[MM] Kalevala Wastelands

[Attom]

Spoiler

A band of Trandoshan mercenaries has been raiding the few small dome-villages that still remain on Kalevala. Their original leader, Sshikar, was already killed. However, the mercenaries didn't stay leaderless for long. Sshikar's second-in-command, Zavass, has taken command. Hunt down this pest and rid this mercenary band of their new leader.

Biological Data

Trandoshan, Male. Bio-signature unavailable.

Height: 2.2 m

Approximate Weight: 109.4 kg

Appearance: Wears dark blue composite armor with bantha-hide ammo bandolier and no helmet. Grey and white scales. Fresh scar across left eye.

Bounty

A combined reward of 46,000 credits is authorized to the individual who captures or kills Zavass. Proof of kill required.

A reward of 300 credits is authorized for every Trandoshan mercenary eliminated. A head is required as proof of each kill.

Last Known Location: Kalevala Wastelands

Additional Information: Delivery and payment arrangements will be made through the staff at the Oyu'baat tapcaf in Keldabe, on Manda'yaim. Contact information provided.

*Vaanes, a true vod to Attom in such a short time. He enjoyed the company of the new recruit and, even more, his personality. It reminded him of his brother who he had long tried to forget the death up, but Vaanes was almost as if he was here again, and this time, Attom would die for his vod to see him safe. When Attom found him on Bokun, Vaanes had the makings of a great demolitions man. After successfully recruiting Vaanes, Attom suggested they upgrade the gear a bit. Attom's armor was fine, medium durasteel was his favorite wear and had been wearing it ever since the last war, but Vaanes' weapons and equipment were just recruit stuff. Attom had purchased new gear for him snce they had met, but they would need a lot more money to get Vaanes the equipment a demolitions man should have in order to disarm bombs confidently or set charges will the assurance that he would have a higher chance of staying alive during a false blast.*


*Upon entering the atmosphere of Kalevala, Attom Fett and the new recruit, Vaanes, have traveled to this waste of a planet in search of Zavass, the new trandoshan leader of a scum-filled mercenary guild. But then again, Mandalorians as bounty hunter's? Times were getting tougher and money scarce. This mission needed to succeed or Attom and Vaanes would be out of credits soon and could not dare ask for help from their clan. So they would fight and win, like Mando'a should. Regardless, Vaanes and Attom took upon this task for no other Mando'vod would, and as Attom brought the ship to steady decline to where the auto-pilot could take over, he removed himself from his seat and headed back the single-hall shuttle and patted Vaanes on the shoulder. This battle would be a test of true strength for these two lone Mandalorian vod's.*

"Vaanes, catch." *He threw the new recruit a pack of detonators and a remote* "Make sure you keep that awa from any hot surface. If the tempature rises above to high, and trust me It can, you'll be in deep trouble." *The shuttle rocked slightly.* "That was most likely a tree....." *The shuttle rocked once more* "Or worse..... a flying animal and it's friends." *he chuckled as he went further up into the cockpit and settled down until he took control once more and began to gently ease off the throttle.*

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes looked up from the table he had been sitting at in his green beskar'gam made of a light durasteel. The components of his blaster pistol and helm lying on the table as he had been in the process of ensuring they had been clean for what must have been the 5th time that trip. He caught the tossed package and immediately inspected what it contained, looking quite pleased as he saw what was inside. "My thanks, it's nice to have some heavy ordnance again. I felt like I was missing my left hand." He was somewhat engrossed in picking through the contents, so much so that he almost missed the sound of the thuds and movement caused by the impacts on the shuttle hull.

He put the satchel on the seat next to him and busied himself with rebuilding the blaster pistol in preparation for landing, relying on muscle memory as he met Attom's gaze. "Shouldn't you be in the cockpit right now?" With a final click the last component of his pistol was fastened into place, and an energy cell was inserted into its housing, the soft hum a familiar sound to both of the Mandalorians.

 

[Attom]

*Attom lifted up the controls to the shuttle just barely enough to clear the skyline of the trees and he set the shuttle into the water. Once they were out Attom could seal the hull and just let it sink until their departure out. He would just allow it to rise up from the water and hover while they entered. But now they needed to get out before it began to sink too far.* "Come on Vaanes, we have only minutes to get out. This is the only way to hide it securely."

*Attom activated the drop hatch in the back and took a running jump onto the land almost 7 feet away* "Throw us the gear." *He said as he braced himself to be ready to catch the cumbersome equipment and guns.*

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes slid his helm over his head, hearing the a gentle *click* before a familiar soft whine built and cut out as his armor system sealed itself. He blinked at a few runes that popped up on his HUD, but not before noting that he was green across the board, no amber or red lights to indicate a potential or critical malfunction. He slipped the detonators and remote out of their satchel into a new home in the single armored pouch at his waist while his blaster pistol was slotted securely into its holster. He patted himself down one last time to see if he was missing anything before being satisfied that he was not. After seeing to his personal gear he looked around for the gear that had been referred to by Attom, spotting the olive drab duffel bags sitting by the ramp easily enough, right where he had put them before the shuttle had began its journey.

Grasping both by the straps he hefted first one bag and then the other, noting that the one in his right hand was heavier. "Heads up! Gear coming out!" With a grunt Vaanes chucked first the bag in his right hand towards Attom's chest and after a few moments pause the second, lighter bag, followed. Vaanes looked down at the water and didn't like what he saw, the dark liquid looked too thick to be anywhere near pure to him. Taking a few paces back, he built up some speed via run before leaping from the edge of the ramp, hitting the ground beside Attom a good 7 feet from his launch point, managing to avoid the brackish water. "Alright, I'm good. Hide the ship and let's get on with the hunt. We have some scalies to kill."

 

[Attom]

*Attom began to cough. He had forgotten this planet was toxic. He sealed the ship remotely and it sank slowly into the murky lake as he turned around and opened the bags. In them were weapons, Attom's med supplies and so-on. Attom immediately grabbed his helmet and slid it on. It clicked and moaned nearly indentical to Vaanes, the only difference was the female voice inside his helmet that greeted him with her programming.* "System online. Displaying squad HUB, displaying life-vitals, displaying shield status. All system functions at green. Welcome, Attom Fett."


*After completing the registration of his new helmet to himself, he opened his medical storage unit, that he regularly slung onto his back and strapped tightly to him, and filled it with antidotes to the planets hostile diseases. After stuffing his pack full of med supplies he closed it and slung it around to tighten it. Then he opened the separate duffel bag and pulled out his DX-99 Blaster rifle with a ROD scope out and pulled it's activation lever, transforming a arm sized hunk of metal into a fully operational weapon.* "Here Vaanes, choose your weapon wisely." *he said after handing Vaanes his standard pistol and laying out a DX-99 Rifle, a M-7 Shotgun with dragon breath ammo and a grenade launcher*

 

[Vaanes]

"Any of these would do, but a choice is always nice." Vaane's interest had been piqued when Attom had started pulling out firearms; he squatted down on his haunches in front of the trio of guns, his elbows resting on his knees. The T-visor of his helm moved from each in turn before repeating its path a few more times as he began to decide on what it was he was going to choose. Eventually he made up his mind, taking the DX-99 from its place on the sand and pulling it apart into the weapon configuration that Attom's was in. He ran his hand up and down the sides of the rifle, ensuring that it was in good condition before pulling a power pack from the duffel that the weapons had come from and sliding it home. He idly flicked the safety off before switching the shot selector from burst, to full auto, and then back to burst before bringing the weapon up to his shoulder and sighting down along the barrel. Though unfamiliar with the design a blaster rifle was a blaster rifle, point it at a target, squeeze the trigger and things would die. It would do for now, though Vaanes half expected himself to take a liking to its rugged and simple design.

Taking the rifle from his shoulder he flicked the safety back on and began pulling some spare power packs from the duffel, sliding them into the remaining empty slots of his combat webbing and addressing Attom. "Alright, so now I'm good. I'm guessing that you have a clue on where to start looking for Zavass?" He stood and turned back to Attom, looking a bit more Mandalorian than before with his new blaster rifle.

 

[Attom]

*Attom knelt down and felt the ground. Laying beneath the trees, where the leafs would fall and gather until the ground could not be seen, were footprints. Judging by the outline and number of of toes he determined that Transdoshan's had crossed these paths. Although, little did h know, just 5 feet to the left, another footprint lay. A footprint of a humanoid. Somebody else was here as well, most likely a sith, for this region was full of them hiding out in.* "Alright, let's go. I'm already sick of this planet." *He said as he tossed the duffel bags with a little equipment left in them into a small cave.* "What?" *he said as his radar began to flicker on his wrist* "I think the magnetic toxins are screwing with my radar. What about you, Vaanes? I'd like for one of us to see where we're going."

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes had been peering over Attom's shoulder when he knelt and rested his hand on the ground. Figuring that there was something down there interesting, he swept an armored boot across the ground; scattering the leaves of the sickly looking trees around them from the ground, revealing the footprints beneath. Vaanes looked around a bit after uncovering the tracks, trying to get a sense of his surroundings. This planet was certainly a Wasteland, there was no denying that if the looks of the vegetation and standing water were anything to go by. The trees might have been tall but their branches were mostly bare, and those that were not had what seemed like a very low number of brown, drying leaves on them. Vaanes couldn't see past the undergrowth that surrounded their landing site, but from what he knew Kelava it was mostly a desert filled with toxins and sand. He was suddenly very grateful for the fact his Beskar'gam could be sealed against environments such as this. Vaanes returned his attention to the tracks, and just from that simple patch of sandy dirt he could tell the majority of traffic was in one direction, so he headed that way. He was a a good dozen paces ahead of Attom before he was asked his question, he turned back around, his rifle held in the crook of his arm.

"I wouldn't know vod. I haven't experienced any problems of interference, but maybe that's because my gear is so simple; I haven't got any fancy sensor suites. This," He tapped he side of his helmet, "is all me. Plus some basic comm gear and vision enhancements." He paused for a moment before continuing as a thought had struck him. "We probably shouldn't get too far apart then if your gear is having problems, I doubt the comms will work that well out in the sands. Lets get moving." Vaanes sounded impatient, like a strill that wanted to hunt.

 

[Attom]

*Attom nodded* "Just notify if your HUD goes offline. It might cause epileptic seizures if the lights begin to flash and spark." *he said as he hoisted his gun up and followed Vaanes right behind.* "This wasteland is truly a cluster of bad news." *He said as he watched a shyrrack swoop form the trees and into another on the opposite side, meanwhile eyeing them. Attom glared at the flying beast. He would shoot it if not for the noise it could make. He could alert their target, or worse; more creatures. He now was alert, they were in the area of the last trandoshan on their radar.*

*As Attom came through the trees and into the old campsite he was greeted by a sight full of dead animals. The Trandoshan must have had trouble with the wildlife. But something in the corner caught Attom's eye, and he began to walk towards a nearby pool of poisonous water around 10 feet wide and 6 feet deep. He began to eye the water. He had seen something, but he didn't know what it was."

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes nodded in agreement with Attom's words before he shifted his rifle from the crook of his arm into his hands; bringing it up and sweeping it across the animal carcasses lying on the ground as he went to each and kicked it over to ensure that they were dead. It turned out that they all were, though each was pockmarked with blaster burns and the puckered wounds of slugthrower rounds. Curiously, one of them even showed signs of some sort of blade being applied with a large amount of force if the gaping slashes were anything to go by. Tilting his head to the side Vaanes could see that the pattern was three parallel gashes, and he revised his opinion, the Trandoshan had use its claws to cripple the animal before finishing it with a blaster bolt to the skull. He wondered idly if his Beskar'gam would be any more proof than the animals toughened, leathery hide.

Standing, he walked around the rest of the now abandoned camp site, looking for anything that might give him an idea on which way the lizards had headed. The Trandoshans had certainly left their mark on the place, the detritus and debris of any military camp was strewn all over the ground. Exhausted power packs, what Vaanes thought looked like a whet stone for a blade, brass shells of slugthrower rounds, old scales shed from the mercenaries bodies, even a portable blaster cannon whose barrel had been irreparably smashed was lying haphazardly around the site. His respect for the Mercenaries was rapidly plummeting, no Mandalorian would have left such a blatant indication of their presence. The ground was packed down from the constant tread of scaly trandoshan feet, though once again a trail of foot prints was leading out and away from the camp. Looking up from his findings he saw Attom heading for the pool of water and started jogging over, looking around as he did to see if anything was around. "Careful! If things can survive this toxic planet on land, I don't want to think about what might be living in that concentrated goop this planet passes off as water!"

 

[Attom]

*Attom tilted his and after the startling shriek of a shyrrack flying into his helmet and trying to take his head off, and once it had made it's way into a tree, Attom ejected a small blade from his wrist gauntlet and nailed the beast between the eyes.* "Now, let's take a look here." *he said as his gaze went back to the goosing mud and toxic water and he knelt down and plunged his own arm into it. As he grunted he began to pull out something hard and metallic and then as it finally reached the line-of-sight of the Mandalorian, it was remnants of a head, or at least, a helmet.* "Merdia." (Damn)* He said as he retrieved the acid resistant plate. He quickly flipped it over on it's side and he saw just faintly the sign of the sith commando.* "Vaanes, take a look." *He said as he tossed the recruit the metallic relic.* "Looks like we know what really went on here." *He said as he observed the site one last time* "Commando's probably came in and cause a bit of racket before the Trandoshan's gave them a fight.... then they disposed of the bodies but not he animal carcasses."

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes let go of the barrel of the rifle to catch the tossed helmet in his right hand, finding himself looking at a slit visored helmet scorched clean of paint by the caustic chemicals in the water. He saw himself reflected in the still intact reflective visor, his T shaped one staring down into the simpler slit visor of the helmet he held. He let out a disgusted sound as something dropped out of the helmet with a wet *Thud*, the unfortunate commando's skull having been shaken loose by the tossing of his helmet. "Osik, that's nasty. But commando or not, they weren't Mandalorian. We are." The statement was said as if it was obvious that a Mandalorian was worth more than a trained Sith commando. But it was just Vaane's youth talking; he hadn't actually encountered any in combat, so he had no idea what they were actually capable of. He let the helmet drop beside the dripping skull that had dropped out of it and gripped his rifle with both hands once again. "The tracks lead west out of the camp. They look somewhat new, the edges aren't worn down yet. I'd say we are getting closer to them. They certainly aren't trying to hide their presence or movements."

 

[Attom]

*Attom nodded as he kick around a dead beast* "Let's move then." *He said as he turned toward the tracks and began to follow them. Little did they know, sith commando's were not but a mile away heading towards the same direction. It would seem now that the Trandoshan made camp more than once.* "Hold." *Attom said as he crouched down into the swamping mud* "Did you hear that?" *He said as he could hear the sound of branches slowly snapping. He then looked back at Vaanes and tilted his head, gesture for Vaanes to get behind a tree in-case it was more than a Trandoshan. Some of the beast of this planet could swallow you whole. Attom's HUD began to pick up a small heat signature and was unknown of where it was. After a few moments Attom's radar blipped back on and as he looked down a bright red dot was just to the left of him. After he looked quickly and raised his gun, a reek charged in from the trees and rammed Attom into the ground.* "Osik!" *he yelled as he began to rapidly punch the beast in a effort to escape as his gun laid three feet away from him now.*

 

[Vaanes]

Behind his visor Vaanes blinked once in surprise, the appearance of the reek not something that he had expected. In truth he was amazed that such a big creature could survive on this planet, and that the normally docile herbivore was in the process of trying to turn Attom into a red smear on the ground.

Cursing to himself, he flicked his rifle's safety off and brought it up to his shoulder, sighting down the barrel as he aimed for the thing's head. He almost immediately took it down, he was just as likely to shoot Attom as he was the reek. Replacing the safety and slinging the rifle over his shoulder, he started to run forwards, pulling his heavy blaster pistol from its holster and withdrawing one of his grenades but not arming it. As the reek was distracted by Attom's punches to its snout, he closed the distance to where it was almost impossible for him to miss.

"Hey! Ugly! Over here!" He leveled the blaster at the side of the animal's head and fired once, the powerful bolt smashing into its cheek and drawing its attention. A few more blasts to its forehead and snout made sure of it. "Move!" That was directed towards Attom, who would hopefully have a chance to roll out from under the reek and secure his weapon whilst it was distracted.

Then Vaanes had his own problems to worry about as the reek moved after him. Instead of running away, he went closer, running alongside the thing to force it to turn and try to track him with its non-binocular herbivorous eyes.

 

[Attom]

*Attom rolled away with a fear in his eye. Not usually did something take him by surprise, but this beast was intelligent, very intelligent. It had been stalking them for some time probably. As he arose to his feet and dove for his blaster he fired a few blasts towards the Reek, trying to save Vaanes form getting crushed as well. After a few blast and the result of nothing happening to the beast, Attom turned on the under barrel of his gun and fired a grenade into the backside of the Reek, catching it's hine legs on fire and hopefully stopping it.*

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes was currently busy dodging around trees, making the reek do the same or plow through them in the attempt to reach him. He stuck his blaster under his arm and fired a few times to keep its attention until the detonation of Attom's grenade made him pause and look over his shoulder.

The reek was indeed on fire, turning in circles as it tried to locate what it was that had hurt it. Vaanes took advantage of the situation to trigger the grenade he was still holding in his off hand and toss it towards the creature before ducking behind a tree with a cry of "Get down!". The metal sphere sailed through the air before smacking the reek on the head and detonating, sending shrapnel flying in all directions, embedded in the sandy soil, in the few trees that had survived the reeks single minded rampage and most importantly into the reek itself.

Vaanes peered around the tree he had chosen as shelter and was pleased to see the reek was slumped on the ground unmoving. He emerged from cover, jogging over to where Attom was lying on the ground and extending a hand. "Copaani gaan?" (Need a hand?)

 

[Attom]

*He took Vaanes' hand and pulled himself upwards.* "Ad'ika. (bBy)" *he said* "That was some damn good shooting." *he said as he chuckled* "We should strip the Reek of it's agol (meat) and get on our way." *He pulled his gun from behind his back and collapsed it and shoved it into his holster. After he had done so he made his way over to the still-burning Reek and knelt down to the center of it's body where the meat was still fresh.* "Aruetii (animal)" *he said as he pulled out a long knife* "You fought well." *he said before he plunged the blade into the Reek roughly and began to cut into the skin and extract meat and guts.* "Watch my back." 8he instructed Vaanes as he continued to take out the precious meat. The toxins could not harm it either, it could be fresh for a long while."

 

[Vaanes]

While Attom butchered the slain animal Vaanes found a decent sized tree that could serve as a lookout point. Climbing it easily he was soon seated in the crotch of the tree, panning his helmet back and forth as he allowed what few visual enhancements it contained to sweep the area while keeping his rifle in a loose but ready grip. He understood the necessity of getting what supplies they could from a hostile world such as this, and as such made no complaint about a waste of time.

As Attom finished up with his task Vaanes was lucky to spot the faintest hint of movement in a gap between the trees a good half mile away. He triggered his comm system and spoke, hoping that the short distance would not be affected by any interference from the planet. "Movement sighted. I can't tell what it is though, but it's not nearly as big as that reek. I suggest you wrap it up and get ready. If whatever it is heads this way it will be here shortly; and I think the sight of a butchered reek might clue them into someone else being out here."

 

[Attom]

*Attom quickly wrapped the meat and stuffed it in a cylinder pack on his side. He then cut the horns off the beast, which could be used as multiple things, and sprung open his gun once more and took cover behind a brush. A blue flash came across the HUD and it said "proximity alert" meaning that this being had a bio-signature other than a animal.* "Got eyes on it?' *Attom asked as he switched his head back and forth to check for anyone coming*

 

[Vaanes]

Vaanes was glued to the sights on his rifle up in the tree, aiming down the narrow path that two of them had been following before the reek had appeared. "Sort of. I can see movement between the gaps of the branches and leaves, but I haven't gotten eyes on what is coming.... hold on. There's more than one, I can see two patches moving. Now three. Quarter mile away now by my estimate, they should be entering your field of view soon, in that small clearing just ahead." He shifted slightly in his perch up in the tree, feeling his heart beat faster and the dump of adrenaline into his body's system as it readied itself for the unknown. For a moment he was tempted to flick the setting on his rifle to fully automatic and hose the approaching unknowns with blaster bolts. The temptation only lasted for a moment before years of training and discipline beaten into him as a child tore control back from his impulsive side and forced his finger to ease off the trigger.

"800 feet and closing. They're breaching the clearing now." His rifle drifted to settle on the patch of brush that was rustling and moving on the far side of the clearing, his finger slipped into the trigger guard like it was made for it and rested lightly on the trigger, a gentle pull and he'd find out what this rifle was capable of.