Things That Go Bump In The Night

[Robogeber]

LOCATION: Hoth
TIME: 1904 Gamma Zone
WEATHER CONDITIONS: Category 9 Blizzard

The snow had been unrelenting. Official imperial records would declare this the perfect the storm, the largest seen in the near decade of control beneath the First Order. Life on Hoth was essentially blind. Nothing, without advanced sensors could see past the blur of ice, and snow, and even then, they had to contend with the unrelenting solar storm. A storm whose radioactive content scattered and destroyed any and all . The Shibito had been unmolested in her journey to the surface. The massive resurgent-class star destroyers which sat statically in orbit, not even picking up the far smaller vessel on its scopes.Not able at all pester them with the usual bureaucracy that came with intruding into Sieger Ren's domain.

As droid and woman exited the vessel, audibly, a cacophony of noise would berate the outsider. The howling of the wind carried some strange, yet natural noises. The calls of tauntaun herds, along with the occasional growl of a wampa in the distance. However, there was something out there. Something distinctly, inhuman, which seemed to undercut the silence of the waste. A distinctive, roar. That sat beneath the surface. And it hailed to the north-west. Along with something else. Through the sleet of ice, and snow which seemed to rain down upon them sideways, sat a light.

It was an artificial one, which stood out in the darkened tundra. And given that this is where, incidentally, all leads had lead to. Where Matsu Xiangu's prize apparently lay, after weeks of tracking the old One Sith's project RESURRECTION. It was rather fitting the weapon, now lay in the grasp of a new empire, built on the old. But that was neither here nor there. The prize was to be found, all that stood in her way now was the elements Hoth decided to throw at her.

At least, that should be the case.

Shouldn't it?

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Matsu truly had no particular interest in ships beyond the ease with which they ferried a wanderer around the galaxy, but even she could admire the sheer beauty of the First Order’s Star Destroyers over Hoth as she coasted by. Silent sentinels holding position among the stars, they seemed almost to have a life of their own. Even so, it was probably for the best they didn’t notice her. Isolated from the warring factions of the galaxy, Matsu had no particular allegiances beyond admiration for the ambition of a few, First Order very much included. Even still, she’d never been good at red tape.

The Destroyers held their place high above even as Matsu landed, but upon exiting the craft there was no way to know that for sure - cloud cover and the sheer violence of the snow whipping past her and Six-O had visibility to almost zero. The fur lining the hood of her jacket fluttered in the periphery of her vision as she got her bearings, the thick scarf covering the lower half of her face already crusted in a thin white veneer of icy snow. Not even in the cold weather gear wrapped around her could she survive for more than a few minutes in this. Even Six-O would find itself functioning at far below peak efficiency.

And so, the light was a godsend. Any tech that would help guide her would have malfunctioned even faster than her own body in these temperatures. She would start with the light and work from there.

Crunch, sink.
Crunch, sink.
Crunch, sink.

She barely weighed enough to break the crust of ice that had sheeted over the planet’s snowy surface as the storm picked up, but it splintered beneath her feet enough to make noise. Six-O’s weight even more so. She could not have said how long it took for them to reach the light, but by the time they did it was no longer a nebulous target. Instead it was a nearly blinding illumination bouncing up off drifts of snow stretching out for what she could only guess was an infinite distance at this visibility.

Something came around the corner screaming, as white as the blur of the surroundings, plastoid composite clacking as the trooper reached out for Matsu. Her initial reaction was to incapacitate, seeing the value in not simply murdering a First Order operative when she wanted something that was on their planet. Six-O however, had no such compunctions, a metal fist etching an audible *CRACK!* that was quickly carried off in the wind. The trooper dropped like a brick.

If Matsu’s face hadn’t been covered by protective gear, the droid may have caught her exasperated expression. Instead, she just knelt down and pulled the helmet off the trooper.

What she found beneath… Beautiful. Not too long in gestation - the decay around the eyes and mouth was furthest along, the rest just beginning. What she wanted was here. The only problem was, it had been released. And that would make the job much more difficult.

Extending from her crouch, she took another few steps forward. Nothing came running at them. That didn’t mean more of those...things weren’t lurking around, but with the howling wind their footsteps might mostly be covered until they got close to something.

Despite the wind and snow, the enormous lights illuminated an impossibly large yard between her and any base in which she might hope to find refuge from the biting wind. From outside, at the very beginning of a space that yawned in intimidating complexity before her, she couldn’t make out too many details - at least, not with her human eyes so much less powerful than Six-O’s. Standing there, the soft sound of the droid shunting power from core systems to the bulk of his chassis to melt off quickly-forming ice barely heard over the din of the elements, she knew there was no time to lose. She took another step, sinking in to snow halfway up her calf, eyes up to scan what she could see of the yard ahead of her.

[member="Robogeber"]
​

 

[Robogeber]

Theme (x)

The First Order's Hoth Naval Yard, was for a large part, a massive plain which sat before a mountain. Although snow now largely blanketed it, the asphalt which covered the ground could be seen, beside the steaming heat sinks in the distance. It was also clear, that there had been some kind of battle recently. Speeders sat, either rolled over entirely, or sunk into the thick snow. Large turbolaser batteries, now smoked, with flames licking from where the barrels met their larger casings.

In the distance, the iconic bridge tower of an imperial style star destroyer could be observed. It seemed quite curious, unless one looked at the lights positioning. Floodlights, clinging from slender, silver poles dotted the area. They gave decent lighting, but through omission exposed seven cavernous abysses. One of which seemingly had been filled by a destroyer. Of course, this may not have been apparent to the Sith and her companion, given where they now sat. But there were audible clues, such as the wind skimming over their tops, which may have eluded to their existence.

Beyond the destroyer, sat a mountain. It was darker there. But deep red lights, which pulsed revealed that the First Order had fully taken apart a face of the mountain, replacing it with a metallic structure, which seemed to burrow into the terrain. Occasionally lights flickered, showing off a hangar filled with TIE fighters, clinging to their racks. However, it appeared at an outset, the mountain fortress either had no lights, or they were not at all powered.

As the duo journeyed forward somewhat, a loud electrical cackling erupted. It echoed around the base, through each and every The guttural groans grew into roars, as the cackling began. The shuffling of feet became increasingly audible, as they now seemingly raced towards the closest pole. The crackling stopped, and was replaced now with a static, followed by the long whine of a microphone being prepared. Someone out there, was in command of the intercom.

"Well, well, well." A static-y voice began, reverberating through the base. It was broadcasting over the facilities centralised speaker system. "What have we here?" The voice held a level of distinct snark, and carried an amused warmth to it. It was certainly masculine, and spoke with authority. "I don't know who you are," The voice began, the growls of the infected grew louder, and louder. "Where you come from, or what you want, but if you at both want to survive, I suggest you do as I say, when I say it." He continued, "Proceed a hundred meters, in a north easterly direction." He barked.

"And get moving quick, they'll be coming for you now."

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Matsu had a curious relationship with mountains, what with nearly bleeding to death beneath one - a first brush with mortality, and therefore the most formative. Rather unpleasant memories to be revisiting considering the present situation but she wasn’t given much time to think about it anyway. Just as she was deciding the best way to approach those ominous dark red lights (like a moth to a flame, perhaps) the intercom system crackled to life.

Had her face not been covered by layers of gear, a now prolonged expression of exasperation would again be seen. The tone of dry amusement in the stranger’s voice considering the commotion his interruption was causing might, in another situation, have made her feel some kind of kindred gentle mirth as well.

As it stood, she couldn’t find much to laugh at.

The crackling, buzzing sound of the intercoms galvanized the...things in the yard towards the nearest direction of sound and this concentrated movement revealed exactly what she had her droid companion were up against. It was not the sort of numbers that one cut through with precision. As much as she was loathe to admit it, the stranger at the other end of the intercom probably had a view of the yard and was their best chance at getting across it. She could turn around and fly off but there was no guarantee these things wouldn’t see them leaving and give chase. And then there would be no cover, and no dubious disembodied man to guide them to relative safety.

And most importantly, no precious specimen.

Nodding to Six-O, the Lady started cutting across the yard to the right. Though her lightsaber was at her hip she was loath to use it and ignite a shining red beacon for the mindless milling. She kept her footsteps to those patches of asphalt revealed by storm-winds shaping the snow in drifts, hoping to minimize the sound of her footsteps. There wasn’t much that could be done where Six-O was concerned but the truth is they would end up fighting regardless. She just wanted to prolong their stealth as long as possible.

As they neared the hundred meters specified, Matsu thought to herself now what, oh savior? It occurred to her that the stranger could just as easily be leading them to ruin over safety. But for the moment she decided to see where it led her.

[member="Robogeber"]​

 

[Robogeber]

The intercom crackled off, and the stranger cut silent. There were bellows, and low roars from the beasts whom now patrolled the yard. They seemed to have thought the voice some form of prey. A fresh meal which was now teasing them with its escape. After a few moments, the monsters lost interest, slowly shuffling and sauntering themselves away. At the hundred meter mark, sat a pillbox, open to the cold. As the two companions approached, the microphones crackled open, and another bellow echoed through the base complex.

"Good, you've managed to make it." The voice crackled over the speaker system, "Please enter," The voice commanded, "You'll need to arm up before proceeding." The voice seemingly hadn't been able to identify any armaments on either Six-0, or his companion. Perhaps cluing them in that their benevolent guide was not an omnipotent one. The pillbox was largely snowed in. Snow sat at about two feet deep, meaning one had to trudge in. What was interesting was that a large E-web blaster lay on the floor. Its battery still on and having melted some of the snow, but simultaneously trapped an occupant. Said occupant began flailing beneath it, a one armed specimen, weakly growling, and attempting to claw at any movements. The corpse was attired in an officers tunic, with a cap. Frostbite claimed most of their facial features, meaning sex was indistinguishable. This was in addition to his or her lower jaw, and her eyes, were glazed over with a thin build up of ice. Their skin was pale, and the fingers, now stubs as it weakly reached for Xiangu, hoping to tear a meal. The weather was taking a toll, and it showed, with slower, weaker movements than the first beast to have assailed them.

"This bunker has a DE-39 Maser Rifle, or deep fryer," The voice continued, almost oblivious of their new found friend. "It is however DNA locked, so you'll need to scan yourself into the system, in order to access it." The voice paused, "It's a longer rifle, white in nature, and it has a scope." On the far wall, hanging in a rack, sat a rifle of its description, "Once you get it, access the terminal beneath it, and press your finger into it, and the rifle will be yours." The voice elaborated, "This weapon will be vital to your safety for the remainder of your journey."

"Once you've done this, proceed around the next cavern, and to the lee of the Star Destroyer's fore. Once there, relocate to its starboard." The microphone crackled off, and speakers loudly announced their disconnection, meaning another roar began.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

Whatever it said about her, Matsu’s first emotion in regards to the creature struggling against its own inertia was fascination. She spent enough time around the dead to know that alone they were rarely dangerous to the person who understood their weaknesses, and they could be slowed easily enough. The true danger of the undead was present in the hordes just outside - numbers. Hungry, mindless numbers.

A rifle nicknamed Deep Fryer would most surely be worth its salt against that kind of threat. But Matsu felt overwhelming hesitation at the idea of scanning herself in to any system, especially one that would read her DNA to unlock the weapon. The Unit on Maena was home to all manner of scientific perversions and the first thought she had was of this unseen stranger using her biological code against her some day. The thought of her DNA existing anywhere for others to have access to...she couldn’t. She wouldn’t. If it meant not having the rifle, she would take her chances.

The fact that her DNA could very well end up in pieces within the stomach of some poor undead slob wasn’t lost on her.
But no one had ever said she wasn’t stubborn.

Six-O it seemed, also had no qualms in disregarding the creature trapped beneath the powerful EWEB. In fact, in some way, YVHa-60 held more esteem towards that tool of combat than it did the thing that wiggled and moaned below. Yes, tender recollections stored in the memory systems, it remembered when it'd been torn up by the predecessor to this weapon - the EWHB-12 - during the Battle of the Azure Spaceport. It had still resided inside of a Hunter-Killer frame then. Terrible wounds that would have left a simple organic like this soft bodied squirming thing ruined and retired. For YVHa-60 though, it was only an evening of salvaging and repairing shattered limbs, melted wires and circuitry, compromised blast plating.

Pressing it's heavy steel foot down upon the creatures frost-bitten head, the bones shattered like brittle glass.

Ah yes, it could remember when BlasTech and Merr-Sonn debuted this, in all its previous incarnations. It examined the Ekosan Class-4T3 Generator and Cryocooler. Both, at a practiced and skilled glance, seemed to be in relative functioning capacity.

Six-O rapidly disassembled the side of the Generator, more or less just tearing the armored metal plate sleeve off from its host. Before Matsu even knew what was happening the Droid had stripped down the connection cables, pulling them from the Autocushion Tripod Assembly and out of the Rifle Energy Input Chamber. Clearly it had done this before. In the next breath his metallic hands powerfully tore the front of the BioMetric Display Lock off from the safe it protected. Twisting and clamping the E-WEB cables on to it, Six-O returned to the Generator and dialed in the feedback and output current to such a degree that sparks disgorged in a display that would rival a First Order Victory Celebration Fireworks Show.

A few moments later, woman and droid would emerge and start heading in the indicated direction. Whether or not their gambit had worked and the lock had shorted out from the overload Six-O had fed to its systems, they had to continue on.

​

______________​

The shuffling dead were not just localized to the yard. Mindlessly, they filled passages empty of the living. They’d shuffled on to ships, wandered in to base hallways, stood mindless in front of static holocasts. Wherever the disembodied stranger broadcasted from, they were just outside his door too though...perhaps if they were to get a glance of him instead of just hearing the sound of his voice through a locked door, they may not be as interested in a bite.

Even still, they scratched incessantly against its metal. Hungry.

[member="Robogeber"]​

 

[Robogeber]

As the two journeyed forwards, the sounds of boots on snow began to increase somewhat. Lighter steps. Shadows, which lurked beneath the glow of the destroyers viewport, now moved faster than the others. There was something different about these creatures here. The others had been cumbersome. Slow. This was a new development, which sought to challenge the intrepid explorers. The speakers had not turned off entirely, meaning the sound of banging upon metal could be heard, until the mysterious benefactor spoke again.

"I'm going to lose you," The voice informed them, "You've gone just out of visual range, but you're going to need to head to the rear of the destroyer," Easier said than done. It would be a near mile trek. "Once there, you'll need to press forward, and towards the big, door with the glowing red lights, there'll be a vent." The voice informed them, "Blast it open, and you'll be into the base, it'll be a little climb for you, but hopefully they haven't figured out how to do that yet." The voice then paused, "This is going to be rough, unlike the others you've faced, these are stormtroopers. Attired in FO-2 Stormtrooper armour."

"While I'm not at liberty to discuss the armours full technical spefications, the winter combat suite is quite advanced." It paused again, "Meaning these won't be shambling messes. You'll be coming up and against six foot tall monsters still in their prime, ergo the rifle." The rifle was a light model, not particularly heavy, and it seemed to be coated in a sheen of frost, "This rifle will hopefully penetrate the armour, and melt the muscle tissue inside." The voice lectured, "Should be good to cripple them if you hit the legs, but I'm still not sure if you'll score a kill from the-!" the speakers began to whine, and crackle with static, as sound reverberated throughout the compound.

The creatures around Matsu and Six-O let out a mighty roar. Seemingly, the soundwaves had triggered some primal response, which had in turn driven the beasts mad. They now began to charge around, able to move much faster through the thick snow than Matsu or Six-0 could. Out of the corner of her eye, three monsters charged from the east, closing in at amazing speed and screaming. Any hope for a quite infiltration, would end now.

[member="Matsu Xiangu"]