Making Barriers

[Esfir Radin]

Dice
​

Once again Esfir found herself assisting another effort to destroy a tunnel on Nar Shaddaa. How many does this blasted moon have? It was a legitimate question as far as the Sahminian was concerned. She checked her pistol briefly standing beside Ner Giza and her team.

Regardless of her not so favorable opinion about the extensive sewer system Esfir was determined to complete the task. The more delays they create for the Imperials, the longer they can keep the Network down. Their comrades in the Alliance was depending on them to make it possible. We must not let them down. She thought to herself. Still looking out ahead Esfir said to Ner Giza.

“Ready lieutenant?”

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

The Lieutenant was not ready. Of all the missions to pull it had to be demolitions. She shook her head looking down into the open bag of explosives unable to tell up from down, blue wire from red, nor black from white; it was all above her pay grade as far as she could tell. When it came to incendiary devices all she knew was hand grenades, press the trigger, throw and run. Easy Peasy. This though…

She sighed and closed up the bag before hefting it to her shoulder by the strap. At least Asfir was here and had pulled another mission just like the one to which she now must embark. She grinned and replied, ”Nope. Not in the least. I am afraid you will have to be the expert this time around. Setting explosives isn’t really something I do.” She shrugged and moved to the woman’s side effected a nonchalance she didn’t feel. ”No matter. I’ll pick it up along the way, no doubt”, she quipped before grinning again this time with her teeth showing. WIth a gesture of her hand toward the forward passage, it was clear Ner’Giza was expecting the woman to take the lead.

 

[Esfir Radin]

Upon hearing Ner Giza’s reply about not being ready, the hooded woman had to suppress a chuckle but a slight grin briefly surfaced. It was official the alliance definitely needs to trains its members in explosive devices. At least from Radin’s point of view, while she took the offered bag and strapped it on her carefully on the backside. The last thing the exile wanted a blaster bolt hitting the bombs.

I always get the interesting jobs.

Next thing she knew the Twi’lek gestured to her to lead the way. Raising both eyebrows in mild surprise Esfir wielding her rifle advanced in front of Ner. As that happened, she couldn’t but help but ask. “Not fond of the sewers are you?”

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

Handing over the bag of explosives, she watched as Esfir strapped them to her back, grinning to her in response. ”Oh well, we Lieutenants always bring up the rear, didn’t you know that?”, she used exaggerated motions making fun of herself a bit, hooking her thumbs into her utility belt and rocking back and forth a bit through the arches of her feet, heel to toe and back flat footed once again. ”Besides, you might come to appreciate having a meat shield between you and any blaster fire should someone sneak up on us from behind.”

It was unlikely to be much of an issue, but still it could happen. Mostly she was just making ridiculous jokes and wasting time when they should really get moving. Lifting her own blaster, she stepped out behind Esfir and walked at an easy pace along the sewer. Their footsteps echoed a bit on the metal scaffolding, but only somewhat. It was not like they were stomping around and raising a ruckus. Still anyone who might have been lurking along their chosen tunnel would probably hear the soft and regular pace of their steps growing nearer. Like anyone was going to be lurking around down here. These tunnels were so extensive it was very unlikely anyone would be stationed down here on guard duty.

Still, they were frequented enough to warrant lighting. They must have been motion activated because when they came to a juncture rows of lights activated along each arm of the crossroads. She inspected the area to see if she could detect anything that might aid in choosing the right tunnel for their needs. Spying some conduit running along the ceiling, it met a junction box in the center before running down into the western tunnel at their left. She pointed to the pipes and said, ”That looks promising.”

@Minuteman75

 

[Esfir Radin]

“I’ll take your word for it.” Esfir replied back making sure to keep her eyes up front. The stench in here was foul as expected. Her grip on the rifle was tightened as she glanced from each different angle that some hostile could use for cover. They keep a steady pace without being too loud.

Still if there was someone here by chance they will be detected. Perhaps we hear them first. The hooded woman mentally considered. Further examination of their location filled Esfir a mixture of revulsion and admiration at the surroundings. On one hand she admitted to be impressed with the extensive work it must been to built these tunnels.

Yet the builders were dead by now and this place filthy as Hutts.

When a set of lights turned on, the Sahminian tensioned up, aiming her blaster at the source. A moment later she relaxed slightly, realizing what it really is. Esfir quietly kept guard over Ner Giza who inspect the machinery. When the Twi’lek gestured toward the western tunnel her ally nodded. The exile cautiously advanced in that direction with her weapon raised in case of trouble.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

DC​

The Twi’lek sighed slightly as the small joke had not elicited much of a response from Esfir. She supposed it really wasn’t the time or the place to be cracking wise, even so Aurel would have made some smart acre remark one upping her nearly every time. She missed her brother and their easy banter more than ever. Despite her wandering thoughts, her eyes noted the tunnel ran on for quite a ways and she could hear sounds of motion coming from before them.

It held a strangeness to it that actually drew her perceptions to focus harder. The sounds were not footsteps but something small and scrambling and before she would have to wonder further a rat darted along the furthest wall from them racing for the back trail of the two women. Perhaps it was a good thing Aurelian was not here after all, she thought. He would have filled her with stories of monstrous creatures escaping from the pens of the Hutt and taking refuge down in the sewers. For such a gentle soul the man took a sadistic pleasure in tormenting his sister. For sure he would have had her jumping at shadows by now.

A small grin crossed her face as she turned her head to watch the rat run away behind them. Of a sudden a section of the lights went out behind them and she found it quite interesting for apparently you had to be bigger than a rat to keep them active. Turning back around she kept about three meter distance between herself and Esfir to allow herself a wide line of sight for blaster use. She saw another rat come racing out of a side tunnel, more of a drain than anything a person could walk through, and then a rib cat broke from the cover of the drain to pounce upon its prey neatly. With mouth full of twitching rat the six legged beasty growled at Ner’Giza as if to warn her off to catch her own supper.

Slinking back into its shelter, the woman was more than happy to pass it on by. Hopefully nothing would be down here living on the rodents and rib cats, anything bigger than might love to have a serious meal for a change. She spoke up asking, ”How far in do you think we should go before setting these explosives, Esfir?” It was getting to the point that Star Seven was feeling more and more out of place upon the ground maneuver.

@Mintueman75

 

[Esfir Radin]

There was for a moment Esfir thought they will be fighting upon detecting movement out in front. It passed as soon as she and Ner discovered only rodents and a six legged feline hunting them. Inwardly the Sahminian was relieved and her shoulders relaxed as a result. Once they let the rib cat pass by Esfir heard the Twi’lek’s question.

“Not too far according to intel from where we’re standing. Several more meters to go.” The hooded woman answered shaking her head. Another minute later they were about to reach when suddenly a large figure jumped from the left side. Flashing her light in its direction Esfir stared in horror seeing it was Gundark.

The red four armed beast briefly stared at the two before letting out a blood curdling screech.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

DC​

Amazingly enough when the light hit the face of the Gundark and it screamed blood curdling murder in their faces like that? Ner’giza didn’t freak out and start shooting up the place like an idiot. An inclosed space like that? It was hard to tell what sort of laser show would have resulted with bolts pingling around all over and rebounded back all over the place. She did kind of wet herself a little, hopefully no one would ever notice. She wanted to die! Some officer she was.

It was a bit more serious than that, for it only gave the creature more to target, Nera’s body odor just having jumped a few degrees into contesting for dominance in the Gundark’s hunting grounds. She did the most natural thing she could and ran straight for the creature! She was like a crazed beserker yelling out to Esfir as she attempted to run past the woman, ”Set the charges, I’ll lead it off!”, a few meters was close enough and this tunnel had to fall no matter the cost. There would be another exit somewhere up ahead, surely there had to be numerous service ladders and off shooting corridors.

Jumping off the metal walkway into the glurk below, the Gundark turned its massive form swiping out for the Twi’lek invading its domain. Another loud howl, this time of frustration at having missing, was let loose into the sewer before it scrambled over the edge of the walkway to follow along in pursuit. Ner’Giza ran like she had never run before once she landed in the ankle deep water and sludge below leaping up to a small ledge along the side of the shallow channel. She had gone about 20 meters before she heard the creature land on in the water behind her.

@Minuteman75

 

[Esfir Radin]

Paralyzed with sudden fear Esfir stood there in front of the massive creature. She fought and hunted her share of animals the huntress never encountered something like a Gundark before. Fortunately, Ner Giza took the initiative for them both by crazily charge into the beast’s realm. Upon hearing her comrade’s orders the young human snapped out of terror’s grip and immediately got to work while Gundark pursed the other rebel. “Just hang on Ner Giza I’ll be there.”

Esfir furiously planted the explosives on one side of the tunnel’s wall then the other. Yes, they must compete the mission, but the twenty-three year old will not abandon an ally to a terrible death not if she can help it. At her quickened pace and experience with bombs the hooded freedom fighter pressed forward where Ner and the monster went. She can hear the latter’s howling while running at full speed in that direction...

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

DC​

Pod racing didn’t have nothing on the sewer; this was the race of the century, as far as Ner’Giza was concerned. She was just thankful she had managed to make it to the ledge and put some distance between herself and the Gundark before it plunged over the side of the walkway and took to hunting her in earnest. Frantically she searched for a way back out to the upper walkway but the meters flew by, the sounds of pursuit from the many clawed creature growing closer and closer.

There, she spied a ladder at last and made for it best she could leaping upward to catch a good two rungs higher than herself, her finger clasped hold of the ladder and she pulled herself up as fast as she could. She felt the base of the ladder shake, the sound of the creature slamming into the side of the tunnel setting up a huge cacophony of echoes that only served to heighten her sense of rising panic. Her feet hit the ladder working to push her higher and higher out of the monster’s reach.

@Minuteman75

 

[Esfir Radin]

Coming into the walkway Esfir stopped using the flashlight to see any sign of Ner Giza or the monster at the path or in the water underneath it. There was no sign of them, causing the hooded woman to grow more concerned. In the far end of the walkway, Radin heard new noises. Following the sound Esfir sprinted forward until she spotted a ladder shaking to the side. The Sahminian looked down and saw Ner Giza climbing up as fast as she can with the Gundark in pursuit down below snarling with feral rage.

The twenty-three year old rebel immediately reach out her right hand for the Twi’lek to grab once she is able. “Come on Ner take my hand!”

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

DC​

Nera was practically running up the ladder, at least in her mind, refusing to look down at the creature below her until suddenly she heard a voice calling to her from above. No, it was not a religious experience but her partner; which at the point in time was close enough to being an angel in her book. The woman leapt reaching for the outstretched hand even as the Gundark’s latest swipe pulled the ladder loose from the tunnel wall.

Naturally she missed catching hold of the lip of the grating instead. Dangling in mid air, Nera fired her quick draw blaster into the screaming face of the creature releasing two repeating blasts from the double barreled pistol with a single pull of its trigger. The simultaneous blasts entered the mouth of the beast blowing half its head away.

The Twi’lek attempted to swing her legs up, but only managed to hook one foot up to the lip of the grating relying on Esfir to help pull her the rest of the way up onto the metal walkway. Rolling onto her back, she lay looking up at the ceiling of the sewer panting. Slowly she turned her head so she could look at Esfir and grinned, ”That was pretty wild”

@Minuteman75

 

[Esfir Radin]

Frightened Esfir drew a pistol with the left hand but Ner Giza managed to shoot the Gundark first. Impressed by the double blast the Sahminian holstered the gun and helped her Twi’lek ally up from the grating. Once it was done and Ner made her little comment Esfir momentarily surprised then let out a laugh. “Indeed it was one for the memories.” She commented helping her comrade up.

Once it was so Esfir pulled out the hand held detonator and pressed on the red button. Some distance away the two rebels heard a massive explosion that shook the walkway violently for a few seconds. Quickly gray smoke appeared from where they came. “Best we find our way elsewhere. I had enough of these sewers.”

//End Thread
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@Kayenta Moenkopi