Log:Mandalore: The Wasteland Way - Too Rich to Pass Up

Mandalore: The Wasteland Way - Too Rich to Pass Up

OOC Date: June 1, 2021 (Optional)
Location: Mandalore
Participants: Sumi Kora, Hahtavi, Avery Ihala Kora, Evie Leven, Zelo Parrai, Valeska Jaivon, Terek Rosol and Hadrix Kora as GM Clan Kora Mandalorian

Night, in the pre-dawn hours when the darkness is at its thickest, before the sun has begun to throw its first tendrils over the horizon and even Concord Dawn's provided light is minimal as it nears the horizon. The sands around Jate'kar'kyorla are now gray from soot and passage of the recent activities. The Saiwali are moored close to the switchback pathway that leads up to the narrow strip before the battered walls of the fortress.

The hole torn in the wall by demolitions has been 'boarded' over with scrap metal that has been spot welded and bolted in place. Something to keep it from being a handy place to throw munitions, or launch them. The defensible strip before the gates still bears the blackening from the thermal detonation, silhouettes cooked into the sand and soil. Metal and bodies melted. A nightmare scene that still feels warm despite the cool night air.

It can never be easy though as from the battlements and the top of the mountain the fortress is built into spying eyes can see smoke and dust from the south. A dozen vehicles, tracked, repulsor powered and wheeled are spotted by Sumi, Zelo and Evie through sight and sensor systems. The rumbling of their movement like distant thunder on their approach.

There are infantry mixed among them, though their numbers are masked - but four of those vehicles are stopping and the keen eyed can see stabilizer spikes slamming into the ground, shooting up more dust and sand.

After the legendary antics of yesterday, Valeska had plenty of time to ponder on tactics while Hadrix was pulling metal shards out of her torso. Firstly, don't get off the barge. That's a biggie and certainly can be applied to many other situations. Second, duck and cover. To be fair, she already knew this one but for some reason, she couldn't move fast enough to avoid the blender of scrap barrelling at her at max velocity. Third, develop a taste for bacta because no doubt she'll end up in there at this rate.

But right now, Valeska is getting as much sleep as she can: letting the bacta do it's thing and giving her body a chance to recooperate. The Ragelands have certainly given her a welcome she'll never forget, but right now, she is surrounded by comrades and is able to sleep relatively peacefully. Which is saying a lot for a merc used to sleeping with her pistol in her hand. Either way, she's out cold and doesn't see any impending threats. Just vague, unpleasant dreams she will hopefully immediately forget upon waking up.

Zelo having climed to the top of the fortress after all of the complication last night, perches in overwatch - the sniper's role. The SX-451 rests on its bipod, light-enhancing digital scope piercing through the night. It's through this scope that the gleaming-blue-beskared Nautolan spies the oncoming traffic. He's quick to comms, eyes on the scope as he gathers every information we can. <<"All on-frequency, this is Overwatch. A dozen vehicles incoming, hiding infantry numbers, but they're present. Uncertain of the makes or models, but they're oncoming.">> Of the dozen, the second largest make up a third of the vehicular posse, and the weapons are- <<"Hard to tell the exact configuration, but four have quad-barrel turret mounts. Some kind of focusing array reflectors.">> No need to say he's awaiting orders. He knows what those orders will be. Zelo takes a moment to run his uncovered trigger finger pad over a pristine purple feather, tucked into the back of his left gauntlet. He begins to line up the shot.

Sumi walked along the ramparts and battlements of the wall through out the night. Sleep wasn't to be had but in small 'power naps', not with the constant threat of violence and the need to be hyper vigilant at all times. These were no common soldiers they dealt with; it was a culture that worshipped war, and every man, woman, and child breathed it until they drew breath no more. That kind of devotion required a devoted defense.

As Sumi walked, she paused at random intervals to contemplate the horizon. Her sharp vision, even at night, provided some predatory advantage in that she could spot things with stunning clarity; a gift that went into practice the day before concerning the deployment of a thermal detonator.

At one particular point, Sumi had a double-take and recognized the shape of approaching vehicles. Coupled with the alarm raised by those on the defenses already, Sumi amended the report to fill in some more details. She pressed a finger to her ear before speaking,

<<"All call signs: I count six total vehicles with an Anti-Air arrangement. They appear to be loading a magnetic hook complement in preparation to fire at the walls. Scramble the defense, we need a force to intercept before they get into range.">>

Propped up nearby the healing Val is Avery, his body still encased in the Doomseeker armor, helmet set to the side. The slicer has been relatively unable to sleep, passing the time alternating between watching her slumber and scrolling through the net on his datapad. As much as he tried to play off his concern from her injury, the fact that blood was being coughed up at regular intervals certainly put a measure of distress in his mind. But now she is resting, Hadrix, Hahtavi, and the medical crew had all seen to her wounds, packed her full of bacta, and done all that they could. Pausing from his reading, the grey armored Mandalorian tilts his head as a particular dream of a not nice nature causes her to twitch in her sleep, his lips drawing into a thin line at her discomfort.

And that's when he hears it, the low rumble of vehicles approaching. They'd have to be rather large in order to cause this much sound from a distance. Avery gathers his helmet and moves to a crouch, lightly rouse Valeska with a gloved hand on her arm. "Val... you might want to get up, it sounds like we're about to have some company." He looks to Hahtavi and reaches over to likewise wake him from sleep if the comms coming through the channels haven't yet. "Haht, wake up. We've got vehicles approaching." At that, Avery slips on his helmet, stows his datapad, and grabs his carbine.

Terek has been trying to get the sleep he can. But he's done this before, sleeping in small shots here and there. Enough that's not dead tired, "These guys just don't get the hint." He mutters to himself, as he pushes up to his feet and locks his helmet back on.

He double times it up to the wall and takes a knee near the edge, peering over towards the vehicles, looking over at Sumi, "How far out do you think they are?" He asks. He'll have to get close to be effective, maybe wait until the chaos inevitably starts before jumping in with his jetpack.

This time he takes a second to double check that he has his jetpack on.

Fifteen feet tall. Just under eight tons. The KDT S5-M Assault Suit is an imposing sight to see on the horizon, a suit of plasteel and duralight armor that is often enough to ward off foes by its very presence.

But this is Mandalore. They likely take it as a challenge.

Which suits the behemoth's pilot just find. The Empress of the Void, neurally linked into the armor thanks to her time with Kylo Ren's Vanguard, is ready to face her challengers. This isn't a race, but the rules are the same: Victory or defeat. One of these two is palpable; one will not be accepted. Heavy metal fingers curl around the grips of the weapons in 'her' hands. Arms locked at the elbow and wrist joints in order to simulate the fixed mounts of a starfighter. It felt more comfortable for her that way.

<<"We have incoming armor. Reading six heavy power signatures and six smaller ones -- still something rolling in, though. Some military-grade weapons capacitors and ion interference en route from the South. Reads like they're tired of having their butts handed to them.">> The suit swivels to face her named threat, arms held up and out. <<"Looks like we need to roast 'em, first. I can close the ground pretty quick in this thing, Sumi. Anyone want to grab on for a ride?">>

Her voice? It's giddy. It's playtime for the Kuati woman. The suit makes her feel powerful... it's an almost intoxicating feeling.

The sound of voices coming over his helmet's coms rouses Hahtavi who's always been a light sleeper. Like any soldier of Manda'yaim, he can catch naps just about anywhere and snap awake at the slightest disturbance. Avery's voice confirms it as Hahtavi suddenly sits up, grabbing his helmet. He's otherwise fully armored and armed. "I heard Zelo, then Sumi, Aye."

Up on his feet, Hahtavi slaps his helmet on, sealing it and starts running for his ship. <<" Sumi, Hahtavi. You want me in the air or no? Sounds risky but the Tal'onidir's got fire power, over. ">> It's her call to make. He'll do as he's ordered, even if the info she put over his coms sent a slight shiver up his back at the thought of them dragging his ship out of the air.

<<"Risky but doable, if they've AA mounts, keep your pack on in case you have to bail out.">> Hadrix's voice, giving suggestion as he appears on the battlements with Sumi. <"Good thing Zelo has that cannon of his, eh Ori'Sumi?"> a blink at his HUD, specifically noting a weapons free to Zelo before he drops, grabbing Sumi and Terek if needbe, <"COVER!">

The reason immediately apparent when the quad barreled vehicles, stabilized now, are suddenly lost behind a magnetically contained globe of energy pouring from each artillery truck's barrels, formed like something akin to a Gungan Booma before another blast launches them through the air.

The infantry on advance keep near the larger vehicles, aiming for cover while supporting the AA sleds beginning to advance. It's coordinated, properly arranged. Using the artillery fire as a distraction cover and checking clear paths for the two largest of the six artillery trucks, the only two of that half dozen still moving forward.

One of the globes hits the sand well west of the switchbacks, throwing molten glass into the sky - creating a hailstorm of razor spikes and a massive, maybe beautiful, sculpture down to the ground to shatter into a bowl in the sand, a bowl that would mean death for any unarmored individual. The next sails past the fortress, blowing stone out of the foothills of the mountain, turning everything cherry red.

The last pair strike stone at the base of the gates, creating a blast crater one could hide a speeder truck in, superheating metal walls and stone alike, sending figures running for cover before the mountain fortresses laser turrets open up on the approaching horde.

It was such a lovely dream, too. The rolling hills of Dantooine in flames. People screaming. The forests turning to ash. In the distance, a familiar house like a speck amongst it all: untouched but the circle of fire is closing in... closing in.. closing in... Obscured by smoke and then--

Valeska is yanked from that encroaching nightmare and into an actual one. Sitting bolt up, she coughs raspily a few times before finally spitting out something fleshy and solid from deep in chest. Snatching her pistol, which rests within arm's length to her side, she dislodges a nearly-spent power cell and slap a new one in. One deep breath in and out to make sure that meaty chunk wasn't something she'll need later and Valeska is scrambling to her feet and running out of the medical tent, snapping her helmt on as she goes. Her blaster whining to life as she follows the throng of others called to action, she tries to spot where the threat is and how far away.

<<"These guys need a different hsobby.">> She hears Hadrix's warning and -- huzzah! Tactic #2 deployed successfully! Valeska dusks down for cover as four hits put dents the planet. Tasting the freshly-made glass from here, Valeska swallows down a glob of mucousy blood, and readies for round three of the Mandalore Welcome Party.

Toggling to thermal makes the heat signatures of the firing weapons a dazzling backtrail to the offending artillery. Zelo's HUD passes to him the weapons-free and he has no hesitation. Those blasts are not only highly dangerous, they're going to cut down on visibility to what could be the true crux of the assault. <<"Overwatch, returning fire.">> The SX-451 is ready, well-maintained and already going to work. The cobalt-blue trigger-finger - pad exposed - pulls back on the trigger, 750 meters passing in the blink of an eye to the fat plasmic bolt that exits the barrel, finding the housing of the offending vehicle, but not seeimg to halt it's progress or ignite any core systems. Still, there's an extra hole, and... Someone may be able to do something with that information. Quickly he tags the wounded vehicle and transmits the tag to all friendlies in the area.

<<"Overwatch has a large hole in the armor of the marked armor. Feel free to capitalize on that. I won't take it personally.">>

Sumi rises up from being forced into cover by Hadrix and peers over the quickly changing field of battle. Feeling at home in the chaos, Sumi's gaze hones in on the advancing pair of big-friggin sleds and knows deep down that is where they make their stand. Unhooking the tool on her belt, she unclasps her cape and drops it from her shoulders revealing a small armory of weapons attached to her armor and body. <<"Evie, I need you to take a fireteam to assault and disable the LEFT advancing big-boy sled. I am going to the right. The city will have to withstand indirect fire while we contend with the more immediate threats. Hahtavi, go with Evie.">>

Sumi props a foot up on the rampart section of the wall that is lower and stretches. <<"The only easy day was yesterday, Mando'ade. Show grit, show fire, and show no mercy. With me now!!---">> The jets on her back light up and she takes to hovering, propping herself up for leverage to launch out.

<<"NOW WITH ME!">>

Sumi shot like a flaming arrow across the night sky, aimed and flying what felt like as fast as a bullet toward her intended target. She lands, taking several steps to stop her momentum. Her jets immediately sound the alarm for over-heated junctures and she laughs when the sibilant noise of coolant began to steam the vents casting her in a haze of her own steam. The SNAP HISS of her weapon came to life then, a vibrant violet blade that hummed with even the most subtle motion. <"TODAY.. SOMEONE DIES!"> And she stepped into the workings of the large vehicle to begin battling the Mandalorians controlling it, laughing as she closed the distance.

Shortly after donning his helmet, Avery steps out of the tent into the fortress, his head tilted to the side while processing all the comm chatter. Out of the corner of his eye, he notes his shadow slowly swinging around with a changing light source and he notes that the sky beyond the fortress is unreasonably bright for pre-dawn. The reason for all the above is discovered soon enough when a streaking ball of plasma impacts the ground, all chaos and pandemonium erupting around them. Avery grimaces as moments later the rest of the impacts are felt, a couple of them being too close for comfort.

Spying Val rushing from the tent he nods to the battle happening far away and Sumi's calls for attack. <"Feel like flying again?"> Avery asks, waiting for some sign of acceptance before they prepare to jet away. A nod given, a body supported and the pair lift off to zoom from the fortress, a line of smoke trailing behind as he puts on the afterburner. There's too much to dodge and he doesn't account for the extra weight, the grey Mandalorian and the Mercenary only making it halfway to their target.

The approaching foe must have noticed the previous streaks of fire approaching because from the sky comes an artillery strike directly at them. Without even having a moment to cry a warning, Avery rolls to the side, pulling Val with him and the plasma streaks past, impacting the sand below. Shards of crystalized sand shoot into the air and bury themselves in Avery's left arm, the man giving a grunt at the impact.

With a heartdropping 'putter' sound, Avery's rockets click off and the two plummet toward the ground, his anti-gravity belt saving them at the last second and allowing for a soft landing. He releases her when they touch down and quickly assesses their situation, approaching bad guys, no cover to be seen... perfect, they're falling right into his trap.

With the fire coming in, Terek takes to the ground and covers up. Thankfully it doesn't just land right on top of him and kill him, otherwise this would be a real short fight. Unable to do anything from this range, he knows he has to get close. However as he gets up, Sumi gives her speach and takes off.

Terek watches as Sumi goes flying through the air like a bat out of hell, sailing through the sky, the lightsaber suddenly bursting to life, covering everything around her with a purple glow, "I really need to ask her how in the hell she got that one of these days." He says, though probably only Hadrix can hear him, assuming he can hear it over the explosions.

Terek fires up his own rocket pack and shoots forward, but he's not nearly as fast, and the anti-air fire is thick. He has to drop short of his objective and roll into cover, keeping his head down until the fire disapates enough to take off again.

<<"Roger that, Alor. You handle the right, we'll snuff out the left. Give me a yell when you're secure, Hahtavi.">> Evie's voice chirps over comms. This particular tactic will be a bit new to her, but it shouldn't be too different than just charging into battle normally. At least, she hopes it's not.

<<<"In motion now, Hahtavi. Hang on!">> The fact is? It's a little different. The suit might register the neural commands as if she was charging in on foot... but in essense? She's charging in on foot with a monkey on her back. The weight distribution is a little off, so she's not quite able to get the suit as close as she wants to.

But, the Kuati-born Mandalorian *IS* able to show off her grace and dexterity, outright pirouetting to avoid some incoming AA fire directed her way.

This is the way.

One thing to be said about all of the muscle mass he's put on; Hadrix is more dense than he is used to and his attempt to follow Sumi's lead when she declares 'with me' only carries him half the way before his HUD begins flashing warnings and the jets begin sputtering. <<"Getting too big, have to ground.">> voice tense as he spins his body down, just clear of anti-air fire with an actual yelp before hitting the ground and dropping into a roll.

<"I reckon it'll be a lot less interesting a story than we might think."> Hadrix grunts as he preps for his next bound... once his jetpack has cooled enough to do so.

The turrets of the fortress begin spreading fire across the front of the oncoming forces, aiming for the AA sleds and finding purchase on two, sending them into the ground, only for one of the next of four globes to slam dead center the wall, melting durasteel and blasting bodies into the air to fall like macabre party favors.

Another globe slams just into mountain face, super heating stone to crack and making Zelo's nest a little warmer than he might be comfortable with - but a chance near miss instead of an intended hit that missed. The upper battlements below him fair less well, molten metal running down the side of the mountain like a slow mudslide. The third flies too far to the side, creating another shallow bowl of jagged glass in the sand.

It's the fourth that is most telling. One of the sail barges already beginning to move to engage is struck at the midline. Energy and plasma meant for crushing fortifications boring through the to hull before its detonation sets off the engines. In a flash there is only a hulk slamming into the ground a conflagration of cooling metal and burning bodies.

Sumi's world is gold and red as blasterfire rages all around her upon landing - a mass of fire intended to force her down as one figure in armor made from both armor scraps and vehicle parts rises, lifting a cobbled together repeater cannon to add its voice to the mix. Calling an order that sends an ionized grappling magnet for Evie's mech, slipping past her shoulder and disconnecting when the line goes too taught. Lucky morning.

Feel like flying again?

Valeska regards the man over her shoulder with a skeptical brow that he cannot see. Does she feel like flying again? Hell no. However, the action is way out there and she's not about to start jogging across the sand again. Once was more than enough. Against her better judgement, though, she offers Avery a wordless nod to his question.

Together, the two take off to close the distance... right into artillery fire. Valeska is already holding on tighter when Avery takes a hard turn to avoid a hit that would blow them both out of the sky. A impressive maneuver! However, little could help the shards shooting back up towards them. The same time Avery takes the hit, Valeska feels a sharp, burning sensation in her lower left leg. She bites out a curse in Bothese then in Basic: <"Avery, are you okay?">

The Maker has one hell of a sense of humour because that's when the rockets decide to go out and the flight that Valeska didn't want to take becomes the fall she defintely doesn't want to take. Spared going splat into the sand, Valeska stumbles foward from the extra momentum as they land and assess their situation. Sand as far as the eye can see and a cloud of death barrelling towards them. Seeing Avery is about as okay as he can be in this situation, she reaches out and slaps him on the shoulder. <"Race you."> And she takes off in a sprint towards the enemies ahead, firing as she goes. One down. Beat that, Avery.

Zelo finds the hole he'd made, back on a light-enhanced scope. When you have a hole in the armor, you make it bigger. Aiming the dreadful barrel of the SX-451 a half of a hair's breadth off the alignment of the first shot, Zelo pulls the trigger again. If he has to, he'll plasma-peel this thing like an oversized soup tin. Another satisfying kick to his shoulder is followed by a doubling of the hole as his deadly precision puts the holes so close to each other that the one percent of overlap is peeked out a moment later by a dazed crewman, finding a window where none had been. If he continues to lookie-loo, there would be a bolt with his name on it. And as smoke begins to billow out of the hole, the crewman may find that fresh air appealing enough for the risk of it.

Zelo listens to the charging whine of the SX-451, already looking at the next shot. Next one will do the trick.

Sumi steps lively and into the chaos as blaster bolts from every angle are honed in toward her. The hiss of passing bolts is not lost on her, though she's in such an adrenaline rush that the ringing in her ears drowns out pretty much everything else. She can hear herself breathing even after tachypsychia kicks in. Her first opponent is the largest man on the vehicle and she swings before sliding under his blow only to rise back up behind him. She cuts him down the center, severing his spine vertically with a single pass that sees his heavy mass tumble off the side to plop into the sand below. Too bad he could not remain as agile beyond her initial assault; it may have been a good fight.

Sumi has little time to think on it now though. She considers her next target, a scrawny female in scrappers armor. She's all bark it seems when Sumi swings and spills the contents of her belly, cutting the war-cry short. Using her own mass, Sumi spartan-kicked the female from her path and trudged forward to square off with her next opponent. Thus far, she was true to her word...

Someone died.

Avery spares a moment from analyzing their surroundings to glance at the shards of glass sticking from his skin. There's a slap on his shoulder, a playful challenge given, and Valeksa is off across the sand, her blaster coming up to remove one of the attackers from their perch. <"Oh, you're on."> He claims, sprinting after Val as the two close in on the approaching hover cannons and a mass of infantry.

As part of the challenge, and totally not to protect himself from the rush of bad folk in front, Avery lifts his E-11 and sights on a few of the Raiders. He depresses the trigger, and looses two bolts in quick succession. Nearly just as fast, two of the Raiders go flying from their feet, their cries lost in the sound of the approaching mod and the battle that rages all around them. <"There, beat that!"> He calls back, a hidden tongue definitely being stuck out in her direction.

Terek stays hunkered down until the second round of artillery has gone off, and then he's up and sprinting. Of course with Hadrix on his tail he's running faster so he doesn't get bowled over by the big man.

As soon as he's in range of the first group of guys, he vaults over a piece of debris, firing his blaster as he crosses it and pelting one of the raiders in the chest.

A combat roll later and he's in a kneeling position, firing a second shot at one of the raiders and knocking him off his feet. A moment later he's back up, and running again, firing off a shot to his right which cracks one of the raiders in the head and drops him in a moment.

There's a brief glance towards the right, where Sumi is tearing up her own foes with that pretty purple blade... but the Alor's not the only one who can do some damage tonight. The only difference between the two of them is that while Sumi can do it on foot, Evie tends to need to be surrounded by armor to get the job done.

There's no shame in that, though. Evie and machinary have been a marriage long made; she's as comfortable with them as she is people. More comfortable with them than she is people, sometimes.

<<"Hang on, Hahtavi!">>

As she starts to get into range of her foe, she takes skywards once again. Leaping into the air and landing down on the hook cannon below her as clawed feet sink into metal, both of the heavy repeaters aimed down. She might not always have the best aim.... but it's really hard to miss on a point blank shot.

<<"Mission progressing. It's not down yet, but it's hurting bad.">> Evie reports, already preparing herself for the next assault.

It's very awkward and he's not used to this being perched up here on a giant armor mech thing as Evie drives, or pilots, or whatever she's doing. But she's doing it with plenty of style! They evade flak and that suits him fine, even if Hahtavi gets slung around like a sack of so much meat. At least his maglocked boots keep hold, bracing him well enough.

When they draw close enough, one hand helps keep hold and the other wields his Galaar. It's not easy to take aim in the predawn twilight when he's mounted on a giant bipod that's sort of running. Hahtavi's shots both miss their mark and he grimaces behind his helmet's T-visor. Not nearly as cool as being in his kimogila, damn it. And he's usually pretty damn good with the rifle - just hard when his weight is getting shifted this way and that constantly.

<<" Great shot, Evie! That's how to do it! ">> She's pack'n freaking E-Webbs!

<<"Mofa-Ki is dead, repeat Mofa-Ki is dead. Zatti is MIA - primary sail barge down!">> Saiwali clan voices over the comms, confusion until one voice begins begins to rally them together. Sending the skiffs and barges fanning out into a chevron pattern, smaller craft flanking to either side. Their cannons speaking and turning the air into a series of staccato lines of gold, green and blazing crimson.

The repulsor sleds dropping to minimal lift height, some of their own volition and their flak cannons begin hurling molten metal spikes and throwing star like fragments into the hulls of the air-skiffs and barges. One of the skiffs begins belching smoke before it twists into an involuntary spiral - slamming into the sands and detonating into a heap of sand and molten metal cast skywards. A trio of the AA sleds going up under broadside fire and tumbling into the sand.

Among the hailstorm of fire going back and forth between fortress, defenders and the raiding forces two massive shooting stars of emerald green are placed with terrible efficiency by the running Hadrix, blasting Blackthumbs off of their feet and only eliciting a few blink targets from him as he approaches.

The fortress is being hammered though. The shells of heavy armor grafted to the stone cut-outs being blasted to rubble and the defenders with it, even as an ionized hook slams into stone and falls away to land somewhere tumbling down between switchbacks. Looking more like smoke and ruin than a defense position.

Avery's eyes widen as a bunch of blaster fire is sent their way, the Mandalorian and Mercenary dodging as the bolts pepper the sand around them. Unfortunately Val isn't as lucky as Avery and takes a hit directly to her chest. He can't see how bad the damage is but he does note that her legs begin to give and she stumbles in her run. With a growl, the Slicer lifts his E-11 and draws down on the scum that shot her, sending not one but two bolts to slam into his form. The first spinning him around like a top before the second gives him flying lessons.

He barely has a chance to see the fellow land before he's wrapping Valeska's waist again and taking to the skies. <"Hang on, I got you."> He calls before they shoot upward, pausing for a moment in the air while he looks for the man he seeks. <<"Hadrix, Val got hit...">> this is the moment he takes to look at her injury and a lump catches in his throat. <<"She needs assistance, on my way to you.">> Body turned, rockets pumped, and the pair streak toward Hadrix, trying to make the ride as painless as possible for the injured woman. <"We need to get you some better armor."> He quips, trying to put a calm air on a dangerous situation.

Still running, Valeska sees two more baddies get blown off their feet: her helmet swiveling towards the grey Mandalorian with a scoff. <"Hardly fair, really. My shots are trickier."> For all her jokes, three dead doesn't feel like it's putting a dent into anything. They cannot hold like this. Valeska keeps going, training for her next shots when...

Pain. Searing hot pain hits her chest like charging wampa. The chestplate absorbs what it can, but the rest goes straight into her internal organs and disspates outwards. She staggers backwards and nearly falls, wobbling and dazed. Three rapid shots all go wild as the world turns white and all the air is forced from collapsing lungs. 'They call this tempering,' a humourous voice jokes deep in her head. 'You're being tempered.'

Her comms do not pick up the sudden yelp of pain as Avery grabs her and takes to the skies, but the sound echoes in the hollow of her helmet only to be drowned out by the thrusters. A hail of blaster fire opens up around them. As Avery rains hell back at them, Valeska, keeping a deathgrip on her blaster, hangs her head and tries force herself to breathe.

Zelo is feeling the heat. While the majority of forces are out, tangling in with the raiders, he is with the forces of the fortress. His fate is tied to theirs. While he is currently fine, the high parapet on which he aims is still reeling from a recent shot, the heat haze rendering his thermal setting unusable on the scope. Aiming by sight alone, he prepares another shot, this one will do the trick. One less artillery vehicle firing on the fortress is a must. The people below are counting on him. Missing is not an option.

A deep breath is pulled in, carrying with it hot molten fumes, but the sniper does not cough. He breathes out in slow measure and - with empty lungs - he pulls the trigger. The SX-451 belches plasmic flame and a bolt crosses the 750 meters to his target. It finds the weapons system, igniting the source of the blazing payloads and sending the whole carriage up in a flaming explosion, clearly visible to all from the fortress in the bleak low light of a night that doesn't yet have an end. That light will see them through til morning. And so will the ones that follow as Zelo moves his sights to the next vehicle. He has their numbers.

<<"Overwatch counts one of the artillery throwers down. Moving to the next. Focused work, call if you need my attention on the footsoldiers you're dancing with.">>

Sumi cut down the final trio of Mandalorians on the vehicle she boarded and took a moment to ensure her surroundings were clear before recalling the blade. She slips it back on her belt and pulls the body away from the controls a moment, squinting at them. <<"I need a driver on this other thing.. I can't make out what all this drek means..">> Squinting again when a voice rallies the friendly lines up to counter attack, Sumi has to take a moment to glance back to the wall.

There's no time for it.

<<"Take control of the large crafts and turn their guns on the artillery sleds. Time to give them a taste of their own medicine..">>

Terek continues to run forward. It's crazy, normally he'd duck behind cover and try to engage, but this seems to be Hadrix's plan. So Terek is along for the ride, so to speak.

He double taps another one of the troopers who had fired at him, striking him twice in the chest and putting him down for good, "Come on then!" He yells out, loud enough to be heard even over the constant barrage of gunfire and explosions going on around them.

The battle rages on, Evie blowing the hell out of the Hooker truck a second time. Hahtavi cheers her but he's got his own work cut out. In that moment she pauses to look for another target he braces himself and gets two sound shots off himself, dropping a raider attempting to reach Evie's mech armor. If he'd had a sapper charge, it's under that body now and in the sand.

Except for things coming over his coms, Hahtavi can't tell what all is happening elsewhere. He grimaces at what Avery says over his helmet's channel about Valeska. Nothing he can do about that. She couldn't be in better hands between Avery and Hadrix. Damned shame he couldn't help watch her back. Hahtavi's too busy doing other things as he seeks for additional targets to shoot.

Mostly though, it feels like he's along for the ride and it's Evie who's doing the heavy lifting this time.

Retribution is swift as the Saiwali Clan craft move in. Another skiff falls under heavy fire - but they push past the repulsor sleds, blasting another pair down before focused fire is laid into one of the artillery trucks. One shot after another laying a truck low before the quad cannons are forced to leave off firing at the fortress and begin pounding the main sail barge - blasting it's primary cannon off and whirling it into the air behind the skimmer.

Its enough to cause a withdrawal. Finally. The quad-trucks beginning to rumble backwards after their stabilizer spikes rise from the ground with a grind of hydraulics. The ground forces and AA sleds likewise firing as they pull back, one shot taking Hadrix in the leg even as he plays medic and tends to Valeska's injuries, bacta hypo already in her femoral and pressure bandages down. Forcing the warrior down with a growling hiss with the force of the strike.

The losses are telling on either side. A quarter of one clan's equipment smoking wrecks. The fortress shattered at points with bodies strewn across the strip and rolling down the side of the mountain.

Fully half of the attacking force is blasted down, exploded, or cut to pieces. Infantry hooking onto vehicles while they fire or others turning to make tracks to link up later, coming under fire from the airskiffs turning to open their broadsides on the retreating forms and provide cover for the hook cannon Sumi has secured.

<<"Will be there when I can Sumi.">> Rasped out by Hadrix as he surveys and begins sending tactical data.

As they land near Hadrix, Valeska stumbles to her knee then backwards onto her butt; a hand over the still-hot scorch marks on her chestplate. The motion around her is a blur. She can see Hadrix next to her tending to her wounds -- that's a familiar sight. We gotta stop meeting like this. Then more blaster fire. Somewhere in near distance, she hears Avery grunt in pain abd witnesses Hadrix taking a hit, as well.

Her vision clears as the bacta pumps through her veins; giving her enough capacity to stop the world from rocking back and forth. Drawing in shallow breaths that feel like gravel and acid in her throat, Valeska stumbles to her feet, her hand flexing to feel the handle of her blaster still within in.

Though the visor of her helmet, she sees the enemies turning tail now. It only pisses her off more. With a yell, three shots trail after them: one of them finding their mark in the middle of a trooper's back, but he keeps on running. Spent, she kneels again and gasps for air, frantically looking to Hadrix and Avery in turn. <"Are you both okay? Talk to me.">

shooting them as they fled. They could come back, still on foot. Those vehicles though. One glance down with his H-visor shows molten ruin and enough holes in this fortress to say that some things shouldn't ever come back. The vehicles are the latter. Growling under his breath, the Nautolan closes his full eyelids - something often eschewed for simplie nictation, but... He thinks. He turns his mind elsewhere, and thinks long about his actions. Then he opens the black pools and turns the advanced scope of the fearsome SX-451 to the next vehicle. He isn't likely to get more than one shot, so he picks the location carefully.

One breath, deep and in until his lungs may burst. One breath out until there is an amptiness inside of him screaming to be filled. In that hollow emptiness, he places his anger at the deaths - the assault and loss tonight, both of which were unnecessary - and with a calm, tactical mind, he depresses the trigger. The shot would have been true. Straight to the base of the big gun, but for a bump under the vehicle's track, leaving a massive hole at the base of the weapon instead of through its finer workings. Nothing broken that cannot be prepared. It will return. Inside, the sniper seethes, but he watches the retreat, willing the rifle to charge faster. Maybe he can still get one more hit. Maybe.

Hearing Sumi asking for someone to drive, Terek turns his attention towards the call. He thinks he can do that. He fires up his jetpack, and launches himself up through the air. He actually manages to do a flip as he sails through the air, lining up a shot with one of the raiders as he comes back upright. Taking down his target, Terek immediately lands in the seat of the vehicle, and quickly starts flipping a few switches. Everything soon rumbles to life, perhaps to Sumi's surprise as he gets it going, <"Where to, boss?!">

Sumi makes it to the turret platform and begins to rotate the T&E like wheels to rotate and adjust the windage/elevation. It's going slow, too slow that she hits the quick release on the device and clamps her body against it for leverage. Once she hoisted herself in place, her rocketpack came to life and the artillery cannon rotated a lot faster.

She set it down, walked over and kicked the manual release, adjusting the T&E to the correct orientation. She took a moment to eyeball the shot, squinting..adjusting.. a bit of Tatooine windage.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Her shot makes contact, hooking on and growing taut. The sudden jerk of a sudden snag had her stumble but she slapped the power console to initiate the ion charge. It spread out in a beautiful blue explosion of energy.

<<"To the next unlucky bastard I can point this big kriffing gun at.">> She answers Terek, already making her adjustments.

It was bound to happen sooner or later with the amount of blaster fire being sent their direction. He had just rocketed to Hadrix and sat Valeska down, the big man moving to tend to her wounds, when a burning sensation in the back of his leg announced he was about to lose his footing. And down he goes, falling in a heap while his left hand darts out to clutch at the back of his leg. <"Nnnh... ow."> Avery mutters, rolling over to aim his carbine at those that assaulted them.

He watches as they begin pulling back, eyes narrowing behind the darkened T-Visor that protects his face. <"Screw that."> Avery barks, opening up on the retreating Blackthumb for the damages they caused to everything. Two heated plasma bolts leap from his weapon, one taking down Val's winged target, the other flying wide. With a grunt Avery lowers his weapon and cranes his head up at Valeska. <"Yeah... I'm fine, stings but have had worse."> His sight shifts over to her bandaged chest, an unseen eyebrow lifting. <"How're you?">

It's a route at this point, with the enemy on the run. Hahttavi's still mounted up high on Evie's back, firing away with his Galaar and probably getting low on the rifle's charge. He hasn't been able to do a lot this battle but he's managed to make certain a few of these people won't be coming back to fight again. The desert is hungry for blood and they are feeding it. Only this time, in the hope of establishing a more lasting peace. If only one small bit at a time.

Evie's doing her thing, stomping around in her mega armor. Hahtavi turns his head and survey's the field of battle with the sunrise on the brink. Then he looks back the other way at the much battered old fortress.

What could be next?

Shots going back and forth are sparser, the AA sleds having taken off at full speed to catch up with the one remaining functional quad carrier as they retreat into the night. Leaving trailing bodies in their wake, wreckage and pock marked ground where the skiffs and sail barge lay down their defense screen.

A victory in that the fortress is not a smoking ruin. But much of its walls are smoking and some are ruins. Battered and rent to durasteel flinders in places. The remaining position is hard to call truly fortified now. The wall turrets go silent. But voices still call out - pain for some, trying to find comrades and loved ones more loudly.

Hadrix himself is on his back with his cuisse blasted through and somehow with sand filling it up despite how he was pushed back by the overcharged kick of the cannon he carries like a rifle.

<<"Sumi. Do we press or fallback and regroup?">> his intention is always clear, but his logic has been doing better of late. It may be time to look out for a new place for Concord Dawn's newest outpost. The Fortress at Jate'kar'kyorla may yet become another of the sad sights common to what people call settlements on Mandalore. There's a chance, maybe, that it could be repaired. But it's growing slimmer.

Who would've thought that the fleeing troops would turn around and return fire? 'There's always a volley,' Valeska hears in her head from an older woman: battle-hardened and stern. 'Get the hell out of the way.' Sorry, mom.

Valeska's movements are sluggish; weighted heavily with fatigue and injures. The red bolt appears to be moving in slow motion, teasingly inching across the expanse in the longest milliseconds known to time and space. Hitting the already damaged chestplate, the bolt rips into her; catapuling her backwards. Landing hard on her back, Valeska' skids across the sand a foot or two before coming to a full stop. This time, she stays down: breathing but unmoving.

A body just isn't meant to take g-forces, blaster bolts, bacta, and more blaster bolts in rapid succession. Surely.

'Tempering....' the inner voice is crackling now. The word repeats in an echo until it fades away and Valeska is left staring up at the awful morning sky.

She doesn't even get a chance to answer before a bolt takes Valeska off her feet to carve a rut in the sand. <"Val!"> Avery cries out, rising to his feet to help, when a bolt takes him as well. The slicer grunts and is slammed to the ground, likewise skidding across the ground until he stops with a smoking hole in his back. Avery raises his head with a groan while looking to his wounded companions, desiring to help them as much as he can though he's in dire need himself. He sighs and collapses, helmet planted in the dirt as the forces retreat and regroup.

Zelo folds down the bipod and slings the rifle up over his shoulder as he calmly steps off of the parapet and lets his gravity belt take him to the ground where he can find others to help. This affords him with the view of ruin on the fortress wall that nearly could have been his own. He takes to the ground and looks for someone coordinating within. <"Tell me how I can help."> Moving bodies, stacking barricades, no sleep yet for the Nautolan in the blue beskar.

<<"We regroup in the fortress. Bring all assets back in. -- Terek, take us back to friendly lines.">> Sumi disengages the heavy cannon and powers it down, affording their vehicle more power to pick up their wounded and ride it back to the fort. She takes a spot, standing behind Terek's pilot chair, her hand on the cushion spine watching as he drove.

<"You got it."> Terek replies to Sumi, as he turns the vehicle around and starts bringing it back towards the fortress, <"Maybe call ahead and let them know we're in here so they don't shoot at us. Wonder if they'll let me keep this thing..">

There's a slap for Evie's enormous, oversized shoulder, <<" Thanks for the ride, Evie! Good shooting! ">> Hahtavi releases his maglocks on his boots an climbs on down, dropping the last little distance into the sand. He gets to his feet and starts jogging towards where he sees some of their own people down. Hadrix he sees, and maybe that's Avery, though he can't see Valeska at this angle. While he's got a medpac, it may be more useful if he can help get people up to the Corvette.

What a battle. The plain is a mess, the fortress is a wreck. These stones have seen a lot of bloodshed over the centuries. Maybe just too much.