Log:Chasing Arlo
A team of mercenaries ventures into the swamps of Rishi to capture a target.
OOC Date: May 17, 2022
Location: Rishi
Participants: Aejin as GM, Amal Jha, Hahtavi Kora, Khalim, Kin-Li Kel, Tovani Enno, Zelo Parrai
[ Aejin]
Arlo Nix has been on the run. That's the news, anyway. Ever since he stole a ship (though arguably one could question the truth of that claim) and stiffed a couple mercenaries on promised payment for staging a distraction. The so-called 'master merchant' that calls himself Arlo Nix had even run afoul of some minor Hapan noble, with the young lady having placed a bounty upon the alleged merchant. In a show of Arlo Nix's popularity a second bounty had likewise been placed upon the talented 'property acquisitionist' at some point in recent days, though that one is a far cry from Hapes and instead the origin of that bounty is Ylesia itself, which surely does not bode well for Master Nix.
In more recent days a set of loose lips (or mandibles as it were) had revealed the location of Master Nix during a drunken tirade in some seedy joint on the pirate paradise planet of Rishi. While many had dismissed such claims with a simple shake of their head, there were surely some who applied some measure of truth to the words. Arlo Nix had been captured and his recently (re)acquired ship taken from him by a group of pirates calling themselves the Tradelane Terrors. If their name is any indication, they're likely full of angst and theatrics.
Truly there's only one way to tell if Arlo Nix is in the clutches of the nefarious Tradelane Terrors. Pirates aren't likely to take kindly to someone wandering up to ask if they'd recently kidnapped a definitely wily, arguably charismatic (alleged) merchant. Which means that if one wishes to determine the truth, then an assault on a hive of pirates in their swamp base at the foot of a mountain must be conducted and the presence of Arlo Nix determined for oneself.
A group of bounty hunters, mercenaries, adventurous spirits, and in some regard people who Arlo Nix likely (or certainly does) owe credits to splash and *SPLRCH* their way through the swampy terrain in the direction of one of the many mountain ranges of Rishi. Much like many of the non-avian residents of Rishi, the Tradelane Terrors have made their little pirate stronghold in the valley of the mountains, in a swamp, nestled at the foot of one of those mountains.
While there has been a fair few bites from native insects, a little mud has assuaged the pains of some who had been aggressively sought out by those insects. Some others had been sought out for the same purposes, only for the tiny insects to realize that all of their efforts to penetrate sealed armor were for doomed to failure. Which in turn resulted in those same insects seeking out easier (and thus less armored) prey.
It is midday and the canopies above send the swamp into a place of twilight. Through the twisted and gnarled trees ahead the ramshackle base of the Tradelane Terror pirate group can be seen. For the moment there appears to be a handful of the nefarious criminals wandering around, going about this daily chore or that, or in the case of a pair of the pirates playing some game with rather archaic, physical dice. Like a couple barbarians.
[ Amal Jha]
Amal, having set out with the team on their trek along and through the swamps, had, briefly, considered whether she should have conscripted Nicjoh to go in her place. Certainly none of those now present would have been able to tell the difference between the sisters, save perhaps one of the mandalorians. But, alas, said sister had been unavailable, and so, it was Amal who made the trek, having coated herself liberally in something big repellant and highly scented. Thankfully, the distance she kept from the group, in order to keep down attacks of opportunity and the sheer stench of the swamp provided ample cover as she carefully picked her way through the mud and underbrush and far fouler things. She was, not at all inconspicuous, as she was all in white, though the sheer exposure to the swamp was providing increasing camouflage she had never asked for.
[ Tovani Enno]
"I thought sand was bad....I really did. Maybe we should go back to Tattooine," she opines. Tovi dislikes such things but now mud which has not begun to dry against her teal skin is starting to slide down around the edges of her armor. Disappearing into more intimate places that eventually may hae her walking funny.
She grumbles something to herself as she drags a finger at hairline which is now crusted in swamp mud - which smells. IT SMELLS. Her nose wrinkles up as the woman glances to Hahtavi, bright golden eyes made more so by the earthen muck upon her face. "Thanks." It is a dry thanks even if it is genuine.
Squelch. Step. Squelch. She glances to Khalim. "Say not a word." She manages to keep herself focused otherwise save for that stray drip of mud and swamp water that is slowly....
She makes a face and lifts her foot a little higher on one step, making a face before giving a little shake of her hips.
[ Kin-Li Kel]
Kin-Li Kel moves out towards the farthest left of a modified wedge formation as the group slogs its way through the fetid swamp. His lightly labored breathing can be heard over the suit comms on the rare occasions that he speaks, but mostly, he manages to remain quiet -- a task made easier by not having to fight with native parasites.
The armored man wears equipment designed for war. A blaster carbine on his harness. A pistol at his leg. A T27 slung from his back. Grenades. Equipment. He came prepared to do battle. Softly, over the team's comms, he says, <<Movement, 12'oclock. Range unknown.>> The carbine is held at a low ready, not pointed at anything in particular. Yet.
[ Hahtavi Kora]
It is slow going, slogging though the swamp. Jungles are definately NOT Hahtavi's favorite. So many vines, branches, roots, to snag on his jetpack, things to duck, so many things to step over. And the boggy ground is not easy for a man wearing heavy infantry Mandalorian armor to muck through without sinking knee deep. It's exhausting work. So effort is made to move from hummock to hummock and anything else that might be firmer ground, when he's able.
Also, lots of biting things. Insects, snakes, whatever. Hahtavi has had to render first aid and mud to help those who do not have sealed armor. His baritone rumbles through his vocoder, <"Help you blend in, too."> And they are moving once more.
The pause and helping his comrads puts the ramikad Mandalorian near the end of their advancing line but Hahtavi doesn't seem to mind. He keeps to what cover he may and speaks low over their shared coms, <<"Let's not let them seeing us advance on their position.">> His words are crisp and unslurred, now.
[ Zelo Parrai]
Zelo is not having a great day. Mud is absolutely not his favorite element. His normally-meticulously-polished beskar does not gleam blue but bluely protests the brown and black caking it. A walking armory, the Mandalorian is toting a sealed bag that slorps and skims over the top of the swampy surface while the rest of him fights through, his carbine over his head. The bugs were starting to get to him, when Hahtavi comes to the rescue, FURTHER mudding him up but finding the inconvenient, gross goop surprisingly soothing and cool where the joints of his beskar show cobalt skin. <"Appreciated, vod."> He looks to the others, then ahead, sludging onward.
Pirate camps are all well and good, but it's better than swamp. The agitation he's felt in this trek has his finger toying with the toggle on his weapon. It wouldn't take much to switch to kill... <"Don't expect a lot of bravery, unless they have numbers. Pirates like to fight from superior numbers or size..."> The vocoder is harsh, and hused, not carrying overly far as the Nautolan begins to mark foes in the HUD of his beskar's custom-shaped helm. He cues up on the private comms. <<"Mud's great for that. But I don't plan on anyone seeing us coming. Not like... Last time.">> Okay, he's still bothered with how this had all started.
[ Khalim]
Khalim had at first slapped a gauntleted palm against the side of his helmet. An odd display that had only repeated itself a minute later. <"These kriffing mosquitos are so loud my external audio feed is picking them up... /and magnifying them/."> The mirialan's grousing is spoken to Tovani, the wroonian *SPLRCH*ing along at his side. He quiets as his gaze, hidden behind the smoky high opacity of that visor, reminds him that Tovi is having a much less comfortable time than he. Those smears of swamp mud have helped though, fortunately. A simple nod in appreciation is offered Hahtavi after the Mandalorian has completed field treating, by way of splootches and sloshes of mud, those that have needed it. <"Not quite spa treatment, but it gets the job done."> An ounce of humor may have been detected behind that vocoded speech.
'Say not a word', and the man may not always know right word from wrong but in THIS case it was fairly clear. He smiles an invisible smile back to Tovani and nods. Tatooine. The most previous place she'd loathed. <"Sand's worse when you've got as much in your stomach as in your hair..."> he says, that intentional deadpan audible even through well-vocoded enunciation.
But they are here, traipsing through this humid, insect clouded, muddy hellscape. This fact is remembered and Khalim's attention returns to that pan and scan.
[ Aejin]
While much of the stronghold is nestled against or possibly even within the mountainside itself, a number of structures which create the facade of the pirate base are simple ramshackle, wooden creations that were likely scrounged from the surrounding swamp itself. A few small fires burn throughout the area, which in turn puts off enough smoke to ward off all but the most diehard blood enthusiasts among the local insect population.
The pirates continue to go about their affairs; oblivious to the world of hurt staring in their direction.
They have something worth money, which means that they should definitely be more alert than they are. Yet they are not.
[ Amal Jha]
As the team made their approach, Amal hit the relay on her comms, "Moving to see if I can locate the target's most likely location." Keeping low, the only sometimes hunter but all of the time killer ducked down into the underbrush, moving under cover as she made her approach towards the pirate encampment. There was radio silenec on her comms as she moved, though she offered a count now and then. At least half a dozen pirates out in the open and in easy range, bot no sign of the target. "Gossip, coming from the two clustered by the fire pit. 'The 'boss' is in conversation with 'that annoyingly friendly thief'."
[ Tovani Enno]
"Only the clinically insane or otherwise highly wanted would consider coming ou there," she says in a hushed tone before she is stepping towards a large tree, giving a look to Khalim. "See you in a little bit," she keeps her voice low before grasping at the tree, her armor helping her to drag herself up its surface, her muddy boots leaving marks on the bark as she gets to the strongest branch and uses it to start traversing the distance slowly, letting hesrelf get a good handle on the way the canopy is interwoven. Bonus. Fewer bugs buzzing around her up here.
Tovi is careful and relatively skilled, the toned form of the Wroonian is put to the test.
[ Hahtavi Kora]
This Kora wearing the Siege armor slips with surprising stealth through the muck of swamp and begins the ascent up slope onto firmer ground. Hahtavi keeps to what concealment he can, his armor in black, grey, brown and dull green helping him to blend in. The mud probably helps too.
Galaar rifle in his gauntleted hands, he moves silently and closes the distance to do a little recon, like Amal.
Over their shared coms, Haht's baritone comes low in volume, <<"I see about 6 pirates - likely more inside. I also note a security door with the most buildings close to it. It looks like a piece of rusty ship's hull on rollers, maybe? Won't slow us down much.">>
Such things are marked on his helmet's HUD and shared with those who also have heads up displays in helmets to receive it. Hahtavi marks all of the targets he has spotted if Amal hasn't already done it, and sets another colored icon for the security door.
[ Zelo Parrai]
<<"Annoyingly friendly? That's absolutely a positive ID,">> comes the Nautolan's voice on the comms channel. <<"I'm moving around. If there's a back way out of here, I want eyes on it.">> And Zelo parts ways, following between the trees, carbine still aloft but held closer to his chest above the muck, bag sliding silently behind him. He weaves between the trunks, managing not to disturb any of the scattered and choked undergrowth, nor catching a stray bit of light with the several small, 'clean' spots remaining on his armor. <"I need a shower,"> he mutters to himself before turning black pool eyes to the compound.
<<"Confirming six in the open. Back side of that door marks it as flimsy as you think. There's some anti-air here... We had good intel to come the slow way. If Arlo manages to attempt what he did last time... I'm marking the turrets.">> A moment later, those with HUDs to support it will receive further location info.
[ Khalim]
Tovani's departure draws a look in reply, a nod shared as she makes ready to climb the tree. <"I'll hold you to it,"> he replies, before his attention returns to the bits of pirate redoubt and surrounding buildings visible through that dense undergrowth. Jungles were very much unlike dunes in that regard, perhaps a point in Tatooine's favor after all.
The data networked from Hahtavi's tracking software into targeting data within Khalim's own HUD has the mirialan dipping down behind a large spider-infested shrub. A cauldron shrub, super poisonous and smelling... well, rather cauldron like, if that cauldron were being stirred by a witch. The nearest two pirates are noted upon that projected mini-display and Khalim slips his heavy pistol out of its holster and checks its charge and power-cycle. He begins sighting, one and then the other. Back and forth. The mirialan hush-transmits to the rest of the team, <"Khalim, holding center. Nearest two targets are ready to be plinked when the game's on.">
A glance is sent up towards the nearest canopy. Looking, and failing, to catch a glimpse of one muddy wroonian.
[ Kin-Li Kel]
Kin-Li Kel crouches down into the disgusting, fetid water of the swamp. Of course, he doesn't smell it or feel it in his EVA-sealed armor. With just his helmet, shoulders, and arms sticking up, he duck walks to a section of fallen tree. And, there he sets up shop. His Galaar is braced, brought to his shoulder, and he waits, covering the approach of the others. <<KL. I'm on the perimeter. Covering. No contact yet.>>
[ Aejin]
Something draws the attention of one of the pirate guards. No one person can claim ownership of the pirate's attention being garnered. Someone, but no one, had caused one of the guards to glance up. Hairs surely stood up on the back of the couple human necks scattered around. Suddenly there's a cry of alarm and the pirates burst into motion. While some lift their weapons and begin to fire wildly in the direction of a shape, shadow, spectre, or other apparition that looms within their vision. Another rushes toward a horn. Meanwhile, one who is less of a barbarian, begins fumbling with a comlink. It bounces from one hand to the other, but he's able to retain it and prevent it tumbling away. Even now he lifts it up to his face in preparation for shouting into it.
[ Kin-Li Kel]
Kin-Li Kel's voice comes calmly, though suddenly, over the commlink. <<You're blown. Contact in the camp.>> That is the extent of his attempts to communicate, because he as other priorities now. He doesn't move much; he doesn't have to. From his position of cover and concealment, he doubletaps the guard fumbling with the commlink.
...and in that moment, the fumbling gyrations probably save his life. The pirate's head moves as he tries to grasp the commlink squirting around, and a blaster round passes maybe an inch past his ear. The second one, though, hits him center mass. Down he goes in a heap, though, he's maybe not dead.
[ Amal Jha]
Amal did not bother trying to figure out how she had been spotted. She was literally half white, half swamp. And so, as soon as attention turned in her direction, she rose from the cover of the swamp, advancing at speed towards the closest pirate, the crimson flood of plasma blooming in the rapier as she drew it, slashing at the pirate and opening a line of pain along his chest as she pushed him back. There was no attempt to find cover, as if she were trying to draw the pirates' attention to her.
[ Tovani Enno]
As the camp becomes aware hesitation is not an option. Tovani watches as a shot goes wide of her and she finds herself running across what is left of her branch and giving a hefty push off with her feet. As she descends she grabs at a branch to slow her fall to the ground but not enough to keep her off trajectory. The muck on her hands causes her to lose balance for but a second when she lands.
A heavy and splash where the swamp has claimed some solid ground. She shocks the figure before her, her gold gaze peering out from around mud painted skin and the rather impressive smasher armor only serves to drive home the point, her first punch missing by just a hair before the left hook comes in hard and fast, the metal knuckles glinting as it slams right into his jaw and sends her opponent staggering.
Swamp creature with gold eyes begins to approach him. "Arlo...where?" She is already crossing towards him to press the attack.
[ Hahtavi Kora]
How the osik was he spotted?! Especially when they hadn't been paying much attention just moments ago? No telling. The pirates scramble to action and shots start getting fired.
Hahtavi ducks behind a tree, but only for an instant. His Galaar snaps up and he draws a bead one one pirate who's head a moment later vaporizes in a splash of red spray and bits of skull exploding! The second shot takes another pirate in a shoulder and downs the guy briefly, but didn't kill him.
Over their coms, Hahtavi speaks, <<"Let's head for that door and secure it either before they can close it, or we'll need to blow it. Let's move!">> However many of the pirates are left outside?
The Kora isn't concerned about as he starts moving his shebs.
[ Zelo Parrai]
Shots fired. That's the universal signal for 'Enough of this quiet business.' Comms confirm, but the Mudalorian is already lifting that precious carbine in steady hands. The first shot is pushed to the left, the tragic consequence of a trigger finger slipping from the trigger at the moment of depression. The second is willed to shoot straight, stun energy hitting one of the pirates center mass in the gut. As he doubles over, Zelo is clicking the controls for his rocket pack, taking to the air with only a little protest from the swamp's muddy purchase. The bag of implements dangles below him as he steers through the air, dropping to a foot and a knee as the walkway wobbles unsteadily under his impact.
<"Throw down your weapons, and you don't have to die. Not that I expect any of you to be smart."> It's not an entreaty, it's simply a statement. He won't shoot the unarmed. They won't be smart enough to take him up on that.
[ Khalim]
Khalim's holding position, weapon trained now upon the designated first of those two nearest blips on his HUD when shouts of alarm begin to rise from the compound. This is followed by a barrage of blaster bolts reaching for a handful of the team, apparently newly compromised. This includes the mirialan, though he throws himself to the ground in just enough time to throw someone's aim off.
Suddenly, nearly dead ahead, a form simply falls out of the sky. A mud-enhanced teal face blurs down, and /FISTS OF FURY/. It's a galvanizing sight and Khalim rises. That bulky Mando-designed heavy blaster pistol swings ahead as the mirialan begins stepping forwards. Intentional movement, steps bringing Khalim closer to those still capable, maybe, of shooting back. A pirate is lanced by Hahtavi, but still stands, and still holds a weapon. The wanna-be clone trooper, clad in that vintage yet still highly competent armor, fires one, then two bolts of bright gold. The pirate takes one to his chest and meets the muck head back first. Dead.
[ Aejin]
While the group of pirate guards had reacted with some measure of skill, it was their marksmanship that was clearly the greatest issue. Their shots go wide and the shots that are offered in return, more or less, don't go wide. A couple of the pirates are promptly cut down, another is slashed by some mud-and-grime coated lady in white, another is attacked by some feral creature from the trees and can only growl out, "With the boss!" at the question asked of him, and the one with the comlink is left to steam on some rusted out piece of metal with the comlink rolling away and into the muck beneath the walkway.
The one who had been seeking to reach the horn did in fact reach the horn, but not before he'd been blasted and killed.
"Someone get the bosssss!" someone shouts, though no one really seems to give any indication that they were planning to follow through with that demand. Whether because they're pinned down, preoccupied with being under attack, or inconveniently dead.
[ Kin-Li Kel]
Kin-Li Kel breaks cover, moving forward at a walk through the dank swamp water. The red bolts of his modified Galaar-15 come blasting out. Crouching as he splashes through the water, the red light sparkles and refracts off his wet, mud-spattered armor.
The unfortunate stunned pirate doesn't have time to really even worry about his fate as a bolt takes his head clean off. The smoking, headless corpse falls to the wet earth, one leg twitching spasmodically.
His body twists left, a new target marked. Being careful to not hit Amal, he squeezes off a shot, but misses wide on the far side, perhaps being too conservative in an effort to not hit a friendly.
[ Amal Jha]
Amal, whose body stepped to the side just in time to avoid the shot that was sent in her direct. Echani situational awareness was a thing, made no attempt to step abck. Instead, she moved forward to finish off the pirate she had struck the first time, putting him out of his misery. But perhaps not, as her bladeopened up his guts. But in a swamp, really, who could smell that? And then she moved on, heading towards the one who ahd been trying to comm for help, but her blade swung wide as he ducked down and around one of the huts.
[ Tovani Enno]
As her dance partern wants to dance further, Tovi ducks to the side and away, stepping in closer as she suddenly snaps an effective fist to the man's nose, watching it alread begin to bleed. When he starts to stumble back, dazed, she reaches out a hand and grasps at his clothing. "Eh eh eh now....you need to help us. Or you can join the others," she glances at the bodies strewn around before she knocks aside his weapon with her foot after he dropped it. She pulls him with, giving a harsh tug to keep him moving.
<"I have an insider, see if we can't get them to come out with a friendly face..."> One that is bloody. Details.
[ Hahtavi Kora]
When the pirates outside are thinned out, Hahtavi sets off his jetpack to arc up into the air. He heads right for the big security door and drops to land right there outside of it. Rifle in hands, he sees movement inside and commences firing right off!
It's a shadow of movement, a figure in armor. Both of his shots /look/ like they hit but glance off but the poorly lit interior make it hard to tell.
Rather than waiting to find out, this Mandalorian keeps moving to get inside the door if he can to keep it from being closed, <<"Securing the door - there's more inside!">>
[ Zelo Parrai]
Zelo tracks Hahtavi's approach, guard after guard having been vanquished. The security door still stands open, and the Nautolan is walking caefully along the walkway toward one of the anti-air emplacements, E-11 raised and backing up the other Mandalorian. Glances are spared, but everywhere, there are guards strewn about, or one being dragged along by the Wroonian he's pretty sure he must have seen in the Swoop Circuit... A pile of armor ambulates toward the opening, even as Hahtavi fires and moves his way further inside. <"They never surrender."> Blue stun energy lances out of the blaster rifle, closing the distance in the blink of an eye before crashing into the foe's readied right arm, just below the shoulder. An adjustment, another squeeze of the trigger, and... Exactly the same spot. There's a moment where the figure seems to look up to the mud-covered Mando, and then he spins clockwise and collapses in a twisted, unconscious pile. <"That's why you surrender,"> he calls out, hoping his voice carries to those foes still within.
[ Khalim]
Bodies be dropping like those smacked mosquiters and Khalim's forward advance quickly becomes unconstested. He beelines towards the newly designated focus of their assault, that security door. Hahtavi releases a duo of rifle bolts through that portal, a newly arrived Zelo finishing with a pair of bright blue stun lances. He wanders by, leaving the mandalorians to their business as the mirialan pokes his head around an extra building or three. There was always room for a straggler, and shot in the back. This brings the man, eventually, into contact with that mud-and-gold wroonian. <"I bought a timeshare. We only have to sell the Blur.">
[ Aejin]
"HellooooooooooooOOOOOoooo??!" comes a voice from the innards of the pirate compound. Namely from the rusted out makeshift blast door which would otherwise bar entry into the mountain bunker. To a couple ears or audio receptors, the voice is quite familiar. "Does anyone want to make some credits???!" comes the next call. The voice sounds as though it is echoing from a fair distance away.
A form surges from within the doorway of that makeshift bunker. In armor black as obsidian and bearing many spiky bits to present it with added terrifying flavor. The glow of the helmet's eye holes burns crimson as mountain of an armored figure storms from the confines of the tunnel. A pair of blaster bolts from Hahtavi's weapon slash the air around him, because he simply begins to cackle and laugh maniacally with his voice vocoded by the helmet which he wears.
A step and a hop, followed by the firing of a jetpack sends the apparent leader of the Tradelane Terrors into a hover. His vocoded voice can be heard announcing loudly for half the valley to hear, "YOU HAVE COME TO YOUR DOOM! THIS IS MY KINGDOM AND I AM ITS KING! YOU WILL ALL LEARN TO WORSHIP ME AS YOUR NEW MAS--" and then he's tumbling from the air and crashing in a heap into the murky water and sludge as a pair of stun bolts from Zelo Parrai's rifle strike not only his arm, but the controls for his jetpack, which sends the loud-mouthed figure plummeting into the swamp.
After the titanic crash of the apparent King of the Tradelane Terror's begins to fade into the distance, a lower and quieter sound can be heard from the tunnel once again, "... Hello??"
Meanwhile the one being restrained by Tovani proclaims, "*I* surrender!*"
The tunnel and attached bunker are approached with caution, but ultimately no other pirate forces are found within. Instead it is Arlo Nix that is found. At present his current residence isn't nearly as hospitable as he's surely accustomed as he's dressed in threadbare rags and his hair has become wild without a great deal of beauty products to put into and sculpt it. His cheerfully bright smile is no less cheerfully bright (and annoying) though as his eyes alight with the arrival of armed rescuers, "Oh! You got my message then? Fan-tas-tic!" he calls out excitedly. He then straightens himself up, his chin inclines, and he cheerfully proclaims, "Seeing as you've got my message and followed it to me to mount a rescue and, more importantly, take out this hive of scum and villainy? I now announce myself... *King* Arlo Nix and once you've let me out of here? We'll see about getting you fine, fine, fine, wonderful people a just reward. How's that sound? Great? Great!"
Then Arlo slaps his hands together, clearly ready for someone to release the newly minted King and earn their bountiful reward.
