Ask [Anoat] Avoid the Scramble

[Kotii Solus]

THEME
mission pack​

This was going to be probably one of the hardest things Kotii Solus had done. The capital sized ship they were going to be trying to take would be crossing paths with them soon. The specifications of the Rendili-MandalMotors designed ship were only going to tell the Mandalorian so much. But even in the best of circumstances this was going to be a feat worth retelling, he hoped.

Kotii was clad in a flightsuit of his own design. The dark armor was heavier than most flight suits with extra plating. A reinforced armorweave mesh and magnboots were incorporated into the design as well for this operation. The Alor of House Solus stood onboard his ship, the Werda Kom'rk. The fighter-transport was the fastest ship at his disposal at the moment. A holo display showed the holo-projection of the lictor class in a typical light blue. The past few minutes had been taken pointing out the main weapon emplacements and group compositions with a new prosthesis. A dozen loyal members of House Solus were aboard the ship and paying attention save for the warriors at the controls of the ship. They were equiped for the ahead boarding action and looked ready to tear out the throats of the emperor's finest if Kotii had anything to say about it.

A second vessel, a 4T patrol skiff named Kebii'tra, was flying with the Werda Kom'rk and had a full crew and passenger compliment of Mandalorian warriors also belonging to House Solus. They too shared in during the encrypted briefing over holo-display. "I know we could probably dance around the Lictor all day but that's not what we are here for. If the calculations for the route is correct, we drop out of hyperspace right on top of them." They would be relatively brushing wings with the capital ship amid the nothingness of space. But it was either that or be out in the open and get shot from far away. This way they had a better chance of executing Kotii's plan. "We will be close. A barrage of fire will try and take out any of the turrets once inside the ship's shield array." That way they wouldn't have to try and waste time and munitions on punching through the shields. They would be beneath them. "This Lictor has overlapping fields of quad turbolaser fire which means we'll have to take out at least two turrets on the same side unless we want to be turned to pieces trying to board this thing."

"With enough cleared, the patrol skiff can reach the ship and begin cutting into it with its onboard hull cutters."

"Each of you should be carrying at least ten kilos of welding putty. That's your backup for getting through any bulkhead that is standing in your way." It would take time for them to use the stuff but it was better than being stuck in a metal coffin of ones own making. The slavers onboard the ship were not as likely to be prepared to move freely. The man expected them to become known and security system put into place. But those were meant to quell riots primarily for one thing. "The first group of warriors boarding from the Werda will be targeting the security center to take control of the ship. The internal countermeasures turned against the slavers will clear a bunch of them." The Alor pointed it out the two targets he was prioritizing and the routes to them from the ideal approach vectors. "We'll try to use demolition charges to blast a rapid entry hole in the side of the ship." Karking blow it up so they could fly in after it depressurized is what he meant. "One should do. Others can try to take out turbolasers if you see an opening."

"Second objective is going to be the engines. Even if we reach the bridge first..." He pointed to a third icon denoting the ship's helm and captain location. "...it will take time to slice into anything worth controlling. We'll save the bridge as a third objective or as a backdoor into other systems if they lock us out." Kotii had his slicing tools with him for this mission as well. "The Kebii'tra and their team will try to target the engines from within. That way they'll be dead in the water before they reach Pujool and we'll have more time to deal with the rest onboard."

@Rhogar

 

[Casany Praxor]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Blood crept down her arm like a bug, indifferent to being noticed and aimless in purpose, taking time to crawl along just as time crawled along like a cold reptile. Insects. Animals. She wiped the blood away, secured the wound and rolled her sleeve back down before lifting her naked gaze to the projection. A whole prison of them.

The prison barge looked so small as it floated within a smaller ship somehow still bigger; the hologram might have even been cradled in the Mandalorian’s own two arms, if only to be dropped and broken. So big, so many, our enemies surrounding us like the stars…

The Mandalorians of the galaxy were outnumbered by everyone who was not one of them, but like this prison ship their size and their number meant nothing to the strength that burned in the blood of a Mandalorian’s arms. And ours are growing.

Casany Praxor listened closely as Kotii Solus briefed the team on the mission. She did not see any obvious holes, except for the ones they would soon be making in the Lictor, though it took a few blinks before she realized she had taken a moment to stare through the holo display instead of at it.

Is this real? Am I here? Are we really doing this? Or were they back on Sundari just talking about doing it all over again?

If one thing was for certain it was the reality of her surroundings: Mandalorians, each and every one of them, in this ship and that one. They would be fighting side by side once again, and if theirs was a campaign then this mission would merely mark the horn of their coming.

“I’ll go for the security center, unless you have a preference for me,” Cas nodded at Kotii, offering flexibility in her expression. Her face was plain, offering little else, her long hair braided down a shoulder and her helmet held against her armor.

Soon that helmet would be on her head, that armor would be storming through the breach, and the Mandalorian’s arms would cradle the arms of her blaster and her sword.

@Darasuum @Rhogar

 

[Skjorn Naskar]

Srucayr had ordered Cas and Skjorn, as well as a complement of ten Orar'da'yadr warriors to join the warriors of House Solus on this mission. It was meant to foster unity amongst their respective Coalitions and Skjorn was only all too proud to serve his people. Drahr was in his hand, the butt of the rifle hugging the floor of their ship, while his own gauntlet gripped the rifle around the center of its length. Clad in his usual beskar, the young War Priest was prepared for what lie ahead, his whistling birds had been exchanged for modified jet boots that had mag boot capabilities as well.

The plan seemed all well and good to the War Priest, but his concern once they entered was that the slavers would begin to execute the slaves should the battle not be going in their favor. That was something Skjorn couldn't abide by, nor would he be expected to.

His visor would drift over to Cas as she inspected the blood on her arm. "Need me to burn it sealed, sister?" Skjorn would ask Cas as his gaze shifted back to Kotii. "Alor, we will infil with the security team.. But we will branch off to safeguard the slaves. That, and our presence near the cell blocks will buy your warriors longer time to hopefully turn the weapons on them. If they don't join our people, the Orar'da'yadr can provide them with transport home or refuge at the village of Tann on Roon."

@Die Shize @Darasuum

 

[Kotii Solus]

Securing the security center would give them the best chances of keeping prisoners from further harm. Casany of clan Praxor spoke up of the Orar'da'yadr. Kotii gave a nod of approval before listening to Skjorn. The control over them was maintained from those compartments inside the Lictor class. Their focus needed to remain the security center over all. But Kotii couldn't help but want this to go well. There were arutiise among the prisoners far more than there were Mandalorian brothers and sisters. The Alor of House Solus paused and looked at the holoprojection of the designated routes.

After a moment of analyzing and blinking singularly, his hand extended to point where his crimson eyes focused. "Here..." The spot was along the route to the security center, roughly half way into the depths of the ship towards its center. Kotii's finger drew a straight line across and down. "...half way to the security center your team can break off and try to meet any of them trying to repel boarders. I doubt they would use the prisoners beyond the point of hostages. Don't give them the chance." The Alor was allowing them to head off on their own glory seeking. "Hopefully we'll be able to manage breaking in without you. You'll know if we succeed or not because you'll have to end up burning through a dozen capital rated blast doors." The tone came out a bit more sassily than he had intended. Following that path, they had a better chance of success and were less likely to be outflanked in the early moments of the boarding action.

Looking at the rest of them he would roll his shoulders. Kotii Solus wasn't one for big speeches. He needed them to get fired up if they weren't all ready."You know your tasks brothers and sisters. Let's show these Consortium scum what it means to be boarded by the galaxies greatest warriors. Right here and now we will live up to our ancestor's legacy. Oya!" The shout was echoed by the others onboard, some adding a clank of their armor or stomp of their boot to it. The hologram projection would go dark and the remaining warriors would finish their last moment preparations.

@Rhogar @Die Shize

 

[Skjorn Naskar]

"We won't abandon you, I'm sure they have two garrisons. We'll hold this point, Brother." Skjorn would say to Kotii. Stepping away from the map, he'd pat Cas's shoulder. "Kadspeed, Sister. See you on the other side of this." He would then rejoin his warriors as they made their final preparations to board.

This would be the first of many strikes against slavers by their people and they would honor the memory of their forebears through their actions here. With a final once over of his gear, the young War Priest would be ready.

@Darasuum @Die Shize

 

[Casany Praxor]

Spoiler: Music OOC

Burning a wound sealed was a sensible endeavor. Stars know why I won’t. If her brother wanted to learn why then he might yet, but by that point Cas had treated Skjorn with a cocked brow that beckoned him to dare before the two listened as Kotii mapped out their routes.

Skjorn and Cas would be running and gunning security as one. The former had a solid idea in safeguarding the slaves. To that, Cas waited until Kotii had sassed his way through a dozen capital rated blast doors.

“Taking on security should give us access to some firepower. Especially for any of our own people, arming any slave who won’t shoot our way sounds stellar.” She shrugged, not knowing whether Skjorn in particular would think differently. “A slave is a corpse if they can’t defend themselves, Mandalorian or not.”

When all was said, it was time to do, and that marked one more moment of Cas’ appreciating Kotii’s not being one for big speeches.

Solus was direct and to the point, wasting no time that was needed, and that more than anything is what prompted Cas to give her voice, her armor and her boot in the cheering.

The Mandalorians were about to enter battle. No, we are about to obliterate the di’kuts who dare to defend themselves against us.

With that little reality in tow, Casany Praxor slapped a hand on Skjorn’s shoulder. “Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur.” Then she made her way to the restroom to take care of an old wound.

@Darasuum @Rhogar

 

[Kotii Solus]

Kotii was reminded of the numbers inside by Skjorn. The Alor of House Solus was not taking his blackwell manufactured sniper rifle today. It would not be practical in the tight ship quarters. On his back he instead had a foesweeper scatterblaster taken from his armory. The weapon was far more effective in the close-quarters-battle that was ahead of them. His rocket pistol and python heavy blaster pistol would be enough for him to deal with any other shipboard threats.

"Fair point, Cas. Better a corpse than a killer of kin though. Use your best judgement, all of you." He replied to Cas but looked at the others. They were free to arm anyone they saw fit once onboard. But Mandalorians were not always the most popular people in the galaxy and had been taken advantage of in the past. They may hurt their captors but he also did not want Cas and Skjorn to see them all as allies. Such a thing would be absolutely naive. An enemy of an enemy is just another force to contend with on the battle field, it doesn't make them a friend.

The Werda Kom'rk dropped out of hyperspace just as expected. It was not alone and just as planned began flying quickly towards the rectangular shaped prison barge grew bigger and bigger. Its size becoming more apparent, the lictor was hundreds of meters long and he was glad to be making a breach from the outside rather than having to travel through its interior.

The hull of the ships shook as its weapons fired off inside the shields of the capital ship. Laser cannons scored precision hits and right away began taking out the turret emplacements before they even began tracking them. "Fair point. Better a corpse than a killer of kin." He replied to Cas to let her know his thoughts on the subject. The prisoners may hurt their captors but he also did not want Cas and Skjorn to see them all as allies. An enemy of an enemy is just another force on the battle field, it doesn't make them an ally. "Kandoshii! Nice hit!" He said to the pilot. Behind the Werda, the rear facing turret began putting in work immediatly. There were a lot of turrets though and it would keep the ships busy.

The lights in the troop transport interior changed a the doors of the multi-role fighter opened up to the vacuum of space. It depressurized but the signature disembarkation area allowed the super commandos to leap forth from the Werda Kom'rk and towards the surface of the ship.

Flames from where the laser cannons hit marked where the armor clad raiders were meant to breach the ship. His heart was racing, the emptiness of space was all around him. Kotii felt like he was braving the abyss to capture this leviathan. Together with his brothers and sisters they were hunting a mighty beast. The perfect grin of the mixed-blood Mandalorian was hidden by his helmet as his boots made contact with the outer hull of the Lictor. Looking around he saw other Mandalorians securing themselves. Kotii did not waste time and began setting his demolition charge.

@Rhogar @Die Shize

 

[Skjorn Naskar]

Today his DC-17x was in blaster rifle modulation to make use of the narrower corridors. His disrusptor rifle was also slung over his back and at his waist was his beskad. Orar'da'yadr and Solus would once again storm into the abyss together, another day their forebears would only have dreamt of.

Battle was more than that to the faithful of Kad. It was a song, the ability to impose their gods will and change the galaxy. Skjorn would say a silent prayer for those that would fall, but also asking Kad to protect both Alore. His days of service meant his life could be forfeit at any moment and he did not fear that end.

As the turrets pounded away on the doors he would begin to bang away on his beskar, him and his kin chanting the Dha Werda Verda. The fighter de-pressurized, and both chanting and banging would continue. Those not with charges would prepare tow cables on the designated area so they could pull it free and discard the slab. With the charges set and space cleared, they'd await the detonation.

@Darasuum @Die Shize

 

[Casany Praxor]

Spoiler: Music OOC

As battle began, pulsating about the silence of space, war began to pulse through Casany’s veins. This is what she lived for. This is what she was born for. And I am not alone.

Vod after vod stood beside her soon to fight, many of them chanting and cheering, banging and pounding, like theirs was an army of death and their enemy was already in the grave.

Come! Cas called to her heart, then aloud. “Come on!” Her helm hid her head, though the T of her visor would tell the same tale as her brothers and sisters; a story of triumph. Theirs would be a song of victory.

Demolition charges were set, red and gold beskar begging the host to open the front door by dancing on the hull amid flames of fury. The cannons had done their work. Now was the work of flesh and bone, arms and armor, and from them an explosion.

The hull breached, a hole opened, and Praxor paraded into the breach with a Westar pistol in either hand. “Come with me and take this vessel!”

@Darasuum @Rhogar

 

[Kotii Solus]

The explosion of the demolition charges set off one after another. The Mandalorian shock troopers were unified in more than their cause. Their coordination, despite not having gone through drills together, was still executed with terrifying precious. Wrenching wholes in the side of the ship and opening compartments to the vacuum of space, the Mandalorians waited only moments for the depressurization to finish and then breach.

Magnetic boots marched with the field of stars to their back. Flickering light and smoke vented past them horizontally. Inside Kotii's helmet he was getting information that the Kebii'tra was doing well on the other side of the Lictor and had made successful breach as well. Kotii raised his scatterblaster as he saw a body come into view and double-tapped the trigger. The lethal fan shaped blast of energy had no issue close-lining the incoming defender. Kotii kept firing in quick controlled trigger bursts.

The only time he paused was to move to the side and duck from incoming blaster fire. The foesweeper ran empty after taking down its eighth target in a shot to the faceplate. The Zann Constorium enemies were armed with rifles or pistols. Some of them had stun batons but none of the wise ones were getting into melee. Not that they could given how much blaster fire was directed at each of them.

Ahead of the Alor's group was the security center. But the

"Skyorn, good hunting Brother!" He said over the helmet comm channel, indicating his time divert for his own mission was present. The rest of the warriors that had breached the ship kept fighting into the ship.

@Rhogar @Die Shize

 

[Skjorn Naskar]

War. The song of their people, the will of their God. This is what it looked like when a people's heart beat as one and the hearts of the Mandalorians had been beating as one since Concord Dawn. Skjorn would leap into the ship, magboots locking, the Orar'da'yadr streaming in behind him. Though Clans had differed means of training, each Mandalorian was trained in the art of war from baker to warrior. And despite those differences, they moved as one.

Those of the A'den Kal that arrived with Skjorn would crouch low behind their shields, advancing to the front of their kin to deflect blaster fire, moving in a formation to allow their kin mobile cover. Their shields would angle to allow bolts from enemies to riccochet to the ceiling harmlessly over the heads of their kin, though allowing their kin to return fire.

Bolts rained everywhere and for the Orar'da'yadr who weren't fighting yet, the Dha Werda Verda was still being chanted over the fighting. The Pirates will was breaking and many were beginning to fall back to either regroup or even quit their vessel.

"Skjorn, good hunting Brother!" Kotii's voice would come over the comms.

"You as well, I will leave several A'den Kal with you for mobile cover. We'll damage the door panels behind us, so once you get to the control center you can re-open them from their. Kad preserve you, Brother." he'd flick off the comm and shout to his men. "Vornskyr, Tor, Vex, Klynn! Stay with our kin! The rest of you, with me!" Skjorn would advance to the first hallway before heading for down the corridor to the cells, his warriors at his back. They would hold the second barracks or die trying.

@Darasuum @Die Shize

 

[Casany Praxor]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Casany Praxor was surrounded with her aliit, her brothers and sisters in arms that were locked together stronger than a pair of magboots.

From baker to warrior, they moved as one, fighting and biting and dying—if it came to it. For now, they were doing the majority of the killing—with terrifying precision.

Pistols fired in a flurry, scatterblaster in a barrage, and the enemy scattered in a montage of blasts and beyond.

For her part, Cas had no clan aboard, no Solus warriors or Oreo soldiers, but she did have herself. And I’m a kriffing hailstorm beside my vods!

She was no less, no more, banking on the shields of the A’den Kal as she stormed above and below with twin trails of blaster bolts from a weapon in either hand.

Forward, onward—downward, upward—the direction of death and destruction did not matter for the Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian learned as early as possible that ‘death and destruction’ were but the wares of war. Wielding them was what mattered most.

“DON’T SHOOT DON’T SHOOT DON’T SHOOT!”

Came a cry from the other end of the corridor. The cells were just beyond. Before them was a dozen or so individuals from this species to that one, garbed in rags, each one sporting an identical blaster rifle.

Cas trained both pistols on the frontmost target, tempted to squeeze the triggers but assessing the situation. “We are your liberators or your executioners,” she spoke on behalf of Skjorn. “Choose.”

@Darasuum @Rhogar

 

[Kotii Solus]

Kotii was used to fighting in his other armor a bit more. The awkwardness of his flightsuit was something he would need to train in a bit more. But for now his vode and he were doing an exemplary job of storming the ship. The man did not slow down his advance even as he had directed Skyorn. His voice stayed with his helmet comm channel though.

In a few moment after more fighting the Mandalorians stepped over smoking bodies and through carbon scored halls. An update from the Kebii'tra told him they were almost to the engines. Any moment they would possibly feel a change in momentum.

The voices, pleading to be spared were met with the muzzle of his python heavy blaster. The autobuilt magnetic accelaretor could send any one of the targets flying with the pull of a trigger. But Kotii stayed his left cybernetic hand for now. Casany gave them an option. "liberators! we choose liberators!" Each of them dropped their blasters and raised their hands. One of them cursed something 'karking mandos, you got a death wish?' it sounded like someone was trying to convince a coworker to do the same. A moment later one of the most rear-guard of the ragged group dropped their blasters.

"Which way is the security center?" He said from behind Casany with an authoritative tone and gain their attention. The thought of still shooting them was a possibility. They could stun them and throw them in cells and come back later. One of the raggedy looking prisoners appeared to be a Elomin and sported familiar runes on one visible arm as well as his face. "That way. We were just heading there. Thought there was a riot and was going to make a break for it." The directions matched what they had expected from the details of the ship before boarding. It was good they had not overhauled the ships interior. "We're taking this ship. If you want to earn your freedom....pick up your blasters and follow us." A moments of hesitation as they looked between themselves and did as ordered. Kotii gave them a moment and then looked over to the others and make sure they were ready to continue on.

The prisoners complied and in short order the Mandalorians with the liberated prisoners took the rest of the Lictor class ship. Some took damage and injury but aside from a handful of the prisoners, no losses were had by the Mandalorians. At the Alor's direction, they began repairing and slicing the ships controls. It would not be long before the Lictor class dungeon ship was heading towards its intended destination. However when it arrived it would have a compliment of Mandalorian warriors onboard with the prisoners now armed and ready to fight. Galvanized into taking the crypt, he knew he could count on them to help storm the rest of the Zann Consortium facilities.

End thread​

@Rhogar @Die Shize