considered before simply sending people down.
We may find ourselves in the midst of battle by the next hour.”

The doctor grimaced but simply nodded again, “We’ll make do with what we can.” he said almost helplessly.

Zier relented. “I am having a sister ship’s medical facilities gutted and sent down to you as quickly as I can...”

The man in white instantly brightened, “Thank you so much Sir!" he said, meaning it, "You’ve no idea how that will lift our spirits!”

Tyscio grinned in spite of himself.

“Take care doctor.”

“To us all, Tirus out.”

Tyscio Zier swivelled around in the bridge’s command chair to see the mighty Caprician Fleet simply drifting in orbit around the planet, impotent.

 Damn! I haven’t felt this useless since.... Well, since the first invasion.

“Sir! Transmissions coming in. Capricia and the  Judicator ”

“Put on the  Judicator.” Zier ordered briskly.

An audio burst suddenly filled the bridge, “ Tribune, this is  Judicator, Tyscio Zier, we have sent this communication’s burst in the hopes that it will be beyond the gravity of Providence’s and Kendra’s orbit change before it releases the transmission.

Enemy ships have been spotted on extreme sensor range and we expect an attack at any time. Reinforcements would be appreciated.”

Tyscio was already issuing commands to have the fleet break orbit.

“Put Capricia on..”

“Tyscio Zier, this is Borianus Capal.”

“Borianus?” Zier murmured.

“The invaders are here! Came out of hyperspace in orbit! In orbit!!!” the man was nearly in hysterics and Zier felt a dread coming upon him.

“Haven’t been able to reach Regency Command but damn.. all communications with Antioch are out! The Fleet has moved behind Capricia... Great Clannus knows why...

Antioch is being pounded into dust! The Fleet is running silent and we’d assume they were destroyed if not for our observatories watching ----” the transmission garbled instantly.

Tyscio Zier’s mind was going through his own theories when another signal was picked up...from Antioch, riding on the ends of Borianus’ transmission. It was audio...and all it said was:

“Apocalypse Protocols Engaged”

and suddenly telemetry data was being forwarded to the  Tribune’s navigation and defense computers. Telemetry of the invader’s in orbit.

“Gomorran..” Tyscio whispered as the numbers began to scroll down.

“Belay Providence orders... Prepare to leave for Capricia. Have the crew’s hurry with the medical facility we are sending planetside. I want it off that ship now!” he shouted and the fleet went on battle alert.

 If that bug is being used on Capricia... Herridian better come through...and fast.

He briefly thought of Providence and the  Judicator.

 Korban’s Jedi is in a world of hurt right now.. as he looked at the time log of  Judicator’s transmission.  Two hours ago!

 May the Force be with them...

..and with little protest from Tirus, Tyscio’s fleet entered hyperspace...

Death Toll on Tirus: 34,593

GomorranKay

9 3:55am 09/01/02

Jedi Master

Corellia, Chamber of the High Council

The acting Caprician Ambassador to the New Republic stood at the center of the floor, and gazed out at his audience. The New Republic's Council, save for Leia Organa Solo, stared back at the speaker, silently listening to the visitor's impassioned plea.

He spoke of the suffering that his people endured during the first invasion, their struggle to rebuild all that they had lost, and the fear of having the horrors visited upon them again.

"Honorable members of the Council, Honorable Jedi Knights. I come to you, not as a political leader, but as a fellow being. I am here, not to draw your great Republic into a conflict for you have your own people to look after. However, I must move quickly for I am eager to return and join my people in the fight for our freedom, yes, for our very lives.

Honorable Council members, I ask only for needed medical supplies, rations, prefabricated military structures, small arms and munitions as well as clothing. I am going directly to you for these items for the simple reason that time is an issue. Most governments hold these items in bulk and storage
making their transport fairly convenient. Please know that we are not looking for charity and I am prepared to pay handsomely for these items.

With me is the signature of one of your own. Ms. Leia Skywalker has been kind enough, courageous enough to brave the conflict that is brought to our world. She too recognized the desperate need we have. It was her direction and instructions that led us to your august body. So, now, I ask: please, help us."

The speaker lowered his head and moved to his predesignated spot next to the personal aid of Jorrum Gerrard, Caprician Parliament Member. Jorrum watched the private proceedings from his vessel in orbit with interest.

 A moving speech. I just hope it moves the Council to act.

He had stayed aboard to select alternate actions in case of the New Republic turned them down.

 What happened if we returned empty handed?

He could tell that the crews of the transports were anxious about their families back home. Transmissions had stopped completely, which was normal during an invasion situation but that fact brought absolutely no comfort.

 What if we return and everybody is dead?

Suddenly, the task he was on seemed to diminish in value, but he quickly put those negative thoughts aside.

There was, after all, a war on.

Scipio Arien

10 3:57am 09/01/02

Commonwealth Ambassador

Minos vicinity... Blaze of Glory

The mighty Super Star Destroyer floated aimlessly away from the battle as the Imperial Syndicate's crew struggled valliantly to restore power.

 At least they've stopped shooting at us., Scipio Arien thought to herself as she moved down another corridor to test the wiring there.  I wonder why?

The planet Minos was already covered by the nebula-like mist that had come from the damaged Yuuzhan Vong ships.

 Where the hell are they?

and suddenly, she turned cold as tiny, bright flashes of light came into view through a mainentance port with the rotating of the ship.

 The fight still goes on...

"Hydrospanner," she called out, as she moved her narrow body through an opening to investigate the paneling.

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