Log:Thyferran Swoop Circuit

Underground Swoop Circuit Thyferra

OOC Date: May 1, 2022
Location: Thyferra
Participants: Amallia Madine as GM, Jax Greystorm as DM, Tovani Enno, Fjord Alden, Khalim, Colo Nell, Zhavi, Zavr Drick, Hadrix Kora, Valeska Kora, Vhe Tenara, Bizz Blipptettjupp, Caius Sentari, Evie Kora, Vega, Karas Darkwing

RP Rating and Summary

Rating: PG-13 Summary: Things are heating up on Thyferra, but there's nothing quite as white hot as ILLEGAL SWOOP RACES! Oh yeah, baby. Oh, but some other stuff goes down too.

Log

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Do you want to learn a thing or two about heat?

Engines cause heat. Repulsorlifts that whine and thrum, pushing matter against matter so that speederbikes and swoops bounce along the ground like bullet trains. Engineers design everything around heat, because heat is chaos. Entropy and disorder. Heat is what makes chemicals bounce against DNA, warping their structure and creating new species. And the one thing about the planet Thyferra?

That scorching, oppressive heat.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Ladies, gentlemen, and all of the delicious creatures in between," comes the sound of a woman's voice. Her face is obscured by shadows on the broadcast. A gimmick, perhaps, with the intention of underscoring just how illegal and dangerous this particular race is. An hour ago, this abandoned street was just a war-torn stretch of land that had been long abandoned by the citizens of Thyferra. Fallen buildings litter the street with rubble -- wreckage of a once beautiful, historic city center. Now? This place is alive. Like locusts, the Underground Swoop Circuit staff descended on the space, popping up bleachers and broadcast booths. Pretty things in little clothing weave through a crowd that's equal parts nervous and excited. Palpable tension hangs in the humid air.

In the distance, massive Galactic Communication Satellites (GCS) loom foreboding, casting tall shadows that provide some respite from that stifling heat.

"Thank you for joining me on the first ever underground swoop race! This high stakes, dangerous course will push our riders to their very limits and, should they fail, well. Everyone loves a bit of bloodsport," she says.

Up above, a squadron of Sith-hired mercenary fighters fly in formation towards a city block miles in the distance. The profile silhouette of the woman on the holoprojectors shifts as she laughs. Four arms clasp into two fists in front of her chest. "Mmmmmhhh... Riders, start your engines," she says.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mollie Madine kicks the ignition on and feels the speederbike come to life between her legs. A low, whining rumble. Repulsorlifts hungry for speed. It was built to go fast, and how many bikes that are sold get to be put to the test, anyway?

"I hear you, girl," she says softly, adjusting her helmet, gloves, and boots. "I hear you."

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Tovani Enno bedecked in her gold and teal suit is among the riders, her helmet tucked precariously under her arm as she pulls on her gloves. THe announcer is heard and she glances up from the Skybreeze bike with its new paint job, a shining teal with gold decals across its surface. Vibrant and eye catching. The Wroonian smiles as she lifts her hand into the air to wave at the spectators, long leg lifting so she can straddle into her seat.

Her helmet is drawn up and over her head, pulling it down and making sure it sits firmly in place before the visor is lowered. The start of her engine gives a roaring turn over as the vehicle beneath her springs to life and she checks gauges that have already been checked again, exhaust streaming out the back to distort and worp the ground around her.

She sets a foot to a rest and and awaits the call to go, her breath exhaling slowly to ease the increased beat of her heart.

[ Fjord Alden (Fjord)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Fjord Alden left his R2 unit to find someone he likes and defend them for a while. He adjusts his armor and the black helmet is already over his face. He's wearing a somewhat tight black garb over his armor as he moves towards his dark vehicle. He sees the other racers and stretches his arms out. The lean man straddles his seat and shakes out his back. He lowers the visor and turns on the engine starts to do a precheck before they take off. He leans forward and prepares, settling his nerves.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Zavr Drick is not generally one for the illegal things. He hauls his legal goods and he goes to legal swoop races... but there are no more for the seaon, and despite him not really liking the danger, well... here he is. Carefully he skulks, sticking out like a sore thumb, to where the audience is supposed to hang out. Carefully he looks here and there for people that he knows, then frowns as he spots Fjord out in the racer's area along with Mollie. "Oh jeez, man, I dunno about this." he murmurs, wringing his hands a bit, then looking around again and moving deeper into the bleachers.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Heat is an excuse to dress down for once, though somehow Colo manages to dress up even so. His usual finery is gone in favor of a pair of snug, darkweave shorts that are fit more for a beach than a proper outing. Ditto the breathy, loose button-up he's taken to in a hue that just about matches his green eyes and, thus, some of the foliage of the world itself. But the underground race circuit's no place to look askance at one's attire. All sorts want to see a good blitz and zoom along, mayhaps some death en route as well. Colo just wants to win some money.

And maybe keep his date from wandering too far out before he can get them some choice seats in the bleachers. Valeska's at his heels as he strides through the crowds and on up to one of the many vendors hawking their wares, but he just wants a a couple of disposable, caff-infused Shock Waters that'll keep them both edgy and hydrated in equal measure. The gambler grins as he forks over the creds and wheels back on Valeska before nodding her off towards their seats near enough to keep an eye on the race but not be too near the crush that'll surely be shouting and whooping near the front. A nice spot in the 'mezzanine' if such a position can really be called that. "So, like I was sayin'...Cap'n Mollie's racing this time. I, ah. May've put some creds on her. Hedged a bit otherwise, but she took it home last time, so..." He explains. Seems logical. "Odds're good, too."

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Zahsi doesn't tend to dress fancy even for fancy occasions, so this sort of scenario is not all that out of the ordinary for her. The golden-skinned woman scouts out a place on the bleachers where she can watch the race, and climbs up into position. Not racing today, but she's here for the show nonetheless!

Zavr's discomfort is hard to miss. She gives a small grin and moves to intercept the man. "Hey," she says, lifting one hand and wriggling her fingers in greeting. "Just sit down. Unless you're trying to draw attention to yourself."

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Heat? This is nothing. Sure, it can be uncomfortable but compared to the sweltering, merciless temperatures of Mandalore, Thyferra is merely a balmy scorcher. She had considered dressing down for this particular outing. Contrary to popular belief, Mandalorians do own casualwear. However, with the location being a hotspot of conflict... well.

Valeska is in full armour save for the helmet clipped to her belt. She is nice enough to keep a lot of her arsenal hidden in pouches and more under thick kata that hangs around her hips and legs. But guaranteed they are there. Always, always there.

She's following behind Colo, hazel eyes scanning the crowd and looking over the area with a casual air. "I'd have been surprised if you didn't place a bet, Colo," she chuckles when her date turns back to her and offers the water before leading her towards the chosen seats. "You know, my father builds and races swoops and speeders for a living. I keep expecting to find him here in one of these not-so-legal circuits, but I suspect he's not snuck past mom yet, yeah?"

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

What do you know about heat?

Heat can't exist without things. If there was no such thing as matter, there would be no heat. Objects colliding with objects, creating friction and energy. Objects collide so hard that atoms fuse with other atoms, making up helium and oxygen and carbon. There's a relationship between heat and pressure, too. If you want to heat something up, all you need to do is add some pressure. And Thyferra has been a pressure system for so long, hasn't it?

In that satellite uplink center, a young Zelosian man clocks in for his shift. He's a nobody, even here on Thyferra. An average guy working an average job, and making sure those satellite uplinks keep transmitting. Day in. Day out.

"Hey Nix," comes a voice from over his shoulder. He flinches and jumps, the digital stylus falling out of his ear and onto his lap. His cheeks turn a shade or two greener when he realizes it's Her.

"Heyyyyo, Mierni," he says. Heyo? Ugh, whyyyyy.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The countdown displayed above the racers at the starting line is bold and red. Broadcast in a variety of different languages, they all begin to tick down at the same time. 10, 9, 8, 7...

"Do you feel it, folks? There's something about this Thyferran heat! There's something in the air tonight. Drama, excitement, danger!" comes the announcer.

6, 5, 4...

The riders begin to settle in, the massive swarm of them looking over their shoulders at other racers, checking and double checking and triple checking systems. It's so loud on the track, but also strangely peaceful in this moment.

3, 2...

1.

"AND THEY'RE OFF!"

[ Caius Sentari (Cai)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The heat doesn't seem to matter to Caius. He's dressed to the gills (stiff collar and all) in coat and armor, having already found for himself a seat at the bleachers right at the top and at the furthest corner, clearly if going out of his way to sit alone - and sit alone he does, reclined, legs crossed, and surveying the scene. Despite the hermit tendencies, he seems to be having a ball just taking in the sights - the preparations for the race, sure, but especially the general /orderliness/ of the place. He wears a smile that widens when the race begins, and he slouches over his knees to focus in on the action.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Amallia Madine's looking up at the timers as they slowly begin to tick down. Her hand on the throttle, foot on the clutch, she watches those numbers tick slowly down and waits for -just- the right moment to accelerate. She can't quite wait long enough, and lurches forward off the block a half second too early. A large red 'x' likely switches up over her driver card, as well as a series of negative values applied to her final race time, but the result is clear. She lurches ahead and towards the front, though her lead is only physical now. Colo Nell's pockets are lightly beginning to warm due to the hole she's burning in it.

She's not normally so jumpy.

<"Calm down, Madine,"> she says softly to herself.

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Intrigued, present due to curiosity and his own travels having him 'in the area', Hadrix sat, bare head, among the gathered. Eyes up toward the passing craft then down to where the racers are preparing.

You don't breathe the air on Thyferra, you drink it, it's oppressively hot, humid and close; but the big man is still in full armor other than the bucket clipped to his belt. Remaining on the back end of his section to let the people around provide some sort of concealment, even if there is a modest space around him, given by wary looks for the Mandalorian in their midst.

The sight of Valeska and Colo, pointed out to by the surveillance droid, that tends to be in proximity to him, a touch of attention is focused that way, brow lifted, but otherwise remaining to himself and re-focusing when the race begins.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Zavr Drick's eyes find Colo first and he checks out those shorts for a moment, nodding to himself before lifting his hand to wave. The new Mandalorean, to him at least, gets a curious searching of her face but then he's noticed! He manages to hold back the hnng of nervousness from the discovery... But Zahsi speaks sense and the Zeltron moves quickly to a spot near to her and settles in at a polite distance. "Me? Attention? Never touch the stuff, myself. Not good for the livers." He gives her a grin, more of a white-toothed grimace really, and then looks up as the announcer says that the race is on. "You, uh... got a swoop in this race? Someone you're rooting for? Personally I tend to just hope they don't die."

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

There is energy already and though the suit helps keep out some of the bone weary humidity there is still the presence of it trickling down the back of her neck beneath her helmet. Its like a cruel itch you just can't scratch because taking one's hand off the controls or losing focus will end up trouble - likely worse. Trickle. Trickle. Trickle.

Letting out another bread fogs the visor and as her head lifts, the very bright and noticeable countdown is enough to cause her heart to leap, for her body to shiver and shake due to the sudden release of anticipation and adrenaline. "Samar." She says to herself, fog rising again into her view as condensation is gathering around the edges of her visor.

As the signal gives them clearance she lifts her foot, leans in and pulls on that throttle. The initial boost of power is immediate and works against her, pulling at her body with such force she grips harder, increasing her speed even more. The modified Skybreeze is off and with a tight and quick clipped turn she manages to cut off her comeptition, throwing up a bit of dust and bits of earth in her wake. Her head tucks in and now as her body adjusts with the speed she grins and gives in to the pull of the bike.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Colo had tried for a good, few minutes to get Valeska de-lobstered to enjoy an outing without some means of protection to no avail. Instead, he ends up looking like a well-heeled safari-goer flanked by a dour bodyguard, albeit sans helmet. He's thankful for that at least, even if he does crack wise. "We gonna have to hose you down again later? Better count yerself lucky I enjoy your reek."

But rather than bite harder, he flashes a winning grin to show the intent of the tease. Just then, they hit the stands and his eyes hit the field to watch the engines revving and his wallet feel a tingle of heat. "Ah, great, grand start." His tone is droll, just a touch downcast. She can still take the race, but... He flicks a look to Val to salve his pain. "Maybe your pop can take a look at Moll's after this? Have a feelin' it's gonna need some tinkering soon." His words end with a flicker of gaze towards Zavr at the wave and, with a forced smile thanks to how the race is going, he nudges his water bottle the Zeltron's way. "That, ah...the Zelt down there--that one, the bulkier one, yeah, that's Zavr. Zav, I calls him. Handy mechanic. Fixes stuff around Pakko's and Nar in general. Good fella."

[ Fjord Alden (Fjord)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Fjord Alden isn't quite so quick to it. He kicks it into gear and then poof. His engine is off. He quickly turns it back on, goes over the precheck and shakes his head as he just shakes his head slowly and then putters off at the back of the pack. Was that planned? Totally....not. He isn't the back of the pack by any means but he is not anywhere near the front. He just zips around. He's not much of a racer but he's keeping up to the middle of the pack.

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Get a better liver," comes Zahsi's reply, lips twisting into a wry grin. "Or a new one, if you can afford it." She looks over towards the racers as they're off, jumping up briefly to scream and hoot as Tovani shoots out of the gate. "YES!"

Then she's clearing her throat and plunking herself back down beside Zavr. "Friend of a friend that I haven't had much of a chance to get to know yet," she tells him, nodding. "But I'd be a bad friend-friend if I wasn't here to support. Besides." Zahsi gestures over the crowd. "Can't tell me you don't feel the excitement in the air just sitting here."

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Indeed. Colo tried for a solid few minutes to convince the Mando to doff the armour for a 'nice day out, Val.' To which her response was a measured and, she argued logical: 'active warzone.' In the end, they agreed to disagree on what the proper attire was for an illegal racing circuit and went their indiviual paths. She did opt to leave the carbine on the Poised Reek. Compromise, yes?

"Reek," she scoffs gently. "You'll be eating your words if a fight breaks out and I'm the only thing between you and a rain of blaster fire." Valeska rolls her shoulder. "I don't think she wants dad looking at her vehicle. He's the sort to strap thrusters on the back and hotwire it to overload if you don't accelerate in bursts. Former starfighter pilot, yeah? They're all insane."

As the race gets off to an interesting (?) start, she looks around again and finds an odd space in the otherwise packed crowd. Upon closer inspection, she grins wide and nudges Colo with her elbow; a whisper into Colo's ear.

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Lowering down with Valeska between she and Colo, Gripper's posh voice issues just loud enough for the armored woman to hear, possibly the gent next to her as well. Acoustics and all that. Acting with clear independence while the big man himself watches the racers with canted head.

"He's here, so you're not surprised. He's brooding again." the little ID10 tilting slightly at Valeska before Gripper is up and on her way again with a hum of her anti-gravs. Brief as the meeting was, she makes no attempt to render her movements clandestine, simply getting out of arm and tentacle reach - headed back up.

Hadrix, meanwhile, simply looks on. Hands resting between his knees with one hand over the left vambrace, only looking away from the race to gaze on other figures. Gaze lingering on each that draw his fleeting interest - drinking in details in those scant seconds before Clan Kora's Plan Besh is watching a display for the racers again.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

They were an unlikely pair, Mierni and Nix. Zelosian and Zeltron couplings are not something one sees every day within the galaxy, and yet Nix liked the way that her pink skin looked when she touched his forearm. Pink and green look cute together.

"I got you this dumb thing," she says, and holds out a small chit-chain critter that looks like some cross between a loth cat and a dugar dugar. He thought it was definitely horrifying.

"It's adorable," he says, and takes it from her. She turns to look over her shoulder and squint at the clock.

"Ahhhh, rekko. It's work time, gotta run. I named that thing Bleep, but, y'know, he's yours now," she says. And just like that, she's gone, and Nix is already thinking about where in his apartment he's going to place it when he gets home.

If he gets home.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The first stretch of track is a straightaway shot. A test of raw acceleration and speed, were it not for the knotted web of other racers pouring through the narrow opening. What it actually ends up testing in practice is maneuverability and, for some, ruthless pragmatism. Some riders collide and kick one another off. Others deliberately attempt to send others into tailspins, but clear winners begin to emerge from the pack and gain some separation. The city streets present their fair share of obstacles as well. Fallen wreckage creates impromptu jumps and ramps, but these are treacherous. Certain avenues for aggressive driving present themselves to those who may have lost advantage in the congestion. Some take them. Fewer make them. Those who don't come tumbling down, speederbikes wrapping around concrete and durasteel.

"OUUUHHHHHH! That one stings!" the woman on the holoscreen winces as the camera catches one particularly grisly accident.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Zavr Drick huhs as Mollie gets a too-quick start, shaking his head. "Not sure that's really the way to get ahead in the race, Molls, but.." and then Zahsi's popping up near him and he gives a slight wince just at the sudden loudness, but then he grins. Fjord lagging behind is also noted and he continues to shake his head. "Dang it, y'all. You're killin' me here." But Zahsi asked a question and he nods quickly, "I do feel it. Kinda can't help it. It's..." already he's rubbing his hands on his jump suit pants legs as the trickles of empathetic feelings wriggle their way into him. "Friend of a friend, that one?" he indicates Tovani, "I'm not sure I recoginze that one. Do they do the legal races too? I have to admit I'm pretty new to the circuit bunny lifestyle."

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mollie Madine steels herself after jumping that first round early. Even though she's suffering a heavy penalty, her ranking continues to climb and climb and climb with every passing second. She can feel the ground beneath her start to really open up as those engines roll and purr and, when the repulsorlifts lose their connection with the matter beneath them, well. For a half second, she feels like she's flying. Normally she'd laugh. Normally she'd be thrilled. But Mollie Madine is serious today. The weight of this race, perhaps. The danger. The stifling heat. But she keeps tipping her chin and looking over her shoulder, weaving towards the outside of the racers, nearest the massive satellites in the distance.

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

It is not so much that Tovi can see what is happening behind her, it is the fact she can hear it, feel the waves of aftershock. But every racer knows there are risks and most often those first few ones narrow the pack and leave wreckage in their wake. The shaking adrenaline wears off and its funneled into her focus which keeps her ready for what is next.

Obstacles.

"Of course," she remarks lowly and with a tilt of her body she angles around the first but the next she guns it after sliding across the ground, righting herself. She loses some speed in the following moments before she connects with a natural slide point along a piece of the wreckage and with a hard yank on the handle bars she clears too. The rise of her bike marks the rise of her heart in her chest, for a moment getting air leaves the trilling thrill running down her spine that pushes forth the wild whoop into the air that no one else can hear.

More condensation from Thyferra's environment remains but the speed at which she moves at is a natural deterent.

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"I dunno." Zahsi shrugs at the question of other, more legal races. "I'm not too up to date on the racing circuits either." She alternates her gaze from the race to the screens, depending on how much is actually visible from her seat. There's a wince at the crashes that she sees on screen, but so far, Tovi is in the lead.

Zahsi glances to the person that Zavr points out and she nods in agreement. "Yeah. This is actually the first time I've seen her race. But it's fun to have a racer to root for, and I have a good reason to root for her. You should, too." She grins, giving the Zeltron a nudge with her elbow. "Doesn't cost any money to cheer."

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Compromise is the grease that keeps every relationship going and so Colo acquiesces to a mostly-armored Valeska sans carbine while he gets to wear his jungle-going naif garb. Win-win! It means he gets to tease her, too. "At least I'll be -able- to eat my words without a vocoder," He clucks, ever the impertinent rooster. His further barbs are cut off by his actually listening for once, but that, too, gets a nice slice off by a certain, familiar droid insinuating itself.

Gripper keeps a perked set of brows and a curious, worrying look from Colo who promptly looks to the race and then back to Valeska for guidance. "Mh. Yeah," He murmurs to whatever Val'd whispered to him. With a nod, the gambler rises and shoots a look to the race again, wincing at the familiar racers taking their beats en route. "She's a former starfighter too. All insane," He concurs, though gestures at Hadrix with his Shock Water. "Lead on, my stalwart blaster-catcher."

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

At the satellite center, the young Zelosian named Nix leans forward in his chair and softly brushes various plastic wrappers off of a mobile holo-display of the Thyferran Underground Swoop Race. It wasn't supposed to be broadcasted. The green color drains from his cheeks and his heart thumps in his chest. Now isn't the time to panic, Nix. Now is the time to think clearly. Now's the time to have a level head. He stands up from his desk and quickly moves to the far wall, where the emergency evacuation switch is labeled clearly. Bold and red. He pulls it down hard, sounding alarms and sending the operation room into a panic.

"Everybody out!" he yells. Few think twice about following the order.

<<"We've got a problem. This is being broadcast, and you need to break early.">> comes Nix's voice over a secure channel. <<"I've got a course charted for you that'll get you back on track, but you need to bank hard... right past the fallen bridge. It'll be a little bumpy, but you don't have enoug--"

-VWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWMMMMMM-

Up above, the sky has begun to move with activity. Some of the swoop racers have suddenly broken from the race path in a sudden hard right turn. Others whirr past, looking over their shoulders in confusion, but press on ahead to finish the race. In a strange bit of irony, the spectators have a clearer line of sight on the racers that have diverged than on those that have stayed the path. Visible to the naked eye, they can be seen roaring towards the satellites. Sith-hired mercenaries and patrolling fighters have banked and turned, and from all directions, appears as if they are converging on the path the swoop racers have taken.

"What the REKK is going on here?! Where are our riders going?! We're losing *KSHHHHH* IGNAL. What are those SHIPS *kSHHHhhhHSHHh* et me out of here!" comes the announcer's voice, broken up, jammed and spotty.

"H-hello?" comes a new voice over the holoscreen now. The projection of the woman leading the race has been pushed out in favor of a green-skinned young man staring directly into a camera. Behind him, red lights flash and briefly drown his face out with shadows. "People of Thyferra... can you hear my voice?" he wonders, more for himself than anyone else.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Zavr Drick oofs slightly, gently playing up the strength of that nudge. "Ah, but which one to root for? I like both Mollie *and* Fjord." Still, though, he's getting to a point where he can't ignore the oos and ahs of the crowd and finally he joins in with the clapping some as he notes Mollie getting airborne.. he even lifts his rear off the bleacher for a moment, but the erratic noices from the viewers and then the ships overhead and he shifts. "Wait. Uh, is that supposed to happen?" Zav points to the screen, "And where's Fjord? Did I miss him? Did he crash?" One pink fist is raised towards the view screen, "Hey! Stop scewin' around and fix the signal! Get that guy off the channel!" Rabble!

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Amallia turns her head to the side as that chatter pops into her ear and, as instructed, banks hard and right when she reaches the proper turn. She isn't the first to make the turn, and she isn't alone. Tovani and Fjord are with her, as well as a handful of other racers that have decided to sacrifice the race earnings to, for whatever reason, make a hard break for the satellites. Her heart pounds in her chest, but her breathing remains calm. Careful. Collected. She hasn't felt like this in a long, long time.

<<"You heard the man, we are moving.">>

<<"We heard him loud and clear, Madine.">>

<<"See if you can keep up, yeah?">>

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

There is a new reason for Tovi to tense and the teal and golden rider, leading that race makes a choice before the others. She leaves the race she is winning. Light catches on the gold decales, on the edge of her golden visor and with that hard turn her bike slides, throwing dirt, debris and more in the force of its wake.

Speed is once more lost as she leads the way and holds her position, screaming in the direction of the satellites. "The fates hold me...lets live a little." She guns it, her engines flaring to life as heat spills off of them, buffeting her legs and chest as it collects and makes the already unbearable atmosphere of the planet even worse.

So much for earnings. There are bigger things at stake here.

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"I hope you've been keeping up on your training. One of these days, Colo Nell, that mouth is gonna get you into trouble, yeah? Ain't gonna eat your words that well unless it's fed to you through a straw." It's not a threat. No, Valeska won't be the one to punch that pretty, smirking face. But the concern is very, very real that one day he's going to come home with an eyepatch and a story that will merit a compassionate 'I told you so.' By her tone, it's a conversation they've had before. Self defense is crucial for anyone who has a mouth that tends to run unfiltered. And Valeska knows this from firsthand knowledge!

After delivering her message in tandem with Valeska spotting the large form of Hadrix, Gripper floooooats back up gracefully and hovers away. Likely back to him. Rising, Valeska takes Colo's hand and leads him quickly around to where the purple-armoured Mando is sitting. Thankfully, there are seats around the intimidating man and Valeska plops down next to Hadrix with a friendly pat on his knee. "Surprised to see you here, vod. Do you mind some company? Colo was just telling me about Mollie." She points to the racer in question on the videofeed. "I think we've met her before, yeah? The Captain of the Heloist. Colo is on her crew and---"

She stops and raises a brow as a new voice breaks out over the speakers. "Huh?"

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"All of them!" Zahsi tells Zavr with a quiet laugh. "Don't take it too seriously. Just... have fun. Don't let the crazy gamblers suck the joy out of the rac- wait, what?" Likewise, she too is confused by the sudden change in the broadcast. Her brows pinch together in a small frown and she, slowly stands to crane her neck and observe the area around them.

"No. I don't think that's supposed to happen." Zahsi lets her gaze rove past the crowd and more to the area beyond, just making sure. "I don't think he crashed," she assures Zavr, shaking her head. "Hmm..." She plunks herself back down, slowly, eyes shifting to the screen again.

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Shavit..." the broadcast playing, the swoops moving off path. "Kriffing, stanging..." the small droid approaching swiveling her upper half some as she stops less than a meter from the big man now raising to his feet and lifting his helmet up. A look is fired towards Valeska, eyes on her helmet and then to Colo, "You might want to hold tight, pretty boy." A puff from his jets priming on his back, but no upward lift yet, only attention going to the droid.

"Gripper." "Linked up." "Pheegus get the engines up, tell Mir and Greeza to get to the turrets, we might be leaving in a rush and with people making wild, violent, assumptions regarding our associations." Hadrix's gravel and broken glass growl aimed at Gripper as the helmet is pulled down over his head and seals hiss once in contact with the armor-cloth gambeson at his neck.

<"Understood, commander"> the voice issuing from Gripper a translator collar's deep voice with the warbling and lowing of an Ithorian surrounding it. With the helmet on, further issuance from the droid ceases and she makes to hover at his shoulder, "What's the plan?" <"Ideally? Get back to the ship and Ba'slan shev'la,"> strategic disappearance, <"What I expect is a Hard Exit."> the droid moving as if holding her lips in a thin line.

Except without lips.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"One of these days? Val, I'm walking alongside a heavily-armored merc en route to -another- heavily-armored merc while hanging around in my skivvies near an illegal racing circuit. Think somewhere along the way I may have said the wrong thing already," He jokes, ever the upbeat one about his fate in life. He shows as much by leaning in when they're mid-step, offending Valeska's sensibilities with a firm, planted kiss that won't take no for an answer.

And then he follows. His hand interlaces with hers and he lets himself be tugged along to meet up with Hadrix. He offers the big man his winningest, most offensive, please-punch-here smile only to...to... "The rekk?"

The announcement doesn't make sense at first. How dare someone get their chocolate in his peanut butter. But the messages and the sudden interruption have Colo's Corelli-Senses tingling and he does the only thing he can do: both immediately looks to Hadrix for guidance and rapidly fires up the whinge-engine. The whingine: "Can't a guy just go to an illegal racing circuit, lay some illegal bets, and -not- have an illegal revolution come up?!"

[ Fjord Alden (Fjord)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Fjord Alden sees two of the racers split off and he tries to steer and his vehicle does a little weird wobble and he smacks it as he zooms off after the two. He's got an idea what is going on and he is trying his best to keep up. Either way he's back up. He leans down a little closer and he zooms faster towards the satellites.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Zavr Drick gasps, "Cheer for them *all*?! Oh no, the jealousy!" While there's sarcasm there at the start, the last bit seems genuine and it seems like it gives him some relief to be "allowed" to just cheer indiscriminantly. But the time for cheering might be over. "They're heading off the track?" His hand moves from fist towards the very distant Mollie and the others before they move out of his eyeline with their speed. A deep breath comes then as there's confusion from others, and that sense of suspicion from Zahsi. "We... should hide? Hiding seems reasonable. For our legal safety, of course, not because this feels like it might quickly turn to violence. Because I sure do love viol-" Was that Fjord?! "Fjoooorrrrrrd! Turn away! Go back to the race! Stop making me an accomplice to things!" Not that the pale man can hear him from there!

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Do you want to know something about heat?" Nix asks. His signal is clear, popping in and out of focus for just a few moments. "Heat is what happens when you add pressure to a closed system. Heat is what happens when you... squeeze and you squeeze and you squeeze and you squeeze until there's nothing left but dust. Thyferra has been squeezed for so, so long. And I'm so very tired of it," he says.

Up ahead, the sith mercenaries have taken a sharp and aggressive bank towards those riders and don't hesitate to open fire. But shooting swoops is harder than shooting ships, and with their sudden and aggressive banking angle, it's more difficult to hit them on this first run! Hot red plasma scorches down towards the ground, colliding with durasteel and concrete below.

"How many times will we be conquered for Bacta? How many more people will we lose until we wake up? How long will we have to wait to see a free Thyferra?" he asks.

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Valeska's entire countenance changes. What had been jovial, teasing, and warm has immediately hardened. Back to her feet a split second behind Hadrix, Valeska grabs her helmet and slams it onto her head with a hiss of air sealing. She hasn't quite gotten a grasp of what exactly is going on, but what she does know is that this unlawful race has gone completely off script and those ships firing on swoops are /not/ part of the obstacle course.

Did anyone put a bet down on Sudden Reveolution? They're gonna make a killing on those odds.

<"Colo, if anything happens, you stay with us. Al'Verde, orders?"> The fun is over for the moment.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Mollie's pulse continues to pound as she turns her head up and over her shoulder to see those fighters that have made a banking hard pass towards her and the others. <<"Shavit shavit shavit shavit,">> she says into comms, hammering down on the throttle and looking straight ahead of her. It's a straight path to the satellite uplink now, but a hail of blaster fire has begun to scorch the ground in front of her.

<<"This was not a part of the--">> KSHHHHH. One of the drivers takes a direct hit, her swoop going up in a ball of fire and melted steel.

<<"NO!">> another cries over comms.

<<"PUSH! We have to push!">> Mollie yells.

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Mmm." It's a thoughtful sound that comes from Zahsi at the suggestion of hiding. "Come with me." The Firrerreo woman rises from her spot on the bleachers and she begins to descend. Slowly. Walking. No running. "We don't need to run and hide yet," she comments over towards Zavr. "But we should put ourselves in a position to make a swift exit. Which means getting off the bleachers and scouting the way out."

The explanation is given relatively quietly, but loudly enough to share with Zavr. Zahsi isn't abandoning her Race Buddy. "I don't know what's going on or why, but usually when something feels off, it's worth taking some steps to be careful. And NOT get caught in the rush of panicking people."

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"They are really focused, aren't they?" Tovi remarks to no one in particular as the ground is eaten up moment by moment, the satellite looms large in the distance - near enough but still far enough away to make the potential for the shots aimed at them to do a great deal of damage.

The comm crackles in her ear and Tovi looks back at the others. <<"Keep moving, zig and zag, we have the advantage.>> Tovi's voice is clear, the wroonians slight accent cutting into her words as she feels the heat of what is happening around her.

She draws a deep breath and slowly, very slowly exhales to keep her hands, in their firm grip on the handle bars, from jittering loose. Its a death hold by both hands and thighs that keep her in her seat as she whips one way and the next, her golden eyes darting to be sure she is not a hazard for her fellow drivers.

[ Fjord Alden (Fjord)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Fjord Alden is moving fast and lifts his head up to see the blaster hit all around the riders. He zooms and zips but not the best as he goes right into where one of the blasters hits and explodes, right in front of him. The ground exploding and hiding him from view until he makes it out the other side a little worse for wear but he's holding his chest over his heart. One can only imagine the panic in the tiny man. He bends forward tries to move faster. <<"I seem to be ziggin with their zigs. If I go down, keep going. I'll be fine.">>

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

<"Landing fields"> head turning to the sight of the pop flare of a detonation amidst the firing craft chasing the distant race group, <"Arm yourself, don't interfere - unless they attempt to detain. We're not being arrested for viewing this. We're not revolutionaries. We've certainly not been paid for our particular skillset."> he's already moving down the bleachers, no longer cordial or crowd polite. The trail he is cutting mired only briefly by the pack of bodies before Hadrix's knees flex and he shoves, sending people sprawling to either side of him, still talking.

<"Colo, you're on her shebs like a shadow. Stay close, listen to her, listen to me. We'll get clear of this."> raising a hand over his shoulder to draw the outsized personal cannon that other species might call a rifle and moving it to a low ready posture; practically daring the onlookers he may have offended to give him good reason.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Zavr Drick nods firmly at Zahsi's words and he rises with a quick pop up until he notes her calm stride and he grits his teeth and ducks his head a bit. "I will follow, yes." And then in a more conversational tone, "I certainly liked the part where the racers went really fast along a dangerous path. It's too bad that it turns out this race was illegal. If I'd have known, I'd never have commited such a crime." Yup. He's not yelling, just keeping things at a friendly tone and volume, and steps down bleacher to bleacher as Zahsi goes, his heavy body making heavy thuds that seem to him like they're bombardment explosions with each ringing thump. And since he focuses on Zahsi, at least for now, he fends off the surge of panic as he passes. Just keep stepping, just keep stepping. Nothing to see here.

[ Caius Sentari (Cai)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Caius doesn't care about danger close. He doesn't seem to care about anything at all, beyond hooting and hollering at the sudden appearance of TIE Fighters whooshing in and firing their lasers. He's not /that/ excited about it, no - he's still seated and all - but he clearly did /not/ expect to get treated to a light show and is /thoroughly/ enjoying this now-apparent-bloodsport. Surely he's not an Imperialist, no! Just a little bloodthirsty, apparently.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Have Mando, will travel. Colo can listen, at the very least, and though he's drastically out of his element--completely without armor, weapon, or even a pretty guard to seduce into letting him outta these cuffs, y'see--he has nought to contribute save for listening to Hadrix and Valeska as they insist on bossing him around. It flies pretty well! He's good at listening when his heart's beating in his ears.

Just one problem. "What the rekk is a shebs?!"

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Outside of the satellite facility, a young Zeltron woman named Mierni is clutching a mobile holoprojector and watching Nix speak while her hands shake. "We've got to move, we've got to move. Mierni," someone says, grasping her arms and pulling her further away from the satellite facility. She turns to look at the fighters above, watching their noses start to point towards them and red, heavy cannon fire begins to pepper the ground in front of them. She pulls a breath in and starts to resist the pull, trying to break away, but several others join in and start to tug her away.

The sith warships have turned now, their first strafing run a mild success, but they aim to make their next one far more effective. They bank and take a long, slow, lazy loop around. When they next come around, they point their noses in a direct line of the swoop racers and begin to open fire. Well behind them, for now, but the sound of exploding ground behind them is likely enough to turn heads. Some racers take a sudden veer off to the left and right to avoid the incoming fire, but nearly ten or more racers continue to hold that straight path. Hammer down. Redlined.

"Man, that sounded pretty heroic, didn't it? I wondered if I'd sound heroic," Nix says, laughing as he sinks down into his chair and picks up that little chit-chain plush that Mierni had given him just minutes ago. Things can change so quickly, can't they?

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Valeska turns back towards Colo, giving a slight nod to him. <"We need to go. I'm not going to make you, but I would very much prefer if you did."> Consent: another thing that makes a relationship work. When it becomes appareant he intends to go with the pair of Koras, Valeska cants her head in Hadrix's direction. <"We're following him. He'll clear the path in a way only Hadrix can. We're not engaging unless we have to.">

Quickly moving to catch up to Hadrix, Colo's hand still in hers, an oval of translucent blue energy snaps to life from the vambrace on her arm. <"Shebs. Ah... butt, rear, arse. Pick your flavour. Keep up, Colo!">

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Zahsi gives Zavr a dry sort of look. "Oh stop that. No one can hear you, and you're not the target. You just sound silly." Still, she's not inclined to just abandon him. Apparently his company is worth at least a bit more time.

Her lips press into a tight, thin line as the fighters open fire on the racers and Zahsi glances back towards Zavr. "NOW is probably a good time to extract yourself. I think the race is finished." One hand digs into her pocket and pulls out a comm device as her pace quickens. Time to go. <<"Hey Khalim. We need to make a quick exit. Those TIEs are firing at the racers. I'm getting out of the spectator area. Tovi might need an extraction.">>

[ Fjord Alden (Fjord)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Fjord Alden zooms around quickly to get to the satellite uplink. He gets close enough and lifts his head up to see a blast coming right for where he's about to be. He jumps from his vehicle as one of the shots hit it, exploding it behind him. He tumbles in the dirt, singed a little and pushes himself up. He pulls his sword and dodges a few shots until two hit him one right after the other. One right in the middle of his chest and the second right stomach and he lands hard on his back, sword at his side, not moving. The armor taking a lot of the hit but he's still down.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Zavr Drick blanches and nods quickly, "Right, right. You never can tell, though." He's quiet now, though, and he follows her closely though not so far as to be underfoot. He does NOT want to get left behind in the press of the crowd. The words said into the comm are caught and he tilts his head, but he says nothing until it seems she's finished. "I have a ship here. Do you think it'll be safe to take off? Do you have an extraction, too, or are you good?" His voice is quieter now from the fake conversation he'd been having. "The Versatile Comet." He makes the offer easily as he follows her, slipping out of the spectator area soon after she does. "Why would they be firing on the racers? Ooooh I hope Mollie and Fjord are ok. And your friend too." The worry that he feels starts to edge out sources of emotions from other sources, substituting itself for the panic, fear, and anger. "And thank you. For the guidance. This is not my normal activity."

[ Khalim (Kh)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Pandemonium, that's what Khalim hears at the other end of that open channel with Zahsi as she alerts him to this... new development. There's a curse, and an immediate slapping of all the buttons. All of them. Sitting atop duracrete, very not far away, the Void Blur's many systems begin cycling to life. This is not, however, a situation within which normal prep is acceptable, and overrides are granted, safeties bypassed.

"Copy all. Find cover, Zahsi, and then get out," he responds, voice terse and carried along with a slight hint static. He then shifts channels. "Tovi. What the /kriff/. I'm getting you." In his voice then? A hint of fear, a heavy dose of anxiety.

That telltale ion-driven thrum begins to echo as the vessel's sublight drive reaches nominal power thresholds. It takes on a deeper resonance as every bit of additional power is fed, a hint of a more familiar screach behind that thrum. And that's it. That's all the prep Khalim gives this ship as he engages repulsors and shoves the throttle forward. The Blur is fast, far faster than its aquatic lines may suggest, and it rockets up and away.

Very, very quickly into madness.

TIE fighters are swarming, and one in particular makes a dive ahead and to the right. Its laser cannons churn the ground below with superheated death, debris thrown into the air with every pair of impacts. The Blur's weapons are fire-linked and trained forward, transforming the ship itself a slowly traversing turret. For a brief moment that Sith starfighter drifts within a blinking red crosshair and Khalim sends the combined firepower of four turrets into its solar panels. The TIE explodes, a new kind of debris falling in arcs of smoking wreckage.

"Tovi," he calls again, "where are you?"

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Saber Squadron had been evacuating more refugees as they flew a tight formation around Bizz's Wild Card. The current refugee hauler at the moment. Jax was flying Saber Leader as they were about to head out of orbit. When a signal of chatter about stopping some racers and a signal was picked up by Jax's astromech. Exnine started flipping out and beeping, "Fine. Fine. We'll change course." Then Jax opens to the squad, "Change of mission parameters. There's a group of mercs on speeders doing something and the Sith are trying to eliminate them. Exine is insisting we help. Look if it turns into a wild gunduark chase or a trap. Form up on Bait and get him out of here. I'll hold them up. But something tells me we need to be there." One simple course correction and moments later...

Saber Leader comes swooping through the clouds on intercept angle on the lead Tie Striker. Jax pulls back on the trigger and spears of light cut through the old Tie before the pilot could react. The Corellian looking around seeing the speeder bikes. << This is Saber Leader, we're here to help. If somebody can tell me what's going on.>>

[ Bizz Bliptettjupp (bizz)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Bizz is part of Saber Squadron but is flying a large GS-100 salvage ship through the atmosphere to rescue more Thyferrian refugees. The ship looks like a giant misshapen mushroom and isn't very maneuverable, yet the combination of thrusters and repulsors keeps it afloat. "<<This is Saber Guard! Targeting the fighters!>>" He leaves his ship's course correction to his R5 astromech and moves over to the drop-down periscope which presumably controls his laser turret. "Fire!" The double turret fires a deafening green KA-CHOOOOM KA-CHOOOOM at Striker 2. The shots hit and send Striker 2 to Sith heaven in a fiery THUUUUUUUUUM!

[ Vega (Ve)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Vega's not Saber Leader. She's Gremlin. She's also quiet flying today besides her calling out targets and things. Maybe she channels her inner anger through her ships guns because she locks in on a TIE seconds before it explodes in a ball of fire and TIE debris. <<That's one down.>> the Echani states over the comms, her grey gaze is pensive as she looks from under the hood of her black robes and out towards the targetting systems. Needed to find a new target!

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

With Saber Squad called in, Zan in Saber 5 is one of those flying tightly in protection of Bait and the refugee hauler. She's got Bubbles the BB astromech with her, and the pair in the ETA fighter are calm, cool and collected. So far. "Here we go again, Bubbles," Zan says to the BB unit. "Let's try not to make Vega work extra this time." The BB warbles back at her, and she laughs. "Yes, yes, I know that's my take away. But you get to keep the shields up."

The change of plans has Zan arching a brow and then muttering under her breath. "If we ever get an easy one, let's go to the beach, okay?" That said, she is on the comms in reply to Jax. << Roger, Lead, Saber 5 heading in. Look lively folks, looks like we got incoming. >> Her S foils are extended as she moves to combat mode, and iaccelerates, flying fast and furious at a hopefully unsuspecting Striker two. Her run is ahead of Bizz, her ship a bit faster perhaps. << Targetting S2 and pulling the trigger, >> Zan says calmly, despite the breakneck speed she's travelling at. As her reticule goes green, Zan's finger presses the trigger and she fires, chasing for a moment, firing as much as she can.

Zan then breaks away, into an aileron roll to find a new target.

[ Karas Darkwing (Kar)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A small grin shows on his face, <> he says into his comms. Karas gets comfortable in the cockpit of his ETA-2c, he flips the switch and the S-Foils open into attack position as the -2c banks and follows behind Saber Leader and Bizz.

"We need to do this fast." he says to Spark. He was flying behind the formation and Karas rolls his shoulders. <<Let's do it!>> and with that Saber 07 breaks formation and quickly chases after the Lambda Shuttle, <<Going after the shuttle.>> he calls as he transfer power to the engines giving the Interceptor more speed and begins it's chase. The ETA-2c drops through the city and weaves between the building as it moves to intercept the shuttle and upon getting a firing solution, rapid red energy daggers streak from the fighter scoring hits on the shuttle, <<COnfirmed hits, but the shuttle is still flying.>> he calls.

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Fighters and freighters in the air and among them the blocky form of the heavily modified Mandalorian assault runner - its exterior a mish-mash of old and new plates that the Woor'tra, the Wind in The Void, looks like its been given a winter camouflage paint scheme. Its otherwise, non-descript, form lifting and heading for where Hadrix, Colo and Valeska are vacating, flying low and weaving to get to position.

<"That's our ride."> called over his shoulder, stay mobile. A figure of a heavy set non-human clearing out of the big man's way when a gauntleted hand casually motions towards the thermal detonator blinking cheerfully there. A universal message of 'Hi! I'm a thermonuclear hand-held ordinance! Time to move!' in its own, special, blinky light way. On par maybe with the cannon fire filling the sky with blossoms of detonating ion engines and debris being hurled like jagged, red hot, pollen from those deadly flowers. Utterly calm in all the chaos - if anything the big man is perfectly at home it what has become and active battlefield. It might be that demeanor that gets those giving him resistance the incentive to get out of the way and let him pass.

<"If we have to, we'll take the express lift."> the phrasing causing Gripper to zip around to the big man's back and socket herself into the saddle fitted in one of his back plates with a hissing whirr-click.

<<"Commander, we're coming up on you - pretty crowded. We're ready to pop the bay doors. How many?">> Pheegus's translator collar on comms again now, <<"Three, optimally.">> <<"H'are ve getting involfed?">> an older man's, a little more excited than one might expect for the timbre of their voice. <<"We've not been offered a contract. Non-involvement unless salvage worth our while shows up.">> <<"Copy, Al'Verde...">> the translator collar managing to inject a smidge of disappointment.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Things can change so quickly.

Mollie turns her head over her shoulder when she hears the exploding, pounding sound of heavy canon fire over her left shoulder. Is this it? Did she leave the burner on in the Heliost? Did she give Zevin that last will and testament she had drafted up before today? So many questions. No time for answers. Her head is clear, and if she dies today, well.

Surprised it wasn't earlier.

CHOOM CHOOM CHOOM CHOOM. <<"Yeah, alright.">> She says. This is it. And then... the sound of X-Wing fire makes her jerk her head in the opposite direction. Saber Squadron's arrival is heralded by a loud <<"WOOOOOO!">> of excitement from the young pilot, <<"REKK YEAH! Happy to see you, Saber Squadron! Hahahaha, just keep 'em off of us for--">>Though Saber Squadron's arrival has caught command of some of the enemy ships, one has stayed trained on the riders to give them one last blasting volley of shots! Its angle is lethal, and the sound of explosions rips through their lines, killing several of the remaining racers in an instant.

On the holoscreen, the projection of the young Zelosian displays him slumped over in his chair, slowly thumbing that little plush toy with a soft smile on his face. Just one more thing to do, Nix. He leans forward and drops the shields of the satellite uplink. They shimmer a bright, opalescent blue for a moment just in time for the racers to make it through.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"You don't -have- to make me? You think I wanna be the lone stoopa lurking around in an arena after they've blasted all those kriff-heads down there?" Colo all but bleats out, squawking in his best facsimile of worry and whinge as he clings to Val. Or near Val. Close enough. The only true worries he has are over the racers he actually knows down there, and then even that's less a worry when the inevitable explosions both in the sky and on the ground completely pull his mind towards the danger to his own shebs. "So stick close to your...? When's the last time I had to be -told- to stick close to your 'shebs', Val?!" Colo all but squeaks in protest as another kaboom sounds in his ears.

What keeps him on focus is, naturally, that he was told to listen. So when Hadrix says they have a ride through that bleeping vocoder of his? The gambler listens, perks, stops waging squeakfare on his lungs, and aims for where the Mandos do. Simple enough rule--the hardened fighters say to rush for somewhere, he rushes to somewhere. Optimally. And uninvolved. "I like that 'uninvolved' part!"

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The loss of those willing to try is enough to keep Tovi moving, to keep her from turning aside when the plasma rains down from overhead. Thankful for every moment that she is not struck she veers as the case of the satellite looms just before her. One bolt slams into the right to her right, tearing up the earth and everthing around it. Debris pings off her helmet and patters across her armor and at her speed they are like tiny stings across her body. She breaks through the shower out the other side and has to hit her breaks heavily as the sound of more ships overhead. The swoop racer comes in hot and sweeps in to stop, climbing off her bike she moves to interface but its not safe, not in the least. The foes are in the air, on the ground and everywhere.

The Wroonian grasps at the two sticks upon her back and pulls them free, the halved quarterstaff in her hands is used to down a few of the opposing forces foolish enough to find their way into the base of the satellite. That is when the other channel pings and she switches over to hear Khalim.

<<"HEy, good to hear you..can explain later. Be ready for lift off in a few minutes, get close to the satellite, keep the ramp open and skim the ground.">>

Its a matter of joining the others to do what they came to do and get the hell out.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Amallia Madine isn't hit directly, but one blast rips into the ground beneath her and makes it sink a half foot. The result is a sudden crash and a head-over-handlebars launch of her body into the ground below. The swoop suit soaks much of the friction damage, but the collision is hard and violent. "Nnnnghh..." Mollie groans and pushes herself to her feet, coughing blood into the inside of her visor and limping as best she can towards the satellite. She's gripping a small transmitter in her right palm. "Saber Squadron... we need to get this intel to the satellites. We're close, please just... cover us," she says.

<<"Push... push...">> she breathes heavily into the comms. She lifts that transmitter up and over her head, as if that precious few feet might just be enough to establish a connection.

That sith shuttle pitches up, keeping its canon fire hot as he draws a line up towards the satellite just before Saber Squadron's canons collapse his cabin

"Mierni," comes the Zelosian's voice, and he smiles up towards the camera. "I love y--"

A pop on the horizon heralds the first chain reaction within the satellite uplink that sets off a series of explosions that sees the massive dish begin to fall.

.

.

.

Beep.

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Valeska's pace is picking up now that she sees the Woor'tra making it's appearance. Force shield out and doing her best to nudge people out of her way -- instead of bashing them -- she glances over her should to Colo. He can't see the grin but he can hear it in the vocoder. <"To my knowledge? You've never had to be told, yeah? Always took the initiative there. But right now, you've got orders and orders make things very easy.">

With her hand still clasped to Colo, she helps the man keep up the pace: the explosions and chaos not really doing much to phase her. Maybe later when she has a chance to breathe will she realize just how utterly insane this is. And will definitely slip in a loving 'told you so.'

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Okay. Help is on the way. Zahsi looks to Zavr and shakes her head. "I'll be okay. I'm going to find some cover, away from..." A pause, followed by a gesture. "...all of this." There is a soft smile as he gives her the name of the vessel and she him a nod of acknowledgement.

"I don't know why they're firing on the racers. Maybe some show of force to try and maintain control? Why else do TIE pilots shoot people?" Zahsi is not a fan. But she doesn't stop moving. Away. She can't help with fighters in the sky while she's on the ground. "What IS your normal activity, out of curiosity?"

[ Caius Sentari (Cai)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Caius still doesn't care. He's on his feet now, clapping his gloved hands together as hard as he can as if attempting to drown out the absolute pandemonium going on before him - to no avail, obviously, and especially when Bizz nets his kill and blinds and likely deafens him. Good thing that he flinched violently away from that, too, because the movement caused him to miss an incoming piece of debris. Not that he saw or even noticed this, but he now looks rather ragged, and once he realizes he can't actually /hear himself applaud/, he starts to show the first lick of concern he's had in the day. Which is, for his frazzled hair. Which he obsessively flattens and puts back into place as he watches the fight unfold. He'll cheer Sabre on with his shining eyes, people will manage...

He just loses it when the dish is engulfed in explosions though, applauding and even shivering like a madman at the sight. Who must he /pay/ for this experience, is the most prominent expression on his face - the shine in his gray orbs augmented by the flames engulfing the scene before him. Oddball...

[ Fjord Alden (Fjord)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Explosions all around but the black racer, while intact is not moving away from the debris zone. Fjord is just smokin.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Zavr Drick nods, "Cover, yes. Cover sounds good. And less likely to get my ship shot out from under me, probably. If, ah... that's ok with you?" He's gonna follow anyway, unless told otherwise, but she'd probably have told him to head for his ship otherwise! "Well, certainly not be a Wook hair away from all of this!" he echoes. About this time there's a few beeps and a chirp and a shock prod wielding R2 unit, specifically Artee, Fjor's zap-happy droid, comes rolling along after the Zeltron. "Artee! What're you doing out here, you're gonna get your fool dome blown off!"

There's a sigh as Zavr considers the situation then just shakes his head. "But to answer your question, usually I just run cargo and do mechanic work off Nar Shaddaa. Two hundred tons of "rare insects" got brought to that polluted ball today Glad I'm not there to find out whatever super villain mastermind had planned for them. No doubt mutated beetles are rampaging through the slums as we run. I'm not sure which place I'd rather. And you?" He huffs a bit as this whole *running* thing ALSO isn't really his thing, but he's doing his best, his pink skin sheening nicely and matting down his violet hair a bit. Now and then he double checks Artee, making sure the droid keeps up.

[ Khalim (Kh)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- That satellite is targeted, becoming a boxed in objective upon the Blur's holographic nav display. Khalim guides the Blur forward, having dropped in altitude and managing for the moment to avoid further entanglement with those Sith starfighters.

The Mirialan's gaze is intent in the direction he expects to see it... any minute... any second. And /there it is/. Below, fast approaching, and taking fire. There are laser strikes upon its peak and the radar dish disintegrates and begins falling towards those still found beneath its shadow.

"Tovani," Khalim calls out, their shared channel fixed open. "East. When you're aboard... any turret."

The Blur flares, nose rising as retro-thrusters and repulsors both work to bleed speed and energy. It yaws heavily, long jets of heavy-burning thrusters somehow managing to keep the vessel from losing control and spinning into a building, or the ground. This yaw continues, and it brings the transport's backside in line with what remains of the satellite.

The Void Blur does not land. It hovers, ramp lowered, exposing the ship's cargo bay to the madness unfolding outside. A perfect entrance, to safety, if one but had the means to access it.

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

A cloud of concrete and glass rains down in the street, shields glowing cerulean and the Woor'Tra turning the cloud into a whirling rooster tail as it comes to a halt above the stands where Hadrix has stopped and seems intent to go no further. Bay doors on the bottom for the craft opening with search spots swinging and marquee lights highlighting the opening for those below.

<"Val'ika, that's us. Mount up, we'll ger you two back to your ships and provide cover."> massive wookie rifle still held low but there's nothing relaxed about his 'on the balls of his feet' posture. The jets on his back firing again, a burst like they're clearing their throat but the big man doesn't lift off,

<"Up you two go, I'm last boots on the ground - Colo, if you can go up without screaming I'll let you drive my walker around."> is there a grin in his voice? Is he teasing? Who knows, but he doesn't sound upset in the least.

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The altercation at the base of the satellite is going as well as can be expected up until there is a shuddering of the earth and the screeching sound of a radar dish separating from the rest of the structure, tearing it apart and usunder.

Tovi looks up and then yells out "MOOOOVE GO!" It may be unneeded but expending the words into open space inspire her to move, staff dropped as she leaps back onto her bike. The engine revs and roars to life as the already hot parts are forced to action once more. "Come on come on..." she starts, still connected with the Blur's comm channel.

<"Big problem here, I need you now!"> Tovi veers away with a sudden burst of speed and lifts her head, trying to look up and spot exactly where the blur is as pieces of the satellite tower are raining down around her. THERE!

The Blur is waiting and she is soon pulling further away - until she's clipped in the arm, the right one suddenly feeling numb and useless at the throttle. Gritting her teeth she reaches over as she closes the gap between the waiting ramp and her bike. Her left hand takes hold of her right and pulls down.

The modified skybreeze JUMPS, slams into the ramp about half up and then continues, lurching forward to climb the rest of the incline and slide across the open bay to a clattering halt, nearly throwing her over the front as she releases the throttle and slides and spins out in what is relative safety. <"Made it...on...bit bruised...both me and the bike. But I am alive." She pushes up, detangling herself as she pries her helmet off. It tumbles to the bay floor with a thud wobble and then she is off, running for a turret.

[ Jax Greystorm (Jax)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Will do, Sabers you heard the lady. We need that Lambda shuttle out of the sky. " Jax says as he pulls up in his Aethersprite fighter and arcs preparing to take the shot but find that his squadron of jedi and Republic pilots that found themselves mercs and scum now doing just that. Funny how changing flags against their will had changed everything and nothing at the same time. "Lets finish e'm up and get home! We got refugees to get to a new life."

[ Bizz Bliptettjupp (bizz)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Bizz shuffles around as he scans through the periscope for more targets. The double laser turret mounted dorsally on his salvage scow tracks. "<<Lambda shuttle in range. FIRE!>>" He says to his R5 droid, "Keep the ship steady, you metallic ham!" The turret fires again with a KA-CHOOOOM KA-CHOOOOM but it fails to penetrate shields.

[ Karas Darkwing (Kar)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

<<Copy that Saber Lead.>> Karas says as he weaves through streets and pulling up his interceptor and breaking for clear skies. He sees friendly fire coming from one of his allies and Karas fires as well lending his interceptors firepower to the attacking and is rewarded with his shots hitting the shuttle, "That hull is pretty tough." he says to Spark who whistles at him in agreement.

[ Zandra naMuriel (Zan)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The fighters didn't last too long, thankfully. Surprise is a wonderful thing. Zan's ETA zooms in and she flies cover, making sure there's not anything else coming their way. The zippy fighter moves with deadly precision, but her pilot is on defense now. <<Do we need to help anyone on the ground, Lead? >> she asks quickly. There's not much else to say, the directions are clear, and there's a bunch of folks aiming at the shuttle. Zan moves to try to get a line on the shuttle that won't drop debris on the crowd or hit her squad mates, but can't find one.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Told-you-sos can come later for Val, for Colo, maybe for Hadrix too if Colo manages to avoid screaming like a wailing Kowakian money-lizard. The Corellian just goes where Val leads him, though his hand clamps far more firmly than he actually has to. Something about the reassurance of the female Mando's gauntlet has him settled on not quite letting go any time soon.

More booms and explosives sound off from on high as the satellite dish sets to limping amidst a rock of shattering sounds. Colo instinctively winces, but doesn't squeak this time. Instead, he focuses on the vocoders over the din around him and...nods. "Right! First off and away! I can do that!" He humps it in the next moment, double-checking to make sure nothing on him will ignite before he latches near to the two Mandos and prepares to board the Woor'Tra and get his pretty shebs out of here.

[ Amallia Madine (Mollie)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Amallia Madine is in the dirt for some time. Smoke chokes her lungs, and the taste of blood on her tongue mixes and mingles in a tangy, salty, irony unpleasantness with the acrid and almost sweet taste of the air around her. She's breathing slowly and shallowly as the satellite uplink begins to tumble down around her. The young woman isn't close enough to the satellite to be crushed by the debris, but the explosion has knocked her onto her stomach, forcing her to inhale duracrete dust on top of the humidity of Thyferran air.

You gonna die like this, Madine?

She rolls onto her back and coughs again, reaching for the pistol at her thigh through some sort of reflex and drawing it. Safety off, gas chambered with a dull little whine. Mollie winces as she pushes herself up onto her butt, scooting across the ground a few feet towards where Khalim's ship has settled down to pick up Tovani.

<<"... wait ...">> comes a small voice through comms, barely readable over static. She coughs a few more times and manages to get herself to her knees. <<"Wait,">> she repeats.

She crawls onto her feet and staggers forward, legs lighting up with pain as she starts to run, but she keeps running. And running. Just like on that bike, she feels, for a moment, like she's about to fly. Until she collides with the on ramp and somehow, some way, manage to crawl her way inside of it and pull her helmet off.

[ Zahsi (zah)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"About the same," Zahsi comments over to Zavr, though her focus is now more on finding a safe way out of the throng of people that are undoubtedly panicking. Fighters overhead tend to result in various pieces of debris raining down. Some bigger than others. Zahsi has no interest in getting caught up in that. "Running cargo, mostly. I'm still working on the whole 'mechanic' part."

There is a slight wince at the sound of the satellite exploding and crashing. It's loud and... well, generally bad. "Yeah, definitely time to go," she mutters. "Looks like the TIEs are losing, though. Not that I'm going to cry over them." The golden-skinned woman turns to duck down some back alleyways, avoiding the main thoroughfares for now. Does she have any idea where she's going? No. But it is generally AWAY from the chaos. Good enough.

[ Valeska Kora (Val)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Stopping just behind Hadrix, Valeska drops the shield being generated from her bracer and looks up at the Woor'tra hovering ahead and above. <"Copy that. Colo, you ready?"> Valeska hooks an arm around the much-taller man, pausing a moment to give him a chance to secure himself to her. And for him to process what exactly is about to happen. <"On three, okay?">

They've been together a while now. Shared in a great many things including the horrors of a full-blown Mandalorian war. But there are still many mysteries to unfold and one of them is coming in: <"One.... two....">

Three never comes. Three might make him tense up. Instead, the jetpacks ignite suddenly and Valeska lurches forward with a spring in her knees that lifts the pair up from the ground and soaring into the air on the fumes of a twin-barreled jetpack.

If Colo is going to lose the fight not to scream, it might be now.

[ Tovani Enno (Tovi)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

That right arm is not awakening and may not anytime soon as it sways upon Tovi's side - useless, unused. It gives her pause when seh starts heading for the tubes, pausing as she turns to be sure the ramp is closing and stops. The intercomm beside her is slammed and she cries out. <"STOP THE SHIP! WE HAVE PEOPLE!"> Knowing he will listen, Tovi is moving, reversing the rise of the ramp so she can slide, skid on her ass back down it so she doesn't end up on her face.

She meets Amallia with a twist of her hip and a press of her good arm up, grunting against the weight of her own body as she grasps her arm and begins to haul her in further, past the bike and her discarded helmet on the bay floor. "Sit ...here...." she says, trying to catch her breath as blue blood begins to trickle free of the wound on her arm and finally hit the floor. Drip. Drop. Drip.

"Along for the ride now..." SLAP. The ramp begins to lift with the asy whine of the hydraulics that guide it back up to seal them in. "Welcome aboard the Blur..." Tovi says to the stow away, a weak grin painting her lips and showing her teeth as she sags down. Comm is hailed. <"All..on board. Get us out of hear.">

[ Vega (Ve)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

<<Lambda coming off the field momentarily.>> Vega states as her Aethersprite darts out of the ball of smoke from her last kill. She doesn't generally kill steal, but she is the last one to hit the Lambda and it definitely isn't going to make it out of this. <<Lambda has been taken care of. Good shooting everyone.>> she states over the comms before she goes silent again.

[ Khalim (Kh)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Hearing that Tovani's safely inside, Khalim has one hand back upon the throttle, the other preparing to point its nose back up at the sky when he hears that follow-on message. It's an order, and he knows that voice.

Rather than accelerate, the starship settles back down. He can see the status light flash on indicating the ramp has lowered, and a quick flip of a switch shows two battered women securing themselves just beyond it's now-raising durasteel plate. 'Get us out of here' is what he hears next, and that's a request he can deliver upon.

"Hold on," he calls back, the intercom carrying his voice. With an intense whine of released ions, the Void Blur's sublight drives are taxed. It's loud even within the cockpit, little attention paid to normal operating paramaters. Within that cargo bay, however, where Tovani and Amallia are (hopefully) safely stowed, it's likely deafening.

But it means their escape, and it does not ebb until they are far enough away that safety appears to be more than wishful thinking.

[ Colo Nell (Colo)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The words shot at him through a vocoder might be semi-robotic in tone, but the precise selection from Valeska has Colo's mind in a far more serene place than he was, oh, a couple of seconds prior. Maybe she'll realize it. Colo does. And immediately latches himself onto the only person that's going to give him the ride out of here he desperately needs.

"Ready!" He bellows and grits his teeth a beat later. She counts to one and the gambler presses an awkward mash of a kiss against her helmet, then clings like the wallaby he's trying to mimic most. Three doesn't come, but...nor does the yelp that he totally expects himself to give. Sure, his stomach descends a few flights of stairs and the knot in his throat goes up to the very top, but no squeaks or yawls or protests arrive. The whingeine is shut down for the day, or at least as long as the brief burst of jetpack that they need to make it to the Woor'Tra's waiting solace.

[ Khalim (Kh)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- The Blur then turns around! It flies back and picks up Zahsi! And Zavr as needed! Khalim is not a jerk! And Fjord! Khalinm then turns around AGAIN! The Blur is a taxi! Fjord is picked up as needed!

[ Hadrix Kora (Had)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- On the heels, metaphorically, of Val and Colo the big Mandalorian lifts off headed for the open bay of the craft that is swallowing up the first two to lift off.

<<"Sensors are reading proximity in the hangar... and now three.">> Greeza's voice now, leaving Pheegus to fly without further distraction. The bay light a cool blue while in combat mode - the B1 droid armed with its blaster, Clankah, slapping the hatch switch to begin the doors closing when the last of the boarders lands with a heavy thud of beskar shod boots.

<<"We're on board, get us out of here, Pheegus.">> <<"Copy, getting the hell out.">>

The ships inertial dampeners maximized to keep those in the bay from being thrown like sacks of tubers when the massive, outsized, engines flare like a rack of blue suns and the blockade runner angles high and banks back towards the landing fields, carrying precious cargo with it.

[ Zavr Drick (Zavr)]=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The further they get from the crowd, the happier, or at least more chill Zavr is, and as they duck down an alley he gives a brief sigh. There's still fear, because he's not an idiot, but it's only his own and he can manage that. Especially with Zahsi nearby. "Yeah... I never really liked working on fighters. I don't think tonight has changed that any. Just noisy and of course the whole killing people thing." Of course with less immediate danger there's that Zavr chatterbox back.

He turns and glances down the alley as they head further in, watching what narrow bit of the spectacle he can. "Do you think they won? I mean, like, they're objective. If they captured whatever flag they needed. Or destroyed the payload." Now that there's some breathing room, he bends down and scuffs some dirt off of Artee's dome. "Hey, put your zappy zap away for now. You can't just go rolling around with it hanging out like that. People might get the wrong idea."

As the Blur starts eating ground in the way only a ship can, he frowns, "Uh... uh... One of them's flying this way!" he informs, panic rising back into his voice.