Cry Havoc!

[Leandros Solus]

Mandalorians will show up with basilisks to attack and wreak havoc on any and all Imperial buildings to keep forcing them away from the planet. This will be in concert with the public being in a panic and terrified of an Empire no longer looking out for them.

Participants: @Daniel Solus @Solone Wren @Leandros Solus

Theme​

It was the eve of invasion.

Within his ship, Leandros and those accompanying him prepared for battle. They were invading Onderon, finally beginning their campaign to take Republica worlds. There was some degree of irony in this mission; Onderon was the first planet he assaulted with his clan and where he began his long journey to Field Marshal. Now, it seemed like things came full circle and it was where he would return as an invader, ready to bring ruin to the Empire on a scale Onderon would wish it never experienced.

The Overhead freighter slipped past any kind of identifiers that were in place via an IFF spoofer, though Imperial defenses on the border planet were lackluster. He was in the hold while his retinue piloted and manned the many guns on the ship, seeing to his own surprise for the Onderonian people: his basilisk war droid. He was praying around the machine, offering libations and asking the gods for strength and protection in the coming conflict. He knew the machine was mostly impervious to anything shy of ship cannons, but he wanted to ensure that he and his comrades would be fine. He loaded up his equipment, making sure to stash the PIPE-VII and some rounds of ammunition on the mount. He had room for one other rider. Solone. Wonderful. The woman who shamed him.

His ship was close to entering orbit, since none of them had EVA armor, and he summoned his passenger to the hold where his basilisk sat, ready for the next part. Leandros climbed on top of his mount and patted the side of its impressive armor, muttering something in Mando’a. It responded with a long buzz and he patted the side again. When his passenger arrived, he helped them climb up and settle in, then barked a command to his mount. It shuddered forward just as they entered orbit high above Iziz.

”OYAAA!”

He shouted to the heavens and the droid leapt out of the ship and began plummeting towards the earth. Leandros held on tight, the intense speed causing the winds to buffet them with incredible force. They had no risk of falling out, but it was a hell of a drop. The awe-inspiring sensation of riding such a powerful mount into battle in the first-ever battle of the Third Crusade certainly was not absent in Leandros’ mind. Visions of glory and burning worlds filled his mind as he thanked Kad Ha’rangir for the life he lived.

The droid continued to free fall for what felt like minutes as they dropped. Beneath his helmet was an expression of pure grim determination, his mind focused solely on removing the Imperial influence on Onderon. This world would be theirs.

After some time, they approached the city near the Imperial quarter where most of the garrison was consolidated. The people below would be in a panic from simultaneous events and the sight of a war machine streaking towards their capital city. Screams could be heard, and Leandros saw a few Imperial soldiers scrambling to get their arms and prepare to repel the invaders. They would not stand a chance. Bolts sailed harmlessly by or struck against the impenetrable armor of the basilisk. Nothing would hit the riders. The mount responded by unleashing a flurry of its own bolts and rockets, sending the guards running away in terror at the overwhelming firepower.

The great droid slammed into the streets, sending out a resounding tremor not unlike that of an explosion and utterly destroying the paving. Ahead was the entrance to the Imperial district. Ahead was their target.

Ahead was where fire and ruin would run rampant to the shouts of crusade.

 

[Solone Wren]

Solone had not had a rush like this in ages, they were more than just making a push this time, now it was time for conquest. The Republica was without a leader, they would be distracted, unorganized, it was a prime opportunity to demonstrate the full might of the Mandalorians. This was not the first the Mandalorians had come to Onderon, it was not long ago that Clan Solus had launched an aggressive campaign against the Empire, finally showing there was a threat that should not be ignored. However, now she quietly sat on the ship, trying to ignore the fact that she was in the same company with Leandros Solus, who clearly has not found humor yet in his crusade. The woman inhaled deeply and let out a long breath, clearing any lingering thoughts that would interfere with their invasion.

She watched as Leandros climbed onto his basilisk, settling in before holding out a hand to help the Wren woman, who made sure everything was securely fastened to her body knowing how they were going to arrive on the planet's surface. She had never ridden on a droid before, she found it odd, but intriguing at the same time as the thing moved with the fluidity of a live creature. The cargo hatch would open and Solone wrapped her arms around Leandors' waist in order to hang on tightly as they dropped from the heavens to the surface.

"OYAAA!" Solone screamed, gripping Leandros tighter, and then her scream turned into a laugh of thrill and excitement as they free fell before the droid took more control. Never in her life had she experienced such a thing, not even free falling in a fighter craft generated such an adrenaline rush within the woman. They were spotted rather quickly, however, the armor of the droid held up against the blaster bolts that tried to slow their descent to city's surface, but it would all be in a futile effort as they landed barely unscathed ready, the duracrete cracking under the impact of the droid's landing.

Solone leaped off the droid, feeling some relief to have her feet planted back on the ground. Her blasters were drawn as she was ready to follow Leandros to their target.

@Lucid @Painus

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

"YAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Daniel was having the time of his life riding his new Basilisk. There had been an issue with the order and it had been delivered to the wrong side of Mandalore...had taken ages to track down but he finally had it and oh my gosh it was the best toy he ever had. Fine, it wasn't really a toy but damn was it fun. Daniel hooted with delight as the pair of basilisks plummeted down through the sky. He could just make out Leandros and Solone yelling a much more traditional battle cry over the wind and roar of repulsors. Their mission was simple, wreck everything. And that they could do. Very well. Daniel felt terrible about having to kill more people but Leandros and Solone were both very scary so he could not show weakness.

Or they would eat him. Literally.

The basilisks landed and Solone hopped off and started running after Leandros as he moved on to his next target. Daniel still wasn't completely sure how to use his droid though, so he had to take a moment to figure things out. Tongue sticking out between his teeth under his helmet he navigated a number of menus until he found what he was looking for. The plasma cannons whirred around and began to whine as they built up charge. He sent his droid chasing after Leandros and Solone. They reached the Imperial Distrcit in a matter of minutes and Daniel took the lead.

Laser cannons flashed and burned. A the first floor of a building vanished in a flash and the whole thing began to lean precariously to the side. Daniel was unconcerned. It was like a video game come to life. He took aim again at a large building forward and to his left. With a cracking hiss a rocket exploded from the front of his basilisk and ploughed clear through a large imperial banner that was hanging beside the entrance. The explosion and rain of masonry fragments that followed was brilliant. Daniel laughed to himself and opened his comm. "Guys! These things are AWESOME!"

@Painus @GABA

 

[Leandros Solus]

Chaos and confusion ran rampant; the arrival of a second basilisk sent another window-shattering tremor throughout the area, and now citizens worriedly looked on from the assumed safety of their homes or quickly scrambled off of the streets in order to avoid the Mandalorian war path. Some cried for help, while others simply wept, believing this to be the end. The people of Iziz had already suffered deaths at the hands of the Mandalorians, and those wounds were still fresh in their minds. Families still mourned lost loved ones, and the Imperials on-planet were paranoid of another attack.

It is a shame that they were not prepared for this attack.

Leandros simply ushered his basilisk onward as Dan scraped past out of desire to lead the pack. With his rifle raised, the older Mandalorian took pot shots at the gathering Imperial forces at the entrance to the district while his droid wreaked havoc. Twin rockets burst forth from his mount, streaking through the air and making contact with what looked to be an Imperial Navy recruiting center. Glass and stone erupted forth and peppered the alleyway, plinking harmlessly against his droid.

”Kill them all,” he responded to Dan’s youthful shouts of glee. The people within this district were not civilians; they were all combatants and contributors in some way to the Imperial war machine, and they had to suffer for their sins. His droid cut a swathe through the streets with its laser cannons as it marched along, its great metal claws digging in deep in the paved road. Screams echoed out as peoples’ livelihoods were ruined, their homes destroyed, and their city razed. These were the screams of a planet unworthy of mercy; the screams of a people undeserving of compassion.

Even with a monarchy that did nothing for them after the first attack; even with a monarchy whose leader was imprisoned, and then the usurper killed, leaving them without guidance. Even despite the neglect they were shown, nobody had risen up against their rulers and declared the Empire unfit to rule. That is why the Mandalorians had to be here – to show them the weakness of their government. It was an unfortunate, but necessary purpose. His mind drifted to the civilian deaths, but he shook his head and refocused on his hatred of the Sith. His purpose was pure, and his justification noble. This was for his Mand’alor. This was for his clan and house. This was for Medriaas.

This was retribution.

@GABA @Lucid

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Daniel heard Leandros' cry and steeled himself. This wasn't exactly his cup of tea, but the Imperials needed to be taught a lesson...and so did Leandros. He'd show him that he could be a real Mando...sometimes. He gathered himself and turned his basilisk toward the nearby Imperial bank. People were fleeing from it in a massive stream.

The basilisk fired two more rockets and volley from it's plasma cannons. The front of the building began to crumble and fall inward. The screaming reached a new, more frantic level and Daniel turned his own attention to the flood of Imperials. Just like Leandros, Daniel knew that these people were not normal civilians. They all contributed to the Imperial war machine and they would suffer for it.

He brought up his arm, sorry for, but not against, what he was going to do. He closed his fist and triggered his wrist rocket. It lanced out and landed squarely in the middle of the Imperial mob. The scene that followed was nothing short of gruesome. As the bank building crumbled behind them, several beings were instantly vaporized and dozens more injured or killed in the blast. A mist of blood began to settle on his armor, then something much more gross happened.

A full on chunk of arm, complete with hand, landed squarely on Daniel's head, the lifeless fingers dangling in front of his visor. He nearly threw up in his helmet but managed to keep it down. Sickened, he plucked the grisly trophy off his head and whipped over to Leandros, he liked those sort of gifts, right? Whatever. There were still more buildings to destroy, more people to kill. Daniel urged his droid forward, eager to get in some more damage before the military inevitably showed up to try and stop them.

@GABA @Painus

 

[Solone Wren]

As Dan and Leandros played with their toys, Solone covered when their backs were turned; as civilians and citizens alike ran for safety, however, that would not in the favor as buildings crumbled from the volley of firepower. She saw a group of Imperials trying to pick off Leandros and Solone quickly fired shots that burned deeply in their chest, the third in the group attempted to run away, but the Wren woman made sure he would be recognized as a coward by the hole burned into his backside. The ground rumbled with every fire and every step from the basilisks and eventually, the sound of weapon fire and the screams fell deaf to her ears.

She was personally done with the Empire and those who were present clearly supported it in some way, but hopefully, some would see now, as the Mandalorians tore through the streets that their Empire did not care for them and neither did the Houses of Onderon. With a flick of her wrist, Solone leaped into the air, the jet pack helping her take flight as she picked off more Imperial officials as they attempted to flee from their hiding spots until they had thought the Mandalorians were far enough for them to escape. She felt blaster fire gaze her arm and she quickly turned, firing at the civilian who tried to be the bigger warrior, but he would be granted a warriors death as Solone landed in front of him, her Beskad at hand as she slid it up into his diaphragm, listening to him choke on his own fluids before turning back to the rest of the battle.

A large explosion followed by the wet sound of body parts splatted across the city, she was uncertain who's weapon fired, but the impact was enough to send droplets of blood across her helmet. She saw Dan toss a body part at Leandros and even the Wren grimaced at the sight, shaking her head and muttering something about "/Men./"

Solone made sure the area was cleared before catching up with the others, another wrist flick and she leaped into the air, taking temporary flight again as she aimed her blaster at some Imperials on the rooftops who looked as though they had some heavier artillery, "/Rooftops, guys!" Solone yelled out.

@Painus @Lucid

 

[Leandros Solus]

Leandros’ face was frozen in a rictus of hatred and determination. He was focused solely on the wanton destruction of the Imperials in the city and was going to ensure that the Republica had no place on Onderon any longer. Screams fell upon deaf ears as his basilisk stomped through the city streets, firing on its own at buildings and crowds of uniformed Imperials. He tried to avoid needless civilian death where possible, but he knew that such a task was too tall of an order. Their goal was to show the Onderonians that the Imperials could not defend them against such a threat, and so he knew that people needed to die. Good, bad, strong, weak, innocent and guilty, all would suffer at the hands of the Mandalorians.

For the first time, he felt truly in tune with his ancestors. This is what the ancient crusaders experienced. Death and destruction for a holy cause orchestrated by one of their own who was chosen by the gods to lead them in a new era of war. He felt truly alive, and he relished every moment of it. Every stomp of the basilisk, every bolt fired, every fire that raged – all was in the name of the Mandalorians. Every corpse lining this street was for Mand’alor. For Raz. She would remind the galaxy why they were the most feared warriors in history. And by her side, Leandros would stand ready to burn a thousand worlds at her command.

Dan lanced through several civilians and blew up a significant portion. As Leandros continued on his grim death march, a limb bounced harmlessly against the side of his mount, sliding down and being crushed underfoot in a sticky, gruesome mess. The boy was learning, at least, even if he seemed apprehensive about it all. They were on a righteous quest, and there could be no room for doubt.

Solone was off on her own covering the two mounted men, slaying Imperials in her own manner. She alerted them to the rooftops, and Leandros raised his own rifle and fired several bolts at the Imperials preparing to hit them with heavy ordnance. Two men fell from the top, screaming as they plummeted to their dooms. His basilisk reared its great head and fired a volley of bolts from its cannons, slicing one man in half in the process. There were a few up top, but Leandros figured Dan could handle them.

Ahead was the central Imperial garrison. Ahead was their final target. Claim victory over it, and they would show that the Imperials had no place on Onderon.

@GABA @Lucid

 

[Solone Wren]

Solone darted out of the way as Leandros turned to take care of the Imperials who tried to take aim at him and his basilisk, the woman spotted on an adjacent rooftop another group who were preparing in the same manner as the group behind her and she unleashed several consecutive shots from her blasters. One emptied and she quickly holstered it, some of the Imperials were struck, their injuries were yet to be fatal, but as they tried to move for cover, the Wren woman primed a grenade and threw it over. It didn't even land before exploding overhead of the injured imperials, shrapnel tearing through their flesh, leaving them mangled in their final resting spot.

The woman landed back on the street her beskad at hand now as she continued to spill blood, more so in granting mercy to those who were injured by the onslaught of the two Mandalorians on basilisks. Her blade slipped through the necks of the civilians caught in the destruction, their injuries were grotesque, they would die before help would arrive and Solone pitied them as they had lived all their lives under the oppressive nature of the Empire. She granted them a quick death, but for the Imperials, she would pause a moment, looking down at the faces and outstretched hands and continue on her way, they were not worth her time, this was the life they had chosen, they will die painfully of the live they have chosen.

When satisfied, Solone once more caught up with the others, a slight wrist flick gave her the boost she needed from her jet pack to land on Leandros' basilisk, steadying herself before settling on the mount behind the Solus' Field Marshal. They were just about at their target and the woman couldn't stop the smile she had from under her helmet.

@Lucid @Painus

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Solone, it seemed, was a jetpack artist. Daniel was filled with envy as she flitted effortlessly around shooting people and dealing efficient death to anyone in her way. By comparison, for all their wanton violence, Daniel and Leandros were just brutes, their machines doing much of the heavy lifting. In the end it didn't matter and, as Solone landed gracefully, like a swan--Daniel was very impressed and he was romanticizing the whole situation--on the back of Leandros' basilisk their primary target came into view.

Daniel wasn't going to be left behind. This was what they were here for, after all. He coaxed a bit more speed from his droid and pulled up alongside Leandros and Solone. With a glance he looked over and confirmed. A unified strike from all of their of them would be more than sufficient to devastate the building. The trio pulled up, still raining opportunistic death down on passerby and directed their weapons toward the building.

With a hard slap to the basilisk's control panel, Daniel made it disgorge all of its weapons. A flashing, roaring tidal wave of devastation poured from the droid. As the rockets, lasers and plasma flew Daniel clipped a new round into his wrist rocket and sent that flying towards the building's entrance too, just for good measure. Everything connected at the center of the massive Imperial banner. It was a targeted, very obvious show of force.

The Mandalorians intended to strike at the heart of the Empire. What had been done here today was only the beginning.

@GABA @Painus

 

[Leandros Solus]

Onderon was burning.

Well, actually just Iziz was burning. But Onderon proper would soon be burning with the flames of dissent. The oppression of the Imperials would be short-lived once the Mandalorians succeeded in their operations on the planet and degraded whatever loyalist support that remained. This was a reckoning for the people of this planet; the first Mandalorian incursion they had experienced. It was not death and ruin across the planet, however, but strategic strikes to reduce Imperial presence and win the hearts and minds of the people. They could conquer it by force, of course, but they would not hold it for long if they had gone through and slaughtered everything in their crusade. Just the Imperials.

Leandros and his comrades marched through the streets laying waste to the Imperial district. A trail of debris and corpses marked where they went, and the living marked where they would go. Solone flitted about the battlefield on her jetpack, slaying those that the mounted warriors did not. On more than one occasion she delivered Kad’s Mercy to the wounded innocent and left the guilty to suffer. Eventually she gravitated back towards Leandros’ basilisk and assumed her position as his co-rider. They were nearing their goal.

Daniel caught up with the older Mandalorian and tramped alongside him before they came to a halt in front of the garrison. He looked over at Leandros and the zealot raised his beskad, pointing it towards the great banner that cast a shadow over the district.

”Destroy it all!”

He shouted above the chaos and confusion of their assault, prompting those on their side to open fire on the building and its banner. Dan’s basilisk targeted the banner proper, while Leandros’ basilisk sent rockets, bolts, and plasma towards the building itself. Duracrete and durasteel chunks exploded outwards as those inside who were attempting to flee were vaporized instantly. The banner was ruined and the building it was mounted on was a no man’s land of unidentifiable corpses and debris.

The Imperials remaining – the ones not dying of their injuries – threw down their arms and went to their knees in surrender. People screamed in horror at the carnage and the droning cries of mothers and fathers echoed out. The battle was over, and now all that remained was the haunting sound of the aftermath. Fires burned and men screamed in agony, begging for death. The Mandalorians had won this day. Leandros laughed, not out of joy, but out of violent fervor. His gods were pleased with the havoc and bloodshed, surely. He beheld the slaughter they had caused, drinking deep of the lamentations of the Imperials. This was a grand victory in their crusade. He turned to look at Dan and Solone, his lips curling into a smile beneath his helmet.

Onderon would never forget this.

@GABA @Lucid

//end thread