Fitzsimmons bridles at the accusation, but reins it in. "The engineer in question, Ms. Vesper, has been working on a cloaking design. It was not unusual for her to check it out for performance testing. It was also standard protocol for a trooper to occupy the gunner's position for security, and assist in field maintenance."

"Look. I don't know what's going on here, but when they were still gone this morning... it can't be good. Sergeant Shockley's a good man, but if that's not enough, we need that prototype back- and the scientist."

"Perhaps your walker's cloak works on a similar design as the Phantom. Could we use that knowledge in some way to help track them down?"

"I'm not sure if that could help track them down? If any of you have experience with this stealth tech, it might prove useful in detecting our missing walker, once we're close."

Lieutenant Patral recognizes the name Vesper from a short list of walker projects to secure funding, contracted with Sienar Advanced Projects Laboratories.

"We currently have the other two engineers secured in the lounge "for their protection" until this situation is resolved. Have a couple AT-RTs with scouts already out, and we're prepping to take to the air. Your ships, and eventual ground support would be appreciated in this hunt."

"Don't let those Tuskens up top saddle up happabores for you, either. They have varactyls- real ones - which are naturally adept at climbing in and out of these treacherous sithforsaken pits."

"Oh yeah, and while you're up there, maybe one of your technically-minded crew could have a look at the comms?"

Those who venture topside to deal with the Tuskens are greeted in a dialect harsher than that of the Wookiees, and with fewer vowel sounds. "Ourkst krkthg kjyttxl fthykst!" The Tusken's manner seems hostile by any civilized standards, whatever he is saying. A small woman moves past to interpose herself- at least you presume her gender, by the bejeweled mask she wears- otherwise, her desert garb is much like that adorning the others.

"My brother says welcome. You may share our water." The voice does not come from a vocoder, and there is a sharp guttural accent.

The Inquisitor and Lieutenant Patral have already moved past these pleasantries, and are having a considerably less civil exchange with the three Tuskens at the base of the tower. Wearing her disdain like a badge of office, Cani slips past and ascends the silo, leaving Drogos to deal with the turmoil below.

The Tusken woman speaks, first to her people, then to the Imperials. "Your Zabrak. They think he is the horned devil from our lore. He bears the weapon of one. Is this so?"

Drogos was tired of these Tuskens, they had done nothing but stare at him since he arrived in their camp. The Task force had places to go and they were all very much in his way. " Move! or Be Moved!" He would Stand at his full height as he spoke to the Tuskens that bloked his path to the tower,the air was strangely cold around anyone who was nearby.

Evon notices that the Tuskens shiver at the voice of Drogos. Whatever the Inquisitor does, they definitely feel the pressure of his aura, but still don't move out of the way.

They are primitive, maybe playing on their superstitions get them moving.

Evon steps forward: ,,You feel it, aren't you. Death and destruction surrounds you. Step away or you shall perish by the horned demon!

The two Tuskens who had just circled around seem in no hurry to approach any closer to this devil of myth. Another, however, seems to accept the Inquisitor's decree as a challenge.

"Hu raka tkerskt! Frcrta kltoxk. Hfarcst Kher." This Tusken is nearly of a height with the Zabrak, and is now brandishing his weapon menacingly, some sort of archaic mace with a hooked spike on the opposite end. "I will perish by the horned devil. Or slay him. It will be an honor," the woman translates with reluctance, but also pride.

Haha! That won't go well for you... back down while you still can.

"Why are we indulging these things?! Let us dispose of them and continue our empire assigned mission!"

" So be it..." Drogos says as he hears the translation of the Tusken just before him, and hearing the complaints of the Engineer. Pulling out his Inquisitors saber he ignites it, one blade first then the other as another show to intimidate the Tusken, " Bravery is often confused for Stupidity." Drogos is ready for a duel with the Tusken if that's how it wanted to die.

Hale takes a step back, Don't say we didn't warn you.

The two combatants squared up to face each other, Drogos on one side, the foolish Tusken on the other, for a few seconds neither fighter made a move. Drogos stood seemingly with an open stance his posture gave off the feeling that he was very confident in his ability, possibly too confident. The Tusken on the other hand looked ready to jump at a moments notice holding his brutish weapon out forward in a ready position. Eventually the Tusken could wait no longer and rushed the seemingly unready Devil man, but Drogos was ready he was using a fools guard, a guard aptly named as only fools would think that their opponent couldn't attack from this position. As soon as the Tusken entered range of Drogos' lightsaber he brought one blade to slice the Tusken in the chest, stopping the brute's forward momentum, then brought his second to cleanly cut the Tusken's head off. As it rolled in the sand to the two scared Tuskens who had blocked his path Drogos looks to the Translator. " Any other Brave souls?"

I did try and warn you...

Hale shakes his head regretfully.

A shout from the tower " Now do that to the rest of them. Nearly finished up here"

Indeed, the remaining Tuskens discard any semblance of bravado and shrink back away from the red blade. The Tusken woman approaches the broken warrior's remains, crouches down, and offers something like a prayer. The Inquisitorius frowns upon any overt displays of mysticism, of course. The woman rises. "Do what you came here to do and then leave."

The Inquisitor nods and turns off his lightsaber then looks to the rest of the Task force. " Do what needs be done, and let us leave this place, I grow bored of the natives." He says a sense of superiority in his voice.

"These 'natives' are more than meets the eye" mutters Den as he keeps a very tight grip on his rifle. He had heard stories of the tuskens from other troopers. Brutal, merciless, and cunning. They'd have made fantastic troopers if you could get them into the white shell. Though he wouldn't say it out loud, truthfully he wouldn't want to tangle with them if he could avoid it.

The Tuskens withdraw to their encampment platform. After the whispered prayer, the fallen is left where he lies, but a lone massiff ventures forth. Reptilian, but distinctly canine in mannerism, it approaches the ruined body, nudging it and snuffling with its snout.

The Hellhound's LAAT/c rises, AT-TE in its clutches, and the turret is moving! Slowly it comes to bear on the feed silo.

Ostell, Cani, get out of there! Take cover!

Then to his squad, Focus all fire on that gunner! Bring him down!

Evon is quickly dashing away from the building, he tries to hide between the mounts. He quickly tunes in the task force's channel: ,,Can anybody tell me why that tank is trying to shoot at us?"

No, but it won't be for long! Stay in cover doc!

On 10/1/2019 at 4:12 PM, Imperial Stormtrooper said:

Hearing the Sergeant's orders, Somar turn the Phantom towards the walker. Taking aim, he lets loose a volley of laser fire, precice enough to seriously damage the weapon targeting the silo.

Evon is looking through all his available data on the Clone Wars tech. Suddenly the prototype starfighter appears, and lets loose a volley of laser. The bantha beside which Evon stood is startled and almost tramps on Evon.

The Phantom screeches in with a well-placed strafe that takes the tank's mass-driver cannon out of play- for a time, at least. The light cannons on the tactical enforcer are not currently tracking, nor are those on the transport, but that is about to change. "IPD Intrepid, IPD Intrepid, This is Sergeant Gatz, 22nd Special Cavalry. My unit is taking fire from a rogue task force. Saleuquest location. Request immediate air support. Boss, you still with us out there? Why are they firing?"

The task force can hear the communication as it goes out. It is indeed Fitzsimmons on the turret, whom they now see unslinging a more conventional weapon. The rest of the unit seems unaware of the first sergeant's intentions, but are now reacting to the situation.

Upon hearing Fitzsimmons voice on the transmission sent to Porel's datapad, Briar turned to see the main cannon on the AT-TE turning towards her, Karabast, turning and starting to move as quickly as she could towards the ladder she pulled out her comms and said "It's Fitzsimmons! He's the one who sent the message to Porel. He's working with the Sorority!" Reaching the ladder she began to descend it quickly, reaching the bottom before the cannon on the AT-TE could fire.