Log:Mandalore: Stirring Sands
An ambush is set up for raiders
OOC Date: July 7, 2022
Location: Mandalore: Contested Lands
Participants: Sumi Kora, Valeska Kora, Hahtavi Kora, Nix and Hadrix Kora as GM Mandalorians, Clan Kora
<<"Chontact, nohrth vest.">> Mir's words over comms, accent adding consonants where none would normally be. It had been a long day, several in fact, roaming from one of the outposts in the 'safe zones' towards one of those where the ravaging bands still preyed, sometimes, on trade caravans. But this one was of special interest.
Water Traders. It was what they posed as, and the facade was complete with the ton and a half of purified comet ice melted in the container being hauled on repulsors. No way of saying there was no water with them. Armed and armored was standard issue, especially for offworlders come to Mandalore, trying to explore, salvage, rescue or tomb raid.
<<"Copy, Mir. Numbers?">> <<"Ha dosen h'at least. Light vehicles, bikes and two-seat buggies.">> <<"Noted.">>
Trade was being hit much more regularly along these routes since Djarin's claim to the throne as Mand'alor. People disappearing without a trace, except once. Recently. A piece of vehicle armor was found bearing the imagery of a shriek hawk's silhouette in descent. A troubling possibility that suggested one of Mandalore's old ghosts rising from the ashes.
<<"Everyone, be ready to draw and counter-attack. They'll expect defense, but they won't expect us to try and take them, I expect...">> Hadrix's voice again from where he walks next to the controls for the large repulsor sled being piloted by Heiyuu in a droid socket. No where else to sit, save on the top of the container in a makeshift setup, like riding on a tank.
<<"We want one alive.">>
<"Alive is easy enough. We can still break them, but they just have to continue breathing afterward.."> Sumi comments while priming the E-11 carbine in her hands. She plucks off the sight coverings, revealing the optics, then extends the after-market buttstock so the weapon sits snug against her armored shoulder. A slow functions check on her jetpack, and Sumi nodded quietly to convey she was ready.
Listening to the mission, Nix glances around slowly and crouches down which makes her very hard to see in general. She pulls a blaster rifle from her back and adjusts little things on it. She holds the T-21 up and looks down it's sight with a little grin. <<"I promise I won't kill everyone.">> She doesn't leave them out of that mention since the tiny woman has a grenade launcher. She chuckles a little.
Walking along or riding, doesn't matter to him. Hahtavi can take his turn at each. Just now he's riding. <<"Should have brought my speeder. Understood, ori'vod.">> The rumor of the stooping hawk aliik was potential bad news though Hahtavi made no comment, only a frown.
He listens to Mir and others over their shared coms, helmet on as he stays vigiliant, watchful of the landscape around them.
Galaar already in his hands and attached to his tactical rig, Haht looks ready. He's also got something bulky maglocked to one side of his jetpack covered by his kimogila half cape. A moment is spent double checking his grenades, making sure some frags are already out of his satchel and clipped to his utility belt, ready to grab.
She had considered going melee on the next mission. Firing her gun too much has kept her at range and making her, she believes, slower. After getting jumped on Jakku and nearly killed by a half a dozen beskar hunters and one very angry Houk, the idea of letting it happen again does not settle well with her. Time to get back into the nitty and the gritty. Back into the face of danger.
But then this was the next mission coming down the pipeline and it seemed to almost demand ranged. Valeska pats the blade at her hip with a sullen sigh as she prepares her rifle. Some day, my pet.
Pellet fire begins to rattle against the sides of the container - blunderbusses for lack of better terms. Good against soft targets. Good to give a scare. Easy to maintain and load. Quartz and similar stones that shatter into makeshift flechettes hit, something to make those with makeshift armor and jury rigged equipment flinch.
<<"Callin' our names... probably better you left your speeder; they might've started with ordinance.">> WW Dagger pulled into one hand and heavy revolver in the other, Hadrix speculates before rolling back and ducking to look below the water container.
Three modified speederbikes and a quartet of buggies bound over a dune, pellet weapons buzzing and spraying sharp stone at the supposedly helpless water caravan. Passing, quite literally, over where Mir has himself in a freeze against the desert. His scarf robes having caught sand and formed like dunes around him, making him part of the desert.
<<"H'uploadhing their paths, be ready.">> <<"Copy, receiving. Everyone begin moving for defilade and fire at will.">>
Sumi pokes out from cover to take aim at the incoming hostiles. It takes a moment for her to attain sight alignment and picture, but when she fires twice, one of the heavy riders goes down for the count. The second shot tags a separate one, introducing them to a lively bolt that penetrated their armor, and incinerated from the inside out. His pained screams go unheard as the battle unfolds, and engines roar. Sumi laughs though, and whether that's heard is up to debate. She pivots in place, looking for the next target. <"Dropped one, and hurt another."> Her raspy voice indicates, a touch of humor in the statement.
The tiny mando lifts her visor up and looks at her family. First to Hadrix, then Valeska, then to Hahtavi and finally to Sumi. She watches as Sumi sets a guy on fire and she looks down the scope and sees who the woman is aiming at first. She aims for the other one and fires. The small woman watches as the one she just shot is beyond dead with a single shot and she lifts her head up and grunts. <<"I like you...">> She lightly caresses the gun softly, quite happy with the new toy. PING. PING. Her arms get hit one after the other. Her eyes narrow under the t-visor and she rolls her shoulders forward, prepping to aim again and then more of a tiny evil Mwhahahaha laugh in a metallic emotionless female voice.
Behind his helmet, Bes'uliik smiles, <<"You know that never scares me off.">> People shooting at him while flying is like an orgasim to Hahtavi. All those combat pilots are a little bit nuts that way. The splatter shot gets his attention but not his concern. Nonetheless, Haht looks to see if there's any decent cover he can use if things /do/ heat up - just in case.
He shifts and takes up a firing position. Haht shows no sign of jetpacking up into the air right away, yet - Galaar up as their targets appear on his HUD and from the dunes both, thanks to Mir.
As soon as the bikes start coming into range, Hahtavi's already tracking a target that Sumi injured but didn't manage to drop. Haht's first shot misses but he corrects and takes the biker out of action. Burn'n hunk o' love.
There's a quick check on Nix but she seems to be doing just /fine/ with the big gun he lent her.
Valeska looks up from her inner dialogue where she is whispering sweet nothings to her vibrosword to look upon the horizon. There, growing quickly in a cloud of radioactive sand, cometh the foe. Riding atop the ton-and-a-half tub of water, straddled as if bopping along on an eopie, she knocks her gloved knuckles against the tank and laughs. <<"Great. I was gettin' a little bored, yeah?">>
She kicks off from the moving transport with full confidence in her jetpack. That was her first mistake. It sputters to life only at the very last moment right before she crashes into the sands. She can't even make it look like she meant to do it. Instead, Valeska is spiralling around like this is her first day at Flight School. Only it's also her first day at Demolitions 101.
Her grenade goes way, way, WAY wide and blows up a guilty piece of Mandalore turf. <<"I got this! All part of the plan!">>
Slug and blaster fire crossing back and forth is loud, fast, and dirty. The pellet weapons having been swapped for real firearms and plasma weapons with the first volleys passing between. Some care is taken in avoiding damaging the tanker, but everything to the sides, or below, is fair game.
<<"Can't say they aren't loaded for wampa though... Be prepared, eh?">> Hadrix is rolling from beneath the tanker, right arm extended, thumbing the hammer of his pistol and firing wide once. <<"Nimble.">> Then again, whatever he might have said becoming a grunt before he cocks and fires a third time. The shot strikes a shoulder, throwing off aim but not stopping them.
The bikes are crashed, burning or just plain broken in the sand and the repulsor buggies shriek past, attempting to encircle the defenders. One of the passengers with a hand to where their ear is even as they shoot. Another looks over their shoulder at the sight of a pair of jet contrails coming from behind a low dune, the figure borne by them in heavy armor. Full Mandalorian armor and armed for war.
<"Koras..."> remaining airborne, the figure keeps mobile while his systems broadcast, <"Thought we'd get your ilk out here. The Zealot's idea?">
<"No. Mine."> Sumi answers the broadcast, performing the leader thing by taking credit for an action that would otherwise see the clan placed in harm's way. What was the threat in taking ownership of something, other than incurring the wrath and rage of those who opposed it. Perhaps Sumi welcomed the fight.
Emerging from the cover she had taken, bolts and slugs pock up the decking and ground around her, showering dirt and debris. Even in armor, instinct made her clench when stuff came too close for comfort, and the result saw her own shots miss in response. She moves calmly to one side to acquire a better firing position, turning her weathered eye toward the newcomer.
The little mando grins slowly and rolls her shoulders forward. She adjusts the gun and lifts a brow slowly as she aim for one of the raiders. She listens to Sumi and smiles under the visor. Though when she hears the No. Mine. she nods her head. The voice that addresses them gets a little grunt back. She takes a deep breath and she fires Hahtavi's gun again and when it takes out another raider she chuckles again and pets the gun.
Ah, and here comes a much bigger, more bad shebs heavy armored leader type using a jetpack. Functional jetpacks being somewhat rare on Mandalore these days among the native population gets Hahtavi's attention right off. He's unawre of Nix getting hit and she doesn't use her helmet's augmentation to cry out so his focus tracks the new comer as he arcs through the air to join the assault on the water caravan.
The ramikad smiles behind his T-visor when Haht hears Sumi's reply. He then fires off two shots at the new arrival. Both strike true but the first shot richochets off, seeming to do no harm! The second bolt however might have done some damage.
<<"I think he's wearing real beskar'gam, but I think I hurt him. You want this one alive, Sumi?">> Because he's game for that!
There goes Valeska, trying to best to tackle. Haht winces when she misses.
Righting herself, Valeska takes a precious few seconds to fend off the initial dizzy spell. All according to plan, right? The helmet shakes back and forth, clearing the wibbly-wobbly fog and she goes about to reassess the battlefield. Couple of buggies left speeding along and... oh, what's this now?
Still airborne herself, Valeska turns to see the twin trails cutting across the sky. A squint behind her visor and before he can even get halfway through his speech, Valeska is barrelling upon him at full speed. For such a big target, though, he is a slippery one and he manages to zip out of the way. That or the shots from Hahtavi knocked him off her course.
The heavily armored figure struck by blaster fire is narrowly able to get clear of the full bodied assault coming his way. Jet nozzles twisting and spinning him clear of the assaulting Kora. Fenris snarls loud enough for his vocalizers to kick in and he rolls around her with soft contact. Both hands coming around and he suddenly dives - gripping her leg at calf and thigh, <"Brave... If you live, we could use you.">
Below with fire surging back and forth, the cylinder of the Enforcer continues to rotate with a thumb on the hammer and Hadrix firing in rapid succession. Heavy caliber rounds impacting sand and durasteel as well as the one who had been shoulder struck before, slumping in their seat and leaving the driver alone.
Five more, two buggies with single passengers.
The impact of Vizsla and Valeska comes in the chaos of the firefight, driving down into the sand - iron grip on her leg and the metal greave of his uninjured leg on her knee so that when they strike the cracking can be heard over the din and her lower leg is bent upwards, towards and past her other leg at a near ninety degree angle.
When a killing blow rises from the legendary Vizsla, his arm is suddenly halted by the heavily landed presence of an agile century old warrior that hooks her arm to his and carries him off of Valeska in a fit of violence. Vizsla is no push over, and the effort is corrected and Sumi's momentum is halted. The two tumble on the ground; kicking, gouging, tearing, and cursing before Sumi curls into a fantastic arm bar, capturing his arm and planting her heel against his face for a nice 'REKK YOU' to the cheek.
She teases, pulling the arm past its limit until she felt something pop, and when he did not relent his assault, much like she thought he wouldn't, she disables his arm completely, moving it from the socket with a violent twist.
The pain, which she could attest, was enough to bring him to a quiet unconscious state, and his arm hung unnaturally but still connected to his frame. She had no qualms disabling him, but she wouldn't disfigure a man bearing the sigil of one of the oldest names of Mandalore.
<"Their Leader is down, eliminate those who remain or do not bend the knee of defeat."> Sumi calls out, threatening to take the Mandalorian's helmet like an old military unit might claim another's colors.
A cursory glance is given to Val to see if she's alright, but Sumi would see to the task of fighting first, then collecting second.
Nix lifts her visor up and she watches Valeska get owned. Her eyes narrow. <<"You are dead now you....">> She growls but then Sumi is off and just pummels the guy. She nods her head and then fires in anger missing the Raiders. <<"I'm trying to kill you. STAY STILL!">> The tiny mando fixes up another shot cause now she's mad. <<"Sumi! Do you need me over there to heal her? Give me a signal and I'm there!">> The metallic female voice calls over the radio and as she lines up her next shot. The medpac on her hip ready to go and help as best she can. She stands up and her heart races as she sees Sumi stand there successful and she lifts a fist into the air and does the most feral war cry. Unfortunately, her suit does a single tone of 'Aaahhhhhhhh!' dead panned and no emotion.
As things unfold, or in this case the big guy starts to fold Valeska in a direction her leg was never meant to go, Hahtavi can't help himself, <<"Valeska!">> But like a streak of lightning, Sumi's making the leap and jetpacking into the middle of that. <<"Get him, Sumi! OYA!">>
But if everyone is focused on taking that guy down, then the Raiders can get at the water and that's not good. So Haht changes his aim and leaves Sumi to enjoy her prize while he fires at one of the repulsor drivers. Both shots hit one of the raiders, killing him. The vehicle slews off and wrecks but there are a few more left.
Sumi doesn't disappoint, even if Haht's attention was elsewhere and he didn't get to see her coup de grace with the violent arm dislocation.
As things unfold, or in this case the big guy starts to fold Valeska in a direction her leg was never meant to go, Hahtavi can't help himself, <<"Valeska!">> But like a streak of lightning, Sumi's making the leap and jetpacking into the middle of that. <<"Get him, Sumi! OYA!">>
But if everyone is focused on taking that guy down, then the Raiders can get at the water and that's not good. So Haht changes his aim and leaves Sumi to enjoy her prize while he fires at one of the repulsor drivers. Both shots hit one of the raiders, killing him. The vehicle slews off and wrecks but there are a few more left.
Sumi doesn't disappoint, even if Haht's attention was elsewhere and he didn't get to see her coup de grace with the violent arm dislocation.
A concussive hit clangs against the beskar plating that protects her chest and upper torso; dissipating the devastating energy of the unknown Mandalorian's hit but still doing a wicked job knocking the air out of her. With an audible OOMPH! from within the confines of her bucket, Valeska grunts loud enough to be heard over her jetpack blaring. <<"Sorry. I'm already spoken for.">>
Big words, to be sure, but words alone do not spare her. Expertly grappled, Valeska is forced into a dive towards the surface of the planet with her leg not just held... but positioned. The whole way down, Valeska struggles and fights against the man. If her helmet was off, she might even bite him. But alas.
They crash into the sand with an explosion of force, most of which is centered on that weak joint of her knee. The scream of pain is feral. Animalistic. Angry. Valeska sees a flash of her limb bent completely the wrong way before blackness takes her. Alive but very much out of the fight for the foreseeable future.
Only on Mandalore.
In the wake of Sumi's brutality the sigil of veshok branch with ten blood drop leaves is clear - attesting to the identity of a member of house Vizsla. But with that sigil also the icon of a jai'galaar's shadow in a diving over his heart. Silent for the helmet concealing features but his chest gives proof to ragged breathing.
The buggies do head straight for the container, their perceived leader down and their numbers dwindling - one even manages to put a shell of shot into Hadrix's chest, nine ball bearings that force him back. One buggie is abandoned and its driver leaping onto the container control system, drawing a panic'd "WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUW!" from Heiyuu.
And then he is flung back, repeated blaster bolt strikes taking him in chest and neck from the desert itself, from which the scarf robed figure of Mir strides, helmet on and decades old rifle shouldered. <<"Sohrry H'I'm late...">> reedy voice chewing out the words wrapped in a chortle.
Sumi pulls the helmet off, clamping it to her belt, and turns in place to engage one of the raiders going by. The effort is two-fold, resulting in a comical failure that sees her fall to one side holding her thigh. <"ACK! REKKKKK!"> Leg cramp. She doesn't quite fall all the way to the ground, but she limp-step-skip-hops toward Valeska, throwing something from her belt (ineffectively) toward the Raider she missed in a fit of anger. <"REKKING HUTTSUCKER! AHH..">
Nix's comms, and the cheers for others don't get much of a response from Sumi, but the comment of first aid for Valeska receives an answer. <"She isn't looking so good, Nix. See what you can do for her.">
The little mando growls a little and starts her jetpack. She leaps into the air, splattering blood all over Hahtavi and Hadrix and the jetpack fails which face plants her into the dirt. She gets up and putting feet fast onto the ground and running towards Valeska. She lifts her gun as she runs, shooting one of the raiders There is an angry snarl from under the mask. <<"I'm coming, sister. Hold on!">> She has little legs so she's trying her best to get there quickly.
Between the fiasco on Jakku and this ordeal, there is a Valeska floating around in some dream world wondering if she's in the right business. 'Crucible' a voice whispers to her in the dusk. 'Forged.'
Is that what this is? Broken and rebuilt? Again and again until it becomes harder and harder to break her? That certainly does seem to be the pattern and given that Valeska keeps thrusting herself right back into the fray repeatedly, it appears to be the path she is set upon for life.
Well, taking the Mandalorian mantle and the Kora name was a dead giveaway.
'Fire. Pain. Fight until you fall.' She's got that in spades, yes.
In reality, she's just laying there in the sand; her beskar chestplate impressively dented and her right leg bent in sure an unnatural way that it could be likely the only thing keeping the lower half attached to her upper half is the armour holding her together.
Just like old times.
A single raider left, with fire raging all around and even rocket darks blowing up geysers of sand all about from the prone Hadrix attempting to keep fire pressure on. One fellow left after the weight of incoming plasma, explosive and slug rounds becomes too much to dodge and there'd be no way to get the container and go.
Mir is approaching still, barrel smoking and being raised, ignoring the last of the attackers now ducking low in his buggy and jamming the throttle bar as far over as they can, sending up a spume of sand in the mad attempt to get away. Plan Besh is pulling himself up by way of grabbing part a climb stanchion on the container. Grunting and looking to where Nix is approaching and Sumi stands, then back towards Hahtavi - giving an 'ok' nod despite the points showing where he was struck.
The second oldest Mandalorian, present, steps up to the unconscious body of the aggressor, speakers kicking in, <"Fenris... Mhy h'old stuhdent. I h'expected more from yhou.">
Sumi keels over to sit on her ass, wide legged and favoring the injured one. Her helmet comes off, revealing the dark-haired female's face, with strands plastered to her sweaty scarred face. Wordless for now, the Mando places a smoke between her lips and lights it, before falling back to lay on the ground and chuckle, releasing small puffs of smoke. "Good rekking gun fight..." The smoke between her fingers sizzles again with a strong draw from it.
Nix runs as fast as she can and slides up beside Valeska. She drops to her knees on either side of Valeska's body, protecting her from being shot or hurt again by anyone who dares. She grabs her medpac and starts to stabilize her sister.
Her hands are hard at work as she tries her best to help Valeska. <<"In the future, the goal is to avoid being hit.">> Her voice still metallic and without emotion. She's not paying attention to her own wounds as she works to make sure Valeska is stable. Once she's stable, the little mando carefully picks up Valeska in her arms and tries to launch up again but it fails. She snarls and just walks across the sand angrily. STOMP STOMP STOMP.
The last raider has a brain and decides to take off - and for his part, Hahtavi is content to let'm run. He hops off of the water carrier and his boots hit the sand with a thud. He eyes the low charge on his rifle and takes a moment to reload it, ready for whatever is next.
<"Mir, sounds like you have an interesting story to tell and we'd like to hear it."> He starts walking on over to see how bad Valeska's injuries are but not get in Nix's way. Behind his helmet, Haht's face is both stern and concerned. Still some fondness for this partiulcar Kora even if he keeps his distance.
<"Poor Val. That's going to hurt a while."> Looking around, Hahtavi and Mir appear to be the only ones who didn't get hit this time. An upnod of his helmet towards the older man, <"Good shooting, Mir. Nix, too."> And well, Sumi is a storm unto herself. <"Should be interesting talking with this fellow."> But first he shoulders his rifle and goes to help Nix with getting Valeska loaded.
<"Ja, I whould haff to agree, Sumi."> the old man notes, sitting next to her and raising a hand to pat her shoulder. <"H'and as Hahtavi sahys, I think ve shall haff need for a talk as whell, eh?"> Mir's visor turning to gaze at the downed form of Fenris. Hand remaining on her shoulder pad unless she shakes him off. <"H'about how I suhrvifed for many years on Mandalore, as a youth... before I could set h'out on my h'own.">
Hadrix is looking skyward, dumping brass into a belt pouch and slotting a speed loader into his revolver's cylinder to re-stock it. <<"Woor'tra, retrieval.">> <<"Copy you, Al'Verde.">> the ithorian pilot signaled and the blockade runner on its way, from high orbit. The retrieval boat on the way.
<"Sumi. I can bring him to my dungeon on Demon Moon as well, so that we can all have a nice chat once he wakes up..."> one gauntleted hand rubbing his chest and his visor watching the distancing form of the remaining buggie. <"We'll be evac in five."> the shape of the VCX-350 was already resolving itself above.
