Log:Mandalore: While I Was Away
Mandalore: While I Was Away
OOC Date: July 23, 2021
Location: Mandalore
Participants: Valeska Jaivon and Hadrix Kora as GM Clan Kora Mandalorian
Chaos and Close Quarters combat goes hand in hand. The second set of cutting charges had opened a passage downward, closer to where the stolen children were expected to be. Hadrix, then Hahtavi, Avery, Zelo, finally Sumi were dropping down with the expectation of Valeska hot on their heels when the entire structure shook from an internal explosion somewhere in the depths then a support cable snapping with a thunderclap of parting metal that ripped armor plating from one side of the tower.
Enough to cause distractions for everyone.
Allowing for a figure in the black and blue hues of Remembrancer plates to careen from the shadows before she can join the others in their mad rush to evacuate the kids. Attempting to bowl Valeska over with a spear tackle, that she might not have seen coming. Enough to keep her from joining the others at least, and to buy time to bring their blaster up in the aftermath.
Valeska is bringing up the rear watching their backs as they progress through the Destroyer. Sumi disappearing into the lower levels is her cue to follow up, but before she can make that leap and ingnite her jetpacks, the snapping of cables pulls Valeska's attention. Just for a second...
Long enough for a blur to come from the shadows aiming for her center of gravity.
Caught by surprise, Valeska leaps away from the hole where her clanmates had disappeared, grunting as her pistol is instictively drawn. Three shots light the darkness of the corridor; each one finding purchase in bulkheads and burnt-out consoles but not the target itself. She's not as good at close combat as she is with pistols, but a quick glance at her powercell tells her she might not have a choice in a few seconds.
<"You're going to be a footnote in the chapters of this altercation."> Growled out by the figure as they push across the room, diving behind a bank of computers, letting the interceding equipment absorb the attacks made while looking for a place to take his shot. Further below another explosion, more charges going off and the sound of metal dropping to deck plates signaling the others moving further, not aware of their Blood To Be's situation above.
Another spate of gunfire goes off elsewhere, comms reporting Remembrancers moving to where the old evacuation sectors were. Glow panels turning red and a klaxon beginning to sound with each slow pulse of the lights, a pulse that is growing slowly faster.
A single gold bolted blast sounding out, sending a lance of plasma towards the new Mandalorian, aimed with intent to cut a hole down the center of her helmet. Her attacker's own distinctly different from many others. Looking like functional tech, the visor still having it's blast shielding blocking sight of their face.
As the explosions below grow further and further away, Valeska's stomach knots with a horrible realizations: she's on her own. Through her comm, she knows the rest of the enemy will be scattering soon. Abandoning their rat nest in order to save their own skin. The children they stole left behind. She can't decide of that makes it better or worse.
Spinning on the ball of her foot, Valeska dodges the bolt as it shrieks past her, popping off a shot of her own in reply as he comes out from cover then two more to really drive the point home which miss him, of course, but may also force him back into hiding. <"You should worry more about where your body is going to rot because no one is going to remember you."> She presses herself against the bulkhead trying desperately to follow the man's movements as more of the Star Destroyer creaks and groans with each explosion.
One of those blasts takes the Remembrancer in the leg and forcing him to fall behind the cover that keeps her other blasts from ripping into him. Things are quiet, save the fighting elsewhere. The creak of the command tower rocked by it and then a clatter of plates. One cuisse on the right thigh smoldering and smoke rising around the warrior.
<"I'll be remembered. Long after you're dust. Like attack dogs charging and calling us cowards. Fade and strike. Survive while your lot hew themselves into a meat grinder.">
Leaping from cover and charging across the distance, another shoulder charge that seats itself in Valeska's gut as he grinds out, <"My sacrifice to distract you and buy the others time!"> The impact sudden, matched to a creaking sound shot through with hard 'KRINK's before the glass of the viewport breaks.
Heat and wind, the light almost blinding - and the realization of falling; seeing the command tower from the outside and the topmost portion falling away.
Or is it Valeska and the Remembrancer who are falling?
<"Keep talking,"> Valeska bites out over the sound of a powercell popping out of her pistol and another being slammed in its place. <"If it makes you feel better."> She knows where he disappeared but cannot seem to track him. If she gets out of this, she'll need to prod Hadrix for more training in following a target.
If she makes it out.
Valeska is holding her breath trying to listen for movements but there's just too much going on inside the Destroyer for her to filter it out. That breath is forced out of her violently with the sudden tackle that drags her backwards. Her back connects with the wall. The wall that cracks... then breaks.
Light is suddenly all around her and Valeska feels nothing but a rush of air behind her as she struggles with the Remembrancer as the tower she was just in gets further and further away.
Even as they tumble, soaring through the heat and air currents the laughter of the Remembrancer is unmistakable. One hand seeking to find the collar of Valeska's cuirass, to keep from drifting away.
<"Only I will be remembered! Offworld FILTH!"> a knee is driven into the inner thigh, past the combat plating, a blow that might compress arteries to intensify the pain. The other hand drawn back with pistol still in his fist while the Mandalorian's knee comes crashing in again; before an attempt to try and tuck the barrel under the rim of Valeska's helmet.
Still they fall. The command tower, separated from the destroyer decades ago, rushing past as a constant reminder of the altitude speeding like blood from a jugular cut, the threat of solid ground coming rapidly below.
Okay, that's fair enough. She /is/ offworld filth. Well, not filth, really, but--- HEY!
The knee to her thigh gets under the protection of her armour and sends a spike of pain reverberating through her nervous system, the muscle cramping like a tightened fist and not releasing. Her blaster is still whining to life from the new powercell; mere seconds have passed though everything feels like slow motion.
<"Who will remember you?"> Valeska demands in a surge of strained anger. No... no, focus. <"Your friends are already dead!">
The barrel forced under her helmet forces her chin upwards; a lovely view of the tower drawing away from her. 'No time left,' is her last thought then training takes over.
With a twist, Valeska rolls them in midair until she is face-first with the ground that threatens to pulverize them both in a heartbeat or two. Shoving her blaster under the rim of his breastplate, Valeska fire point-blank into his torso and as soon as she feels his grasp release, her jetpack engages and she flies upwards.
But letting gravity do the work for her isn't enough and the Doomseeker fires again into the attacker as he falls.
The first shot forced the man's hand to break away, watching Valeska when her pack ignites and carries her out of range. There is a hiss of static from the vocalizer of the helmet, arms and legs splaying wide as gravity is allowed to take him, volume raising as he shouts up at the woman rocketing away,
<"Mandalore Remembers! WE PERS-">> what silences him?
Sand sprays out like water in a pond violently disturbed by thrown stone. The second blaster bolt cores through the the thermo-impact cloth that forms the gorget of the suit. Smoke and flash boiled blood added to the outward ripple of dust. Bones snap and blood is forced from tears in the skin caused by pressure and impact.
Whatever else to be said by the man is lost.
A jagged edged plate tumbles past, barely missing Valeska and the Saiwali air-speeders rushing up to meet the first of the children being herded out to safety aboard the precious craft. The fighting is almost nil. Silhouettes of figures on speeders and swoops escaping to the south. Ground forces scattered among the craters and melted sand.
The warrior who had tried to fell Valeska looking upwards, laid out in the dirt, T-Visor somehow carrying the laughter of the man now dead. A suit like Sumi's. A suit like a famous bounty hunter's.
Breathing heavily, and nearly dodging a piece of sharpnel, Valeska lands a few feet away from the nameless attacker who is now destined to become one with Mandalore. Switching her comms to the open airwaves and marking her position, Valeska contacts her clanmates. <<"Alor. Al'Verde. The threat following up behind us has been---">> She nudges the corpse with a foot. <<"Neutralized. I am at the breech and will oversee the the children being loaded onto the speeders.">>
Valeska does just that though there doesn't seem to be any attackers here trying to stop the rescue. Every once in a while, Valeska looks back at the body in the sand.
The man that tried to kill her.
The man she killed first.
While not compelled to take any macabre trophies, Valeska begins to feel what could be a fraction of understanding for the den Hadrix keeps on Woor'Tra. And for all the blood and sinew that would need to be cleaned out, that armour looks quite functional. She doesn't go to retrieve yet; instead making sure the mission comes to it's completion and that her clan is safe. Then and only then will she set about removing the pieces one by bloody one.
