Log:Courkrus: Avast!

Anakin turns back from the dark side

OOC Date: May 12, 2023
Location: Courkrus
Participants: Siywa Tralos, Amaia Dara, Kademir Taerok, Zena Tane, Kol Goren, Faath Kora, Rieve Selki, Terek Rosol, Jallo Dara and Hadrix Kora as GM

The blockade runners had used the storm they'd broken atmosphere through to block sensor readings until they had gotten low enough to the surface to use terrain to further baffle them. Moving over plains and alongside forest stretches until rocky ground with distributed trees could be used to create pocket landing fields. Places where ships could be concealed and the team to meet up in preparation.

<<"Number of ways we could do this...">> a quip from Al'Verde Kora who seemed to be at ease 'roughing it' as it were.

With only a single starport on the planet and a Star Destroyer to hold it in their sway, logic pointed that they would hold it and the city of Vlarnya. Especially with plenty of structures already in place to utilize for their base, planetside, rather than having to 'waste' resources building their own.

<<"I know there's a few of us that are fans of going in loud... I could... I can go quiet as well.">>

Far north of the city, away from the gangs and pirate kingdoms that control much of urban Courkrus, it's a matter of how much attention is desired while going south. The Pirates had become the preeminent force of control since the return of the Invidious. The gangs resented, the people who just wanted to live away from the war, on the Rim caught between it all. An ebb and flow of different outlaw forces that rise and fall in their perpetual squabbles to be interrupted because of bounties and Mand'alor's wishes.

"I'm not really big on the whole loud thing." Says Siywa, leaning against the landing strut of her ship with her arms laid across her chest. "You loud and proud folk go cause enough trouble and I can lead a smaller group in to deal with the objective on a little more of a... ya know.. subtle... approach." She peers back behind her, up the ramp of her ship, then back at the group huddled among their ships all situated in a hidden clearing field under the canopy of natural coverage.

"I know some a fella works with one of the gangs... I owe him a.. not so small amount of credits, but ... it'd be fairly ease for me to slip in there under cover of paying my debt and possible, probably, maybe... I THINK... inlist their assistance if things go upside downish in shape..." Using her hands, circling about one another in a spherical motion. "So long as they don't hold any grudges..."

<<"My vote is quiet. It not only allows us to conserve resources, but we have a better chance of being able to get a lay of the land and plan our attack.">> Mai Dara, who had made it down in one piece (this is why you used ships, folks), settled her rifle in hand, giving herself a quick once over, before she moved to form up with her Alor. <<"Where the majority moves, I move.">>

<<"If you get me in range to start scomping in. I can get some more information, or perhaps flood their facilities with reactor coolant. That would solve many issues at once.">> Kademir speaks with the calm finality of someone who loathes pirates. There is a little shrug from the armored Shistavanen.

<<"Or float in from above to sneak and surveil.">> His left hand flops onto its back, palm up. <<"On the other hand we can just rush in and kill them all. Element of surprise has its advantages. Especially if we're just rushing.">> There is a sage nod of the elongated helmet, seen or not. <<"If we don't know what the hell you are doing, how are our enemies supposed to know what the hell we are doing">>

The fight in space was a brutal, nasty affair. The Darkspace took some rough hits and, honestly, had a rough time making it. Luckily Zena is a good pilot and can handle her ship well, even if it is made of paper. Upon landing, she did some minor repair work while the rest of the crew made it to their makeshift landing area.

It'll at least fly on the way out.

Her work done, she marches up the ramp into her ship and gets armored up. What, you think she pilots her freighter in it? She's a lady of comfort!

Armored up, the littlest Mando clomps down the ramp, closing it behind her. Her massive rifle is slung easily across her back, as she joins the chatting circle.

<<"Sneaking is good. I'm not amazing at it, but I'll make do. Honestly, given my fighting style, I should probably lag behind and find a spot to shoot from when there's trouble.">>

As one of the few that aren't clad in Mandalorian armor, Kol spends a hot moment just looking all around himself at the various suits of Mandalorian armor standing about. One side of his upper lip has noticeably risen in a tell-tale sign of confusion and mild bewilderment. When the chatter picks up though his attention shifts abruptly away from the people among his surroundings to consider the group as a whole and the conversation underway. Housed in the shade of a ship's hull, his carbine rests casually and lazily against his shoulder and his finger resting on the outside of and against the trigger guard, "Quick and quiet's nice. Like that one said," he remarks with a lift of his chin in the direction of Amaia Dara, "conserving resources is smart. Plus getting to the finish line in one piece is always helpful."

Faath Kora has been rather quiet recently. The small woman has her datapad in her hand and her massive gun tucked under her arm. She beeps something and shoves her data pad in the pack she's got. The t-visor slowly looks up and stares at Siywa unmoving. She doesn't even appear to be breathing. Just staring for rather too long. The visor slowly moves over to Amaia and then to Hadrix.

There is a little nod of her head to her Al'Verde noting that she is with him whatever way he chooses to go. She levels her gun and then lifts it up, the same height she is. There is a little huff under the helmet as she tilts her head back and rolls it around a little, cracking her neck. "They also have the element of surprise. We do not know how many there are. We could be walking into an army. We could be sneaking into an army as well. Both are valid approaches. I will lean on my Al'Verde."

Clad in scout armour, Rieve had also somehow managed to make it down in one piece, his vessel likely scored and battered. The blue-haired Hapan was not quite sure how he'd managed that feat, dumb luck and many an uttered prayer. His heavy blaster pistol was clutched within his left hand, his right had settled on the vibrosword sheathed at his hip, while a medpac bandolier was likewise slung across his chest and flank.

"Can't argue with quick and quiet." Rieve murmured softly, his accented words drifting through his helm as he eyed his surroundings with some measure of thought. Tightening his grip on his vibrosword, the Hapan shifted his weight from foot to foot, a light and graceful motion as he tested his land-legs once more. It had been a bumpy ride.

<"You know my preference."> Terek replies over comms, as he listens to the ideas pitched by the group, <"That being said, I think the silent approach until it inevitably goes to hell might be our best option.">

The dark armored cathar lets out a faint rumble as he looks at the gathered group, <"It would seem that quiet is the way to go then. We'll see how this plays out.."> There may be a faint sigh under the helmet not over comms. He wanted to try out his new toy.

Jallo finishes checking his armor, weapons and gear before he simply nods having listened to the others, <<"Right now we're too few. I agree with sneaking rather than loud. At least until there's no longer a silent option.">> He does reach back to unsling his rifle bringing the MK Sniper rifle up into his hands and ready for a proper ground fight.

<<"Faath, in Basic so the aruetiise can understand and coordinate.">> Hadrix'a term laden with the 'that's an order' tone. Hunkering slightly and looking towards the distant city. The thunderstorm distantly behind them bellowing as if enraged that the 'invaders' weren't beneath the influence of the squall. <<"Suggest two teams. One with our least... quiet, the others more capable. So when the loud ones inevitably get attention, the others can use the cover or join the party at their discretion.">>

One of the A-Wings that hadn't been downed above shrieks overhead, causing HUD systems to cry out about sensors bathing the area - the throaty growl of cloakshapes in the distance coming for a followup patrol. Were they looking for ships? Ground forces? Both? The skies were growing dim and the southward clawing storm was only serving to devour the natural light that remained.

Distantly, the pebble bumps of the city begin casting up vague fingers of illumination as the darkness grows.

Siywa inclines her head at Faath, "That is so creepy." To the armored woman staring at her looking very much like some sort of android, "I know you have a helmet on but could you simulat blinking if you're just going to stare at me like that?" Waving a hand in her own face in front of her crystal blue eyes. "You're unnerving the frak out of me and, as far as I know, we're on the same side..." She appreciates the precarious situation they're all in, but...

This really isn't out of the realm of normal for her.

Hiding in a clearing from fighters searching for her on the planets surface while smuggling something on... or off.. a planet? Yeah, this is just another day in the life of the Corellian Togruta... She tilts her head and peers up at the sky, forehead furrowing curiously at A-Wing streaking along. "I... have an idea..." She spins on her heels and rushes up the loading ramp of the Down and Out, slapping the button on the interior to close the hatch on her way through the rounded central ring towards the long neck leading to the cockpit. <"Alright, they know we're here and everyone is sitting ducks down there trying to approach under fighters. They get one scan on this clearing and all of our escape is gone... I'm not losing my ship to this drek planets piss pot of a security force... So get on them guns, we're gonna cause a big stank in the sky. Keep the ships busy.">

She twists down into her pilots seat and starts bringing the Down and Out online. "Plus it's easier to leave them to die if I'm already in my ship."

That's just math and science.

Mai glanced over towards Jallo, offering a nod, a hand reaching out to touch his forearm. This was not usually a good sign, in Mai Dara shorthand, but eh, such are things. <<"I will move out to determine the location of the base if I can." For a ship-based mandalorian, Mai moved with surprising quiet, keeping to cover, stopping now and then to take the lay of the land as she went, <<"The fighters appear to be focused on the eastern edge of the city. So, either they think we're there, or their base is there.">>

There is no asking. Kademir debated, waiting to see how folks separated themselves and how quietly they did it. Instead, he chooses action. Using the natural ability of his species combined with his fathers training to slip out of view. It wasn't perfect, because he was concentrating on what he could see. Nothing so far on patrons, alarms, or traps. Yet. He subvocalizes into the private channel once he does spot something. <<"Eastern side of the city. Launch activity. Likely Bulbullab class medium fighters. Stay low.">> He follows his own advice, sinking low so he can focus on tracking the fighters, adjusting the binocs build into his HUD systems.

on it. Still, nothing she can do, so she just shrugs and moves with the sneaky team. Her gaze sweeps across the path, her head stopping mid-swivel as she spots a handy ditch. Her optics zoom in a little and give an estimated depth, and she frowns thoughtfully.

<<"So, there's a ravine over there. Irrigation. It's about knee deep or so. We could use it as a concealed path if we wanted to.">>

She's heading for it, but not...not terribly sneakily.

While darkness has not arrived in full quite yet, Kol Goren seems adept at clinging to even the thinnest of available shadows. Where one shadow ends, he seems to ever find the bridge between them and clings to it. One shadow after another becomes his home as he moves with his carbine cradled within his hands. Moving fast and low from one strip of gloomy darkness to the next as he traverses the landscape.

The indicated irrigation ditch is given a moment of consideration, along with a double-click of acknowledgment from his commlink in response to Zena's observation. While he does not go diving into the ditch immediately, the mercenary moves forward while staying parallel to it. A hand fallback or secondary path should his primary path of advance fall under immediate observation or prove to be a dangerous route.

Faath Kora looks over at Hadrix and grumbles to him. "Disgusting language." She sighs quietly before glancing over to Siywa. She doesn't breath, she doesn't stop staring until she just turns on her heel and starts walking towards where they need to go. She's small. She should blend into the area. Dark armor and red on it. No one will see that. She pulls her gun across her chest and preps it as she moves. While Kol sneaks in the shadows, she doesn't even bother moving behind rocks or taking cover. The tiny mando is moving easily and doesn't seem to bother caring that at any minute it's going to get loud.

Rieve draws his vibrosword in his right, his left still occupied by the heavy blaster pistol that he clutches nimbly within his grasp. His helm at least ensures that his vision is effective, with its various technological enhancements, without it he'd be stumbling about for sure. Following oh so quietly, Rieve moves in the wake of the stealthy and the sneaky, people he can't even see any more as he pads along, oh so quietly. His feet placed gracefully and nimbly, barely a twig or a leaf cracking or crunching beneath his feet. Ah yes, it is with a certain dancer's grace that Rieve moves, eyes ahead, both hands occupied by implements of war. While he certainly attempts to stick to shade, he knows his limitations as he moves along oh so quietly. A slinky Selki.

With the decision being made to go silently, Terek follows suit, moving along with the group and keeping to the shadows, his years of hunting on Cathar flowing back to him as he moves quietly through the trees.

There are lights popping on not far from them, the Mandalorian's helmet turns to try to get a better look at the farmhouse, <"Locals might have heard something, I'm seeing lights coming on nearby."> He relays over comms, drawing his W-35 from the holster on his thigh to get it ready in case. Nobody's outside yet, but if they're coming ot check it out, it could be a problem.

Jallo gives a nod towards Mai before he melts into the shadows himself as he moves along with the rest of the sneaky sneak group listening for anything that he might need to worry about, <<"I don't hear any foot patrols but I think there might be some grav-trucks to the south and besides that A-Wing and those cloakshapes I agree there's some Belbullabs approaching.">>

The YT-2000 lifting off as it did wasn't a subtle thing and the attention it gathers from the patrols is immediate. The broad forms of the cloakshapes heeling over to bank towards the saucer craft with its outboard control section. If they weren't sure of where things were, that is changing rapidly now when they begin their approach and distantly the A-Wing that had passed is swinging around.

<<"It's my native language, Faath.">>

Hadrix's voice is on comms but his presence is otherwise absent, melding with shadow where it can be found and moving without a sound. Inexplicably for a man of his size.

Suits with sensors begin picking up boosted comm signals now that attention has been garnered and the grumble of the Cloakshape fighters intensifies, becoming twin roars as they put on speed and announce they've entered range by way of engaging fire. Laser cannons hurling beams of coherent light with a particularly wild abandon. Giving no care for damage to the farms or the landscape surrounding them.

A wet sounding voice blurting over open comms <<"Found you... no chance to power down now, we're just gonna burn you down...">>

to the attention of said fighters all being directed singularly upon you. Siywa, scoundrel that she is, will freely admit that she should have thought this through. The Down and Out circles as it rises, fighters swarming around her brutalizing her shields as it sits motionless in the sky. "Dee-El, remember how you keep wanting to negotiate contract reevaluation? Well now you get to earn it..."

The Dug Twins, Vekhi and Veikwa drop into their respective turret bays and retrieve headsets as they ready the primary guns dorsal and ventral of the freighter. It's the more educated of the pair, Vekhi, who speaks, <"You remember how we kep saying you don't pay us enough to die? Now you're deliberately doing things that exacerbate that possibility.. Could you make up your mind on whether we're a subtle group so we're all on the same page?"> His gun swivels and blasts at a cloakshape passing after a gunning run, lighting the shields up.

<"Yes, it would be very beneficial if we continued to exist."> Says the prissy droid, running back through the ship towards the panel access for the shield array, it reaches to its belt for a specific tool and starts rerouting power around the relatively damaged section, bringing them back up with a flash of blue. <"I do not get paid enough.">

<"You don't get paid anything, you're a droid... you're property. I paid someone a set price and I never pay you again."> Siywa says as the ship takes off, twisting around to lead the fighters on a chase away from the gorup.

<"Can I be paid in decency? If you cut me, do I not bleed?">

<"You literally don't, Dee-El.">

<"I could bleed....">

Mai continued to move, keeping as low as possible, which, in this terrain, was not always possible. Still, she made some mechanical shapes, and she adjusted her movements, <<"Looks like something we might be able to use. Speeders, possible, or cargo transports." Moving to see if there is anything we can liberate.">> Liberate. Well, better to try and fail.

Something said snaps Kademir's head up and around, back towards the other party. His helmet shakes, his glowing orange eyes roll and he goes back to focusing on the task at hand. He slinks himself forwards, still not the quietest he has ever been, not the worst at least. He freezes in place, choosing once again to subvocalize on the comm frequency. <<"Simmer. Nearby eyes and ears looking this way. It's a transport hauler. We can all take it. Could also be a risk.">> He's going to let others to make that particular call. At the rate everyone is going. Could be a bigger risk continuing to risk the group being less than stealth, than not risking the risk of the transport.

Zena is not the stealthiest around today. Her armor clanks, her gun rattles and she's just not at all sneaky.

Honestly, the air drop fight was less stressful than this.

Still, she makes it to the ravine and slides down the slope, splashing into the water with a grunt. She keeps on going, following the irrigation ditch and keeping her ... pals in as much sight as she can.

<<"I chose poorly. This water is cold as kriff,">> she says over comms sourly.

There's suddenly the glare of a glowrod in his eyes. His footsteps had been quiet. Barely a rustle upon the earth. He squints against the sudden light shone in his eyes and his left hand rises up to shield his gaze from the sudden harsh lighting. He keeps his carbine barrel down while he announces himself, "We're just passing through. Not trying to disrupt your evening, folks," he explains in his accent tinged by the back alleys of Theed. He shifts his chin aside, trying to avoid staring directly toward the light of the glowrod before he asks with his hand still shielding his eyes and his carbine held low at his side, "Mind if we continue on our way? Just out for a little camping expedition. Me and all my friends."

He doesn't so much as twitch his carbine up. It remains at his side in as non-threatening a fashion that someone holding a rifle can be seen. He doesn't move either, electing instead to remain still until he's given permission to carry on with his trek toward the south.

Faath just keeps walking. If you do it confidently, people will think you belong. <<"That is correct, Al'Verde. You sound gorgeous speaking Mando'a.">> She grumbles to him over the comms. She just keeps moving forward. The jet pack on her back remaining off for the short term. The not-so-young mini-mando steps over a rock. She doesn't go around rocks or things in front of her, she goes over them or through them. Her feet dig into the sand as she walks. There is a quick look around to see who might be sneaking with her. A little shrug and she keeps going.

"Bonjeu!" The greeting was softly spoken and as ever deliciously accented as Rieve quietly approached the farmers from a different angle to better draw attention from the quiet group that had opted to hide and sneak. Rieve himself stowed his blade, his pistol slung by a strap at his side as he lifted his hands as a show of trust, to show also that he was no danger as he approached.

Rieve had their attention. Totally. Utterly.

"My dear friends, 'ere we are wandering into the ariag'nee oui? Or how you say... the web of the spider? We come in peace, truly. Your farmlands are truly beautiful and camping? If camping means solving all your problems? Then oui. Camping. Please get yourself and your family indoors, away from any windows, a basement even, keep yourselves safe... I beg of you."

Rieve paused and smiled under his helm, shoulders shrugging a little nonchalantly, with a languid and lazy ease that speaks of no sudden movements.

"It might be a little noisy eh? A little loud, as some of our uhhh... party are wearing the heaviest boots and perhaps we might borrow a vehicle? Oui? To aid our camping expedition?" He said, casting his gaze to Kol as he wandered by.

<"You know he's not going to drop it."> Terek chimes in over comms to Faath, as he trudges along. While he is normally the type to be quite stealthy, his footing is not great on one particular rock. He slips off of a rock as he's trying to go over it, slamming into a tree with a heavy crunch as beskar steel slams into wood.

There's a deep growling sound as Terek uses a Catharese curse word. That didn't physically hurt, but it may well have hurt the mission, <"I may as well join you guys at that farmhouse, they'd definitely have heard that.">

Jallo continues along with the rest of the sneaky crew his helmet glancing in the direction of Siywa and the freighter flying off before his attention goes back towards the others. <<"How often do they show up to the city with a load of cargo? We could just ride in with them yes?">>

"Hey!"

It's called out as lights from the farm property they had been approaching and moving on the outskirts of began to turn towards the skulking figures. Catching Amaia in their glare, then Zena when drops down into the irrigation ravine. 'Mind if we continue on our way?' and then the story about camping that seems to be gaining no traction when another voice rings out.

"HEY!"

There is even the accompanying racking sound of an old slug-throwing scattergun chambering a shell when the light sweeps over Kol by chance, even though his step is quiet. "It's them [ansi(hr,DAMN GANGERS)!!" a hinged door banging open and the distant zzzzZZZIIIP-WHIIiiiinnnne of a blaster charging joining the din of fun. The current pair halting to turn to Rieve when the Hapan is addressing them. Scattergun wielder half-raising the weapon, but keeping the business end pointed towards the ground, at least.

At least Siywa taking off and starting a dogfight has sweep attention gone and focused firmly on her ship that they're happily chasing after. The cloakshape fighters trying to get in behind the larger vessel, the ones shields fluctuating from the cannon strikes trying to fend it off. The lead of the wing slewing their ship to one side and opening up with their cannon trio anew and the other hanging back and higher up, sensors bathing the transport craft in sensor signals.

<<"I'm by the truck that Taerok spotted, way appears clear, in position to let the wire-heads get access...">> Hadrix again, whose talents are almost openly trying to enable as little of his presence as possible while so much else is going on.

The farmers give Rieve a solid glare after a few breaths teetering on the edge of compliance, "Yeew... ye git... Y'ain' gonna trick us agin! Fool me once, shame on you! Fool me twice... I ain' gonna git fooled twice, y'hear!" both the blaster and the scatterguns raised in a particularly unfriendly manner.

The shields flutuate on the Down and Out as well. On second they're damaged a little and the next Dee-El is showing why sentience doesn't dictate efficiency. Rewiring power around damaged section almost as fast as the fighters on their back is able to dish it out. If Siywa was being honest, like truly honest, she should definitely pay the droid. Standing there in it's droid cut coveralls like a real person, quickly jerking wire connections and reconnecting them in new positions. If only so it will explain what the kriff it's done to her shield array because seriously, it's going to be a mess in that power conduit.

Vekhi, likewise, is earning his paycheck. The turret tracks the Bulbousaurous fighter as it does loops trying to get a target lock. While the fighter isn't destroyed, the constant barrage is wittling down the shields. Which is a shade sight better than his twin is doing. It's like he's firing at that Star Destroyer still in orbit or something. Get it together Veikwa.

Siywa, in the cockpit, keeps the ship flying. Twisting the controls with her jaw clenched, turning end to to break target lock when the console indicates one of the fighters is trying to establish a missile lock. <"We're headed back, we've pulled them too far away to be effective.."> There's plenty of fighters out there ready to launch and she's chosen to be the decoy... that means going to pick a fight with the whole fighter squadron? It must. She's on her way.

<"It was a good run.">

Mai looked over towards the Hapan, whatever expression she wore hidden by the helm. Which, was neither here nor there, as the gunner was too busy looking down and pulling random chits from her armor. Despite the guns that were being raised, and trained, on the team who had been spotted, she lifted her gun free hand, the flash of credit chits there. Large denomination, which she stepped close enough to offer, "I don't know who you met before, but we are not they. We do, however, need use of your truck. I will purchase use of it for a sum of five thousand credits to each of you." She had no idea how much money one made as a farmer on this planet, but having been a farmer on Concord Dawn in her youth, she knew it probably wasn't much. "And it probably is best that you go inside."

More convincing presences move forward and Kol's left to stand down. He shifts, adjusting his carbine so that it may be cradled within both hands. It remains low and non-threatening. For now he watches and waits. He is prepared to react, but for the moment he simply waits until such a reaction may become necessary. Or it doesn't.

The SECOND littlest Mandalorian stops, her optics zooming in on the exchange with the farmers. It seems to be going okay. She glances up, not seeing, or hearing, any close by fighter sweeps hunting for them. She smiles a bit under her helmet.

<<"Whatever you all are doing, it's working. Keep it up,">> she says through comms, clambering out of the ravine. "Ugh. Gross water. I'm gonna stink up my ship when we're done."

The insertion is not exactly the most complicated he has been upon. However, it is getting more and more complicated. He debates getting ready to dive ahead and start slicing at the locks and controls of the transport hauler. That's putting a lot of pressure on others to keep him alive and unshot in the process. Best to leave it as a last result. Worst of the worst case scenario's is he has a jetpack, and can get out of the way in a hurry. Instead, he's choosing to move from cover to cover... which gets incredibly difficult due to it being a farm. At least he's quieter than the insects all around in the process.

Faath Kora shrugs a little and grins under her helmet. She turns a little as she hears Terek smack into a tree. <"Stop looking at my backside and pay attention. You are going to get me shot."> She teases Terek a little. Though the little woman just keeps walking. It's not a worry when she has backup. Even if they are a little behind her... she isn't too worried. She has little legs and even at top speed, an average saunter catches up pretty quickly. The doctor enjoys her walk currently. No one is shooting at her, Terek walked into a tree. All good days.

Rieve keeps his hands raised, if not a little more so as the scatterguns and such are levelled at him. "I know you've suffered, truly mes ami... I too have been trodden under the heel of an oppressor, I had the scar to prove it, but I am alas too beautiful to keep such mementos." The words are warmly spoken as he gently gestures to Amaia, casting his visored gaze her way as she smoothly offers those creds and seeks to sway the farmers further. "Please, listen to my comrade... and keep your weapons on me, I wish for no one to come to harm."

"Gangers take and take, we seek to end that... so please, get inside, let us help you and you help us just a little oui?" Rieve's words never once falter as he stands there, merely a foot or so away from being turned into jello paste by the flick of a trigger on a scattergun. "My dear friend is up there right now, taking fire to move their eyes from us, to let us get close and fulfill our task... let her bravery and gallantry not go unrewarded and wasted." Rieve shrugged once more, offering a most at ease pose as he kept his hands raised. "She is a brave one oui? Soaring high like a shriek-hawk... her claws out for the evil that plagues you."

There's another faint growl from Terek as Faath teases him, though it's more like an annoyed grunt than anything else, <"That would be the wrong tree."> He responds, now if the pun was intended or not, that's anyone's guess.

He moves quietly around behind the back of the truck, giving Kol Goren a nod to let him know he's there as he moves around to the driver's side of the truck, leaning against it and listening to the discussion going on with the farmers, <"I doubt this thing'll survive, but you could tell them we'll bring it back when we're done with it.">

Jallo settles into a perch that can overwatch the other team near the truck his MK Sniper rifle settling into a position that if he needed to he could eliminate any threats to the team. But his finger rests off to the side of the trigger guard not on the trigger it's only a preparation after all and he trusts that the smooth talkers of the team will be able to handle it.

"One'a y'all up there joustin', or one'a them joustin' each other. Differn' day, same drok." the farmer holding the blaster gives a growl to Rieve, though Amaia's offer of funds isn't lost on him and his demeanor shifts notably.

The one with the scattergun lowers his weapon first, a creak as the grip loosens and a moment after the blaster rifle is down as well, "One'a us is goin' with, once yer where yer goin' we're bringin' it back home, y'hear!" the other nodding, hocking and spitting off the porch but staying put when the first begins walking to the truck, muttering to himself and pocketing his share of the credits.

Above the scream of fighter engines continues to diminish as they follow after the Down and Out, the A-Wing finally ripping overhead to follow the cloakshapes that have the staying power, if not the speed, to keep up with the speeding smuggling craft. The passover of the interceptor enough to shake buildings and rattle bones with the sonic boom of its passage.

Cannon fire from the fighters is fruitless, the distance too great for the time being - crimson lances hurtling into open air and some smashing into distant farmsteads, starting fires. The farmers seem dead set on -not- going back into their homes or taking any other orders from the armored folk trying to sneak on their property. But they do duck when fighters go past and when they see the plight of neighbors, frowning deep for the sight before them.

Hadrix simply looms near the truck, nodding to the others gathering up at it, voice rumbling over comms, <<"Better mount up, Dara...">> the big man moving to get up into the cargo area before they start out to the city and where the Invids are making their base of operations.

The Down and Out wasn't specifically designed for dog-fighting, but Siywa knows her ship so well that it may as well be. She's staying ahead of the fighters on her backside, who doggedly try to follow her, but this is a fight she just can't win. <"Vek, Veig, get out of those guns and set up a security on the hatch. We're getting the hell out of here."> All three of the crew cheer, thinking perhaps that means leaving system. She'll apologize at some junction.

Instead she dumps all the power to her engines and rockets forward towards the city because that's literally the look for her. Because it would be stupid for her to go there. Which is precisely why she does, see, she's a smuggler and smugglers slip under the noses of the enemy.

Now that A-Wing is presistent. She has to pull some fancy flying directly out of her orange togruta butt... but pull it out she does, twisting and turning over between buildings until she finds a nice quiet clearing where she can settle the ship down and drop it into an abandoned complex where aerial fly over wont initially ping her.

With the ship dropping to minimal power, she reaches for the hand-held comm device hooked to the ships sensor suite and depresses the button on the side of the black box in her palm. <"Hey, Torkus, buddy.."> She twists the dial, a series of hissing binary squeals until she remembers the frequency for a pal of her's... well, she says pal, but that's underworld friend. Maybe they shot at each other? Maybe she owes him money.

<"Torkus, I know you hear me, you big fuzzy drek snort. Pick up the comm, I have a business opertunity I //really// think you're going to want to hear."> After more silence, <"You're embarrassing me, Torkus... What if I say please? And I'm sorry? You're not still upset about the credits I owe you?">

"You are welcome to come with us," Mai offered as she passed over the credits. "But I would strongly advise you to stay down. You cannot bring the truck back if you are injured, or worse. And this fight is not your fight." That was all Mai had to say about that, as she moved to join the rest of the team who were moving into the truck, <<"One of you will have to drive, I'm afraid.">> Mai was staying back in the back to protect the civilian.

There are a lot of moving parts on this outing. None of them meshed flawlessly, but a few broken teeth in the cogs means just a little slippage of the gears. The gears keep turning. Kademir doesn't blame the farmers one bit for wanting to ride one along. He has to admire the bravery of the volunteer. If they are all lying, that man would never be seen at the farm again after all. That isn't Kademir's concern for the moment. Getting into the city without being immediately blasted is. He tucks himself down within the hauler, not wanting his armor to draw more attention than normal. Quietly he adds. <<"I do not drive.">> The E-11 holster on his thigh is quietly drawn, the stock readied, he loops the sling of it over his shoulder just in case he needs his other weapons tonight.

Dripping from the knees down, Zena starts squishing her way over to the truck. On the bright side, she hasn't been shot yet. She hates getting shot. It's her literal least favorite thing. Well, after a hangover, anyway.

She hops up into the cargo bed of the truck with Hadrix, and then they say they need a driver. She sighs. "I can do it. I guess." She unslings her massive sniper rifle and lays it down in the bed of the truck before she hops out and climbs into the driver's seat and starts adjusting things to her liking.

And dripping nasty water all over the interior. Gross.

She flips the ignition, starting the truck with a chugging roar because farm trucks are always reliable old beaters.

"All aboard. I'll be your driver today. Just hold on."

Once tensions have cooled enough that an arrangement is made, Kol wastes no time moving to the speeder truck. He climbs into the cargo bed, settles down into one of the corners near the cab, and cradles his carbine within the curl of his arms while his hands move to dig his fingers beneath the lip his armor's breastplate. He spares a look to the darkened skies and the pursuit fading into the distance, but it does not hold his interest or attention for long. He doesn't add unnecessary commentary or quips. Goren simply remains focused on the task at hand, watching his surroundings, and minding his own business unless directly addressed.

The small mando moves towards the others of her group and turns to stare at Terek. <"You loved it, shut up."> She grumbles as she takes off running towards the truck. She doesn't get in the truck or anything like that, she crawls up onto the top of it and ties herself down, laying down, gun out. Mounted mini gunner. She giggles evilly into the comms.

Rieve hops on up into the back of the truck, ducking and hunkering on down as comfortable as possible. Not shot dead where he stood, so that's a good thing. Adjusting his medical supplies slung about his person, Rieve also adjusts his assorted weapons also and settles on in for the duration as he tries to ensure he's not encroaching on anyone elses space. A most considerate Hapan indeed. All diplomanced out! Woo!

Jallo climbs to his feet as he slings the sniper rifle back into position behind him as he steps out of the shadows he had vanished into and walks towards the truck offering a respectful nod of his head towards the farmers once he'd made his position known. Climbing into the back he settles down.... <<"I'm on.">>

Terek jumps on up into the back of the truck once the group has all gathered, finding himself a nice seat and settling in. Sure, it's not exactly traveling in style, but this group doesn't exactly seem the type to need bantha leather seats.

<"Onboard. Lets roll out.">

The grav truck is clearly meant for stock hauling. Enough space in the cab for four, two up front and two in back, with the rest having to climb into the box trailer carried behind it. Smelling of livestock feed. Vehicle oils and traces of animals that have been hauled in here as well. But it's sturdy and it's local. With the Fwit-Chase that Siywa has put them through, it's feasible they may just have the way in they need to get close.

<<"Siywa...I thought we said we were going to saw off your montrals if we saw you again...">> the purring voice finally crackling over encrypted lines directly to the togruta's board.

Hadrix makes to offer others a hand up into the truck as folk are mounting up, a sound like a lupine making a chuffing coming when Zena immediately gets back out to head for the cab, shrugging slightly as he gets himself settle in, massive wookiee rifle cradled across his lap.

<<"We're very intent on getting our credits worth back.">> Torkus's voice continues on the Down and Out's comms - like a circling rat-wolf looking for its next opportunity

When the truck starts moving it's with a juddering hiccough of the repulsors firing to power to propel it along, picking up speed and heading southward for Vlarnya and the center of the Invid's power. Passing several speeders heading in the opposite direction, with figures mounted on it that look like they're less than welcoming.

All the while Torkus's breathing is audible, pregnant seconds passing before <<"I'm listening...">>