Bucketheads vs. Trash Pandas [Mandalorian Empire Invasion of Coalition-Controlled Utapau (Hex 53-N)]

[Jak Skirata]

A Dragon Bear? Here?

Davin's thoughts spiraled wildly. Not much he could do right here would pierce the thick hide of a Mandalorian Dragon Bear. Sure, a blast from both barrels would make a Shriek-Hawk turn tail and run, he doubted an angry Battle Bear like this would even flinch. He cursed loudly and leaped to the side and rolled to a crouch.

"Damn Mando'ade bringing Drahrr'Jor to fight for them now..." He fired, two heavy bolts of plasma erupted from his blaster carbine aimed at the creature's legs.

[member="Malika Mantis"] [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Tal Vizsla"]

 

[Cotan Sar'andor]

Location: Pau City Upper Levels
Allies: [member="Nok-Krah-Nin"] [member="Vorhi Alestrani"]
Enemies: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Calina Ovmar"]
Objective: In the immortal words of Jackson Singh, AAAAAAAAAAH

There were days that Cotan wasn't sure why he did what he did. The day his Jedi Master died when he fought the Sith Lord Mythos (and he eventually got captured by the same Sith) was one of them. He could've just run away and he might've been fine. Instead, he stood and fought, doing the proper 'Jedi' thing to do. Logically, it was all a very bad idea.

Logic often did not factor into decisions such as these for Cotan.

When Nok started to fire at one of the two hostiles, Cotan activated his lightsaber, rushing forward quickly, just in time to notice the odd energies being brought up around Vorhi. He stopped a few meters away from the group, stretching out a hand and forming a barrier around Vorhi, leaving the tendrils of Dark Side energy cracking and smacking against it uselessly. "Hey, Chuff-suckers!" he yelled out to get the two Siths' attention, before thrusting forward his other hand, telekinetic energy blasting forth in an attempt to send the two of them flying off towards the sinkhole. Even if it likely didn't work, it'd hopefully at least break their concentration on Vorhi, allowing him to start fighting back as well.

OOC: yes, this post was inspired by castiel from supernatural, and no, i am not ashamed

 

[Tusk]

He heard the hammer power up and knew what was coming and braced himself against the door. The blow came just as he deactivated his mag boots, releasing him from the floor and saving his legs from a swift and brutal amputation. His boots slid across the floor, throwing sparks as he attempted to keep the door from moving too far.

It didn't matter.

His feet slid up against the door and to stop from losing his feet once again he planted them firmly on the flat surface of the door leading out of the hangar and strained against the other door. He felt the Mandalorian steel beneath his feet give as it warped beneath the force of the warrior's hammer blow. And just as quickly as the blow had come it was over.

He sighed and with a grunt pushed the blast door the other warrior had shoved in his face to the floor. It landed with a loud clang and the Gerosian fell with it.

"Alright," he grumbled, ancestral rage boiling in the pit of his stomach, "This ends now." He picked himself up and charged at the warrior.

[member="Fabula Caromed"]

 

[Rayf Vigil]

Allies: Team Trash Panda - [member="Jax Rhane"] | [member="Janick Beauchamp"] | [member="Aryn Teth"]
Enemies: Team Buckethead - [member="Kal Ordo"] (engaging) | [member="Quoron Viszla"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]
Flight: 1 Dauntless X-Wing, 2 Sprite X-Wings, 3 BB-2 Starfire Fighter-Bombers

​

Cockpit
T-110 'Dauntless' X-Wing

With the limited visibility of the Dauntless, Blue Leader couldn't see Jax and his flight break formation save on sensors. Silently, he wished Rogue Six good luck, knowing that between his capital run and their job of fighting outnumbered against a sky filled with enemy war droids and starfighters neither of them had particularly enviable tasks today. The one good thing about fighting Mandos, Rayf had noticed, was that their culture's obsession with honor and glory above all other considerations was occasionally a foolish way to behave in combat.

The Alliance starfighters streaked across the Pauan skyline at full power, like kinetic projectiles aimed right at their target, an Ordo-class Frigate floating over the city, wreaking havoc on everything around it. It took the assaulting Mandalorian air forces a few moments to begin converging on their positions, and every lone war droid they encountered before they reached it stood their ground or came right at them, falling easily to his flight's combined guns. Vigil would just have to trust that Rhane and the others would be able to hold on the oncoming tide long enough for his team to complete their run and get out.

"She's launching more basilisks," Rayf reported to his squad mates over their encrypted comm line. By now the pilot had switched on his targeting computer and his virtual HUD was giving him an enhanced view of the target frigate, "Sprites are on interference while the rest of us make our first pass."

"Picking up some uh, tracking fire from those quad turrets Blue Leader," one of the Sprite pilots, an Aqualish piped up in his ear.

"You worry about those war droids, I'll worry about the turrets!" and he was worried about them, but not because they were beginning to track his flight's attack run. It was that the majority of them weren't.

Another example of Mandalorian tactics on display, the ship's commander saw the blow coming that would wound them, and yet still prioritized his firepower to inflict the maximum amount of damage possible on Pau City's defenses instead. Rayf had to admit it was effective, in another engagement with another enemy their mere arrival on sensors could have been enough to force a frigate to give ground. But not here, not with the Mandalorian Empire. He would make them pay for it.

One by one each of the Sprites broke off to draw a war droid away from their position. One of the BB-2 bombers was dealt a glancing blow and was forced to abort. No matter, the two remaining and his Dauntless would have to do. Close to deployment range now.

"Forn one!" Blue Leader hollered, squeezing down on the trigger tied to his X-Wing's proton torpedo launchers. He pressed again, "Forn two!"

Lightning fast reflexes toggled his fire setting to interlocked laser/ion cannon fire, and the Corellian raked the frigate's broadside before the missiles had even reached his target. Hurtling past the Ordo-class at breakneck atmospheric speed, Rayf couldn't see behind him from inside the cockpit of his Dauntless, so he checked his scans instead to see if their aim had been true.

 

[Kaia Starchaser]

Post tres
Allies [member="Joza Perl"] [member="Damian Starchaser"] other Orcs
Enemies: [member="Aryn Spar"] the big cat, [member="Preliat Mantis"] the terrifying, and hopefully [member="Liset Vereen"] the one on one

Kaia was not sure why she just started firing on the Togorian. She was not thinking, and just relaxing, and reacting. She was falling into the Force something hard, and that was leading her actions. She would do the same anytie she knew someone was threatened that she cared for or considered was under her protection. And she may not be a Judge, just a Warden of the Sky, but she was still taking shots. Her hands were quick on the triggers as she kept watching, she knew Damian and Joza were here, but she was just responding, and acting.

That was when she felt Joza moving. She and Damian were both looking to engage this beast of a foe and she was going to let that happen, as soon as she could get away. Looking at Togorian, she kept up the firing until she felt the cave move. That was the Master’s doing. Grinning slightly, Kaia was more scared than anything, but she was feeling a bit in the way here. Shaking her head, she saw more coming in.

“Someone needs to stop them from getting in here.” She whispered, and all but shouted it in the Force, to someone like Damian. She needed a path cleared. Falling into the Force, she started to step forward as she saw the energy. Right, one step forward, five steps back, right behind Damian.

“We need to shut that door. Can you get me outside?” Or cause a distraction? She was smiling as she reached out to the Force, surveying the cave and the active conflict. She could make a serpentine path and get out there. Maybe link up to slow the flow.

 

[Nisha Decrilla]

Location: Mid-levels​

Allies: [member="Yasha Mantis"] [member="Tal Vizsla"] The Bucketheads​

Enemies: [member="Davin Skirata"]​

​

Was that a brother?

Mailka cursed inwardly, cursed Ra and his radical movement, cursed Mia for the divide she had created. They'd spilled enough of their kins blood and yet still there was a great chasm between her people. Would it ever be healed? She swiped at a soldier, sending him screaming across the plateau.

Plasma hissed past where her front leg had been moments ago, singing hair. The second glance her other front leg, earning a pained snarl. Buir Jorir turned to regard the mandalorian, a brother....

...who shot first.

She blew air out of her nose and bounded forward, claws extended she took a powerful swipe with her right paw.

 

[Zef Halo]

​

KYBER CRYSTAL CAVES
UTAPAU

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The two moved nearly next to each other, senses wide open to any threats. Ember's hand moved ahead of Mishel. Pointing with it further down the cave and giving her a 'shhh' sign. While not as capable in sensing through the Force, the Jedi Knight benefited from the fact they were in a cave. Any little noise would be amplified due to the sound 'bouncing' off the walls in the form of echoes.

The noise abruptly disappeared and Ember's heart paced faster. An ambush somewhere down the corner? As they slowly turned the corner and his precaution gradually rose, a brief vision in a moment's notice flashed through his mind. Less than a second after, his body twisted slightly out of his control just as a projectile pierced the edge of his biceps and triceps area of his left arm. Impact sent him down on his backside, while his blue lightsaber came to life almost instinctively in his right hand.

Gritting his teeth in pain and sweat breaking from his forehead, he looked for the source but only a shadow fleeing further down the caves caught his attention and perhaps it did catch Mishel's.

No further attack came and carefully Ember rose once more to his feet. The Jedi gave his bleeding arm a glance and realized the need for bandages before looking back into the depths of the cave where the shadow had disappeared into.

"We need....to stop them." He gathered his pacing breath. "They will shoot anyone indiscriminately."

The thoughts of the other Jedi and the workers passed through his mind. A picture of their deaths raised his concerns.

Ember's eyes fell on the teen.

"We really need to."

Ember was a Jedi. He would avoid needless murder of anyone, even a foe. He knew that perfectly but the protection of the weak from the aggressor was paramount.


[member="Mishel Noren"]

--

[member="Shia Kryze"]

 

[Julius Sedaire]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6M65s0Gm-8​

Outside Crystal Mines
Allies: @Orn Pharn | [member="Joza Perl"] | [member="Mishel Noren"] | [member="Davin Skirata"] | [member="Ember Farseer"] | [member="Kaia Starchaser"] | [member="Damian Starchaser"]
Enemies: [member="Aryn Spar"] | [member="Shia Kryze"] | [member="Yasha Mantis"] | [member="Malika Mantis"]


Ijaat watched Preliat. He knew the kid, and snorted at the overt dramatics and showmanship. Had he been doing ought else but guarding Orn, the stupendously risky display would have likely seen 'Death' die in a hail of projectiles fast enough the mewling pup wouldn't have seen or felt them coming. And the death and woe? Oh he felt it, keenly, but it was brushed aside with a modulated laugh as he stepped forward in front of Orn and to his side and opened fire on full capacity right at [member="Preliat Mantis"]. The U1MDR Shacklebolt was something out of a gunsmith's lurid dream and an opponent's nightmare. Roars like peals of thunder and flashes barked out of the muzzle, though thanks to many things like gyratic stabilizers and inertial dampeners, the gun hardly bucked from it's place on his shoulders, hands gripped tight. A cunning micro-droid drew level and compensated for everything environmental and actively helped adjust the aim and indicate to Ijaat how askew he may be. Damn near the perfect assault rifle, and certainly a weapon of shock and awe.

After a sustained burst designed to drive the target either towards him and make him easier for anyone else, or drive him into cover, the rifle went silent, and Ijaat made a mental run through of other weapons as he spoke, wreathed in a light haze of smoke and smelling of ozone and radiating an aura of nothing so melodramatic and despairing, but righteous fury and vengeance burning in every core. He may be responsible for these lunatics taking control, and he may have to work with them when it was all said and done. But the most rabid of their mongrel breed would need to be contained or put down. His voice this time was not taunting, held no rancor, and the only tone to it beyond the modulated buzz seemed to be pity and regret. Preliat could be a fine warrior if he would allow it. And for Orn's sake, he would give him that chance. If he did not relent, then he had no compunction about a fight to protect. But the Jedi Master had his word, mad as he may be, that he would have a guard during all this, to accomplish his mission as he saw and had explained. It violated none of Ijaat's principles or the tenants of the culture, and so Ijaat's word bound him to said mission until it did. That was the difference between True Mandalorian and Death Watch that so few understood. Reason over passion, and loyalty to a cause and your word.

"Olaror euk'rekr, haa'taylir meh gar liser narir ori'shya a'den bal jair. Liser gar mirdir par kak? Ra cuyir gar su euk ori'shya a pirimmuy utreekov?"

Spoiler

GEAR LIST:

• Keldabe Cannon
• U1MDR Shacklebolt Rifle
• 2x DE-10
• Gar'buir Beskar'gam
• Naast'beskad
• Bodo Baas Gunbelt
• Dinu'ul

Cybernetics/Body Enhancements:

• iBorg Clarity Neural Implant: Aurek Cortical Datasplint Node & Zerek Ascension Node
• Plaeryin boy
• Kusk Chwukkun
• Emperor's Reach Prosthetic

Fluff:

• Annulum Ignis
• Rebel Corusca Signet Ring

Mando'a: Come little pup, see if you can do more than rage and scream. Can you think for yourself? Or are you still little more than a useful idiot?

 

[Darth Sibilus]

Objectives: Look good whilst falling from the sky.
Allies: [member="Darth Carnifex"], [member="Calina Ovmar"], Bucketheads
Enemies: Trash Pandas, [member="Cotan Sar'andor"]

A great honour had been bestowed upon the young Sith Lord this day, for he had been selected to aid his newfound Mandalorian allies with the Dark Lord himself, though as he watched the Emperor and the Queen of Shadows drop toward the planet surface, the Sith Lord would hesitate and assure himself that his armour was in perfect condition. Crimson robes whipped around him, bursting forth from his metallic shell which was marked with the same cicatrix which was displayed upon his forehead. Confident, he leaped from the shuttle and descended.

The Lord of Torment travelled with inhuman speed, and as he broke through the clouds he began to use the Force like a ship would use a repulsorlift, slowing his fall with great effort until he was close enough to the ground to stop without any injury. With surprising grace, the Epicanthix landed upon his feet and straightened himself. As luck would have it, the Darth would land behind [member="Darth Carnifex"] and [member="Calina Ovmar"].

"Hello there," he calmly shouted above the bellowing of war, before tearing his blade from his belt with a smooth action, resting into a traditional Makashi stance. Unfortunately for Darth Sibilus, a blast of telekinetic energy was flying for him just as he regained his breath following the exhilarating fall. This sent him skidding backward, struggling to right himself before absorbing the brunt of the energy via tutaminis.

A malice grin spread across his face as he moved to fall in line with his allies.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[SIZE=11pt]S.S. Wretched Hive[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Utapau Airspace[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt][member="Hylocereus"] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Jorus stared, jaw gone slack. Something about getting yelled at had made the world make sense again to Hylo. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]-not even gonna respond to the dad thing-[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]But when in doubt, work. “All right. Good man. Let's do this.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]A rusty crate dropped from the sky as the Wretched Hive flew past. Jury-rigged repulsors winked on the crate’s underside. The parcel slammed into an Utapau street, where locals and Coalition affiliates stripped it of supplies. Guns, ammunition, medical kits, encrypted comms - standard Underground supplies, of which the Hive carried plenty. According to the comms officer, the supply drop was convenient to a Coalition Jedi named [member="Cotan Sar'andor"] - or at least the position he'd held in Pau City the last time anyone had ascertained his whereabouts.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Solid drop, folks.” Jorus slapped Noomay’s shell-shoulder. The Bereth-Aku medic grunted and got to packing another crate. Noomay was a Master after the tradition of Maz Kanata; the Force was strong with him, and the ysalamir field threw him off. Jorus’and the tortoise exchanged a glance of mutual understanding. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]-note to self - find a way to beat ysalamiri-[/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Hylo, any sign of Mara? Sight or comms? I'm not seeing anything.”[/SIZE]

 

[Laira Darkhold]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCQVnSOFqfM​

Crystal Caves
Allies: [member="Ijaat Mereel"] | [member="Joza Perl"] | [member="Kaia Starchaser"] | [member="Damian Starchaser"] | @Mishel Noran | [member="Ember Farseer"]
Enemies: @Prelait Mantis | [member="Aryn Spar"]

The round struck Orn in the shoulder, who responded with a grunt as it tore into his bark and the wood below. Insolent child, but then again Mandalorians were always violent by nature. That was the only language they understood fully as a whole. His companion was a little different, wounded and damaged in so many ways. Even just being near to his ally, Orn could feel the haywire sensation of pleasure and purpose. As broken as he was, a moment's conversation could not change a lifetime of war.

The flesh of the neti was exposed on the left shoulder, vines stretching across the injury in tiny strands already as the Neti watched the Mandalorian shoot and then immediately dive into the cave. With a grown the Neti rose back to his full height once again. "We have friends in the cave that need our help, but I am afraid I may not be of use on the front line compared to these younger warriors." Orn's connection to the group strengthened as they allowed him to aid them and train their focus with his power.

His staff slammed on the ground, reverberating again in the hopes of drawing the pain his allies were suffering and fatigue of combat they felt from the small group of Force Sensitives inside and onto the Neti. He grunted and ached, but this was how he would aid them. By bearing their pain and injuries while they fought.

With a grimace, Orn turned to his Mandalorian guardian. "Thank you, friend. Lead the way, and I will follow." His voice was wracked in pain, but his body did not show it, remaining tall and unyielding as the ancient redwood in a forest of ferns.

 

[Tal Vizsla]

Location: Mid-levels
Allies: Mandalorian Empire, [member="Yasha Mantis"], [member="Malika Mantis"]
Enemies: Trash Pandas, [member="Davin Skirata"]


This would be the first time Tal would reach into the mind of another of his own volition, and he very nearly rescinded his offer. He knew what it was to be invaded, overtaken, controlled. Knew the vulnerability that came with someone else having that power over you. But, he reminded himself, she had given permission. This would not make him become that thing that had consumed his mind for so long.

He stowed his pistol and dropped his hammer as Malika shifted her form and leapt the barricade, reaching out to grasp the young Mantis' buy'ce in both hands and press his helm against hers. Skin contact would have helped, but that wasn't a luxury they could afford right now. A moment later, the sights, sounds, and chaos of the battle faded from awareness as he focused his mind on hers.

Her fury was a palpable force as it crashed against his mind. Layer over layer of armor, shielding her from the sorrow he could feel beneath it all. She'd built a fortress forged of rage within her own mind, and was terrified of what might happen if she let it go. The fear was crippling her.

In his minds eye, he reached out and took hold of that fiery armor, seeking the seams and cracks left behind as she'd flung it into place. Hers was a difficult mind to breach, even with her permission, but as strong as they were, her walls were meant for one thing; to hold the grief at bay. They were not prepared to counter the mind of another. It didn't take him long to find purchase, and when he did, he focused all his energy there and pulled.

The grief hit him like a tidal wave.

Crashing into and over and through his mind, threatening to overwhelm and consume him all at once. He had never felt grief like this before, never even come close, and the fact that the girl could even still breath let alone live and fight was a testament to her tenacity and resolve. Rather than try and fight it, a battle he would likely have lost, he reached for more. Gathering as much as he could bear to hold. Then he did what he had learned to do with every other adversity in life.

He simply let it be. Acknowledged it for what it was, and let himself feel it as she did. Perhaps even more, as she'd been trying to hold it back, fighting against it to find some way to keep functioning. For the first time in his life, he felt tears stain his cheeks beneath the helm. He knew the girl would be feeling their connection just as keenly as he was, that the link would work both ways, and once he had let himself feel, had accepted the sorrow and pain, he would set it aside. There would be more time for grief later.

In its place, he showed her simple resolve. The anger was still there, but it was calm. Simmering. Waiting to rise until he called for it. It did not have to be an ever-present fury in order to be useful, and he had long ago forged his own into a weapon he could wield as he chose, rather than a tidal wave that simply carried him with it. Stillness was not what he was trying to give her. She was right in the believe that it only brought decay and death.

What he sought to give the girl was clarity. Her anger was clouding her thoughts and controlling her actions, and that was as sure a route to death as the stillness she feared so much.

Now, with her grief set aside and her fury tempered, if only just, he pulled his buy'ce away and opened his eyes to look into hers.

"Better?"

 

[Vorhi Alestrani]

Location: Pau City
Objective: Meet exotic people from far away lands, and bludgeon them.
Gear: Nice hat, a few thermal detonators, a big gourd, some brawling gloves, and a whole lot of snark. Also, the gourd is filled with tea. Not alcohol, believe it or not.

New Friends: [member="Zesiro"] [member="Cotan Sar'andor"] [member="Nok-Krah-Nin"]
New Enemies: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Calina Ovmar"] [member="Darth Sibilus"]


[Youtube]https://youtu.be/VzpWJx3I2DY[/youtube]


The blind monk watched as not one, but three separate energies came towards him. The Emperor, true his fashion went for a dramatic bit of sorcery. Heaven under the spell in old Sith. Panathan accent made it a pain to parse. Something about coils that devour the essence of life. Feh, he was better at written translation. He could see the effects, though. From behind, another net seemed to wrap around that one. different form though. Less.....conviction to it. He raised a hand, ready to star slapping away the tendrils, until a barrier showed up. Jedi in nature. Born form conviction of endurance. Well, that was certainly nice of someone outside him. A giant hamster ball. He grinned. He sipped a shot of tea from his gourd and re-corked it.




What was that old saying? If you don't like it, you can pound sand? Eh, close enough. The beauty of seeing through the force is that you noticed things others didn't. The way a man's emotions change when he's taunted. The anger and resentment inside a forgotten lover's smile. The raw passion felt from a truly sincere act of love and devotion. But you also noticed where life, and energy was. You saw through walls, and armors and floors. In this case, a three foot floor that led to another vertical slope. Vorhi grinned, focusing his own energy, and swung down like a jack hammer, repeatedly and hysterically. He cackled. He screamed. Brick-breaking was so much more interesting when lives were on the line. He smiled as he wriggled through the floor. Dust and a whole. Keep the barrier up for just a moment, though. Let these Sith trust their eyes. He landed on the street below the one they were on. Pit city. What a lovely thing.


He focused into his legs, breathing deeply and running alongside the cliff, jumping up, now standing behind Kaine by a few hundred feet. "I suppose I am quite loud at that!" He said with a laugh. "But at least I'm fashionable. Capes? They aren't what I'd call slimming, your grace," he was still smiling. As if he was either entirely unaware that an increasing number of people were trying to kill him. No, he was aware. He was just enjoying it. He smiled, warmly. "Offer still stands on the tea."

 

[Ginnie Dib]

Location: Pau City Upper Level
Allies: Mandalorians who don't want her dead… [member="Elam Vos"]… and depending on whether he wants to kill me for protecting his infant son or not, [member="Connory"].
Enemies: Everyone who wants her adopted son.

The Outer Rim Consortium was on the other side of the Galaxy. Elam and Leto had long since ditched their old ships, coming to Utapau for supplies before their fresh start.

“Mando’s…” Leto gulped down her stimcaf and let her jaw drop. “Why are there Mandos?!”

Rushing out of the cafe, Leto grabbed the nearest ORC defence force member she could find by the lapels. “WHY ARE THERE MANDOS!?!?”

“Ah—a-annngk…” Blaster fire struck the man in the back. Leto clung to his lapels for a moment, looking past him to the Mandalorian who fired, ‘Leto’ stared in base and paralyzing shock.

“… Ginnie? Ginnie Ordo?” Ur’shi Guarr lowered her rifle as her helmeted head cocked to the side.

“Shhhhhhhheep on a ship… kark! Frak! Friggin’ mother of modem jumping… Ur’shi I’m sorry!” Leto grabbed the ORC corpse’s blaster, and fired as Ur’shi raised hers back up.

“You trai—t—“ Ur’shi’s armour was reforged from her mother and grandmothers. It was light. The armour weave thinned at the juncture between the chest plate and the belly… something Ginnie’d promised to fix in her forge, before the Civil War. Leto fired until Ur’shi was a twitching mass on the ground, and dragged her back into the cafe.

“Shut the doors! Turn off the lights, raise the temp!” Leto telekinetically shoving tables in front of the doors and windows with a swoop of her hand. The frightened denizens of the cafe began to scramble, as the owner stood in shock.

“Do it!”

“Did you… did you kill that girl?”

“Yes I did.” Leto disrobed Ur’shi, putting the armour on her own body. She pulled a comm from her pocket and flicked it.

“[member="Elam Vos"] ([member="Kal Ordo"])… Elam abort. Abort landing… run c’yare… out of the system. I’ll find you just… frick… fly away… I love you. Both of you… keep running.” She clicked off the comm and set it back in her pocket, switching boots and feeling satisfied that Ur’shii was both taller and wider than her once-friend.

“Ur’shi… I’m sorry I need to know what the Mandos are up to so I can get my family out… I’m so sorry.” Leto stuck her naked hand on Ur’shi’s face, and a flood of memories jutted into the Force Sensitive Kiffar. Letting go with a pant, Leto finished putting on her armour and slid the buy’ce over her head to the rush-click of the enviro seal trying to engage.

Checking the rifle for ammo levels, Leto forced herself to breathe. Get to the Upper Level. Take a bes’uliik… use her old Rally Master codes. Get to a ship… get the kark out of Utapau before rabid Mandalorians figured out the one who kept the baby of Mia Monroe and [member="Connory"] safe was there at all. Maybe along the way she could kill one of the frakkers, who kept threatening to kill her adopted kid… no. Getting out safely was more important than vengeance.

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

In terms of time to react, Silas had a few seconds at best, far to few to do anything that would get him clear, so instead he got out from under the largest up the crates, held up the B1 and braced himself. As the avalanche of crates came tumbling down Silas was buried beneath, for a moment he simply laid there with his ears ringing, trapped in blackness with only the sounds of war echoing around him. But he would not stay down.

Leading with his prosthetic he dug his way out in a matter of seconds, anger burning so hot it seemed like it would peel away his skin. Hit with the augmented strength of his prosthetic the last crate in his path flew across the room like a rocket, slamming hard into the opposite wall as the seething Mantis emerged. He had a Westar drawn and ready, his shotgun was nowhere to be seen, but he didn't need it.

Now he wanted things up close and personal. Letting out an angry snarl he clawed his way over the mess and hefted his blaster, firing repeatedly where he'd seen Connory last. He had no idea if the man had moved, but if Silas was going to be damn sure to make him regret it if he hadn't. His prosthetic remained an empty fist despite the presence of a second pistol, he had other things in mind.

MANDALORIAN DREADNOUGHT
SUPPLY ROOM NEAR AFT HANGAR
ENEMIES: Mandalorian Empire (in the person of [member="Silas Mantis"])
ALLIES: ORC and friends

A handful of steps to the left took Connory around the other side of the falling shelves, and he dropped his bag of tricks and charged. Mantis' blasterfire shattered crates throughout the cluttered supply room. A piece cracked Connory upside the head, hard enough that the HUD futzed and died. His generic buy'ce remained a pretty decent shock absorber, though, so he kept the helmet on for now.

Mantis had rooted himself pretty well to be throwing heavy things around like that. As Mantis came into clearer view through the tumble of crates, Connory sprinted and dove at the younger man's right side. He slid feet-first through the mess. The idea was to smash into Mantis' strongly rooted legs and snap them. Connory's prosthetics started at the knee. Cyborg joints snapped out to enhance the kick and compensate for lost momentum. Sliding through fallen cargo in beskar'gam wasn't the most ideal way to pick up speed, after all.

He kept an eye out for that fething shotgun, so far as the situation allowed. A blaster could punch a hole in his body glove if Mantis brought it to bear; at ultra-close range, though, that shotgun was a lot scarier. As he slid, Connory drew a simple vibroknife for future options. His doorbreacher, sonic servodriver, and kit bag were now back behind him, on the other side of a fallen shelving unit and a lot of crates. No more tricks, not for the moment anyway. And he couldn't let himself dwell on his need to capture and interrogate Mandos who might know about the hunt for his son.

Focus on anything other than killing the other man, and you'd be the one that got killed. Basic, basic, basic.

 

[Hylocereus]

Pandas: [member="Vorhi Alestrani"] [member="Zesiro"] [member="Cotan Sar'andor"] [member="Nok-Krah-Nin"] [member="Jorus Merrill"]
Bucketheads: [member="Darth Carnifex"] [member="Calina Ovmar"] [member="Darth Sibilus"]
Location: Flying overhead on the Wretched Hive

Hylo concentrated on the work at hand helping the crew of the wretched hive gather and pack various supplies. The bay was soon filled with various loads of repulsor equipped cargo skiffs to be thrown from the back. In addition a strange little bunny like creature on the crew managed to find a number of ejection seats complete with survival capsules that he was retrofitting on the fly to drop to people below. "You know Jorus," Hylo said through his communications as they prepared for a drop. "You should really invest in this. You could make a fortune!" Okay so Hylo didn't really know anything about business, but that didn't matter. It was human custom to engage in witty banter. "I'm sure you're stocks would bounce back." Was that a good dad joke Jorus? he thought to himself.

Gathering the various cargo and considering for a moment he pulled out a number of seeds adding to the care package. Packing them in a small container of dirt as he pushed the hover cart toward the cargo drop he used the force to enhance and grow. Some bota leafs started to appear next to the little note explaining their use in medicinal tea as he reached the end of the ramp and was about to... oh feth.

Somehow Hylo had also thrown a cherry tree into the mix. The tree formed and grew large the wind catching it and throwing it out of the ship. Pink blossoms scattered into the wind raining thousands of cherry blossoms down onto the combat below.

"Uh," Hylo said panicked looking around at the other crew members, "No Jorus, no sign of Mara from above," He gulped hard and tried to speak to her telepathically again to no avail. "Something is blocking me from her."

Hylo hoped that tree didn't hit anyone...

 

[Silas Mantis]

Location: Mando Ship
Allies: ME
Enemies: [member="Connory"]

Connory made his move, he came close and fast. Silas knew he had an instant to act, and to his credit he tried, but while one leg moved out of the path of the slide, the other froze up as pain shot through it. The same knee that had been sliced open with a beskad in Sundari now failed him in his time of need, and his opponent's kick would land with a wet crack.

But, even as he let out a roar of agony, rage and anger swirled together into a intoxicating cocktail of destruction. Time moved in slow motion as his pained war cry filled the hold, the Mandalorian's rage echoing off the walls.

His leg had failed him, and Connory was in close with a knife, but in Silas' previously empty prosthetic hand was the unmistakable shape of a tomahawk. As he sunk down, broken leg beginning to give out beneath him, the axe blade came down at blistering, inhuman speed with little over a half ton of force behind it, aimed right for the gap between the shoulder and chestplates.

Damn his guilt, damn second thoughts, damn the child. All he cared about was killing this man.

 

[Ara Zambrano]

Location: Landing Pads of Pau City, Outside the City Limits // Tribune Class Diplomatic Corvette.
Allies: [member="Brennan Cabrol"] // ORC
Significant Persons: [member="Bryce Bantam"] / [member="Leo Vandermolen"] / [member="Raveem Va'ah"]
Enemies: The Mandalorian Empire.
Equipment: Arch-Queen’s armour // Ba’Vanim, Ara Zambrano’s Lightsaber
NPCs Present: : Royal Guard (4 members)​

The soft fabric of her delicate boot soles made little sound on the loading ramp as they descended, the palpable anger in her companion’s words swirling around them with a vicious intensity. Amber-flecked eyes flashed to the side, a small curl of the lip upward complementing the wicked sparkle backlighting her gaze as he continued, one eyebrow arching up delicately. There was no question in her mind that the man deserved little mercy for the destruction of the FIV Executioner’s hangar, as well as the soldiers and craft within, much less for the damage done to her person, a shoulder that still ached with use and a knee that barely supported her weight without assistance. Yet, they were here, not for personal vengeance, but for power, power over a man and his people. As intoxicating as the thought of watching his breath leave his body, the spark of light fading slowly from emerald eyes filled with desperation and pain, might be, the promise of a stronger hold kept her bloodlust in check even against one who had nearly killed her.

”Have faith that the threat would hardly make its way out of his mouth, should he make the attempt.”

For her life, once saved by his hand, Ara would have spared him and his, a tentative respect born of debt and gratitude. But for his actions against the First Order, albeit in a misguided attempt to preserve the freedom of his crew, he would come to learn that the once weak and desperate woman he had saved was now a formidable enemy, should he continue to make her one. If one thing had been learned in the volatile battle aboard Sieger Ren’s flagship, it was that the Marshall would risk everything to protect his own. A trait the Master of Ren looked forward to exploiting.

”Arrogant women seem to be your lot in life, Brennan.”

A soft chuckle and playful wink accompanied the flat comment, little to be discerned from the words themselves, all humor showing through her easy expression as the pair rendezvoused with the ancient droid awaiting their arrival on the small landing pad. Surprise and disapproval flashed across her face at the impersonal welcome, a disparaging thought about the man’s obsession with droids fleeing her mind as another brushed against her own.

Your majesty, reports of an attack against Utapau are filtering in. Mandalorians.​

The soft voice of one of her guards permeated her thoughts, the message hardened with anger and brief in its simplicity alerting her to the danger unfolding amongst the upper levels of Pau city. Anger flashed behind crimson irises as Ara caught Brennan’s gaze, ensuring he had also been informed of the imminent danger. It seemed their trip to the Outer Rim would be far more tumultuous than even she could have predicted.

Bring half of your guard to us immediately, along with any spare weaponry and armour available. Leave the rest of your people with our guest.​

The orders dispatched, with confirmation from the Knight of Ren at her side, the Arch-Queen followed the ancient automaton deeper within the arching curves of the cavernous hollow somewhere on the outskirts of Pau City Proper.

Rage washed over her shortly before the metallic tang of scales mixed with the stagnant scent of dust and musk of sweat did. All flecks of amber fleeing as Darkness arose in response to the powerful emotion emanating from deep within the stables, her stride growing stronger as the pull towards the figure within drew her closer. Soft hoots and the gentle bristling of feathers echoed throughout the stables as they approached, blues and greens mixed with the occasional glimpse of dusky browns and coppers flashing across her peripheral vision as they progressed, the soft skin across the bridge of her nose pinching together unpleasantly as she considered the unusual creatures within each stall. A contradicting mix of avian and reptilian, they were utterly foreign to the girl raised in the depths of the Coruscanti Underworld.

Any visible discomfort melted away as a familiar copper haired rouge came into view, the finishing touches of armour being wrapped around shins and forearms, greys and browns set off by a bright red duster. Anger bathed his form, her head canting to the side in interest as she beheld the usually easy-going Master lost in the throes of his own emotions, a crackled and cast away datapad catching her gaze briefly before a purring, sarcastic comment announced their presence.

”I was going to begin with a complaint as to the pitiful amount you placed on my head, but perhaps we should begin with your poor fashion sense, Mr. Bantam.”

 

[Wolf Trammer]

Location: Landing Pads of Pau City, Outside the City Limits
Allies: ORC
Significant Persons: [member="Bryce Bantam"] / [member="Leo Vandermolen"] / [member="Ara Zambrano"] / [member="Brennan Cabrol"]
Enemies: The Mandalorian Empire.

Raveem had followed this... small droid from the landing pad up to a set of stables. His mane stood up slightly, less from anger but more than his sense of smell was being overwhelmed by the number of foreign creatures within. With a loud sigh, he marched on, approaching the stables, following the droid as he did. Once there he encountered two figures. One, a rogue looking humanoid with a red duster, (Could really use some fashion advice...) thought the Bothan... who since he was little had been taught to only dress in the best silks and only in the trending fashion of the era. The second individual, well she was, something else. Before he could make an assessment of her, a sudden feeling of dread overcame him. It wasn't the first time something like this had occurred to him. Last time this happened he was running from one rogue Sith (whatever that meant). He wanted it to go away, but as he got closer it simply got stronger and stronger... until... even when he was relatively far away, he felt like he was being watched...

In dissimulated manner, he looked around. No cameras, or droids... only these two individuals... and the woman. It was strange. His entire mind was telling him to leave. Ditch this job and find another. But the greedy corner of his brain was urging him on. With a gulp, and tightening his hold on his datapad close to his chest he remained relatively nearby, but away from the two figures who, by now, he could tell would at some point spark trouble. Even now, he was getting ready to turn tail and leave. But not yet. He wanted to get paid... and figure out what was going on in the process. Utapau looked rather calm from above, but something told him this planet was a powder keg ready to explode... if it had not already.

 

[Yasha Cadera]

Location: Pau City Mid Levels
Allies: Mando’ade Team Beskad [member="Vilaz Munin"] | [member="Darth Carnifex"] | [member="Malika Mantis"] | [member="Calina Ovmar"] | [member="Beskadala Ordo"] | [member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Quoron"] Vizsla | [member="Kal Ordo"] | [member="Tal Vizsla"]
Enemies: ORC [member="Sanya Val Swift"] | [member="Vorhi Alestrani"] | [member="Davin Skirata"]

The silence of agony shuddered into Yasha’s complex and genetically protected mind. In the back of her consciousness, Yasha remembered what [member="Baiko no Kaho"] said about her race, that Epicanthix were immune to mentalism by nature, and wondered if [member="Tal Vizsla"] would be able to work. Maybe the sheer force of Yasha’s young emotions made the difference, maybe the intimate distance, maybe the fact Yasha let him in… but Tal was there, combing through her like a skiff atop a harvester at season’s end.

A child was nothing if not vulnerable. By definition and design, childhood was the time of vulnerability and growth, the dawning of self-dependence occurring at its’ complicated and confusing end. At thirteen, Yasha was indecently independent for her age. She long since learned how to take care of herself through trials of plasmic fire from the Blood Plains to the radioactive ruins of Manda’yaim.

In the centre of the grief, a constantly repeating vision of the final battle of the Civil War:

“Yasha, come to Mama. Come,Yasha. Mama needs you, Yasha, come home now. This world is too big for you. You’re not strong, honey. You’re surviving on other people’s good graces. They won’t let you forever, you’re getting people hurt. Ra, your Daddy, Uncle Silas. They’re all going to get hurt because you’re not coming home.” Aditya wrapped her ethereal arms around her unconscious daughter, a mirage of a dying mind. Yasha’s body went slack in [member="Kaden Mantis"]’ arms….

To survive the sniper shot, Yasha covered her grief with the only emotion she had which was stronger. Rage. Unadulterated and pure anger. In the pivotal moment of her young life, Yasha chose to betray her mother’s desire and stay among the living… and it tore at her heart like the katar in her gauntlets.

Yasha felt the tears streaking down Tal Vizsla’s face, without seeing them. She bucked in the painful loneliness and sense of wrongs done which seemed as real to her as they were to him. Would she keep them later, Yasha didn’t know.

What she did know was the castle of rage built to protect her from the immense grief was rubble, and in its’ place, the grief flowed like a river. The grief itself subsided, calmed and the diligence of duty rocked wave-like in its’ place.

Yasha’s breathing settled and her muscles unclenched. Her hands snaked onto Tal’s shoulders. The Cuir Rekr’s youngest member slid her back against the barricade as the sounds of battle began to peak through once more.

“Better…” The girl peered through an opaque casing of colour and black beskar. Behind which, brown eyes searched the Umbaran’s face. “Thanks… let’s give our vode the chance to steal those crystals.”

Her hands slid from his arms. She peered around the barricade to see her aunt taking fire from [member="Davin Skirata"]… further off, [member="Darth Carnifex"] and his apprentice [member="Calina Ovmar"] fought what looked like a miniature carnosaur, and a drunken master.

Yasha pumped her MF44 shotgun. “Stay alive… don’t make me go back to the Netherworld to pull your shebs through the Gate.”

Lunging out of cover, Yasha rolled and fired her MF44 at [member="Davin Skirata"], scampering behind another small debris pile for cover.