Public The Danger of Silence

[Kardek Alpha]

OUTER EDGE OF SETTLEMENT
With Mauve Vayern, Ashin Cardé Varanin , QEMD-15 Echo

As the scream grew louder and louder in his ear, Kardek quickly reached up with the hand cannons still in his hands and ripped out the comm link with his finger, tossing it to the ground with frustration.

"Enough of this!" He screamed at the towering beasts before him, his voice filled with venom and hatred. Kardek raised his hand cannons and aimed towards the closest droids still on approach, his teeth clenched tightly. He let out a furious cry of his own as the sound of all of The Harbinger's cannons suddenly erupted, lighting up the droids in front of him. Both of his hand cannons also began to fire with a steady stream of munition, releasing a barrage of armor piercing rounds and devastating explosive rounds at the droids. Alpha beside him also opened fire at the same time with his Heavy repeater cannon, a deadly continuous stream of blaster fire.

The massive volley lit up the sky, intent on devastating the three closest droids to Kardek and Alpha.

 

[Vyn Daldoure]

The droids started screaming in Argos's voice the same words over and over. "For the love of." Vyn didn't care what they were saying, only that it was getting on his nerves. Fear wasn't what he was feeling though, it was more like hearing nails being dragged across a chalkboard. Annoyance had definitely set in for the Iridonian.

Then he noted the nod BB-610 made as the little droid took off towards his starfighter, and within seconds was kicked away like a children's ball. Vyn wanted to go help but he didn't move, besides he'd be crushed if he was lucky. Just then the laser fire began in their direction, and just passed the door Vyn could see the starfighter raining towards the droids, the only issue was the autocannon wasn't putting out enough power, as the hulking mass lept onto the ship and started tearing the ship to shreds Vyn could only hear the metal clashing.

He looked at the droid in front of the door, it reared back and took off towards him, his eyes widened as he smiled reaching back he pulled out his cortosis Vibroblde, Vyn couldn't afford to miss again so instead he'd just let QEMD-15 Echo get close and he drive the blade into its hand and go on a ride, besides he imagined the Cortosis might have some effect on their electronics, this wasn't such a bad situation after all.

Vyn tensed his muscles gripping the Vibroblade in one hand, and the Ion launcher in the other, then he was pulled back, he knew who it was, the twins just bought even more time,

"Thank's you two"

This was good enough, Vyn gently pushed Willow & Ivy back for a bit more room, then pulled up the ion launcher, after all the echo unit would need to recalculate, bracing the rifle with his forearm Vyn pulled the trigger as another Ion blast left the barrel and shot off toward his pursuer.

 

[BB-610]

The only thing he could do was fire. His senses were dulling, systems screaming at him to shut down and recharge. It's a good thing BB-610 has always excelled at venturing beyond what an astromech's programming should tell him, because for all he knew, this ship could be their last chance. Round after round of cannon fire sound fiercely against the wind, the droid never daring to stop even if it killed him. His flickering optic focuses on the almost satisfying thud of the enforcer droid he's aiming at. It's doing damage of some kind, at least, given by the repeated stumbling and flailing.

Unfortunately, the astromech has neither the power nor the speed to react in time as another one of the towering beasts closes the distance between them. In the blink of an eye, it's sank its claws within the firm durasteel of the Delta-7B, lifting it up and promptly ripping apart the cannon. BB-610 stares at it, and... does nothing. There's nothing he could do. Even if he had the strength to attack, what damage would he do? The astromech has been a part of many battles. An invasion. And for the first time in his life, even within his days serving the First Order, BB-610 does what he never expected him to do.

Give up.

As the beast roars at him, the droid can only stare in shame and acceptance. He's powerless against one, let alone QEMD-15 Echo 's entire group. He lets his systems cool down, ripped away from the starfighter's navcomputer. In a moment that blows by in a split second, his world is a blur, and the Delta-7B is launched across the distance BB-610 had so valiantly traversed not ten minutes ago. The enforcer throws it, and the ship collides harshly with the settlement's walls - still holding Vyn Daldoure , Argos Xalen , the twins and Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri - denting its plating and shattering it with a deafening explosion.

Defeated, the Delta-7B meets the ground, falling to its side as the other half bursts alight in a bright flame. Barely even functioning at this point, BB-610 slowly lets himself fall from the astromech socket, lucky enough to not have to be on the side that collided with the wall. The droid is malfunctioning, his spherical body barely able to roll with how severely dented it is. He meets the ground with a pathetic thud, letting himself drift towards the entrance of the settlement.

His head slumping to one side, hardly able to turn with the elegance it once had, he glances up at Willow & Ivy , his optic cracked and flickering. He failed them, he failed everyone. He'd failed himself.

' I'm sorry. '

 

[Argos Xalen]

Argos was surprised as the sirens stopped. He could finally focus again. He... hadn't been able to do more than follow until then, but now.... Vyn seemed to be on the attack, and Argos decided to be ready as well.

"Willow.... Ivy.... Stay safe...." He didn't want to say much more, not sure he'd have time to explain anyway before the sirens started again. He'd lunge one of the dang droids, using his sand-like body to cover one of the droids, and slip his way into the droids own systems. It was a different one than Vyn's, but that was why he attacked it. What the Lervon was trying to do though was tear the massive droid's speakers and servos apart from the inside! Even if he couldn't get off-world, they could.

Vyn Daldoure Willow & Ivy BB-610 Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri QEMD-15 Echo

 

[Ashin Cardé Varanin]

When the dust settled in the crags outside the perimeter, Ashin crouched in the wreckage of a huge, gangly droid. She'd exerted herself more today than any recent time she could recall. Well, there'd been Dissero's ritual, but still. She was bone tired. When she conjured lightning, it came as nothing but sparks. Her empty rifle was nothing but a crutch just now, and for the umpteenth time across multiple lives she'd acquired a limp in her right knee. Jentaral hung from her right hand, smeared with drops of her own blood.

The bulk of the droid assault had converged on the main party of survivors inside the perimeter. Ashin faced a stark choice.

Option A: Leave the area. Pro: Avoid said bulk of said assault. Potentially more likely to succeed at resurrecting Spencer. Con: Be contemptible. Also, potential for being intercepted while totally and deservedly alone.

Option B: Join the fight in earnest. Pro: Do not be contemptible. Stay close to potential help, like Kardak and his weapons. Con: Engage a serious enemy while exhausted and low on resources. Enter an area where lethal subsonic weapons can engage at any time with only modest notice.

She cracked her neck and entered the perimeter, sword in hand.


Kardek Alpha Willow & Ivy Mauve Vayern Vyn Daldoure BB-610 Argos Xalen Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri

 

[Willow & Ivy]

Willow and Ivy watched as Vyn Daldoure fought QEMD-15 Echo within the confines of the corridor. At least they were able to help somewhat. The twins weren't fighters by any means. They were only able to throw in punches and kicks. But what could that do to a droid but nothing, and hurt them in the process?

They stepped back as they were ushered to do so, their eyes fully trained on the fight in front of them. Argos Xalen nearly disappeared as he turned into sand and entered into the other droid, being smart to fight it from the inside.

That is until BB-610 'rolled' in. The poor astromech was hurt! Willow and Ivy took hold of him and scooped him up, stepping back even further so that they'd be deeper into the settlement and harder to reach by the monster droids. "BB! Don't be sorry!"

"We'll get out of here. Help is coming!"

They felt it as soon as Ashin Cardé Varanin had made her choice to enter the settlement. Although weakened, the ripples in the Force that moved in her wake was still felt by the twins, although they saw it as new strands in the Force that started to intermingle and weave with theirs and the others present.

"We've got you, BB! And we won't let go!" Even if he lost all power, they were sure to never leave him behind. If there ever was a time that he 'died' before them, they would be sure to hang onto his body and keep it in their suite at Broka's. He was their friend and he always would be.

They loved him.

Kardek Alpha Kuxirra Tano-Bonteri Mauve Vayern