Log:Cophigrin Nights I

Cophigrin Nights I

OOC Date: July 16, 2020
Location: Cophigrin IV
Participants: Ban Iskender, Jessika Pava, Vhe Tenara, Karé Kun, Nerys Arda, Elrych Cometburn, Hadrix Kora, Jax Greystorm, Rathe Versiano, Aryn Cole as Kiko Alde

Cophigrin IV, Ash Worlds, Formerly Alderaanian Territory

Controlled by: (Unknown) Elements of Sienar Fleet Systems

City: Belleau-a-Kiirium

Belleau-a-Kiirium is the crown jewel of the Ash Worlds planet Cophigrin IV. Formerly the seat for her Excellency, Viscountess Iskender, has now been reduced to a ghost town occupied by war-time automatons of a villainous Sienar Fleet Industries. Streets have yielded to the sand storms of the barren planet, coated with ash like dirt with the consistency of moon-dust. A resistance is said to still be living here, deep in the heart of the once noble city, led by surviving members of the Viscountess' Vice-Royal Dragoons.

Time: 20:00 Local

Weather: Overcast/ Sand Storm Threat

Resistance Status: Unknown...

Slipping into the atmosphere was a routine thing, but still the Clearwater Class freighter shook as it angled and sped closer to the planet's surface. Beneath them (everyone is in the same ship), Cophirgrin IV looks barren. Like the bottom of a sea would look without all the water. Tall, windy cyclones stir up across vacant fields and flatlands while green clouds darken the looming foothills and mountains in eerie ways. This is a quiet world, and had been a peaceful world until recently.

The crew within the 'Cophigrin Echo' is told to get ready. Errant signals from the surface detail an upcoming ambush, the communications coming from a Droid Mother ship. "Coordinates of local national 'rebels' are as follows:" Says the robotic voice of a droid commander to its field platforms. "Grid Coordinates MS/TR 11211, 78892. Execute Assasination protocols; maintain trust parameters to: Maximum Prejudice. Lord Sienar says: City is not won until the last of those rebels are dead.--End Transmission."

The ship settles on the outskirts of Belleau-a-Kiriium, near enough to the 10 digit grid coordinate where the rebels are expected to be hiding. Evening has set in, the night is dark and full of murderous droids. The ambience is that of a desert, a warm wind, an eerie silence. Standing before an evacuated city, our heroes are encumbered by the silence.

Kiko Alde uses her hand to 'chop' the charging handle free from its locked-back position. Her weapon, charging in that instant, snapped and produced a high-pitched whine. Shouldering the rifle, the seasoned soldier quietly stepped ahead, the wind gently rustling the blue cloak of House Alde that hung from her pauldron and teased the backs of her legs. "Lord Ban... You know this land best. How would you have us proceed?"

Ban Iskender directs the Echo to send out a transmission using the old Viceroyal codes, on approach. "If the survivors are monitoring transmissions, they will find us far sooner than we will find those valiant folk who have survived here these many months." The solemn nobleman is attired in heavy, pale grey armor beneath a green half-cape secured over the left shoulder. He gazes out the ramp across the ruined city and closes his eyes, pausing a moment to draw a long breath through the nose as the dry wind whips past and Lady Kiko prompts him for his thoughts. Whether for the absence of life, or for the rising emotion of a cold holdcoming behind his stoicism, his eyes open without insight. "I cannot sense them." A look aside to the other Jedi with them, Vhe, Elrych, and Jax. "Is there life here within your sight?" Back to Kiko, he muses, "They will likely have sought deeper entrenchments, to evade scans. Canyons to the north, or underground in the remains of the city's lower vaults. "There were orbital bombardment bunkers in the city center that might serve."

The galaxy is a hostile place. Few things remind Jessika of that more than some of the random rocks she sometimes ends up on. This is one of those rocks. At the call to get ready, Jessika diverts her attention to the BlasTech A280 attached to the clip point on her equipment's chest harness. Safety on? Check. Powercell loaded? Check. Barrel aligned in a safe direction? Check. Finger not on the trigger? Double check. She could do without the first. Her finger is her safety. Still, ships are prone to all sorts of sudden, violent turbulence, and there's no sense in risking something if she doesn't have to. They set down. Jessika stands up. There's no rush, though. Ahead of her, a Lord and Lady discuss what they're going to do next, and Jessika waits to play her part.

Vhe does no better than Ban as she tries to find other signs or anything left behind by using the Force. The Ysanna reaches out but everything seems in order or rather she can not sense a thing. Sharp dark eyes flare open as she looks at the Lord and shakes her head, "Nothing, at least that I can sense," she remarks and then turns her head, giving her a chance to offer a full visual of her surroundings as eveyrthing is discussed. Her hand strays to the stunsaber at her side as she makes a thoughtful sound.

She is no tactical expert to the initiate waits for the seniors in the group aid in that arena.

Dark eyes look at the black gloves with white armor on the back. She balls her fingers into a fist, before opening her hand. Those dark eyes continue down her arm and then at the Clone Armor. Kare takes a deep breath and looks up as the Jedi continue to talk and debate what they are feeling. She looks over to Jessika whom appears to be getting ready and double checking her equipment. On that note, the woman of Wheat-Colored hair glances at her 280, bringing it up into a ready position. She snorts at something and just waits for the all ready. Her eyes going down to Rev - the BB Droid staying quiet as well. She brings up her finger to her lips to indicate staying quiet and winks before looking forward. (Kare Kun)

Nerys knew better than to be the first one off the boat, yes she did, and so she gave the rest of the team ample time to make their way off the ship before she hopped down herself, HiBall, in all his oversized droid babyhead glory riding on his usual perch; that is to say, her right shoulder, his blaster covering the area as he and his ride moved out. Rather than turning on the lamps from her helmet, Nerys kept the light low as she stepped forward enough to scan the area ahead, her voice coming across the team's shared comms, <<Automaton drones are in flight well above the city. They're using IR lasers to track our location. Whomever is controlling them is well aware of our arrival.>>

It's just an ocean of fail for the Jedi tonight as Elrych reaches out along with Vhe and Ban and finds nothing echoing back in the form of life signs. "THey might just be too far away." He offers, trying to keep their spirits up in the face of their inability. THey should probably all work on that together at some point.

He keeps it simple, wearing his usual dark green robes and blood striped breeches. His lightsaber hangs ready on his hip. "At least it's droids and not people." He offers with a half hearted smile.

Deserts... He hates deserts. It's always kriffing deserts. But at least an empty city, less potential for unintentional casualties. On the Clan channels, Hadrix's voice rolls out, speaking to the Koras present, <<"Be on watch for points we can lift to for elevated fire positions and observation.">> The new rifle was in hand, toggled to fire munitions rather than energy bursts, load checked, systems cleared.

Humming inside of his helmet, the ID10 mounted on his back emits a sigh over private comms, which seems to only spur him further. Better than grumbling, or mnemonic phrases. Just a little something to relax by before they're moving out and into the field, as it were.

Jax was in the process of pulling down a balaclava mask over his face as Ban asked his quiestion. The Corellian stopped for a moment inhaling and exhaling. "Sorry Ban, I don't trust myself to do that acurately." He then says, " Nerys is right. The droids above have spotted us." Then he points to a nearbuy building, "The building has surveillance equipment... with power. Somebody there is watching." He says pulling the mask on down to cover his face providing protection from the dust before googles.

Throughout the ride Rathe is silent as they perform the angled hot drop to the surface. His motions are clear indicators of a life of military training. He checks his Dreafinder armor, weapons loads, the security of his Vibroweapons, and blindly pulls items from the medpac secured to the armor of his thigh before restowing them. As they get closer to the surface, the helmet turns fractionally towards Hadrix. Then the Tracker comes off his shoulder and he manuevers it's sling so the weapon can be cross-slung against his chest. Likely for ease of letting it go to perform his other duties. Once everyone starts moving to the ramp does he rise and the Tracker becomes nestled to his shoulder. As he disembarks the ramp himself, the visor starts sweeping down first, then left, right and finally up before he proceeds.

The ship closes its ramp and begins to take off. Aryn, who is at the helm, coughs over the comms. <<"--sorry. I'm moving to the north t-.. to hide from their sensors in the sandstorm. Call if you nee-- need me.">> She starts to cough again, but the comm cuts out and the ship takes off, its impulse engine expanding when she shoved the throttle forward to 'blast off'.

Everyone is left in a swirl of 'moon dust' but it settles. The fact of their predicament came true when the sounds of a small patrol are heard marching down the street. <"Infiltrators nearby. Weapons ready."> Booms the droid Corporal, followed by one of the rampant private who primes their flame thrower. <"Time to see if these things dooo work."> While comical, the sudden discharge of flames marked the position of the encroaching unit moving down one of the streets.

FIFTEEN droids move in formation, wearing bits of GREEN stormtrooper armor minus the helmets. A single jetpack droid hovers overhead as a Sentinel marksman, carrying a massive SX-451 Antimateriel rifle.

Ban Iskender gives a short nod to the varied reports of no apparent life and drones overhead that gave marked their arrival. "Well then. I see little cause to pursue subtlety," the soldier notes with a short sniff, drawing his sword and starting out alongside Kiko and the others. When Jax points out a building with powered surveillance machinery, that becomes the point of greatest interest. "Well spotted, mister Greystorm. I am loathe to bring the drones eyes to the place directly, but that would seem the best lead." Then droids appear in formation. He doesn't look angry, but the young Iskender certainly grows more stern. "Let us dispose of this lot and see what is revealed." A glowing green sword brought up vertically in the shortest and sharpest of salutes, before he is among the first rank, cutting down a trio of the green Intruders in as many heartbeats.

Practiced in operational inserts, Jessika's instinct is to angle her face down, away, and with eyes shut to combat the craft's takeoff as it kicks up sediment and repulsorlift coils send powerful gusts around them. When it's over, her head returns to a more neutral position. Her weapon isn't in such a way. Pressing the stock against the pocket of her shoulder, Jessika adopts a low ready stance with the weapon. The dust is starting to settle when she realizes it's time to do more than just be at the low ready. Droids. They've made a mistake. Don't they know who she's the Great Destroyer? There's humor in that thought, but nothing humorous about the way the barrel of her weapon lifts and aligns. She's familiar with this weapon. Her sight picture is engrained in her muscle memory. The one thing that isn't? The pressure of the trigger. It surprises her every time. But that means she squeezed, instead of yanked, and her blaster rifle reports with a bark, a bright red flash, and the scent of burned ozone filling her nostrils. The expelled Tibanna gas coalesces into deadly force that obliterates her target.

The dust in the air causes her to cough and cover her mouth but Vhe is not going to rush into the fray just yet. The Ysanna instead reaches out through the Force, finding her way sluggish at first until she manages to curl the unseen force about the wires and commands of the sentinel. Her head tilts and to those arond her it seems as if she is drifting in through, eyes closed for the moment and hand outstretched. Eyes flare open as the sentinel creaks and turns, something slightly off about its motions.

A breath drawn in and she flings it through the air, bowling it basically into the other drones that are headed their way. Three go down in a heap along with the sentinel which sparks and spasms, a small fire starting where it shorts but to be short lived once the cables and inner wires are consumed.

As the dust and other particles swarm, Kare's arm comes up to her face to cover her mouth and nose from the elements. There is a frown as she hears the coughing over the comms. She turns to look at the ship and watches it disappear. A shake of her head before she hears the droids talking and turns to see them. Her eyes go down to Rev as she ducks behind a tree and looks to him, "Stay behind and close - if we need you, I'll let you know." She activates the device with a soft whine, bringing it up against her shoulder. She waits for the reticle to slowly blink on. She adjusts a few of nobgs and breaths in, before taking the shot. As it connects, there's a brief grin before she resets and aims for the next one.

"Focus. One at a time, Kun."

And this was why you never put the Space Nerd in the front. Because the Space Nerd was never prepared. As soon as the word came of the droids moving in, HiBall perked up from where he had been letting his head rest on Nerys' helmet like a decorative bobble, his blaster blasting two shots into the first droid he targeted, buying time for Nerys to swing her Backpack of Holding around and withdraw her weapon, the golden light of the string setting her in her armor off nicely. because Space fashion, but this time it was the droid covering and not the woman.

Elrych sets his lips together in a thin line when he hears Aryn over hte intercom. It's a look of guilt, at least some soft of feeling along that nature. Vhe can feel that tinge as she caughs, that feeling switching over to disapointment in himself. Though, as the ship lands and they start moving, the Corellian Jedi Night comes back to reality. He pulls his own black and gold plated saber off his belt and activates it. Watching the others unleash destruction, along with Vhe's command oer the force. He looks to her and gives an approving smile before he reaches out with his own hand and pushes hard with the force. A thunderous clap sounds before one of the drones takes off and goes flying far... far away. Elrych blinks, looking at his hand, seriously surprised. "Well... alright." A nod to Ban, "Yes. Hark... or whatever it is fancy people say."

Droids. Hadrix was moving towards cover, even with the light repeater squeezed to his shoulder and targeting feeds were moving across his hud. The swing-arm of the feed-cup was against the bionic, feeding information directly as he sized up, tilted his weapon.

<<"Danger close.">> is rumbled over the squad lines for Jedi, trooper, and otherwise to hear before the distinct FOONK of the rifle spitting a compressed ball across the distance. Sailing wide to explode harmlessly, other than the property damage created as stone and support are blasted, kicking up more dust and debris in addition to a shake of his head to clear it. Growling as he begins chiding himself, a sudden blossom of rage among the apparent calm about him.

Jax nods to Ban, " I try." Then Jax nods to Nerys and Hiball. <Don't die, Space Nerd.> Then Jax takes off at a run behind Ban, letting the Lord Lead the charge. As droids go down around him due to blaster fire, Jedi powers, and a very drunk Sentinel droid crashing; Jax takes up his saber lighting the blue blade. THen launching him into a trio of the still standing droids in a whirlwhind of motion drops three in what looks like one swing before he turns into a form III defensive stance with his body parrel his hand off hand extend and his saber drawn back either to strike or deflect a blaster bolt.

At the flaming droids announcing their position, Rathe has turned towards the new foe. The muzzle of the Tracker was following the sentinel to start. Then Jedi do what Jedi do. The sentinel exploding others gets a brief moments pause. Professional shooters are blasting. Droids are doing what droids do best. Becoming scrap parts. With each downed droid, the Tracker shifts fractionally as he picks out a new target. No complaints. No talking. That is until Hadrix... misses. <<"Huh.">> He comments privately on the Kora frequency, though the way his shoulders react. Those closest to him possibly may have heard the sound muffled from the helmet. Hubris is a lesson rapidly realized as his own first shot narrowly misses the droid, the second shot finds home in a calm depression of the firing stud.

Pieing the corner of the building, the Alde noble takes a kneeling stance and watches as the heroes of Lord Ban's entourage go to work. It proves difficult to take a measured shot, but after the smoke clears from the blossom of a grenade going off, Kiko's eyes narrow on a single droid that she aligns her sights with. A quiet moment as she forms stockweld before the weapon she uses releases a single green lance that blasts the armored droid to pieces. She follows through a second, before peering over the sight and looking around. "Clear." She calls, rising up and holding the weapon at a low-ready. Quietly shifting her glance to Ban, she seeks direction.

Aryn's voice crackles over the encrypted comms. <<"I've made contact with the Dragoons. They're engaged at the center of the city. A large battalion has been deployed and have started shelling the blast doors for the shelter. It won't hold out for long. You'll need to clear out that park and reach the shelter, or..">> Aryn breaks into a coughing fit, and the comms cut, again. They got the point.

"A word is made artful by its speaker, master Cometburn," Ban asides to Elrych, giving the other a raised brow at the sheer DISTANCE the Corellian just threw a droid. Their onslaught annihilates the mechanoid column, until a last solitary droid is left to take aim at Captain Kun for an instant, until Kiko ends the brief skirmish forcibly. "Well struck, Commander," he acknowledges briefly. Aryn's report prompts a sharp, "Swift advance. Master Kora, the deployment of you and yours is at your own discretion." Jetpack if you want it, boy. For his part, Ban is dashing deeper into the fallen capital, as swiftly as he is able.

Swift, decisive silence. Jessika lowers her barrel back into the low ready. Her eyes maintain their position on the distant forward, ready to utilize the tracking software in her helmet's equipment should any hidden combatants decide to discharge their weapons at her or any of the other assembled. "That droid flew pretty good. For a brick, I mean." It might be a joke, but Jessika says it with the severe weight of seriousness. Spreading out from the group as a whole, because clustering up is a great way to become dead quick-like, Jessika positions herself as a left outlier that might allow them to transform into something more diamond-like or scattered if the rest of the group does similar things. The order to move out is given, and Jessika picks up after the noble Lord Iskender.

As the drones are taken down, Vhe nods to those near her, lifting her hand to draw a colorful scarf up over her nose and mouth and giving it a tug into place. When Ban takes off however, she gives a second look to the still sparking Sentinel before her fingers flex at her side and she draws her stunsaber, yet to light it but it remains in her hand as she begins the dash deeper into the city. A glance is given to Elrych as her head ducks and she tries to keep the dust from her eyes.

A smile comes to the lips of the Ace Pilot as the shot is succesful. She slowly stands up, perhaps a bit to quick as a shot is returned, bolting just above her sholter. The heat from it softly sizzling her skin and hair. She quickly turns and ducks behind a tree - her head resting against it. An exhale, "Every.. Frakking Time.. Every. Frakking. Time." She grumbles softly to herself. She pushes herself back off and brings her hand to her ear as she listens to the words. A snort and her eyes come up. She looks to the woman and the Jedi that are talking. She glances down to Rev and motions with her head for them to move and with that - she starts following after the mismatched heroes of fancy. As they move quicker, Kare will move over to the right - somewhat flanking Jessica as they continue. (Kun)

<You know what to do, HiBall. Don't let Jax die. We'll never hear the end of it.> Nerys spoke across the shared comm between herself and her droid, her eyes scanning for any reinforcements as she saw the droids falling like broken toys no longer of any interest to the team. Aloud, she offered only, << I can't die. I haven't solved the galaxy yet.>> She moved forward, thankful for the sealing on her armr, trying to find that sweet spot between staying with the group, keeping Jax in her sights, and being aware of places she could use for cover as they engaged the next wave. Because this was war, and there was always a next wave.

Elrych gives a glance towards Ban, dwelling on his words a moment. It's not long before he's striding quickly along with his fellow Jedi into the city proper. As Aryn and her coughing comes over the comms again, Elrych purses his lips tightly once more. "I know she'd never let it happen but maybe we should have tried to get her to stay back at the fleet and rest a little longer." He offers a sight, his blue eyes alert even as he dwells on that thought. He glances over to see if Vhe is still nearby even though he can likely sense her.

Operational freedom. One can almost feel the grin coming from Hadrix before his head turns towards Rathe, fractionally, <<"Leap advance, rooftop vantage. Provide cover and eliminate hostiles.">> A step taken forward before the man is cast into the air on wings of fire that blow his cape out behind him before the Mandalorian is skyborne and headed for nearby roofs, to scuttle forward steadily, while his voice cuts in again, over general comms <<"Arda, I may be lasing targets for you and your bow. Be advised.">> not losing a step, trying to catch sight of the next batch of targets for todays barrage.

Another burst, leap enhanced and carried to the next building - lower this time, gravity belt engaging to set him down at a jog while he proceeds. Using height for cover, keeping his jumps minimal to avoid skylining himself for more than a second or two.

Jax turns his saber off and clips it to his belt, "You figure that out. Let me know." Jax says moving to race with Ban. He figured the others will be keeping up or making a smarter tactical plan than just follow Ban like a mad man.

The last of the droids goes down to Kiko's weapon and stillness reigns once more. Aside from the smoldering of the decimated droids. At the communication from Aryn, once again Rathe's helmet fractionally shifts. A quick glance down at the Tracker's ammo count and he draws the weapon to his shoulders again. His left hand drops down to ensure the hilt of his Vibrosword is firmly in place, the sheathed weapon bolted tot the outside of his calf armor. At Ban's mention of Kora, the visor of the Clan's akaan baar'ur looks in that direction and to the other Jedi. During his renewed advance, his own jetpack remains unlit for the time being. Choosing to stay ground based and finally opening his helmets vox with a crackle of a question followed by idle commentary. <"No one hit, correct? Surprising.">

<"Bricks have more tactical knowledge."> The vox answers Jessicka's statement. The helmet turns towards Kare, but no comment forthcoming. Apparently voice disipline back in place for him. Then his private Kora channel crackles, and he answers. <<"Unable to comply.">> He suits words to action, and advances on the ground with the others.

The run into the city reveals more and more of the grand architecture of Alderaan. Such massive structures, and grand statues from generations of history adorn streets that are eerily abandoned. Dark windows, dark buildings, and dark alleyways where the wind whistles, and the moon-dust kicks up. This world.. is so rekking quiet.

The sound of the battle at the center of Belleau-a-Kiirium details a hellish climate. Those who have taken flight can see that the dark horizon is alit with flames. What had once stood as the Park of Heroes was now a park of cinders. Flames enveloped the trees that had taken GENERATIONS to plant and grow. The elder tree, a symbolic monument of marble shaped like a tree was scorched with plasma flames and burning like a massive torch at the center of the courtyard.

Beyond the flames and smoke, a battalion of droids march up the stairs of the flaming monument to flood the first corridor they've managed to blast past. Drones hiss by overhead, while the wind carries the sandstorm closer to the city, appearing like a looming shadowed wall of clouds easing closer and closer to the flames.

Our heroes arrive from the south, with a clear view of the drones as they march, march, march. A small contingent breaks off to intercept them. Some 20 droids with 2 Sentinels screaming in a nasally voice <"CHAAAAAAAARGE!">

Vhe skids to a halt, sliding across the ground in her boots with her momentrum as the group of droids breaks away and comes toawrds them. The intiate smiles faintly, as if hoping her next gambit will be just as succesful. She thrusts her hand out and reaching towards the droids she finds one in the midst and grasps around a power conduit. Feeding it the force with a sort of super conductor like focus, she does not cease the rush of the force until the Drone begins to shake and break apart and suddenly explode.

Two go down in the rain of shrapnel and systems fry from their comrades explosion as they collapse to the ground.

Ban Iskender is breathing heavily by the time he gets a line of sight on the city center, his armored shoulders visibly rising and falling as the harsh wind throws his cape out to the left side like a stiff pennant. Later, the sight may haunt him, but in the moment, all he can process is that the first barrier has been breached, there are war droids advancing inside, and a score of opponents are in their way. Charging squarely into the mechanical teeth of the enemy, Ban gives little regard for his flanks or rear, perhaps trusting those with him, or focusing solely on piecing the first formation and reaching the bunker in all haste.

The place feels haunted. Or maybe it just feels old. Like every footstep she takes is an intrusion. Patterned treads are left in the dust to mark her path. The sediment crunches underneath her boots and flings back with every push forward. Helmet on as it is, it requires Jessika to get a little closer than other before the sound of a battle kicks up. Rather than stay in the middle of the main service road as they approach, Jessika peels off onto a footpath running parallel and within simple reach of all the nooks and crannies provided by awnings and doors leading into buildings that look long abandoned. She picks one and smacks into it, heaving and sucking in much-needed breath. Sweat tickles down her temples and the nape of her neck. They'd gone at a good clip to get here.

It's with a hammering pulse and rib-aching inhales that she tries to line up the barrel of her weapon with one of the droids approaching them. The squeeze is there, but her aim is not. She's breathing too hard to maintain her target in her optics and keep her barrel steady, even with the support of the building next to her. The weapon discharges, but the shot comes up short and leaves a fist-sized divot in the duracrete half a meter from her target. Exhaling an annoyed sigh, Jessika starts to sink to a knee to better brace herself for the shots to come after. Her left knee comes up. Her left elbow finds a brace against her thigh just behind it. Braced on the right, the tip of Jessika's foot extends just in case she needs to fold back and get closer to the ground without spraining her ankle.

Nerys frowned, as she came closer and closer to the flames, the little wheels in her brain turning over, the many space gerbils up there working overtime as she accessed the situation, seeking for something to use to her advantage, some way to get rid of the drones overhead. < I can't work with all this mess!> The nerve of these droids. The pair of human and droid did not, however, waste tie in lamenting. They opened fire, trying to move at speed out of the main line of fire and to a place they could do a bit of recon on the situation. None of their shots, alas, found good targets, but that was alright. This was a target rich environment.

"No..No.. It's definetly a good idea that you do some ground operations. They definetly could use someone with your skill.." The woman with the droid side kick talks to herself as she moves with a purpose. She stops, allowing herself to skid and gently hit a wall. Her eyes surveying the fires and damage, only a brief moment of regret of what war has done before she continues the conversation with herself, "Oh don't they have Jedi with them on this operation? Why yes they do.. But didn't you know I once shot a couple of officers on a star destroyer once and they were really tough.. I mean what do Jedi do? Use Magical Space Swords of death along with literally causing things to explode.." She brings her weapon up, tapping a few buttons on it - changing the settings to make it more long range. She extends the scope and brings it against her shoulder again, "Hey, Kare.. didn't Jedi single handedly destroy the Death Stars and go toe to toe with the worst murderers and killers this galaxy has ever seen.."

She waits as the reticle starts to blink on and begins to lock onto the target, "Why yes I did know that, but I once flew an X-wing through a very narrow space. So.." She breathes in and then out, letting the shot go and the red hot blast sear through the droid, "Really.. I'm doing them a favor by being here."

Elrych blinks, taking a moment to be surprised by Vhe and her ingenious use of the Force. "What books have you been reading? Yeesh." HE gives her that Corellian grin then, perking up from his previous morose attitude. The throws of combat seem to pick up his spirits even more as he rushes in alongside Ban and Jax, his saber slashing through a droid. The secondary attack misses high as the Drone ducks before Elrych spins the blade around and then slashes upwards in a diagonal direction. Glancing back as Kare goes on the Jedi Knight offers. "You're doing fine, Kare-bear. honestly, great job." THe best encouragment he can must he supposes, looking back to the droids down just as one is about to shoot at him. His eyes widen and he jukes out of the way as the blaster bolt sails by. "Too close!"

<<"Report to Roth first chance, Rathe.">> Hadrix mutters over comms as he comes to a sliding halt, where he can observe. A lot of destruction. Too much destruction for the work that had been clearly done to create such as this.

'What a waste' drifting across his thoughts as he locks the stock of his weapon against his shoulder and takes aim again. Charging droids already being laid into by the jedi, adjusting his aim and fighting the urge to charge in, ax swinging.

FWBOOOOMM!

<"Te'Mando'ade kar'taylir val nu'liser shukalar buruk, a'par buruk'ika val'liser mav'ashie teh chaab..."> Speaking aloud, his externals barely grumbling as the detonation sprays hydraulic fluids and parts across the field. The explosion of the plasma wrapped concussion detonation shattering metal and duriplast alike. He's damaging the area... but then it's already wrecked now. Unfortunate.

Jax follows Ban into combat lining up wiht one of the droids, his first slice missing, and his second. The third finally failing the droid. "I think they taugh them to dodge. Who taught them to dodge?" Then a blaster bolt goes flying past him directed for Nerys his saber blade moving quickly to deflect the shot back at the droid. "That one doesn't know how to dodge yet."

Droids, and even more Droids. The Sentinels get a particularly long consideration with his visor and his targeting systems. Patience from the Kora initiate, as the Jedi begin their systematic eradication program, Ban just cutting them down. Nerys and her droid have a bad moment, and there is no judgement... that can be heard. Next his visor polarizes as the one droid simply explodes and takes out some fellow droids. One can almost hear the blinking from under the helmet for a moment. Another explodes from Kare's trigger action. Then Hadrix does what Hadrix does. On the private kora channel first a double mic-click for Hadrix at the order. Then the sarcasm drips as droids explode from a harmless sounding launch of a grenade. <<"Seriously?">> The helmet visor once again polarizes even in the night. Rathe shifted aim now and again as droids came down. Assessing the greatest threat, Rathe shifts his shoulders fractionally to calmly squeeze the firing stud twice, the first shot exploding the Sentinel, the second passing through its falling wreckage.

The battalion of droids at the monument halt when a sudden gust that vibrates the ground erupts outward in a sudden BLAST of fire! It's so loud that the concussive force can be nothing short of a shaped charge. The blast settles, and from the monument sounds a loud horn.

"BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!"

The single blast is for a charge. The last resort of all Dragoons. A rider, upon a speeder, is made airborne when his craft propels over the staircase. A caped, armored rider in black armor fires a red flare into the air, casting the pistol aside to chicken wing their rifle. Seated behind them, another rider holding a light-cannon begins to open fire at the cyclic rate.

These Dragoons are not alone, for three more come up behind them in a similar fashion, followed by a crowd of survivors wielding whatever they had on hand.

The court yard, beset now by the first tell-tale of a sandstorm is now engaged in the biggest skirmish of its history. Our heroes are able to enter the fray to help.. some scattered 60 droids are engaged while Dragoon riders circle the courtyard, their gunners pouring into the clusters.

Ban Iskender's all consuming charge toward the besieged monument is briefly delayed by the well detonated shaped charge. Then the horn sounds and three military model Mobquet Overracers sally out of the underground. Alone, they would swiftly be overwhelmed by massed infantry.

But they are not alone. In the thick of the unfolding battle, Ban lifts his radiant green sword in distant salute to the riders, and lays about himself with precise and piercing blows to the three nearest war droids, adding them to the rubble strewn about the plaza.

Jessika doesn't get a second chance to engage the contingent that broke off from the main force to face them. The Jedi and the other gathered wreak havoc, leaving smoking, armored husks and cut up droids scattered across the duracrete. The force they've annihilated is nothing compared to the main bulk beginning their assault on the monument. Jessika has enough time to steady her breathing. She knows where the natural halt points are, at the deepest part of her exhale and just a moment after she finishes inhaling. She waits for the latter while lining up another shot, body half-exposed around the nook of the plastisteel framing that makes up the doorway of a long-abandoned business. She tunes out everything but the moment. The helmet helps keep the acoustic echo of blaster fire out.

What it amplifies is the sound of her breathing in her own head. It helps her isolate that special little spot when her lungs feel heavy from how hard she's pushed the last of her breath out of her chest. In that little window she creates, her optics settle on her target. Her finger applies pressure to the trigger of her rifle. It trips over again, another surprise, and lances through the targeted droid to turn its chassis into a blown-out wreck that crumples into a heap on the ground. Chaos is errupting in the square. A kaleidoscope of lights illuminates it, and the multi-colored beams create a reflective show as the kicked up dust particles tinge and refract. She's glad the main force isn't looking her way.

"Sweet.." Vhe never quite finishes her sentence but she does give Kare a look and can not help but laugh a bit at the personal conversation taht is going on back and forth. She does however take a moment before rushing in and amidst all the fire from the Dragoons to spot a piece of rubble that is large enough to have a radius that could do some real damage.

She outstretches her hand and slowly it rocks and shifts and finally lifting off the ground she wobbles it through the open are before it steadies. Strained she answers Elrych, "Mmmm well you see...I am figuring we have the Force, why not experiment. But here, something a little more traditional."

A bead of sweat traces down the side of her face and drops to the ground just as the stone piece is dropped and released from her hold through the force. There is a crushing sound of metal and some minor explosions in the hardware of the droids as a whole grouping is immediately rendered immobile or wrecked.

Well there's a name that she hadn't heard in a while. Kare didn't necessarily mind it, it beat some of the names. The Dusty-skinned woman stayed behind her corner as the battle continues on. She calls back to the Jedi, "Oh I know. I don't have the force so we multiply my stuff by what.. 15? Honestly, I'm a little disappointed. Thought you would be keeping up with me." She moves to reset her weapon for distance, moving forward with as much speed as she can handle. Keeping up with the group was a great work out though, perspiration beginning to form across her forehead. She ducks under a rock, "That's 45.. I thought Corellians were competitive!?"

The woman's heavy breathing continues as she looks up to see literally rocks falling down on the Droids. She watches in awe as her eyes then move over to JEssika. She watches the woman a brief moment, sizing up how her fellow squadmate is doing before looking back. She could feel the tension, the exhileration as well. It was a feeling she was all to used to.

Nerys and HiBall, who had managed, despite their poor showing, did manage to find a place to hole up against, the pair trying to sight the remaining droids. Which was no easy task. What with the Jedi Jedi-ing, Jax Jaxing...wait, was that bolt going to take off her head? The Mandalorians Mandalorianing and the other assorted soldiers soldiering. And who the heck just curb-smashed all those droids with the world's biggest chunk of actual curb? They shot together, HiBall covering the small woman as she aimed, her bolt taking out one of the drones. Alas, only one. <Come on, HiBall! Get your rage on!>

Elrych grins towards Vhe as she responds to him. He follows with his blue eyes the debris she sends flying, and the many droids she crushes. Aparently, her own Telekinetic abilities being wacky and overpowered this evening as well. "Are we shure this place isn't a vergance in the force or something because, DAYUM!" His exasterbated 'damn' comes just as the shape charge is set off. His free hand comes to block the blast's heat and light from his eyes breifly. Though, as the skif comes through along with the small contingent blasting away at droids, Elrych rejoins the fight, slashing diligently through another three drones with dexterous and well trained swings. "I am competative!" He defends. "I'm just... a little off tonight, okay! It's... cold." Excuses. He's full of them.

<<"Yes, really.">> Is the succinct response to Rathe as his mind goes to the missile on his back... the thermo-nuclear devices (Yes. Plural.) in his bandolier.

The glory. The beauty. The majesty of it.

There are too many of them now in the mix. He'd be in trouble for certain. But the beast kept battened down -really- doesn't care, and -really- wishes it could get back in control. He's sweating, he wants it.

Best for smaller explosions for now. A hand comes down to grab a pair of globes from his belt, ignition trigger thumbed and thrown out into the mix before he drops to a kneeling posture.

<<"Ion out.">> he's run into to many HRD in his time not to be polite as the blue lightning storm erupts and sends a half dozen droids jittering and twisting before optics pop and wires fry. Six sent down. No threat of additional damage. Good enough.

<"Val payt'oyayc mar'eyir vercopaanir o'r'val ijaat'kyr'am. Val'tion'ad partaylir rejorhaa'ir ">

As Vhe's wrecking ball stone comes to a landing, Jax extends his free hand and the stone rises, "Kare! He's a jedi! They're supposed to be above all those mortal failings. We all do what we can to keep the galaxy free it's not a competition. He's lifting us up to be the best." The Rock goes sipping through 12 of droids smashing them as it goes before dropping to the ground. " I'm Corellian and I have no problem competing with you. I'm up to 60!" He calls back with a laugh.

Explosions again, sabers, blaster shots, droid on droid action! All these things make the helmet of Rathe continue to fractionally shift here and there. It is after all, a LOT of droids, and a lot of mixed fighting techniques. The environmentally sealed Dreadfinder armor pauses in motion. The sandstorm comes, it is night, a barely organized rout occurs. Then there is hadrix in his ears. The helmet and shoulders just rolls fractionally, as if the wearer of the armor just rolled his eyes at all the above in regards to Kora's Al'Verde. No response this time, no mic click. The war medic just observes each of them enact their own special touch on the battle in turn... and noone is harmed as of yet. Jax on the otherhand, Jax gets special attention in the form of a slowly turning visor. It is not the rock that gets launched back like some space-tennis ball from hell, it is the preaching of the Jedi on the Jedi themselves. There is a muffled grunt from within the helmet. Then the former Vanguardsman snaps his own shots for the droids and... misses. One likely does not need to be a Jedi to sense the displeasure coming from within that armor.

The sandstorm hits, and all at once the fires are blocked out by the presence of thick, unrelenting sand. The gusts are tumultuous, uneven, and the sand gets --everywhere--. For our heroes, it went from being lit up to sudden darkness. That is until the arrival of the Cophigrin Echo appears overhead, its shields glimmering against the onslaught of sand. Blue repulsor lifts cast outward contrails of bright, bright light, and search beams circle to one spot as it lowers down.

Droids, people, Dragoons, and our heroes are surrounded by the brief flashes of laser lances as they dance from each side of the plaza in utter chaos. When the ramp lowers on the ship, a single blue lightsaber blade appears. Aryn's voice crackles over the comms, coughing.

<<"All callsigns.. Dragoons, Alderaanians, ALL.. to the ship. Follow the light!">> Aryn coughs, but continues to wave the lightsaber. From her perspective, she could only see darkness around her.

People begin to hastily make their way to the ship, but what droids remain are also closing in!!

"Into the deepening dark, a light descends," Ban voices, as the shadow of the dust storm is pierced by the lights of the Cophrigin Echo and then the saber of its pilot. <<"Proceed to extraction in all haste,">> he bids, fighting toward the sleek freighter's hatch, and taking a defensive position to screen the evacuees from any counter fire. Aryn is greeted formally, "My Lady," and though his eye remains on the half glimpsed chaos, he acknowledges Kare with an even, "Captain," as she joins him at the perimeter.

Jessika doesn't need to be told twice. Launching off from her left foot, the top of her right bot scrapes across the duracrete until it clears and angles forward to catch her with her next step. She angles her body forward, ensuring that each step forward is more like catching herself. That's what helps her run faster than just the jog they took to get here. Jessika finds the visibility going from bad to worse. Now the dust in the square is like clouds. The blaster fire from the droids and everything else within looks like a blossom of color. Like some erratic, alien lightning playing out on the inside and she's looking in. Doesn't stop her from full-tilting in that direction to where the ship awaits and Aryn's lightsaber serves as a beacon.

The dust scattering everywhere might normally blind her, and Jessika tends to try to avoid it, but there's no avoiding it in this. The plasteel visor protects her, instead. And the armored pads on her knees means when she comes to a hard stop near the ramp for a kneel, she doesn't crack her patella and injure herself. Barrel up. The software in her helmet mounted cueing system isolates the location of droid combatants discharging their weapons, which means that dust? It doesn't cover them as much as they'd like. Jessika snaps to where the superimposed reticle over her eye indicates a droid. A trigger squeeze sends another barked shot punching through to hammer a droid's chassis. She's not knocking them down as fast as the Jedi, but in the face of overwhelming numbers, every one she puts down is one not shooting back. <"Watch the left flank, Four. I've got the right."> Between the two veteran pilots, the number she mentions can only mean Kare Kun. It's as much her name as her name after so long. A true name so often spoken in the heat of combat.

Vhe notes Aryn who calls to them to leave and Vhe grabs for the stone and it shudders. Shaking as she drags it and leaves a divet upon the ground as it is moved with the Force. But it breaks apart, several drops of it leaves it unable to hold its full form and it breaks apart, becoming no type of shield as it crumbles and she releases it. She is not strong enough to focus on that many different pieces.

Abandoning them she lights the stunsaber to help deflect as needed as she continues to move back with the others, making certain that she can be of aid when needed.

"Well ofcourse you do!" Kare yells back to Jax, "You're on Rogue Squadron.. That's why we are here." She hears the alert by Aryn and looks in the direction. A soft feudal exhale, "You know, X-wing Sensors could see through that pretty easy." She, again brings up her arm to shield against the incoming sand as it hits them like a ton of bricks. As visibility moves to nothing, she straps her weapon up - grabbing her DP and making a run for it towards the beautiful lights of blue. She slides onto the ground, the resistance of the clone armor making a soft screeching noise. She backs up against a way word rock. She brings her weapon up and points it out - any enemy that comes through that isn't an ally will have to answer to her... or more than likely a Jedi..but whatever.. HER.

"Master Jedi.." She replies back to the man fighting defensively, "Wonderful day out on Town.."

Through all of this Bravado though she hears a familiar voice over her comms. Its one of the very few voices that can change her attitude and even priorities. She clicks on, <<"Acknowledged, Three. They wont be getting past us today." (Kun)

Elrych was about to make a quip back at Kare but the storm that picks up draws his attention away from the banter. His face became far more serious, "Vhe! Ban!" He looks for the glowing green in the whipping dust and wind. Then the Echo is making its appearance along with Aryn. "Aryn! don't stand in the hatchway that's dengerous!" He pauses, "I mean... stay there we can't see!" He makes his way with those who are retreating to cover their escape. Next to Ban and Vhe now he takes a breath, humming blue lightsaber defensivly held at his side. He reaches his hand out, palm up, fingers closing into a claw. Around the ship and those retreating a shimmering bubble starts to form from the ground up. Slowly it almost crystalizes together. Suddenly there's a flash and the bubble disipates into the nothing. The wind and sand pick up once more. Elrych grumbles lowly, bringing up his saber to a higher guard now and waiting for the incoming attack. "Still no there yet." He had only ever managed to do it once, saving people from an exploding ship.

Nerys would stay until the end, whatever end. And it didn't matter that she and HiBall were being wholly ineffective. They did the best that they could. And then there was a ship dropping in on their heads and it took a split second they could not afford to register that it was the good Doctor bringing in their ride. Well, that was good enough for Nerys and she popped up, moving to join the forces which were now clustering towards the evac point, falling back to provide some defense for the rebels they had been tasked with rescuing. It was impossible to see, almost, but she could still pick out that blue lightsaber flashing in between the gusts of wind and sand, <<Come on! Don't make me come and get you!>>

<<"Covering exfiltation.">> Hadrix rumbles from his rooftop still - the ship was marked at last location, it continues to be noted as best as his system can as he takes aim once more. Flying was going to be difficult. <<"Rathe. I may be stranded. Exfil if you can. If I can't get to the ship, I'll melt and prepare for extraction post storm.">>

PHOOOONK! Another concussion explosive launched into the mass of droids with unerring accuracy regardless of storm, wind and debris. If he was a fool, this would be a good end. <"Be'val'mandokar, be'tion'tuur te'ca?nara olaror; val'epan ba'dinuir'an."> But not today.

<<"Operational command, this is Al'Verde Hadrix, broadcasting location on our frequency. On elevation. You may need to abandon me for later pick-up.">> Voice calm, quiet, rational despite the want and will to leap headlong into the mix, to take as many of them to the weeds - even if he went with it.

<"Gehat'ike oyacyir'bat. Shi'Mando'ade olaror lo'eyn'gev."> he thinks of Kar'tracyn. The rest is simple. <<"Operational command - if you can position over me during exfil I can attempt to cable latch while utilizing thrust pack.">> still working out solutions, thinking of the wrist mount launcher on his left arm. Thanks for the idea, Sumi.

Jax fell back with the other though a bit more slowly getting caught in the storm itself, there was a slash of blue here and a slash of blue there as a droid catching up with evacuee found Jax instead. He took long enough time that Nerys would begin to worry before the glow of a blue saber would would announce his arrival in his off arm he carries a bundle. Jax face bare except for the goggles now. Though it seems that the bundle was now wearing his mask. He makes his way to Aryn and with a cough, "Princess, one of your more important subject, we needed a moment." He says offering the child to Aryn. "Oh and get Captain Kun a metal or something. She out fought me."

The sandstorm, expected strikes. Rathe shifts his jaw to ensure the enemy tracking system fires up to grab target locks before all visibility is lost. He chooses to not light the helmets spotlight to avoid attracting enemy fire. Aryn flies on in, and the area behind him lights up. <"Don't like that."> Rathe rumbles as he suddenly finds himself backlit. He chooses to use it to the best advantage, walk towards the light, but backwards with sliding steps for sure footing. As allies come running beyond him up the ramp he holds his fire until the tracking system indicates a clear field. Twice he depresses the firing stud, and twice he is denied. With noone to patch, there is no reason to hold a forward position anymore. So he backs up the ramp and drops on it on one knee to continue covering their extraction. He ensures he is well within safety range for it being able to close and not squash him. Then there is Hadrix. Rathe actually transmits on the operational frequency instead of the Clan frequency in a firm voice. <<"Just like old times. Avoid getting shot. You know how gentle I won't be.">>

Lady Kiko arrives at the ship with the others, dropping her rifle with a casual guide of her arm to direct it behind her. She draws a GLIE-44 blaster pistol and stands at the front of the group, taking hold of people and moving them to the ramp. "GANGWAY!" Comes one warning as a speeder carrying several aboard (the Dragoon had picked them up on the way in) goes up the ramp. Then there's another, and a third.

Meanwhile people are still climbing up the ramp, by the dozen. Dragoons who have abandoned their rides re-emerge to join their Captain (Ban) but focus on their people and getting them aboard. Aryn accepts the child from Jax. "THANKS.. Come little one, on board now!"

"ONE LONE RIDER!" Kiko yells, "MAKEWAY!" The Black Rider appears then, two children clutched in place of their rifle, and seated behind him, his gunner is still firing the light cannon. The rider casually salutes Ban. "That's all of them, Lord!"

The call to board is given, and our heroes exfil, the ramp staying open for the Mando to join them. Kiko stands vigil at the ramp, pistol in hand to blast anything not a Mandalorian attempting to board.

Once all are reunited, the ramp is shut, and the Cophigrin Echo blasts into orbit, emerging from the darkness of a sandstorm to enter the void and promptly zip into hyper space.