Alpha-95
RIMWARD RANGER CORPS JOINT MISSION
OPERATION: WEEDWHACKER
==============================================
Sith. Vong. Bryn'adul. The galaxy had seen more than its fair share of monsters. But as Krenis double-checked his Westar-34 and the gas-canister in his wrist-mounted flamethrower, it struck him that the greatest monster was among the most ancient.
Drengir.
Weird, carnivorous plants from long ago whose seeds could lay dormant for years before springing up to devour organic beings. He didn't quite understand them, but he was glad they hadn't been involved in the Clone Wars. While most of his equipment and training was against droids, he had a feeling much of that would work against Drengir. Organic superdroids, almost. No ion weapons this time, but fire and ice and gravity would make a difference.
Word had trickled in from Sevaracos to the Ranger headquarters at Svivren. Spice miners missing, even the spiders having vanished, and tunnels overcome by unexpected vines. The intel had filtered out to the Ranger Corps and through ORION to the privateers. Krenis had put the word out to assemble a team under letter of marque and, deputized as a temporary Ranger, he'd put down on Sevaracos.
The helmet of his beskar'gam filtered out the spice in the air, but the windswept dust grated against his armor, scoring streaks of his armor away. The small visor helped keep his viewplate clear, but the sand wasn't quite enough to scratch the transparisteel.
"Alright, troops," Krenis said, his voice modulated by the helmet. "These are every sentient being's nightmare dwelling deep in these tunnels. A hive-mind, super tough, fast healing, and they will eat every one of us if they get the chance."
He patted his chest plate so his gauntleted fist echoed off the beskar. "But let's make ourselves inedible. Work as a team, cover each other. Always have a back-up weapon handy. Concentrate your fire with your battle buddy. Keep your cams on if you want the full bounty."
Krenis surveyed his strike team, drawn from all over the Outer Rim and beyond. "I'll be honest with you. This could be among the toughest fights any of us have ever been in. Trust your instincts. Trust your skills. Keep your minds focused. They can take over even Jedi's minds, so pay attention to what you're doing and what you're thinking. Help your comrades. Any questions?"
If there were none, he turned the light on his helmet and stared into the cave entrance. "Let's push in."
OPERATION: WEEDWHACKER
==============================================
Sith. Vong. Bryn'adul. The galaxy had seen more than its fair share of monsters. But as Krenis double-checked his Westar-34 and the gas-canister in his wrist-mounted flamethrower, it struck him that the greatest monster was among the most ancient.
Drengir.
Weird, carnivorous plants from long ago whose seeds could lay dormant for years before springing up to devour organic beings. He didn't quite understand them, but he was glad they hadn't been involved in the Clone Wars. While most of his equipment and training was against droids, he had a feeling much of that would work against Drengir. Organic superdroids, almost. No ion weapons this time, but fire and ice and gravity would make a difference.
Word had trickled in from Sevaracos to the Ranger headquarters at Svivren. Spice miners missing, even the spiders having vanished, and tunnels overcome by unexpected vines. The intel had filtered out to the Ranger Corps and through ORION to the privateers. Krenis had put the word out to assemble a team under letter of marque and, deputized as a temporary Ranger, he'd put down on Sevaracos.
The helmet of his beskar'gam filtered out the spice in the air, but the windswept dust grated against his armor, scoring streaks of his armor away. The small visor helped keep his viewplate clear, but the sand wasn't quite enough to scratch the transparisteel.
"Alright, troops," Krenis said, his voice modulated by the helmet. "These are every sentient being's nightmare dwelling deep in these tunnels. A hive-mind, super tough, fast healing, and they will eat every one of us if they get the chance."
He patted his chest plate so his gauntleted fist echoed off the beskar. "But let's make ourselves inedible. Work as a team, cover each other. Always have a back-up weapon handy. Concentrate your fire with your battle buddy. Keep your cams on if you want the full bounty."
Krenis surveyed his strike team, drawn from all over the Outer Rim and beyond. "I'll be honest with you. This could be among the toughest fights any of us have ever been in. Trust your instincts. Trust your skills. Keep your minds focused. They can take over even Jedi's minds, so pay attention to what you're doing and what you're thinking. Help your comrades. Any questions?"
If there were none, he turned the light on his helmet and stared into the cave entrance. "Let's push in."