This Ain't a Scene

[Tomic Domin]

Spoiler: Objective

Wildlife on Dxun is affecting the contact's smuggling operation in the area. Tomic and another are contracted to clear out a local Zakkeg nest that has been causing issues. Skuld Stark + Tomic Domin + Jayscreec Alecwit

Dxun was... a little bit close to home for Tomic. Onderon was literally RIGHT THERE in the sky, dominating the skyline utterly, and it was his home. He hadn't been back home in some time but even just setting foot on Dxun was... different.

He could almost feel how close he was to his home.

Like it's gravity well was oddly comforting in it's own way. He sighed a little bit behind his helmet and checked his rifle again. This time he was using the long rifle because they were doing something he rather enjoyed.

They were hunting.

Not only were they hunting but they were hunting Zakkeg, something he had been hunting since he was old enough to go on his first hunt over five years ago. The beasts were heavily armored and strong but they were not too smart or quick.

He just hoped that he wasn't going to have to carry his allies.

"Keep low and stay quiet." he told them quietly, his rifle cradled against his chest as he crept through the undergrowth, "They respond to loud footfalls and undergrowth snapping more than voices. Voices are just random to them but the rest? That spells predators."

@Ediwa @Killa Ree
@Skuld Stark @Jayscreec Alecwit

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

Jay was getting sick of Dxun.

He is not the type who would audibly complain but it was obvious he spent the last hour wondering why he accepted this mission in the first place. There was nothing thrilling about going into the jungle. Wet leaves, poisonous flowers and trees everywhere. Maybe being able to handle this harsh environment could mean a bonus on his paycheck, or at least that's why he just did not go home.

He listened to his young partner. Only the grass made sounds. Sticks and leaves were avoided as much as possible.

However, upon taking the next step the forest became still and silent. Jayscreec raised his fist and halted the team.

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

Unlike her companions, Skuld didn't give a kark about Dxun one way or another. A job was a job... but this was different. This was a hunt for something that, even amongst her kind, was seen as an honor. Even for her Mando's people, apparently... but the hunt was nothing new. She relished in it, in stalking prey with an ax and determinism. She knew about Zakkegs, and it amused her greatly that these two seemed intent to lecture.

She had hunted wampas and varlwulves in icy, blizzard terrain with naught but her ax and determination. Such challenges were life-threatening, sure, but she was already prepared by the time Jay lifted his fist. Her Elduröxi was already in hand, along with her fist prepared to spring the gauntlet shield at any minute.

These beasts had nearly impossible-to-pierce hides, and were equally difficult to access for their softer spots. But she would find them, one way or another. She had already crouched, listening intently, breathing kept really low, quiet. She was calm, listening to the sudden silence.

They too were predators. And they were fierce, cunning... and perhaps ruthless.

From within her helmet, the Deucalian smiled savagely. This was going to be fun indeed.

@Ediwa @Nefieslab

 

[Tomic Domin]

There they were.

There were three Zakkegs in a clearing in front of them and that was more than enough for Tomic. These beasts were so heavily armoured that most weapons would do absolutely nothing to their hides unless you hit them in just the right position. Raising his blaster rifle, Tomic began to line up a shot on the eye of one of the beasts at rest in the middle of the clearing. He breathed in and readied himself to take the shot.

Which was when things went to kark.

Because their was a fourth Zakkeg and it was angry.

The creature charged through the trees to his right, completely unseen until it announced it's presence by charging forwards with enough force that two small trees were sent crashing to the ground. Focused on lining up his shot, Tomic didn't react quickly enough to the charge and took the brunt of the creature's charge as it's heavily armoured head rammed his chest and sent him flying backwards through the air to smack into a nearby tree.

Groaning, he found the armour on his chest cracked along with... he briefly checked... yep, along with two ribs.

Spoiler: Dice

Zakkeg Numbers
Attack Roll

@Ediwa @Killa Ree
@Skuld Stark @Jayscreec Alecwit

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

One just tackled Tomic and he is looking shit.

Tommic was Jay's closest battle buddy. They didn't talk of personal subjects but HQ always paired them. The agent noticed what just happened. If he wanted to save his partner he had to act swiftly.

This was the first time he faced these creatures. When he got briefed he imagined they moved much slower. The Zakkeg was getting danger-close to Tomic. Jayscreec wrapped his finger around the trigger and rapidly pulled it three times, continuously hitting his target. The first two blasts were soaked by the beast's armor. Only the third one went through and downed it. It all happened so fast that he couldn't see where he hit. He had no idea about the weak point.

He sprinted to the injured and dragged him behind a rock.

"Come on T, we need you here!"

At this moment three angry Zakkegs remained in the clearing with Skuld Stark.

Spoiler: Dice

Attack

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

None of them ever noticed her; as the one came charging down the youngest in their little group, she hefted her ax and felt it give off its' trademark soft hum glowing to life. But of course the shots gave them away the moment the first of the little predatory group went down.

And then the second one slowly began to turn to where Tomic had been bodily thrown, stomping its' front left leg into the ground.

...Kark.

The moment it came charging, she activated the gauntlet buckler and sprang from the cover of leafy greens with a roar. She swung her arm down hard upon the beast's skull.

So hard, in fact, it had continued its' charge for three steps before the body registered a lack of connection to the brain, its' head still embedded deep with the humming blue of her Elduröxi. She barely had time to yank it clear with a gout of red-black blood and grey matter before the second came charging at her with a shattering bellow. She roared back as its' body rammed into her shield, feet digging into the ground.

The impact jammed hard up her arm, making her bite the inside of her cheeks and tasting blood.

That was when everything turned red.

She could feel it slam her into another tree as she slammed down the ax again and again, until it stopped charging, until it stopped moving, feeling blood spatter over her armor as the third one bellowed at its' fellows being slaughtered. But instead of charging, it turned.

Icy blue eyes glared frostily about the clearing. Focused on the noise... and snarled, trying to yank her ax loose.

Attack her companions, would they? Try to kill her, would they? Her bulwark arm throbbed and ached, but in the cold heat of this rage, she hardly gave a kark for her life. She wanted them all dead.

All over an Empire agent she knew nothing about, apart from him barely being above the age of a kid.

The blade had sunk so deep into the third creature's skull, only the handle and the sharp edge of the other side of the blade were visible. Flesh was instantly cauterized and sizzled as she yanked it out, panting with rage.

It slumped to the ground, but she wanted more, by Freya's mercy. She wanted the fourth one to herself so much, she trembled with the need to sink her ax into these creatures over and over, how dare they charge at her, how dare they harm her hunting party--

Spoiler: Dice

Attack

@Nefieslab @Ediwa

 

[Tomic Domin]

Hunting karking Zakkegs - who's bright idea was this again? His contact wanted them to remove some troublesome zakkegs from the local area but had expected them to deal with them with nothing more than blasters and vibro-weapons? It was through more than a bit of luck and skill that Skuld had managed to even scratch one of them with her axe and Jay had done well with his own blaster to end one as well.

But this whole thing stank.

You usually 'hunted' Zakkegs with fire, flamers and high explosives because their hides were usually far too thick to actually be useful in most traditional ways either. So they were here without the proper equipment and this was one of two dens that they were supposed to take out.

Something was tugging at the back of his mind, making him question the validity of this whole thing.

Forcing himself into motion, Tomic growled as he threw his body forwards, snatched up his dropped long rifle and rolled onto his back with the rifle raised. He sighted for a fraction of a second before pulling the trigger - a single blaster bolt flew swift and true. It slammed into, and through, the Zakkeg's eye and tore it's brain apart. The mighty beast slumped forwards mid-run, dead from the single shot.

Tomic relaxed a little bit before pulling himself up to his feet again.

"One more den for us to clear... kark." he grimaced, wrapping his free arm around his ribs, "Thanks for the save J. You too Skuld."

Taking point again, Tomic led the way towards the second den they had been informed about. He stopped at the edge of the new clearing, pointing out the two Zakkeg's there currently. He nodded to his allies.

"Alright let's try not getting into a melee with a couple metric tonnes of armour and muscle and rage, right?"

Spoiler: Dice

Attack
Second Den Numbers

@Ediwa @Killa Ree
@Skuld Stark @Jayscreec Alecwit

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

The team got lucky against the first round of these beasts. Tomic was right, this cannot be rushed anymore. The equipment provided wasn't enough, but the mission went too far to just turn back now.

At the next den Jay reloaded and laid down on his stomach. He pointed his blaster rifle at the two beast and waited for his partners to prepare. When they were ready the agent aimed at the center of the closest Zakkeg's body.

"Let's light them up."

The Zakkeg screamed from the pain as several shots hit his body, including parts without armor. Several wounds appeared. The creature crouched aggressively and started hissing. The poor beast had no chance to fight back. By the time Jay ran out of ammo the creature's head was rolling on the ground.

"Get some!"

A faint grin appeared on Jay's face underneath his helmet. He killed the monster. As he was reloading he looked over his teammates and re-assessed the situation.

Spoiler: Dice

Attack

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

She gave a frown unseen from within her armor. Seeing Tomic wounded cleared some of the red haze from her mind, but that didn't mean she wasn't willing to tear these beasts apart with her bare hands. Armored or not, she never backed down from a challenge.

Especially if they challenge had 'impossible odds' stamped all over it.

And you never told a Deucalian the odds; those odds would be challenged every time.

She knew she was fortunate her ax arm was strong, and that they hadn't pummeled her to death. She could also imagine that being able to kill such things without proper weaponry was beyond foolish, it was downright foolhardy. But dying in combat was still considered an honor for her kind... even with the unnamed Clan she was now a part of.

"Velcome," came the clipped words from within the helm, giving the briefest of nods.

But not get into a melee?

...He didn't know her well, but by the end of it he definitely would.

She gave a harsh chuckle, crouching low.

Especially when the other Zakkeg heard its' den-mate scream in pain. It whirled about, small eyes tracking about the forest. When Jay was reloading and looking at the two of them, Skuld was already tensed.

Sure enough, it began to barrel in the direction of her companions.

Jay couldn't fire yet. Tomic was injured.

...Kark it, a third head on her wall couldn't hurt, could it.

It burst past three trees before coming close; she lunged forward once more, roaring out when it came too close to her little party. It continued tromping forwards, low to the ground, then suddenly shifted its' head to the side. One of the vicious horns protruding managed to catch the tip beneath her armor somehow; it tore through the synthweave that bound it together, and the thermal underlayer, shallowly slicing into muscled flesh. She snarled and struck out, again and again, its' head twisted sideways and soft side of throat exposed. It was too fast to catch with her buckler; all she could do was try to dig her heels in, but her ribs creaked and legs burned, both with the effort and with the torn skin.

She kept on, though, trying to attack while it was still locked against her. She managed a few hits, but it was still not really going down just yet.

Not without a fight.

Spoiler: DICE

Attack

@Nefieslab @Ediwa

Direly.

 

[Tomic Domin]

Kark well, let it never be said that Jay lacked enthusiasm.

He did he absolute best to turn one of the two Zakkegs into pulp. It seemed his ally didn't much care for accuracy - it seemed he was of the school of thought that said that quantity was quality of it's own kind because he shot wildly and only managed to kill the damned thing not so much because he'd found a weak point as shooting often enough that he simply MADE a weak point for himself.

If it worked, it wasn't crazy.

The second Zakkeg came barreling towards them and Tomic raised his long rifle ready to take a shot before Skuld decided that she was going to try and hug the dangerous predator to death instead. He paused for a second as he watched the woman do the absolutely stupid thing of trying to grapple with a creature that outweighed her by sever hundreds of pounds by his estimate. She was, of course, cutting into it with that axe of her's so he supposed it made some kind of sense as to why the creature hadn't merely trampled her to death.

"Move your head!"

He fired once.

The blaster bolt flew threw, slamming into one of the wounds on it's head that Skuld had created, using the damaged to break into the skull and fry the brains of the creature with a single blaster bolt. Of course this meant that the create then collapsed heavily onto Skuld, driving it's horn into her deeper with it's dead weight. Cursing, Tomic rushed over to her as best he could and pulled the creature's head up to give her room to crawl away from it.

"You alright?"

Spoiler: Dice

Headshot to Save Skuld

@Ediwa @Killa Ree
@Skuld Stark @Jayscreec Alecwit

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

Finally they were done.

To put personal emotions aside Jay had to follow strict procedure. In fear of surprises he took a circle around the den to ensure they were alone. Any beasts in the area could hear the Zakkeg's agony and possibly lure them closer. Whatever it is, you never know what lurks in the shadows.

Once delighted with the results Jay dedicated time to check Skuld. Protocol demanded check for response and injuries. It was going to be another trip to reach their evacuation point and the team had to be battle-ready. Maybe most of these monsters were killed but sometimes when you cut off one head two more grow out.

"I looked around and it's okay. Are you good, partners? You both took some serious hits."

Jay remained with the team without ever thinking of leaving them.

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

She had twisted to the side when Tomic made his lucky hit; she knew it was sheer lunacy to attack a Zakkeg head-on, but really, what else was she going to do? Let it trample her companions? Nei, she was going to dig her heels in and take all the pain, though her shoulders screamed and her leg stung something awful.

She let loose a very colorful string of creative curses in about twelve differing languages when its' head drove the weight deeper into her left leg, powering off her ax before Tomic pulled its' heavy head up enough to let her wrench her leg free with a muttered snarl. The buckler powered off, and she limped away from it.

For good measure, she gave it one final kick out of spite, spewing out another few curses that, if they understood Deucalic, would have raised eyebrows. Needless to say, it was creative, shocking, and definitely involved mothers and objects that were unlikely to be used as she suggested against Zakkegs.

She took off her helmet, shaking long black hair out of her eyes. She sighed, slumping against one tree to temporarily relieve pain from her now-bleeding leg.

"Ja. Am fine," she muttered, coloring pink at the cheeks. She was the oldest of the group, perhaps; she twisted her hair back up and slammed the helm back on, limping back over to Tomic and offering her hand to help him up. He was more injured; this was merely a flesh wound, perhaps.

If she thought like that, maybe the pain would go away.

"So, what next? Want to hunt some Nexus? I could use a fur," she half-joked, but it fell somewhat flat.

Whoever sent them this bogus assignment would feel her ax before the missions were through, she would swear that. If only she had done her research beforehand...

@Nefieslab @Ediwa

 

[Tomic Domin]

Well kark, that had... well that had been something of a struggle.

They had been sent in entirely unprepared for what they found though which was odd. It was odd but what was more was that it was a cause for alarm. The contact who had agreed to hire them knew this area and knew what they would be facing but had mentioned a very small number of Zakkegs.

The mission 'briefing' had been very clear that there were only two suspect Zakkegs. What they had actually fought was far worse than that and they had taken their licks because of it. Tomic wasn't going to lie and say that his ribs were ever going to be the same again after the beating he had taken by the bloody beast.

Of course they likely would be (imperial healthcare was pretty good) but right now that was not what he was feeling. He hissed in pain as he took a breath.

"I'm going to be aching in the morning." he agreed with Skuld's sentiment as he hissed slightly again, "And I need to repair my armour."

He scowled.

"Now?" he started walking back to the smuggler's outpost they were apparently defending, "Now we ask the smugglers some questions. About how the 'briefing' said 'maybe two'. I'm not convinced this is all above board..."

He started pushing on through the trees.

"Come on! Let's ask some questions."

@Ediwa @Killa Ree
@Skuld Stark @Jayscreec Alecwit

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

Pain and agony broke the silence of the smuggler's outpost at night. Violence and sounds of struggling echoed through the forest that awoken the locals. This occasion was one of those when Jayscreec's bodycam was definetly on. This one Eclipse 'wannabe' who was at the original briefing claimed that it was Tomic's fault they went unprepared. Now he wasn't even allowed to stay on his feet. Each time he got up the agent rammed his boots into his back or slammed his body against the closest wall. The man's swollen face made him unrecognizable.

Jay carried his standard issue Gladius Blaster Rifle on a bungee sling. His tactical belt side holster held a VPB-11 Blaster Pistol and a concealed Vibro-bayonet sharply waited in his drop leg holster. He wasn't thinking about being tired anymore.

The smuggler didn't tell anything though. He had nothing to do with the whole thing. Jay was just probably ventilating. He got the wrong person, and he went too far with him. Far enough to piss off the whole camp.

And they were mad when they figured the agents were living and killed one of their own.

Who asked you to hire us, screamed Jay before he knocked out the smuggler's teeth. He let go of the body that collapsed on the ground and started suffocating in his own blood. The Eclipse spotted them. They were going to finish what the Zakkegs couldn't.

Spoiler: dice

Interrogation

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

Didn't they know better than to just storm a smugglers' compound?

She would; she used to work as one!

There was a moment she felt bad for the agent, she truly did.

But it was the moment that she heard the pinging shots of blaster fire ahead that she sighed heavily. Growled a few expletives in Basic and Deucalic, before grasping at Jay's shoulder.

"No time," she snarled, attempting to turn and prepared to run. She fully believed in dying in battle... but this wouldn't really be battle. They were outnumbered by quite a number, and if they wanted to gather more information as to who sent them to a death deal, they would have to do it some other way.

Now was hardly the type to beat up some pup out of anger.

But when she turned to shout at Tomic, there was a strange sensation on her leg. She wobbled, and nearly fell as the blood began to flow faster from under her leg armor.

She jerked her head to the woods, lips twisted into a snarl beneath her helmet as she began to limp.

"Time to go, answers later. Come!"

Spoiler: dice

Roll to escape
Number of Enemies

@Nefieslab @Ediwa

 

[Tomic Domin]

Finding out what had gone wrong, and who had set them up, wasn't going very well and he would be the first to admit that it was probably a bit ill-timed. They weren't at their best and these smugglers were ready and willing to kill them at the drop of a hat it seemed... of course Jay had managed to torture one to death within the space of two minutes.

A torturer, Jay was not.

Personally, Tomic agreed with Skuld - it was time to go. He patted Jay on the back, tugging him away from the body and from the camp as a whole.

"We need to bug out." he warned his ally even as he fired out at the smugglers heading their way, forcing them to stay in cover with shots that strayed worryingly close to them, "Come on - make it back to the ship already! We'll find out who's karked us later."

One of the smugglers got brave and tried to make a run for it but Tomic gunned him down almost instantly with two shots to the face, ending the ideas of any of the smugglers wanting to be a hero. He began backing away from the smuggling compound, back towards their parked ship.

Time to leave.

Spoiler: Dice

Rolling for escape attempt and covering fire

@Ediwa @Killa Ree
@Skuld Stark @Jayscreec Alecwit

 

[Jayscreec Alecwit]

Escaping turned out harder than Jay first thought. Making way towards their ship while pursued by mad smugglers of the compound couldn't get easier when Skuld started limping. Tomic's covering fire gave the agent some time to take hold of their independent partner and drag her along.

Jay grabbed her by the shoulder.

Keep moving, he shouted. The enemy's shots hit rocks and trees all around them as they were running. The Mynock-series Freighter stood where they hid it. In the clearing ahead Jay couldn't find any signs of the smugglers presence, so he let go off Skuld and returned fire to assist his partner.

More and more shots illuminated the area. We are being overran, Jay screamed. I can't get her to the ship, you could just start it and mount the turret, he asked Tommic via radio.

Spoiler: dice

Assisting teammates and escaping

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Eva 'Skuld' Stark]

She knew she was slowing the party down, but it could hardly be helped. She had been wrestling giant walking shields with little more than a shield and an ax, and though both pieces of equipment were wonderful, it was enough to test the stamina of any willing warrior, Zakkeg or not.

So you could imagine her delight when the sounds of screaming suddenly took over the compound.

Looks like they missed one Zakkeg, and it wanted to join the fun.

On the enemy. Looks like some God still had a twisted enough sense of humor to favor her after all... and the hunt her companions had done with some success.

Her lips twisted into an unseen wicked grin, as she patted Jay on the shoulder, her voice coming over the comm.

"Nei, no need. Let's get the kark off of this planet, and get some answers."

/End Thread