[MM] Balamak Land Grab

[Grimlock]

Balamak, a major agricultural world located near the Alliance-Imperium border, had a large percentage of their crops die just days after the Alliance forces stationed there pulled out. Just three months before, AgriCore, a corporation based in the Core Worlds, attempted to buy out all the locally owned farms and plantations. The locals refused to sell and AgriCore hired mercenaries to rough the locals up and scare villages into selling. Many of the locals believe AgriCore is responsible for poisoning their land to lower the property value and force them out, but there is little they can do to remedy the situation, especially with the Alliance gone. A Protector detachment has been dispatched to investigate the situation and assist the population. Your team will be among many scattered about the planet. If you encounter AgriCore mercenaries, you may detain them for questioning. If they offer up resistance, deadly force is authorized. Remember, this is not a conquest of Balamak. The local populace is prey to this corporation because of our invasion into the GA. We are honor-bound to move in, restore order, and help them foil this plot. If any of the residents show potential and wish to join our ranks, you may recruit them and provide them transport back to the Mandalore Sector for training.

Sitting aboard the Mandalorian freighter he had bartered passage on to make the journey to Balamak, he silently cursed himself for not having bothered to invest in a ship yet. 'You're broke. That's why you took this job.' mocked his mind as Jorbe glanced up at him giving a small whine. Like all Strill, Jorbe was intelligent. Though his ability to understand his master's moods was both vexing and comforting to the Mandalorian who reached down and scratched behind one of his companion's ears. "We'll be in and out in no time, Jor'ika." stated Dex as he watched the planet Balamak come into view at the viewport he was standing in front of. Glancing down at his bodysuit, he gave a short whistle. "Let's go, Jorbe. Time to get ready to hunt. Oya!"

 

[Grimlock]

"Five minutes to dirt. Make sure your buy'ce is on tight, vod. Never know what those trigger happy mercs might do when they see you."

Glancing up from clipping on his chest plates as he heard the pilot over the ship's speakers. Quickly attaching the thigh plates to his body suit, he pulled his cetare onto his feet before tightening down the heavy boots. Grabbing his belt from bunk he had been using, he strapped the lower end of his vibroblades sheath and the holster of his Rippergun around his thighs. Hearing a chirp from from his datapad, he pulled it from his belt pouch, reading the short message on it.

Mission update: You will be joined by two of your vod. RV with them planetside. Remember the mission requirements. DO NOT fire unless fired upon.

Putting the datapad back into the belt pouch, he pulled his gauntlets on before squeezing his right fist and ejecting the vibroblade a few times to ensure it was operational. Satisfied it was, he grabbed his helmet and pulled it onto his head as it hissed and sealed. Watching inside as the HUD sparked to life, he did a quick systems check of his beskar'gam.

"Touchdown. Good luck out there, vod." called the pilot as Dex felt the freighter settling on it's landing gear. Making his way toward the ramp as it lowered, Dex took in the first view of Balamak.

 

[Rom]

Declan idly put away his datapad, wiping away the blinking signal telling him that a Mandalorian transport had arrived. Standing from his place in a dark corner of the bar near the spaceport, the blue beskar'gam clad verd made his way out into the still damaged streets and made his way into the spaceport towards Docking Bay 6.

The Lorrdian had been sent ahead in a previous shuttle, to scout out the situation to help the more recently bloodied verd. While most Mandalorians would balk at leaving the front-lines, Declan didn't mind; he was always willing to lend a hand when he could, and so had often found his orders changing to accompany green recruits through difficult assignments.

The planet was a wreck; corruption had sunk its eager fangs into its' neck with Agricore leading the effort and now the people walked in fear of being harassed or worse by their mercenaries. Shaking his head, Declan had started to ponder on how selfish outsiders were when a freighter came in to land and a young man in familiar armor prepared to disembark.

"Su'cuy, ner vod. Welcome to Balamak. I'll be helping youon this little endeavour... And these people surely do need our help..." He spoke in a low tone, keeping his eyes peeled for any Agricore representatives. No use being here if they let the strill out of the bag too soon.

Literally it seemed. Smiling behind his helmet, Declan reached a hand down for the strill to inspect. "Hello beastie."

 

[Silver Cutlass]

Leaning against a wall in the spaceport, Lyon, clad in his red and black beskar'gam, looked around, seeing if he could identify his tat, who were here to investigate the situation here on Balamak. Noticing one man in armor heading into one of the landing bays, Lyon leaned up from his place and followed after him. Entering the bay, he found not one, but two men clad in beskar'gam meeting. Approaching them, Lyon nodded in greetings as he spoke. Su'cuy, tat. Looks like we're all here." Once he approached the two, he removed his buy'ce and held it underneath his right arm, giving the pours on his head a chance to breathe. "Lyon Skirata. I'm here to participate in this operation." He said, introducing himself.

 

[Grimlock]

No sooner had he exited the freighter, he was greeted by another Mando'ad in beskar'gam. "Su'cuy gar, ner vod." replied Dex as he listened to his vod assure him the residents of the planet needed help. Giving a nod to the man. "Do we know what the numbers are looking like regarding the AgriCore mercs?" asked Dex attempting to get everything regarding the possible enemy force in order.

Jorbe stared at Declan's proffered hand, finally moving close enough to get used to his scent. The Strill was intelligent and knew he would have to know the scent of each member of the team. Staying where he was to allow the man to pet him should he wish, Jorbe was extending his own bit of trust.

"How are we going to play this? We have permission to detain the di'kutla mercs for questioning. Though I don't think they're going to take too kindly to Mando'ade verda attempting to put them in stun cuffs."

Hearing another voice enter the fray of the conversation, he glanced over to see his aliit'alor greeting them. "Su'cuy, ner vod." replied Dex as he took off his own buy'ce. "Is there someplace we can get a drink around here?" asked Dex with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

 

[Arisalin]

Elias felt the ramp open to the ship before he opened his eyes and saw it. He'd landed after a long flight from behind enemy lines. There was no rest for the young Protector. He refused leave for the sake of the Mandalorian war machine. This would hopefully be a walk in the park. He exited and checked his HUD information. He was to be meeting Dax Skirata, another vod. He wasn't sure how many others would be present against the mercenaries but any amount would help. Elias wanted to finish this as soon as possible.

He wondered about for several minutes before seeing a Mandalorian armored to the teeth pass by a corner. He saw the man then get greeted by another and he started in their direction. He guessed the first to be Dax, just from what he had heard of the man, the other he had no idea. Elias shifted his pack that held the dissembled sniper rifle and other combat ordinance and raised a hand as he neared within ten feet.

"Dax Skirata?"

 

[Grimlock]

Turning at the sound of another new voice, he found a verd in the black armor of the Mandalorian Protectors. "Su'cuy, vod. I'm Dex Skirata." replied the young mando with a wave of his hand as Jorbe turned on the newcomer as his whip like tail swished from side to side, observing the man curiously. Dex was starting to wish he had picked up a repeater from the local weaponsmiths on Mandalore before he took off for Balamak.

"Four verd plus a strill. I don't think the mercs stand a chance." joked the man.

 

[Rom]

Declan pet the strills' head, marveling once again at the loyal beast. His father had never allowed the family to keep one when he was young, but Declan had always had a gift with animals and could usually be found in the beast pens near his village, playing with supposedly fierce manslayers and beasts. He hoped to someday have a loyal pet like this strill, but until then he would content himself with playing with other peoples animals. Glancing up at the new arrivals, Declan idly fingered the head of the large hammer belted at his hip, wondering how this group would fare. He knew that he looked less frightening then the Skirata Aliit'alor for certain, but he carried within him a quiet danger, made only more noticeable by the 4 pistols holstered on him alongside a power hammer a pair of vibro-blades. Between the lot of them, this should be a peace of cake.

He hoped.

"As far as my scouting has led me to believe, the mercenaries tend to stay in the Agricore HQ or the local bars during the day, and head out to harass the farmers in the dead of night. Hut'uune sheb'urcyin." His voice was a low threatening growl under his helmet; everyone who knew of the Kebiin Cabur knew how he felt about bullies. Were he given the chance, he would be doing more than just a simple bruising to some of the people he had heard were the main culprits.

"I'd recommend we go to the tavern and see who comes in. We may be able to get some information about who is going out tonight, and where they're going to. Perhaps then we can introduce them to Man'dalor's justice."

 

[Arisalin]

Elias stood close to the other men silently watching people walk by leading civilian lives. It was so strange for normal things to be occurring to him. He felt as if he'd been behind enemy lines to long and he was just nervous. It was true to. He always felt like there was someone sliding a crosshair over his head several buildings away. He decided then that he'd try to stay out of the other mens ways. He might compromise the mission - even if you could never be to wary.

 

[Silver Cutlass]

Lyon nodded to the Mando petting the strill, and the strill's owner. This was the first time he had been on Balamak before, so he would follow their lead, providing aid when neccesary. All he knew of this world is that is was a major agricultural world, much like Ukio, in the Northern Galactic Disk. If the Mandalorians could do this world a favor, it could bring the world into their fold on good terms, giving the Mando'ad cause another valuable cog in its machine. "Seems as good a plan as any."

 

[Grimlock]

Listening to Declan as he gave a quick brief on the situation of the planet, he nodded in response. "Good idea. Let's shake the tree and see what falls out." replied Dex as he watched Jorbe observe Lyon and Elias taking in their beskar'gam's color schemes and scent for future reference. Maneuvering rather quick despite his six legs and folds of loose skin, he returned to wait for the group of Mando'ade to pick a direction and start walking. "I'll follow your lead, vod. You've been here the longest." stated Dex to Declan

 

[TwoFacedInAcid]

Tracyn sat at in a far corner of the cantina, the lights where dim enough so he could see most of his surroundings. The cantina was filled with men who spent there days trying to drink away there problems, a lone Mandalorian in a place like this didn't raise to manny questions, pedestrians would look once and figure he's just a bounty hunter and stay out of his way, which had it benefits. His eyes where fixed on three men by the holographic dancers, convinced they where AgriCore mercenaries after talking with some if the locals from the previous day, they certainly matched the discription.

Tracyn's attention was pulled from his marks as another Mandalorian entered the cantina, having one of his own watching his back gave the young warrior a feeling if relief. Pulling a red laser out from his utility belt, he let it flash rapidly in his brothers direction for a couple seconds, hoping he would see it and come over.

 

[Grimlock]

Almost as soon as he entered the cantina, his buy'ce picked up a laser flashing in his direction. The HUD gave a direction and zeroed on the point of contact as an armored fist subtly fell to the rippergun at his thigh. Jorbe the black Strill noticed the movement as his ears tucked low on it's head and it's swishing tail ceased it's movement. As the Mando turned his attention to the bearer of the laser, he saw it was a Mandalorian flashing the laser. Letting his hand move away from the weapon at his thigh, he resigned himself to the fact that if the man attempted anything, he would drive the ejectable vibroblade in his gauntlet through his throat.

Slowly making his way toward the Mando, Dex nodded a greeting as he took a seat across from the man. "Su'cuy, ner vod. What brings you to these parts?" asked the commando as Jorbe watched the man carefully. There were plenty of Protectors who had been sent along to Balamak and so the locals gave little attention to the Strill as they had more than likely seen more than their fair share of them.