Log:Mandalore: Take What's Yours
Mandalore: Take What's Yours
OOC Date: July 22, 2021
Location: Mandalore
Participants: Sumi Kora, Hahtavi, Avery Ihala Kora, Valeska Jaivon Zelo Parrai, and Hadrix Kora as GM Clan Kora Mandalorian
Wheeled buggies set with engines of either scavenged parts or some provided by the Expedition close in on the star destroyer command tower jutting out of the wastelands. Sunk part way into the hardpan, support cables strung taught from it and even hand mixed duracrete built up around the base creating a spire that casts it's wide shadow across the grounds.
The trackers had found this place, following the transports that had stolen the children of Kyr'yc Yaim. Had been forced to keep their distance while studying the Remembrancer's hold. Numbers were not excessive, traffic to and from was reported, but nothing but adults or equipment reported being transported.
<<"Assault force.">> Hadrix's voice over comms, HUDs showing wire-frame displays of the tower and the surrounding area, <<"First wave successful, we're through their picket and spearhead is clearing a path.">> A handful of heavily armored repulsor speeders, mounting propulsion thrusters that have been slowly increasing their power the closer the fort gets. <<"Deep wave sensors are pin-pointing places for entry.">> overpowered duranium drill heads on the front of the speeders begin to spin up.
Now the fury of the wastes was focused on them; mixed with the armored buggies the Saiwali air-skiffs charge, masts down, sails pulled in and only their outsized engines are roaring, kicking up a spume of desert sand that obfuscates behind. Wrecked vehicles are already smoldering, the dead and injured laying in the desert. The advance has been bloody for both sides. A form of desperation from each force intent on doing the other in.
Artillery fire, repurposed from the attacks on the Fortress and the Butte after pounding the grounds outside the fortress, a walking barrage aiding in the advance. Blaster and slug fire rip back and forth in between, and several air-speeders launch from the top of the tower, headed south. Small two or three man craft.
The assault transports begin to buck, forward repulsors letting off keening sounds. <<"Prepare for jump and thrust! Remember, we're here for the children. If we can acquire any of their logistic data, fine. Kills are secondary. The longer we stay trying to wipe them out, the more danger to the ad'ikae. We can always hunt them later.">> Plan Besh's talking stops abruptly as the old, salvaged, lights inside the quartet of transports as repulsors heave and thrusters open up to full power, massive hands of force pressing everyone back against the transport couches. Soaring forward and upwards, a maniac's plan... each of the drills pointing at the widened bridge section of the tower.
Sumi was in the transport quiet as the grave for now. She reaches up to unclip her cape and let it fall from her back to occupy the space around her feet, thus revealing the small armory secured in the tactical web-gear that was fastened around her. She had a revolver resting in its holster against her side, flush with her ribs, and her gunbelt was heavy with all manner of close quarters weapons to include an electrum hilt that held any light that shown upon it.
Preparing herself for the fight ahead, Sumi began to bounce back and forth from foot to foot, amped and ready to jump into the fray to open a path for her allies. One hand came up to slap the side of her own helmet; then again, then again.
This is what they had been waiting for, Avery thinks to himself as the throttle of the speeder shifts his weight back into the couch on one of the speeders... rescue and revenge. He double checks all systems in his HUD, verifies ammunition in his E-11, and basically readies himself for the assault. This is the calm before the storm, the moments before hell breaks loose and split second decisions could mean life or death... and he'd have it no other way.
Strangely his mind is quiet during this process, taking in the facts of the situation as opposed to mulling on the possibilities. They're going to get in, they're going to rescue the children, and that's it. If any of the Remembrancers get in their way, they will be cut down... simple as that. The darkened Y-visor of his helmet turns to look at the rest of the crew in the transport with him, a small nod given to each if they look his way. They're all in this together and, as a team, they will prevail. The blaster carbine is clutched in his hands, regard turned back to the hatch that will open shortly, allowing the group inside to rush out to meet whatever awaits them.
<<" Well, that's dramatic. "> Rumbles Hahtavi as he looks out at the view of the star destroyer command tower out in the wasteland. Kind of impressive for scrappy Mandalorians out here. He quiets at once to listen to their briefing. One gloved hand has a firm grip, maglocks on his boot activated while they are in motion over the rough ground. As he listens, Hahtavi watches the small air speeders lilfting off from the tower.
A curt nod, his unseen face grim behind his helmet. You can bet Hahtavi's focused on locating his missing niece and nephew, if they are still alive. Even so, his baritone comes across their coms as the vehicles soar up and towards the tower, massive drills first as if going to punch right through and into the tower like giant darts. <<" Copy that. And I thought some of the things I'd done in my youth were dini'la.">> But if Sumi and Hadrix think this can work, who is he to gripe? A quick glance to check Valeska is strapped in, <<" Hold onto your shebs!">>
Either this crazy idea will work, or they are about to kill themselves. Hahtavi's not too sure which but he ducks his head and braces himself, rifle on his tactical sling and as ready to go as he can be. Maybe he's even strapped in, if there is any saftey webbing.
Zelo Parrai sits ready, new helm covering his head and tendrils with accomodation enough for each while offering more of a hint of what lies beneath, in the slight-Nautolan shape of the face's mask, and slight widening of the visor in a way that suggests the black pool eyes beneath; behind, a woven durasteel net holds his tendrils secure, covered by blue platelets to keep the back of his head and tendrils safe from fire.. The sniper in gleaming blue Beskar is unphased by the sound and chaos outside as he weighs the option of two rifles, a third, sturdier beast already slung on his back. In one hand, the E-11 which has always performed above and beyond what he could have asked of a short rifle; in the other, something new - the F-11S he had acquired on his travels and yet to fire outside of a shooting range. He looks to the firing slits, considering the aerial vehicles. Perhaps some long range cover could be good... But then, they may not need it.
<"Are the vehicles covered, or does someone need to stay to keep them in one piece so we're not walking out?"> The question is offered to Hadrix and Sumi both as the marksman continues his internal debate.
Valeska lacks the tactical mind to help make any plans. No marking maps or plotting points of entry. As with the other missions, her job here is very obvious: follow orders. Improsive when necessary: which is often. Valeska is in full armour and silent once more, pistlo ready for the breech. Her crimson helmet tilts curiously to Hadrix. Killing is secondary? Hunt them later?
Eh. She's definitely not a hunter, but if those are the orders she will follow them. Needlesstosay, she really hopes several of those bastards try to stop her. She looks over to Sumi who is psyching herself up and Valeska opts to try something... stupid? She reaches out and slaps Sumi's helmet, too, and quickly follows it with a thumbs up. Hopefully the gesture is acceptable and Sumi doesn't whack her unconscious in the return instead.
Yeah! Let's get some!"
<"Avery and my vod Drath once barrel rolled an assault lander through the veranda wall of a mansion on a kill order..."> Hadrix notes to Hahtavi's comment about things being insane. This was the sort of assault that the big man was built for, and the greater part of him isn't aware he's speaking, answering Zelo, <"These vehicles are probably kriffed after this. We've other transports for the kids to get them away.">
There is a stillness despite the shriek of the engines and the deep throated growl of the drills turning into something continuous artillery fire. Blocking out external comms as the radio links begin sounding off.
<<"Ca and Bitr, on target.">>
<<"Bron on target.">>
<<"Hizi'in Haran">> the leader of the Haran'kemire, one of three original founders of the Butte, <<"On target.">> noise discipline, of a sorts, in effect. No cheering, jeering or the like. Just that drawn out for seconds when time seems to draw to a snails pace, emphasized by the countdown on a proximity sensor flashing over HUDs or on a rough screen at the front.
When the drill hits the thrusters give the last of their power, burning fuel cells to burn past the resistance that should have arrested momentum, thrown everyone not strapped in forward or broken the legs of those standing in mag-locks. Its matched to the grinding creak of metal being torn asunder, the bell like peel of the thrusters finally dying and the tone of durasteel parting with nothing behind it. The lights in the drop chamber go green, the craft shakes at the THUD of munition grade charges blasting the drill off the front before the 'docking' clamps spring wide like a bloom to disgorge Mandalorians.
Our own heroes being deposited on the bridge of what had once been a might Imperial warship. Blaster and slug fire erupting from the crew pits and the aft section as Remembrancers attempt to repel boarders.
<<"GO! GO! GO!">>
Sumi didn't hit Valeska back, but she did chuckle. However, the amusement subsided the moment the way opened, and Sumi activated her jetpack to come out the breach in an instant. Landing a second later, Sumi attacked with the sudden SNAP-HISS of a violet colored lightsaber blade. While she missed her initial swing, the weightless blade stung when she drug it back, killing the warrior instantly, their body hitting the ground in two separated pieces. Sumi twisted to a second target, missing definitively with a loud hum of the blade.
There's a light chuckle from Avery when Hadrix mentions the mission. <"That was a fun day..."> he claims, an unseen smile shifting over his lips while he recalls the memory. Of course, he was wearing completely different armor at the time... best not to remember that part. Suddenly the sound of the drill and the commotion outside intenstifies, denoting that the vehicle they were in had just penetrated the defenses. No sooner had he come to this realization before the lights went green around them and the front of the transport was blasted off, the clamps securing their speeder to the interior of the command deck.
It was business time now and Avery charged out of the cloud of dust and debris with a roar, his carbine blasting left and right as he went. The first shot went wide, striking an age old console that sparked in complaint. His second blast hit an unfortunate soul that stood in their way. This individual's armor also sparked in protest... but allowed the searing red bolt to bury into the flesh beyond, ending the sparked protest almost as quickly as their life. The Mandalorian Slicer moved in, HUD scrambling to work in the cloud of smoke, picking out targets as he pushed into the fray.
Thank goodness he's strapped in, maglocked, /and/ holding on as suddenly they hit! The impact wrenches him hard, but as soon as it feels like they have stopped, he's unstrapping, unlocking and huffed to disembark. Rifle in his gloved hands, Hahtavi moves his shebs the rhythu of the 'GO GO GO' order! A leap out the front and his boots hit the bridge deck, seeking targets.
And targets there are! They may not be here for a long drawn out firefight but first they need to make a hole so they can move through and search. Hahtavi's modified Galaar comes up, sighting through the reticle in fluid, rapid motion without hesitation as he blasts first one, then another of the Remembrancers right off their feet! He keeps moving, making a harder target of himself as he moves to whatever cover he can find, marking targets as fast as he can for his team mates as they are likewise doing for him.
It's just as well that Sumi rocketed out ahead of them. None of them want to be in the way of her lightsaber while she cuts a path. <<"Where we heading?">> Haht's looking for exits, the kids his top priority - second only to the welfare of his aliit.
There's only forward, and momentum, and then a sudden moment of nothing. That moment is an instant, and then the charge is over and the fight begun. The drills dropped, clamps open, and Zelo - having slung the F-11S behind him - holds the E-11 still against his chest as he releases his harness and leaps forward to follow the Mandalorian assault. Perhaps it's the shine on the Memorizer's armor, or just an instinct that different is deadly taught from an early age in the oceans of Glee Anselm, but Zelo has black-pool eyes only for one target on this field right now. The first shot, still with feet absorbing the landing of the lanky Nautolan's frame, takes the Memorizer in the shoulder, spinning the figure away and back. The second, rising from the cushioning of knees, takes the figure through the helmet, blasting it back and slamming the figure into a wall.
<"One down."> Who knew how many to go? Five less so far, between Sumi's saber and Avery and Hahtavi's deadly shots.
Heeeeeey. A chuckle! That's a good sign. Team-building. Pysching each other up. Valeska could have taken a moment to bask in it but... it's go time. Go go go! time, to be exact.
Exiting with her clan, the details of the scene is lost on Valeska. Living only in the moment, there are enemies firing so she fires back. Something does seem to be amiss, though. Her shots are going wide and the one that does hit only wounds. Barely. Did she have the damn thing on stun or something? Hadrix comes up after her to take the figure down like a big brother finishing a video game level that you just... can't... beat.
The initial wave entering the bridge of the control tower is telling. Armor is blasted open, bodies fall and the smoke of the entry craft begins to mix with the tibanna and cartridge vapors adding to the mixture. Fires are burning from detonations and missed shots. Elsewhere, in other sections of the tower a similar play is being acted out with screams and plasma.
The Memorizer falling momentarily pauses the defending forces, a second, that costs them dearly while they try for cover and attempt to repel the invading forces.
The entire tower shakes violently, the warbling of taught cables flexing and straining reverberating and giving their warning call through the durasteel frame and duranium plating. A threat that this whole tower might be endangered now.
Sumi is in the middle of the brawl, moving with a purpose. She wastes no swing, each one responsible for taking a life. By the end of her flurry, which concludes like a wide horizontal sword swing, cuts through a Remembrancer warrior and spills them to the side, the passage of the violet blade expelling a cloud of ashen skin and embers in their wake.
Bringing the weapon up to a mid-guard, Sumi pivots to find another target, her violet luminescent blade reflecting off the silver visor of her helm.
<"Plug into the surveillance and security systems and see where the others are in this complex.--See if we can download their files too.."> Sumi figured those remaining defenders weren't long for this world and recalls the blade for her weapon.
Ever forward, Avery lifts his E-11 to fire again. The first shot again goes wide, this time nothing to blame it on save poor aim and the fellow gets to live for another second or so. Speaking of, the latter of the two barks from his blaster find the previously lucky person and sends him tumbling over one of the center consoles, the force of the shot having lifted him off his feet.
Hearing Sumi's call, the Mandalorian in the silver Doomseeker armor presses himself up against one of the active consoles and tugs the Universal Comp Interface line from his wrist. Next comes the search for where the interface jack is on this antiquated device. <"Got it Alor, data breach for all the things incoming."> He states confidently... if only he could find the stupid input. Ah-ha! There it is, and with an overdue swift movement, Avery jacks into the console and a display within his helmet springs to life.
--====% BLAM! %====-- a bolt strikes Hahtavi in the leg. <<"Shab!">> But he's still on his feet, dragging his left leg as he keeps moving. Sumi's orders are heard over his helmet's coms. Hahtavi's a little busy still blasting away, his galaar chuffing as it fires off two more bolts and drops two more of the Rememberancers.
<<"I got your back, Avery.">> A soon as the firing's stopped, and he's sure nobody on the bridge is still conscious enough to shoot them in the back, then Hahtavi tries to limp over to cover Avery. More Rememberancers should show up any second. Despite the burn, his thigh bleeds through the fiberweave between his plates.
Zelo's carbine is just cool enough for another shot, but in the chaos of a breached entry by land and a brief but furious firefight, no opposition remains. Between a lightsaber and several well-appointed plasma blasts, the welcome party has been thoroughly dispersed. The Nautolan is about to point out some still-functional screems despite the debris and sudden entry, but the slicer has already found them. So he takes up position at the hatch leaving the command room. Nothing in his line of sight.
<"All clear this way."> He keeps the E-11 raised and ready, intent on shooting the first thing to comes around the corner. Waiting is a lot harder than shooting, once the shooting has begun.
Quiet, save for the baritone warble of support cables, the hiss of slowly cooling plastoid, and the dull hum of consoles still working on whatever cobbled together power system this clan has in this old wreck. From the corridors outside, the echo of weapons fire and battle cries continue.
Hadrix meanwhile is on Hahtavi, shaking his head, <"Didn't we just get this damn thing put back together?"> medpak out and bacta gel being squeezed into the injury along with pain killers and topical numbing ointments to take the edge off while Avery begins pawing around. No forces yet coming up the hall, fortunate for now at least.
An explosion somewhere shakes the floors and the distance whine of blaster fire mixed with the rattle of cartridge shots sounding close.
While the crew is getting healed, and Avery is doing what she asked, Sumi moves to the door way leading out to look down the corridor. This is oddly timed with a sudden tremble of the complex, likely a distant combat further down in the heart of the base. When Sumi looks down the corridor, she spots, roughly, a half dozen Remembrancers prepping to ambush the crew on the bridge.
Plucking a grenade from her bandolier, Sumi activates the fuse and under-hands it down the corridor after cooking it a second, then steps back in the bridge as the explosion sounds off. Bits of debris follow Sumi back into the bridge area, though it's nothing damaging. She couldn't tell how effective the grenade was, but she figured that should slow them down. <"There's a group down the corridor. I gave them something to consider before committing to their ambush. Prepare for battle..">
Carbine left to hang from it's sling, the silver and blue Mandalorian was hard at work, crouched down beside one of the working consoles. <"Thanks, Hahtavi."> Avery says as his eyes dance over the readout on his HUD, the fingers on his right hand flying over the keyboard that is housed in his left bracer. To everyone else, it might look like the Slicer was just staring straight ahead, focused on nothing, the Y-visor of his helm frozen in place. But inside he was frantically pouring over the arabesh that appeared, hunting down the information they were seeking as quickly as humanly possible.
Avery found what he was looking for, within reason, and quite a bit more. The download was started as soon as the information was discovered but it looked like he was working against time. A worm had been injected into the system and it managed to eat all the highest level secret information before he was able to secure it. However, layout information, archive data, and tons of other hidden documents and secrets were being pulled into the Slicer's databanks.
There's a couple of rumbles around him, not to mention the debris that clatters nearby from the grenade detonation. Regardless, <"I got it Sumi... no security footage but I have the location of where the learning creches are. We're looking mid-level. I also got some data they were trying to hide... someone erased part of it, some of the more juicy stuff, but I got what I could."> Avery comments, reaching down from his keyboard to unhook the line once the data transfer had been completed, getting ready for the group that approaches.
Hahtavi has his teeth gritted against the pain. A harsh, brief laugh for Hadrix, <"That was the other leg, ner vod."> Breathing a little hard, the painkillers and bacta start dulling the intense pain. <"Vor'e, Hadrix. A hundred times over. Again."> His rifle he holds ready to use as his leg is tended to, holding still so Hadrix and finish up with it as quickly as possible.
Violent trembles and booms can be felt through the soles of their boots and up their spines every time the tower takes a beating. Then Sumi's tossing a grenade down the corridor. That gets Hahtavi's attention.
He listens to what she and Avery has to say, and now Hadrix is done with his leg, Hahtavi pulls a grenade from his own belt, <<" Frag out! ">> Before they can recover and make their charge? He tosses another one down the corridor to keep'm on their toes! A quick duck back into cover as the second grenade blows! A bright flash of light, debris flying and even more rattled foes.
Zelo's mind had somehow gone wandering. Perhaps it's on a beach somewhere, or flying through space. Either way, he had entirely missed the ambush squad. Fortunately, the Alor of Clan Kora had been there to cover for his shortcoming. It's only her quick exit from the corridor that brings the Nautolan back to the moment in time to duck back from his covering position and avoid the ensuing debris. He's about to lean out and tend to his short-sightedness, when another grenade goes sailing past him from further within the bridge. Again, the Nautolan rolls away from the door and avoids another blast while a red glow begins to shine beneath the seams of his shiny blue beskar.
Leaning out, the first huddled, battered figure is hidden enough by the smoke to make Zelo's first shot go wide. The second finds its mark, ending at least one of the six stealthed figures who had thought to ambush the good guys. Seething, Zelo continues to hold his carbine ready as he awaits orders.
<<"Kih'parjai, Ori'vod.">> Hadrix's response short and quick; handy for the sudden detonations going off from Sumi's grenade and then Hahtavi's on its heels. Drowning out the noises that the computers are making following Avery's invasion. Something deep into the system setting off with a plastoid on metal squeal before a plume of noxious smoke and sparks begins at his terminal and then starts repeating around the bridge. Computer systems shorting out and boards slagging as they overheat or thermal charges go off.
<<"I don't know about a fight...">> [ansi(#949494,SHUK)-[ansi(#FF0000,CHAK) chambering a shell with a quick work of the pump before the big man leans out to fire a thunderclap that sees a hailstorm of shot ripping through armor before he is swinging back into the room. <<"This was likely a first run Imperial Class, rather than a Victoria. We can avoid the lift shafts and a lot of CQC if we plant charges and 'dig' down.">> making his tactical suggestions.
In the hallway, surrounded by the dead, ears ringing and with another detonation somewhere snapping a support line results in a whipcrack magnified a thousand fold that peels armor plates from the hull and makes the entire structure shiver again. More gunfire, more screams.
<<"Ca, Sumi - Wazzum nearing aft section, no sign yet.">> the first comm-link report of the other attack forces.
The last of the would be ambushers gets up, attempting to run for it - only for their foot to slip in some of their associate, sending them careening into a wall and spinning halfway off of their feet, the threat of panic starting to overwhelm actions.
Sumi observes the destruction of the squad at the end of the corridor, and joins in the fray just after Avery confirms the download of all the data. Her jetpack activates a second time, sending her into the smoke to connect a devastating right hook that took the last warrior down to the ground. She followed up with a stomp to the face, grinding her boot heel against their head until blood began to leak out from the gaps with their helmet. The last warrior was down.
Sumi moved back to the bridge, adjusting her gauntlet and massaging her wrists. <"Disseminate the data to the rest of the clans.. and let's figure out a way to dig deeper."> Now Sumi shakes her hand out. Punching people sucks.
Sumi jogs on down that corridor after they grenaded the osik out of it and Hahtavi moves to cover her. Not that she needs it. She takes down the last Remembrancer and Hahtavi stays frosty, watchful and listening with his rifle ready. His leg has stopped bleeding and he's able to put some weight on it. Hadrix does good work. <<" I agree. I'm a fan of blasting through - long as we don't bring this tower down on our heads while doing it.">>
Zelo stands, waiting for someone to lead down the corridor, or to make another avenue of approach. Which direction means little to him, as long as there's more slavers - children-takers - to shoot. The only thing moving about him is the faint pulsing red glow that a keen eye may spot at the seam between pauldrons and helmet. The rest of the sniper is still as a statue - no movement is wasted.
<"Dig deeper, copy.">
The other's confirmation and the information given being all that was needed for a reason - cutting charges are set, like a Bothawui-Army Knife given human form. Det-Tape and tamped shape charges create a hole big enough for two to drop through at a time as more reports come in. Remembrancers falling back. Fighting withdrawals. One report from Bron reporting an ambush, troops injured.
The next level, more service corridor, sees another ring of charges, off set from the first. A clean cut passage down to another floor that is curiously empty, save scraps of personal effects laying as though rapidly discarded or dropped for other actions. But it is on the third descent that things shift.
No soldiers. No waiting fire. But an area marked in Imperial aurabesh denoting 'Barracks' and 'Officer's Rec' on opposing sides of the corridor, then the glow panels still working flash blood red and a half-dead klaxon wheezes.
<<"Bitr, All Forces; Their running, towards the emergency debarkation sectors. They're bolting.">>
The alarm klaxon begins toning faster, incrementally; like a countdown.
The barracks, they contain children two dozen at least; dressed in some sort of sand coloured tunics and trousers of homespun. The rec-room has been converted into rows of education stations, another two or three dozen more children in similar dress to be found. All of the terminals shorted out and all of the children looking confused, some dazed even.
The alarm klaxons continue to sound, the pause between each shortening further.
Sumi let the others move ahead of her, but she dropped down to each level, wiping out when she landed each time. Heavy armor and weapons was never good on old knees, and it showed especially with Sumi. At the level where they reached the barracks and officer's rec, Sumi took notice of the sudden change and report from the comms. <<"I suspect a self-destruct sequence has been activated. These come standard with Imperial vessels when they're compromised. Our priority is the children. Get them out.">> Sumi wasn't worried about the cowards running away. With no where else to run, the desert would claim them.
very steps back to the side to allow Hadrix to work and, bit by bit, the floors are removed in spectacular fashion and the crew make their way lower and lower. On the third stop, the discovery of the children changes the approach from, seek and locate by any means to procure, protect, and escape. The glow of the panels reminds him of an older time and a similar design... the pulses are an indicator of where to head to gain access to the escape pods... and Sumi is absolutely right, before the ship self-destructs when the timer hits 'Zero'.
The Slicer looks at all the wide eyed children and lowers the end of his E-11. Avery switches to internal comms to not frighten them any further with the eminent explosion of their surroundings. <<"Exactly right, we need to move.">> He smiles at the lot, though the look can't be seen, and motions for them to follow the group. <"Hey kids, we're gonna get you out of here. Just follow us and we'll be safe on the surface in no time, yeah?"> With that, Avery peers down the corridor, following the light pattern's beckoning with his eyes.
The children, many of them, probably don't even speak Basic very well just like his own daughter. Hahtavi knows how kids on Manda'yaim aren't like kids in more civilized places. He starts barking orders through his vocoder in Mando'a, <"Olders! Help the Youngers! Come this way! MOVE IT! We'll get you out of here. MOVE YOUR SHEBS!">> No time to call out the names of his niece and nephew. They are either mixed in with these children or they aren't and there's no time to be sorting through looking for them. Too many children to move out and too little time.
Hahtavi turns his head, looking back to his clanmates and hoping, <<"Avery, you have a schematic for a quick way out?! There's too many of them for us to jetpack'm out two at a time.">>
Starting with the rec room, Hahtavi's ordering the kids out into the corridor, moving around behind to gently but firmly push dazed kids, encouraging other children to grab hands and help each other out, double time.
Good thing Mando'ade children are used to following orders if they want to stay alive. Life on Manda'yaim is harsh and unforgiving.
<"Copy, Alor."> Zelo is not great with children, at least... Not when his blood is up. Black-pool eyes seek for enemies that aren't there because they're all gone running. So said the comms. Zelo looks into one of the rooms, opposite Avery. <"Up, moving, orderly and quick. You will be out of here soon enough."> The E-11 carbine is still held ready, but eyes are looking over the tops of the children's heads and are drawn to a blast hatch on the Rec Room's wall. <"Actually, Hahtavi, hold on that a moment. We have... Maybe two minutes, maybe less, on that. Al'verde, can you blast a blast hatch out of this thing? I don't know how direct that route is, this is... Mighty short."> There's also a service elevator a few meters down the corridor, but given the state of this ship and the ones using it, what were the odds it would be in good repair?
A series of acknowledgements come on the heels of Sumi's orders regarding the children. The sounds of the firefight peeling off, fading, another explosion rocks the tower with a sway that can be seen in how things hang as well as be felt in ones equilibrium. The children are shifting, being moved and then Zelo calls out an idea.
<"Copy, opening a door.">
The big man moves for the opposite side of the learning chamber, force pike pulled off of his hip and snapped to full length before he is slamming the hypersonic tip into the blast shielding. A weapon designed as much as for combat as much to breech hulls during boarding actions. Hadrix is doing a lightsaber's work, setting the vibrations to overcharge while he presses in.
<"Sumi, get your laser-sword over here."> bitten out. <<"Sawaili, get your air-skiffs up here... Give it a few seconds, you'll know where I mean.">>
The children continue to mill about, gathering in the center of the corridor. All beginning to take hands and group up at Hahtavi's commands, following the rules that keep them alive in the wastes.
<<"Hahtavi, tell them to make a hole and run. I'm going to need an extra shoulder in here.">>
Another spat of gunfire somewhere, boots clomping down corridors. More shaking of the tower.
<<"Bitr, assault force - they've got swoops and speeders in the pod-hatches, they're ex-filling.">>
Sumi walks to where she's summoned and unclips the electrum hilt from her belt, then activates it with a SNAP-HISS. The subsequent humming subsides with a loud squealing noise as she plunges it into the solid matter and begins to transform the metal to molten orange. She helps in forming the hole slowly, dragging the weapon to make a wide hole. When the task was finished, she deactivated the weapon and hooked it back to her belt.
<"I do but I think they've found a quicker way."> He replies to Hahtavi, motioning toward the crew assembling at the hatch on the wall. Now that the kids are being taken care of by better voices than his, Avery moves to the doorway and watches down the hallway. He clutches the E-11 to his chest in case some errant fool comes looking for the children. After a few moments, and hearing the lightsaber cutting noises cease, the Slicer turns his head back into the room to see the progress on their exit.
The children are doing very well. Hahtavi picks up not one but two of the smallest children, settling one on eat hip. Some of'm are pretty young. He gives them encouragement, getting the older children to help with the younger as they move. Until he hears Hadrix. <<"On my way.">> The two little ones he was carrying are handed off to older children, then his baritone speaks loudly in Mando'a <"Make a hole! Coming through!"> They part before him like the tide pulling back and Hahtavi moves up at a jog to assist Hadrix.
Once there, Haht slows up and waits for Sumi to finish cutting. Then he moves up to assist Hadrix with kicking and shouldering the hot slab. Push and lever, and shove ... until it gives way! Daylight suddenly pours in through to spill over the interior deck plates!
Zelo moves in, after Hahtavi clears through the children, to fill the void and straighten the lines, approaching the door where the children begin to mill at the increasingly quick klaxons. <"Stay calm. No one makes a better door than Kora. Stay in line, look to those before, and behind. If someone falls, pick them up. Everyone gets out, there's plenty of time."> A glance over his shoulder to the now-finished hole prompts an addition. <"Everybody, start moving. Keep calm, march on."> The vocoder lends more authority to the sniper as he just tries to talk to small-sized Mandalorians. He takes up a post at the door, reaches over a slightly-shorter child and taps Avery on the shoulder.
<"Have your back, vod. Looks like we're last-out.">
Sunlight flooding is cut out suddenly as wind rushes in and the sight of Saiwali air-skiff are lifting into place. Cannons on opposing sides barking - but the sounds of combat are far less, much much less than one might expect. The sounds of the supports are more audible than that of weapons discharge.
It's even such that the gong like strike of the panel forced out reaches these heights.
When the children reach the hole, the speeders are already in place for them to begin hopping out, some helping lift over the very young to waiting hands, a quick bucket chain formed as one after another of the half dozen sail speeders move up to pick up the precious cargo, dropping to begin speeding away once at capacity.
<<"Bron, Force - we're ex-fil via the pod hatches. Glide wings and the few jetpacks we have. Everyone is getting out. Thank you for your help.">> the line cutting off as somewhere down below a sound like a malfunctioning denial charge going off early belches a dull rumble through the hull of the tower.
The children are being rescued, those of the Butte and then some - from other places and other clans snatched.
<<"Sumi, Haht - out after the kids. Avery, Zelo behind them. I don't leave until the rest of you are out.">> Hadrix's tone brooking no argument at this point as he looks to his sparking force pike and the children whose number are diminishing rapidly.
Sumi helps, quietly, ensure the children have a safe passage from the Remembrancer's base to the waiting speeders outside. When they're loaded, she complies with the order to move out, stepping onto the speeder and assuming one of the turret spots to take up the defense. Stepping on the arming kick-plate, she charges the weapon by kicking the plate and priming it, then commands the gun into place by adjusting it ahead, sights aimed out for potential threats.
The Y-visor of his helmet turns to focus on Zelo, a nod coming to the tap and the observation. <"Sounds good, we get to be the last to leave the party, that's a g-"> Avery begins, until Hadrix mentions being the true last to leave. <"Well, next to last... still respectable."> He adds with a chuckle. With another glance, he checks the status of the children filing out, another nod given to Zelo as it seems like their time is neigh for departure. Most of the kids have already left the room and the moment for getting is good.
With the E-11 craddled, Avery moves to their escape, waiting until the last child is about to leave and hefting the youngster onto the skiff himself. <"Zelo, Hahtavi! We're out! Get a move on before the ship moves for you!">
Aye, get the children out fast as they can. Hahtavi stands by the hole he helped shove out once Hadrix and Sumi had cut and pried it open. He grabs child after child and hands them to those in the air skiffs, the larger kids making the hop across. His gaze is sharp, watching out for his niece and nephew in among them, hoping he'll see them. But if he does, he can't pause to hug them. It'll have to wait.
With several of them helping, the dozens of young'ns get taken out to safety. A curt nod to his orders, <<" Copy that, ner vod.">> When the last skiff comes up and has the last of the children, Hahtavi leaps out of the hole himself and fires off his jetpack to head out as he was told to do. He can't help but tip his T-visored helm to look back, wanting to be sure the rest of his aliit are getting clear.
<<"Copy, Al'verde.">> Zelo follows the progression of the children, looking back to the hallway with Avery as the progress moves. The klaxons make it plain that the going time is upon them. The E-11 is begrudgingly slung back to its place with the two longer rifles Zelo brought for his shooter's toolkit. When the children are out, Sumi and Hahtavi as well, Zelo pauses to look at Hadrix, patting the large set of armor on the shoulder, meant for the man beneath it.
<"Good hole, sir."> With that, the Nautolan in the gleaming blue beskar also makes his exit, taking up a seat on the air skiff and holding on. The way those klaxons are counting down, the flight may not be the smoothest.
Special cargo secure, the the expedition forces as well as the Butte clans diving out of the old command tower jutting out of the wasteland floor. It's a scene on several fronts as the varied clans make their exits. Ca from an access hatch, Bron from one of the empty escape pod hatches. The Al'Verde Kora from the hole he and Sumi cut through the blast hatch moments before.
Little time left counts down. Faltering glow-panels and wheezing, dying, alarm klaxon in the ruins of the hunk of vessel felled during the Purges, when the Empire tried to stamp out the Mandalorians.
In moments, barely enough to get clear, the battered command tower is ripped apart by denial charges before it then tumbles to the sands in sputtering, half-functional explosives that render it little more than scrap.
