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SL-0182
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Attire //:
//: Brosi //:
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OBJ II - MORE FORE THE GRILL //:
A
shot rang out across the grassland near CT-312’s position. The Scout halted immediately, bringing the rifle to her shoulder. BARCA isolated the sound and marked its point of origin across the HUD. Her eyes kept forward, watching a large adult
Iriaz topple to the ground. Smoke curled from the charred wound through its skull. The rest of the herd erupted, stampeding toward the cover of the jungle.
The sudden panic spread to the gathered
Grantaloupe around the watering hole. Their bodies made a sudden frantic rush for shelter, following towards the directions of the Iriaz.
‘Chit.’ CT-312 tracked one of the retreating Grantaloupe through the rifle's sights.
BANG. The first bolt struck the creature’s body as it ran. CT-312 continued advancing toward the watering hole, keeping the rifle steady while BARCA compensated for the animal’s erratic movement.
BANG. A second shot caught the Grantaloupe near the head. Its legs folded beneath, sending the creature tumbling to the ground.
CT-312 snapped her aim toward the remaining animals.
BANG. The bolt struck one of the
Uller rigid horned skull. It staggered beneath the impact, but remained standing. Her helmet tilted slightly at the sight as smoke rose from the fresh scorch mark. BARCA magnified the animal and where the shot had ricocheted off.
[ UNIQUE SKELETAL STRUCTURE DETECTED. ]
[ SKULL AND HORNS DISPLAY HIGH RESISTANCE TO KINETIC AND DIRECT-FIRE TRAUMA ]
The Uller lowered its thick body. A guttural grunt rolled from its throat as it shook its head violently. Its attention fixed on the Scout, panic took over as it charged. The Uller’s slow moving body moved with a momentary burst. CT-312 waited until the last possible moment before stepping sharply to the side. Its horns scraped through the grass beside her leg.
As the creature struggled to slow its momentum, CT-312’s lowered the rifle in her right hand as her left drew the
net gun— raising it up and now aiming at the now turned around Uller. Before the creature charged again, an electrified wire burst from the weapon. The net spread across the Uller’s front, engulfing its heavy torso. Blue-white energy coursed through the netting, snapping loudly against the creature’s thick hide.
THUD. Its body struck the ground.
CT-312 approached cautiously, holstering the net projector. The Uller remained conscious for a moment before the electrical current overwhelmed it. BARCA transmitted a retrieval request for the creature. Before the Scout could turn back toward the fallen Grantaloupe, BARCA issued a sharp warning
ping. An unidentified signature was closing on her location.
Her hand returned to the Nightspore rifle, readying the weapon as she turned toward the approaching movement. A figure emerged into view wearing a dark body glove and an unusual set of goggles fitted with four separate lenses. A small
droid hovered around the individual. BARCA traced the figure’s approach and compared it against the trajectory and sound of the blaster shot that was fired earlier.
That explained the distant Iriaz kill.
The Scout could not fully read the stranger’s expression behind the quadocular goggles, but she did catch the slight lift at the corner of the woman’s mouth. That and the interesting cadence of her voice, did not suggest immediate hostility.
“CT-312.” Offering a small nod as she lowered her rifle.
“Queen's Guard to Quinn Varanin. Your assessment is correct. I am here for the hunt.” She turned her visor toward the Iriaz lying dead nearby. BARCA
chirped inside her helmet, reminding CT-312 of social norms.
“Nice to meet another fellow hunter, SL-0182." This Saaraishash
Slatesi Asset was more than capable with a rifle, especially at range. CT-312's helmet then turned toward the tree line, where the last of the fleeing herd had disappeared.
"Several of the other parties have already formed groups. We should do the same. It would expedite the pursuit and make neutralizing larger targets more manageable.”
Another roar tore through the clearing. It wasn’t as deep or powerful as before. This one was closer. The remaining Uller stiffened as the jungle foliage exploded outward. A massive reptilian spiked horned
creature rushed from beneath the canopy. The beast crashed into the side of an unsuspecting Uller. Lifting the horned animal from its feet and drove it into the ground. BARCA immediately framed the predator in red.
[ TRENTASAUR IDENTIFIED. ] Its claws sank through the Uller’s tough hide, while its spikes pressed against the struggling animal. Additional information populated at the side of CT-312’s HUD. The Trentasaur before them appeared to be a young adult. Its immense frame measures roughly three-quarters the size of an average fully grown adult which was around twelve meters in height and thirty-six in length.
CT-312 dropped into a crouch and angled the Nightspore rifle toward the creature. Without looking away from Trentasaur, she raised her support hand into a fist beside her helmet. A silent signal to
Hold. The predator had not fully noticed either Hunters. Its attention remained fixed on the wounded Uller trapped beneath its claws. Thrashing around violently, it managed to twist free when the Trentasaur’s grip adjusted, being able to stagger away.
Instead of pursuing, the Spiked creature’s entire body suddenly went still. CT-312 observed its nostril flare. The beast drew in long breaths, testing the air. Its head slowly lifted from the escaping Uller and turned toward SL-0182 and the Scout. Its dark eyes blinked several times as it focus now settled on them. CT-312’s gloved hand that was signaling went back to the rifle. Her tone came out calmly through the helmet’s voice modulator.
“How are you in close quarters?”
BARCA’s targeting brackets tighten around the creature. The Trentasaur opened its jaws and released another deafening roar, the spikes on its body shook violently before surging forward directly toward CT-312 and SL-0182.
