Log:Mandalorians At The Bridge

Mandalorians At The Bridge

OOC Date: September 21 2020
Location: Dxun - Japrael System
Participants: Sumi Kora, King, Terek Rosol, Kirioth Kora and Hadrix Kora as gm Clan Kora

Dxun - Demon Moon of Onderon - Japrael System - Lesser Lantillian Route

Black River Narrows - slit trenches still show signs of combat, the jungle's ravenous growth does not come here. Short grasses, thin ferns. Held in check by the ridgeline and the looser soil by the riverside.

Sanyassan bodies and Onderonian alike claimed by Dxun, food for predators - leaving the heavy weapon pits on one side, the whole and quarter-ruined repeater bunkers on the other. From the south there is movement, Onderonian beast riders with their champions. Old style brass warhorns to lips signal their coming.

<<"Gripper is seeing a little over a dozen coming with their leader on a Drexl in front. ETA one minute, maybe less. Armored, armed... Orders, Alor'Sumi?">> Hadrix's voice coming over comms from his place in the jungle, watching like some hunting beast in recline.

With a challenge issued by the boasting beast riders, it was hard to ignore an opportunity to remind the leadership and the ancient valiant order that there are things in this jungle to fear; bigger fish (in theory), so to speak. Orienting toward the sound of archaic horns, Sumi is perched in a way to keep from silhouetting herself from the vantage. She makes use of a SX-451 Anti-Materiel sniper rifle, a weapon specifically designed to penetrate heavy plates of armor to harm what was inside; in this case, it was an answer to big beasts with thick hides.

<<"Fight 'em, I guess. They issued the challenge and mark the place where they wish to die. It is a wish I am willing to grant. Does anyone have specific ordnance, do we know anything about their support in the area?">> Sumi is prone on her perch, belly down, legs spread for comfort in maintaining a shooting position comfortably. She uses the weapon's optics for a clear advantage of seeing long distances.

Hanging out with the Mandalorians is a man named King. A be-hatted Morellian type with a pair of big irons on his hips. Under his duster he's wearing a set of plate armor that he doesn't look overly comfortable in, evidenced by the fact that he keeps tugging at the straps to either loosen it or tighten it in various places. "What's an Alor?" King asks, still distracted with his armor. Eyes down and away, he spies something that piques his interest; some big, big tracks that criss-cross the area they're standing in. His eyes lift and. "We're standin' right on a game trail. Waterin' hole's just...a mite bit that way, if I had to wager. Dangerous spot for a throwdown," he says aloud, not directing that particular stream of conciousness at anyone.

Terek has posted himself up in a position that will give him an advantageous shot with his pistol. This'll put him kind of close to the action, but he's sure he'll be able to handle it. For the moment he is crouched down not far from where the beast riders are going to pass through. He wishes he'd remembered to bring some mines or something. Maybe next time he'll think ahead.

<<"I'm in position. I'll go on your signal.">> He reports over comms, reading himself to strike.

Roth's wearing her lighter Doomseeker armor today, opposed to the heavy Dreadfinder. She could move a bit easier in this so it wasn't something she was going to regret, or maybe if she got a hole blown into her chest she would. It's colored slightly different than the Dread, but, still in the white on white with a little grey thrown into things now. It's never been battle tested so this was the big day out for it.

The Arkanian is up high in a tree, crouched on the branch carefully and waiting for the group to get into a position where she could drop down on top of them. Enemy Bowling was one of Roth's favorite pastimes. <<Going to hit them from above.>> she states over the comms.

<<"Onderonian regulars look like they're hanging several klicks behind them. Probably won't be called in if Mos wants to keep face. But you never know.">> Hadrix rumbles from his hide before, <<"Alor means Chief or Boss, Old Warrior.">> snugging to the brush, letting the shadows work for his armor.

The Beast Riders begin to swoop in at the narrows, with the flame haired, bone and leather plate armored leader at their front. Blasters and slug throwers at the ready. Angling for a flyover, they number sixteen in total, fifteen riders on Rupings Onderoinan repto-avians while Thaedon himself is astride a massive Drexl, traditional beasts of the beast riders, a hulking draconian figure among the flyers.

Unfortunately for them the Mandalorians (and one old gunslinger) have the drop on them.

<<"I recommend we set demo charges in our hold of the jungle here. These beasts have the advantage of air, but that will mean little when we are tangled in the jungle. Let them come to where we are after we make some noise, and when they are in range--- Boom. Someone see about finding us a place to hold up.. going toe-to-toe with these guys will not be possible.">> Sumi says, angling her visored 'gaze' back from her optics to glance up toward the sky. They'd need to thin the heard and give them a reason to attack. Sumi was about to.

Sighting in through her scope, Sumi aligned a shot with Thaedon Mos' Drexl. Securing a firm shooting position, she opened fire aiming the shot center torso. Its effect followed the discharge of the massive rifle, punching into the animal's hide, but Sumi didn't have the follow through needed to see the effect on target.

<<"Fae, you're up. Get charges set up down there.">>

Sliding a mostly-wooden rifle from his shoulder, King nuzzles the thing in against his bicep and slides the bolt back. An inventory is taken and the man sniffs sharply, using his free hand to tip the brim of his hat back so he can get a clearer view of what's to come. "Chief or boss. Huh. Good on you, Little Sumi," King says with a smirk, locking the bolt of his rifle back into place. Noting the other Morellian's choice of target, King swings his 6-2aug2 slugthrower up and zeroes in on the terrifying beast. A trigger pull sends a mean hunk of lead into the Drexl and King racks the bolt back and forth, slotting in another slug. His second shot misses and he 'hrmmm's softly.

Terek is not having any luck with his weapon as of late. His first shot sails wide by a large margin. He smacks the weapon against his helmet and then fires a second shot, which comes way closer, but still doesn't strike home, "Oh come on!" He yells at nobody in particular. He really needs to sit down and figure out why this thing has been acting up. Or perhaps throw it back into the Bounty Hunter Guild's armory and get a new one.

But there will be time enough to worry about that later, because right now he has to worry about the fact that he's given away his position to his targets, and they'll no doubt be gunning for him.

Roth was waiting and statue like. A bit like a big alabaster gargoyle, but, she gets the chance to move soon enough. She engages the rockets and drops down with a force on top of the riders. There's the flash of Beskad and then the sound of a whir as the swords come out and she starts slashing and stabbing at folks. It's a bad time to be a Beast Rider really as she misses with the first swing, but she connects with the second and third strikes, "Someone issued a challenge?" she asks no one in particular.

<<"First charges set, mistress.">> Fae's voice lilts over the comms as the Hapan moves, hunkered low along the game trail, moving from shadow to shadow - low-light goggles down to keep the dim of the jungle from paining her natural night-blindness.

Thaedon's feet hook into the stirrups of his saddle as the massive beast rears up, shrieking and hissing and the Beast Master is found to be doing all he can to keep the animal under control from the wounds struck against it. Slugs and blaster bolts sent to where shots had been fired from - with either the report of heavy slugs or the scream of blaster fire - intended to flush out or kill.

Others try to go for the dervish among them - the flying mandalorian among them a sudden, and distinct, priority.

Sumi makes an adjustment and quietly takes aim once again. Once her shot was aligned, she releases another powerful discharge to plant a heavy anti-materiel bolt into the Drexl's side once again. Unfazed by the sounds it makes or its descent, Sumi notes that the time to begin moving back into the jungle to draw out the bulk of the Onderon forces was drawing near. Being a good judge of /when/ to do this was not Sumi's strong point however, and she elected to stay in place for now, tracking the leader's descent toward the ground.

<<"Understood, Fae. Set up the next set of demolition. Start looking for positions to take in the jungle for when we advance in that direction to draw them after us.">>

A blaster bolt squeals towards King and, before he can do anything about it, it smacks into his torso plate. The durasteel does its work and keeps the gunslinger on his feet, even if that particular spot is going to need looking at later. The rifle is prepped again and he fires back at the rider who tried to do him in. The slug zips through the air and makes contact with his target's arm, tearing a nasty hole in it. King's second shot goes wide.

Terek's weapon fires rapidly, sending two quick bolts out into the group of beast riders, but it looks like none of them hit home. He ducks back behind cover, but not before he takes a shot to the torso for his trouble. He rubs the spot where the armor took the hit, it's a bad bruise but he's had way worse. At least it wasn't to the head this time.

He considers his options, he has a couple of other weapons with him, probably not as effective as his modded pistol, but considering the sights may have gotten knocked off center during his last fight, perhaps one of the other guns would have better luck. First he needs to get ready to evade the next volley from the attacking beast riders.

Roth is suddenly the target of a lot of angry folks. "Mission accomplished." she mutters to herself. Then there's the inevitable blasting of her armor and it was NEW. Welp, at least she was alive at the end of things. She has scorch marks and there will be bruising and blood, but, that's another day for her. "Ow." she whispers to one of them, then she swings the swords again, going for slicing and dicing as opposed to anything beautiful in the moment. She just needed to kill these guys faster than they could shoot at her or her fellow clan members or the Cowboy.

<<"The Al'Verde is with me, mistress.">> stated just before the comet of his modified rifle wilts leaves with the passing heat and flash-boils the moisture of a rider's chest cavity, bursting him in a red cloud and sending limbs flying. <<"Master King's trail markings are very correct, I've found a side trail. Charges are being placed.">>

His mount may be able to control it's fall - Thaeden cannot keep up with the turning or bucking of the wounded beast and the next he can be spotted is as he tumbles for the ground, hitting in the river sand with a grunt, wind knocked from him.

<<"You can feign your withdrawal Alor'Sumi.">>

A good idea likely - judging by the level of weaponsfire going out, and the absolute virulence of it. The beast riders and the Mandalorians - old enemies in contest again - and showing one another why they were such strong rivals centuries ago.

Sumi is taking a lot of incoming fire, and the ground around her perch is made chaotic by the sudden concussive impacts of slugrounds/bolts/whatever passed for projectiles used by their opponents. The inspiration to move was acquired and NOW seemed a good time. Sumi pulls back from her ledge and takes hold of her rifle, detaching the barrel and buttstock assembly. Both portions are tucked into her bag, and the receiver (the largest part of the rifle) is slung over her shoulder.

Sumi replaces her rifle with.. another rifle. The HFE variant of consolidated A280, its buttstock collapsed, and after-market pieces attached to make it more manageable a weapon on the fly. She starts to make her way down, clearly 'special' in her attempts, and by special? Slow. She's winded and weighted down, a culmination of poor planning on her part. This is where a jetpack would have been handy, but damned if she didn't need a backpack more for the long-gun.

<"God-damn beasts and soldiers being in shape.."> Grumbling as she hop-skips down the side of the hill, half sliding, half needing an oxygen machine to keep from wheezing.

With blaster bolts kicking up the dirt around him, King maintains his march towards the enemy line, his slugthrower still pressed against his shoulder. Both of his shots fail to find their marks and the small metal clip ejects from the belly of his slugthrower with a loud *CLANG*. His ammo spent, he tosses the rifle aside and reaches down to pluck up the metal knuckles that are strapped to the holsters of his Enforcers. Knuckles be-metalled, he begins his run towards the beast riders, duster whipping up behind him.

Terek feels the stinging heat as one of the slug throwers manages to find a gap in the armor right in his left knee. He cries out in pain for a moment, trying not to allow himself to scream in pain too much. But it hurts like hell, and he's going to need to get the hell out of there. He heads for the jungle, limp-running through the pain and trying to just get to safety first. Then he can pass out for a while and then get back to the Mando rally point.

Welp, today was the day! Roth could feel that she was going to be taking a bacta nap, but, that was a risk she took. And she'd not had one in awhile. The Arkanian takes the flurry of blaster bolts and there's a warning system that she vaguely hears before she loses consciousness and starts to plummet to the ground. There is a thud heard and a gently sprinkling of dirt as armor and body crunch into the ground. But one thing it does help to do is to jolt the woman into an awakened state of sorts.

Roth leaves the vibroblade behind as she can buy another. She grips the beskad tightly in her hand, that's attached to the arm that doesn't feel dislocated at least. She then struggles to start getting to her feet, trying to get herself at least away from trampling range. She catches sight of King running towards the riders with just his fist and she wonders if she's actually died. Is this hell? Where is the handbasket?

<<"Crazy kriffing Morellians...">> Hadrix rumbles as he lifts from his rifle and his hand goes to his thigh holster, pulling out an antiquated sort of weapon. Not to the degree of King's museum pieces, but old none-the-less. <<"Alor'Sumi, he's charging...">> flipping the safety and drawing the slide to chamber a round with a distinctive click while he stands in the foliage.

The riders? They haul back on their mounts as the Mandalorians fall back to the forest and the man in the duster charges them. Confusion reigns - but their leader stands and cants his head at the sight of the challenger.

A grin and his steps carrying him towards the ancient. Challenge answered and the riders follow their old laws and ways - looking for targets, ignoring the white clad sword wielder were she lays below them. Thaedon Mos, clad as a barbarian king goes forth, intent to not only put his fist into the face of his enemy, but even throw him over his shoulder like a tuber sack.

Sumi takes a knee near Roth, huffing and puffing. The weight of her long rifle was heavy on her shoulders, but now she had to figure out how to transfer a Mando to her shoulders and lug her. <"Hey ..Roth.."> Sumi says both casually.. and winded; casually winded. She props her A280 into a branch, takes aim /back/ toward their opponent and sights in Thaedon, not realizing he's anyone other than encroaching personnel.

Taking a moment to steady her breathing, sweat beading her face, she fires a single bolt that lances past the crazed cowboy and plants firmly into Thaedon's chest. The impact is so harsh and powerful, an exit wound is conceived from his back in the form of a pink mist of pulverized blood, the bolt traveling through him, and beyond. <"That guy.. should've stayed... home.."> Sumi says, chuckling. She lowers her weapon and looks to Roth. <"Let's get you going, too.."> True to her creed, Sumi offers the downed Mando a hand. She fell, and it was time to pull her back up.

Charging straight towards Thaedon, King has the bad luck of catching one of the barbarian's fists right across the cheek. That's gonna be a contusion, at least. Then there's another one headed towards his chest. And that's a broken rib.

"Wooo-eee, got some fight in you boy," King says as he stumbles back in the mud, ending up on his ass. The gunslinger spits out some blood onto the ground, that contusion pairing nicely with a busted lip. Wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his duster, King hauls himself back up and grapples at Thaedon, each of them maintaining firm holds on the others biceps. A TEST OF STRENGTH.

And then there's a blaster report and the light leaves the poor man's eyes, leading King to shove his lifeless body down and look off in the direction of the attacker. Oh, it's Sumi. For her action, she gets a wink, a hat tip, and a grin. In that order.

With their king dead, and the only King that matters left standing, the Morellian's be-knuckled hands drop to the grips of his Enforcers, where they wait.

Roth is out of sorts for the moment, but, she's coherent enough that she sees Sumi and there's a nod to her as she reaches out a gloved hand to take hers, "Thanks." she grunts out as she gets to her legs, which feel a bit like jello given everything crashed into the ground. Adrenaline was probably the only thing keeping her up at the moment. She gives a look out at the others again as she draws the Thunderer, "If you could hit something today I would greatly appreciate it." she murmurs to the gun as she tries to aim it. This was going to be a bad idea. Especially since she wasn't really good to continue with combat. "Should we grab that crazy man before we back up?" she asks the Alor.

Their lord destroyed, a sack of wet meat in the dirt, steaming and twitching as he blinks his last and makes a choked sound before he finally lay still. A member of a dying breed now fewer for his falling.

The others of his entourage still in place calling out in shock, horror and pain as they take aim - then the whip-crack of slug-fire erupts from the jungle and Hadrix is coming to provide cover. Gunsmoke rising as two fall from their mounts and one brings his hand to his head where the round burned skin and pulled hair - but nothing else.

Even as a pair make to flee the remaining open fire again, attempting to gun down those Mandalorians still standing them... and one crazy in a fine hat and a worn duster. A pair look at one another, gray faced; what the hell had Mos gotten them into besides the man's grave?

They look to their fleeing compatriots, those on the ground - the mount reptoavians wheeling in panic, some circling over their fallen, some simply winging away. The Drexl, though, lays in the mud, moaning and dying.

<"If he can make it to us, that would be preferred--"> Sumi is caught square in the chest by a slug, carrying her back off her feet to land on her big ass. <"Ooof!"> It takes Sumi a moment to recover, her wind having left her lungs and she wheezed. When she had her wits about her again, she takes another shot. The red lance produced by her weapon collides with a flying beast-rider, piercing their body and bringing them out of the sky to crash land in the jungle. She has nothing to say in regard to their passing, partly in due to taking a hit that hurt like rekk.

That hat tip cost King a shot in the leg, but that's not even the worst of it. It singed his duster, too! That duster is literally older than everyone here and its being damaged bring a stern frown to the bloodied Morellian's face. He may be all tore up and standing by spite alone, but King is a Morellian Enforcer through and through, and Morellian Enforcers lay down the law. Being that there's no Commonwealth, it's up to King to decide just what that law is. A hand on his wound, his other produces one of his chromium-plated Enforcers and clicks the hammer back in a smooth motion that's been practiced and perfected for over a century now. The warrior that attacked him is aimed at and the trigger is pulled, producing a sound akin to old-timey cannon fire. Three times in quick succession the battlefield is filled with a roaring racket, but King's too far gone to be much use to anyone at present who requires his legendary marksmanship.

Roth is keeping steady, but, the sudden sight of Sumi getting shot makes her a bit uneasy, "Alright. We'll let them come to us." she states to that as she reaches out to help steady the Alor. She then lifts the Thunderer and fires at one of the riders. And she is just as surprised as anyone else when it hits. Though there is the realization that it's on stun moments after that and she switches it over. "Gods." she grunts out as she realizes she's probably going to get shot again.

Some people cling to bravery for odd reasons. Vengeance. Misguided senses of honor. Clan Kora didn't believe in heroes, not like these draconian riding lunatics seemed to. Their master dead, their beasts to join the populace (or food source) of Dxun. Four in number, diminished by blaster and pistol fire.

Hadrix's far less impressive than King's own - while his reports are heavy reports of high caliber they lack the thunder of the Gunslinger's. They can't seem to deter their enemies though. Not with Sumi, Hadrix's or even Roth's sudden and unexpected accuracy from death's door. The one she'd blasted out of the saddle hitting the ground in a crumpled heap.

They fire, several shots bouncing off of Hadrix's armor as he leaps on a burst of flaming jets to interpose himself between enemy and aged fighter. Sparks exploding off his cuisse, stopping a legs-shot meant for the elder.

A fourth shot rings out, aimed for Alor'Kora, trying to stop the riflewoman who had so thoroughly crushed another. Metal sings and a slug meant to crush bones and pulp organs flattens against her cuirass, right over her heart.

Sumi raises back up to her knee as dirt pocks up beside her from another slug miss. Annoyed, breathing hard, and sweating (such sweat), Sumi pushes back to her feet and steadies thanks to Roth's help. <<"Alright, let's push back this way. If they follow us into the jungle, they'll regret that too. Fae, light up your IFF, we're coming to you.">> Sumi props her rifle up again and fires, this time in the general direction of action, missing valiantly. <"Ready, Roth?">

Gripping Hadrix's shoulder with his hand, King steadies himself and says, "Ain't gotta...go through all that trouble, Hadrix. I'll be back...back in fightin' shape by tomorrow." He'd chuckle, but he's got a broken rib, so it only comes out as a pained wheeze.

Using the big Mandalorian as cover, King lifts that smokewagon again and fires up towards the beast. Luckily for them, however, the results are the same. "Two shots left. If I bite the dirt, don't leave my guns. Or my hat."

Roth shoots, but, the bolt goes wide and there's a shooting pain that races down her arm and she holsters the gun and she looks to see if Hadrix and the cowboy hat wearing man are alright. She's sure she's seen that face before. Or well...in a club. She turns to Sumi and there's a nod, "Yeah, might chuck my helmet off to throw up on the way to the ship, but, don't mind me." she states as she tries to help with getting people up and going the way of Sumi.

<<"Today is a good day for someone else to die, old warrior.">> Hadrix's voice carries a laugh as he continues to fire as well, whip crack reports as the slide goes back and empty cartridges are expelled.

Sumi's shot and King's as well garner attention. To how few of them remain. Their leader dead, face in the dirt. There isn't much for them now - but to make a radio report as their beasts wheel and turn to flee, up and away.

<<"Mistress - Gripper is telling me radio signals are going out to the Onderonian regulars. She is suggesting tactical withdrawal for now. I think Iziz is ignoring Beat Master honor requirements and are going to send a second wave.">> a momentary pause before the Hapan woman starts again.

<<"I have some charges at the narrows, I can set them off when we're clear, damage the passing that they wish if you choose.">>