Galaar's Proving (Part One)

[Galaar Rau]

It was a quiet day for Galaar, having done just about everything on his to-do list back on Concord Dawn. He decided to take a small trip to Mandalore, to possibly pick up some jobs in Republic Space, or some anti-piracy jobs, and stopped by a promising-looking cantina. Galaar removed his helmet before sitting at the bar, and lighting a cigarro, and ordering a dark ale. He leaned onto the bar, and just before he could speak to the vod beside him (@Real Russian), a Mandalorian woman, dark-tanned skin and jet black hair, cut and styled into a long bob haircut, and other notably "TV attractive" qualities, appeared on the large projector screen set upon the back of the bar. Galaar noted the duracrete dome in the background, with a smoldering chunk missing.

"Gorza Fett here, on House Qeztas land, in front of a small armory, situated just on the edge of their gated land. Sentries noted several gang members, led by an apparent, but unidentified leader. Investigation by some Sector Rangers in the area noted that they had been targeting expensive beskar'gam modifications," she says, as a live feed of an investigation crew videotape several personal sets of beskar'gam stripped of expensive armor modifications, including ammunition, and a module for a wrist-mounted rocket launcher. Slow rolls over the armor caused noted disgust over the faces of the Mandalorians in the bar.

"I stand here with Gerat Qeztas, the Head of House for House Qeztas, who wishes to issue a statemen-," she spoke before her microphone was snatched from her hand, and the Barabel Mandalorian grabbed the camera by the lense, and yanked it and the cameraman toward his ugly mug.

"Thissss One cares little for tech. BRING THIZZ ONE THE COWARDSS ALIVE!! This One will pay double for the leader. Thisss One wants to pick his teeth with his ribszzz," the Barabel barked at the camera, holding it, unnervingly close to his face. One could nearly taste his breath, through the projection. The Barabel storms off, releasing the camera, cameraman, and microphone and storming off to assess the damage done to the armory.

Galaar raised his brow, and looked at the vod beside him, "Dibs!" he shouted, loudly before downing his nearly full ale. "I'll take a man wi'mee, from 'ere, I've got a friend ta call!" he shouted, standing up from the bar, and coming to eye contact with a suspicious coated figure from outside the bar and across the street.

@Real Russian @Ecclessey

(Let's try to keep a tight 48 hour post timer on this, to keep it moving along. We'll roll our first dice on the next post round.)

 

[Cressa Solus]

Even though Cressa was Concord Dawn native, Mandalore was the planet which she visits the most right after her home planet. Considering there were not so many planets in the Mandalorian space yet, given place was excellent in terms of markets, jobs opportunities and news since not everything HoloNet might contain. During her nomadic lifestyle, she learned that the most valuable information usually was amongst the rumors in bars and cantinas. Having a good ear sometimes drops a contract in your pocket (like it was on Tatooine), hence she was here. After the Swallow and Daniel Solus collectively fought against Elder leader in order to free the badger, Cressa took some rest and tried to improve her skills, especially the melee ones which seemed to be her weak point once she was fully disarmed against an armed enemy. Now the female Solusian Marauder always carrying the staff with her everywhere. And besides - the staff wasn't only the weapon, it has plenty of ways to use out of combat, so it was definitely worth to carry it on.

The information about the aforementioned gang wasn't really impressed Cressa, she suspected it was Red Skulls gang since it was the only thing she has known and who was bringing troubles over the Mandalorian space. Seems like after everything Mandalorians did against the gang has only made the criminals stronger, or Skulls were simply agonizing in attempt to hurt Mandalorians more. Well, Cressa would be glad to kill more of them until every one of that bastards won't be purged from her homeworld. However, the next scene with the Barabel made her face a bit frown. That lizard guy has looked just like Bor, the Barabel which she and Vax Eldar (alongside with some other Mandalorians), had set free from the Empire control on Kessel. Unfortunately, after the prison space, Cressa hasn't seen him for a long time and apparently, the bulky reptile boy had recovered his status quite fast. And this house... Qeztas... was some kind of a mystery. Like Rook clan, about which one Solusian woman doesn't know anything except one member of the clan. And so she wanted to check who was the Barabel out by herself personally. Of course, that Barabel could be Gerat, but from the projection, it was hard to say.

"I'll go with you. You like it or not". Taking the last sip of a local beverage from the mug said the woman with a little dry, yet confident tone watching on Rau. Cressa probably wouldn't pay attention to Galaar until he shouted. In case that Barabel turned out into the wrong person, she could help to the vod next to her. The Flying Badger has been resting too much and now the time to test her skills has come once again. And so be it.

 

[Bor Kohn]

Bo'r walked into the cantina on a whim. Well, actually it was because his stomach was growling and this was the closest place to where he had been walking.
Upon entering, he looked around and saw a couple of Mandalorians talking at the bar about something... which he really didn't care about. He wanted food.
His big frame lumbered up to the bar itself as he growled out an order of a nerf burger and a large amount of little stick things called "fries".
As the service droid went off to fill his order, He turned to the Mandalorian closest to him and grinned a toothy grin. "This one is called Bo'r. What are you called?"

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian

 

[Narr Noft]

With open war raging between the Empire and the Mandalorians the work of a Sector Ranger became a jurisdiction nightmare. The Mandalorian clans all preferred to keep their own set of rules and the overarching Mandalorian "code" did nothing to help Narr's work on the planets they inhabited. Ofcourse, there wasn't anything more clear-cut than simple gang violence, so when the locals reached out to the ranger service, which meant to Narr specifically as it was his sector, he jumped at the chance.

Now he just stood there at the scene of the crime, feeling rather stupid as instead of trusting the ranger to deliver the culprits the clan leader decided to issue a bounty redeemable by literally everyone on the planet without any known identifier. This was just one big mess waiting to happen. Shaking his head on live HoloNet, Narr turned around and walked over the his Ranger speeder bike, from which he took his comm unit and called a Mandalorian associate of his. "Galaar, it's ranger Noft-" he grimaced as he said it, noticing that the call had transitioned to voice-mail. "-I need your Shriek-Hawk for a job. You'll be compensated."

Disappointed, Narr killed the line and got onto his speeder. His bowcaster was strapped to the back, together with a bag consisting of personal affects and extra powerpacks. Without any clue of where to begin his investigation now that his local guide didn't answer his call, he decided to just take a ride around town..

..when he spotted a suspicious coated figure further down the street.

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Axym

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar's commslink chirped in a familiar tone, as one Narr Noft left him a voicemail. Nodding to the female, he sent a message back to Narr. "Hey, bud, just got your message, I'm not far off from you, at the Miffed Mythosaur Bar and Grill, about 40 minutes drive down from the scene of the crime, if we're on the same page. I was about to take this bounty myself, but it'd be good to work with the Sector Rangers again. I've got some new friends that'll help us out too... and I might already have a lead," he typed out to send to Narr as a text message. With that, he called over the bartender, and tabbed out his one Ale, and made his way for the door, to which the Coated figure did little in response to, and if anything, seemed like he meant no harm the three Mandalorians, at all. Galaar waved him down, and crossed the street.

"Aye, bud, what'd'ya know about this robbery? I've got some friends willin' ta pay for any info you kin sell us," Galaar said, with hopes his luck had not yet run out.

The Coated Man bowed his head to the Mandalorian, and the other two he had in tow behind him. Seeming to realize it would be foolish to try and run from one, let alone three Mandalorian Warriors, armed to the gills and slightly drunk, he thought it smarter to give them what they came to him for.

"The raid on that Armory? Oh, that's easy, that's some of the remnants of the Red Skull Gang. They kinda went to kark after what happened to Aks-Ree, losing all their assets when his hideout was cleaned out by the Sector Rangers. Can't say I know much else, though," the man said, with a kark-eating grin on his face.

@Axym @Ecclessey @Real Russian

 

[Cressa Solus]

Once Bor came into the bar, all Cressa's predictions on who that Barabel was from the reportage was washed away. Here he was, bulky and healthy just in the day he was saved together with some other Mandalorians. And Solusian gunslinger was glad to see this lizard guy alive. On the foreground of every vod's Cressa has seen, Bor was a very interesting person. But for some reason, the brunette woman was having no chance to cooperate with Kohn. Maybe this time the luck will on her side. Some of the non-human species were the one of her point of interests.

"Bo'r! Long time no sees. I still remember you and Kessel, you know. Do you remember me?". Asked Cressa in response to his question. Perhaps, there were many events happened in his life since Kessel prison. After that planet, her and Barabel ways have splintered. There was no any news about him since today. Together with the Narr' voice which came out from Galaar's comlink which pleasantly surprised the Mandalorian in black Beskar, the sequence events which are happen was... very good. She has already worked with that Shistavanen on Kashyyk and was really happy to work with him once again. So once the female finished her drink, she followed after Rau.

Red Skull was gang with who Cressa have already faced not long ago. With Burkhart and Leandros assistance, the trio has destroyed the gang fleet including transport ships with pretty dangerous things for the Mandalorian space. The woman was fully agreed, that there is no room for those bastards spreading out their drugs because Mandalorian kids were victims of their crap too. Apparently, the annihilation of their properties, ships, and people haven't said them clear enough, that Mandalorians don't want Skull presence in their own piece of space. Perhaps, the sign needs to be more clear and Solusian woman wanted to show it, turning Skull presence into a nightmare.

 

[Bor Kohn]

Bo'r looked at the woman and scratched his head. "Bo'r does remember. Bo'r is glad to see you again." He really had no clue as to why he was following the girl, but for some reason it made sense to him. Perhaps he could help them out in whatever they were doing.
The male Mandalorian called Rau seemed to be the one in charge and Bo'r was fine with that. As they all went outside of the bar, he just listened to what the plan was. He also heard the name Red Skull. He wasn't very familiar with them other than they were a gang and they did bad things. That was more than enough to go crush their heads if he was called upon to do so. Until then, he would continue to follow the little Mandalorians and help where he could.

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Ecclessey

 

[Narr Noft]

Narr immediately hit the brakes on the speeder when the message arrived on his datapad and to his surprise he had just turned into the same street as where the grill was located. Funny coincidence

He didn't even have to reply to Galaar's message as just when he had finished reading it, Galaar and two others exited the grill and approached the same suspiciously cloaked figure he had seen before. "Must be his lead," the Shistavanen concluded and slowly brought the speeder back into a forward momentum towards his Mandalorian friend. One of his companions seemed familiar to the ranger, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He met many Mandalorians on a daily basis as a ranger assigned to the Mandalore Sector and truthfully, with the years they all kinda seemed alike. Galaar seemed the sole exception to the rule, but that was mainly because the man had shown interest in maybe becoming a ranger himself.

"The cursed Red Skulls again?" he smiled as he killed the speeder's engine right behind the cloaked man. "I thought all those bounty hunters and rangers that are after their hides, they would at least-" he shrugged, "-go steal stuff in Imperial space."


@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Axym

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar nodded, in response to Narr. "Yeah, they're a lot like roaches back home. Destroy the nest, and they'll spread out to anywhere but where you want 'em ta go, not ta mention dumb as rocks," he said in response to Narr, before turning to the reformed Red Skull.

"You need to come with us, we'll need your help bringing these guys down. They's also a chance they'll be lookin' ta snip awff loose ends, and we kin pretect ye," he said, to which the former gang member simply nodded, and agreed to go with them. "We need to get'chu outta tha public eye, then, come with me, I've got a room at a hotel we can lay up at, while you give us what details you know," he said, placing a hand on his shoulder, and leading him to the 88-V Landspeeder he'd used on his original mission to take out Aks-Ree. "The rest of you come along, too, jist follow me," he said, leading the man to his speeder, that had been parked in a parking lot next to the Miffed Mythosaur, though while crossing the street, a less desirable-looking individual made long, awkward eye contact with the ex-gang member, as he and Galaar walked together.

"Oya, we should get outta here, I think I know that guy." the man said to Galaar.

"Well, sheeit," he said, before pinging on his commslink, "Narr, you take the other two, and make sure we don't get followed," he siad before taking the man to his landspeeder, and zipping off down the road, toward his hotel room.

 

[Cressa Solus]

"Narr! Glad to see you, friend. I'm Cressa, remember Kashyyk, Wookies? You're right about Skulls. But it seems the gang spreads over the Galaxy like a contagion. So let us become... a cure from it". Added Cressa to the first Galaar's speech once he left her with Barabel and Shistavanen. And looks like she was under Narr's command now (if Galaar was actually mean her and Bo's by the definition 'other two'). Cressa wasn't just glad to the fact, she was super glad to cooperate again with the Ranger. Besides, it would allow her to focus more on the combat part in case of any trouble. It would be fine if that guy who mentioned ex-Red Skull member was alone, Bo'r can deal with him alone if that junkie would dare to attack. However, there was a chance, that he might be not alone. His friends must be around because even though Mandalorians were pressing them, those bastards don't care where they hanging out. It must be fixed.

"So, commander Narr, me, and I believe Bo'r, at your service". Added the woman with a way friendly tone later turning her head slightly toward the Barabel direction with a wide grin followed by wearing on her helmet. Even though there was no battle yet, adrenaline was already pulsing through her veins and the feeling of an encounter made the Solusian woman be positive. The love to fight was Mandalorian treat and Cressa wasn't an exception. Especially when it comes about Red Skulls. Or as Cressa sometimes calls them Red Skunks (some of the drugs they consume has a really strong scent which might make you puke).

 

[Bor Kohn]

Bo’r heard his name which snapped him out of the daydream he was having. He was imagining himself laying on a mountain of bacon and eating it all one piece at a time.

When he heard “at your service” he saluted. There was no reason for the salute that he could come up with, but it felt appropriate at the time.
He gave a toothy grin and then looked down at Cressa to see if she approved or not.

Keeping his hand to his forehead, he then looked back at Nar to see if he was going to salute back. Then he could lower his arm since it was getting tired of holding the salute.

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Ecclessey

 

[Narr Noft]

Narr nodded as response to Galaar and then turned to Cressa, squinting his eyes for a moment as if in thought, "Yesss-" he said finally, "-I do remember you. But don't call me commander-" he paused, turning towards the other end of the street where ten mean looking individuals pointed in Galaar's direction and began a slight jog towards him. "-ranger or just Narr is fine, too."

Taking his bowcaster from the speeder, Narr put it against his shoulder and aimed for two seconds before landing a shot right in front of the group, halting them in their tracks and having them look up shocked towards Narr and his two new companions. Narr simply lowered his bowcaster again, it would take too long to reload it anyway, and freed up his right hand in case he needed to quickly draw his pistol before addressing the group. "Don't make trouble, now-" he said loud enough for them to hear, "-there's no need for bloodshed."

It frustrated him immensely that despite all those years of rangers being active in the Mandalore Sector, gangs like these still continued to thrive. Normally he would stand against a group like this on his own, but not today it seemed. With the combined firepower of Cressa and Bo'r they could simply overwhelm whichever thug decided loyalty to the gang was more important that his life.



@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Axym

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar sped quickly down the strip, toward his hotel room, where he would drop off his witness. On the way there, he made a call, to one of his cousins, Jattu, who was not too far from them.

"Hey cousin, it's Galaar, I need a favor from ye," he said through his long range commslink, "I'm runnin' a bounty awn those gits 'at hit 'at armory about fo'ty miles ousside'a Mandalo' City, an I need somebody to come sit wit'tis witness until he's more of a use to us,"

"Yeah, bo' I gotcha, where ye wawnt me?!" Jattu replied, in an accent equally as thick as Galaar's.

"You know the hotel I usually git down the way from the Miffed Mythosaur? Jest ask for Galaar Rau's room 'n tell 'em I'm expecting you."

"Heard, brother I'll be there in two shakes of a Bantha's tail," (one post round) Jattu responded, and cut the line. Galaar gunned it, down the street, and quickly made his way to the hotel room, where he rang Narrowly again.

"Hey man, I hope y'all are good, I saw those ne'er-do-wells come out behind us. Don't play hero, if they try some shit, get outta there, we can meet somewhere else," he said, as he walked with the ex-gangster up to his room. "You gon,' meet my cousin. Don't say shit about being part of the Red Skulls," he said to the guy, as he walked into the small hotel room, "I'll sit here with you til he gets here, shouldn't be long."

 

[Cressa Solus]

"As you wish my furry friend". Replied Cressa in response keeping her friendly tone while spinning one of her blasters on the finger. Bo'r's little actor game has also helped to create some sort of friendly atmosphere but it's gone once Narr had shot from his bowcaster into the group of ten thugs asking them to go away but Cressa wanted that they would go away forever. Ideally - out from Mandalorian space to the Imperial. Or simply die, the result and effect are almost the same. However, only half of the junkies retired on their bikes and it was unknown, were they go after Galaar or saving their miserable lives because quite soon the trio will make the gang run for their money. The remained part of bandits seems to be either brave or stupid enough to provide a resistance to the two Mandalorians and the ranger probably giving no idea what just a mistake they did by not running away altogether. Apparently, history nothing teaches those guys and quite soon they become the history itself.

Even though there were five thugs left (two Rodians, one Zabrak, and two humans), two of the given group were having blasters. Luckily for the trio, the blasters were cheapest pistols so the threat was not as big as it could be, but junkies weren't too dumb to shoot from the open area, so Skunk's gunslingers have picked a cover behind buildings' walls. The remain three criminals have fished out vibroknifes placing them in each hand and rushed to the trio of friends. Because Cressa wasn't sure if Bo'r has any ranged weapon, she decided to let him and Narr deal with hostile fighters while she would try to eliminate the enemy gunslingers. She has no doubt that they would have no troubles at killing those bastards because she has seen Narr and Bo'r in the action before.

"Oya! Bo'r, Narr, take these three, I'm going after the shooters". Said confidently woman and by activating her jump boots, land on the roof of a house, preparing the surprise for Reds. From this position she has clearly seen two guys on the ground and killing each of the couples would take the time only to reload her bowcaster. But when Cressa already shooted, her prey has noted its killer and was able to move from the quarrel's vector, but it didn't help him too much since the criminal was heavily wounded in his leg started screaming in the pain. He wouldn't live too long and gonna die soon from the blood loss. However, another shooter has responded back with the fire and forced the female Mandalorian to duck behind the roof fence. On the bright side, shooters attention was fully distracted from Narr and Bo'r, so three melee fighters were the only their enemies now. And besides - once the criminals started to shoot, the street emptied from rubbernecks, so her friends can do what they want without risk of harming civilians.

 

[Bor Kohn]

Bo'r removed his hand from his forehead when Cressa told him to kill the three men. So he shrugged and pulled his heavy repeating blaster off of his shoulder and leveled it at the men across from him.
Giving a toothy grin, he opened fire.
One man took the brunt of the blaster fire square in the chest which ripped him apart. The other two looked at the Barabel in fear and both tried to turn to run away. It didn't work.
Bo'r swung the blaster in their direction and cut their legs our from under them. They both went down screaming in pain as their legs were torn apart.
He looked at Narr and smiled. "Your turn?"

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Ecclessey

 

[Narr Noft]

Narr was somewhat horrified when Cressa and B'or decided the thugs, who formed no threat, didn't deserve to live anyway and continued to brutally murder the lot. The kriff is wrong with you!" the Shivastenen ranger said angrily at B'or after the latter shot a smile in his direction. "They were just spiceheads who were told to make trouble for a quick fix-" Narr shook his head and placed the bowcaster back on his speeder. "-now get to Galaar while I clean this up."

There would be a lot of explaining to do and none of the arguments would do any good for the Sector Ranger's reputation in the Mandalore Sector after they already failed in the raid on Aks-Ree. Or more specifically, it wouldn't do any good to Narr's reputation. Having to justify the unnecessary deaths of these barely armed spiceheads that could have easily been dissuaded from their meddling, would take a while and Narr wasn't sure he could really spin it in a way it didn't just look like cold blooded murder. Which it had been.

Opening up a comm line to his friend, (@Gian Greydragon), Narr sighed again. "Galaar, this is Narr. Your two friends just killed in cold blood and I'll have to clean this up." he paused, regretting that he didn't arrest the two on the spot, but then he'd also have to explain why he was there with them in the first place. "-consider yourself my temporary deputy while I handle this."

Kriff, the local militia was already on its way. Narr made sure his badge was out to see and turned to B'or for the last time "Leave. Now."

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Axym

/exit thread

 

[Bor Kohn]

Bo’r was confused. First he was told to open fire, then the other guy with the badge scolded him for doing it, even telling him to “leave”.

Well the Barabel figured the guy was so mad that he may be in trouble... so he simply shrugged, shouldered his heavy blaster and walked away.
He had no clue to where he was going, but he figured his feet knew the way, so he allowed them to lead him.

After a while he came to a large transport. It was going somewhere, and the guy did say to leave. So he boarded it and headed off planet to parts unknown.

{exit thread}


@Gian Greydragon