Ask Shaum Hii: Meat For Days

[Nox Solus]

Since the Mandalorian fleet was able to operate out of Borgo Prime and increase their fleet range, it allowed the Clans to establish a beachhead on Shaum Hii. Transports descended from the sky as they were escorted by fighters and intercepters, Mandalorian warriors exiting out in an ocean colored like a rainbow as they formed a united spear point again. Upon taking the beach, barricades and palisades were lifted into position to entrench themselves and make it difficult to be removed. Dark grey clouds took the sky overhead as if symbolizing the Mandalorians' arrival.

As the second wave of transports descended, Nox would exit from the lead one as he stepped into the sand and breathed in slowly. The air was completely different from that of Mandalore's, moisture in the air and the entire force greeted with the sight of trees and swamp. It was certainly a different sight from their home but for reasons he couldn't place, he still found himself preferring the sand and heat.

As more and more warriors landed, Nox walked further inland as he entered the large war camp, the sand beneath his feet transforming into dirt and grass. A myriad of tents would be organized throughout and he angled toward the largest one and painted with his colors. Near the entrance to his tent, he saw a familiar helmet and armor and a grin tugged underneath the Alor's helmet. He approached Rayda, a hand extended to her to be shaken and a solid knock from his helmet afterward. He greeted her with a warm tone, "It's good to have you here again. Once more we find ourselves in the fire."

The last time they had seen each other had been on Lothal. The invasion and major battle had gone well and left a memorable experience for the Solus. If the man found anyone he had fought and bled with before, he would always hold respect for them. Nox then gestured to his tent with a cock of his head, "Let's discuss our plan of action. How are your clansmen faring and what did they find?" If he recalled correctly, the Kryze had been a vanguard that had pointed out the suitable landing spot for them.

@Altaris

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya was among the first to make landfall on Shaum Hii. As a part of the vanguard that first punched through the atmosphere and heralded their arrival, the Kryze had been there as the first barricades and preliminary defenses were being established. Proper boundaries, tents and clan banners went up within the coming minutes and hours - all signs that pointed to a united Mandalorian assault.

It was a sight that filled Raya with more pride than she would ever readily admit. To see her people finally acting under a single banner and working together - even if tensions did run high amongst some - was something that the Kryze had only dreamed of witnessing. Now she was living it, and the veneer of it all hadn’t quite worn off in her mind.

By the time that Nox made his way into the war camp, Raya was already waiting for him at the entrance of his tent - her back pressed against one of the support beams, while both arms were crossed over her chest. The Kryze was garbed in her generations-old, traditional

beskar’gam - the bright, bronze-tinted armor causing the woman to stand out amongst the crowds lke a sore thumb. Her umber eyes drifted across the horizon for several moments before eventually coming to fixate onto Nox, watching as the Solus began to make his way over.

Truth be told, the man was still someone that Raya had mixed feelings about. Generations of clan rivalries between Solus and Kryze dictated her to be less-than-warm with the man - and yet, they had been together on Lothal. They had fought and bled together in the taking of that planet from the Jedi and FWA, and that facted earned Nox far more respect and camaraderie in Raya’s eyes than most.

“It’s good to see you as well,” Raya said, giving his hand a firm shake as their helmets knocked together. “Not for the last time, I suspect.” If trends continued, Raya expected to see the Solus plenty during the battles and conflicts to come. She gave a nod, following as he began to make his way inside the tent. “They are well.” She said. “Many of them are eager to continue what we started on Lothal,” She added. The flames of war had been ignited within many a Mandalorian after the successful taking of Lothal.

“As for what we found..” Raya settled into a seat on the inside of the tent, umber eyes turned to the holo-screen table in the middle of the room. “Population is most agrarian - ranchers, farmers and the like. Nothin’ too interesting.” She leaned forward a bit in her seat. “What is interesting is that some douchebag of a Warlord had taken up residence,” He pointed to a specific point on the map, “Here,” She jutted her chin. “And has started to bring the locals under his domain.” Raya leaned back in her seat, once more crossing her arms over her chest.

“From the way I see it, we can either try to get sergeant jackass over here,” She jutted a thumb towards the Warlord’s HQ, “..To side with us,” Raya tilted her head ever-so-slightly, eyeing the Solus from beneath her helmet. “Or help the ranchers kick his ass to the curb, and win the public support.”

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

Raya returned the warm greeting before the two entered the tent. While she may have slightly been uncomfortable with a fellow Solus, Nox had always been of the belief that what Clan someone was loyal to did not determine his outlook on them. If they were going to be a united front, they had to act like it at all times and the Kryze would very rarely if ever find him looking down upon her because of it.

The two would end around a holo-screen table along with others, a map of the surrounding terrain laid out before them while Raya gave her report. Her description matched similar to what he read but then she revealed the location of where the Warlord was fortified. A couple of farms have already been marked already it but colored different to represent under what ownership. Whoever he was, his territory wasn't expansive yet but he was making progress.

Nox glanced over to a fellow Solus one quiet and that had half his rear sitting on the table. The butt of his rifle was placed flat on the surface too, the barrel aimed straight to the air as he had both hands clasped around it. He was donned and colored like a typical Solus warrior, the only difference then the rest being the claw mark down his helmet and across his T-visor, painted black just like the Alor's. "How held up is the VIP?", spoken in Mand'oa.

The Solus named, Zus, gave a slight cock of his head before he recounted what he had seen as he had accompanied the Kryze, "Half-walls surround the encampment, emplacements, trenches, most likely mines, 50-75 men. He's dug in. The air is ours but an assault will cost lives." With the farms under the man's control as well, it most likely meant the natives could be conscripted too.

Nox brought his gaze back over to Raya before he leaned forward, both hands placed on the table as he stared at the map. "The Warlord has men but we're for a specific reason. We have no way to herd as efficiently as the natives do. Their experience and expertise are going to be needed in order to keep us fed in the following conquests." A hungry soldier was the worst kind there was.

After a moment, the Alor's visor leveled with Raya's once more, a plan in his mind as he spoke with confidence, "Send one of your warriors to meet with the farmers to tell them we would like to meet. Our camp is most likely already being watched by this Warlord, especially given our number. Given that, we three will leave at night in order to correspond." Nox wanted to hear from the farmers about their given situation. He wanted to know if they were a fighting force, had information, or if they were limping by. His visor would remain on Raya as he waited to see what she thought.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya tilted her helmet to the left, umber eyes shifting to fixate onto the other Solus in the tent. The Kryze kept her armed crossed pensively over her chest, silent as the man gave his own account of the situation on the ground. Her brows furrowed at the confirmation that the Warlord was heavily entrenched within his fortress, taking an outright blitz and take-over off the table for the time being.

The Kryze tapped her finger against her bicep, visor fixed down to stare at the table for a long moment. Though she didn’t immediately respond to what Nox was saying as he laid out a plan, it was abundantly clear that the woman was listening to him - very lightly nodding her head as he spoke. Surprising as it might’ve been, she didn’t actually disagree with anything he was saying - especially when he pointed out that they would never be able to tend and farm the land as well as the natives. Battle-hungry soldiers didn’t often make for good farmers, and the Mandalorian’s who arrived on Shaum Hii were most certainly the former.

She gave a single nod of her head when the Solus finally finished speaking, a ‘hmph’ of approval all Nox would need in order to know that Raya approved. “I’ll send one of my clansmen to deliver the message.” With that, the woman unfurled her arms and planted them onto the armrests of her chair, pushing off the seat and back onto her feet. Unless Nox had anything else to say, Raya began to make her way towards the tent exit. “Well, sounds like a party.” She said with a grin beneath her helmet. “See you boys at nightfall.”

—​

Hours passed since Nox and Raya had formulated their plan. Just as discussed, Raya had seen to it that one of her own clansmen had snuck into the farmers main village and informed the natives of their desire to meet - an offer that was quickly accepted by the leaders of the farming community. Exceptional amounts of care were taken to avoid any sentries or patrols by the Warlord in question - meaning that, for the moment, the tyrant of this planet was unaware of what was taking place under his nose.

The twin moons of the planet were high in the night sky, nestled amidst a canvas of glittering stars. Having arrived at the edge of camp a few minutes before the designated time, Raya idly scrolled through her commlink as she waited for Nox and his companion to get there. The Kryze couldn’t help but smile warmly as she passed over the last message she had received from her brother, wishing her well on Shaum Hii. Wherever Beau (@Wit) was at that precise moment, Raya took a moment to type up a quick message of her own and hit send before lowering her commlink.

Her gaze flicked up, spotting both of the Solus men approaching. She grinned beneath her helmet. “Took you both long enough.” The Kryze said with a small tilt of her head. “Coordinates to the village should’ve already been sent to your commlinks.” With that, Raya turned back ahead and prepared to activate her jetpack - figuring that flying would be the quickest way of reaching their destination. That, and she was shit when it came to driving a speeder.

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

The message had been delivered and a meeting was agreed upon between the Mandalorians and the Ranchers. Nox was grateful to hear it, feeling for their plight with the Warlord subjugating them but also requiring their expertise. The Kryze had informed the group that he hadn't been spotted and that they were free to make their move. Normally, Nox would have wanted more men to accompany them but they needed to show friendliness, especially if wanting to become allies.

Raya would hear the pair approach, Nox and Zus, the Alor being the one to respond first for their tardiness, "Have to leave someone in charge of the camp." With the three of them gone, it left a vacuum that needed to be filled in case there was a surprise attack against their camp. She then informed them the coordinates had been sent over; Nox about to examine them but when he noticed her about to take off he stepped forward to place a hand on her shoulder. "That's what they'll be expecting. We keep to the ground, get some exercise."

His hand slipped from the Kryze's shoulder as he turned to Zus, "You take point and scout ahead for us." The marked Solus simply gave a nod before he picked up his pace to a jog and made for the treeline. After he left, Nox would simply gesture with his head toward the trees as well, "Come on." While they would be traversing through swampland that wouldn't be pleasant, taking to the air was a known Mandalorian tactic. The Alor had an idea and in order for it to work, he needed absolute secrecy about what happened between them and the Ranchers.

As the two broke through the fauna and ventured deeper, Nox held up a holo-display that projected from his gauntlet, displaying the terrain and specifically the Rancher's community. Silence had fallen between the pair at first, the Alor focused on not losing themselves on the map but eventually, he spoke so they didn't have to listen only to the chirping of bugs, "How have your injuries healed since Lothal?" They had a couple of klicks to go that came with some time to spare.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya took a step and leaned her weight forward, preparing to activate her jetpack - only for Nox to abruptly placed a hand on her shoulder. The Kryze couldn’t help but blink a few times in response, glancing back over her shoulder to look at the Solus as he went on to explain his reasoning. As much as he wanted to disagree - and honestly had little desire to go sloshing through the swampy terrain - she couldn’t argue with the logic.

“Fine.” She said with a nod, umber eyes flicking over to Zus as the other Solus began scouting ahead. Raya turned her attention back ahead and started walking alongside Nox without another word - gradually coming to step shoulder-to-shoulder with the man as they trudged through the damp, humid terrain - a stark contrast from the dusty, barren surface of Concord Dawn that the Kryze was accustomed to.

“Never better,” She said in response to Nox’s question about her injuries, rolling her shoulder as she glanced over in his direction. “Shoulder hurt like a bitch for a while afterwards, but I healed up good in the end.” Raya glanced down at the map on the Solus’ gauntlet, watching as the dot that represented their current location gradually drifted closer to the meeting place with the Farmers.

“How ‘bout you?” She said after a moment or two. “How are you holding up after Lothal?” It was clear that she wasn’t simply referring to their shared trips to the medbays. Much had happened on that day, and not all of it Raya had agreed with. The public execution of civilians simply to prove a point was something that the Kryze hadn’t expected and hadn’t entirely left her since.

@Orbit[/abox3]

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox's gaze flicked between the map and the path ahead, routinely checking up on their coordinates and readjusting when needed. He was glad to hear that she had made a full recovery from her injuries, able to recount the image of her being struck by a bolt. He wanted her at full efficiency with her skills needed once again. In comparison, his injuries had practically been nothing but Lothal still clawed at the back of his mind here and there.

The memories of the truck surfaced in his mind, the smell of burning bodies as he tried to save everyone inside but couldn't, actually trying to save everyone from his own mistake. They were civilian casualties and the mother's face that wept and begged for her burnt alive son to return plagued him in most of his nightmares. Raya's question would earn silence for a few moments as the Alor clearly retreated into his own head.

Because of that, his foot overstepped a branch and instead landed in the mushy water of the swamp. The sharp change in temperature and wetness snapped him out of his thoughts and made him step onto one of the thick roots of the trees. When he was on top, he raised his right hand to grab the branch above to steady himself as well. Nox would glance over to her as he held it for a couple of seconds, exhaling softly before returning it forward, "I'm still standing, learned my lessons." It was his version of an answer but it was what he was willing to give at the moment. "We're not too far out. Come on." Nox wanted out of the dreaded swamp.

As he hopped to another branch and then onto solid land, he would wait for Raya once more before continuing. The pair wouldn't be allowed to get too far however as Zus would step from behind a tree, his visor scanning around them. "We're not alone." The Solus had his rifle out but he would instead let it hang against his chest, drawing out his two blaster pistols instead as he backed up to the other two. Nox would unholster his Peacemaker, stepping forward to link with Zus as he scanned another direction.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Within very little time at all, it became abundantly clear that Raya was not, in fact, having a grand ol’ time trudging through the swampy terrain. While her Mandalorian armor was a symbol of pride and invaluable in most situations, the heavy suit was almost the opposite of what was suited for the muck - her boots sinking deep with almost every step. The Kryze couldn’t help but glance up at the sky - clearly noting the lack of clouds, no breeze, and otherwise perfect conditions to simply jetpack their way to the farmers. But no. That wasn’t an option.

Go figure she gets paired up with the Solus on some bullshit.

Raya simply shook her head. The Kryze couldn’t help but snort through her nostrils when Nox’ boot sank deep into the mud with a comical schweich - sinking practically down to the knee in some muck. Served him right, considering this was his dumbass plan in the first place. While she didn’t say anything, Nox would undoubtedly catch her helmet tilted in his direction, and one only needed to vaguely use their imagination to picture the shit-eating grin that was, in fact, plastered across her face.

“As are we all.” She said in simple response to what Nox said about Lothal. The Kryze had no desire to think about that entire incident more than absolutely necessary, though, and she doubted that prying was going to yield any additional answers from the Solus. Instead, she simply forged ahead - following closely as they hopefully were nearing the exit to the swamp.

And then she heard what Zus’ said - her body immediately tensing at the revelation. The Kryze didn’t hesitate to reach for the duel bistols on her hip - yanking the Peacemaker’s out of their holsters as she backed up towards the other two.

“Always some fuckin’ shit.” She muttered, pressing her back against Zus and Nox so that they formed a triangle - eyes rapidly scanning the treeline for any signs of movement.

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

Their conversation had been short but it worked in their favor as they weren't caught off guard too much. Nox stopped in place immediately, his visor first locking on to Zuus before scanning around him for threats. He hadn't noticed anything but he wasn't the tracker he used to be, especially with his days more centered around battleplans than hunting. It was exactly the reason why the other Solus was accompanying the trip.

The trio each took their own direction, a triangle formed as Nox slid out his own Peacemaker, his other hand hovering near the lightsaber clipped on his belt. Had the Warlord discovered them? He had tried to ensure everything they had been done was in secrecy but yet there was something out there watching them. A flicker of anger ignited within him at the thought of being discovered so fast but he snuffed it quickly. "Some would say fun," Nox replied quickly, preparing for a fight like her. Zuus was too focused on his overwatch for his section of the swamp and didn't reveal what was actually out there. That meant he had no idea what but had caught movement.

As the seconds ticked by, Nox gave one silent prayer to Kad before he caught the water and that it became disturbed. Without hesitation, he lifted his blaster and directly at the water where he saw the ripple, his sights lined right on it. But, when his arm straightened and he was about ready to pull the trigger, four "explosions" of water sounded all around the Mandalorians, completely encircling them.

The small geysers were from four almost ghillie-suited ambushers that erupted from the swamp depths, nearly completely covered in soggy plants and leaves as they almost perfectly blended in. There were rifles in each of their hands and aimed directly at all of their chests, all of their grips steady. Both Zuus and Nox would be crouched slightly, both returning the favor of blaster barrel and each appearing ready to leap right into the fray.

But, as the four stared at them, one quickly held up their hand as they lifted their cheek away from their rifle, "Nox Solus?" It was a woman's voice, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. Nox would lower his blaster slightly, his eyebrow arching underneath his helmet as he peeked at Raya before standing up straighter and answering, "That's me." One of the ghillie suits would fully stand from the water, peeling off her hood and revealing a woman around her thirties. She then gestured to Raya, "The Mando told us we're supposed to meet you." She peered closer at the Alor, "You got the claw marks and all that other shit." It was clear she confused Raya with another but it didn't appear to bother the woman, "Come with us, we'll take you to our community." The other three would lower their rifles as they stood up.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya tilted her helmet towards Nox just then, unable to help the annoyed groan that escaped from her lips. “I bet you would, Solus.” Even beneath the helmet, the Solus could certainly feel the unamused stare from the Kryze. Somehow, she didn’t share in the opinion that getting jumped in the swamp was about to be fun, entertaining turn of events. She kept her dual peacemaker’s raised and pointed deeper into the treeline, prepared to unleash a volley upon whatever - or whoever - made the mistake of trying to sneak up on them.

A silent curse escaped from Raya has the gillie-suited ambushers emerged from the swamp, umber eyes narrowing behind her helmet. She immediately pointed both of her blasters at two of them, but even Raya could see that they were outnumber in this. Nevertheless, she adjusted her posture and leaned forward ever-so-slightly, prepared to go down fighting if necessary.

Of course, her glare softened ever-so-slightly when one amongst them began to speak - silently listening to the exchange between the farmers and Nox. It was clear that the farmer had confused the Kryze with someone else, but frankly Raya didn’t mind enough to make a point to correct her. Instead, the Kryze simply glanced over at Nox and Zuus - giving them both a firm nod before starting to follow the farmers.

“So much for the sneaky approach, eh?” She nudged Nox as she passed, not missing an opportunity to once again reiterate the fact that using jet packs would’ve been preferable to this. She walked in silence for a long while, eventually coming to stand alongside on of the farmers. She has since bolstered her blasters, arms crossed over her chest. “Do you jump all your visitors in the middle of the swamp, or did we get the upgraded hospitality package?” She asked with no lack of snark. “We didn’t realize who you were, at first. Thought you might be more of the Warlord’s men.” She said in return, sparing Raya a passing glance.

The group would continue to walk for several more minutes before eventually arriving at the entrance to the farming community - little more than electrical fencing surrounding the perimeter of the settlement. Even in dead of night, there were several men and women who peeked out the front door of their homes - getting a good look at the Mandalorian visitors.

Raya, Nox and Zuus were all led towards a rounded building at the center of the town - an elderly looking woman waiting for them at the top of the steps. The moment they approached, she extended a hand towards them in greeting. “Mandalorian, I am Izla Dhur, and I am the leader of this community.” She gestured them inside. “Come and sit. And you can tell me the reason for why you are here.”

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

The nudge from Raya made his visor swing over to her, a grin playing underneath his helmet at her question. "Well, it is working so far. Don't jinx it." Even though they hadn't reached the community themselves, they at least had made contact with the Ranchers. In his mind, it worked out better this way as they would actually be guided through the swamp and preventing them both from walking through the much or getting lost.

Raya pressed the woman about how they made contact but received a truthful answer. Nox understood where they came from and felt no offense to their reception. "Better to be safe than sorry," Nox added after her comment, speaking the truth and appreciating the fact that these farmers actually had some tactical sense. Just like their own people in certain ways, the Ranchers had to learn to fend for themselves and be able to protect their own. The Alor could respect that and the fact they managed to even get the drop on them for the most part.

The mixed group would eventually reach the community as they passed by the electric fence. Multiple inhabitants came out to see them, it being the only time they had seen such armored Mandalorians walk on their land. There were multiple riflemen too, weapons down but still in their hands as they watched.

They eventually arrived at the center, a sort of town hall with another woman standing there waiting for him. Introductions were made before she offered her hand to shake. Nox brought his visor down to stare at it before he eventually stretched his own forward, his massive compared to hers as they shook. She led them inside after, Zuus preferring to stay outside however as he posted by the door.

It would be a large open room for them, Izla leading them towards a fire pit as she took one side and the Mandalorian pair took the other. Nox sat down on the finely crafted wooden bench, a loud creak sounding from the weight of his armor. When he rested his gaze upon her, he finally spoke with a certain conviction, "I have a plan to uproot this Warlord but we will need to work together. If pulled off, he'll let us walk right through the gate of his small fortress." It had been a stalemate between the two forces and he offered the push to tip the scale in their favor. "In return for our assistance, your planet pledges itself to the Mandalorian cause and falls under our protection. Your way of life will remain and you still be somewhat autonomous to farm and care for your people how you see fit. But, you will pledge resources, answer to us, and you will abide by our laws first." Nox made a point to use the word protection instead of control. His helmet gave nothing away to read unlike the community head as he gauged her reaction.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya couldn’t help but aggressively roll her eyes when Nox mentioned not jinxing it, a playful smirk spreading across her lips beneath her helmet. While the Kryze wasn’t particularly happy about being randomly spotted by some Ranchers, she couldn’t really argue the point that things had gone ‘well’ thus far. That, and knowing their luck, Raya was convinced she might actually jinks it for them.

As a result, Raya didn’t say much the rest of the journey to the Rancher community - introducing herself to Izla before they were set into the rounded building - umber eyes immediately drawn towards the large bonfire that burned at its heart. The warmth radiating outward, and the light from the flames danced brilliantly across the Kryze’s bronze armor - reflecting back onto the alls of the chamber. She took a step beside Nox, arms crossed over her chest as she listened.

For the moment, Raya opted not to say anything for the moment - allowing Nox to lead the discussion. The reality was that the Kryze wasn’t much for a trained diplomat, and was willing to admit her weaknesses in situations like this. Istead, she simply glanced between the two of them - cruiously watching the elder’s response to Nox’s words.

Izla herself was quiet for a long moment, drumming her spindly hand against the bench where she was sitting. “And how do I know you Mandalorians won’t simply become a new warlord? For too long, my people have suffered under someone else’s rule - relinquishing our crops and other valuables to the benefit of outsiders." Her eye narrowed slightly. “How do I know Mandalore won't ask the same?

"And then we can discuss this plan of yours." ”

 

[Nox Solus]

Silence fell over the room after his proposition, Izla clearly thinking it over as eyes met visor. Nox had been rather blunt but he thought it was best to just tell the truth of how it would be instead of sugarcoating the words. He wasn't a trained diplomat either, the least he could do in his mind was treat them with the same respect he would have expected in their position.

Upon hearing her valid questions, Nox leaned back slightly before he took his right arm and gestured to himself and Raya, "We're here, aren't we? You've most likely heard the stories of us, ruthless and bloodthirsty warriors that kill everything in our path without thought. Yet, here I am speaking with you and sharing a fire to discuss cooperation between our people and offering a solution. No warband forcing you to submit to our rule." The words just spilled out of him as he just went with his gut, an iron and certainty to his words despite his lack of experience.

When it came to how Mandalore wouldn't ask the same, he spoke the truth, "We are asking the same of you but not unfairly." Despite their persona, they could offer more than death. "What has been taken will be reclaimed and given back to you. With the smiths we have, what has been destroyed will be repaired and more can be built. You will be protected and never face problem you are dealing with now unless they seek Mandalorian wrath. What we want is for both our people to prosper and we can't do that if we're both aiming to kill each other."

Nox then shook his head slightly before including, slight vitriol to his voice as he spoke, "Our people both have suffered too. We are not the sorcerers, the Jedi, the Sith." It would be unclear which group it was directly to but he finished with certainty to his words that he fully believed, "I am the Solus'alor of my Clan. You have my word you will be treated with respect, like the rest of your people." If there was one thing that could be held dear to him as his clan and a certain other, then it was his word and honor.

 

[Raya Kryze]

There was a long silence that fell over the room as Nox spoke - both from the farming community’s elderly leader, and from Raya sitting closeby. The Kryze was far from the diplomatic type in most situation and the motivating speeches were clearly more of the Solus’ territory. As a result, Raya simply listened in silence as the fellow Mando made their pitch to the elderly woman, helmet tilted between them and arms crossed over her chest.

There was a distinct shift in the elderly woman’s expression as Nox spoke - the hardened, critical stare softening especially when the Solus mentioned the suffering of both of their peoples. It was clear that the mistreatment by the Warlord hung heavy on the woman’s mind, and it imparted a clear hesitancy to trust outsiders.

And yet, there was something genuine and real in Nox’s voice and it clearly caught her attention.

“And you have my word,” Raya finally spoke up, straightening up in her seat. “You will be treated with respect, and we will help to free your from this tyrant. And we are not here to replace them.” She wasn’t Alor of her clan. She didn’t speak with the authority that Nox did.. But she was the sole other representative in that tent, and in that moment, her voice carried weight.

“I..” Izla paused for a moment, pursing her lips. “Forgive me,” She finally said. “The people here have lost a great deal, since the Warlord and his followers seized power. It is.. Difficult, to easily trust outsiders.”

The elderly woman leaned forward a bit, knitting her hands together and placing them on the table. “I need to know that this won’t be another suicide mission for my people. You say that we need to work together, and that your plan would enable us to simply walk through the door. How?”

Raya glanced over at Nox as well - genuinely curious to see what he had in mind.

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

Izla contemplated over both of the Mandalorian's words. Even though they had just met, Nox could see the struggle within her eyes, her thoughts that went to Warlord, and the atrocities that he committed. While his people had never really been put under someone's thumb, they had nearly been wiped out multiple times and he could relate to her sentiment about not trusting outsiders.

Even though Nox wanted her agreement first, he knew he was being greedy and that if he was really taking the route of diplomacy, he would need to prove they could actually be trusted. Upon being asked about his plan, he would slip a glance over to Raya before returning his gaze to Izla, a simple shrug given, "Simple. We take you in as our prisoner." Nox would let the words settle in the air for a brief moment to allow the Eldar to wrap her mind around what he is proposing.

Before she would open her mouth, Nox would lift an arm and jut out a thumb in the direction of their war camp. "As you probably know, our entrance wasn't exactly subtle. But, we came here in secret with special attention made to avoid the Warlord's patrol." The more he spoke on it, the more assured his voice as the gears spun in his head even more. "We have enough ordnance with us to make anything look convincing. Since you are all ranchers, you would be the easiest target." Nox just told the truth as they had an electric fence compared to a small fort.

"We set up a fake ambush, enough explosives that even this Warlord can hear it. After a few hours, we'll arrive with your people, escorting you to give you up as a gift. All of you will carry whatever blasters that can be concealed and when I give the signal, that's when we'll launch the attack." With both the Mandalorians and the Ranchers in the gut \s of the fort, it would make its take over much easier. Nox then jutted a thumb in Croj's direction even though he was outside, "I'll have men ready to scale the walls to make sure we aren't fish in a barrel. It will be a fight but it will be a fair one." That was pretty much the extent of his plan and he was curious what the other two thought.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Given the fact that Raya was wearing her helmet, none within the tent would be able to see the look of surprise that was plastered across the Kryze’s expression, umber eyes going wide the moment that Nox revealed his grand plan. Of all the ways she expected to approach the assault on the Warlord’s outpost, using the farmers as a trojan horse wasn’t exactly one of them. Nevertheless, the Kryze listened as Nox further elaborated on his plan - slowly but surely coming to see the merit behind the strategy. There was an unspoken risk that came with what they were planning. They would be walking right into the proverbial Lion’s jaws, surrounded by enemies until their own men could arrive and reinforce. But if it worked..?

“What defenses does the Warlord possess?” Raya glanced towards Izla, umber gaze fixating on the elderly woman. She wasn’t a warrior by any means, but the woman was far more familiar with the ins and outs of what they were up against, and her knowledge was invaluable in that moment.

“Besides his bunker and heavily armed troops?” She pondered the question for a moment. “Anti-air defenses along the perimeter of his fortifications. Old equipment, but..” She trailed off, her gaze flicking between Raya and Nox. “More than capable of shooting our warriors out of the sky.” Raya finished for her, the words spoken through gritted teeth. It all but eliminated the possibility of swarming the facility with jetpack-equipped Mandalorians, even once they had gotten inside and drawn the enemies attention. Scaling the walls with hooks and manually breaching their defenses would be required.

“It’s a solid plan.” Raya said after a long moment, rising up out of her seat. Her eyes snapped towards Izla, reading the expression on the elderly woman’s face before speaking again. “We do this together. Mandalorian’s and your people alike. If we fall, we fall together.”

Izla drummed her fingers against the table. After a long moment, she gave a nod of her head. “..Very well, Mandalorians. You have my support and that of my people.” She eased herself up out of the chair, leaning heavy on the table as she did so. “I cannot promise that my people are great warriors, but they will fight.” She said confidently.

"When do we attack?"

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

Nox could watch as Izla contemplated his plan, the risks, and the benefits of it. At first, she detested the idea of her people being used and left in a precarious position but the Mandalorians would be right there with them. As Raya pointed out, if they fell, they would all fall together in one last hoorah.

After a few moments, Izla would stand as confidence not there before swelled within her as she was finally given a path to get payback. Nox would stand with her, the Solus giving her a nod before he replied, "If your people's fighting ability matches their spirit, then that will be all we need." The Solus'alor was impressed by her leadership despite the situation the Ranchers found themselves in. They were being assaulted by an armed Warlord and his men but they were still holding out, the will to fight each day growing stronger.

At the question of when they will attack, he thought for a moment before giving the Elder an upward nod, "Tomorrow night. Gather whatever broken-down equipment, or at least willing to part with and bring it to the coordinates we send you. We need to make it look real."

Izla would give him a stern nod, a certain fire within her eyes, "We'll be prepared."

---​

Night fell over the landscape as it became eerily silent across the swamp, sentries from the walls of the Warlord's fort scoping the perimeter. The guards were about to drop their rangefinders until a series of explosions ripped through the swamps, lighting up the sky in hues of orange. With the trees, they couldn't tell what was happening but they could hear the sound of chaotic blaster fire and even more explosions as the ground shook. "What the hell is going on?!"

At the site of the "battle", it would be numerous Mandalorians and Ranchers huddled by each other, a few here and there simply firing in random directions. Nox stood on top of a rock, a detonator in his hand as he pressed the button one last time, a slightly closer explosion taking place as a tree fell over.

When the explosives ran out, the Mandalorians and farmers would stop firing into empty space and reloaded their weaponry for the real fight. Nox would hop off the rock then, glancing over to Raya before gesturing with his head to the farmers, "Prepare and get the restraints for them. I'll get the weapons." The Solus would collect a few overs to carry over the crates of weapons.

 

[Raya Kryze]

Raya didn’t miss the glint that suddenly seemed to burn with Izla’s eyes - a ferocity and courage present that even the Kryze had to admit she found nothing short of impressive. It didn’t matter the how bad the circumstances the farmers had found themselves in were. It didn’t matter how much they had suffered and lost. It didn’t matter how poorly the odds were stacked against them. Through it all, they never lost the will to fight for themselves - to defend their home and to stake out their place in the Galaxy.

In more ways than one, it was a sentiment that resonated deeply with Raya. “Tomorrow night.” The Kryze gave a solid nod. She listened to the last thing that Izla said, pausing for a moment before speaking one last time, “Fight well.”

–​

Nightfall had arrived, and so had the time to begin their assault on the Warlord’s compound. Raya was already in place when the explosions began to rip through the forest - the canopy providing them all the cover they needed while sufficiently leaving their enemies completely in the dark as to what was actually going on. She had to admit, so far so good.

Ray glanced towards Nox when the Solus’alor spoke. “You got it,” She said with a nod, slinking from her position and towards the farmers. While the Solus readied their weapons for the upcoming battle, Raya began to apply restraints to the farmers - selling their ruse of holding the locals as hostages to ransom back to the Warlord. She approached on man in particularly, gesturing for him to lift his arms so that she could apply the cuffs to his wrists.

As she did so, Raya raised her voice loud enough for those in the immediate vicinity to hear, but not enough for any of the Warlord’s men to pick up on. “Only tighten the restraints one click,” She said, glancing between both the farmers and fellow Kryze warriors. “They’ll be tight enough to stay on and look legit, but they’ll be easy to take off when the real fight begins.”

Within a few moments, the last restraints had been applied - the farmers lining up in three rows flanked by Mandalorian warriors - their heads down and posture all helping to sell the idea that they had only just been broken and defeated by the invading Mandalorians. Raya waited for Nox to finish his preparations with the weapons before turning to the Solus, pulling the twin peacemaker’s from her hip. “Ready to go say hello?” She jutted her chin towards the fortifications.

The Kryze tapped the side of her helmet, opening a comms channel with the warriors positioned to scale the walls. “We’re moving in. Be ready on my signal.”

@Orbit

 

[Nox Solus]

There was a small pyramid of crates stacked up on the side of a tree. When Nox approached, a Solus would dismantle it and morph the shape into a neatly organized line on the ground. They would be opened to reveal the contents not for them but for the farmers. Blasters and explosives lined side by side, all of the equipment small enough to be carried on each person and not detectable, at least from a glance.

Nox and Zuus would each take their own crate and begin to hand out the armaments, warriors then bringing them over to farmers that were already lined up. They would all lift their shirts, stowing whatever they were given by their waistbands or wherever they could find before placing the restraints on themselves.

Once that was finished, the Solus would turn to find Raya ready as she pulled out her two blasters. At her question, he chuckled softly before giving a cock of his head, "It is polite to make introductions." Even though there was an ease to him, his gaze was cast to their "prisoners." Nox respected their spirit but they would all be in a precarious position until the walls assaulted from the outside. They would just have to hold out until then. After his reply, the Kryze would witness Nox pulling his beskad free and would twirl it so the blade faced the ground. He brought it to his chest, his head tilted down slightly after, mumbling out a prayer for both the Mandalorians and the farmers.

After that was done, he slid the weapon back into its sheathe before turning to the whole crowd and speaking up, "It's time to move out. Remember the plan, trust your instincts. We fight together." The farmers all gave a brief but certain nod, earning one back from him before he turned and started to walk toward the fort.

An hour later their large colum would arrive at the gates of the Warlord's fort, guards posted at the top of the walls with rifles in hand. Within shouting distance of the gate, a man slightly elevated above the others would put out his hand for them to halt before he chuckled at the sight of the farmers. "What a beautiful sight! State what you want."

Nox raised his visor slightly, his reply simply, "Get your Commander. I think in removing these pests he'll appreciate a friendly chat and exchange." The man smirked before gesturing for one of the other guards to run off. A few minutes later, fellow Mandalorians getting in position during, the gates would finally open and allow them access. Nox would give a look to Raya, holding it for a moment before stepping forward.

 

[Raya Kryze]

“Well I’m nothing if not polite,” Raya quipped right back at Nox, flashing the Solus a playful grin from beneath her helmet. The Kryze glanced down towards the blaster pistols she carried, ensuring both were fully loaded and the had been set to lethal. Her umber eyes briefly drifted over to the prisoners, before back then to Nox. “Or couldn’t you tell?” She said with a playful tone, following up her statement with a faint nudge against the Solus' shoulder. Nevertheless, she turned her attention back ahead shortly after that - umber eyes fixating onto the Warlord’s fortress before them.

Though it wasn’t visible, the Kryze’s eyes narrowed as the first man appeared over the gate - the fingers on her Peacemaker’s tightening ever-so-slightly as she listened to the back and forth exchange. She watched as one of the armed men ran off, only to return a few minutes later - another man returning with him. The grizzled figure approached the gate, gazing down at the pair of Mandalorian’s below. “How kind of you to do me the service of handling these parasites.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest. “What is it that you want?”

Raya inclined her head towards the gates. “Perhaps you’d be so kind to allow us to speak face to face.”

After a pour moment of pause, the Warlord finally gave a nod - gesturing to one of his men. “Let them in.” Within moments, the gates opened to allow the Mandalorian’s and farmers to enter - the guards atop the walls pointing their rifles down at the group as they passed through the threshold.

@Orbit