The K'lor' slugs were something to be reviled and feared by spacers across the galaxy. Aaric knew from stories told by others how bad a K'lor slug infestation could be. But it would not be the first time the Sith hopeful had seen one. For all the serpentine creatures with their pincer legs and gaping maws of teeth, they could not stand up to Aaric's deftly strikes. The K'lor' slugs may have been quick and agile, but with the power of the force, Aaric was even more so. Their straightforward, swarming attacks made it easy to predict and dodge as long as he was careful not to get boxed in.
After ridding the smaller broodlings in the Valley of the Dark Lords, the acolyte ventured into the entrance of Ajunta Pall's tomb. It was only a couple of flights down before he was greeted by a platoon of soldiers at the foot of the steps cowering behind some makeshift barricades. Some were keeping watch while others were giving care to the wounded; some with horrifying injuries trademark of the k'lor slugs. It was a pitiful sight. Aaric snorted in disgust; such a waste for soldiers to be reduced to pest control when they could be doing better things in the galaxy?! He may be a noble and had right of way to ignore such issues, but it was a pet peeve for him to see such wasted use of resources, and it annoyed him to no end.
So he decided to take things into his own hands.
"I demand to know who is in command here!" The acolyte raised his voice authoritatively. The action seemed to snap the soldiers out of their anxiety and focus their attention on to him; then turned toward the only trooper without his helmet on. The brunette man visibly gulped and strode forward before standing at attention before him.
"I-I am Sir!" The chevroned man trembled slightly before steeling himself. "Sergeant Cormun, Fifth Infantry Company. Korriban regiment! P-permission to speak freely, Sir?"
Aaric raised his brow slightly at the sudden request, but allowed it since he made it with respect; any other attitude and he would have struck him down for his impudence. "I suppose you can, Sergeant. What is going on here? I don't suppose your motley band of brothers are here to do some pest control?"
The trooper dipped his head slightly, giving a sheepish look. "Well unfortunately, we are sir. Wait... you're the acolyte Overseer Tremel had brought in special, right? Heading down in the tomb to show what you're made of?"
Said acolyte clicked his tongue in irritation. It seemed this Overseer was being a little too careless if even common soldiers knew who Aaric was. He wondered if Tremel was even trying to keep it a secret at all! "What I'm doing here is none of your concern, Imperial." He snapped, "Although... it seems like I may have to involve myself in whatever your men are doing. Tell me, I want a situational report."
"Well," Cormun brightened at this revelation. His men had been stuck for days underground trying to wipe out the k'lor Slugs. If he could enlist his help, then all of them could get a breather! Now, he just had to word it correctly. "Here's your chance, sir, to not only show off for the overseers but start building ties to the Imperial military as well."
Aaric perked up at the statement. Why did he not think of this before? By helping this rag tag platoon and earning their commendations; forming ties to various personnel within the military, it would only be a matter of time before his rise in power would be supported by an army behind his back! "I will take note of that Sergeant. Please, continue."
"As you say, Sir. I'm here commanding a hard target mission to exterminate k'lor slugs in this tomb." The trooper continued. Then he took on a haunted expression as he explained further. "They... they're horrific things, sir. Mouths bigger than your head. Unfortunately, I've lost three squads of good men fighting them. They come in packs... they just swallow men whole!"
The Mecrosa scion twitched in annoyance. Three whole squads?! It was ludicrous and preposterous! Twenty four men gone when they could have been somewhere else serving the empire in other, more important duties. It was not out of mercy, but efficiency demanded that these trodden men be given the help they need.
"If you're trying to talk me out of this, it won't work." He growled.
Cormun took an unconscious step back at the sudden turn of the acolyte's demeanour. "U-understood! I was hoping you could assist my operation while you're in here. The damn k'lor slugs breed so fast there's no way to wipe them out conventionally. So we started targeting their egg chambers. They went insane! We managed to get explosives to all of the egg chambers, but the k'lor slugs were all over us before we could detonate them. And before you ask, no we cannot detonate them remotely because the walls are so thick they interfere with the signal"
"You need someone who can draw the slugs attention away from yourselves and detonate them manually." Aaric mused. "And that person, unfortunately, is me. We'll need to work together, Sergeant. Can I count on your men to follow where my lead without question? I assure you, I prefer to see the Empire's resources used for much better purposes."
"Of course! Don't underestimate them k'lor slugs, sir. They're smarter than they look." Cormun exclaimed excitedly and began barking out orders. "Men! Pack up and move the wounded to the medical post for evacuation, then gather back here! We've got Sith leading us now!"
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The battle for the k'lor slug hatcheries was ferocious, but short lived. After regrouping, Aaric led the remaining two squads of troopers down the dank and dimly lit corridors to the entrance of a large hall where the hatcheries were. The plan was simple: Cormun and his men would barricade themselves at the entrance and pour covering fire from the flanks, while Aaric would charge straight down the middle; gaining the beasts attention and manually detonating the charges.
And the plan worked wonderfully.
The k'lor slugs, focusing their frenzy on the lone Sith seeing that he was the most direct threat to their eggs, were cut down by blaster fire before they could reach Aaric while the lone Sith sliced the rest with swift bladework. When the packs were sufficiently thinned out, he finally set the charges and force sped his way out of the halls and back behind Cormun's men and barricade. The resulting explosion blasted the eggs to pieces as well as collapsing the roof on top, encompassing the hall and blocking the entrance to it once and for all as the shrieks and squeals of crushed k'lor slugs died down.
