A Sound of Thunder (Mandalorian Raid of Ilum)

[Nicair Claden]

Nicair raised his rifle to the newcomer from the rear, multiple thoughts were going through his head. For one if they were going to be violent then they sure forfeited stealth as an option, which meant that perhaps they were coming for aid? He didn't recognize the armor, certainly was Mandalorian, which left either military or a freelancer.

"Taylir ogir!" <<Hold there>> he shouted into the wind, keeping his rifle steady and on target, one could never be too careful. It was then that a voice carried in the wind, he couldn't make out the words but he had a feeling the vod in charge could. Jedi he thought to himself as the voice had completed its statements and ceased its speaking.

The wind continued its relentless howling and the snow that was brought with it whipped at his armor, small clinks could be heard from the frost's strikes. His overcoat waved in the wind, it was doing what it could to keep him warm, though he still kept his suits environmental control to a fairly low setting to do what he could to hide his form on a thermal scan. He held his bead on target as the figure stopped and waited for further instructions, whether that was from the snow or his shout he couldn't tell for sure.

[member="Sanya Val Swift"]

 

[Melina Tervho]

The approach of another new vessel had not gone completely unnoticed by squads B & C and as the newcomer dropped into the snows, Mel's attention was completely now on the armored woman in the snow behind the main bulk of the Mandalorian forces. Mel's rifle was shouldered and sighted, her finger just out of the trigger guard. [member="Dariak Talesa"] and [member="Hype Darkwater"] had already barked orders at the woman to identify herself.

She had jumped out of a hovering vessel like one of the Jedi but she used rocket boots to slow her descent. Not really practical in this environment but she wasn't reaching for a gun straight away.

Dale and [member="Nicair Claden"] in Squad C trained their weapons on her and to looking around the perimeter, with the squad leader radioing the new contact to [member="Arrbi Betna"].

"We've got a gunship and a newcomer out here. Isn't one of ours. Hope you're close to getting what we came for."

[member="Sanya Val Swift"] would be staring at many blasters aimed right at her position, while the warriors waited patiently for her answers.

 

[Hype Darkwater]

[member="Melina Tervho"]
Hype continued to focus on target.
"Bye the way, what exactly is the target? Just some pain for the Jedi, or something more sinister?"

 

[Nefertari Sovint]

Location: Crystal caves

Both Nefertari and the baby strapped to her back were bundled up. She'd sensed the Mandalorians' arrival and immediately snapped into defence mode. Not necessarily for the crystals, but herself and the youngling she'd taken particular interest in. Who knew, maybe they would be treated fairly...maybe not kindly, but fairly. Heck, as long as the mandos showed the temple and caves some respect...and didn't attack her, things would be fine.

The knight took up shelter in the maze-like tunnels. As she stopped in a room, Nef noticed the rough walls and the high ceiling, a crystal shaped indent in the centre of it. This was the room where She'd fallen into Gherron's arms. Strange that she'd ended up here with the son nobody knew they had.

Nefertari started meditating, waiting for the mandos to find her or for their departure. What was supposed to be an outing to somewhat expose the child to the culture he'd be growing up in had taken a bad turn.

@Anybody in the area​

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Nicair Claden"] Ξ [member="Melina Tervho"] Ξ [member="Hype Darkwater"]

Sanya looked at them holding their guns up at her. Something she expected really. "I'm a friend of [member="Gray Raxis"] and [member="Cynthia Raxis"]. Don't worry my dropping in wasn't to attack. Simply came to help." She said slipping her mask on over her face. Her feline ears poked out the two holes but her face wasn't getting the bite of the cold now. Putting her hands up in the air Sanya would watch them carefully. "Anyway Sanya Val swift at your service." Now it was the case of will they shoot or put there weapons down. "If it's not to much to ask can you stop pointing guns at me? Kinda makes me feel like someones finger will twitch from the cold and shoot."

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray could feel how eager everyone in his group was to get this raid underway. They were all ready and willing to start a conflict with those who called this temple home. He could sense it, but that didn't mean he had to like it. These people were getting far too antsy and he knew that the one in charge [member="Arrbi Betna"] was likely just as ready to go. So it came as a bit of a surprise when he was given the okay to try and negotiate with the residence of the temple. He was given a few precaution orders, which was fine with him. He always advocated it himself anyways.

Gray said over his com to Arribi, " Roger that, but try to do something for the tension if you can. I can sense people are getting a little trigger happy, and you know what that can lead to in a group of Mandalorians. Here is to hoping things go well." He left his com on as he had been ordered then turned to [member="Katbirye Rekr"] and said to him, " Stay here and follow whatever orders you are given. It is best one person goes in to chat with them. Got that? Good." He didn't know why the new guy was so attached to him, but if not for the nature of current task he might have let him come along. He couldn't afford anyone else to come along or they might suspect hostilities. Plus people were too trigger happy.

Gray walked up to the temple door and closed his eyes. He began to focus on sensing the force, allowing the nature of the temple to register. He could feel a place of learning. A place of training. It was old, yet young. The temple just felt like it was as anxious as those both without and within. He sent out a soothing pulse via the force to the temple that those inside of it might have felt as well. After he did, he began to focus on the force. He began to reach out to open up the door. He was met with resistance immediately from the temple itself. It did not trust him yet, nor did it want to open as tense as things were. It began to probe him as he continued to attempt to convince it to allow him to open its door. It eventually warmed up to him after several moments of effort, and the door creaked open just enough to allow him through.

Gray let out a fatigued breath as the door opened up enough for him to pass through. He began to catch his breath as he walked through it. It had taken some effort, but he was inside now. He walked into the entry of the temple going fully past the door. As he got in, the door quickly shut behind him to allow no one else to follow. He wasn't surprised by that, but was happy to see he was in. He began to walk forward slowly. He had closed his eyes and began to look around using force sight. He did not see anyone in there, but then began to hear a voice. It was a woman from the sounds of it, and she was telling them to leave. It seems the tension the temple had shared with him from them as he tried to open the door was true.

Gray called out into the temple after the voice went away, " Hello? Is the one who just spoke there? My name is Gray Raxis and I am here to speak with you. I am hoping we can avoid further bloodshed and try to come to some sort of peace." He listened to his voice echoing through the temple. He couldn't see anything right now using his force sight. The temple was working to aid its inhabitants it seemed, even though it was slowly warming up to him. He hoped the ones in it could feel that as well and might trust him enough to speak with him. He didn't want to see people die over crystals or the temple damaged for them as well.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

"My people have a word for those who use the Force through serenity, but aid and abet evil. That word is Darksider. If you want to avoid bloodshed, you should have stopped your friends from killing ours.

"In a perfect 'verse," the voice continued, "we would trust you to let our children pass through your lines and leave. But how can we trust someone who lies to himself, hm? One who twists his conscience through tortured justifications? No, Gray Raxis, if you believed what you think you believe, you would be standing with us against the men outside."

 

[Hype Darkwater]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"]
Hype regarded the stranger cautiously. He never wavered, his blasters steady.
"I'm not in the habit of flinching", he said.
Through his HUD he waited for Melina's reaction. He was not familiar with the name Raxis.

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray listened as the voice spoke back to him again. They were definitely female from the sound of it, but they seemed to have already cast him into a particular light. He had already been deemed a darksider and so he was their enemy. It was true he was not able to prevent death already, but that didn't mean he allowed it to happen either. Even the jedi could not stop all of the negative things in the galaxy from happening. They might feel it or run upon it, but they could not always stop it. The true test was to not allow that to stop you from trying and that was why he was here. He was here to try to prevent more deaths and more bloodshed. People would die here if he could not find a peaceful solution.

Gray thought on her words for a moment then said, " You are right. Those force users who allow terrible things to happen without standing up against them are darksiders no matter what they claim. You are right that I should be standing against these men rather than with them because they are out for blood. You can feel it, I can feel it, this temple can feel it. Yet you seem to have gotten a few things wrong. I did not allow your people to be killed out there. I did not agree with it then or even now. I could not stop them, because by the time I was close enough to do something it was too late. They are dead because I wasn't in the lead and so their blood is on my hands."

Gray paused here. He had been trying to hide it, but the situation did bother him. He hadn't been able to prevent their deaths so he was as much at fault for their deaths as the ones who killed them. Yet he could not let it keep him from his current task. He pushed through his feelings and then went on, " I might not have been able to prevent their deaths, but I do have a chance to prevent others from dying. You have the same chance as well. If I was here for any other purpose I don't think the temple would have let me in as easily as it had. You should be aware of that fact to. What I am here to do is to try to talk you into allowing us to come inside so we can take a few crystals, peacefully, and then leave." He hoped [member="Arrbi Betna"] caught his emphasis on the word peaceful, because it was for him more than this voice. He continued, " No one destroys anything, no one starts a fight, no one has to die. If anyone does anything to break the agreement, I will personally punish them for it. I am certain our leader will also agree to punishing them personally as well. After all we are Mandalorians, and what true Mandalorian would go back on their word? Without our honor we are no better than savages."

Gray waited a moment for stuff to sink in on both sides. He wanted peace here after all, not a war. There was enough tension on both sides and he was trying to prevent a powder keg of violence from breaking out. He left himself open for her to probe if she wished to. She would know how honest he was being if she did care to find out. He added after several moments of silence, " We have a chance here to come to a peaceful solution, and I will do anything it takes to make sure it happens. I will do anything you wish in return for the lives lost and I will repay you for the crystals taken as well. Mandalorians are not afraid to fight, but that does not mean we should seek it out either. So what do you say? Can we come to some agreement and avoid further death and bloodshed?" He waited for a response from the voice. He had been honest and would do whatever he needed to to find a solution. There was no honor in this fight, and he just hoped she and his companions saw that.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

 

[Mara D'Lessio Merrill]

[member="Gray Raxis"]

"You and your friends," said Eiarra's voice, "are here to rob us by force. I find it nothing short of incredible that you're trying to be the hero of the situation. Your offer to pay for your crimes after the fact is insulting and disgusting. Tell me, when you signed on for-"

The voice went silent. After about twenty or thirty seconds, another voice spoke, equally remote. This one was female as well, younger, somewhat calmer.

"Mister Raxis, my name is Mara D'Lessio Merrill. I'm in here with a team of Underground operatives and a number of Jedi refugees, including several children and youth. I'm an empath, and quite a good one. I can sense your sincerity when you talk about the value of your word. Here's what is going to happen next. I'm going to send the children outside and past your lines to a concealed starship. You're going to give me your word of honor that the Padawans and younglings I send outside will reach that ship and leave this system free and clear. Can you assure this, and do you swear it?"

 

[Melina Tervho]

"My finger doesn't twitch, Miss Swift. If I shoot you, its because I meant to."

Mel's Basic was flawless, unaccented and crisp as she lowered her muzzle. She didn't trust this woman as far as she could throw her but there was a squad of people pointing blasters at her and Mel didn't need one to be deadly.

"If you say you are with Raxis, then I'm sure he will vouch for you. However until we get word from him, you're sitting tight. If you deviate from an order, we will open fire and ask questions later. Now slowly disarm all your weapons and allow Nicair and Hype to take them off you hilt first. If Gray says you're cool, you'll get them back."

Mel nodded to Hype and Nicair to ease in and take the weapons, should she comply with the request. She radioed to the squads ahead, the crunch of the snow around her as the rest of squad C moved to keep Sanya in their sights.

"We've got a [member="Sanya Val Swift"] who claims she is here in support of [member="Gray Raxis"]. Give confirmation of identity or we're taking her into custody."

From the snippets she was getting from the front, things were precarious everywhere.

[member="Arrbi Betna"] [member="Ronan Vizsla"] [member="Nicair Claden"] [member="Dariak Talesa"] [member="Hype Darkwater"]

 

[Nicair Claden]

Nicair was able to move at best easily through the snow, he liked to thank his long legs for the feat. Keeping his rifle trained on the one called Sanya, he approached from the front. His movements were crisp and precise, no step was too far and no movement was out of place, maybe it was the cold making him stiffer, he could feel a little resistance from the snow. The wind whipped at his coat as he advanced, blowing it to the side.

Once he reached Sanya he took his left hand off the barrel of his rifle and held it out in front of him before moving it down to her waist for disarmament.

[member="Melina Tervho"] [member="Sanya Val Swift"] [member="Hype Darkwater"]

 

[Gray Raxis]

Gray listened to the voice begin to berate him again. He wondered why the person behind the voice was being so irate and rude when another female voice took over. This person was much calmer and more willing to speak with him. He wondered why they hadn't spoken at first, but was happy to see someone was willing to work with him here. He listened to everything she had to say to him and was more than willing to agree to her terms. He just needed to do something to make sure this went smoothly for everyone here. And he knew the best way to do that as well.

Gray smiled as he pressed on his com system so it would hopefully project loudly enough for the mysterious woman to hear what would be said over it. He said when he did, " You have my word that no harm will come to the padawans or younglings. You also have my word that they will be allowed to head to this ship and leave with no problems. You have my word I will see to their escort personally as well to make sure they stay safe. I give you my word on this and my word is my honor." He paused a moment and then said, " I will also try to do you one better. Will you give her your word to this effect as well [member="Arrbi Betna"] that no harm will come to the youngling and padawans and they are free to leave in their ship?" He left it off there and waited to see if Arrbi would respond.

Gray knew the best protect he could offer is if the leader of the operation gave their word as well. This was a Mandalorian operation, and while he was a Mandalorian and Alor of his clan, this mission was lead by Arrbi. So people would listen to him far more than they would Gray. And if they didn't stand down to allow things to progress peacefully then a reckoning would be upon them. Following orders was important for Mandalorians and was something they respected. If they didn't then they could end up becoming dar'manda.

[member="Mara D'Lessio Merrill"]

OOC: I keep forgetting to tag you Mara and its bothering me now.

 

[Dariak Talesa]

Dariak had been watching everyone surround the figure that had suddenly and seemingly appeared out of nowhere. However rather than turn inwardly towards the conversation he was facing away in the frozen wastes waiting for the enemy to appear. He tapped his thumb on his DC-17's safety catch as if ensuring it was still there to flick over to 'fire'. The Crusader shifted from side to side impatiently. Knowledge about Jedi being on the planet had made him antsy. Not fearful but eager to get into the fray.

"Look just...twat her over the head and drag her. That way she's alive and we can get on the move again. As it stands now, we're just stalling. They've probably already got a fix right on top of our heads."

[member="Nicair Claden"][member="Melina Tervho"][member="Hype Darkwater"][member="Sanya Val Swift"]

 

[Hype Darkwater]

@[member='Dariak Talesa'], Nicair CladenMelina TervhoHype DarkwaterSanya Val Swift

Hype holstered one of his pistols. He followed Nicair's lead, precise and steady movement. As Hype approached Sanya, he expertly adjusted his arm so He could keep it trained on Sanya as he moved to take any weapons.
His senses were alert, just a abnormal twitch, and he would spring into action. Which didn't necessarily mean death. He had other, more painful ways of disabling victims. It usually discouraged them.

 

[Titan]

"They have children in there, are they insane?" Sol'yic muttered under his breath, "What happens if, even though this is highly unlikely, they attack us?" he asked [member="Gray Raxis"] "In order to get ot, the older ones I mean. Should we stun them or shoot to kill?" <Don't shhot unless the order is given.> Sol'yic thought as he slung his rifle over his back and pull out his pistol.

 

[Sanya Val Lerium]

[member="Hype Darkwater"] Ξ [member="Dariak Talesa"] Ξ [member="Gray Raxis"] Ξ [member="Nicair Claden"] Ξ [member="Melina Tervho"]

Sanya watched as the two slowly walked towards her to take any weapons she had. "Right if I was going to attack you, don't you think I would have used the weapons aboard the gunship?" She said pointing out common sense. her hands would move to her back pulling out the saberstick from it's sheath with both her sabers slotted into it. "Here." Non of them would be able to activate them with the lack of a physical switch. As for the toolkit and saber shield they where integrated into the armor so it would be unlikely they'd be able to get those off her. Her hand would move behind her back once more unclipping the sheath for the sword. "And this one too." She said handing them over. "I will be expecting them back though. But moving on I presume you lot have places to go and I did say I came here to help. So I hope we can put hostilities aside." Normally she'd refuse to hand over weapons so easily but again she was trying to earn some trust so complying was the best course of action.

 

[Hype Darkwater]

[member="Sanya Val Swift"]
Hype silently took the sword, allowing Nicair to take the saber stick.
"I have an expensive but thorough way of eliminating gunships from the situation", Hype replied stiffly.
He clipped the sword to his belt, next to his own, then slightly lowered his blaster.

 

[Nefertari Sovint]

Sensing things moving along, though not sure if for better or worse, Nef decided to risk leaving the safety of the caves.
Hilt in hand, the lady made her way back through and into the temple. There were other Jedi nearby, and Nef could sense the familiar presence of [member="Sanya Val Swift"]. Nefertari couldn't help but crack a short smile at that. Coming up to the mouth of the tunnel, she could see at least one other, a man in conversation via either a comlink or the force; though she couldn't tell from her distance. The words she caught though were very comforting.

" You have my word that no harm will come to the padawans or younglings."

Thank the force for that she thought. The history between the Jedi and Mandalorians wasn't exactly the best, so this was indeed something.

The lady stepped into the temple's interior. if [member="Gray Raxis"] spoke to her, she would reply. Otherwise, it looked like she was waiting for the next event to unfold.

 

[Vilaz Munin]

"Lok? He's doing stupid teenage stuff, man, but I think that's how they all act. Chasing girls and hanging out with the 'cool kids'," the Redneck said to his friend as they waited for their prey to come to the bait that Draco made. "He's out with the Outback and doing rebel stuff. Boy was bummed out that he couldn't jump on with us to Illum, but I told him he can join in some operation down somewhere in Kal'Shebbol." Vilaz might've been overprotected over his adopted son, but he did acknowledge the fact that Mandalorians that were Lok's age could participate in raids, do mercenary and bounty work, and other Mandalorian group efforts.

He could hear the yelping of the sonic emitter which belonged to a wounded herbivore that was native to Illum. His scanners didn't pick up any readings of any wild creatures; however, in time that would change and what the two men were looking for would come to them. Orar'bev was loaded with a monomolecular bolt which could easily penetrate beskar armor and most top tier armor. No doubt this would pack a punch to the Gorgodons.

"So what's the Knight Errant of Alderaan doing these days?"

[member="Draco Vereen"]