Terrors of Tatooine: Between Sand and Sky

[Verz Horak]

"No, they won't get here, because you are going to call them over a commlink, tell them you didn't find what they want, and if you did well, I might not feed you to that Sarlaac. Alive anyway"

 

[Archon Xris]

Laughing like a mad man, sweat pouring down his forehead, he said, "You still don't get it, do you? Do you think he would believe even if I said so? You stole from big boss Ranon. That's why he sent Oggun. He's gonna rip your head clean off and mount it on a sky pod just for kicks. Oggun would be here soon and when he and boys are done carving you up, you're gonna wish you died quick."

 

[Verz Horak]

"I didn't steal from anyone. I have honor, unlike you."
He then moved his knife the the man's hand and cut off a finger.
"Now tell them that, or you lose more than this finger" He said in a low and threatening tone, holding the still bleeding finger right in front of the man's face.

 

[Archon Xris]

"Argh! Mother of Nerf herder! Ok! Ok!" With his uninjured hand, he fumbles for the comset and repeats the message. "No boss. We blew the hatch and trashed it from top to bottom. The package ain't here."

"That's too bad. Harbo was certain that he gave me the right hangar number. Isn't that right, Harbo?" In the background the sound of a man whimpering confirmed the information. "Tell me Dorik. If you and the boys are inside the ship trashing it out. How come your compatriots are lying on the stairwell, full of holes?"

Verz realized that the gang enforcers and his crew had just arrived.

 

[Verz Horak]

"Osik! Well it looks like I may have to fly outta here. R3, power up the repulsors and main guns!"
He walks over to the gunnery controls.
"Hold on tight back there."
The Tra'kad class gunship rises out of her docking clamp and hovers over the docking area

 

[Archon Xris]

As the ship rises from the hangar into the sky, it is peppered with small arms fire from a dozen figures on the ground wearing battle armor and an assortment of blaster rifles. Most prominent is the figure with horns on his helm, waving what looked like a wookie bowcaster. Clearing the airspace of Mos Eisley, your droid gives you a warning chirp.

Eight airborne contacts are approaching from the direction of Anchorhead on what appears to be an intercept course.

 

[Verz Horak]

"Fierfek! R3 find a course out of here. I'll shoot down those di'kuts!"
He said as he moved towards the guns controls, and started firing the rear three cannons.

 

[Archon Xris]

The computer chirps displaying the pursuing craft as Incom T-36 Skyfighters, near orbit planetary defense fighters. The tri-fold wing shape design was popular among pirates and criminals, although anyone who could afford to would upgrade when they could.

Breaking off in two groups of four, the first group tried to position itself to cut off their escape route, while the other four took up pursuit. As soon as they got in range, the ships began trading shots.

Lasers danced across the scorching hot desert air as a skyfighter after another erupted into flames from Verz sharp shooting. Leaving only one fighter left closing in the gap. As he focused his aim on the remaining fighter, he saw the tell tale sign of a missile launch just before he vaporized the vessel in a steam of hot laser. The range was too close to dodge, Verz could only prepare for the impact.

The missile slammed home, and sparks exploded all around Verz as the ship began to smoke. Comms were down and a small fire broke out in the sleeping quarters.

 

[Verz Horak]

"No! R3 emergency landing procedures!"
He tried put out the fire, ignoring the prisoner. He was working quickly and nervously. He didn't want damage to his father's ship. The smoke as thick and acrid, but his helmet filters kept him from breathing it in.

 

[Archon Xris]

The droid protested that there was nowhere to land and it was true, as far as the eye could see your ship had flown deep into the Dune Sea. You're still fleeing across the planet's surface when far ahead of you, in the gloom, you spot a swirling column of darkness, as though the sky was full of sand in an area about a kilometer across.

Sandwhirl! An unpredictable phenomena that the locals said appeared in the Dune Sea. If the ship could get through it, he might stand a chance of losing his pursuers.

 

[Verz Horak]

"R3, are the engines damaged? And what is the hull integrity?"
An idea crept into his head as he said that. He turned to his prisoner.
"Can those ships survive a sandwhirl?"

 

[Verz Horak]

(whoops used writer account by accident)

 

[Archon Xris]

The engines are running a bit hot, but are holding. The droid reported that you might have a ruptured coolant line. Hull integrity is at 95%. Minor damage so far.

"A sandwhirl? Are you out of fraking dongga mind? Land this heap before you get us all killed!" The prisoner cried, clearly in a panic, although it was a rare individual who thought flying into one made sense.

 

[Archon Xris]

(no worries. It happens sometimes even to me )

 

[Verz Horak]

"R3, lower engine 2's output. Maybe that will cool her down."
He points his knife at the prisoner.
"I asked you a question you sheb. Do you want to lose more bodyparts?

 

[Archon Xris]

"No. They probably won't. Only a complete jawa head flies into a sandwhirl. Land this heap and surrender. I might be able to get them to easy on ya."

 

[Verz Horak]

"Mandos never surrender. R3, give me manual control of the ship."
He walked over to the controls and sat down as R3 moved to the gunner position. Verz then flew his ship right into the sandwhirl, and heard the ship shudder from the win d. He patted the console.
"Steady old girl. We're gonna make it."

 

[Archon Xris]

As the ship enters the storm, it begins to shake violently. Behind you, one of the pursuing Skyfighters passes too close to the tower of swirling wind and suddenly lurches directly into the funnel. It becomes momentarily lost, then reappears again, minus its wings, a second later. It tumbles end over end before plummeting to the ground and bursts in a fireball.

 

[Verz Horak]

"Lets hope this hulk of durasteel and Mando iron holds together, eh R3?"
He starts flying with the wind, and starts to gain speed for a slingshot maneuver of the storm

 

[Archon Xris]

It was plainly a very dangerous suicidal maneuver, sand began entering the intake valves causing warning lights to light up all over the console, the control stick shaking violently as the ship struggled to stay airborne along it flight route. His pursuers were not as lucky, as two more skyfighters were thrown violently into each others path. The sole survivor decided that discretion was the better part of valor and peeled off. Heading towards Anchorhead, he would likely be calling more reinforcements to continue the hunt.

Then just as suddenly as it appeared the storm was over, Verz could land his spaceship safely on the desert sand and assess the damage done.