Public Trouble on Tatooine

[Karkosuchus]

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Spoiler: Equipment

Bandolier Right Shoulder Bandolier Flash Grenade Sonic Detonator Bacta Grenade Concussion Grenade Thermal Detonator Left Shoulder Bandolier Stun Grenade Ammonia Bomb Utility Belt Syntherope Food Rations Hush 98 Comlink Imagecaster Energy Bola Fire Blade Field Security Overloader

Holster Dissuader KD-30 .48 Caliber Enforcer Pistol Stouker Concussion Rifle FC-1 Flechette Launcher Imperial Heavy Repeater Brass Knuckles Echani Shield Addleban's Cursed Armor The Swamp Vanquisher

Karkosuchus didn't expect to find himself on Tatooine of all places. The twin suns bearing down on his form which absorbed more sunlight due to his heavier weight and considerable size. He and a small team had been hired to transport some Stolen Kyber Crystals to a Marauder and Pirate Gang located within Outlaw's Den which was apart of the Jundland Waste Region of the Planet. Many syndicates had been hunted down to extinction due to the Strict "No Crime Policy" of the Mandalorian Enclave. Although this marauder gang had managed to stay off the radar of the mandalorians until now when their leader a Nikto Brute called "Miko Juvar." supposedly attacked a Mandalorian Outpost located nearby their base of operation.

His mission from the client was clear, "Delivering the Contents within the box" to the marauders. Finding that landing his vessel within either Anchorhead or Mos Espa was too difficult due to the heavy mandalorian presence. He had arrived at the abandoned and empty Mos Ila which had been used as an outpost by the Ancient Sith Empire and the Criminal Syndicate known as the Exchange. Both now long gone but their presence could still be felt within the crumbling walls of the buildings. He was curious as to why the jawa clans didn't reoccupy the place but perhaps they were driven off by something bigger and more menacing than simple Tusken Raider Tribes. Krayt Dragons were the most dangerous animal on the planet known to destroy entire tribes of tuskens without much difficulty.

His client had managed to secure a Tatooine Repulsor Train from the Pyke Syndicate up north within Mos Espa. It would serve as their transportation vessel going through the wasteland until they reached the destination. Karkosuchus's heavy form made landfall upon the soft sand as he approached the repulsor train. His cape flowing within the harsh winds of the dune sea. His weapons were armed and loaded for any confrontations. A soft voice drafted into his mind as he finally arrived at the location. His team had yet to arrive.

"I was once a mighty Sith Lord; destroying hundreds of armies. Now I am stuck within this body." : Darth Addleban replied; showing up as a red sith spirit besides him although no one else could see him except for highly trained force sensitives. The Sith Pureblood gazed around and was disappointed in the ruined outpost from the Ancient Sith Empire. Apparently the mighty sith empire had fallen.

"I'm not thrilled with sharing a body with a ghost either. However we can't both be satisfied." Karkosuchus replied to the sith spirit although it looked like he was just talking to himself; carrying on his walk until he managed to see the loading of the Kyber Crystal Shipment onto the repulsor train. He was more worried about the mandalorian enclave arriving to shut down this operation and exterminate all criminal activity within their borders. Karkosuchus was still awaiting on his team to arrive for the mission.

They had to deliver this shipment at any cost.

Sars Sarad
Aaran Tafo

​

 

[Sars Sarad]

Location: Tatooine
Equipment: Lightsaber; Old Sin; Armor; Duster
Tagged: Karkosuchus

---

The Twin Suns of Tatooine made him squint his eyes and adjust to the ambient light that appeared to absorb into the atmosphere creating heat waves that distorted the vision. Lost in the deep deserts without the proper gear he could understand how a man could die within days. Yet Tatooine had also been a refuge for the Jedi during the Imperial Purge a lifetime ago, some had fled here looking for refuge only to be hunted down but others, it was said survived in anonymity on the planet.

When he'd initially been contacted Sarad thought little of a job that required him to assist in acting a delivery man but the potential that the Mandalorians might attempt to intervene had aroused his interest. Normally the force lead him to Jedi, sometimes to Sith so that he could test himself but today it was telling him something different. It wasn't uncommon for the Mandalorians to have Force-Sensitives among their number.

He arrived shortly in Mos Ila shortly after the Repulsor Train. From his vantage point, his silhouette coming into focus somewhere to the rear of Karkosuchus. He'd have seen the Reptilian speaking to what appeared to be himself but Sarad thought little of it. It was an unknown presence in the force that prompted him to look a little harder...

"Whatever you're speaking to I would spend as little time with it as possible."

...Sarad couldn't seen the Force Spirit, he may have perceived it as a distortion in the environment the same as those brought on by the intense heat but he didn't pursue the issue. Perhaps Karkosuchus wasn't of completely sound mind, it wasn't uncommon for mercenaries and barbarians to let their minds wander until they bacme twisted. This seemed a small matter to Sarad though.

Slowing as he stood near the Reptile, somewhere off to his left side but outside of arms reach Sarad had turned his head to regard him. Tilting his head to account for the Reptiles greater height and bulk Sarad seemed to be silently appraising him before he stated...

"The Enclave should keep a tight leash on this world, lets hope they find us."

...the Khyber Crystal and the Client meant nothing to him, Gorba the Hutt ensured he had more credits than he would want for. Sarad's only priority was the challenge.

Footsteps would carry him towards the Repulsor Train, the Duster he wore concealing the Armor that hugged his physique and the lightsaber clipped to the hilt of a utility belt beneath it. Lenses had been applied to his eyes, feeding him a highly tactical feed thanks to sensors linked to his armor. Alongside his naturally honed senses he had little concern for something coming close to him or the Repulsor Train, once it was on route without him knowing.

 

[Karkosuchus]

​

Spoiler: Equipment

Bandolier Right Shoulder Bandolier Flash Grenade Sonic Detonator Bacta Grenade Concussion Grenade Thermal Detonator Left Shoulder Bandolier Stun Grenade Ammonia Bomb Utility Belt Syntherope Food Rations Hush 98 Comlink Imagecaster Energy Bola Fire Blade Field Security Overloader

Holster Dissuader KD-30 .48 Caliber Enforcer Pistol Stouker Concussion Rifle FC-1 Flechette Launcher Imperial Heavy Repeater Brass Knuckles Echani Shield Addleban's Cursed Armor The Swamp Vanquisher

His yellow gaze was drawn behind him; as another man spoke by the name of Sars Sarad . He was also hired by the client to deliver the shipment and Karkosuchus hadn't met him personally until now although they both were within the same faction of the Hutt Space Consortium. Lord Gorba of the Consortium didn't pick him as much for employment opportunities although he had gotten contracts from other hutt clans in the same region and within the Invisible Market. He had enough credits rolling in to commission for the construction of his new heavy assault frigate known as the Eye of Abonshee.

The man had assumed that he was talking to someone else; which was surprising because normal people just thought he was crazy ever since he acquired this cursed armor from an auction and rebuilt it using modernized materials. Although this left him stuck with a sith spirit called Darth Addleban whom was from the old republic period. It seemed the man's eyes lingered aorund his form for a few minutes to check him out.

"Unfortunately for us; the person I'm speaking too will follow us." Karkosuchus replied in an off hand gesture towards him. Darth Addleban was apart of him now due to his foolish choice. "The Enclave is stretched thin as it is; but there is no doubt some Mandalorian scouts have spotted us here and reported us by now. So you shall get your chance to fight the bucketheads." Karkosuchus further added in responce to his later comment.

"Ah, Mandalorians. They were nothing during my time. Hidden away in some enclave on Dromund Kaas and afraid to fight the galactic republic once again like they did before. All in all this 'Enclave' is nothing more than a coward's convention." : Darth Addleban replied to Karkosuchus; his yellow sith eyes gazing at Sars Sarad with vigor. He disregarded the prowess of this 'mandalorian enclave' as nothing but folly. They couldn't compare to the power of sith lords.

"Perhaps you are right;" Karkosuchus replied back towards thin air on his right side. The train's fuel was loaded and the shipment secured within the middle of the train itself. His team was skilled enough to handle anything that came there way. Karkosuchus climbed onto the train itself into the small command room nearest to the engine room. They had a complete tactical readout of their route which accounted for jawa and tusken tribes within the area.

"All clear for now it seems on the radar. However expect the unexpected on tatooine." Karkosuchus said towards him. The train was about to leave in about 15 minutes.

The only thing they couldn't predict was krayt dragons nor the mandalorian response.

Aaran Tafo

​

 

[Sars Sarad]

Location: Tatooine
Equipment: Lightsaber; Old Sin; Armor; Duster
Tagged: Karkosuchus

---

The Presence he'd felt seem to explain itself when Karkosuchus acknowledged as a person. He'd heard that individuals with a powerful connection to the Force could sometimes manifest themselves as disembodied spirits. The Jedi referred to them as Force Ghosts, he imagined that the Sith had a similar name for them if not the same. Despite his own powerful connection to the Force Sarad could not claim to have ever seen or been visited by such a manifestation---perhaps it was due to the archaic teachings that helped him harness his own use of the Force. No matter though.

Looking back at the Repitlian he'd have nodded his head once only offering a...

"Perhaps your 'friend' will be a boon to you rather than a bane to 'us'."

...but his train of thought quickly turned to the Mandalorians and the Enclave when he replied....

"The Mandalorians can afford to be spread thin. In days past their Commandos were said to be worth a hundred regular soldiers, time will tell if that holds true."

...the Enclave might not be aware of what went on here, they might not care about the illicit transport of the crystals or they could just be spread to thin as Karkosuchus had stated. Even one or two Mandalorians sent to investigate could be trouble. Sarad wasn't so sure that the Jedi wouldn't investigate the matter either.

Like the Reptile he boarded the Repulsor Train but further back and in one of the adjacent cars reserved for security and/or members of the crew back from the Command Room that Karkosuckas had moved into. Most of these trains were used by the Syndicates for hauling Spice, the cargo today may have been smaller in scale but no less valuable. Sarad noted when he was boarding that the exterior of the train was armored which was uncommon considering what the transports were used for.

Accessing the comms Sarad's voice would have crackled over them...

"Everything is quiet the next car over."

...he stood, his feet shifting over the plating of the train-cars floor waiting for their transportation to begin moving.

 

[Siv Dragr]

K A R J R​

Targets: Karkosuchus | Sars Sarad

Tatooine's twin suns burned bright and hot, making Siv sweat despite the cooling of his pressurized armor suit. The backwater desert planet was a hotbed of criminal activity as of late, and despite the Enclave's declarative operation on Lyran IV, none had been the wiser to stop their operations in Mandalorian space. So naturally it was up to the Karjr -- it was up to Siv -- to enforce Mandalorian law and reign in the rampant criminal activity in the Outer systems.

A Nikto criminal gang had been bold enough to attack a Karjr outpost in the Jundland Wastes, surprisingly uncharacteristic of the criminal element. Usually Karjr like Siv had to hunt down syndicates to root them out of their hiding holes, but here a gang had walked out into the open almost as if to declare their presence and dare Mandalorians to come after them. So come after them was exactly what Siv was going to do.

The landspeeder he'd borrowed from the outpost was nothing special, an old model that wouldn't -- well, it would be unlikely for it to - break down in the Tatooine desert. Mandalorian long-range scanners had picked up irregular traffic coming out of one of the old cities long-abandoned to the desert, and Siv had placed himself on a dune overlooking the projected vector. Could it be the Nikto gang, or perhaps hired guns to reinforce them now that they knew Mandalorians were on their tail? Perhaps. Or it could be entirely a waste of time.

Only time would tell.

 

[Kandosii Ka'rta]

Tags: Karkosuchus Sars Sarad Siv Dragr
Equipment: Beskar'gam, Clairvoyant Anti-Mat Rifle, ENCL-21 Ra'ntisr Heavy Blaster Pistol (x2)

---

Kandosii kneeled beside Siv, surveilling the area with the scope of his Clairvoyant as he hummed an old Morellian tune to himself. The more thing changed, the more they stayed the same, it would seem. Eighty years ago he was back in the Morellian Commonwealth, hunting down outlaws with the Enforcers in the dunes, and now here he was, hunting down outlaws with the Karjr in the dunes of Tatooine. About all this scenario's missing is a hovertrain, he thought, and chuckled to himself. After a few minutes he spoke up, eyes still on his rifle's scope.

"I gotta wonder what made them Nikto brave enough to attack one-a our bases. In my experience, if a gang's willin' to pull somethin' like this, it's 'cause they know somethin' we don't." Kandosii paused for a moment to think, cocking his head. "Well that, or they're spiced outta their gourds. I dunno, whadda you think, Siv? Somethin' 'bout this don't sit right with me." He'd have said he's got a bad feeling about this, but some things were too cliched even for ol' Kandosii.

 

[Juno Wren]

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Arkanis Sector; Tattoo System; Tatooine; Jundland Wastes​

​

Juno was not a Karjr. She had come to Tatooine in pursuit of a rogue Force user, for hers was the way of the Y’ivra, the Force Hunter, and instead been hailed by an outpost in the Jundland Wastes to assist with an active investigation- one of the few remaining Marauder Gangs had brazenly attacked the outpost, almost daring the Mandolorians to hunt them. ​

​

So she flew her gunship out to the outpost, mounted her old Starhawk, and followed Siv Dragr out into the rolling sand sea, her gray half-cloak billowing in the scorching wind. ​

​

There were no shadows in the Junland Wastes, for Tatooine’s twin suns sat proudly in the sky, their blazing rays draping the planet in a cloak of stifling heat. A gauzy heat haze lay over the sand, fogging the horizon. From the crest of a tall dune, the team could survey a great swath of land, even as they baked beneath the suns’ rays. ​

​

She eyed Siv through her peripherals. He was taller than her, and much broader, and carried himself with the air of a man who was extremely competent and intensely confident. He had been hunting criminals and deviants for longer than she’d been alive. ​

​

Jorik would have loved this. Her brother had chosen the path of the Karjr, and managed to gain some renown before his death to a Sith. It was for him that she trained so hard and dedicated herself wholly to the Mandolarka. ​

​

She eyed her other team member. Kandossi Kar'ta was positively ancient- she could only imagine the things he'd seen, the trials he'd faced. She was barely a child compared to him; barely a verd'ika, still wet behind the ears. She took solace in the fact that at the least, they were the same height.​

​

She wasn’t nervous- Juno didn’t have nerves- but her stomach fluttered all the same, tempered excitement coursing in her veins. She could not have dreamed up a better partners for a hunt. If she was the type to fidget, she would have. Instead, she fingered the grip of her sonic blaster, its smooth metallic grooves centering her.​

​

"I gotta wonder what made them Nikto brave enough to attack one-a our bases," the old man was saying. "In my experience, if a gang's willin' to pull somethin' like this, it's 'cause they know somethin' we don't." He cocked his head. "Well that, or they're spiced outta their gourds. I dunno, whadda you think, Siv? Somethin' 'bout this don't sit right with me." ​

​

Juno answered, mouth moving as the thoughts came to her. "Either it's meant to be a diversion for a larger operation elsewhere, or they've got powerful enough backing that they feel confident they can weather our response... or they're spiced out of their minds."​

Siv Dragr Kandosii Ka'rta ​

Karkosuchus Sars Sarad ​

 

[Aaran Tafo]

Dealing with the heart of the sun was somewhat easier when the glare was not there to bother you. But the decrease in comfort was only minor. Between the heat, the dry air and the winds that kept throwing sand in his mouth, Aaran was more than a bit uncomfortable. But such inconveniences were minor. Things he could deal with.

Not that it stopped him from taking a deep drink from his canteen in an attempt to wash away the taste of dust from his mouth. Because by the Force, this planet was just unpleasant. One could almost consider it worse than Jakku, because at least Jakku was marginally closer to the Core and other civilised worlds.

So why was he on this Force forsaken dust ball you ask? Well, his damn ship had decided to break down at an inopportune moment. The hyperdrive failed, forcing him to travel sublight for an uncomfortable amount of time before landing and paying an arm and a leg for his ship to be fixed. Leaving the jedi to wonder if it would have been cheaper to simply flat out buy a new ship. Not that he'd be willing to trust the quality of anything sold by most of the salesmen on this world.

So, while waiting for his ship to be repaired. his own BD-Unit left behind to keep an eye on things and to call him if anyone tries to steal his ship. The Jedi had decided that he may as well wander about and look for supplies. Heavy Jedi robes switched out for more climate appropriate gear, bandages swapped for sunglasses as he began to amble his way through the markets.

At least until he felt something tingle at the edge of his senses. Something cold and dark that most certainly did not belong to this world. His head whipped around fast enough to give a man whiplash as he focused his senses on the disturbance. Unlike the other Force Sensitive present, Aaran had long since abandoned his mundane eyes in exchange to seeing the world around him through The Force.


..........Was that a karking Sith ghost? Here, on this backwater? Just as his own ship happened to break down?

At least now he knew why his Hyperdrive had decided to fry itself. Seems the Force was calling upon him to perform an exorcism today. Reaching for his commlink, he sent a quick message to have the ship be semi-prepared for liftoff. If need be, he'd deal with some slower sublight travel to another system, just in case he had to make a hot exit.

He somehow doubted the Enclave would be so understanding if he started fighting a Sith ghost in the middle of one of their towns. His best option would be to wait, be patient and follow the host until they were far away from any innocents who might get caught in the crossfire.

He somehow doubted that the spectre would go quietly, but he shouldn't have too much of a hard time. With a far weaker connection to the Living Force, the spirit would be only operating at a fraction of their power.

So with his mind made up, Aaran began to draw his presence into himself. His form became harder to notice, to pay attention to, the eyes of others glazing over as they passed him by, disregarding him as just another face in the crowd.

His plan was a simple enough one, hang by the train unseen. Wait until it was starting to pull off, hop on the back and remain undetected until he was a good way away from civilization. Then go beat up an ancient ghost until it left its host and hopefully finally accepted that it was dead. Therefore rejoining the cosmic Force,.

A simple enough plan. But he somehow knew that it was going to end up as something frightfully complicated.

Juno Wren Kandosii Ka'rta Karkosuchus Siv Dragr Sars Sarad

 

[Karkosuchus]

​

Spoiler: Equipment

Bandolier Right Shoulder Bandolier Flash Grenade Sonic Detonator Bacta Grenade Concussion Grenade Thermal Detonator Left Shoulder Bandolier Stun Grenade Ammonia Bomb Utility Belt Syntherope Food Rations Hush 98 Comlink Imagecaster Energy Bola Fire Blade Field Security Overloader

Holster Dissuader KD-30 .48 Caliber Enforcer Pistol Stouker Concussion Rifle FC-1 Flechette Launcher Imperial Heavy Repeater Brass Knuckles Echani Shield Addleban's Cursed Armor The Swamp Vanquisher

Karkosuchus thought about the response that Sars Sarad had said before they boarded the train; the mandalorian commandos were indeed powerful for their time however constant warfare might have destroyed their skill over time. He stood over the small command center on board the repulsor train as everything seemed quiet and his partner had radioed that the next car was quite. A small bleep on his long range radar picked up several individuals nearby. He wasn't sure if they were mandalorians or simply tusken raiders looking to attack. However they needed to get the train moving if they were going to arrive within Outlaw's Den by Sundown.

"I'm picking up several unknown objects on the radar." Karkosuchus said into his own communications to the people on board the repulsor train. "We don't have the time to scout them out; so we'll have to move full speed ahead. Make sure they don't board this train." He further added; now that the entire team had joined them on the train in various sections. The droid operator was programmed to leave at exactly this time and reached out with his hand to engage the repulsor drive and start the engine which roared into existence and jerked quite a bit as they sped ahead out of the abandoned settlement of Mos Illa towards the general direction of the Jundland Waste to meet with the Nikto Criminal Gang occupying the Region known as Outlaw's Den.

Darth Addleban sensed something; gazing through the train into the surrounding area. Although his power had considerably faded since he was no longer one with the living force. He could just make out some vague outline of people and the small fragment of the light side. His host would be more than able to defend him should the time come. However in the event of failure then he would possess his host for a short period of time. "We should have done more intelligence gathering before we blindly rushed straight into motion. Now whomever they were now have a good chance of following us towards the meeting zone." : He replied in his usual uptight sith pureblood tone towards Karkosuchus.

"We didn't have time to scout the area like I said before; our client was very specific on the time we left the settlement and I intend to collect the entire payment." Karkosuchus replied; checking his ammunition pouches within his belt and clicking his two bandoliers into place on both shoulders. He could see through the armored plating windows that the train was moving through the dunes quite quickly. They would no doubt reach the Criminal Nikto Gang in due time unless the train was stopped.

Aaran Tafo
Kandosii Ka'rta
Siv Dragr
Juno Wren

​

 

[Sars Sarad]

Location: Tatooine
Equipment: Lightsaber; Old Sin; Armor; Duster
Tagged: Karkosuchus

---

Without the assistance of radar in his train car which was also devoid of windows due to the heavy armor plating lining its sides Sarad relied heavily on the force. When Karkosuchus came over the comms alerting him to several unknowns he would turn his head, let his senses extend but otherwise remain quiet. It wasn't the group of three that seemed to concern him so much as the disturbance in the force that he felt causing him to state…

"There is a Jedi out there, somewhere."

…or maybe a Sith, Sarad didn't always differentiate though he could tell that the presence he felt was different than the one tied to the Reptilian. As for the others? They could have been Mandalorians, Tuskan Raiders, another Syndicate; only time would reveal as much. For all Sarad knew they might have even been pilgrims who had come to the derelict Mos Ila seeking refuge and simply happened upon what was occurring here. It was impossible to know right now.

Having situated himself one car back from the 'Command Car' Sarad moved towards a hatch on the wall of the car. Reaching for it he'd have slid it open so that he could see beyond the armored box that he was traveling in.

The Twin Suns of Tatooine and rolling Deserts that stretched across the face of Tatooine ensured all he'd see were rolling sand dunes. There was nothing else yet.

He was patient, one had to be when they made a habit of letting the Force lead then from one planet to another across the galaxy, looking for people he didn't know or recognize until he saw them. Now Sarad wondered if he might have been here, on Tatooine to face the presence he'd felt. Part of him wanted to leave the train and search for this presence, this unknown but he waited instead….

Aaran Tafo Siv Dragr Juno Wren Kandosii Ka'rta

 

[Aaran Tafo]

As soon as the train started moving, Aaran in turn bolting from his hiding space, darting out from the shadows, landing in a crouch near the train, a slow exhale leaving him as he leapt out again, crossing the empty space from ground to the back of the train with a single impossible leap. Hand reaching out to grasp at the railing at the rear of the train.

For one panic-inducing heartbeat. His feet flailed about for a moment, attempting to find purchase on the smooth metal, before he eventually found some small gap in the panels for his boots to rest.

Turns out, jumping onto a moving train was not as easy as the holovids made it out to be. Especially not under the oppressive heat of two suns who happened to make the metal he gripped uncomfortably hot.

But he could deal with potential blisters later. Right now he had to get his way inside the train. And what better tool to get where he needed to go than with The Force. Reaching out a hand towards the door at the rear of the vehicle, his senses expanded outwards, not looking to do something as crude as rip the door off the hinges, but instead simply pausing the flow of electricity that kept the magnetic lock shut. Allowing it to slide open with a quick tug of his hand.

Rolling forward, he plunged into the rear compartment of the train. The door slamming shut behind him now that he was no longer keeping it open. The good news, he was on the train. The bad news, it would be harder for him to make a quick escape if needed.

Oh well, he hardly felt the need to escape right now, so the downside was moot. Standing back up and taking a swig from the canteen at his belt, the Jedi simply began to move upwards through the train. Curious as to where perhaps it was they were going. And if the cargo was what he suspected. Because he only knew one substance in the galaxy that almost sang to him through the Force.

So it seems not only was he here for an exorcism, but also for the liberation of stolen property.

Karkosuchus Sars Sarad Siv Dragr Juno Wren Kandosii Ka'rta

 

[Sid Lauron]

Tatooine, Jundland Wastes
Tags: Karkosuchus, Siv Dragr , Juno Wren , Aaran Tafo , Sars Sarad , Kandosii Ka'rta ​

Tatooine. Sid had found himself on Tatooine before. The Mandalorians enforced a strict “no crime” code in their territories. Some would see this place as a waste of time for bounty hunters like himself. Sid, however, saw it differently. If a criminal had the guts to risk life and limb, they had to be harder targets. The cyborg loved a good hunt. When news rolled in that a band of Nikto had captured a Mandalorian outpost, he was positively thrilled, setting off immediately into the desert.

The desert wind carried the soft jingle of his spurs, the twin suns reflecting off his domed head. The Duros cyborg carried himself with composure, the silhouette of his figure both confusing and imposing. Strange as he looked, he was a hunter first and foremost. Before long, three figures came into view. Mandalorians, no doubt, off to reclaim their outpost. Chances are, the would promptly deny his offer to help take down their enemies, but Sid was not generally the most rational individual. He would shoot his shot anyways.

“Howdy strangers!” The cyborg called out to the Mandalorians. “Hurd you lost yerselves an outpost out here. Figured I’d ask if yeh need an extra pair of trigger fingers.”

He paused, his robotic eye squinting as he narrowed in on Juno Wren . He knew that armor. A sense of glee filled the Duros’ mechanical head. He knew that Mandalorian. She had been the one who dueled him in spectacular form over a Jedi target a while ago. Despite this previous opposition, the cyborg was nothing but thrilled to see a familiar helmet.

“Mando!” Sid exclaimed, “What are the odds?!”

 

[Juno Wren]

Juno watched through her macrobinoculars as an unsanctioned repulsor train departed from the ruins of Mos Isla.

And there’s our quarry.

As she revved her Starhawk, she heard, carried on the wind like motes of sound, the jingling clink-clank of a pair of spurs.

“Howdy strangers!” called out a familiar voice.

No way, is that-

“Hurd you lost yourselves an outpost. Figured I’d ask if yeh need an extra pair of trigger fingers.”

She turned around in her seat, her gaze alighting upon the cyborg from Takodana, Sid Lauron , the Mad Duros. On foot. Had he walked out here?

“Mando! What are the odds?”

She frowned beneath her buy’ce. Was he telling the truth, or was he sore about losing their fight and seeking vengeance? “What are the odds indeed?” She considered shooting him then and there- him being out here was more than passingly odd- but decided against it. He wasn’t a bad sort, just a bit…unhinged. And he talked entirely too much. Still, another pair of gun hands never hurt, even if they were attached to a madman.

She wasn’t sure if Siv Dragr or Kandosii Ka'rta would mind an extra tagalong, though. But, if he did try something, they'd surely be in place to put him down.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

“Just…hop on,” she said, scooting up on her speeder. “And be quick about it.” She nodded towards the repulsor train speeding in the distance, enroute to pass them by in the next few moments. “We’ve got a train to catch.”

​

 

[Siv Dragr]

K A R J R​

Targets: Karkosuchus | Sars Sarad
Allies: Kandosii Ka'rta | Juno Wren | Sid Lauron

Siv was -- pleasantly -- surprised that the Morellian Mandalorian was on-world same time as him. Then again, the frontier of Tatooine seemed to suit Kandosii much better than it did Siv. Though he didn't look it, Kandosii was nearly five times Siv's age, with the same amount of experience to complement it. If anyone had been in this gig for long, it was Siv.

He considered Kandosii's words. "They could be smart. They could be stupid. With Tatooine gangs it's always a credit toss," he decided. He'd encountered his fair share of both kinds. "Only one way to find out which camp they lay in."

A newcomer interrupted his next words, but he bit his tongue from a scolding. All Karjr were more or less equal, and though they were indeed set apart by experience and accomplishments, for a team to work all had to have an equal voice. That was what Volo Dragr had told him at least, after he'd chewed out a shiny whose impulsive strategy had lost them a target on Hypori. ". . . Could be," he said finally. Wren's guess would make sense, at the very least. But he would be surprised if any number of Nikto enforcers could outgun three Mandalorians.

He was interrupted once more by a whiny voice that sounded modified, and turned to see an. . . odd-looking individual walking up to them. His hand immediately drifted to the blaster pistol at his hips, but stayed when the stranger greeted them friendly-enough. The cyborg seemed to recognize Juno, and volunteered his blaster. Against his better judgement, Siv didn't stop them. He was getting impatient, and their window of opportunity was quickly closing. With a pointed look that screamed, "He's really with you?" towards Juno, easily readable despite the helmet he wore, he mounted his speeder bike and revved the propulsion, taking the engine out of idle.

Siv visually checked the location of the train on the holomap projected onto his HUD, tracked as a red dot moving fast through the desert. Right on cue. "Let's ride," he said, and with a revv he turned the speeder bike and thrusted over the dunes, rapidly gaining speed as he began to approach the target.

 

[Sid Lauron]

Tatooine, Junland Wastes
Tags: Karkosuchus, Siv Dragr , Juno Wren , Aaran Tafo , Sars Sarad , Kandosii Ka'rta ​

“Just…hop on,” she said, scooting up on her speeder. “And be quick about it.” She nodded towards the repulsor train speeding in the distance, enroute to pass them by in the next few moments. “We’ve got a train to catch.”

The other Mandalorians didn't object. Somehow, Sid managed to tag along. He, of course, was not thinking about this. All that was in his twisted robotic head was what came next. The cyborg was a man of action, and it certainly wouldn't be long before he could prove to the Mandalorians that he could pull his own weight. Sid wasted no time hopping into the speeder.

"I've commandeered a train or two in my day," Sid mentioned as they prepared to ride. "This should be fun."

The Duros' mechanical eye focused in on the train, quickly taking note of the vessel's layout and the heat signatures within. He could pick up at least two that weren't muddled up by the heat of the engines at the back, or the twin suns for that matter. More importantly, the train seemed to be picking up speed.

"Whatever roustabouts are runnin' that thing are crankin' up the speed," Sid informed the Mandalorians. "My guess is they know we're onto them and are tryna give us the 'cut and run'. They probably got their barkin' irons hot."

OOC: Barking irons is an old western slang term for pistols.

 

[Kandosii Ka'rta]

Tags: Karkosuchus Sars Sarad Siv Dragr Juno Wren Sid Lauron Sars Sarad Aaran Tafo
Equipment: Beskar'gam, Clairvoyant Anti-Mat Rifle, ENCL-21 Ra'ntisr Heavy Blaster Pistol (x2)

---

Kandosii ignored the Duros, keeping his attention on his rifle and the hovertrain that had entered their sights. Called it. He scanned the train, and moved his aim to target the large engine atop the front of the train. "Adjust for range, factor speed and wind...y'all might wanna cover yer ears for this part," he said, going from thinking out loud to addressing the rest of his compatriots. "3...2...1...sendin'." With that, Kandosii squeezed the Clairvoyant's trigger, sending an APFSDS round through the air with a thunderous crack and into the engine. "Probably won't stop that beast completely, but should slow 'er down 'nuff for us to hop on. Let's ride!" Kandosii swung his other leg over the side to properly mount his speeder, and revved the engine.

 

[Karkosuchus]

​

Spoiler: Equipment

Bandolier Right Shoulder Bandolier Flash Grenade Sonic Detonator Bacta Grenade Concussion Grenade Left Shoulder Bandolier Stun Grenade Ammonia Bomb Thermal Detonator Utility Belt Syntherope Food Rations Hush 98 Comlink Imagecaster Energy Bola Fire Blade Caltrop Repulsor Throwing Razor Field Security Overloader

Holster Right Holster Dissuader KD-30 .48 Caliber Enforcer Pistol Stouker Concussion Rifle Left Holster FC-1 Flechette Launcher Imperial Heavy Repeater R-20 Scatterblaster Brass Knuckles Echani Shield Addleban's Cursed Armor Gatling Gauntlet The Swamp Vanquisher Modified Garmr Battle Dog |:| Borgini |:|

The Hover Train was moving considerably fast through the dunes towards the Jundland Waste to meet with the Nikto Criminal Gang occupying the region known as Outlaw's Den. They were making good progress and would reach the edge of the waste soon enough should they encounter no resistance. Karkosuchus brought his clawed finger to the command room console to bring up the cameras inside the train itself. And spotted someone unfamiliar at the time to himself nor Darth Addleban. ( Aaran Tafo ) was moving his way up the train and would no doubt reach the stolen kyber crystal shipment they were supposed to deliver.

"Attention Passengers; we have a stowaway on board the train. Please handle the problem." Karkosuchus said into the communication system which was hooked up to everyone (including Sars Sarad ) on the team for ease. "They have a light side signature; possibly a jedi." : Darth Addleban said with some look of concern. A jedi was a considerable foe due to their training but they could not compare to his host as of yet. If need be he would change hosts to the jedi and possess them if they did not have a strong mind.

Red flashing lights alerted him to something coming in their direction; far too fast to be a tusken bantha or a jawa sandcrawler. Someone or a group was in pursuit although he didn't whom they belonged to. Watching as the apparent speeder group ( Juno Wren , Sid Lauron , Siv Dragr and Kandosii Ka'rta ) made their approach. He pressed a button on the train console as several Laser Cannon emerged from the train itself and pointed towards the group as the train's engine was struck by a powerful round which made the train slow down considerably.

​

 

[Sars Sarad]

Location: Tatooine
Equipment: Lightsaber; Old Sin; Armor; Duster
Tagged: Karkosuchus; Aaran Tafo

---

He'd hear the voice of @Karkosuchas as it came over the comms alerting him to the fact that there was a passenger on the train not affiliated with their group. It took Sarad a moment but he seemed to under, the presence he felt was related to this. Not a Mandalorian but someone connected to the force, someone who could wield and manipulate it the same as him.

There was a brief pause and then Sarad's voice would have come across the comms in turn remarking…

"I'll deal with it."

…he'd wanted to test himself in a different way on Tatooine initially however now that the opportunity seemed to have presented itself, essentially flaunting itself in front of him Sarad saw no reason not to indulge. If the force willed that he should meet this individual, this being then he would do without complaint.

Moving towards the exit of his cabin Sarad would have activated the entryway which slid open with a 'hiss' before exiting, crossing between the different train cars on his way back in the direction of the rear car. It would take some time, passing between the different cars and rubbing shoulders with the other Gang Members here for security but Sarad came closer as time ticked down around him.

Every footstep he took, every movement he made would bring him closer to that presence he'd felt. To him it was like an itch needing to be scratched and the closer he came the more it became apparent to him until-----

----a door would finally slide open and he'd enter a train car where, unless fate deemed otherwise he would come face to face with Aaran Tafo at which point he came to a halt. Using his right hand Sarad would slide the duster he wore back behind his hip revealing the lightsaber clipped to his utility belt and while his hand came to hover close to it afterwards he neither drew nor ignited the weapon….

"I am Sars Sarad."

…it was the same every time he looked across the distance from one of them, he offered his name and waited. It seemed a foregone conclusion what would happen next, if not to the Jedi he was looking at than to Sarad himself. He knew why was here and what he needed to do. Until it started, truly started Sarad would watch the man across from him, committing his features to memory.

 

[Aaran Tafo]

By the time Sars had reached him, Aaran was already at the halfway mark. The mercenary finding the Jedi standing over the crate of stolen crystals, the lid having been cracked open slightly as the Knight Errant stared down at the stolen cargo, a somewhat pensive look on his face.

It was never a good sign to see people smuggling these crystals. When properly refined, people tended to make them into rather dangerous weapons, that wasn't even taking their Force sensitive nature into account. What many thought to be simply impressive rocks were closer to living beings than many would realise. Each and every one of them is a conduit for the Living Force.

In some ways, there was little difference between smuggling and slave trading when it came to handling these crystals.

"I am Sars Sarad."

"So you are."

He wasn't one to care much for introductions. Especially not when the train he was travelling in was currently under attack. By whom, he didn't particularly care. Ultimately they were more of a help than a hindrance. A wonderful distraction that would allow him to liberate this cargo.

"This cargo, I'm afraid I'll be recovering it." He said, closing the lid of the case shut. "These crystals are not commodities to be bought and sold."

His head tilted to the side slightly, still not turning to face the newcomer, instead seemingly staring straight ahead at the wall. "If you were hired to protect the cargo, I'd advise you to deal with those outside. They're likely to be far more aggressive than I am." In fact, if they were Mandolorians, chances are they'd enact some brutal justice and simply attempt to execute everyone onboard.

He wasn't here to kill anyone, he wasn't going to enact his own form of justice. He was here to save these crystals and possibly exorcise a ghost. The former took a greater priority than the latter. And if he could find out who stole these crystals in the first place, alone with where they were going. All the better.

Best to nip any future crystal smuggling in the bud after all. Tapping a button on commlink, he sent a signal to the BD-GR8 to home in on his position and bring the ship around. Chances are it would still take a while to get the engines spooled up. But hopefully by the time his ship arrived, he'd have what he came for properly secured.

Sars Sarad Karkosuchus @toomanymandos

 

[Juno Wren]

​

Juno ignored Siv’s piercing look, his sentiments apparent even from beneath his buy’ce. “Let’s ride!” The old Karjr called out, revving his speeder.

Kandosii took the time to shoot one of the train’s engines, a rather impressive feat considering the speed it was traveling, and then they were off, slicing across the sands. Sid babbled on and on in his strange, backwater lingo as they rode, as if silence was a sin.

Juno just rolled her eyes and accelerated, hoping to drown out his voice beneath the roar of her engines.
As they neared its streaking bulk, laser canons emerged from the train. Juno immediately engaged in evasive maneuvers, swerving her starhawk to ride in the train’s slipstream.

“Now would be a good time to start shooting,” she yelled over the snarling wind and squealing engines.

Siv Dragr Kandosii Ka'rta Sid Lauron Karkosuchus Sars Sarad Aaran Tafo