Banshee Scream

[Galaar Rau]

Umbara was a dark world, darker than Galaar was used to, in all honesty, but when it came down to it, it benefited him to be wearing a set of all black Heavy Beskar'gam, in this environment. Sitting outside a small village, on a 3 meter tall watch tower, he scanned the skies for traces of luminescent blue or green that would be coming from the predators, the locals called Banshees - large, airborne crustacean-like creatures that had been terrorizing this particular village for weeks, and only recently had carried off a woman and her child. Having pooled their funds together, the village decided to hire out Galaar, of Clan Rau, and Arturo, of Clan Solus to stand guard, and eventually defend the city. One of the farms had lent them a Bantha, to use as bait, to draw out the creatures, and through the scope of his Shriek Hawk rifle, he scanned the area around them. The rest of his gear hung off of his belt.

"Keep a look out, vod, these thangs hunt in hordes. From what I hear though, they're easy ta kill, it's just a matter of killing one before another nearby kills you," Galaar spoke, in a hushed tone through his commslink. clutching his rifle. Galaar assumed the other would have positioned himself on the platform about 10 meters to his right.

A few farmers, with blasters of their own stood guard over their property, as well, but they were visibly shaken at the prospect of losing it all, if this turned into more than what they had bargained for.

@Kraken @Arturo Solus

 

[Arturo Solus]

"I know, brother. I know..." Arturo answered, standing on the adjacent platform, just across from Galaar. His dark crimson armor caught the nearby torchlight as he stirred, the cold glint of his T-visor making him far more intimidating than he dared hope. Shame it won't scare the Banshees, he thought, casting his solemn gaze out over the surrounding lands, a gentle breeze cooling his extremities through the overlapping plates of his Beskar'gam and the underlayers beneath. The sound of distant animal cries carried on the wind, mixing with the sound of hushed voices, much closer in proximity.

Umbara: The Shadow World...hmm. The planet stayed true to its namesake. Umbara, as it turned out, was a world of perpetual darkness; shifting shadows and familiar silhouettes of black and grey, punctuated every few kilometers or so by the light of civilization. It was a dangerous world. It kept him on his toes. Today was the third day of Arturo's stay, and in all that time he'd never been more than four or five miles from the settlement he now stood guard over. It was a bad place to wander alone; you needed a group of at least a half-dozen well-armed huntsman to explore the lands in relative safety. Any less, and you'd soon find yourself the dinner of one beast or another. The thought of being eaten alive didn't appeal to him, not one bit.

A quick glance over his shoulder revealed the settlement he was here to protect; rooftops belonging to humble homes pocked his vision, flickering torchlight and the artificial light fueled by small generators gave the settlement some semblance of security. So to did the few Umbarans who'd taken the time to arm themselves. They looked a ragged bunch, more peasant than prince. And no wonder, really. we're out in the sticks. They'll just have to suffice-...we'll have to suffice.

Arturo activated his comms. "When they get here, feel free to pick your targets. Make sure they focus attention on us; our wards take priority, keep them safe." It didn't need saying really -he knew Galaar could handle himself, and do his duty- but the tracker needed to take his mind off the looming threat. He needed a few moments of calm, a safe haven where he could prepare, physically and mentally, for the growing storm.

He rested the barrel of his A-10 on the railing in front of him, and waited.

@Gian Greydragon

 

[Galaar Rau]

With a curt nod, Galaar, without taking his eyes away from his scope. Arturo had the range, but lacked the ammunition in his choice of rifle to fire into large groups, where Galaar's weapon had medium ammunition, and middle-of-the-ground range. After the short exchange, the Southern Concordian Mando went quiet, as he silently psyched himself up for a bit of glow-in-the-dark skeet shooting, and moments would pass by.

The whole of the town was dead silent. Torches flickered in the wind, as the denizens believed the creatures were afraid of fire, and the lone Bantha mooed to itself, in the distance, as it grazed on the grain in the field. Suddenly, Galaar could feel the hairs on the back of his next lift, as six Banshees appeared from the low-flying clouds in the distance. Two of which spotted the Bantha, and dove downward. The Bantha, being old, but round, and appetizing to the pack, had little fight to put up, as one of the Banshees full-body checked the animal, knocking it on it's side, while the other attempted skewer it through it's exposed ribs, with it's trident-like pincer on it's tail. Reacting quickly, Galaar lined up a shot on the Banshee going for the kill and fired, killing it before it could skewer the defenseless Bantha, placing a single bolt cleanly through the creature's skull, even to Galaar's own surprise. "Hoo-wee!!! D'you see'dat'chit?! I'll never make a shot like 'at again, long as I live, I'll bet credits!" he shouted, jovially, looking over at his partner, pointing down range, full-belly laughing, as the second Banshee gained altitude to attempt to kill the Bantha, as it struggled to get to it's feet.

 

[Arturo Solus]

The six Banshees came from the dark, their movement betrayed by the luminescent light of their bodies. They drifted on the wind, near-silent in their approach, sticking out like sore thumbs despite the lack of noise. Chitinous, black predators, they would've hit the Bantha completely by surprise if it wasn't for the green of their eyes. Arturo sighted down on the pack as they sank through the low-hanging clouds; he could see hunger in their eyes, and a viciousness that he could only hope to match. A click of the tongue, and his rifle fell away. He would let them close before making his move. They would go for the bait, no doubt about it, and then he and Galaar would strike.

Arturo stared, keen-eyes picking out two Banshees as they peeled away from the rest, plummeting downwards, towards the Bantha. The latter started shrieking as soon as it sensed imminent danger; Its eyes rolled white with terror as it envisioned the grisly death that awaited it. Arturo secretly pitied the Bantha, understanding the necessity of using the poor beast as bait. Regardless, it was far too late to change the plan now. Besides, it was a good one; it would work, if they kept their heads.

Galaar opened up on the two Banshees first, letting them get their mits on the Bantha before squeezing the trigger. Nice shot! Arturo grinned halfheartedly as Galaar praised his own work; Arturo nodded in response, a slight tilt of the head as he lined up his own shot on the wounded Banshee. The green eyes danced in the scope, full of anger, and pain. He pulled the trigger, twice, and the second Banshee died, joining its brother in the dirt just short of the terrified Bantha. "Hmm, not bad..."

Shifting stance, the tracker gazed upwards to see that the remaining Banshees had ignored the Bantha entirely, instead continuing their steady descent towards the settlement. Towards us. "Here we go." Arturo said calmly, relishing his front-row view of the Banshees as they too began to plummet, this time heading for the humans instead. "Two apiece, sound fair?" He asked Galaar, already firing off a few more shots.

They went wide, the Banshees descending rapidly through the gloom. Too fast...

@Gian Greydragon

 

[Koil Solus]

____________

The fighting had already begun but Koil was better at arriving late than never at all. Having already fought the Banshees with Angry Badger and Fey the Echani had an inkling of what they were up against. The trio had fought nearly two dozen of the creatures the restricting confines of the Umbaran caves. He hoped it would be easier out in the open. The man had been tackled at least twice by the creatures.

The man was unsure if it was night or day on the planet. The whole place was dark all the time. But he jogged over to the edge of the defensive line. His ship having just landed in the encampment he saw there were only two banshees left. Leveling his blaster rifle he aimed at them. But a chittering screech eminated from deeper in of the folliage and made him think twice about pulling the trigger on the two remaining creatures.

From the tree line came six more Banshees. They made their iconic calls that reached the beyond the encampment with the mandalorians. The Rally Master brought the carbine around to center on the approaching banshees. They seemed to not be distracted by the bantha in the least and now headed straight for the mandalorians present.

@Lucid @Gian Greydragon @Kraken dice thread​

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Umbara was a dark, dingy world. Daniel didn't like it one bit; it felt like the world was closing in around him as he followed Koil off the ship and into the fray. At first it didn't look too bad, only two banshees left but luck was not on their side. Six more came flying from the woods towards them, their unearthly cries filling Daniel's ears. He cursed--nothing was ever easy--and brought up his rifle to take care of the two banshees closest to them.

The moment he pulled the trigger he knew something was wrong. Instead of squeezing off the shots, his blaster jammed and started to overheat. He could feel it through his gloves and dropped the thing like the hot coal it was. It hit the ground and unjammed, letting off a massive bang and bending the barrel slightly. Cursing, his piece of trash rifle now useless on the ground Daniel pulled his vibrosword and activated his jump boots.

They carried him towards the two banshees and he came in swinging. His blade cleaved through bone and sinew but not cleanly. It stuck in the the first banshee, and allowed the second to claw at his helmet. There was the horrible screel of nails on durasteel and for a second, Daniel thought he'd been cut but the banshee's claws only dented his helmet. He wrenched the blade free of the first banshee's corpse and whipped it around, stabbing it through the second's chest and stirred it around just to be sure.

Breathing hard, he disengaged and fell back waiting to see what the other six approaching would do.

@Darasuum
Dice
6 Remaining.

 

[Koil Solus]

____________

They came closer and closer. Their calls sending a chill down his spine but Koil's did not fight hot. His specialyy was ice and he was as cold as echani vibro sword on his back. He had the cross hairs centered on one of the banshees. He heard a large blast from behind him but he was focused. His peripheral eye caught Daniel launching himself into a melee with the beasts. Silent Badger pulled the trigger and caught one of the Banshees right in its vitals making it fall to the ground in a thumping heap.

The Echani did the same thing again. Adjusting his aim he tracked another flying enemy and depressed the trigger again. Two down by his hand. Afterwards he brought his aim around to the foreground of Daniel's area. He fired off another shot at one of the Banshees that looked ready to pounce on Dopey Badger. But Koil fired a shot into its claw. It was an odd angle and its movements were erratic enough that it had forced the man to take his chances. But at least this would allow the fellow Solus Clan member to collect himself and counter attack.

@Lucid @Gian Greydragon @Kraken 5/8 remaining
1 injured​

 

[Arturo Solus]

The Banshees plummeted, faster than he expected. If it wasn't for the arrival of his brothers, he doubted he would've been able to deal with all these Banshees before they'd torn him -or Galaar, for that matter- to shreds. He didn't know exactly when they'd shown up, and from up on his crow's perch, it was difficult to see just who had arrived to help them. Not that it mattered. They were friends, saviors in crimson-red armor; they were fellow clansmen with guns and blades, people he could rely on to do what needed done. And, the knowledge that if he died here the village was safe, made him redouble his efforts, his sights already focused on the lead Banshee.

A guttural, nerve-rending shriek sent a shiver down his spine. Fear lingered on the sidelines, waiting for the opportune moment to pounce and drag Arturo down to the hell that he knew surely awaited him. He wouldn't give it the chance. Accounting for height and distance, he steadied his aim as the Banshees sunk lower, and lower still. Green, luminescent eyes framed the beasts as they descended. Unblinking, and unbroken gazes fixed themselves solely on him, and his brothers. Another soul-splitting shriek sounded. He pulled the trigger.

The lead Banshee drew up short as a bolt found it's head, the creature dead before it hit the ground. A second joined it in death, landing a few feet away, sending up a great cloud of dust that outlined the others as they leveled out. So close now. Arturo took a few tottering steps back, preparing to leap down from the platform. If he stayed up high, practically alone, he knew that would've been it for him. So, instead, he stepped to the edge, and jumped.

His bones jarred painfully as he hit the dirt, Arturo already rolling to his feet as the first of the Banshees latched onto the top of the palisade. It screamed.

@Gian Greydragon@Lucid@Darasuum
Dice
Three remaining

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Daniel headed back to the fray; Arturo had come out of nowhere and cleaved down three of the banshees like it was nothing. As he moved back to the fray, Daniel caught sight of an injured banshee wailing on the ground. He altered his course and removed the creature's head with one violent slash. It flew and landed in the dirt, turning over on itself a couple times before coming to a stop and staring with vacant, dead eyes towards the sky.

Inside his helmet, Daniel gagged, disgusted at his own actions. That moment though cost him. A banshee he hadn't seen came up behind him and clawed his back, the sharp talons catching between the plates of his armor and biting into his skin for a brief second. He cried out in surprise and pain before he whipped around to run the creature through. It dropped and Daniel pulled back his sword, his back stung where the creature had struck him but the fight was still ongoing...though with significantly reduced numbers.

He decided to hang back and let Koil finish the rest off. He'd had enough close calls; today was just not his day.

"Two left Koil!" He yelled, "Get 'em!"

 

[Galaar Rau]

Galaar snapped out of his daze, seeing two other Mandalorians, of Clan Solus, no less, jump into the fray. With reinforcements, and now outnumbering the Banshee 2 to 1, Galaar, sought to end the fight quickly, by firing a pair of bolts at a Banshee as it came back around to attack him, but was caught off guard by it's speed, and the beast plucked him off of his sentry tower, with little damage done to himself, other than a talon digging through his armor, into his shoulder. With his free arm, he managed to grip his wrench, and crack the Banshee repeatedly, caving in it's skull, and killing it, outright.

As the banshee dropped Galaar, from nigh 30 feet in the air, he activated his jumpjets, to soften his fall, landing and rolling. He would probably feel that landing in about ten years, when his knees lock up, but he was still very much in fighting order.

@Lucid @Darasuum @Kraken

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

It seemed as if Galaar had found himself, and found himself in style at that. Beheading a banshee and then falling spectacularly from almost 30 feet in the air, Daniel was impressed. He looked to see if Koil had heard him, it seemed as though he had not and Daniel took matters into his own hands. From his belt he drew his violator pistol. Highly illegal and tricky to use, Daniel charged forward, dressing the trigger and bringing himself into range while the weapon charged.

He stopped and brought it up, a clear shot to the creature's chest. The disruptor beam lanced out and hit the banshee dead center. There was a disgusting squishing nose as organs and other things filled the void that had been carved into its chest. The body continued to deteriorate as it fell to the ground. Watching the grisly scene for a moment, Daniel thought about just how disgusting battle was. But now was not the time for regret. They had won the day at last. He turned to the pair that he and Koil had joined, raising a hand in a cheery wave above his head.

"Good work guys!" he called. "Let's go get their nest before they can counter attack!"

@Gian Greydragon @Darasuum @Kraken

 

[Koil Solus]

____________

From Koil's position it had been a bit sloppy. The mandalorians had been spread out and not communicating efficiently. He could not blame them. They all knew they could hold their own and deal with some simple yet murderous flying crustaceans. He would make a mental note later to flesh out the small team tactics for newer members and consistent existing members alike. But that would be his own personal endeavor. It was his job as an Al'Verde of his clan to make sure they were working as best they could. In addition he was a Rally Master, not something he took lightly.

Koil slung his blaster carbinee and drew his quick draw for easier use while flying. He activated his jet pack after seeing the last of the banshees dead. "Heading there now." He said simply as he shot through the dark sky towards the direction the dozen banshee had came in from.

From his elevated position Koil could see what was clearly a banshee nest. Unclipping a frag grenade he would activate it and not bother cooking it and just let it drop. He did the same with the rest of his fragmentation grenades, spacing them out. One after another they exploded and in doing so destroyed the nest. However the banshees that they had fought earlier were not the only ones. Three managed to get out of the way of the nest's destruction in time and now were searching for the source of their home's ruination. Even with his jet pack Koil was hard to see with his scatterweave coated armor though he readied his quickdraw pistol in case his fellow mandalorians did not take them out when they arrived.

@Lucid @Gian Greydragon @Kraken 3 banshees left​

 

[Arturo Solus]

Arturo stood over the fallen form of a Banshee, his A-10 slung over his right shoulder, a vacant expression on his face. The Banshees had appeared so big in life, and so dangerous. No more. An empty shell of what it once was, the crustacean appeared so small in death, a shadow of its former self. Arturo felt a moment of pity for the creature that, until recently, had been trying to kill him. It was strange, even to him. There was glory to be had in victory, and in killing ones enemies. The Banshees were no different from any other beings he had fought before. Still...Such a pointless waste of life, he thought, grimacing at how brutal Mother Nature could be to her own. She's one cold bitch. Not that he could do anything about it; that was just the way the galaxy worked. An endless cycle of violence that sometimes culminated in the birth of something new. Something pure.

The sound of boots scuffing dirt snapped him out of it. He slapped his helmet back on, and swapped out power packs as he walked over to greet his clansmen. Daniel...and Koil? The latter was already airborne by the time he reached them, and before long, Koil was nothing but a speck of orange light in the darkness. "Well, he's a charming fellow." Arturo said, extending a hand to Daniel, looking his brother in the eyes. "Hello, Dan. Wasn't expecting to see you here, but..I won't complain. Extra guns are always appreciated." Shooting a wary glance out into the wildlands, Arturo took a moment's contemplation, before sharing brief words with the Umbaran chief. He turned back to Dan. "Guess we better go take out that nest. Fortunately, I know where it is. Come on," he said to his two remaining comrades, hightailing it through the gates and into open scrubland.

The darkness closed in on them as he ran -he didn't have a jet pack- and every once in a while his boots would roll beneath him, rocky, uneven ground shifting as he put his weight on it. The process continued for quite some time; solid, safe ground becoming hazardous, and vice versa. He just hoped his comrades weren't adverse to slogging it the old fashioned way. The clan hasn't grown that soft, surely. He regulated his breathing as they traversed the landscape, pumping his legs and arms, throwing himself headlong into reaching the nest before Koil did. After all, he had been out in these parts a few days prior. He knew what was what, and with two heavily armed fighters at his back, he had nothing to worry about.

Fire bloomed as they closed on the nest, and Arturo watched in awe as the frag-beacon blossomed skywards, taking with it the nest and most of the remaining Banshees. Three survived the blast, however, and Arturo went to a knee as the fire caught on brittle shrubs nearby. The flickering flames illuminated the bugs, and Arturo realized as another disorienting scream punctured the space between them that the rumors were true. They do fear fire.

He focused center mass, and fired, picking off two of the Banshees as their long limbs scythed empty air, carapaces reflecting the light of the fire. They screamed as they died, both parts deafening and saddening. He wasn't sure his people felt the same way he did. Not that it matters. Finish the job. Shifting his aim to the last surviving Banshee as it took to the skies, Arturo pulled the trigger. Nothing.

"Oh, kriffing hell!"

@Gian Greydragon @Lucid @Darasuum Dice One left

 

[Daniel Solus (old)]

Daniel was impressed by Koil's jetpack maneuver. So impressed that he wanted to try it himself...but there was a problem. There was only one solitary banshee left. Too bad for it, Daniel wanted to live out his action holodrama fantasy and fly through the air like a human bomber. He was excited and kind of giddy at the thought of doing it; he took a moment to calm himself since any wrong twitch with his body would send him drastically off course when using his jetpack.

When he was ready, after Arturo had dispatched of the last two, Daniel triggered his pack and went rocketing forward and up. As he flew he pulled the first grenade from his belt. His line took him directly above the last banshee where he promptly kicked his feet downward to right himself in the air, his jetpack holding him upright above the creature. It saw him and started floating upward toward him.

He released the first grenade, it smashed the thing in the face making it open its mouth. He let loose the second one and his aim was perfect. The grenade plummeted straight for it and, as though they were, indeed in a holodrama, fell clean into its mouth. The banshee swallowed curiously. Daniel let loose the third grenade and it too fell to the ground--or tired to. The banshee caught it in one of it's taloned hands.

Daniel didn't wait to see what happened next, he just kicked himself sideways and went rocketing away. He was only just out range when the grenades exploded in quick succession. The banshee behind him was obliterated in the most spectacular fashion. Guts and hide went everywhere and blood rained down like some biblical metaphor. Daniel landed on his feet in front of Arturo; he was framed perfectly by the explosion and gory scene. He pulled off his helmet and grinned at the other man.

"My life is a holodrama," he said. "Let's head out."

//THREAD

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