Boarding Party

[Talos Barrenfist]

A lone heavy freighter flew on course within the Randon system. On the outside it seemed to be nothing but a regular civilian vessel. The truth was more complicated for the crew were in fact Republic military, secretly carrying supplies to their comrades on the front lines against the Cartel. Among was a certain lieutenant with a heavy black beard named Talos Barrenfist.

He strolled through the cargo bay, making sure everything was in order. The crates were sealed up tight with no hint of theft. While not the ship’s captain, Talos was still in charge of security, a responsibility he took extremely serious. Hence why the man kept a blaster rifle sling over his shoulders a pistol at the holster and last but not least a sharp bladed Elduröxi strapped to the opposite hip. It wasn’t regulation, but Talos had managed to convince the higher-ups the axe was a vital part of his culture and an effective weapon at close quarters.

Glancing from one end of the bay to the another, Barrenfist nodded in approval. “Ég gæti notað sterkan drykk eftir þetta verkefni.“ He remarked to himself out loud in the Deculatian tongue.

@Korvo

 

[Telunaris]

It was almost a fascinating happenstance in its own right. By now, Telunaris had spent as much time among the Jedi Order as he had among his own people. He'd fought on battlefields from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim territories and everywhere else inbetween. And in all that time, he honestly could not recall a point where he actually stood alongside a soldier of the Republic.

Perhaps the current circumstances were emblematic of how times were changing. The Republic was a slumbering giant that was awakening as the months and years came to pass. The Hutt Cartel was officially at war with the Core Worlds, and the Republic was slowly rising to meet them. In their efforts, Telunaris was dispatched to provide aid for a shipment supply meant for the battlefronts, near any of the border worlds toward the galactic east, if he had to guess. But even that which many would dismiss as a simple task held its own dangers; the gathering of an abundance of resources tended to garner unscrupulous attention of those better left alone.

That was why he was there. Donned in his personal armor with his black cloak at his back and the hood over his head, Telunaris fell in with his old habit of preferring not to stand out, if he could help it. Even so, he could not help but catch familiar sounds when he heard them. A known voice, a know laugh... or in this case, a known tongue. The Old Tongue. Deucalic.

"Ég heyri Fierfek hefur nokkuð kýla", Telunaris said, approaching the Republic soldier. Finding a kinsman in the field? It was a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. "Og að það brennur alla leið niður."

Telunaris grinned mildly as he pulled up next to Talos. He didn't drop his hood, he felt more comfortable with it up anways, but it was uncommon for him to meet another Deucalian outside the Outer Rim territories.

"Ég er forvitinn, hvað hefði getað leitt til Dþrúkáliþjóð við Lýðveldið?"

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Twisting around the lieutenant found himself looking at a hooded man with a dark cloak. It’s the Jedi that was tagging along with their crew. Barrenfist wasn’t suprisied at the guardian’s presence but rather the fact he spoke the same language though with a different accent. His suspicious expression transformed to that of amusement and he roared with laughter.

“Með drekunum hver myndi hafa hugsað frændi var hér með mér! Þessi drykkur sem þú sagðir hljómar vel og passar stríðsmaður.“

Collecting himself Talos became more serious as he consider how to answer Telunaris’ question. Shrugging his shoulders the lieutenant added. “Jæja, ég ímynda mér að það sé alveg eins áhugavert og eigin saga þín væri.”

For a Deucalian to become part of the Jedi Order is not something that happen often. Then again neither is one being a full fledge member of the Republic military.

@Korvo

 

[Telunaris]

"Ég geri ráð fyrir að það verði að vera", Telunaris remarked, thinking about the fact.

It hadn't occurred to him, at least not all at once beforehand, but of all organizations to join, the Jedi Order was almost perfectly antithetical to the warrior culture of the Deucalians. The Jedi Master mused on that perhaps being a point of discussion, but no sooner had he done so than did an alarm blare across all decks.

"HOSTILE UNITS INCOMING! REPEAT: HOSTILE UNITS INCOMING! ALL GROUPS TO BATTLE STATIONS!"​

Crimson lights flashed as the vessel went to battle-ready status, followed by a flurry of troops arming and splitting off into squads.

"En ég held að bæði sögur gætu þurft að bíða", Telunaris said, telekinetically pulling his lightsaber to his hand and igniting it's indigo blade and quillons.

No sooner had Telunaris prepared himself did the freighter shake violently, almost causing Telunaris to lose his balance. That wasn't a laser blast, something had physically_hit the ship... and it didn't take long for the realization to dawn on him. After all, Deucalian raiders used such tactics themselves in the Outer Rim territories when conducting raids.

"MULTIPLE HULL BREACHES DETECTED! ALL MARINE UNITS, EMPLOY ANTI-INCURSION PROTOCOLS!"​

Even disguised as a civilian freighter, or perhaps because_of it, they still managed to fail to avoid the attention of marauders. The sound of grinding metal and shearing durasteel went from a muffled echo to an almost deafening screech as a massive drill unit boared through the hull of the freighter some thirty meters from Telunaris and Talos' location, prompting the Jedi Master to immediately take cover. As the drill punched through, it opened and latched to the freighter's interior hull, revealing a sealed door with six troopers storming out. Either from their alertness or the light of his weapon, the duo were noticed by the pirate forces almost immediately.

In that same moment, blaster fire lit up the cargo bay as Telunaris rapidly deflected oncoming fire, although the smoke from damaged hull and blaster exhaust prevented him from accurately redirecting fire back toward his attackers. It didn't matter, however, as his first priority was striking away the oncoming blasterfire from the three assailants targeting him.

"Fara í skjól!", Telunaris yelled, skidding behind a large container nearby. It was unfortunate, but they lacked the element of surprise. However, things were just beginning. Inhaling deeply, Telunaris closed his eyes, drew back his arm and threw his lightsaber. Hurling through the air like a buzzsaw, Telunaris telekinetically seized control of the weapon's trajectory, whipping it back in the opposite direction, toward his assailants, and carving through all three as he recalled his weapon back to him.

With luck, fortune would favor them in battle.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

One moment Talos thought he and the Jedi were going to swap stories when the alert came out throughout the ship. Stríð breytist aldrei. The Deucalian marine remarked when suddenly their vessel rocked by being hit by several breaches all over it. Having collapsed on to his back, Talos witnessed a great drill cut into the hull right in front of him and Telunaris. Moments later six raiders pour out from the drill, spotting him and the Jedi before firing on them.

Rolling for cover Talos sought shelter behind a crate opposite of his comrade. With a blaster rifle in hand, Barrenfist raised it and fired three round burst at the nearest pirate in the chest, slaying her instantly. But he was forced to duck again when the team leader behind the fallen woman shot back at his position. Gritting teeth, Barrenfist prepared himself mentally. For the fight was just beginning.

@Korvo

 

[Telunaris]

In the distance, Telunaris could hear the shouting and the screams. All throughout the freighter, skirmishes had broken out, but it had at least seemed that none of the raid groups had free reign. In a manner of speaking, that was actually good news in a bad situation. As for him? On that, there was little time to lose.

"Ég teki eld sinn! Þegar þú sérð opnun, taktu þá niður!", Telunaris yelled due to the loudness of the enemy's suppression fire.

Focusing the Force to his legs, Telunaris leapt up into the air a full ten meters, landing atop of the cargo container both Talos and he had taken cover behind. Predictably so, the blasterfire from the pirate leader and his surviving lackey came squarely to his position, but Telunaris was fully prepared for it, dropping into the Shien stance as he vehemently deflected every blaster bolt away, redirecting bolts back toward both the pirate leader and his subordinate.

With a good eye on them both now, Telunaris could see how they were armed and protected; the grunt was struck in the head, which meant the attack was no doubt fatal, but the pirate leader was still standing and firing after having been struck in the left leg, due to wearing heavy armor. Nonetheless, this was still their chance, and they had the opportunity to make the most of it.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

With the sounds of chaos ringing throughout the ship, Talos center himself. Despite being self-exiled he never forgotten the lesson what his father taught him so long ago. Conflict tests all souls. This very moment reinforce that truth for the lieutenant. Hearing Telunaris’ words Barrenfist watched him leap high in the air before landing on top of their container.

This is one’s a showoff sorta like me. Talos thought with a warrior’s amusement. While the pirate leader centered attention on the Jedi who was deflecting laser shots, the marine pulled out a frag grenade, primed it, before hurling the small bomb. The grenade landed behind the distracted raider before exploding a moment later, leaving the man no chance at survival.

 

[Telunaris]

The flash of light and fire from the frag grenade's detonation was a spectacle in its own right, to be sure. It was true that Telunaris had expected Talos to strike with a blaster against a single opponent, but he didn't let the reality of the situation take him by surprise, especially as shrapnel suddenly became a danger, now.

Erecting a simple telekinetic barrier around himself, shards of slightly molten metallic shrapnel deflected and flung about, as did fragmented elements of the pirate leader's armor and... biotic matter. Frag grenades; highly effective, if somewhat messy in results.

"Jæja, það gerði vissulega bragðið", Telunaris said, leaping down from the cargo container as he landed back alongside Talos.

As he did so, remaining with a single knee to the cargo bay floor, Telunaris laid his left hand down flat and shut his eyes, feeling out with the Force. Between the mechanical damages incurred and the fighting taking place throughout the freighter, he wasn't likely to get the results he needed through one of the ship panels or a ship officer. Not without some level of detriment, anyway. In the end, however, it was all the moot point; after all, the Force never failed to provide in any way that was inferior to technology.

"Lýðveldið sjómenn eru að vinna bardaga. Flestir ræningi hafa verið fluttir, ef þeir eru ekki beinlínis ósigur", Telunaris said, opening his eyes and standing upright again. "Síðasta hópurinn óviðskiptur er beint undir okkur, í vöruflokki. Sex fjandsamlegir, líklega þær sem greiða eru fyrir raunverulegum þjófnaði."

At that, Telunaris plunged his lightsaber into the floor of the cargo bay, quickly carving a large circular hole as a cylinder-like chunk of the floor crashed to the floor below. His intention was for Talos to use a cable to descend to be expedient, although if he didn't mind his trip taking a bit longer, he could simply have taken the ramps below, too.

"Eigum við?", Telunaris said, dropping down to the sublevel below.

The cargo bay sublevel was dimly lit, even taking the ship's battle-ready status into consideration. As the crash from Telunaris's entrance resounded, almost the entire pirate group was taken by complete surprise, barring the group's leader who called to rally his subordinates to him. As the pirate leader leveled his blaster to fire, showing he was clearly more disciplined than the other pirate scum around him, Telunaris forcefully thrusted both of his arms forward, unleashing a powerful wave of psychokinetic energy toward the pirate crew.

Whatever plan of attack the second pirate leader had was thrown into chaos as the blast propelled them all backwards, nigh-instantly killing five of the six raiders. The pirate leader was far less affected, clearly only interrupted and superficially hurt, but Telunaris rose his lightsaber in a defensive stance. Both experience and history revealed that it was often the cornered beasts that fought most viciously.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

The lieutenant shrugged when Telunaris commented about his grenade attack. It was clear to him now that while they share the same heritage they still walk different paths as warriors. Talos didn’t hold that against the other man because he felt was in no position to do so, given his own situation. He looked on as the Jedi felt out the situation then explained it.

This force is useful in more than one way a tight spot, that’s for sure. Thought Barrenfist when his ally proceeded to slice open a siziable hole on the floor with his lightsaber. He in addition said. “Ég er með þér sverðbróður.”

Getting a cable ready he attach himself to it before flinging its end down the newly made hole. Talos followed soon after Telunaris who jumped in first. A bit jealous, the warrior from Clan Barrenfist slide down the rope. As that happen the other Deucalian wrought havoc upon the second team of pirates, killing all but the leader who remained defiant.

“Drekar taka þig!”

Talos swore at the enemy, firing a blaster bolt in the right shoulder. Their enemy however, reacted swifty shooting Barrenfist in the left leg forcing him to the ground. Yet by doing so the pirate was left open for Telunaris’ next move.

 

[Telunaris]

Everything happened in seconds. Less_than seconds. Moments everlasting, and time interminable. Using the Force and beckoning it to his will, Telunaris hurled himself through the air, with each step of his becoming more fleeted than the last. In truth, as the world around him appeared to lengthen then shorten, his own movements would have become as a blur to normal eyes. Like a faded image of color and rapidity, charging forth toward the last pirate.

A blaster bolt fired out, and then another, but neither were at Telunaris. The first had struck the pirate, colliding into his right shoulder. A proverbial flesh wound, but no doubt a painful one. The other one, Telunaris did not see, but could sense.. Empathy was a Jedi trait, one that none would ever sacrifice, but it came with its own burdens. Those the Jedi was connected to, even superficially, they could sense. Sense their intentions, their deceit, their motives, their concerns... and their pains. A blaster bolt had caught Talos's leg, a relatively minor injury, but one that Telunaris could sense occur.

Focusing his mind on the path ahead, Telunaris neither faltered nor became distracted as his own blade would have suddenly appeared before the pirate leader, cleaving away the pirate's right arm, his weapon arm, in a flash of vaporizing metal, blood and bone. In the same, supernaturally swift motion, the Deucalian Jedi Master lightly rose into the air as if in a jump while commencing his attack, following up his cho sun_maneuver with a forceful aerial kick to the pirate leader's head, crashing the marauder head-first into the durasteel wall and instantly knocking him unconscious.

As he landed to the ground, Telunaris deactivated his lightsaber blade and mounted it onto his belt, glancing down at the dead. It was a regrettable, the battle. But raiders are made, not born. And they were only enemies because the pirates had chosen them to be. But death alone would not solve the problem that would still plague this freighter, and others like it.

"Búseturnar eru ekki gerðar með þér ennþá", Telunaris said, almost in a whisper, but loud enough to be heard. Looking toward Talos, Telunaris reached out his hand, telekinetically helping the soldier to his feet, if that were his attempt. "Við vorum síðasta. The hvíla af the berjast hefur hætt. Ef þú hefur það, þá er það góð hugmynd að hafa samband við nokkra yfirmenn til að segja þeim að við eigum eftirlifandi."

Telunaris then turned around and prepared to depart through the stairway. After all, he still had a post to man. However, before he left, the Deucalian Jedi looked back at his fellow Deucalian and lowered his hood.

"Ég lærði aldrei nafnið þitt. minn er Telunaris. En meðal fólks okkar heitir ég Kvasir Thorite."

@Minuteman75 /exit thread

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Talos was grasping his wounded leg and hissed with pain. Briefly he thought death awaited by the hand of a pirate, however his Jedi companion proved to be just as quick as ever. The brigand chief didn’t know what hit him when Telunaris intervened, killing off the one of the scum’s limbs and kicking him into the wall. In spite of his injury the lieutenant smiled that he played a part in securing this victory.

He muttered gratitude to his comrade who lifted him up. The leg still burned but Talos can manage till it can be treated. Told that the fight over the ship was over, the marine nodded, further pleased. Watching the peacekeeper walk away the spaceborn hear him give his name. Saluting with the right hand to the chest, Talos replied.

“Það hefur verið heiður að börðust við hliðina á þér sverðbróður og þekkið nafnið þitt. Leyfa mér að gefa mér. Ég er Talos Barrenfist.”

@Korvo /end thread