Log:Tatooine: Ripples in the Sand, Part 1
A transport mission goes awry, leaving our intrepid heroes in quite a pickle.
OOC Date: May 29, 2022
Location: Tatooine
Participants: Fshmaw, Jallo Dara, Nerys Greystorm, Uutkit as GM
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
The Northern Gate of Mos Eisley starport is where the routine transport from Mos Eisley to the Hutt's Palace begins. The skiff itself is.. a little worse for wear, having made this trip a hundred million times in its lifetime already, both the pilot and the skiff itself are well versed with the journey. Most of the cargo today is just that, cargo, supplies of food and other neccessities to help keep the Hutt and his retinue happy! The Weequay-pilot looks at the 'guests' with suspicion, "Just don't get in the way, and don't touch anything." he orders gruffly, "There's valuable cargo today and I don't want its loss coming out of my pay.. understand?" Luckily, they will be making the journey in daylight.
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw *handsups,* indicating 'sudden changes in direction or velocity, not my fault!' nor had he asked the towering translator he's brought to do any driving yet. "tupaetave rhu, tupaetave oghejata." he verifies, merely watching the dunes for signs of mischief or ill-intent... [Language: aqualish]
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)] J9 Worker Drone - 24633 repeats after Fshmaw, "Your cargo, your paycheck."
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
Nerys, looking over from where she was waiting between the cartons and crates of supplies, gave the pilot a flat look as he gave them their marching orders. "I have no intention of putting your cargo in jeopardy. I'm here purely for the sightseeing potential." Was she though? Nerys leaned over towards the Aqualish, lowering her voice, "I heard there's a krayt dragon around. And where there's krayt dragons, there are krayt dragon pearls." Ah, space raiders.
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
The Pilot looks non-plussed. "Just... get on, hang on.. and sit down... it gets a little bumpy out there sometimes, especially when it's hot. Might even see some dust devils..." he shakes his head, climbing onto the skiff. The rugged Weequay presses the button to get the engine started, the Skiff slowly moving to a hover as it rises up. It's a fairly beefy-sized skiff, twenty feet long or so and ten feet wide, specializing in cargo. Crew of one.. plus guests, "And, I almost forgot, payment for the ride comes by being a Guard, for the day." he says with a toothy grin.
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw settles in, no stranger to travel-via-skiff, although he does take pains to position himself and his valet such that neither will go over a rail by surprise? Whether that means a seatbelt or a strategic hooking of a boot on something sturdy, well. 'Guard' means 'watch,' not 'taken by surprise, eat shavit directly into the waiting sarlaac.' As an example.
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
"So, the usual payment." Nerys, who was seated not far from Fshmaw, moved so that she could get a good view of the skiff opposite him. if they were intended to be guards, best to have eyes on as many vectors as possible. "So, what sort of interference are you expecting? Besides random poorly managed swoop gangs?" Anyone who had been around the planet had heard about the increasing swoop gang problem, and how viciously it was being put down.
[ Jallo Dara (Jallo)]
Jallo's here took forever to get settled and he looks over the cargo, "No desire to mess with your cargo." At the payment the Mando chuckles a bit and nods, "That's a fair payment for the trip." He looks over the skiff a bit, "And the swoop gangs have become an enjoyable past time of disrupting their activities. Almost hope there's some more."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
The Weequay pilot chuckles, "Good." he says, noting as Fshmaw gets himself settled properly. Nerys gets a narrow look, the pilot looking forward to watch where he is going as he guns the engine. "Swoop gangs mostly... they've gotten desperate.. and with Borgol's work around here, they aren't even afraid of attacking his cargo.. which means.. us.." The Pilot's eyes narrow as he scans the dune seas ahead, "Least it'll be a ride in the open.. no canyons on this route..." he says. The Dunes whip past the skiff as it speeds along, leaving a bit of a dust trail as the skiff moves away from Mos Eisley and northwest, banking around a series of taller dunes before heading out straight west... towards the Hutt's Palace, a good six or eight hour journey, hope everyone brought sunscreen!
It's looking to be a long, boring trip.
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw's droid, loved or merely 'tolerated,' at least came prepared? It removes and unfurls a parasol big enough to shade the whole party. Foosh squints skeptically at the horizon, announcing: "rhu etaetutov kefea," before indicating the positions on everyone's digital assistants... [Language: aqualish]
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)] J9 Worker Drone - 24633 repeats after Fshmaw, "We've got company,"
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
Nerys, glancing at the edge of town as they made their way towards the desert, made a fist, pointing at a child she could see in the distance, "Looks like we just passed a spotter. I'll handle payback for that one when we get back." She reached for her blaster, drawing it, as she looked in the direction of two dustclouds, likely the same that Fshmaw indicated, "Two speeders, that I can make out, on a parallel course. I imagine they're going to try to converge and hem us in."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
Fshmaw and Nerys both easily spot the incoming gangsters. That's the problem with routines, they are easily intercepted. The Weequay Pilot glances over his shoulder at the spotters, "Dammit, again? I thought I paid them off enough to leave us alone.. guess they figure they can take the money AND the cargo.." His hands are already manipulating the controls, turning the Skiff slightly to the left, trying to keep the distance. "They'll catch us in no time..." he murmurs.
And indeed he is correct! The two swoops... two? Upon closer inspection, a THIRD swoop can be seen pulling out from behind one of the dustclouds. The three raiders close the distance with remarkable speed, drawing in so close that the first raider dares to draw his blaster pistol. It's hard to tell what sort of species they are, from this distance, and by their attire. Keeping a hand on one grip, the swooper fires off a round, the red blaster bolt lancing out towards the skiff, hitting nothing but air! The distance is around one hundred meters by now.
[ Jallo Dara (Jallo)]
Jallo sighs a bit as he unholsters and yanks the quick sling off to sling it and then pulls the stock of the E-14 out bringing the short barrel carbine up as he 'watches' for any of the speeders to be showing hostile intent before the visor of his helmet faces the pilot, "How dead do you desire them to be?"
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw sighs, a great *huff* past those tusks, and lowers his shoulders in preparedness. A moment, a gathering of will, and he fires twice. *fzzt-fzzt!*
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
"Cover on this side!" Nerys, who had moved up to a position where she could brace herself against the side of the swoop, picked the closest swoop to her side. There were three swoops and three 'guards' This was almost a fair fight. For the raiders. The darkened barrel and grip of the LL-30 in Nerys' hand almost seemed to blend into the glove of her armor, until the weapon looked as through it were her hand, and not just an extension of it. Three bolts fired from the gun, that oddly eerie almost humans cream of the bolts rising above the whine of the swoop's engines, "You trusted them not to try to take the money and the cargo?" Jallo's question, "Well, dead enough that we can stamp on their corpses."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
The Swoop Gang CLEARLY has bitten off far more than they could chew! That first shot, glancing wide, was met by a proverbial volley of return fire! Fshmaw's shots pepper the first Swoop rider, who veers left and right to dodge the next flurry. The rider to his left is not so lucky. Nerys's shots riddle him with hits, the swoop twisting to the side as the rider slumps, mortally wounded. The stricken Swoop soon churns into the desert floor, skipping a few hundred meters before crashing into a cloud of sand and metal, the wreck to be left to the Jawas.
The two remaining Swoop riders press in again, each Rider taking a flank, so as to try to divide the return-fire from the trio of Guards. Each rider aims just infront of the Skiff, letting loose a string of shots that hit all along the sides of the Skiff, ripping into cargo containers and skiff alike. The Skiff itself lurches slightly, the pilot continuing to move the Skiff in a gentle turn to try to throw the attackers whilst provide a steady-ish platform for the Guards' aim.
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw barks to his valet, at a glance: "oomapijyf, sehef!" He throws his arms up at return-fire, as if his elbows could deflect blasters? Instead he's scanning for the nearest standing threat, pistol at the ready! [Language: aqualish]
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)] J9 Worker Drone - 24633 repeats after Fshmaw, "You, drive!"
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)] "Lost our driver!" Nerys, who did not put away her weapon, began to scurry her way over towards the driver's seat, looking briefly at Fshmaw as he bellowed orders. "Are you mad? That droid will kill us all!" Once she got to the front, it was not so far, she pushed the driver, who looked entirely unconscious, but with Weequay, how did one tell?, am I right?, over to the passenger side, in an attempt to get into the driver's seat herself.
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
The Swoop riders continue to blast away at the Skiff, their shots landing all over the place as they are not exactly the BEST shots in the world.. let alone firing at top speed! However, some of their blasts strike the poor Driver, the Weequay slumping to the front, jamming the controls before Nerys successfully pushes him aside and regains control of the Skiff. It's lucky she did, her quick reactions saved the brunt of the Skiff, the front-left side of the Skiff crumpling from the impact as the whole Skiff SHUDDERS from that glancing blow. It throws everyone asunder, one of the engines coughing and sputtering as it powers down, leaving just one engine left.
With speed much reduced, the last two Swoop Riders turn about, lining up on the stricken Skiff, trying to close in for the kill! Their shots ricochet all across the Dunes as they tear in, blasters blazing.
[ Jallo Dara (Jallo)]
Jallo glances over towards where the pilot of the skiff used to be before his attention returns to the speeders, "Dead it is." He starts to track it with his helmet and then a low chuckle comes from his helmet as a JT-12 Rocket launches from his jetpack before exploding one of the swoops into little pieces before he cranks up the speaker a bit, "Dead like that?" He starts to track the other one and points at it, calling out as loudly as he can, "You're next little one. It's never too late to turn around and tuck your tail between your legs!"
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw juggles Nerys' demands and his orders to the 'droid, although 'Nerys is the more able pilot, she wins?' is probably the correct solution! The J9 goes scurrying after the umbrella, rolling this-and-thataway over the deck, as Fsh returns fire! *BLAM! BLAM!*
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
Now that she was actually IN the driver's seat and not doing her impression of trying to drive face down with one hand on the accelerator and one hand on the controls, Nerys managed to right the swoop, getting it back on a decent, and evasive course, avoiding a second collision while not yawing so widely that shots could not be fired by Fsh and Jallo. "Dead like that!" This...this was exactly why Nerys, once upon a time, had spent to much time with the Mandalorians that she had been called mandalorian save for the armor. She still had not released her weapon, but, for now, her focus was on keeping them going and accessing the damage to that one engine.
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
One Swoop Rider meets an untimely end, exploding into a million pieces as Jallo's rocket slams into his swoop.
Fshmaw's rider takes a hit to the shoulder, swerving to the side. "I'm out!" he calls, the lone survivor... his partners lying in pieces across the Dune sea. The Swoop rider guns his engines as he disengages, fleeing back to the north and east, back to Mos Eisley and safety!
Nerys manages to keep the craft going forward, nursing it along on one engine until there is a nice level spot to park and assess the damage...
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw, plenty good for firing a pistol into a crowd of rowdy bikers, probably drips walrus-grease into the engines in the aftermath. Their foes may be dead or driven off, but he beckons the J9 over to shade him with the remains of the parasol, or just to fan him.
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
Nerys, bringing the speeder to a halt, looked back at the team. "Let me see what we can do with this engine. More your area than mine, Jallo. And I should see about keeping this weequay alive." Have medpac will travel. But not right now. Sorry, Weequay. "Looks like we've lost the engine, but we might be able to get it going if we can cool it down. But we've also lost our beacon and compass, so we'll have to do this by dead reckoning." Why did Nerys sound excited about this?
[ Jallo Dara (Jallo)]
Jallo offers a final wave towards the fleeing swoop gangster before he turns his attention towards the skiff, "Well engine's too hot for me to touch bein overheated and all. Compass looks damaged and the homing beacons are out." He 'looks' up at the sun because he doesn't actually see the same as everybody else, "We'll need to find some cover and keep cool I suppose. No clue how though."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
Poor, poor Fshmaw. The heat doesn't do him very much good, but at least he is in the shade, which helps to stave off the worst effects of the heat. Nerys is correct in all her assessments, as is Jallo. Though it's Jallo who can get the engines repaired, eventually. Either way, the hours tick by as the group gets settled under the shade of the Skiff. The sun begins to set, gently dipping beneath the dunes to turn the desert from brightness to darkness. As is the case with all deserts, the stars soon come out in all their glory! Without any lights from the cities or towns, it's easy for Nerys to pick out the stars she needs to get a rough estimate of where they are.. and where they need to go. But without a compass, it will still be difficult. Water is becoming a problem though, since there isn't any.
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw keeps to the shade and tries to minimize movement and exertion, saving water until it's perilously necessary. As an amphibian he is, it's possible, uniquely handicapped outside urban Tatooine, with its jealously-guarded supply of fluids and electrolytes.
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
"Come on, Fsh, Jallo it'll just be a little while longer." Nerys, who had retrieved her always present supplies of water (not much but what explorer worth her salt went without at least a canteen?) from her backpack of holding, had gone without, offering what she had to Jallo and Fshmaw so that they could survive the last of the heat of the day. Was it taxing on her system? Certainly, but, well, it helped to be a droid who didn't actually need to eat or drink. She could manage longer than true organics. "Alright, let me get a reckoning and we'll soon be on our way." Once the speeder was as repaired as it was likely to be, Nerys began the journey, keeping her eyes as much on the skies as she did on the sand ahead. "No point in going back. The light from the city will kill the stars. It's the Palace for us. Just rest as best you can."
[ Jallo Dara (Jallo)]
Jallo's.... Not handling this heat well which is very sad for a Mandalorian however he was a mechanic on a ship his whole life there's no desert that he had to deal with there! After he finally finishes the repairs on the ship he just shakes his head a bit, "Sorry head's swimming I'm not feeling so good not sure I'll be of much help now."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
Fshmaw and Jallo soon become casualties, in a sense. They're still very much alive but, weakened. Nerys's offer of water certainly helps to keep them alive during the trip. The sun beats down relentlessly either way, the shade of the parasol and whatever can be rigged up does keep the worst of the heat away. Nerys, ever the survival expert, is aware that things aren't looking terribly good for her fellows, and it is better to rest during the day and travel only at night. This both avoids the heat of the day, and allows the group to travel at night with proper navigation! All Nerys has to do is setup camp during the day, and travel at night with her fellows!
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)]
Fshmaw dictates his will to, well, no-one in particular. "iekoove kooph-- ghevaethie tearh adorh-- aatyn adorh heazem if ha. thaa if isighogood fadewaetoo raaneghearh rhithoh if-- jaewathef--" [Language: aqualish]
[ Fshmaw (Fsh)] J9 Worker Drone - 24633 repeats after Fshmaw, "Be sure-- to cremate me-- atop my property and wealth. In full view of jealous family and-- neighbors--"
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
Nerys, leaving the two plus weequay to rest and conserve their energy during the heat of the day, had made a few treks to and fro from the wrecked swoops and the speeder, trying to build some reflectors to try to keep the sun off, whatever was needed to keep them cool. Minor adjustments were made to her armor to make the environmental controls last as long as possible, and the medpac was put to use to help apply what protectant she could make to save their skin. Anything she could salvage that would fit in the speeder was tucked in between bodies and crates, using them to help support the makeshift heat reflectors and shading. Should they pass any scrap on the way, she picked that up as well. "You're not going to die, Fsh. That would make me look bad."
[ Jallo Dara (Jallo)]
Jallo just adjusts his jetpack so that he can use it for a pillow tries to hide under the shade of the skiff as much as possible and just... lays there, "Of all the ways to go out it's going to be cooked inside my armor."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
Neither Fshmaw, nor Jallo, are pretty enough to die! Nerys makes sure of that! Her excellent camp-building skills, rationing of resources and all other efforts make sure all three of her compatriots survive. Even the Weequay, who is still more or less down for the count, with a shot to the shoulder. It's a long, hot day though. The wind sweeps across the dunes, scouring any exposed surface it finds, flesh or metal.
That sun is relentless as well, beating down for hour after hour. Luckily, Nerys has provided them with plenty of shade, keeping out the worst of the sun's rays. The light glints off those reflectors, and any exposed metal really, like a beacon in the wastes.
And then there is a voice from nearby, "ivu rhaefer." it calls in a raspy roar. [Language: Tusken]
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
"Keep down." The command came as soon as the sound of a tusken in their area came across the relative silence of the desert. Nerys, who had long since put away her weapon, moved to stand at the head of the speeder, so that she was, hopefully, the center of attention. While she did not speak that language, she chose one she hoped they might understand. After all, both Jawas and Tuskens were creatures of the desert. "We are not here to invade your territory. We are transporters, and we are trying to reach safety after being attacked in the desert. We want no fight with you and will offer no disrepect to your land or your tribe. We only wish to move on in peace." [Language: Jawa_Trade]
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
J9 Worker Drone - 24633 repeats after Nerys Greystorm, "Keep down. We are not here to invade your territory. We are transporters, and we are trying to reach safety after being attacked in the desert. We want no fight with you and will offer no disrepect to your land or your tribe. We only wish to move on in peace."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
As Nerys steps out to speak with their visitors, she is met with not one... but several Sandpeople. The lead Raider, a head or two taller than the rest, regards Nerys cooly, his visored face masking his features completely. "oomapijyf are on fajyte aekesethe, and oomapijyf will ivu atyfoo us, uhefevus oorhih." His language is grating, one hand gesturing up and to the sides, speaking in sign as well as words.
Two of the Raiders behind their leader step forward, lengths of rope hanging from their hands. "ghevaethie oon if fethijad have vefy thaa you, hi for a tagose fewerhyf." His voice doesn't lose pitch as he gives his decree, the Tuskens stepping forward to try to bind the hands of Nerys. Another pair of Tusken raiders move for the injured Fshmaw and Jallo, stooping to administer a local remedy to their skins, helping to beat the heat, whilst offering each a black melon, the smelly.. foul tasting water that Sand people consume as a staple. [Language: Tusken]
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
Nerys, well, she was wearing her helmet, so what her expression was was not clear, but she listened, trying to understand as best she could, looking back. She made no more to draw a weapon, nor to attack any of the tuskens. When she saw that they were tending to the two, well, there was very little that she could do, now, to save them. She would simply have to bide her time. She did motion to the speeder, "If that can be brought as well, the supplies are useful and necessary." And then she stepped forward, offering her hands to be bound. "I offer myself in good faith for their safety." [Language: Jawa_Trade]
[ Nerys Greystorm (Nerys)]
J9 Worker Drone - 24633 repeats after Nerys Greystorm, "If that can be brought as well, the supplies are useful and necessary. I offer myself in good faith for their safety."
[ Uutkit (Uut)]
The Tuskens say nothing as they bind Nerys, as she is the only one seemingly capable of resisting. Jallo and Fshmaw are helped to the skiff, where a small shelter is crafted for them to lie under. Several Banthas are brought forward, one being used to tow the Skiff and drag the speeders, keeping them for trade, no doubt! Poor Nerys is, unfortunately, made to walk behind one of the Banthas, with a Tusken dragging her along with a rope. The Raiders are overall not rough, nor are they overly polite, the off-worlders evidently considered somewhat valuable.
The group are carried back to the Tusken Raider's camp, a series of small huts and shelters, complete with a small corral for their banthas. The Skiff, Speeders and other supplies are set aside, with a wide array of other bits of junk, old engines, droids, rusted bits of machinery. Not very useful to anyone, right?
The group are taken to one of the tents, each bound and staked to the ground to await whatever comes for them.
