Public Apex Predator

[Okera Vekra]

CPT Okera Vekra
Apex Predator - Kashyyyk


Kashyyyk cried out in pain, the song of suffering sung by its goddess and people. The trip was quiet, the usual jovial company aware of what they were getting into. They had all seen images of the planet burning, of the people in chains, the multiple genocidal acts, and most damming of all the mass graves. Every single one of them going down there knew the hell they would be going into, they knew they would be fighting clankers and Trodashian mercs. Akul was late to the scene but every single being in the unit held the flame inside them and was more than ready to show those beasts just who the apex predator was. The republic had been pushing through at every opportunity that was prevented and was making every attempt to liberate the planet from its oppressive occupants. After the disaster that was Ryloth barely a month ago, the unit wanted to prove themselves and were out for blood.

Despite the suffering, the locals were surprisingly welcoming to the incoming unit. Okera insisted that the unit follow the rituals and the unit was not one to protest this was the Wookies' land and they needed to be welcomed in. The first day and night were spent with the clan through many rituals and a few pranks on the nieve outsiders but the Wookies were more than happy for those of Akul to hunt in their lands. It was just before dawn when the unit geared up and headed out, each platoon moving off into different locations to hunt their prey. A non-conventional army was always difficult to fight because of how unpredictable they were, and the Hsskor dominion was no different. They were just as likely to fight among themselves as well as the Wookies, their movements and plans were erratic and sometimes irrational in the grander idea of war, but that was how most irregular armies operated.

That made the hunt oh-so-more appealing, Okera had fought this fight plenty of times, even before the founding of the GAR. Cartel groups, terror cells, civil uprisings, and even private government forces. During the worst of the war, she'd even been on the other side, trying to organise and command irregulars. So they knew just how dangerous this operation was, the risk she and her men were under with not just the enemy but also the terrain and fauna. Trandoshan slavers were particularly difficult to deal with, an already vicious species, corrupted by the rot and willing to do anything to survive and please the scorekeeper. Okera had briefed her unit on more than one horror story from her time in the Judiciary. Akul was more than ready for what would come for them, and the hunt was on.

 

[Sharkk]

Flicking his tongue through the air Sskraah would chuckle to himself before whistling and waving his left hand to guide the Wookie Madclaws who bore control/obedience/slave collars to allow them to be used by the Trandoshan Scout in the first place. This was because Sskraah was using truly insane Madclaws, ones who had lost all sense of self and only knew pain. With a Brother Trandoshan and a Kaleesh Warrior within the group to boot the pack of six would move through the savage lands that in some places continued to burn, others smoldered, some now just charred barren wasteland. Of course though Kashyyyk still was mostly greenery and lush water, but the pollution and damage was becoming more notable with time.

Seeking to pick out any remaining Wookies planetside, loose ones, or those who remained working with the Republic thanks to the Sith have apparently shipped loads and loads of Wookies off planet before the fires were spread. Once they got into the thicket of things Sskraah would go with one of his favourite plans, a trap...a good trap. In this they'd use one of their Madclaws as bait, having them feign injury while laying on the ground moaning and groaning loudly. And with the disheveled look of the Madclaw the hope was that it was the perfect set up, so the gang would wait in their hiding spots yearning for the bait to be taken. With Sskraah himself being actually perched atop a low branch and it's foliage, though being a tree of Kashyyyk this was still considerably high up.

 

[Okera Vekra]

CPT Okera Vekra
Apex Predator - Kashyyyk

The company moved deeper into the wilds, each platoon heading towards their zones. Slow and steady, with no need to rush and understanding the dangerous situation they were in with the raging inferno and the wildlife. When was a hunt ever easy though, quickly the beast could turn on the hunter, the weather could change and all too often arrogance got the better of people. Either way, Akul was prepared and every one of them was on guard. Each squad was working as a single element whilst being close enough to assist with threats or targets.
The squad moved slowly keeping guard and scanning the trees, taking much longer to move the same distance they would on a march. Thermal was almost useless in the thick foliage and well Trandoshans wouldn't always be hotter than the ambient. Of course, the clones weren't going to walk into a jungle in bright white armour. For anyone watching it would be difficult for them to see anything, facing the same issues as the republic. It was an equally dangerous situation for those hunting and those being hunted, not that it was clear which side was which.

Okera moved her arm up, halting her unit and having them spread into a defence. A second signal for silence, tilting her head slightly with something there just on the edge of her hearing. Signal to spread, forward cautious, the six of them keeping their weapons up and scanning, moving at a snail's pace. Then the clones would hear it as well, the moaning of a wounded beast just ahead of them.
"Any idea what that is?" Barely whispered, using their suits closed coms to not make a sound. Okera didn't know, it could be something she hadn't encountered, it wasn't right but she wasn't quite sure why.
"Eyes on. Wookie dog. Looks hurt" Okera moved slowly to get an eye on what the trooper saw. Eyes widened slightly and a gesture to fall back away from it.
"Honey trap" It was not wounded, the experienced header and huntress seeing it almost immediately. Sure she could be wrong, they didn't know Madclaws that well, but there was no way in that she was going to risk being right. It would take too much time and resources to help it, and it was one of the most textbook plays out there.
"Plan?" The wind shifted slightly, as the group prepared to deal with what was most likely an ambush

 

[Sharkk]

" Nah, I don't like thisss, let'sss let em' take the mad lad, ay'?! "

Almost clicking his tongue over the comslink between him and his Brother Blackscale as well as the Kaleesh warrior. Silently snarling and curling his lip Sskraah would then proceed to pop his neck to the left as his slit eyes watched the ground down below the order given for his hunters to not act no matter what. They were outnumbered from the get go, which hadn't mattered, but on top of this the units stayed close enough to aid each other meaning fighting a squad one versus one was impossible...a shame. Beyond this watching the slow moving camouflaged troops below it would become obvious they were not falling for the wounded Wookie trick......

However, what would happen next would make lying in wait all worth it. For moments after Okera would utter the words "Wookie dog" loud enough only for coms to receive...as well as the fake wounded Madclaw nearby.....

Turning its head around/about in an awkward matter the Madclaw would glare at the Togruta with bulging bloodshot eyes that threatened to burst out of its skull from the building pressure. Sinking sharp teeth into its own lower lip until it drew blood the Madclaw would then finally contort its body around and rise from its former fetal position. Immediately flinging two bangalore belts of Fragmentation Grenades to their left and toward the closest grouping within the squad meanwhile their other hand clung onto a rapid fire blaster pistol that fired several shots within moments, all aimed at the woman who had called him a "Dog".

Raising a brow from his hiding spot Sskraah would begin to wonder what had forced the Madclaw's hand.....

 

[Okera Vekra]

CPT Okera Vekra
Apex Predator - Kashyyyk
Now to be fair to Okera it was a mistranslation, from Shyriiwook to Basic to Togruti and back again. Dishonourd one, to Madclaw, to wild beast, and then Wookie Dog. Not that it mattered to anyone at this point in time but would be something Okera would study later.
The troopers scattered like startled birds, prepared for an ambush but not entirely prepared for two belts of frags being tossed in one direction. Five seconds. For the troopers, this was probably the best outcome for so many explosives, the charges would all go off at once in one area. The fragmentation cloud would be much thicker but the same rules applied, get out of the lethal range and get behind cover. For some of the troopers, it was most sensible to move towards the Madclaw and into the depression. Okera and Huxton were two of these troopers close enough to get hit by fragmentation.
The streaks of red came towards the Togruta as she moved into cover, the Madclaw focusing on the togruta and getting off several shots. This tunnel vision however would be its downfall as the squad responded in kind opening up on the target with their heavier rifles. At such a range and with the beast caught flat-footed in a flank it was unlikely it would survive such an encounter.
"Headcount" Moving out from cover keeping her weapon levelled with the mad claw and her shield up should it try again.
"I'm up"
"Up"
"Fucked up but up" A soft sigh of relief as each of her squad came back, quickly the five had formed a perimeter around the beast watching out and around. Whilst no one was dead or injured besides a bruise from diving to cover, the main issue was that the squad had ditched stealth in not getting blown up and moving to shoot the Madclaw before they got a shot on their captain.