The Mandalore
On a terrestrial world a group of rebels sped through a forest on speeder bikes as they fled their pursuers. The group were part of the Rebel Alliance, and had been sent as a scouting party to survey the planet for possible location for a ground base for their forces. Everything had been going fine, and the planet seemed promising. They'd been out again, surveying the surrounding area for the perfect, whilst taking samples of the local flora and observing the fauna to make sure nothing on the planet was too dangerous when they'd been ambushed.
Their attackers, Mandalorians, had literally descended on them without warning. Their scouting party of six had lost two members almost immediately before they'd managed to get their wits about themselves and get to the speeder bikes. Now they were in a chase.
The four were now on three bikes and heading back to their base of operations. Three humans drove the bikes while one Ardennian clung onto the back of one of them, occasionally turning and firing blasters from two of his four arms in an attempt to slow down their pursuers.
The tree cover gave them some protection as the Mandalorians' ability to fly was impeded by the forest. They flew over it, occasionally firing from gaps in the tree line as they chased them down. But the Mandalorians in the sky were the least of their worries.
The Mandalorians had some kind of...beast with them. Something they'd never seen the likes of before. They actually weren't even sure it was an animal. They could hear the metallic grinding and screeching of metal one might hear from a droid and it fired blasters bolts from laser cannons mounted on its shoulder.
A metallic shriek from behind sent a wave of terror through them. They could hear it in pursuit as it plowed through trees and ripped through the undergrowth with the huge claws that had ended the life of one of their comrades as it pounced on him. Their screams as it ripped him open would haunt them for the rest of their lives.
However long those lives might be.
"Missiles incoming!" the Ardennian shouted in alarm as he looked behind them.
His friends glanced back to see them coming. They swerved to dodge and the missiles hit their surroundings, blowing apart the tree trunks and sending bark everywhere. Missiles exploded a few feet away from another's path, kicking up dirt and debris that he swerved to avoid.
But one missile found its mark and with a scream their comrade and his bike were reduced to a smoldering pile as the wreckage went careening away into the forest. They looked on woefully but didn't stop as they neared their base.
The Ardennian tried to contact his comrades back at their base to tell them to ready the ship to leave. But all he got was static. He assumed that could only mean the Mandalorians were jamming his signal. He just hoped they could get back to their friends and get out of this in one piece.
Finally their base was within sight. They came up on a Munificent-class star frigate from the Clone Wars. From what they'd gathered it'd crashed on the planet's surface at the end of the war, and had remained since. They'd stumbled upon it, and decided it would make an adequate base camp as they surveyed the world.
A metallic shriek got louder and nearer and they pulled on the throttle as much as they could. Only when they were meters away did they slow before pulling back for a jarring halt. They leapt from the bikes, abandoning them as they sprinted through a hole cut away in the frigate's side they used for an entrance.
They entered the ship, hearing a loud crash as the beast slammed into the entrance and began to tear and claw at it. They navigated through the corridors on the way to the ship's hanger bay to their own vessel. But as they were running the wall to their side exploded.
Their comrade trailing behind was thrown against the wall by the explosion. He let out a cry, having injured his shoulder and leg. His comrades stopped and ran to him before helping him up. His fellow human placed his shoulder under his to hold him up before they retreated.
But from the hole made by the explosion several figures entered. Walking through the dissipating smoke were four Mandalorians, armed to the teeth and looking to kill their hapless prey. Behind them their leader followed.
Emerging from the smoke was a taller, bulkier, and more imposing Mandalorian in black armor. His face was hidden behind a red visor that bore a crack in its left corner. Unlike his subordinates he wore an ancient armor set. A set that was worn by the Mandalorians of old, the Neo Crusaders.
He followed behind as one of his followers activated his helmet's scanners. His scanners picked up a blood trail and he pointed after it to pursue.
Shambling away the rebels were doing their best to flee while helping along their wounded comrade. The Ardennian followed behind, four blasters in hand as he glanced back often, ready to cover them.
Suddenly one of the Mandalorians rounded a corner. With a battle cry he opened fire, discharging all his blasters at once.
"SUCK PLASMA MANDO!" he shouted in fury. The corridor was filled with blaster bolts as he covered their retreat.
The Mandalorians kept behind the corner while trying to peak out, occasionally returning fire. He gave them no leeway to advance. But not people to be easily deterred one spun out into the hall while activating a shield on their vambrace. They lowered their center of gravity while putting as much of their body behind the shield as they could.
Creating an opening as all fire focused on him another Mandalorian coped him. Then another. Soon a wall of them was advancing with raised shields. Anything that got by the shield struck their beskar armor, leaving them unharmed as they drew nearer.
The rebels further ahead of their Aredennian friend reached a set of blast doors. The uninjured one shuffled to the side while supporting his injured comrade to open it when it did so by itself. He was startled before relaxing, smiling in relief as his two comrades were waiting on the other side.
The Ardennian's blasters had run out of charges when he heard the telltale clicking as he squeezed the trigger. He made to reload, fumbling at his pockets for more gas canisters as he watched the Mandalorians grab for their weapons to fire on him.
As one raised their weapon and took aim to fire a loud boom filled the corridor and a green blaster bolt flew over the Arennian's head to strike the Mandalorian. Even with a raised shield the bolt knocked him back, he let out a cry of pain as hit the ground, his arm nearly shattered.
The Ardennian looked back to see his comrade, a Wookie, with his long-gun raised. He let out a roar for his comrade to fall back as he opened fire. His weapon carried so much power in each shot that it felled the Mandalorians who tried to defend against it. In fact, in the hands of almost any being besides a Wookie such a weapon was nearly impossible to use to do its recoil. Most that tried would be knocked off their feet
They fell back as the Ardennian ran up to his friend.
"Hey fuball, what took ya'?" he quipped.
The Wookie looked down at him and growled back a witty response, before jerking his head to motion him to get behind him. The Wookie laid down cover, each shot from his powerful weapon more than the Mandalorian's could defend against. They backed up a few steps before the Ardennian slammed a fist down on the blast door control panel, closing them and cutting them off from their attckers before locking it down from their side.
The Mandalorians picked themselves up before advancing and reaching the door. They hit the control only to find they'd been shut out from the other side. They began talking about blowing the door open with explosives or trying another route when the Mandalore stalked up to them.
"Move," he rumbled lowly. They did as commanded as he stepped up to the door and reached for his belt.
On the other side the rebels took a moment to recoup. Alongside the Wookie, a Halaisi female, their doctor and scientist was with them, examining their wounded friend.
"We came when he heard the explosion," the yellow skinned humanoid said as she injected a mild sedative into her comrade to numb some of his pain. The Wookie growled in confirmation.
The other human pressed an ear against the blast door to see if he could hear their enemies. He could only hear a faint sound from the other side. He looked to friends.
"Guess we got them stumped," he said with a light chuckle. "Let's get to the ship and get out of here," he said as he turned his back on the blast doors.
His comrades nodded in agreement but before he could step away he felt something hot pierce through his chest. His comrades froze and pales in shock as their friend looked down at his chest to see something black protruding from it.
It pulled back and he fell to the ground dead. The Wookie bellowed in grief and the others watched in horror as the black thing began cutting through the door.
"Is that a lightsa-" the Ardennian began to ask in stunned shock.
"No time. Run," the Halaisi shouted as she placed a shoulder underneath her human friend before helping him along.
The Ardennian snapped from his stupor as he followed behind with their Wookie friend bringing up the rear. Meanwhile, the black plasma was slowly cutting an opening for their Mandalorian pursuers to follow.
As they continued on they came to a fork in the corridor. One which would take them to their ship in the hair and another that could be followed up to the command deck of the ship.
The Halaisi looked back and shouted for her friends to hurry. "Come on. We're almost there," she said with urgency.
The Ardennian followed, rounding the corner to head to the hangar when he stopped. He couldn't hear the heavy footsteps from moments ago any longer. He turned around to see his Wookie comrade standing in the center of the fork, staring back in the direction where the Mandalorians were.
"Come on Rook," the Ardennian said as he ran up to him. He grabbed his hand and gave a tug to urge him to follow. "We gotta go."
The Wookie let out a groan in response whilst shaking his head. "What? You'll stall them?" the Ardennian asked incredulously. "Don't be an idiot you big ball of fuzz! There's too many! We gotta and we gotta go now!"
The Wookie growled defiantly, pounding a fist against his chest and pointing in the direction of the Mandalorians. He was determined to stay and buy time for his allies to get away.
The Ardennian growled in frustration as he glanced back and forth between his friend and the empty hall. "Come on Rook, don't do this. We can get out of this. We just need to get to the ship," he pleaded.
His friend turned to him before kneeling down and placing a hand on his shoulder. He gave a light squeeze as he held his gaze, showing his determination and willingness to sacrifice himself if it meant the others could get away.
Then he expressed his gratitude at having made such good friends, the Ardennian chief among them.
"Ah!" the Ardennian yelled out loud he could hear footsteps in the distance. Defeated, he surged forward and gave Rook a quick hug before pulling back. "I'll miss you, ya idiot," he said in goodbye.
Then he turned and ran in the direction of the ship. Rook smiled after him before standing up and raising his weapon. He kept it pointed down the corridor, his eyes narrowed in focus. As soon as he glimpsed something rounding the corner he fired.
His aim was true, striking a Mandalorian and downing him with a yell.
Rook bellowed a challenge as another rounded a corner and looked dead at him. They raised their weapons and fired and Rook ran in the direction of the command deck and out of sight.
"They went left," the Mandalorian called out as he and his comrades pursued.
In the Munificent-class' hangar sat a Barloz-class medium freighter. The Halaisi helped her human friend up the boarding ramp before taking him to the medical bay for treatment. Moments later the Ardennian ran in and up to the cockpit. He jumped into the pilot's chair and his four arms began moving in multiple directions at once as he began preparing the ship for take off.
"Where's Rook his Halaisi comrade called up from the medical bay.
"He's staying to hold off the Mandos," the Ardennian called back.
"What!?" she shouted in angry concern.
"I told him it was a bad idea," he answered helplessly.
The engines of the ship rumbled to life as he did a quick systems' check.
"Hold on…" the Halaisi began. She suddenly realized yet another member of their party was missing. "Where's my droid?" she yelled.
The Ardennian blinked, hands pausing over the controls. He slapped a hand on his forehead. "I don't know-there were explosions and there was so much happening-we just ran for it," he replied quickly. "I'm sorry."
She entered the cockpit to give him an angry look in concern for her droid. But given the circumstances she knew there was no time for it.
"We have to go," she said to him.
"We're waiting for Rook," the Ardennian said back.
"Rook can take care of himself, and if we die it won't matter," she argued.
"We're waiting for him!"
Meanwhile, Rook was in the command deck and waiting. He growled in anticipation as he heard the Mandalorians coming. They were many and he was one, but he wasn't scared. He'd give them a hell of a fight, and if he died then at least he'd take a few of them with him.
He waited by the viewport with broken transparisteel windows. The door to the lift opened with Mandalorians at the ready. With a roar he raised his stalker pistol to fire a few shots. They dove out of the lift and ducked behind cover. With them hiding Rook jumped out the viewport, grabbing a trolley of a zipline he and his friends had set up to quickly get from the command deck to the forest.
He held on with one hand as he traversed it. In his other he held a device with a button. He pressed the button.
In the command deck the Mandalorians got up and headed to the viewport to see the Wookie escaping to the forest. They were about to pursue with their jetpacks, but they suddenly heard a loud whine followed by a series of beeps. They glanced back to see numerous thermal detonators attached to the walls and command deck computer they hadn't noticed before.
With yells of panic the explosives detonated, filling the space with fire. Rook hit the forest floor before looking back to the command deck. He saw it engulfed in smoke and bits of flame. As it began to clear he spied a figure step through it to look down at him.
The Mandalore stared down from the viewport, ignoring the smoke and fire around him as spied the Wookie. He watched as the Wookie threw his arms to the side before bellowing out a loud call and then running into the forest. The Mandalore gave an amused hum.
Well, he certainly knew a challenge when saw it. He pressed a button of his vambraces and raised it up to speak into it. "Find the Wookie. He's fled into the forest," he ordered to all his subordinates.
In the forest surrounding the crashed Separatist ship the Mandalorians searched. Many of them had their helmets scanning in the infrared to aid their endeavor. But the Wookie had yet to be found. They had several different search groups combing the area.
One such group was diligently searching, not having found anything when one raised a hand, stopping the group. He pointed with two fingers at his 11 o'clock, silently signaling he'd spotted something. Whatever it was was tall and appeared to be humanoid, but was two far to say for sure whether that was the case. They weren't well informed of the variety of lifeforms on this planet.
They began to advance on it quietly as they drew their weapons. They kept it in their sight as they crept through the underbrush. One was moving along without issue when he felt his foot snag on something.
He looked down to see he'd stepped into a tripwire. He heard something snap and from his periphery saw something coming toward him. He looked and screamed in shock and terror as a huge cut log suspended by vines swung toward him. Before he could react it collided with them and sent him flying with a yell before hitting another tree and blacking out.
As his comrades ran to check on him one was snatched up by a net. After overcoming his shock began trying to cut himself free, only to find the net was a metal mesh. A moment later an electrical charge began to course through it electrocuting its captor.
More traps were triggered. Log traps, pit falls, snares, and a barrage of raining wooden stakes. The Mandalorian that triggered the stake trap hit the ground and curled himself up into a ball to defend his vital areas. The stakes hit and bounced off his armor. Once the barrage ended he carefully stood up, almost expecting something else to happen.
As he looked up he heard a cry and he looked over to see another Mandalorian being gunned down by the Wookie.
"I've got eyes on the Wookie! Home in on my position!" he said on their shared channel. As he was calling for help the Wookie swung his long-gun around to aim at him.
With a growl Rook fired on another Mandalorian. His shot sent him to the ground with a yell. And with that he was out of charges for his main weapon. He heard the roar of thrusters and looked up to see more Mandalorians descending on him.
With another growl he drew his stalker pistol and began opening fire. He struck a few of them with weaker armor, dropping them to the ground while the others managed to dodge or shrug off an attack before landing. They drew their weapons and began to fire on him.
Rook fled, occasionally turning to fire back at his pursuers. He ducked behind a tree for cover and crouched as he ran out of charges for his pistol. He was running out of means to fight back. But still, he refused to give up.
He searched his person for anything he might have missed and happened upon one last item. He held a small metal orb. Not an explosive, but a smoke grenade. To be used as a final means of escape. He squeezed it as he prepared for his final stand.
With a roar he stepped from his cover and threw the grenade. It landed before the Mandalorians who stopped, preparing to leap away. But instead of the explosion they expected a cloud of black smoke filled the small radius around them.
They were blinded by their surroundings as they waited for it to dissipate. As one waited for the smoke to clear, looking for any sign of the Wookie something stepped through the smoke and at him. Before he could react Rook charged into the smokescreen with a thunderous roar. He had the barrel of long-gun in hand as he cocked it back for a swing.
With all his strength he swung it, striking the Mandalorian in the helmet. His attack was so powerful the Mandalorian was knocked off his feet and flipped before harshly hitting the ground.
He tossed aside his rifle and drew his ryyk blade at his waist. He rushed the others and swung his blade as he cut them down. Their armor could only do so much against the Wookie's strength as even a guarded strike could break bone and dislocate joints.
As he finished off the others more Mandalorians began to gather to bring him down. With a bellow in challenge he met them with all his might. He cut them down with his blade before it was blasted out of his hand.
He grabbed a Mandalorian and used him as a shield to block another's shot. He rushed his attacker before hurling his fellow Mandalorian at him. Then two grapple lines ensnared his arms. Two Mandalorian activated their jetpacks and tried to pull him off his feet.
With a growl Rook grit his teeth and dug his feet into the ground. Using the strength legendary to his people he pulled on the line. He pulled his enemies and with one mighty tug dragged them to the ground. He leapt on them and began to throttle and stomp them.
More Mandalorian arrived with the Mandalore in time to watch the sight of the Wookie beating their comrades. They watched in awe and respect of the Wookie's spirit and strength. Even when outnumbered and disarmed he refused to surrender.
As Rook paused after defeating his next set of enemies and to look for his weapon a part of a tree behind him exploded into splinters off wood. He groaned in surprise before looking to see a smoldering hole blasted in the trunk above his head. He looked in the direction of the blast to see three Mandalorians. One was significantly larger, and he assumed to be the leader.
The Mandalore had his RSK-44 heavy blaster pistol in hand, having fired to get the Wookie's attention. The two Mandalorians beside their leader began to draw their weapons when the Mandalore spoke, "Stay your weapons," he ordered lowly.
Then he began to advance. "I'll fight the beast myself," he said. He held the Wookie's gaze and dropped his blaster on his way toward him.
Rook glared at the large Mandalorian advancing toward him. He stood tall and turned to face him, on alert for whatever trick this new opponent might use. Then the Mandalorian stopped a few feet away. He spread his arms out, showing he had no weapons on him. Rook groaned in question, unsure if he'd be understood.
"Come beast. Let's see who is stronger," he said in challenge.
Rook narrowed his eyes and let out a roar before charging him. The Mandalore made no move as more of his people gathered to watch his battle. As Rook drew nearer he snatched up a large branch on the forest floor. Bigger than a human could carry and thick enough to serve as a makeshift bludgeon.
When he finally reached his opponent he cocked back his arms with the branch in hand and swung. He hit the Mandalore on his right, above the shoulder. The branch broke from the impact and the Mandalore stumbled to the side. Rook followed up with another attack with the remnants of the branch. He aimed at his left, this time at the torso. Once again he swung so hard the branch broke when it collided with the body of the Mandalore.
Mandalore barely staggered a few steps in the opposite direction. Then he stood up, showing no signs of pain or discomfort from Rook's attack. Rook charged him. He plowed into him, tackling him back against a tree. He struck him with heavy blows across his face. As he attacked Rook began growing confused. He was landing powerful attacks and yet his opponent wasn't showing any signs of pain.
Even the largest of beings, such as Trandoshans, would be rocked by his attacks. There was no way a human, even if larger than most, should be able to withstand his strikes. After a few more blows and the Mandalorian expressing no indication of injury Rook threw his arms around him and squeezed, intent on crushing him.
He squeezed as hard as he could. Knowing full well most beings would be snapped in half, spines broken from the strength of his bear hug. But after a few moments of intent pressure the Mandalore showed no sign he was feeling anything.
The Mandalorian threw an open handed blow to the Wookie's right ear. Rook cried out and staggered away, dazed and ear ringing and throbbing from the attack. After shaking his head to clear it he turned his attention back to the Mandalore, who waited calmly with arms hanging at his sides.
With a bestial cry Rook stepped up to him and grabbed him by his upper arms before pulling them out to the sides. He was intending to do what his people were infamous for. Something that made people wary of crossing a Wookie in any way, even if it was simply beating one in a game of cards. Ripping limbs out of their sockets.
With a growl of effort he pulled, stretching the Mandalore's arms out as far as he could. Yet he heard no tell tale pop of joints being dislocated. Or cries of pain from the Mandalore who stayed silent the entire time. His arms also seemed to stretch an impossible length possible for a human.
Rook stared in shock, not comprehending how this human's arms weren't being ripped out.
"Are you finished beast?" the Mandalore said. Rook snapped to attention and looked the Mandalore in the face when he threw his head forward. Rook staggered back with a pained cry after dropping the Mandalorian.
The Mandalore rotated his shoulder as they assumed their normal length before stalking toward the Wookie. As Rook recovered, Mandalore clapped both his hands on either side of Rook's head, hitting him in the ears.
Rook was deafened, ears ringing as he threw a wild punch. The Mandalore blocked before returning a blow to the Wookie's torso, landing a hard punch to the liver. Rook doubled over, clutching at his side as she struggled to stay on his feet.
The Mandalore's blows kept coming as he beat the Wookie bare handed. His subordinates watched on in quiet shock and admiration as the Mandalore appeared to possess a strength that matched, or perhaps surpassed, the renowned strength of the Wookie people.
The Mandalore continued to throttle Rook. He grabbed him by the back of the head before driving a knee into his gut. Rook choked for air as it was driven from his lungs. Then the Mandalore threw a strike to his throat and then followed up with a solid punch to the face. Rook was spun by the blow, still struggling to breath. As he was trying to shake off the cobwebs, Mandalore kicked him in the back of the knee, causing Rook to fall to the ground.
Rook was doubled over, gasping for air to clear his head. Meanwhile the Mandalore closed in behind him, ready to end their battle. He wrapped his arms around Rook's neck in a rear choke. He squeezed and began to cut off the Wookie's airway.
Rook reached back, grabbing at the Mandalorian face to try and gouge his eyes to make him let go. But the Mandalore's face was shielded by his helmet and visor. As the hold on his neck tightened he grabbed at the Mandalore's arms in a last ditch effort to free himself. But his vision was starting to tunnel as his airway became fully constricted and his struggling began to cease.
"A well fought battle Wookie. You too were strong," the Mandalore complimented his foe, who's struggling grew weaker and weaker. "But only the strongest are fit to survive in my new order."
The Mandalore's arms began to bulge and swell, rippling as if there were something moving beneath them as he squeezed harder, applying an inhuman amount of force.
With a grunt and a snap Rook was no more, finally bested by the Mandalore. The Mandalore released the Wookie, letting his body fall forward limply onto the forest floor as he stood over his vanquished foe in conquest.
His subordinates were silent in awe at their leader's prowess in strength. Besting a Wookie without weapons was no easy feat. They weren't sure any of them could have done it.
But the Mandalore could.
"All hail Mandalore!" one of them cried. The others joined in a chorus of worship and adulation as he stood before them like a god in the flesh.
Back inside the Munificent's hangar the other rebels were waiting and arguing. The Ardennian was adamant they should wait for Rook to return while the Halaisi said they should flee and return with help from the Alliance.
"We have to go!" she argued again.
"I can't just…"
"He's a Wookie, in a forest. There's no place he could be safer," she shouted.
"I know but-"
"If we don't go now we're all going to die," she pushed. "We need to leave and get the Alliance."
"But-" he began. He looked out the viewport, hoping to see Rook running in at any moment to join them. "AHHH!" he said in frustrated defeat.
"Alright, strap in," he said as he took the controls. His comrade dropped into a seat and strapped herself in. He activated the repuslorlifts and got the ship off the ground.
It rose and rose, going up to the ceiling where the exit was. The freighter hit the ceiling, or more accurately the tarp they'd placed to cover the large hole in the ceiling and hide them from a bird's eye view.
Once they were out of the ship he directed the ship to begin climbing into orbit. They cleared the cloud and the upper atmosphere and were in space.
"Oh Kri-" his comrade whispered as she spotted the huge battleship in the distance above the planet. He saw it too and swallowed thickly. He wasn't familiar with that ship's class.
But if it belonged to the Mandalorians it was sure to be packed with weapons and capable of blowing their ship out of the sky several times over.
"We're out of here," he said as he prepared to jump to lightspeed. He directed them away from the battleship as he set the coordinates. With the coordinates set he placed a hand on the lever in preparation to jump.
But suddenly the ship was rocked by a collision at the rear. They were both jarred around in their seats at the impact as alarms went off.
"Were we hit by a torpedo?" the Halaisi asked in dread.
"I don't think so," the Aredennian responded as he was trying to make sense of what was going on.
Suddenly they could hear the grind and screeching of metal coming from the rear of the ship. The control panels and alarms were alerting them to extensive damage to the engines and thrusters. They could hear more screeching outside the ship and drawing nearer when it finally clicked for the Ardennian.
"Oh Sithspit! It's that thing from the forest!" he shouted in realization.
"What thing?" his comrade asked in confusion.
"It was some kind of animal or droid-I don't know!" he shouted in a frantic reply. "But it's on the hull of the ship and it's damaged our engine. We can't make the jump."
They stared at each other, eyes wide in panic. They frantically tried to think of an idea.
"Escape pods!" the Halaisi suddenly realized.
"Wha?"
"The escape pods have hyperdrives! We can use them to get out of here," she explained quickly.
Immediately they leapt from their chairs and grabbed their comrades before going to the escape pods. She got to one and was helping him in when the ship suddenly rocked violently. The Ardennian was thrown back while she and their wounded friend were thrown inside.
The Ardennian was on the ground, rubbing his head with one of his fours arms before looking up at the sound of a bang. He looked up, hearing a repeated banging on the ship's outer hull as if something were hitting it repeatedly.
Suddenly a dent appeared. He paled and pushed himself up as the dent grew bigger and more appeared. He ran to the other escape pod, standing at the doorway inside as his friend looked out to see where he was.
"Come on!" she shouted as they stared at each other from across the ship in opposite pods.
"Just go!" the Ardennian shouted. He pointed up to the dent in the ceiling as an explanation as to why.
She saw it and immediately closed the hatch to the escape pod. Despite the urgency they both stayed there a moment as they looked at the ceiling slowly giving to whatever outside force was trying to tear or claw its way in.
There was a bright flash and a hole was suddenly blown in the ceiling. They both watched as everything not bolted down was sucked out into space. Then a pair of massive claws grabbed at the edge of the hole and ripped it wider. From outside a black monster began to force its way in as it tore away the hull of the ship to make room for itself.
The rebels stared in shock as they tried to comprehend the thing ripping their ship apart. It was black and moved like a beast with six legs, with two bearing massive claws and four smaller ones. They could see laser cannons mounted onto its form, alongside what looked like missile launchers. Its face or mouth was a series of rods with energy crackling between them.
They snapped from their stupor as the thing turned its attention to the Halaisi's pod. She turned and rushed to the controls before ejecting the pod. The Ardennian did the same and both pods shot away from the ship. They piloted the pods away and began prepping the hyperdrives to jump.
The Ardennian set the coordinates and was about to initiate the jump to lightspeed when he looked out to see the beast tear its way out of the ship. A set of thrusters propelled it through the vacuum of space as it made a beeline for his comrades' pod.
"No!" he screamed in horror, helpless as he watched the thing grab onto it. He watched as energy crackled from the rods on its face as it sank its claws into the side of the pod for a firm hold.
Then with a flash of light the exterior of the pod was blown apart. He looked away, not bearing to see the bodies of his comrades being flung into space. He needed to escape. He directed the pod into the void and began accelerating away from the planet as the lightpseed jump was finally ready.
The beast turned its attention to his pod and surged toward it. Be it could jump to lightspeed it fired from its mounted laser cannons managing to land a hit at the last second before it disappeared with a crash into hyperspace.
Some time later the escape pod exited hyperspace. It'd been damaged before the jump, not reaching its destination. Its life support systems were also damaged. The oxygen was leaking and the systems regulating temperature were failing.
The Ardennian was wearing an oxygen mask from a small reserve tank and shivering violently in his seat as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He had a beacon going on an Alliance frequency and was hoping he was close enough to any of their forces to intercept it and send a rescue.
Despite the bleakness of his situation, he held onto hope. It was all he really had in this situation.
His eyes drooped as his vision began to tunnel and everything began fading to black. But before his consciousness faded he saw a flash of light illuminate the cockpit of his pod.
He smiled and gave a weak chuckle as he felt the pod rumble as it docked with another ship.
Looks like hope had won out that day.