Slave Raid on Nenet: The Jackals Prowl

[Flannigan Mcnash]

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It wasn't something that didn't happen from time to time, technologically advanced raiders taking advantage of primitives, it wasn't fair sport but it still was sport. It started between Crystalsong and Knojur, on the planet Nenet. The Jackals had be raiding the space between for some days, making their last rounds around open space before deciding to explore Nenet.

The space surrounding the planet was more like a rocky outcrop, rustic and rough. It was an asteroid field, and it had a bluish hue; when the ships lights were on it anyway. Navigating through it inch by inch before breaching the planets atmosphere.

A low heavy hum can be heard, breaking from the receding gray atmosphere a rotund expanse of dented metal can be seen on closer inspection you would note that it is a BT-7 Thunderclap, a re purposed Republic assault ship, armour plating flecked with the refuse of aged paint. A mechanical groan that resonates deep within the bowels of the ship, as it lands near the capital in a cloud of sineway steam. A metallic walking platform extends out and in a shower of piston induced steam the hatch opens up a group of strange men walk out.

The vast white expanse of the open Tundra was before them, frigid and cold with little else besides but they'd turn it to profit.

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The mass of durasteel, its angular mask and thick wrought metallic finger's wrapping around a coat, it's flannel trimming boarder the shoulder moving in the frozen breeze, the disperse of air and rising steam from the automated voice-box. "There was movement on the scanner ahead, a village." his voice rough and cold just like what he was made of. "These primitives won't know what hit them."​

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| [member="Valrein Gudrun"] |​

 

[Cadan Tazi]

"What point is it in taking these primitives? Could sell a disable Kowakion monkey lizard for more!" Cadan would walk out his trench coat wrapping its self tightly around his simple durasteel armor, upon closer inspect, one would notice that his coat was severly burnt. Burns and scars could be seen on his right cheek and making their way up the side of his face. A DL-18 could be seen holster to his right thigh as he strode next to Flannigan, an inscription could be seen on his DL-18, the words 'Sunshine' could be seen. On his wrists he held a MM9 Rocket System (left) and a CZ Wrist Mounted Flame Projector (right). Strapped along his back was a SG-82 Sonic Rifle, and in his hands he carried a Raven Gauss Rifle. An assortment of chains and collars would dangle from his waist.

"Am I over dressed?" He'd say as he looked across his body, examining his variety of weapons.

With a click of his fingers a Kowakian Monkey-Lizard would run out of the ship, climb up Cadans coat and sit itself upon his shoulder. It would begin to stare at Flannigan, tilting its head sideways, much like dogs do when they are looking at something they don't understand.

[member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

"Did you see?"
"It fell from the sky-"
"What was-?"
"A spirit, it must be!"

The hum and chatter of the tribe filled the air, the herds bellowed their uncertainty and unhappiness. Valrein tucked a stray whisp of her that had escaped her thick braids back behind an ear, her eyes locked on where the sky had been split.

The sky was where the spirits lived, this was true. It was one of the reasons blue was a sacred colour after all. Her hand rose to the necklace of blue beads she wore, mark of her position as Shaman-in-training. Was it an actual spirit, come to the land in a form all could see and touch? If it was, was it a beneficent or a vengeful spirit? Either way, she wanted to go, to seek, to scout it out, but that decision was not hers to make. Her eyes flicked over to where the tall broad form of the Chieftain stood conversing animatedly with the ancient, shrivelled old woman who was Shaman.

Finally it seemed a decision was reached.

"Scouts!" He called, clapping his hands together "Take your mounts, see what there is to be seen."

"Valrein," the old woman added "you must go as well, in case the spirits are involved, I am too old for such things!"

"Yes Grandmother."

A piercing whistle left her lips and in minutes a great male reindeer galloped up, to stop before her. Father, her pride and joy, sire of most of her own portion of the herd. He was darker, had less of the white coloration that the tundra tribes prized in their stock, but he was much bigger than the average reindeer with an impressive rack on antlers. Giving him a quick rub on the forehead, she moved to his side and leapt lightly astride, waiting for the other six scouts to ready themselves as they would likely need to go get their mounts and tack. Seven was an auspicious number.

Father tossed his head and pawed the ground, earning an affectionate thump on the shoulders from the woman.

"Be still you old fool, I'd as rather you not gore me."

She whispered to him and he settled.

In a handspan of minutes the others were ready and mounted and they were streaking off across the frozen ground. Father wanted to pull ahead of the others, but Valrein kept him back.

All seven halted their mounts in a rough semi circle when they reached their destination. They were close enough to make out the ship and figures with ease, but not yet too close. Several of the less well trained mounts were rearing and prancing, wanting to escape this unknown. Father snorted and shook his antlers at it, but otherwise held steady as Valrein had known he would.

They were all silent as they considered the scene before them, not sure what they were seeing nor how to interpret it.

There, a large smooth shape that could be a hut of some kind, but it was not made of hides. Before it two figures, both roughly human, but one of the same material as the maybe-tent, and the other was blue.

"Are they spirits?" One of the scouts asked finally, uncertainly.

Valrein shrugged noncommittally. "I have not seen a spirit before, but they are not men such as I have ever seen."

[member="Flannigan Mcnash"] [member="Cadan Tazi"]

 

[Flannigan Mcnash]

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Forwarding out of the ship, five other individuals would step they'd look like a ramshackle beggars, or a useless drunks. Baggy pants and old dull shirts with two buttons missing, and around their waist was tied a wide black tasselled sash. With the occasional jacket with durasteel plating tide or held together by an adhesive or twine. The individuals consisted of human, and Weequay, and other near human species but had the occasional Trandoshan.​

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"I'll talk to them first." The component forwarding down the arm to the forearm with a mechanical 'pop' the fist would close. "But have your sonic rifle ready." The bionics, shifting his pronged feat taking gauges out of the snow. "Step forth citizens of Nenet!" his voice coarse like fragmented rock in hessian sack, moving and grinding against each other, somehow its complexity could raise veins and rattle bones, crawling under the skin like a Womp rat in the sand.​

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| [member="Valrein Gudrun"] | [member="Cadan Tazi"] |​

 

[Cadan Tazi]

Cadan would sling his Gauss Rifle over his should, and switch it for his sonic rifle. "Alright Cap'n. What's the plan here?" He'd look around the group of Nenet(ions, nenions?) examing their interesting mounts, and looking for any kind of weapon that they held.

[member="Flannigan Mcnash"] [member="Valrein Gudrun"]

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

"What does he mean?"
"Citizens of Nenet?"
"We are all children of the Mother."
"We are Driving-Hooves Tribe."
"Do you see the man covered all in fur?"
"Or the one like the desert lizard we saw at the plains Gathering that summer?"

It was likely worth noting that as they'd never met anyone from another world, nor even knew that there were other worlds, they did not think of themselves as being from Nenet. They were Nenetians certainly, in that they were children of the Earth they called Nenet, but they all identified by individual tribe or lineage.

As the six men tried to work this out, hands occasionally moving to reassuringly touch stone or bone tipped hunting spears or knives, Valrein kneed her mount a few yards closer.

The unknown was not only interesting, it was also her job as Shaman-in-training to figure out and understand mysteries.

"Who are you, what do you seek?"

Though she addressed the slick-built man who looked more made than born, with a voice that sounded much more vengeful than beneficent, her attention kept slipping over to the blue-skinned one.

[member="Cadan Tazi"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Flannigan Mcnash]

Character​

"You will bend to my will." the durasteel plates whirled like an out of control octopus, hammering down on the black ribbon components like so much hail in a storm. There was a ding as each piston convulsed and he began to move towards Nenetians, each step was completed with a thud as the pronged toes slid across the snow laden ground.

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There was clatter of weapons, the cannons round long and slender twirled in their sockets the ends giving off slivers of steam. Fantastic light grazed the ground tossing up dirt and steam in a shower a few meter before the Nenetians. The pirates smiled cruel malicious smiles, a few even licked their lips.

| [member="Valrein Gudrun"] | [member="Cadan Tazi"] |​

 

[Cadan Tazi]

"I guess we will just skip the meet and greets then." He'd begin to follow Flannigan, steam rising from his mouth as he calmly exhaled. His sonic rifle in hand, ready to shoot upon any of the Nenetians.

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

If spirits they were, they were definitely vengeful.

Even steady Father reared, bellowing his fear and defiance as light from the things in the hands of the maybe-spirits tore up the earth. One of the other scouts was thrown from his mount entirely, which bolted. He was quickly pulled up behind one of the others.

"Fly!"

She called out to her fellow tribesmen. The camp had to be warned. Their mounts needed little prodding to be streaking away from the unknown but clearly dangerous new arrivals.

Valrein gave Father his head, letting him rise up, pivot on his rear legs and tear away as quickly as his long legs could go, the woman ducking low over his neck.

If they made it back to camp they would raise the alarm. While usually it took a full day to break camp, in the event of disasters or sudden threats, usually weather or great tundra worm, the entire tribe could be mobile on the backs of the herd or pulled on sleighs and sleds in under half an hour, though they would lose most of their supplies.

[member="Cadan Tazi"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Flannigan Mcnash]

Character​

"Fools, all aboard the ship." turning on the back of his pronged feet, his left arm circling like a handle splaying apart his coat in a ripple of multi hued colours.

Scene​

With a mechanical groan the Asmodium's landing equipment seizes up and into their compartments, bursting to life in a shower of dust and spark it begins to take flight, moving along the the desert fields, hovering above the tundra following the Nentians.

| [member="Valrein Gudrun"] | [member="Cadan Tazi"] |​

 

[Cadan Tazi]

Cadan would sprint back to the Asmodium and stand on the gang plank as it began to take off. He'd stand on the gang way, with his sonic rifle in hands and he would begin to take aim at the group of fleeing Netetians. "Cap'n should I take the shot?" He'd shout into his comm.

[member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

A great noise split the air, and the rumbling continued. Looking back over her shoulder Valreins eyes widened as the structure took to the air and began harrying them.

For a moment she feared she was leading the vengeful spirits to her home, until she realized that from the air they would be able to see far, like being atop a hill. Still.. As Father caught up with the other scouts, she called to them.

"The other tribes must be warned!"

Two riders peeled off to the right, two to the left. Two stayed with her, pounding towards home. Though their mounts strained they could not seem to pull ahead of the structure. The good of the tribe came before propriety however, and Father with his longer legs was soon outpacing their remaining comrades.

As soon as they camp was within sight, still a good distance away, the woman started letting out piercing whistles. Danger signals that carried across the flat still air. This was the same one used for worms.

People were already boiling into action, running with reins and rough saddle clothes towards the herd, ushering or carrying children.

Valrein had one goal. Get to Grandmother. The old woman kept no beasts of her own anymore, and in the panic it was unlikely anyone would think to assist her, nor would she ask being both proud and too considerate of her people to slow them down when it might cost them their lives.

[member="Cadan Tazi"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Flannigan Mcnash]

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Neon lights flickered through the small, glass windows into the view. The vessel was a patchwork craft. Swathes of stainless steel, sleek black rods. And the glare of fluorescent tube lighting suspended from steel rafters, floor to ceiling the wall began to extend out and towards open air. Pirates would begin to emerge, jumping down from the hovering ship heafting Sonic rifles, their intent was to stun not kill, everything here was worth something to someone. The rings of sound convulsing and expanding with force, directing the assault towards Nentians..

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"Take as many as you can, we're on a schedule I want to be back at the station in two days."​

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| [member="Valrein Gudrun"] | [member="Cadan Tazi"] |​

 

[Cadan Tazi]

Cadan would examine the village looking for what looked for the villages biggest hut/main hut. "I will be back with some fresh slaves Cap'n" He slid down the ropes, landing with a thud. He charge forward to the hut he was after, his sonic rifle ready to shoot any of the Nenetians who attempted to appose him.

[member="Valrein Gudrun"]

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

Not dismounting when she reached the edge of camp, Valrein rode Father all the way to and into Grandmothers yurt. As both the Shaman and the oldest person in all the tribes, it was bigger even than the Chieftains.

"Valrein!" The old woman gasped, old eyes taking in her apprentices wild expression.

"Grandmother, the spirits are very angry, you must go."

Even as she spoke she was grabbing the plush saddle with the ties that would hold the old woman on.

"I am Shaman, I should-" the old woman began, voice trembling.

"You must go."

Valrein insisted, picking the frail old woman up and tying her into place with deft hands.

"And you?" The old woman demanded.

"Father is swiftest and you are light, you must escape. I will take one of his offspring. I will be fine Grandmother. We have no more time."

She caressed Fathers soft fur one more time, whispering to him.

"You are the pinnacle of my herd, she is the pinnacle of our tribe. Protect her Father, fly faster than the spirits."

The great Reindeer buck snorted once with an uncanny look of understanding.

With swift steps she led him out of the yurt and into chaos. While many were escaping, many had been downed by the mysterious weapons of the spirits and lay unmoving on the ground. The blue-man was between her and escape, not that she really expected escape for herself.

"Hup!"

She called, smacking Father to send him leaping away with the old woman.

"She is not for you spirit!"

The young woman did what she had only done very rarely and when in dire need in the past. She called on the Spirits who had been friendly in the past, prayed they were not the same ones before her and with a sweep of her arms sent a gust of wind at him, picking up snow from the ground to drive into his eyes.

It would not stop him, but it might allow Father and Grandmother time to escape.

[member="Cadan Tazi"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Cadan Tazi]

A smirk crossed Cadan face as Valrein called him 'spirit', he began to laugh when suddenly he caught a face full of snow, the sheer force of it knocked him back a few metres and sent him onto his back. But Cadan was quickly back up on his feet, holding his sonic rifle and aiming it towards Valrein. He began taking deep breaths trying to fill his lungs back with air. "Everyone 'ere is for me."

In all the confusion Cadan wouldn't exactly take not of the fleeing reindeer, as he had his sights on something else.

[member="Valrein Gudrun"]

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

Not having any experience with firearms, Valrein did not know a sonic pistol from the blasters that had torn the ground up earlier. She knew enough to understand that it was a weapon and to be afraid that it was pointed at her. Even without the magic weapon, the Spirit had very nearly a foot on the petite woman, who had never had to fight another human.

Besides, vengeful or not, she did not think you were meant to fight spirits. You usually warded them off or else placated them, this was what she had been taught. The other strange Spirits were bad enough, but this one with his sacred blue skin and angry blood red eyes..

Father and Grandmother had escaped, she took comfort in this. Even if the spirits pursued, Father would outpace the rest of the herd and be the last to be captured. In any hunt, for that was what this seemed to be, some of the prey usually got away.

She did not know what to do now. No point running, couldn't and didn't think she should fight.. She took a step backwards away from him. That left what? Placation. Giving in. Every Shaman or Shaman-in-training knew that there were some things which were simply the will of the Spirits and could not be changed by mere mortals. They were normally more along the lines of sickness or ill-luck, but these were strange times.

So she fell to her knees, forehead pressed to the cold ground and arms extended palm up in surrender and supplication.

[member="Cadan Tazi"]

 

[Cadan Tazi]

A wolfish grin would spread its way across Cadan's face. Someone giving up? Now this is what he liked to see. Cadan would approach Valrein, and with draw some of the chains and collars. He would begin to attach the collar around her next. Assuming she didn't resist? "Your gonna fetch a good profit aren't ya!" He'd say excitedly as he came way to close for comfort to he face. His red, eyes looking into hers. With the click of his fingers the Kowakian Monkey-Lizard would run up to him.

"Jasper, find me some goodies from in the hut." The Jasper, the monkey-lizard would dart off his shoulder and into the hut, in an attempt to find what ever valuable things he could.

Cadan would open up his comm. "Cap'n looks like we gots a force sensitive one." He'd say a he remember that sudden force attack she used before. He'd rub his eye as if something were still caught in it.

[member="Valrein Gudrun"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]

 

[Flannigan Mcnash]

Character​

"Good, they finally see reason." The dura plate around his upper-torso would twinge with movement, you'd swear the expansion and dexpatiation of the chest cavity would be laughter or at least quicker breathing. "Cadan get the other four aboard, leave the rest. We have another job to get to, and primitive slaves only fetch so much."

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Scene​

The glow and menace of the sterilised light leaking from the ships open mouth, would cast shadows on the figures growing long and narrow taking odd visualisation, they could play tricks on the mind. Herding captured Nenetians as one might a flock animal, pulling them to the back of the ship with the buds of their gun, they'd centre them off and sealing them behind closed doors. "Cadan." one would approach tugging at his coat, a miserable sight a malformed human that may be extremely unlucky or an entirely different race. "Captain says put her with the rest."

| [member="Valrein Gudrun"] | [member="Cadan Tazi"] |​

 

[Valrein Gudrun]

Valrein did not resist, though her muscles did tauten when he first drew near, unsure of what he intended. She stayed, carefully frozen as he snapped the collar into place.

"Profit?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper as his face came in closer to hers, his oversized red eyes boring in to her. With no system of money, the Nenetians bartered, and while one could be said to profit on a deal, with no experience in slavery she did not see how one could profit from a person.

This confusion was largely secondary to the fear and awe she felt towards him however. She had decided, as his eyes pinned her in place, that he was a spirit of wrath. She could not think what her people had done to anger the spirits so, but here he was with his sacred skin and eyes that held the blood of a people. At least he seemed pleased by her submission, perhaps not many more would have to fall before he was satiated.

There was not much the outside Galaxy would consider of worth within the yurt. Fine soft furs, some medicinal herbs, a few wood and bone carvings of people and animals, some ceremonial masks, a handful of hand beaded necklaces, none of the stones better than semi precious.

She followed him, willingly if hesitantly, resigned to her fate, whatever it might be. She did falter just before setting foot on the ramp, afraid to enter the great strange structure, afraid to be taken into the sky where only the Spirits were meant to dwell. Her face was pale as she considered the great maw waiting to swallow her.

I make this sacrifice for my people, that some might remain.

She reminded herself, though it did not help much.

[member="Cadan Tazi"] [member="Flannigan Mcnash"]