Private Ambush on Taris

[Thror Cal Vorn]

​

Dropping out of hyperspace I looked at my sensor board, I had picked up a distress call on my way home to Duxnn and set a course for Taris, "Good no Imperial ships on sensors." I didnt like to be this close to Sith space. Looking out of the view port the planet Taris came into view, several large cities could be seen but those weren't my destination, My destination was a clearing not far from a small village.

I was able to land with out any fuss from traffic control. I shut down the main drive and headed down to the cargo bay and open the ramp. it was getting dark out, the air smelled good, clean and fresh with a slight undertone of decomposing under brush, it reminded me of home. I went to the tree line to gather some wood for a fire. after the fire was started I walked back inside and grabbed a table, chairs, cooking utensil and some ingredients. I hadn't ate in a while and figured that food cooked over a fire would be good. The pungent spicy smell of Tiingilar wafted through the clearing.

As i was cooking I heard some noise coming through the trees. I looked to the datapad that connected to my ships sensors and found on lone humanoid life form just behind the edge of the clearing. " Well don't just stand there come over have a seat, I have some food almost ready you are welcome to some."

 

[Isabeau]

It was odd - the planet was the same but it was no longer under the Network's control. While the nature and buildings had remained constant, the atmosphere of being safe among allies and friends was now a thing of the past. Still, the young Mandalorian lurked about, having saved some of her people from the planet not too long ago, she felt comfortable enough to linger. Naturally, moving about openly with a T-visor was suboptimal - but then, Isabeau had no qualms about taking her helmet off when the situation called for it.

Having picked up a distress signal while moving through the nearby village, she was already on the move towards its location. Eventually, she arrived by a clearing - it was not the location from which the distress signal came, but it was close. What surprised her was to see a ship and a temporary camp in it and with what looked remarkably much like a Mandalorian. The girl crouched down and moved closer quietly - she was a trained scout and had plenty of experience moving about without being noticed. But in the end, it all came down to chance - a rock she assumed was solid wouldn't hold her weight and with that, she was exposed.

A smile appeared on her lips - well hidden by her T-visor - the man knew that she was there, but everything indicated that he was friendly. "Su'cuy" she said, standing up straight and coming out from the treeline, into the clearing. "I did not expect to see any vod with a starship on here. At least not after the number the Confederacy pulled on us" she said with a voice both impressed and filled with curiosity.

Her eyes scanned him apprehensively, checking for weapons, both ones carried openly as well as hidden ones. While she did not take a seat just yet, Isabeau then looked out towards the direction in which the distress signal had come from "Don't happen to know anything about that signal, do you?" her question was direct and straight to the point - there was no need to beat around the bush with a fellow Mandalorian. She didn't mind sitting down with him and having something to eat, but first, she wanted to get an idea of who she was dealing with.

Thror Cal Vorn

 

[Thror Cal Vorn]

The figure approaching my camp was a mando. Good a friendly face or helmet. She walked over to one of the chairs and didn’t sit down. “No I guess not. I had heard about the Confederacy and what the Sith did to Mandalore. I just wish I was there to put some of those hut’uun into an early grave.”

Anger and shame had slipped into my voice. I hadn’t been there to help during the Sith take over. I turned away from my cook pot and looked to where the mando was looking. “Probably not much more than you. All I got out of it was coordinates. The rest was garbled. I had planned on doing some recon during the night. After eating something.”

I turned back to the cooking food and added the last few spices to it and pulled it off the fire and set it on the table. Along with two bowls and spoons. I also set down some haarshun bread. ”Come have a seat and enjoy. Food is always better with company.” I takeoff my helmet and smile. Waiting to see what the other mando would do.

 

[Isabeau]

"Me too" she said, almost solemnly as he spoke of wishing to have been there to defend their home. Her gaze fell for a moment before returning to the business at hand. Being sad over missed battles was useless when there were new ones to be found on the horizon - and being on Taris, she knew that she probably wouldn't have to look very far to find something adequate.

Nodding, she let out a short "Right" It was a good idea, to look during the night. For many forces with a unfriendly attitude toward Mandalorians remained after the Confederate invasion and while she was itching for a battle, picking one which she could survive was the much better option. "We can join up. Always more fun to fight with a fellow Mandalorian" she said, producing a slight smile under her helmet.

Being offered to share his food for the second time, Isabeau nodded. Taking off her helmet, she clipped it to her belt before undoing the hair bun she had to let it fall down over her shoulders. "Smells good" she said whilst taking her seat opposite to him. With a deep breath, the girl enjoyed the aroma from the food. Reaching for the ladle, she looked to him to see if he approved - if so, she would fill their bowls. Whilst filling them, she glanced up to him with a short "I'm Isabeau" - while the man looked familiar, she could not pinpoint where they might have met before.

Looking to him, she smiled with anticipation before speaking "Alright, time for war stories. Go" she said, leaving the field open for him to choose what story to tell her about, regardless of whether it be a long or a short one.

Thror Cal Vorn

 

[Thror Cal Vorn]

I smiled at her suggestion to join me. Where one mando was good two were better. She gave me a look as she reached for the ladle, I gave her a nod. “Thror pleased to meet you.”

She set down the bowls and a asked me about war stories. While I didn’t have many, I had one that I knew she might like. “Ok I’ll tell you how I got these.” I said as I pulled the Vong ears from my belt. They were on a leather thong with a small wooden box attached to one end.

“I got these on a world ship above Ord Cantrell. What a fight that was. I was on my way back from Mandalore when I got the message. So I diverted course and pushed my ship at the time as hard as it would go. I dropped out of hyperspace just as our forces where beginning the assault. I followed the landing force with the intention to join them at their LZ, but i was shot down on the way and ended up crash landing about a kilometer away and had to make my way through that massive ship to find them. I don’t know if you have faith by Vong before but they are fierce fighters and damn ugly. Anyway I ran that kilometer and only fought one Vong, but as soon as I got to the assault group I found out why there were so few on my route all their warriors and thralls had been pulled to defend against us. The fight that ensued was a sight I don’t think I’ll ever forget. I took up sniping position and began to take shots when two Vong ambushed me. I was able to kill them but I was stabbed by one of those amphistaffs they cary, went right right through my suit and it’s got beskar woven in to it! After I took the ears from the Vong I saw a rocket fly and hit their leader. I think it was a mando named Adenn that fired it. After that I hitched a ride with his force and that was that.”

I finished my story and looked to Isabeau. “How about you?”

Isabeau

 

[Isabeau]

Listening to him with interest, her fascination of the Vong grew. Never had she fought their warriors and hearing tales about them was far from commonplace. "With Beskar woven in?" she said, making a pained expression as she inhaled with a closed jaw, creating a hissing noise "Must've heart. You doc can't have been too pleased" Giving him a sympathetic look, she soon started eating.

It was not easy to choose what to speak about but after thinking for a bit, she decided upon a war story taking place not too long ago "Okay, so this was right after the invasion of Taris - the CIS had kicked us, the Network - off and had left behind their puppet and a fair amount of droids. Me and Zephyr decided to go down and help'em out. There were a few hundred of our vod trapped in a city. The confederates had taken command of the walls and were pushing our Mandalorians hard. So my and Zephyr landed outside the city, jetpacked in, punched through into the defenders and lead the charge out." Isabeau let out a chuckle as she bent down to look over her helmet when she found a long scorch mark on it. Pointing at it, she continued "They almost got me here - but it was only a glancing hit. Droids can't be trusted to aim unless something has to be calibrated. But yeah, we then fought them, inch by inch as the bulk of their army was catching our tail but with a few explosives, we managed to tear a hole in the wall and escape. We brought the wounded with us off world whilst the rest kept fighting." She was obviously proud of their accomplishment and glad that she and her ally had managed to rescue their people.

Between the two of them telling their war stories, both food and time seemed to pass by quickly, bringing them closer towards being able to head out. Still she managed to ask "So, do you usually prefer to stay at range?" Looking at him with curious eyes, she tried to figure out what his fighting style was.

Thror Cal Vorn

 

[Thror Cal Vorn]

“Yeah it’s a micro beskar thread, while it’s not as strong as a plate, it doesn’t weight me down to much and gives me good protection against most weapons. Haven’t tried it against light sabers yet.” I chuckle as I feel the scar on my stomach where I was stabbed. “My sisters weren’t to happy when I got home. The ship that had been in the family since the eldest was born, destroyed. Big hole in my suit and a patched up gut. That tongue lashing still gives me nightmares.”

I looked at her helmet “Luckily those weren’t commando droids.” I looked down and realized that my food was gone. It’s anyhow fast time goes when you are telling war stories. “I prefer stealth and staying at range but, Having grown up on Duxnn I’ve learned to be flexible with how I fight. What do you prefer?”

Isabeau

 

[Isabeau]

A bright smile grew on her lips right as a hearty laugh escaped her. Of course, it was the sisters' tongue lashing which left the lasting impact. "Don't get on the bad side of a Mandalorian" she said, her voice amused as she delivered the joke.

A skeptical eyebrow rose as he felled the comment on how lucky she was. It was an odd comment to make, seeing as it put her war story in a less bright light than how she presented it herself. For her it was a highlight and something to be proud of. Isabeau looked at the man for a few moments, concluding that he would hardly see her as some form of rival since he was a bit older than herself and probably way more experienced and capable too. Perhaps it was just some friendly banter? Seeing it as such, she looked at him with a mischievous smile "Who says they weren't? What can I say, I'm good at dodging stuff"

The young Mandalorian started to get up from her seat whilst listening to him speak of his fight style. "Staying hidden and fighting from range. Sounds like we are pretty alike, you and I" she said, knowing that her way of fighting was similar to his. Even the second part was true for her too. Naturally, she was weaker in some areas than others, but like most Mandalorians, she could fight in most environments and from most ranges.

"Shall we get going then?"

Thror Cal Vorn