Combat Master’s Note: Because you are matches against a member of your Clan, this battle takes on a unique format. You will be encountering Synin Torin with an ally. Treat Synin Torin as you would any other ACC opponent. You WILL be judged using the ACC rubric, so the person posting the best story will move on to subsequent rounds. If you wish to fight your Clanmate as well, you may, but this is not in any way a requirement.

Begeren. Once a prosperous Sith world, it has been the site of numerous battles throughout the millennia. Grand halls and monuments were torn down and re-purposed by looting Republic forces thousands of years ago, before they were driven from the planet. Isolated settlements still dot the planet's surface, but the inhospitable, craggy, and desert-like terrain, along with the beasts common to many desert and Sith worlds, have kept most humanoids from colonizing. Occasional skirmishes have left debris scattered throughout the desert, and battles were fought here as recently as the Galactic Civil War. The planet is now under the control of the One Sith and is rumored to be full of all manner of priceless, ancient Sith artifacts.

Begeren’s plunder has been rich, and the Clans and Houses have been bolstered, both by the favor they are currying with the Grand Master, and with their own triumphs against rivals. More fighting seems to have occurred between the Clans and Houses than against the One Sith, and the stream of priceless artifacts has slowed to a trickle as of late. The invasion of Begeren has now entered a wholly different phase, and though the end goal of capturing the world’s precious secrets remains the same, the methods of achieving it have changed. At least for now. The Dark Council has identified several settlements and key military objectives to seize, both for use as staging grounds, and to quell any revolts against Brotherhood authority before they begin. It has fallen to the Clans and Houses to seize these objectives, with large accolades and bounties to those willing to undertake dangerous missions, alone, into hostile territory. Despite the recent inter-clan aggressions, the Dark Council has made it clear that the bounties for taking objectives cannot be shared between units.

One such objective, a V-150 Planet Defender ion cannon, lies nestled in one of Begeren’s northern mountain ranges. The inhospitable and semi-arid region is known for its relatively cooler temperatures compared to the rest of the planet, and is home to one of the only active spaceports on Begeren. Though most of the region is patrolled by local militias, a sizable One Sith presence is thought to be in the area. An enormous feminine stone face, carved into the side of a towering cliff side, overlooks both the ion cannon and the neighboring spaceport, paying homage to a long-dead female Sith Lord.

You and an ally stand in a massive scree field beneath the adorned cliff side. The dark side is almost palpable here beneath the monument, but your true goal is the installation and the massive ion cannon immediately to your west. The installation is lightly guarded, and can be accessed by a natural, mountainous tunnel entrance. The entrance is well-lit and quite large for a tunnel access shaft, big enough for the heavy machinery needed to construct and maintain the massive ion cannon. The tunnel itself splits a few hundred yards in, leading to two separate objectives.

There are two main objectives: the fire control and targeting room, and the main power generators. Intelligence reports indicate that the fire control and targeting room is manned by two gunners and two-to-three militiamen from the local settlement. Intelligence also reports a light contingent of three guards and a slew of power droids around the power generators. Finally, there is a One Sith engineer thought to be working in the installation on some kind of upgrade, and he is likely to interfere with your mission. Which objective you choose depends, in part, on whether you wish to take or destroy the ion cannon. A barracks is not far from the ion cannon, and it’s possible that the One Sith could be lurking closeby should you arouse suspicion.

You and your ally cautiously enter the tunnels, unsure what exactly awaits you beneath the giant stone monument.

"And you're sure this is going to work?" Teylas asked, his gaze looking upward to the tunnel entrance.

"Of course. It is your plan after all," Selika replied.

"Based on information you provided about your former associates," he reminded her.

"Trust me," Selika reassured him, "Torin is a tinker, not a fighter. The bug worked with him on several occasions, even more often than I. He shares my opinion of the man."

Selika knew that Ramar was loathe to rely on Kz'set, his rival for ascendancy in Plagueis. In this case, however, he would have to defer to the Verpine's judgement. And, of course, her own.

"Then let's get on with this," Teylas ordered.

Selika pushed out her senses to survey the area as Quaestor and subordinate made their way into the tunnel. The chaotic well of Force energy that was Synin Torin was located in the installation's command center. The various other personnel were clustered in fire control and around the massive power generators feeding the ion cannon.

"It doesn't look like there are any patrols," Selika reported. "That seems strange…"

"Most likely there are passive sensors or active automated defenses," Teylas said, focusing his own weaker Force sense farther down the passage in front of them.

"There," Selika said, indicating a point on the ceiling several yards ahead. "A sensor unit."

Selika smiled inwardly as Teylas scowled, knowing that her own ability to feel through the Force was superior to the Anzat's. She walked forward until she was standing directly under the sensor, more than close enough to trigger it. Selika felt the subtle change of those in the command center, alertness replacing casual interest in their assigned tasks.

"It looks like three of the command center staff are heading this way," Selika said, moving to lean casually against the tunnel wall.

A few minutes later, three men dressed in the tan fatigues that marked them as members of the local militia appeared, making their way cautiously down the tunnel. They moved slowly, rifles aimed at the two intruders.

"Halt and identify," the point man intoned.

"We must speak with Lord Torin," Teylas responded.

"Identify yourself," the guard demanded, more forcefully this time.

"You will take us to Torin now," Selika said casually, slipping her way into his mind, leaving him with the impression that they were a pair of his One Sith overlords.

"Yes, my lord," the man complied.

"You serve your master well," she continued.

The man nodded curtly as all three guards moved to escort them further into the compound. Passing by a fork that lead to the power station, the group continued on towards the chamber that served to control the orbital defense weapon. Upon entering the control center Selika smiled as she saw Torin and his three ever-present droids.

"What is the meaning of this, lieutenant?" the Bpfasshi Sith demanded, turning to face the new arrivals. Then his gaze found Selika and his eyebrows rose in surprise. "Roh? Didn't you defect? I'm quite certain I heard something about that…"

Torin's YVH-1 droid companion moved to his master's side. "That would be correct, master. On date six-point-one-three-point-nine-four Selika Roh left the service of the One Sith to join the Dark Jedi Brotherhood."

"Of course, of course," he said, somewhat distractedly. His eyes snapped back into focus suddenly, his shifting attention a sign of the madness that ruled him. "So why are you here, now? Some misguided attempt to destroy me? Or worse, my droids?"

Selika carefully studied the Sith Lord as his eyes darted to each of his three droid companions in turn.

Still the same old Torin, she mused.

"No, my lord. I've come to bring you a prize," Selika explained.

Then, before anyone could react, Selika lashed out at her companion with the Force. The telekinetic blow slammed down on Teylas's back, driving him forward to fall face first to the ground. Selika spread her hands out from her sides, palm upwards.

"The leader of one of the Plagueian houses," Selika said.

"Oh, how grand!" Torin exclaimed gleefully. "It's not every day that someone brings me a new plaything."

It was obvious that as much as Torin was focused on his new prisoner, forgetting any of Selika's past transgressions, his YVH-1 was not. The droid's cold photoreceptors were still locked on Selika, its body language showing suspicion.

"Master, I think we should take Roh to the barracks facility until a retrieval shuttle can be dispatched," the droid suggested, clearly wanting to keep eyes on her.

"Yes, yes," Torin replied absentmindedly as he moved to stand over Teylas. "Guards, escort her."

As Selika turned to leave, she heard the YVH-1 speak again. "Perhaps I should accompany her."

"Surely, my lord, your courier droid could serve as my guide," Selika said turning back. "I know how you're loathe to be separated from your companion." With the last, the Krath allowed a hint of pout into both her face and voice.

"I will accompany her," the droid said, more forcefully this time.

Torin looked up from where he was leaning over Teylas, his gaze showing confusion. "What?" Then, once again, his manner changed. "Oh, yes. Of course you will."

Some things never change, Selika thought, amused the droid was still making the decisions.

The droid took up a place beside her. Two of the guards led the way while the third brought up the rear.

They walked in silence for a few minutes before the droid's voice broke the stillness. "Why is it you have returned, Selika Roh?"

Selika shifted her gaze to the approaching side passage that led to the power generators, then back to the droid's face.

"I haven't," she scoffed, calling on the Force once again.

Grasping the droid in a steely Force grip, she ripped it from its feet. Using the droid as a bludgeon, she smashed it into the trailing guard's body, crushing the man between an irresistible metal force and the immovable stone wall of the tunnel.

Teylas laid on the ground listening to what was going on around him, reaching out with the Force as a feeler. He could hear the interrogation droid he saw in the corner when they first entered the room. It was close.

Sensing it was hovering right above him, not far from Torin, he opened an eye to be sure. With his Force-fueled reflexes he pushed off the ground with his hands and leapt feet first above the interrogation droid. Through the air Teylas withdrew his lightsaber, placing it firmly through the interrogation droid, slicing it in half.

Turning back to Torin, a man clearly mad in his own thoughts, Teylas mocked, "Don't you have another one of those droids that is in need of destroying?"

Torin snarled at the Anzat, but his ASN-121 droid was already beginning its work. Coming up behind Teylas it took a few pot shots at the back of his head. The bolts, deflected with a few well placed swipes behind him, struck the ground with scorching impact.

Teylas turned his attention back to Torin, only to see the One Sith crouching and staring at the ground, muttering some unintelligible words into his chest. Torin, however, was far from the primary threat as his remaining ASN-121 droid swooped in towards Teylas firing blaster shots, Teylas barely able to deflect them in time as the droid flew right past him and made a sharp turn back towards him.

As it began its next pass towards Teylas, he could see what appeared to be flames from the tip of one of the droids small weapons ports. As the ASN droid flew even a bit closer to Teylas he reached his hand out, fingers stretched apart, and grabbed a hold of the droid with the Force. Clenching his fingers together into a fist he pulled it down, similarly forcing the droid to the ground.

The Anzat walked over the droid, clearly trying to get back into the air as he held it to the ground with the Force. Putting his foot on top of it, he used his free hand to force his lightsaber through the center of the droid, silencing its attempts to regain its position in the air.

Twirling around with his lightsaber at his side, Teylas looked at Torin with the determined resolve.

"One Sith… what do you have to say for yourself? I destroyed your creations. Perhaps you should've spent your time tinkering with machines of great power as I do," Teylas said referring to his own expertise in the engineering fields, specifically in engine design for ships of many sizes.

"It was your mistake… and it will result in your death…" the Bpfasshi responded as he pulled his lightsaber from underneath his greased stained robes. With his droids gone, and Teylas before him, the enraged Torin made his move by lashing out at the Anzat with the full force of his lightsaber. The two with their lightsabers locked together began exchanging blows back and forth with a fury.

As the dead guard dropped to the floor, Selika rolled backwards between the remaining two. Igniting her saber, she slashed it upward through the torso of the guard to her right. It cut through his armor and flesh with ease, diagonally bisecting his body from hip to shoulder. With her free left hand she reached toward the remaining guard and enveloped him within a Force grasp. Even as Torin's YVH-1 brought his weapon to bear, Selika was already jerking the guard into position between them. The stream of blaster bolts fired from its wrist mounted weapon tore into the guard's body, leaving his chest a blackened, smoking ruin.

"You should not have come back, Selika Roh," the droid chastised her. "I possess superior combat programing and have been touched by the dark side."

Only Selika's Force sense allowed her to perceive the flash of danger presaging a change in the droid's tactics. Her hold on the guard's corpse evaporated as she shifted her focus from one defense to another. Raising the electroray discharger held in its left hand, the droid fired. Selika deflected the torrent around her body like water before a ship's prow.

"You may have been touched by it," Selika spat, quickly closing the distance between them, "But the dark side is mine to command."

Selika lashed out with the Force, knocking both of the droid's weapons out of line. Her amethyst blade flashed through an arc aimed at its neck, parting head from body in a shower of sparks. Wasting no time, Selika spun on her heels and headed for the generator room.

---

With his droids eliminated, Torin had grown more and more erratic. His lightsaber had been joined by blasts of telekinetic power and powerful bolts of lightning, and it had been all Teylas could do just to defend himself before the onslaught. The wild blasts of energy had already killed the two gunners that manned the ion cannon, the Sith Lord blind to anything save his quarry.

The plan had called for Selika to separate some of the droids from their master, and then to sabotage the generators while Teylas served to keep Torin contained. It was, however, seeming more and more like Teylas was being used as a distraction.

Sithspit, he worried, Where is that woman?

---

The guards at the generating station were putty in Selika's hands. None of these militiamen had received even rudimentary training to resist Force-based tricks of the mind. The illusion of a cave-in gripped all three men as their fears were magnified into crushing inaction by Selika's ability. They merely cowered, shielding their heads from falling rock only they could see, as Selika's blade dispatched each in turn. She felt a smirk tug at the corner of her mouth as she was once again struck by how feeble the mundane beings of the Galaxy were.

Pulling a datapad from a pouch on her belt, Selika began to make adjustments to the power regulation systems that governed the generators. The datapad contained instructions that were designed to overload the power system and destroy the weapon. The instructions were very thorough, and it only took her a few minutes to complete the steps. A few slashes with her lightsaber, first through the power release and then through the generator's control terminal, completed the process.

A short jog down the rough hewn corridor brought her back to the passage that connected to the control room and the exit. Selika stopped for a moment, looking down towards the control center where she could feel the rising tide of Torin and Ramar's clash. With a smile she turned the other way, heading for the exit.

---

Even through the chaos of battle around him, Teylas had sensed Selika's retreat. Anger within him boiled over, pouring Force energy through his body. Swing after swing of his blade battered at Torin's defenses, driving the engineer backwards for the first time. The gaunt man's retort, however, betrayed the wild power within him.

A Force-driven whirlwind knocked Teylas from his feet, forcing him to the ground. Flashes of lightning leapt from the One Sith's fingers wildly, not aimed at any particular target. They left dark scortches on the walls when they met rock and destroyed equipment violent, spark filled blasts.

As the entire room was taken over by the out of control storm, Teylas felt the growing buildup of energy in the generator nearby. He knew at this point that he had to escape, but the Bpfasshi Sith was between him and the door.

"Torin!" Teylas yelled, trying to penetrate the man's insanity, "Don't you feel that? The generators are going to explode!"

As if to punctuate Teylas's warning, red warning lights filled the control room and emergency klaxons blared over the howl of Torin's storm.

"No!" Torin screamed. "It's a trick! You've murdered my droids, murdered them! You will die for your transgressions! You will not leave here alive!"

The wind filling the room grew stronger.

---

Selika had retreated to a large rock formation a few hundred meters from the tunnel exit, seeking cover from their planned explosion. She could still sense the dark energy swirling around Ramar and Torin, knowing they were still locked in combat.

Her mind flashed back to a conversation that Aabsdu had with her following their mission planning session, after all the others had gone.

"Selika," Aabsdu said quietly, "If you should feel the need to leave Teylas behind, that would be… advantageous."

"My lord?" Selika asked, intrigued by his instruction.

"He was my predecessor's choice," Aabsdu said, his gaze cold, "And he has become far too ambitious for my taste."

"As you wish, master," Selika responded, a dark smile on her face as she bowed.

As the blast erupted from the power station, rushing outward to destroy the weapon and the two Sith still within the command center, Selika reached out and touched Teylas's mind one last time.

The Dread Lord sends his regards.

As Torin and Teylas danced around the room exchanging blows, Teylas knew that it was Torin's rage and raw ferocity that had been keeping him in the battle. Luckily Teylas' more refined and proper dueling form was more than enough to keep him at bay for Selika's return. Torin, having fallen for the trap, had given Selika enough time to plant the proper devices in critical areas of the complex. Although Teylas was less than pleased with the force to which Selika used to sell the ruse.

Teylas twirled his back into an outward motion and spread his arms as he extended his lightsaber at his side. Ready for another pass at Torn the two were interrupted by a deafening slam of Torin against a nearby console. The telekinetic wave of energy dissipated as Torin attempted to get to his feet, but quickly found himself the victim of another, smaller blast which planted him firmly into one of the room’s small chairs. Selika emerged from the doorway and walked over to the One Sith. Leaning into his ear she whispered, "Share your pain."

Teylas, now free to continue their work, focused his attention back on the consoles. Hearing the screams for pain in the background he simply smirked and began pushing away at buttons. The ion cannon, for all intents and purposes, was something that Clan Plagueis could not allow to remain. Capturing it was an option, but Teylas was unwilling to devote the amount of forces it would take to keep the ion cannon should the One Sith choose to recapture it. Better than anything, destroying the ion cannon would ensure it could no longer be an affront of Plagueian military operations on Bergeren.

"Nooooooooooooooo! Not them!" was the scream of the moment Teylas heard from behind him. The forced mental molestation that Selika was hammering onto Torin was more than most men could bare. The Dread Lord would be pleased with their results, but more than anything Teylas typically paired with Selika on most operations due to their natural complementation of one another's skills.

Turning her attention away for a moment she asked Teylas, "Are you done yet?"

"Almost. I want to make it look pretty from the view from the Ascendancy," he responded with a smile.

She sighed, but continued her assault on Torin who was by that point already drooling upon himself.

After a few more moments passed Teylas responded, "All right. We should get out of here. I would much prefer to not get fried today." As he joined Selika by her side he looked at the broken down Torin and commented, "What should we do with him?"

"Leave him. He's done plenty to deserve death in the time I've known him. Maybe he will finally find peace, for I gave him none," she responded as the two left the room and make their jog down the long corridors of the complex. Finally finding their way to their landing craft they made a quick exit towards the Ascendancy. From there they watched as the overload that Teylas set from the control room finally went critical, destroying the complex's power generators in a massive explosion on the surface and could easily be seen from low orbit.