Moving Mountains (Mandalorian Protectors)

[Anija Betna]

Spoiler

@Anija Ordo | [member="Arrbi Betna"] | [member="Atin Kandossii"] | [member="Ember Rekali"] | [member="Evi Sohl"] | [member="Jaden Taacyn"] | [member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Nolan Detta"] | [member="Olivia Dem'adas"] | [member="Shaw McKeller"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]

Chuckling to herself, she shook her head. Arrbi was right, of course. She shouldn't have been so hard on Nolan. She sighed then, realizing that she was still very much on edge after Teta. She didn't know what would happen now. Feth. They didn't even know who the next Mand'alor would be yet. That alone had her worried. And, she realized that her worry and apprehension might be affecting the others. She muttered at herself and shook her head again. A deep breath and then another as she tried to calm herself and to focus.

They had a job to do, but that didn't mean they couldn't have a little fun. After a moment's thought, she sent a message to Nolan. Sorry I was so hard on you, Vod. I know you mean well, and you're trying to get the work done faster. Vor'e for that. Then, she turned her attention back to supervising the lifter droid modification. As she continued to work on this, she sensed a familiar presence coming up behind her. She paid it no mind for the moment, but still jumped slightly when E'vi spoke just behind her shoulder. "I wish you wouldn't do that, dalyc'vod... I don't need a heart attack.." she tried to joke slightly, but wasn't sure it would work. At her sister's comment, she laughed slightly. "The shape you had before seemed to work well to keep you warm, why don't you stick to that...?" Having said so, she passed E'vi a thermos of behot. The mess hall had been set up not long before. Granted, there wasn't much of a selection, but they at least had hot food and caf and behot. "As to where I need you... see if you can help out with getting cables run in the corridors, or shoring up the tunnel walls."

She turned and gripped E'vi's arm firmly for a moment before moving off towards the mess hall for more behot. The construction itself was moving along a lot quicker than Anija had thought possible. But with the help of Atin's vode, and the engineers from Dem'adas, as well as many others, they had more than enough hands to accomplish what needed done. As she made her way down the tunnels towards the mess hall, she reached to the Force for calm, drawing the energy into herself in an attempt to keep warm. She had sensed Ember doing the same thing as he worked further down in the tunnels. At this rate, the construction on the first Protector base would be done well ahead of the projection schedule.

 

[Arrbi Betna]

Betna entered the rough-hewn area that would become the northern base's command room. The place still smelled of explosives and drill oil, but it was shaping up nicely. Workers were smoothing out the walls and generally getting the place ready for use, ensuring all things were in order. Arrbi set his datapad on the folding table currently in the room's center and reviewed the incoming reports. [member="Atin Kandossii"] had reported the light anti-air guns delivered from Firemane had been installed and that they were moving on to the heavy anti-air cannons. This was excellent news. The sooner the heavy stuff was installed, the sooner they could install other things like the shielding units and other important things, specifically heating units. Betna wrote an acknowledgment off to his vod from the Kandossii clan and moved on to the other reports.

[member="Nolan Detta"] had given the clear that the trench lines outside had been dug and that they were to stock with ammo and supplies. Betna knew that a basic trench was better than no trench, but they had plenty of time and the materials at hand to make things a little... homier.

"Nolan, go ahead and snag the engineers from nearby. Let them know you're done and they'll send a few crews over. The trenches are going to be more or less sealed up and covered overhead. Let them reinforce the trenches and give you boys a roof, then we'll start installing ammo and supplies," Betna said with a grin. A second later, a small icon popped up on his HUD. More weapons needed pickup. "Oh, and while the crews are working, go ahead and grab the weapon supply out there. I'll mark it on your HUD. Some .32 and .50 cals by Mandal Hypernautics and some automatic grenade launchers by MandalTech. Figure you boys can find some nice areas for some more permanent homes for those toys."

From there he swapped frequencies to [member="Olivia Dem'adas"]' comms. He had a specific job for her and her clansmen.

"Alor, I need your engineers to start setting up the orbital defense cannons, the Tempest cannons specifically. Your engineers know what they're doing and I know you do, too. If you can get them where they've got a nice, easy shot of most of the horizon, but where we can still defend them easily, I'd greatly appreciate it, vod."

 

[Muad Dib]

"Vode! I thought I said grab a bite to eat, not eat everything." His clan laughed and pushed each other as they stood and stowed any miscellaneous gear on the tables. They knew Atin. He was often too serious but he also know how to alleviate tension and to raise spirits. His little line did both. As they passed him to enter the tunnels to their new spots of excavation Atin spoke a word here or a pat here. A mock glare or one of his rare smiles. His vode were his aliit. He loved them all and they knew it.

As Gett and Janson paused next to him Atin scanned the chow room. Nodding at Anija and then Arrbi he moved into the tunnel with his two brothers. "Gett get them tunneling up again. Janson get the wire ready to run and the platforms ready to get dropped off. My group will head topside and start plowing down. We'll also get the heavy durasteel cages and bring them with us."

Smacking both on their shoulder plates he headed with his group. Behind Both Janson and Gett hollerd, "Oya!" Shaking his head he jogged to catch up. As they branched off they moved into one of the exits and began to climb to the surface. Once topside they sealed their suits and moved to their niches and got to work.

[member="Arrbi Betna"] [member="Anija Ordo"]

 

[Shaw McKeller]

Bit by bit, the tunnels became reality. Rock was sundered by fire and shoved to the side. More explosives were placed and more stone was shifted. It was repetitive, laborious, and tedious, but it passed the time and the results were worth it. After a few more minutes, the tunneling was taken over by drills and mining equipment. Shaw couldn't pass up the opportunity at hand.

Hefting the huge drill used for mining deeper into the rock, he proceeded to head towards the stone ahead. Activating the machine, he drove the drill tip into the rock, the metal bit biting into the stone with a keening, grinding sound. He felt the drill shudder violently in his hands, but kept it in place, putting his weight into the drill and pushing it further into the rock. After a few minutes, he pulled the drill out of the hole in the rock and got to work on another.

Work had only just begun.

Spoiler

[member="Anija Ordo"]
[member="Arrbi Betna"]
[member="Atin Kandossii"]
[member="Ember Rekali"]
[member="Evi Sohl"]
[member="Jaden Taacyn"]
[member="Mia Monroe"]
[member="Nolan Detta"]
[member="Olivia Dem'adas"]
[member="Shaw McKeller"]
[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
[member="Vilaz Munin"]
[member="Naast'ika Laaran"]

 

[Olivia Dem'adas]

Olivia swung a pick-axe next to her brothers and sisters from Clan Dem'adas. The ground was cold and hard, but it gave way to the will of the Mando'ade like all other things in nature. She and her clansmen dug at the cold dirt as they formed the inner passageways of what would eventually become a great fortress. They were nearing the end of a section when her helmet's communicator chirped to life.

"Alor, I need your engineers to start setting up the orbital defense cannons, the Tempest cannons specifically. Your engineers know what they're doing and I know you do, too. If you can get them where they've got a nice, easy shot of most of the horizon, but where we can still defend them easily, I'd greatly appreciate it, vod."

Olivia growled slightly as she hung her head and rested her axe upon the frozen ground. <That damned Betna brat.> She thought to herself. "Patch the schematics through to my suit." She said with only the barest hint of annoyance. "I'll review the layout... and give your damned guns a room with a view."

A moment later and her helmet's internal display lit up with blue lines outlining the surrounding area. The areas currently completed were marked in yellow. The areas yet to be completed were marked red. But through it all, she saw the final outline on the planned structure. Frozen mountains, underground complexes, physical and energy shielding, weapon emplacements, bunkers, armories, mess halls, command centers, air-traffic control centers... everything danced before her eyes as she reviewed the planned structure. The 'map' slowly panned back at her command, revealing the surrounding terrain. The skyline revealed itself to her, along with the closest orbital stations and celestial bodies. To her trained eye, the choice was clear.

A second later, the map was transmitted back to the Betna brat with two new areas were highlighted as red.

"Come on kids." Olivia said sarcastically to her clansmen. "Lets go set up the big toys."

 

[Muad Dib]

Grunting from inside his buy'ce Atin struggled with getting the heavy weapons platform unwedged in the crevice. But despite his efforts it neither budged nor gave any inclination of wanting to. Rising he stepped back an opened his comm. "This is Atin at site eight. We are going to need a repulsor sled and a few more vode."

Stepping free from the niche in the mountain he looked down the frozen slope as other works crews busted their shebs to get their work done. Which was what his people had been doing for hours. But just as they were getting their platform moved into place the repulsor lift they were using crapped out.

Shaking his head he turned back to the platform and squinted. It could easily be an hour before more of their clan arrived. And he didn't want his aliit having to help complete his group's task after working on their own so successfully for hours. Closing his eyes he reached down focusing on the force. Tapping into it he let it fill him as he visualized the platform and where it had slid nearly six feet off course. If he could just lift it and shift it to the right it could then be anchored and the power could be hooked up.

With the force he caressed the platform visualizing it's outline and contours. With a firm yet powerful grip he began applying pressure. Slowly the platform shifted. Minutes or seconds later He felt the platform slide into position and so he slowly eased up on the force. With his connection released he opened his eyes and watched as his group began connecting the power.

"Over his communicator reports began trickling in as his other work crews reported that they had finished their assignments. With his crew finished all heavy anti air artillery platforms were installed and had power. Sending in the report he dismissed his aliit to eat and catch a few hours of shut eye before it was time to get back to work.

Walking down on of the tunnels he made his way to one of the hangers and found a wall out of the way and slowly slid down t's length before removing his buy'ce. Closing his eyes he reclined his head.

Anija Ordo
Arrbi Betna
Ember Rekali
Evi Sohl
Jaden Taacyn
Mia Monroe
Nolan Detta
Olivia Dem'adas
Shaw McKeller
Siobhan Kerrigan
Vilaz Munin
Naast'ika Laaran

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan excitedly ran off to gather the incoming shipment of toys for the rest of the boys. He grabbed a repulsor cart and made off into the snow.

He picked up the weapons crates happily and was humming a drinking shanty all the way back. When he returned, he had a couple engineers aid him in assembling and placing the various BFG's. Guaranteed 30 degrees of vision for every emplacement and even minor overlap in some stations. He high dived the Vod helping him upon completion. They threw some thermal covers over them to protect the components from the weather.

"All set up bosses. Me and the guys have the toys in their cubbies. Ready for use. I say a quick break for some hot Caf and grub may be order, No?

[member="Olivia Dem'adas"][member="Shaw McKeller"][member="Atin Kandossii"][member="Arrbi Betna"][member="Anija Ordo"]

 

[Anija Betna]

Anija Ordo | [member="Arrbi Betna"] | [member="Atin Kandossii"] | [member="Ember Rekali"] | [member="Evi Sohl"] | [member="Jaden Taacyn"] | [member="Mia Monroe"] | [member="Nolan Detta"] | [member="Olivia Dem'adas"] | [member="Shaw McKeller"] | [member="Siobhan Kerrigan"] | [member="Vilaz Munin"]

Anija listened to the comm chatter. From all reports, the installation work was going extremely well. She filled her mug with more steaming behot before she moved back out into the icy corridors. The work was progressing quickly with those few she had initially recruited leading various construction crews filled with other volunteers. Much faster than even she anticipated. That caused a satisfied grin to spread over her face, and she sipped carefully at the steaming liquid as she wandered down the corridors, her helmet clicking against her thigh plates. It was encouraging to hear that the people who had recently joined were taking to their work with such enthusiasm. Not only was it getting the work done quicker, but it helped them keep warmer in the process. And, the vision of the Protectors was becoming reality.

 

[Nolan Detta]

Nolan ran to a hilltop, overlooking the expanse of the frozen world before him. He was excited to be part of the new sexy of Mandos that were going to be the elite force of the Vod and he started jumping around a little like a child with a new toy.

He jumped and rolled down the embankment, flinging snow everywhere as he tumbled joyfully.


[member="Anija Ordo"]

 

[Muad Dib]

He woke with a start. The cold air fogged with every breath. On either side of him stood vode, Gett on the left and Janson on his right. Janson grinned as he spoke, "You are so cute when you sleep." Gett nodded and added, " You drool. How does Chloe put up with you?" Atin sighed and let his head droop while moaning, "I knew I should have left you on Taniv. Then I wouldn't have to listen to you two."

Gett and Janson grinned at each other as Atin stood. Back to business he looked from one to another. "Time to get back to work. Grab our vode and lets start excavating." At least his men knew when it was time to be serious. They collected the aliit and when back they hit the tools and went to work. Drilling, sledging, loading, and an occasional explosion cleared things as quarters, the mess, and other rooms began to take place.

Looking at things Atin began to wonder about a bang out route. Typing on the datalink on his gauntlet he created a small schematic that showed the mountain. On it were tunnels leading from the mountain out kilometers in either direction. Some of the tunnels were emergency escape while others were narrow corridors just large enough for a fighter to speed down from a central hanger bay. That way they could launch fighters from many different directions and locations instead of a single point of focus. It was a thought. Shrugging he got back to work.

[member="Anija Ordo"] [member="Arrbi Betna"]

 

[Arrbi Betna]

Spoiler

[member="Anija Ordo"]
[member="Arrbi Betna"]
[member="Atin Kandossii"]
[member="Ember Rekali"]
[member="Evi Sohl"]
[member="Jaden Taacyn"]
[member="Mia Monroe"]
[member="Nolan Detta"]
[member="Olivia Dem'adas"]
[member="Shaw McKeller"]
[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]
[member="Vilaz Munin"]
[member="Naast'ika Laaran"]

Betna heard the reports come in one by one and in waves as things were finished and wrapped up then overlapped with reports of new projects started. He noted Atin's hangar concept and noted the usefulness of multiple entries and exits. The escape routes were a nice touch, too. From there, it was a simple thing to move on to other projects. Arrbi noted that all the AA emplacements had been installed and that Olivia's crews were getting the Tempests set up. So far, so good.

Nolan's update had come through as well. The guns were emplaced and ready to go, though the engineers hadn't yet started enclosing the trenches.

"Nolan, have your guys grab some hot food and some caf for now," he said over the comms. "Take about... maybe an hour break then head on back out to help the engineers. I don't think they'll really need you guys, but you never know. They might need some lifting done. They're going to cover the trenches with reinforced duracrete. That way we have some protection from artillery or bombardment. When that's done, go ahead and push the snow up to camouflage them. After that, I have a special project for you."

Betna swapped to Atin's commlink then.

"Vod, when you're done with everything, grab some rest if you haven't already and a hot meal. I have a special project for your crew to work on with Nolan's. We should have a shuttle inbound in the next half hour. On board are a few batteries of our Field Artillery Pieces, the 155mm ones with their crews. Think you guys can find a home for those guns and some bunks for those crews?"

At that, Betna heard the boots of someone entering the room. He turned and glanced up, spotting the person he'd been waiting for.

"Ah, Commander Sisk," he told the woman approaching, the mild glow of her one cybernetic eye easily identifying her. "I'm glad you could make it. I'm assuming the rest of the 1st Volunteers are arriving as we speak?"

The battle hardened woman nodded once, her short hair bouncing slightly in its bob cut.

"They're landing now, Alor. Our equipment will arrive shortly as well. Is this the base we're tasked with defending?" she asked, straight to the point. Betna had met the Geda Sisk years ago when he was a boy. She had been a friend of his father for years and years and had lost her eye to blaster fire in one hell of a firefight. She had the nickname of Ice queen for her coolness under fire and the complete lack of emotion she showed to nearly everyone around her. He'd only seen her show any emotion when he was little and behind closed doors when she visited the Betna Clan. Otherwise, she was pure ice. Lethal, homicidal ice.

"Yes," Betna answered with a nod. "The 1st will be stationed here. This is the map of what we've gotten finished so far. Over here is the what the finished project will be."

 

[Muad Dib]

Everett was using the drill making headway and much rubble. Each step that was carved out was an accomplishment that was littered with debris of rock and stone. To the side of him Atin was picking up the larger stones and turning to toss them into the repulsor sled. They had a nice system. Everett would hit the center then move higher to drill while Atin pulled the stones away, shifting to either side of the drill. The air was choked with dust so both mandalorians had on their buy'ce.

An incoming comm had Atin tapping his vod on the shoulder to shut off the drill as he walked a few steps away to open the channel. [member="Arrbi Betna"] came over the channel. "We have had our meal but I'll have the boys take a break while we head over to meet the shuttles. And with some newly set up quarters we have just the place where they can bunk. As for the artillery , we'll find some nice spots for them vod. Kandossii out."

Heading up the incline with Everett following he opened the channel to Gett and Janson. "Get your crews together and make your way to hanger A3. W have some guests and equipment to get situated. Have our vode take a breather and grab a drink as you head over." Gett and Janson both double clicked and broke comm.

With his crew following Atin made way for the hanger arriving a few minutes before the other two work details. Vode spread out with helmets off talking and drinking as they waited for the shuttle to arrive. They didn't have to wait long. As the shuttle entered and set down he turned to Gett and Janson. "Gett your crew start unloading the pieces while Janson, yours will settle the men to their bunks."

The ramp lowered and a short round man with a bald head stomped out. Mad Eye Moor was an angry red faced man who was known as an ordinance specialist. Whether he was running demolitions, orchestrating bombing runs, or lobbing explosives, one way or another, into enemy it was clear he was as dangerous as the weapons he knew so well. Being one of the rare aruetii that had married a mando woman, fathered mando children, and yet worn not the armor nor spoke mando'a other then the offensive and curse words Mad Eye was a fixture in the aliit. His bravery and courage had garnered more then a few medals and awards that he never wore and instead used as paper weights on his desk back home.

"So this is the next frontier is it? Let's get those pieces set up meatcan." Only Mad Eye could sound so gruff and yet use the vulgar term of meat can as an affectionate that didn't invite a gauntlet to the face. "Here vod, let's both agree on the locations since they are your toys and boys." Atin and Mad Eye moved to the side of the hanger as they pointed out locations on a holo projector and assigned work crews to get the artillery set up.

 

[Atin Kandossii]

Mad Eye and Atin directed the emplacements for the artillery from the hanger. Once work work crews had been settled into their new bunks they moved out to get to work. Working in tandem the vode ran electronics, cleared tunnels, mounted brackets for the artillery pieces, and then set up the weapon systems. Going together Atin and Mad Eye checked each work site, offering suggestions here, lending muscle there, until finally the systems were brought on line.

Heading to a central room off one of the main hallways where other operational systems were being supervised remotely Atin and Moor entered and began to bring up the holoprojectors, communications, and displays where they could remotely moniter all the artillery sites. Slowly they ran diagnostics on the pieces until both men were satisfied. Finally fool power was diverted to the weapon systems and the men gunning the artilery dry fired their weapons until they were happy. Then they fired salvos again testing range and fixing sights so that if and when the time came the first salvo would be on target.

"Good days work Kandossii." Atin smiled and clasped forearms with the red faced man who had pulled out a cigar and stuck it into his teeth to chomp one end between stained teeth. "You need anything Mad Eye, just comm me." Mad Eye had already turned away from the mando and, taking a seat, began reviewing the systems.

Walking from the room he opened a comm to Betna. "Artillery has been mounted and the crews shown their bunks." Switching channels he contacted his aliit. "New projects incoming. We should have a wing of fighters arriving today so let's get those alternate launch tunnels cleared and smoothed down. We also will need new bunks for the pilots. Gett, you take a group and go work on those tunnels. Janson, you take a group and get those quarters squared away. Everett, you grab a few vode and come with me. We need to get those central hangers prepped for incoming fighters. Let's go people."

The three groups broke into sections and headed off to get to work. Gett and his crews broke into two parts. One group drilled out the tunnels, widening them just enough for the fighters to pass through. The second crew followed behind and superheated the walls, floor, and ceiling in order to smooth them out and create a uniform launch tube.

Janson's crews worked at cutting out more quarters from the rock. Then once that was done they ran electronics, plumbing, and stocked the rooms with bunks, dressers, and a small table and chairs. The recreation rooms were where they could watch holo dramas, lounge, and play games.

Atin and his crew worked on the hangers. Marking off sections they set up refuel stations with hoses and pumps, allocated tools along with grav lifts and repulsor sleds, erected several smaller buildings for the mechanics with their breakrooms and lockers. Other buildings were niched out along the walls of the hanger for the pilots, their changing rooms, and their own lockers.

Sweating despite the cool temperature in the hanger Atin turned his head at the sounds of several squadrons of fighters incoming. They had sent the appropriate landing codes and behind them came several smaller freighters and shuttles with their support crews. Pointing out for Everett to wave them to the cordoned off section of hanger he walked forward as one of the fighters settled down. A woman escaped the dangerous craft and walked toward Atin to take his arm with a fierce grip.

"Haran Oya, it's been awhile. I see that prosthetic leg is treating you well." The scarred countenance of Haran's left face, left arm, and the slight limp of her prosthetic made her appear frightful. The raven black hair that flowed down to her shoulders were contrasted with the shock of white hair growing from her left side. Her left side of her face puckered from the scar tissue as she grinned at Atin. "How many times have I saved your shebs and this is how you welcome me? Where's the whiskey?"

Shaking his head he removed his buy'ce and pulled the woman into an embrace. She pounded his back almost as hard as he did hers. Then she shoved him back. "You going to show us to our quarters old man or what?" Still shaking his head he waved Everett over. "He'll get your pilots settled in. And get relaxed then hit the rec room. There's a bar and games in there. Good seeing you alive Oya." She turned back from where she had been watching her pilots. "You too ner vod."

Walking across the hanger he opened the channel to his aliit. "Once you are done take the rest of the evening. Grab some grup, mingle but no fighting, then get some sleep. Tomorrow we get to install the HAS military shielding."

[member="Arrbi Betna"] [member="Nolan Detta"] [member="Anija Ordo"] [member="Olivia Dem'adas"] [member="Shaw McKeller"]