More than mere Spiders

[Cuyan Ordo]

It had only been a couple of weeks since Cuyan's last visit to Bandomeer. He came here often as it was neutral and had good links to the rest of the galaxy. It was a decent planet to find a black market dealer, an Imperial defector, or just find a good drink away from home. Close proximity to Mandalorian space made it friendlier to their kind than perhaps the nearby Imperial worlds would be. It seemed a close neutral friend wasn't enough and now the Mandalorians were trying to expand their borders. Cuyan was unsure how he felt about this considering the lack of a single Mandalore to lead them. He wondered if expanding would be seen as a threat the Imperials couldn't ignore. Their space was safe but expansion was rather different than claiming independence or revenge.

"Mandalore isn't ready to expand... it needs to strengthen itself first. We need a Mandalore." Cuyan mused quietly as the pair stepped off their transport on the edge of the city in question.

Despite his reservations, Cuyan was loyal to his people and always volunteered for dangerous missions to help them. He brought along his usual kit of weapons and armor for this odd mission. Something about large Spiders from Dathomir somehow attacking this large Bandomeer city. That was certainly strange and it left quite a few questions about why they'd be here... but Cuyan mostly just wanted to get into the battle. Dying in glorious combat against a giant spider would certainly be interesting. For now the pair were outside the defensive wall for the city to the west, about 500 meters from the city. There were some trees among the foothills here and they got thicker as the hills rolled further west.

"So they say that the spiders tend to come from the west, in those hills." He mentioned to his partner while pointing ahead. "Do you think their nest... or... whatever... is there somewhere?"


@Real Russian @Phoenix

 

[Joseph Trazyn]

It was not every day that Joseph Trazyn found himself wandering on an Outer-Rim world, but - needs must and all that, the Mandalorian menace after all, need to be put down no matter where it was. And well, here seemed like a good place to start looking. Walking down the street, a Model-B Stun Baton rested at his hip, a Pugio Blaster Pistol at his other, and firmly clasped in his hands resided a Gladius Blaster Rifle - one of his personal favourties in the Imperial Armoury. Joseph looked every bit the model of the Imperial in his Sith Trooper Armour.

Taking a position on the wall overlooking the settlements main gate, he scanned the treeline for anything...out of place.

 

[F2O2]

Spiders, now that was interesting. Not just normal spiders, either. Dathomirian ones, which likely meant venomous spiders. Bandomeer was an extremely unlikely place to encounter fauna native to an entirely different planet. Someone had either screwed up big time in checking their shipments, or they had been introduced on purpose. Whatever curious reason for their presence, F2O2 was more interested in obtaining some of their venom. The scientific and medicinal properties of venom were being studied all the time and vials of stuff as potent as what these creatures might carry could be very valuable to a pharmaceutical company. Or as a weapon.

He hummed a binary tune to himself as he carefully strapped down a hardened shell, foam-padded case to the rear of his speeder. Inside the case was a medical-grade cryo-stasis pod. Inside that pod were ten, 10ml vials with rubber caps. They would be used to "milk" these spider's fangs and collect the venom. The cryo pod would be used to halt the breakdown of the proteins and compounds that constituted the venom. He'd keep it in there until he could find a buyer or was able to perform his own research.

Slung lengthwise down the speeder was a second case. This one held a Vorantikus blaster. It was doubtful that he'd be able to wrestle a healthy spider that was also massive in size, so he'd probably have to end up crippling a leg or two. Hopefully the stress of that would cause it to produce more venom. The rifle was in a case for now as it was a little bit illegal for F2O2 to be open carrying a long-blaster. Passing through a city unmolested by law enforcement was the ideal result.

The droid slung one metal leg over the seat of the speeder and flicked the ignition with a thumb. The engine came to life with a low hum and the metal vehicle lifted off the ground. He twisted the throttle and in a spray of dust the speeder shot off towards the main gate.

 

[Crimson Valek]

.

This planet was a valuable and strategic point for the Empire, and it was no surprise that Imperial forces had dispatched their operatives to this world for reconnaissance assignments. "Red Daddy" as the adoring females preferred to refer to him as, Valek had spent some time on this world with his Sith companion @Gian Greydragon. He was dressed in his Sith Marauder armor, twin lightsabers stowed on his belt hidden from view, and his side-arm pistol slung on his left hip. The dark shrouded robes of his armor kept him well hidden, his figure kneeling near some thick trees and brushes, outside of the city limits and roughly 30 meters west of Cuyan's position on a higher ground with beneficial vantage point (thus 530 meters west of the City wall). Dark side channeled around him, temperature colder and slow winds flickering out from the epicenter of his form. He caught notice of the Mandalorian and spoke softly to his comrade beside him. "Shall we?"

A cruel and sadistic smile would lace across his face though well hidden within his armor's helm. Senses on alert to react defensively against any unanticipated threats.

@Cazar @Clayton @Nor'baal

 

[Cressa Solus]

Beetles. Ugly, horrible, with many legs. Started from Kashyyk, Cressa now was about to deal with them here, on Bandomeer. Was it her fate or what? Killing bugs seems to be not really interesting thing ever, but sometimes you just have to do. Even the environment was the same, just not too dark as it was on "Wookieland". Perhaps she might use her tactic as she did on Kashyyk dealing with Kinrathes. Memories were still fresh, so she knew to deal with those arachnoids. At least she has some ideas. She also has her bowcaster, so this time she won't let damned bugs to hurt her partner. And surely he might be smarter than those guys on Kashyyk. There was a mess considering the number of foes, but come on, she said several times how to fight with Kinrathes and no one of Mandalorians have listened to her. Even didn't talk to her. Eh, males. They always think that they're better than females in the battle.

"Or someone attracts them. But I'm wondering why the whole city can't deal with those spiders. They surely have more weapons than we are. But there we come, the pair of super Mandalorians. Of course, we are, but dealing with spiders... Well, let's see". Watching around replied Cressa. The flora wasn't bad after all, but because they were on the hostile territory, she knew there was a chance to meet someone from Imperials. Well, this is time for the payback.

 

[Cuyan Ordo]

Nobody came out into the woods anymore because of the spiders. At least, that is what the locals had told them. When the Mandalorian pair reached the point 500 meters west of the city it was super easy to spot a figure on top of a hill only 30 meters away. Instantly, Cuyan considered betrayal from the men in town who told them to hunt the spiders. Robed figure this close to Sith space? No thank you. Even if it was an innocent local hiker in spider infested woods, Cuyan would risk lighting him up. The Beviin Repeater had more than optimal range on the sitting duck ahead. Cuyan simply raised it and began to open fire. Three shots in quick succession from the repeater aimed to take out the robed figure on the hill who decided to get way too close to a Mandalorian warrior.

"Oya!" He shouted as he fired, signaling for his partner to perhaps chime in with some bowcaster shots.

All three of the Mandalorian warrior's shots would be aimed at the center of mass. Crimson Varek's torso would become Swiss cheese if they were not handled properly. Cuyan saw no weapons out yet and at this close range the shots would be coming in hot. He kept his eyes locked onto his target via the T-Visor so that a simple side step would simply mean one of the shots moved to the side as well. He was ready for a counter, even through the force, and had plans for what to do. This would not be where he fell. Not until he brought glory to his clan.

@Real Russian @Nor'baal @Clayton @Faded Truth

((Closed before this gets huge. Seems we have enough opposition all over..))

 

[Arnen Elgernoth]

Arnen looked back to see his comrade ducked behind some trees and shrubs, with a group of Mandalorians not far behind them. The Sith had just crested the hill, hence why he was not visible yet to the Mandalorian. Through his communicator, he had heard his partner speak but turned to hear gunfire, as apparently, his partner was not well-hidden enough for the Mandalorian.

Ever-so-grateful that the Massassi had talked him into bringing a Javelin Light Repeater with him on this endeavor, Arnen turned and ran into the woods next to him, opposite the side of his partner, and moved in a wide arc through the thick brush, his green and grey Engineer Armor blending in with the brush around him. Since he was already over the crest of the hill, he would not be seen by the Mandalorians near the base of the hill. Propping himself up between two large boulders, and deploying the bipod, Arnen took a moment to meditate on the Force, before taking any action.

@Faded Truth

 

[Joseph Trazyn]

Gunfire!

There sound was unmistakable, especially to a member of the armed forced. Unable to hear the cry that ommited from Cuyan Ordo as he opened fire, Joseph was thus unable to identify the nature of the attacker, merely seeing streaks of blaster fire shooting out of the treeline. Thumbing his commlink, he called it in "This is SC-887, location, main gate. We have multiple gunshots coming from the treeline."

Aware that there where Sith planetside, he hoped command would relay the message to them. He saw two hooded figures in the field, moving quickly to engage the approaching enemies. Raising his own weapon, he looked down the sights, and - realising he was out of range - vaulted the wall to the ground below, so as to avoid opening the gate, and once touching down, broke into a roll, before heading toward the combat area.

 

[F2O2]

The gates to the city rolled open in a fluid manner, massive, well-oiled rollers drew the gate back without a hitch. The sound of the gate opening provided a blissful foil to the sound of blasterfire. Much to the annoyance of the gate operators, F2 shot through the gate as soon as he calculated that he had room to do so. He noticed several things at that point. First, some armed dude was running towards a point roughly five-hundred meters away. Second, that point seemed to have blaster fire. Was this guy really going to run half a kilometer and then enter a firefight? He must be in really good shape, or just desperate.

F2 quickly weighed the risks, and followed his protocol programming. He pulled the Locust speeder up to a slow speed next to the guy. "Excuse me, but would you like a lift? You appear to be exerting yourself before a stressful activity. While warming up the muscles is good before subjecting them to heavy exertion, it is not advised to overdo it," he helpfully pointed out thanks to his medical files. He would not bring the guy right into combat, that could be rather suicidal, but instead drop him off at a relatively safe distance. And if the guy wanted to get even closer, well...that depended on any number of variables that were impossible to calculate at this precise moment. Luckily the Locust had a spare seat, so this dude would not have to kick F2O2 from the seat. That would...make F2 angry.

@Real Russian @Cazar

 

[Cuyan Ordo]

While the fight started quickly, Cuyan noticed that it ended about as fast. The figure in robes did not seem to realize the attack was coming before all three bolts slammed into him. His unarmored chest would be like swiss cheese with nice new holes in it. While the damage was light, it did hit unarmed torso three times. If 'Red Daddy' had time to realize it before going dark, he'd realize things were not about to end well for him. The Mandalorian almost felt bad cutting someone down out here but he was not taking risks on this mission. Especially with someone standing where the Spiders should be coming from. The robed being fell forwards and would slide down the hill sightly, smoking from the horrifying wounds.

"One down, move to cover!" He muttered to his partner while running to a nearby rock for cover, just a few meters from his fallen foe. "Flank the hill, see if any others are here. Then we push ahead."

Cuyan kept his head on a swivel for any other danger and would be ready to dive for more cover if needed. Where one enemy was found often others might appear. Blaster shots might even attract those spiders if they were nearby. He hoped they would eat any potential enemies first. If more existed.

@Real Russian @Nor'baal @Clayton @Faded Truth@Gian Greydragon

 

[Cressa Solus]

Until Cuyan hasn't started to shoot and shout, Cressa noted some black dots which slowly started to increase in size. If she would be sure, the woman could say it might be those damned spiders which came for their dinner. But she couldn't and turned her attention in the direction where Ordo was shotting at. The brunette couldn't even do something meaningful before Varek was being shooted by three clear shots of her partner. Moreover, the female Mandalorian couldn't realize whom he shot because it happened too fast and being her attention drawn by other things, she couldn't analyze the threat which Cuyan spotted. They were alive and this is what was really matter.

"Eles! Hukaat'kama". Answered the woman on Mando'a and has proceeded what her partner has asked. The necessity of speaking on Mando'a was not a mere a pay tribute to Resol'Nare, but the mean of security, because if there any other Sith or Imperial nearby, one of them could easily overhear them and ruin their plans. And thus kill.

And so she rushed to the hill. But as long as she started to flank, the black dots she spotted before, now were actual spiders which Cressa revealed it with her Scout HUD. Seems like blasters shots have attracted them and now they approaching Mandalorian position through the place where Arnen was meditating. Now except the Imperials, the pair of Mandalorians will have to deal with arachnoids. However, the woman has an idea how to make it easier. She will just let spiders encounter anyone who was in the woods and if there was any - reveal them. Or kill, depends on how prepared the potential enemy was.

"Spiders spotted, moving to us. If you have jump boots, find a high tree and use them now.". Said Cressa, using her comlink and tried to activate her jump boots, following by landing on a branch of a tree. Maybe it wasn't a really good idea, because she let anyone in the woods knows her position, but it was better than running into a spider. The height was big enough to spot an insectoid if some of them will try to climb and providing a good angle of observing what was behind the hill. Shooting from her bowcaster will be a shooting gallery. She knew, that those spiders were big enough and deal with them with bare hands would be a complete suicide even being in armor. So those who were on the ground might be getting into a really awkward situation.

 

[Arnen Elgernoth]

The Mandalorian (@Cazar ) would step forward once, before Arnen snapped to his center mass, using the bi-pod to steady his aim. Firing a pair of three round bursts in quarter-meter-wide corkscrew-esque pattern, aiming first, directly for the center of his chest. As the first shot range out, the second shot was soon to follow, the bi-pod minimizing the muzzle-lift of the weapon, placing the shot just beneath his left pectoral, as he stepped forward the second time, accounting for the movement if his center mass. The third bolt flew high and right, over the back of him, toward the face of the armor-clad female Mandalorian accompanying him.

He pulled downward after the previous shot left the barrel, the third bolt of the first burst aimed low at his left thigh, compensating further for his movement.

The barrel smoked slightly as he lined up for the second burst of three, throwing all three of them toward the center mass of the female Mandalorian as she moved to activate her jump boots.

@Cazar @Real Russian

 

[Joseph Trazyn]

In a rather bizzare set of events, it would appear Joseph was being offered a list, by a Droid. Not one to turn down such an offer, he hopped in the spare seat, thanking F202 as he did so. Putting his seat belt on (because safety first), he spoke the droid "Odd request, but, well, as close to them as possible please?" he asked, as the Droid moved them in closer, and dropped him off just outside the gunfight.

 

[F2O2]

This Sith (for he was clearly wearing the uniform) seemed a smart person, for he accepted the ride and even put on a seatbelt. F2 had been entirely unaware that the speeder bike even had them. F2O2 decided that this man could use even more advice. "If I may offer a suggestion based on my observations and reports on the holonet, the Sith have been rather idle as of late while they're under attack. It may be helpful to do something drastic. I suggest killing the firstborn child of each Mandalorian family, or secretly planting trackers on Mandalorian ships and then using that tracking data to coordinate a wave of glorious, space-born destruction to shut down their ability to hit you all over the galaxy," he suggested as they sped towards the combat zone.

F2O2 began to slow down, and eventually came to a stop, sliding the tail-end of the speeder towards the combatants. Joseph was in a position now to flank the Mandalorian's right flank, at almost a 90 degree angle from the Sith on the hill. F2 may have driven Joseph to 75 meters of the main fight, but he was not about to catch a blaster bolt meant for the guy. He wasn't being paid for that. In fact, F2 wasn't being paid for this, either. He'd have to come back and collect a fee.

"Here you go, have fun killing!" he said jovially. Once Joseph disembarked the speeder, F2 gunned the throttle and peeled away to a (relatively) safe distance of just over 100 meters away from the Mandos, where he would likely not get hit by a stray shot. Since there was fighting and such going on by the hill, he began to bring the speeder around in a safe arc so the Mandalorians were in between him and the hill, so that he'd be comfortably out of range of any Sith that might get a funny idea.

@Real Russian

 

[Cuyan Ordo]

Just as Cuyan had been expecting. More enemies made themselves known quickly and began to fire at the Mandalorians. He had been ready to receive fire after opening up on the first contact. These were likely the culprits behind the spider attacks as far as he was concerned. They had to die to solve this issue. The first shot rang and Cuyan stopped short, getting grazed along the arm of his armor. It stung slightly but was just a graze so it did not last more than the moment. The second shot would fly in front of him and hit the dirt without harming him as he had stopped moving in order to be led into the shot.

“More! Watch it!” He muttered loudly to his friend as he turned to look for the source while the third shot flew over his head.

Cuyan spotted the shots coming from nearby as they streaked out towards his partner. He grunted a bit from the graze on his armor but had to help defend her if he could. By the time the assailant fired three more shots it would be easy enough to find him. Cuyan finally had the target acquired, roughly, but would need to hone in more or cover fire. In the distance he could hear a speeder approaching after the shots meaning more might be coming soon. They had to get rid of this enemy before they got flanked.

@Gian Greydragon @Real Russian @Nor'baal @Clayton

 

[Cressa Solus]

Because first Arnen shots were directed to Cuyan, except the fact that she was looking toward where the Sith was since the spiders were detected from there (somehow she missed the man with her sight), the woman was smart enough to do a dodge roll in order to take cover behind the nearest high rock once Engernoth has fired, and ducked, escaping every his shots. Being in such stance, the rock was covering her whole silhouette providing her an opportunity to understand what has just happened. Thanks to Cuyan, who was the first Arnen's target, Cressa was able to escape being wounded and even barely noted where the shooter was. Because she doesn't manage to use her jump boots being interrupted, the charge was saved. It was even better since the brunette has noted an appearing speeder into the distance. It was hard to say who the person was, but since it was a battlefield, the female Mandalorian would shot him at first and then only ask. The battlefield wasn't a place where you can easily trust random people. It either doesn't as a reinforcement because Mandalorians haven't requested it so there was only one probability - the unknown man was an enemy.

Having no desire to lose her opportunity, Cressa activated her jump boots and this time they will work because she was behind the high rock (3 meters at height). The acceleration momentum was also the thing, so Arnen won't react fast enough to open fire on her again. At another hand, while jumps on a tree, the Solus woman could note, that one of the spiders approaching the position where Acolyte has been. Seems like Mother Nature wanted to get rid of the spirit of the Empire from the Bandomeer land. Surely, Mandalorians was also her threat, but for now, the arthropods will play their role.

 

[Arnen Elgernoth]

The recoil and spread of the first burst caused them to spread (as noted in the first post) with the third of the bolts flying behind Cuyan's head and toward Cressa's helmeted head. Luckily for her, she was in fact wearing a beskar helmet, because the sudden bolt would slam into the side of her head, knocking her off her feet, with enough force, to stun her, and cause some bleeding behind the impact area. While she was not killed instantly, it would likely keep her down and out for a short period of time, leaving her wide open for capture, or execution, if the two Sith decided to work together.

If she did maintain consciousness, her reactions would be slow, hearing out of the right side of her head would be muffled at best, not to mention heavy burns on the side of her face.

Cuyan had successfully avoided the blaster fire, but by the time he'd found Arnen, he would be moving from the rocks, as six spiders began to move through the woods. Kicking up the Bipod, and leaping, using the untapped force reserves he'd called upon moments ago, before engaging the two Mandalorians, landing well within the brush, only presenting a target for a split second, before disappearing into the treeline, with his repeated, and the rest of his gear. Having leapt a bit forward, toward the trunk of the large oak slightly to the right of his original position, putting him about 15 meters away from the remaining Mandalorian, and about two stories above him. In this postion, he could neither be seen, nor see the Mandalorian, as he was deep within the branches, and essentially behind the trunk of the tree.