Chapter 54 – Beginning of the End, part two
D201/0 ABY
The battle for Ryloth's soul had begun. Imperial ships attacked the combined might of Republic, Mandalorian ships. Not only that, but the Empire was backed by those nasty creatures which had attacked Naboo. Ships against ships, fleet against fleet, although the Republic Fleet and the Mandalorian ships were holding their own against the Empire, a few gunships were able to get past the planetary defence. The monsters were being countered by the members of the Aesir, and were either repelled or destroyed.
Looking at the state of affairs Hera, who was flying the Ghost while Wolfe, Kallus and Chopper were firing at the enemy ships. She commed Kanan who was on the ground, "A few gunships have slipped past us. They are heading towards your position."
"We'll deal with them as soon as we deal with the problems at hand.", Kanan said.
"What problems?", Hera asked.
"Well a massive invasion force came from some kind of portals.", Kanan said.
A few minutes ago, Tarre Viszla (donning his Mark 82 armour), ordered by Prince Issho to remain with the ground forces, sensed a massive portal form in the lower atmosphere just below the fleet. "Right… army.", he mumbled to himself before flying up, firing repulsor blasts from his arms, firing from the auto-targeting turret on the back of his armour to deal with the creatures coming out of the portal. These creatures were flying in chariot like ships, with each chariot having three creatures, two to attack and one to steer. As Tarre flew to both attack and evade, one of them collided with him pushing him back by a significant distance before he could course correct. After that, the plates on his shoulders opened and fired small auto-targeting missiles.
"Fenrir, you got incoming.", Tarre said in his comms, "I'm having difficulty sensing them through the force."
Back on the ground Fenrir was leading a squad of Twi'leks led by Cham, Numa and Gobi, and Lothalians with Kanan and Ahsoka. He looked up too late as one of these chariots collided into him and sent him flying in the air. At this point, his commlink buzzed and he heard Tarre's warning. Kanan ordered the squad to scatter and fire at the enemy. He too had heard Tarre's warning via his commlink. Using his lightsabre, Kanan deflected the shots of the adversaries and ran to Fenrir, helping him up.
"Incoming already came.", Fenrir groaned and launched his shield at the enemy – a 7 feet humanoid creature with dark blue skin – destroying a chariot and using the force redirected his shield to hit others.
"Keep them busy.", Tarre said.
"What do you think I am doing?", Fenrir said with a hint of annoyance. With this he and Kanan engaged the enemy.
At the same time Kanan's commlink chimed, with Hera telling him about the gunships headed towards them and Kanan telling her about the invasion force from the portal.
"What?", Hera said.
"Yeah.", Kanan replied.
"I'll see if we can send you some air support.", Hera said.
"No.", Fenrir said, "You need to focus on the enemy fleet. We got this." Fenrir then used the force to shatter the enemy craft near them and ordered the squad to destroy the fallen creatures.
After which he commed the other ground forces informing them of this and learnt that they were dealing with similar problems. There was a squad of Clan Wren warriors with a squad of Asgardian soldiers nearby being led by Countess Wren. Ezra, Sabine, Rex and Zeb who were along with this squad said they were on their way to meet up with Fenrir and the others.
"The Mandalorians can provide us the air support.", Ezra said via his commlink. As he said this, they all heard an unearthly roar coming from the portal and two giant serpents, 300 feet in length emerged from the portal, completely armoured and were able.
"Tarre, are you seeing this?", Fenrir asked
"I hear them. Where's Banner?", Tarre asked.
"He is on his way.", Fenrir said, sensing that the good doctor was heading towards them.
"Alright keep me posted.", Tarre said.
"What are you going to do?", Fenrir asked.
"I'll keep these giant creatures busy, while you lot deal with those flying monstrosities.", Tarre said.
"Tarre, are you sure?", Ahsoka asked.
"I do this all the time.", Tarre answered smugly.
(A/N: Underlined conversations indicate telepathy)
"Lord Bor, do you think it's time for you to join?", Fenrir asked, as he and the rest of them engaged the enemies.
"Not yet Fenrir. I have to preserve my strength for when the celestials arrive.", Bor answered, "Right now, I am finishing up reinforcing the last of the sanctuaries."
"Any word from King Thor?", Fenrir asked.
"They are almost done with the reapers in Alfheim. Your grandfather Odin is on his way, with further reinforcements. Thor will be a little late though.", Bor answered.
"Better late than never.", Fenrir smiled and heard Bor chuckle at this. With this his attention was snapped towards the sound of a speeder ridden by Bruce Banner.
"All this seems horrible.", Bruce commented as he got off the speeder.
"It could get a lot worse.", Fenrir replied calmly while holding one of the humanoid creatures by the neck as he bashed it with his shield. Pressing a button on his commlink he said, "Tarre, he's here."
"Good, tell him to suit up. I'm bringing the party to you.", Tarre said. With this, they saw Tarre flying towards them with one those giant serpents at his tail.
"I fail to see how this is a party.", Countess Ursa Wren said evenly.
Fenrir then turned towards Banner, who sighed and walked towards Tarre and the serpent who were now almost at ground level. "Time to get angry.", Fenrir said.
"I'm always angry, Fenrir.", Bruce sighed. He then turned as Tarre passed by him, transforming into the Hulk and plunged his fist into the face of the 300-foot serpent, pushing it into the ground. Hulk himself was pushed back by its momentum but eventually stopped the beast, forcing it to completely invert, dislodging its armour. As its tail was rising in the air and coming towards them, Tarre fired a missile from his arm into the exposed skin of the creature, destroying it completely. As the explosion happened, the ground forces were protected by a barrier made by Fenrir. After the dust and explosion clearing away, they saw that only the head of that serpent had survived.
With this they heard the humanoid creatures roaring and hulk roaring at them in response. From the portal, three more giant serpents emerged. Tarre then landed on the ground and said to Fenrir, "Call it."
"Listen up.", Fenrir said turning the attention of all present towards him, "Until we know how to close that portal, our priority is containment." Turning towards Sabine he continued, "You and the fliers take care of their air support. Maintain a perimeter of 100 Klicks. Anything that gets beyond, you either turn it back or you turn it to ash." Turning towards Tarre he said, "You've got to bottleneck that portal. You got the lightning… light the bastards up.", With this Tarre and the fliers took off to their assigned duties. He then turned to the rest of the ground forces which included the three Jedi, Countess Wren (who didn't have her jetpack), Rex, Zeb, Twi'leks, Lothalians and Asgardians. "The rest of us have one job, keep the fighting here," He then turned towards Hulk, "and Hulk… smash." The green goliath gave a toothy smile at this and jumped off to do what he did best. As the fighting restarted, he commed the other squadron leaders asking for updates and was informed of similar situation throughout the planet.
A considerable distance away from Fenrir's squad, the phoenix angel Voris was fighting the angel Borsalino (apprentice to Prince Baldur), while the ground squad was led by Talia and Mace Windu, with air support being provided by Tie Defenders belonging to the Lothal planetary defence.
In a nearby star system, which was connected by the portals held another enemy fleet. In the bridge of the command ship sat Lucifer – King of Hell possessing the vessel of Baldur. "They've revealed their meagre defences.", Lucifer said.
"There is a small angelic presence. But no archangels as you predicted father.", Azazel spoke.
"Thor and his predecessors have taken the bait in Alfheim.", Lucifer said.
"Why this planet?", Michael asked in his new vessel – the body of the angel Sakazuki, apprentice of Baldur.
"Our prize lies in the heart of the planet's core.", Lucifer spoke, "Odin,", he said disdainfully, "had placed a very unique and very old artefact there – a fragment of Jord." Lucifer then laughed, "It seems he was trying to fulfil the ancient prophecy of the chosen one. Baldur was able to discern many of his father's thoughts and memories when he had him under his spell. Jord's fragment gave the planet its life and, in the process, Jord gave Odin a son, a son he did not treasure as much as Baldur – Thor. Along with that, I will have my vessel." Lucifer then addressed Azazel, "You will capture him my son. I have a feeling that he will be most pleased to see you."
"Lucifer enough of this madness. Odin fulfilled the wishes of the great mother, what you are going to do will only anger her and anger Buri. There is still time for you to comply with his wishes, your theatrics, your desperate half-baked plans will not lead to the result you want.", Death spoke up standing behind him.
"Always have my best interests at heart, don't you father.", Lucifer said sarcastically. "Horsemen War", he announced and saw the hologram of the Celestial War appear in front of him. "You and your sins will lead the next wave.", Lucifer spoke, "Disappoint and suffer my displeasure.", Lucifer menaced as War bowed and his hologram disappeared.
As the Celestial War and his brothers, now the six deadly sins appeared in front of the planet Ryloth in their giant 400 feet cosmic forms, they began attacking the Republic fleet and didn't care when Imperial ships were caught up in the attack as well. This lasted for a few moments, as Bor appeared in front of them with all his wings unfurled, his axe in one hand and the severed body of the 300-foot large serpent in another, which he brandished like a whip. Bor was flanked by the three Seraphim – Seleyse, Castiel and Issho, their wings unfurled. All four of them were in their 400 feet tall cosmic forms and engaged the enemy.
"Unexpected, but not unwelcome.", Lucifer said with a smile as he crossed his arms.