Star Wars OPEN Paradoxical Echoes: An Original Trilogy Game (Always Accepting New Players)

IC: Master Sergeant Dax
Streets of Lepsawn Central (planet of Lepsawn 1-9)


Dax watched as the Commodore and another Imperial leaned out the window and started shooting. He checked his side mirrors and watched as---along with running civilians, flying debris, and the armored limo behind them----that at least one of the Gunships was still behind them. Which left a question.

"Where's the blasted other one?" Dax swore to himself, as he looked around in the sky and everywhere else----reflections in business windows and side allies----for the other Gunship.

He finally looked to the other Imperial, Natalia. "HEY! Get up into the passenger seat here and keep a look out for that other Gunship!"

He didn't have time to wait for a response as he narrowly avoided hitting a little old Twi'lek crossing the street with her walker, then took a hard left turn and squeezed the vehicle through a narrow ally way.

"That was a tight fit!" Dax said to himself as they shot out the other side and flew out, over, and onto a busy hyper road! "Must be rush hour!" Dax exclaimed as the 10 lane road (five lanes each direction) seemed rather packed. He laid of his horn and weaved in and out of traffic as he checked his side mirrors. As expected, the other Gunship had kept suit, taking a wide turn to recover the sudden adjustment, then coming back and flying over the alley way to catch back up with the Queen and company.

Suddenly the Gunship's superior firepower opened up and all around him, Dak watched as vehicles became unlucky victims as he evaded the impressive weaponry.

"See that other Gunship???!!!" Dak asked Natalia.


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422 , @Sith-I-5

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Lepsawn Central

Natalia kept her head down shouting out directions when they became relevant. It became easy to forget about the gunship chasing after them. Though it was always in the back of her head, and at it. The constant hum of the engines of the deadly craft rung in her ears but, she had to put it to the side. She had to keep her wits about her, she would do no one any good if she was a puddle of nerves. There was a protocol to follow, they had to get to the nearest friendly garrison.

"HEY!" The driver yelled towards her, "Get up into the passenger seat here and keep a look out for that other Gunship!"

"What?" She said her voice not loud enough to overcome the blaster fire roaring behind her. "Another?" Her wide eyes look up in time to see an older twi'lek caught in the middle of the street. She closed her eyes and looked away not wanting to see more death. She felt the hard lerch to the left, her body sliding towards the outside of the vehicle, her datapad clutched tightly to her chest. "That was a tight fit!" The driver called out again making Natalia opened her eyes.

They were crammed into a thin alley just barely wide enough for vehicle. In that moment she climbed her way over the seats and towards the front. She hissed as her scraped knee brushed against the upholstery. Eventually she made it up to the passenger seat eyes snapping around scanning the sky and reflections for a second gunship. In the spare moments she checked their location, a broad multilane road packed with speeders.

"Must be rush hour!" The driver yelled dodging in between the vehicles and avoiding laser blasts raining down from above. She curled up a little tighter buckling herself in to keep her from being thrown about as the driver swerved about the road. Looking back to her datapad she pulled up what civilian and government sensors she could widening her perception hopefully finding the second gunship hiding somewhere waiting to descend and wipe them off the map. Said map was up in a corner for reference so she could still try and guide the driver through a safer route one not so exposed to the sky.

There were a hundred things for her to do and she was barely keeping up but, she had to...she had to or they would die.

TAG: @Bravo @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Surgeon-Commander Debgate, Main Hangar, Darkest Night.


"Oh----"

Deb figured she had this loathsome being on the ropes with that one utterance, and consciously suppressed a smile as she glared down at him with a growing air of smugness, while he looked up at the parked freighter.

"---That. Well Surgeon-Commander, that ship there has to deal with what we uneducated folks like to call above my pay grade or---to avoid being dragged into a dark room and being asked questions---Imperial Security Bureau."

She took an involuntary step backwards, feeling the heel of her boot press down on the foot of the stormie behind her, before the escort hurriedly withdrew.

"Now, I'd be straight with ya Commander, best just let these ISB folks do their job and you mind yours. Lot less missing persons reports if you know what I mean."

There was silence between them.

It was a common, if quietly spoken, rule of thumb among Navy officers, to not annoy anyone with 'Lord' in front of their name, and 'ISB'.

She could almost feel her zeal shrinking with this news.

"I...uh." She hesitated to gather her thoughts. "I...as thanks for your steer, Deck Officer, I shall pay your kindness forward, or back, technically; and close your case." She put her hands, like he was Dick was holding her at gunpoint. "I will no longer bother you about your diet. You can eat what you like. And as for this little lady-" She lowered her arms and gestured to the impassive stormtrooper behind and to her right, "-I'll be making sure that she gets a proper meal."

Tag: @Bravo

 

OOC: been awhile here so I hope I can get back into character and that this post fits with past events.

IC: Security Chief Cain Shinzon
Inside the Caves, Sentry Moon, Battle of Lespawn 1-9

Retreating his way backwards through the twisting turns of the caverns Cain had only the electronic map created by his helmet's mapping systems to guide him, even as he unleashed shot after shot down the cave in an effort to slow down the mercenaries now pursuing him. He was alone now, the last remaining Naval Trooper that had infiltrated the cave with him had been cut down by a burst of blaster fire. Three bolts had ripped into the man, one partially stopped by his own (inferior in Cain's mind) armor, though the other two had fully penetrated the compromised blast vest and vaporized a few of his internal organs. Cain responded by shooting short bursts from his flame projector down the cavern, flame and smoke should keep them at bay for a few moments he thought even as he continued his backwards rush to safety.

Emerging from the cavern at long last Cain lit off with his jetpack. They wouldn't expect that he thought as they began to emerge form the caverns looking for him at ground level. He readied his carbine again, his yellow bolts would give away his newly elevated position, but he had them dead to rights so it shouldn't matter, when blaster fire erupted from Sergeant Oaks observation post. Instead of the Mandalorian's distinct yellow bolts, standard red blaster bolts tore at the mercenaries as they emerged from the caves. Though as much as he wanted to, the security chief didn't add to the carnage. Instead, now free of the caves interference with his comm signal he opened up a channel to the Darkest Night.

"Darkest Night, Darkest Night this is Reaper," he used his callsign in case anyone was listening in on what was supposed to be an encrypted, secure, network. "Be advised enemy may be in possession of a shipcracker weapon." He had to temper his report and couldn't say they definitively had such a weapon. It was after all just hearsay, but if it were true. "Type and location of the weapon is unknown at this time." He repeated the message for the ship to ensure they got it all as he looked down below, hoping his troopers left at least one mercenary alive for interrogation.

TAG: @Bravo

 

OOC:

Ops....(hot wrong button)

 

IC: Deck Officer Richard "Dick" James
Darkest Night


"I...uh." She hesitated to gather her thoughts. "I...as thanks for your steer, Deck Officer, I shall pay your kindness forward, or back, technically; and close your case." She put her hands, like he was Dick was holding her at gunpoint. "I will no longer bother you about your diet. You can eat what you like. And as for this little lady-" She lowered her arms and gestured to the impassive stormtrooper behind and to her right, "-I'll be making sure that she gets a proper meal."

"Hmmm," Richard thought, watching the Doc's sudden demeanor change; despite their differences, he was still a comrade in arms. And she looked like a fish out of water, something very uncharacteristic of her. "You know Doctor," Richard suddenly said, pushing his overweight body up & with several more grunts---out---of the hole he was working in. He looked back at Hank, "You stay here and finish these repairs," he turned his head to the Stormtrooper, "And you, stand guard here. This is still a crime scene as far as I'm concerned and these repairs---if they don't go right as planned---could spark a reaction to travel down these wires and could denotate our armory reserve of proton torpedoes and concussion missiles. And that would end everyone's day really quick. Especially yours, trooper."

"But, sir---" the Stormtrooper's muffled and filtered voice started to reply.

Richard held up a stern finger, "Trooper! My deck. My shift. My responsibility for these repairs. The good Doc here," Richard nodded to the Commander, "Was just reminding me of a certain medical check-up that she---or I---want to air out in open to the whole universe to hear. So, my droid Hank here can handle these repairs. You, trooper, are going to stand guard and make sure not a single thing happens. Do I make myself clear?"

The Stormtrooper looked between the Doctor and Richard. Orders were orders. But who outranked who in this particular matter?

Richard spoke up, "Doctor, if I remember correctly from breakfast this morning, you have quite the busy day. Shouldn't we get going?"

Richard knew two things right now. First, not to trust the ISB. And second? Stormtroopers were bound by blind loyalty to obey orders---especially from the ISB and higher Imperial organizations. As such, Richard had to get the good Doc and himself away from the "eyes" that this Stormtrooper could very well be. Something was off with the Doctor and Richard needed time to figure that out. Even the bloody history of ISB shouldn't have scared the good Doc that much.


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IC: Master Sergeant Dax
Streets of Lepsawn Central (planet of Lepsawn 1-9)


"Well?" Dax asked, looking at the woman as he looked at a datapad, "Not trying to rush technology or anything, but we need---" ahead of them, a speeder truck carrying chemical of some kind exploded, flipping the truck, trailer, and flamming debris all across the hyper-road as blaster fire from the gunship impacted it, "Answers," Dak finished as he hit the accelerator and burst through a flame as other (non-military experienced drivers) slammed on breaks and all but caused a pile up.

"Okay," Dax said aloud more-so to himself then anyone else, "Lets find a way out of this problem."

TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422 , @Sith-I-5

 

IC: Sergeant Oak
Naval Trooper Detachment assigned to Monitoring Station, Sentry Moon


Oak saw the security chief exit with a blast of his jet back. And pressed his cheek up against the extended stock of the blaster carbine and aimed down the sights---

He squeezed down on the trigger the moment the first mercenaries came out of that cave; although they weren't clearly "in sight", he knew an Imperial when he saw one and those weren't Imperials. Unlike the holo movies, Oak spaced his shots with precision and patience, cutting down the human first to emerge with two shots, one to the shoulder, the other to the chest. While the Duro, already exposed, tried to dart away from the cave entrance, the Sergeant kept his calm as the much more experienced alien gunslinger aimed a shower of deadly blaster bolts up towards Oak's position without hesitation and with a clear murderous intent and experience.

If, for the the handful of heartbeats it took to end the blaster duel, Oak had to admire the Duro as the Sergeant's first few return shots traced along the rock wall, leaving scorn marks along its path to follow the mercenary. It was now experience against luck as the Duro jumped behind a solo rock that provided more then enough cover. While Oak rained two shots that direction, he released his finger from the trigger and waited.

The Duro jumped up, only exposing enough of his body, to discharge fire. The Duro was an experienced killer and his shots tore into Oak's position. But the Naval Trooper still waited, holding his fire. Then he took a breath as a blaster bolt sizzled into the ground next to his face and as his finger hovered over the trigger as the Duro ducked back behind cover.

Oak waited.

Waited.

Waited.

The Duro's head started to emerge, the Naval Trooper knowing that with the arrival of the other two Naval Troopers in support surely gave him the assurance---with their battle cries and less-then-accurate blaster fire---that he was firing in the right direction and Oak knew one moment, one breath, one decision would---

Oak squeezed the trigger and a single blaster bolt lanced out, scoring a direct hit shot before the Duro could get out a shot or even properly face his enemy. In the following moments, Oak watched as the Duro's body dropped to the ground, the sound of his body, equipment, and clattering of his blaster against the rocks the sole, eerie response in an otherwise silent time.

Oak felt his finger release off his finger as, in the dark recesses of the tunnel, he heard a deep, angry Wookiee growl followed, shortly thereafter, by a muffled explosion.



*******************************


IC: Captain Duke P. (Patrick) Totter
Bridge, Imperial Star Destroyer Darkest Night, in orbit around Sentry Moon


"Darkest Night, Darkest Night this is Reaper. Be advised enemy may be in possession of a shipcracker weapon. Type and location of the weapon is unknown at this time."

Duke nodded to himself and responded calmly, "Copy Reaper. Be advised Omega. Communications clear of channel."

Omega was a catch all for any unit deployed outside the Star Destroyer: return to base, the mission is now out of your scope of control.

Totter keyed the comm for Englewood.

Static.

Hmmm.

"Communications, identify communication issues with ground team. I want report logs and time stamps immediately."

There was a "yes sir" in the background somewhere.

A few moments passed and, suddenly, Duke smiled as he saw the reflection in the mirror. A low energized hum followed as an Imperial technician pointed a blaster pistol to Duke's head from several feet away.

The whole bridge was silent and Duke could hear and see (in the reflection of the bridge windows) Imperial Naval Trooper security swarming the bridge from the exterior security checkpoints outside the bridge as alarms went off and the blast doors closed to the bridge moments later.

"Silent alarms," Duke calmly ordered as he turned to the sweaty and shaking technician.

"So, you're not alone."

"No," the young faced technician said, shaking.

"Two things will happen. Either first, these Imperial Naval Troopers will strike you down. Or, in about forty-five seconds from now, a quick reaction force of Stormtroopers will be busting through that door to pump your body with blaster holes. But, you already knew that. So, what are you going to be sacrificing your life's dreams and goals to? The traitorous Rebellion? Troopers, lower your weapons and back away."

The technician looked confused for a moment as he took a glance towards the troopers----

That was all Duke needed as he leaped forward and barreled into the man, making sure to lift the blaster hand up and away from the bridge's windows as he tackled the technician to the floor, the twitch of the man's finger discharging a blaster bolt harmlessly into the ceiling. As naval troopers swarmed the man and handcuffed him----soon thereafter a squad of Stormtroopers entering the bridge and securing it---Duke straitened out his officer uniform as he looked to a group of technicians looking over the communication console. Duke put up his hand to stop them, but it was too late, "Don't touch that----BOMB!"

The communications console exploded in the crew pit area as technicians tried to access it's controls. A new set of alarms went off and Duke quickly ordered those silent.

"Secondary communications, alert secondary Imperial commands in the system to our situation. Sensors, task all ships in North Squadron to scan both the primary target planet and the moon. Anything that looks like a weapon for space combat or a building---like on that moon---that resembles something out of place, transfer target coordinates to weapons. Gunnery, clear with command staff before firing."

As affirmations rang in among the bridge, Duke ordered the troopers, "Get this traitor out of my sight!"

"Sir," one of the troopers said, "He's dead."

Duke looked down, seeing another trooper holding up the crushed remnants of a suicide pill.

"So he is," Duke said, "Then get medical up here. I only want Surgeon-Commander Debgate on this case. I want that body secured and his quarters immediately checked. All last immediate contacts on this ship questioned and immediate family identified." As calls rang out from the troopers on their comms and emergency crews finally arrived to start putting out the console fire and tend to the wounded (luckily, the explosion wasn't aimed at killing anyone, rather destroying evidence), Duke looked around the bridge and muttered to himself.

"Between the hanger and the bridge, Peter is going to kill me."


TAG @Bardan_Jusik , @Sith-I-5 , @Laine_Snowtrekker (I think, for family contacts)

 

IC: Flight Lieutenant Baille Harte, office building
Location: Lepsawn 1-9 capital city


Baille Harte had had to be in the best shape of her life to cope with the gravitational stresses inflicted on a TIE fighter pilot, and was only slightly less after a stint in the more comfortable and user friendly TIE Phantoms, so she was well able to cope with continuously running down the stairs of the office building, and jumping down the last few steps of each section, absorbing the impact of landing on the landings, with bent knees, grabbing the end of bannisters to steer her round to the next set.

She reached the lobby quickly, almost doing the splits as her leading boot skidded across the water-slicked tiles and aggravating the strain of her trip across the bathroom, when she had come in from the car park to the rear.

Down on all fours, she poked her head out to see out the front of the lobby, to see those uniformed abos swarming across the grounds.

She couldn't see any sign of the Toydarian.

Baille tried to keep a low profile and scuttled across the lobby floor as quickly as she could, hiding behind soaked or up-ended Reception Area furniture, and lit out the back, stomping across the rear vehicle park, ignoring the parked speeders though she dearly would have loved to hotwire one.

Her priority was to get out of the line-of-site of anyone inside or coming round the office building.

The Flight Lieutenant paused at the road, automatically applying the Green Cross Code that she had been taught as a youngling - look left, look right, and look left again, then ran across the road to the bordering bushes of the park on the opposite side. They would provide cover till she could re-orient herself.

Maybe if she found the Lepsawn civilians that she had helped evacuate the lobby, they could steer her towards the Imperial Garrison that her last set of orders had ordered her to head to.

Tag: @Bravo

* * * *


IC: Reen G'Spaugh, Alex Qipao19, UNMF driver "15-Mary-3", protection limousine
Location: somewhere in Lepsawn 1-9's capital city


The limousine was parked....on a hill somewhere, with the driver door and one rear passenger door open, the UNMF protection driver and Alex standing outside and looking at each other over the blaster and debris gouged rooftop.

At least Alex was glaring at the driver, whilst the mercenary was ignoring his gaze, and trying to swipe stray glase shards off his vehicle.

"How could you lose them?" Reen demanded from inside the car, still perched on the back seat.

"I was just about to ask him that." Alex retorted, glancing at his former wingmate for a moment before looking back over. "How could you lose them?"

"Well, I guess that whomever is driving the Queen's vehicle is trained to lose pursuers. And we were pursuing."

Both men turned their heads towards the familiar sound of a concussion, of the explosive type, not the smacked upside the head with a prybar variety.

Maybe three miles away, on an elevated bit of highway, a roiling yellow fireball climbed into the sky.

"That's them!" The driver blurted. "Well, not stri-"

"GET IN!" Alex dove into the back, and slammed the door after him.

Seconds later, the repulsor vehicle steered round in that direction, and headed down the grassy hillock to find a way towards the cause of that explosion.

Tag: @Bravo (?)

 

IC: Civilians
Near Office Building


"Well look," the female Twi'lek was saying to someone on the other end of the comlink (she was roughly in the center of a medium sized group of civilians, who were calling friends and family or hugging each other for getting out alive), "There was BLASTER FIRE everywhere and---" the Twi'lek sounded irritated as she was apparently; she started waving a finger in thin air and stomped her foot, "---Oh, don't you go there mister! You don't talk to me like that. I'm a great grandmother, a grandmother, AND a mother! No one and I mean NO ONE talks to me like that! And----" the woman was cut off again, this time she put her hand on her hip as she spat back, "---Oh, yeah, the LKC Security Company is sure here! Doing a bang up job of nothing! Why don't you get the Empire here to do something useful for once. Oh, and one more thing, we have CHILDREN with us! So hurry up!"


For the time being, the civilians stayed where they were. Some talked about the emergency vehicles on the other side of the buildings, while others spoke about walking home or staying put for the authorities. No one, yet, saw the undercover Imperial in the bushes....


TAG @Sith-I-5
OOG: I'll wait to respond to your other tag until others reply first to previous tags, Sith.

 

IC: Master Sergeant DW-418121 (Animal)
Residential-Economical Site One; Lepsawn 1-9 (Neglected City) --- Second Squad, First Section


The shaking again.

Animal cursed under his breath as he willed himself to hold steady the lighter just long enough to light the cigarette. After several failed attempts and more choice words under his breath, the cigarette released a puff of smoke upon Animal's frustrated---but victorious---claim to success. Shoving the lighter into a armored pouch on his belt, the Master Sergeant took a few deep breathes as he out looked over Residential-Economical Site One from the tallest building in the area. Their mission had been a success at their particular building----take out criminal and Rebellion military leadership & VIPs at the building in a daring undermanned and under-gunned special ops assault (as the rest of the Imperial war machine marched en mass in traditional slug fests of military might & weaponry in the area at key military targets)----and from the looks of things below, the pockets of billowing smoke from destroyed enemy armor and the countless marching of white armored figured below and the piling of enemy dead said everything that Animal needed to know.

In a foolish stand against Imperial forces, a ragtag group of criminal thugs and Rebellion special ops troops decided to stand their ground against not an Imperial army assault, but a full fledged Stormtrooper assault (the best shock troops the Empire had to offer). The battle wasn't close and over in less then two hours. Even thinned out in locations around the region on Lepsawn 1-9, the Stormtroopers were able to launch a success assault & defeat of enemy forces while undermanned and under-gunned. But, superior Imperial training and, more importantly, a Stormtrooper detachment with combat experience easily routed a superior enemy force in numbers.

The sudden flapping of cloth against wind snapped the Master Sergeant out of his thoughts as looked over to his left; three Stormtroopers raised an Imperial flag on a pole to signify victory. Luckily, they weren't troopers under Animal's command, because their alpha-male bragging about how easy it was to defeat these criminals and rebels really got under the Sergeant Major's skin.

"Master Sergeant," Tech said, his filtered helmet voice causing Animal to jump. The Master Sergeant cursed under his breath as he picked up his cigarette off of the roof top that he had just dropped. The Master Sergeant stared Tech in the helmet lenses.

"Sith it, Tech! Take off your nerfing helmet! The fighting is over!"

The Corporal took his helmet off and wedged it between his elbow and torso. Like Animal, the Corporal's armor featured more carbon scoring and near-direct-hit dents then from earlier in the day (at the initial landings at the outlying factories), but nothing logistics and support wouldn't patch up with some bubble gum and duct tape. Getting a new set of armor---especially in a combat zone---was like asking the Emperor himself to come and wash your feet.

It wasn't going to happen.

Animal put the still-lit cigarette back into his mouth, his shaking had stopped. He never shook when doing his job, just when he was alone after the fighting was over.

"So," Animal said, his voice affected by a cigarette in his mouth, "What do you have?"

"I followed up on all your requests, sir," Tech replied, "Captain Logan Grimnar is presumed dead, sir. Officially listed as MIA until his body can be located. But several troopers reported him going down in heavy fighting. The rest of the command element under the Sergeant Major is confirmed and accounted for; they set up a temporary CP with Major Hardneck a building over from us. No other casualties to report, sir, in Joker Platoon, other then minor injuries. No other deaths or MIAs."

"Good," Animal replied, "Any orders?"

"Yes, sir. We're to report to the CP once we're finished up here."

"Well, get the boys together," Animal replied, "I'm sure the Sergeant Maj---"

"CP to DW-418121. CP to DW-418121."

Both Stormtroopers looked at each other as the Sergeant Major's voice floated up from their detached helmets. Animal grabbed his helmet from the AC unit it was resting atop of and put it on his head, as did Tech with his.

"DW-418121." The Master Sergeant said sharply, his helmet display connecting with he location of his communication connection and pointing it to him on a miniature computerized map being displayed in one of his lenses. Caller identification, communication status, location by coordinates, and voice match were all displayed alongside the map on the left-hand side.

"Animal, I have a IDT (Gunship) en route to your location. Priority mission for you and Second Squad. I'll brief you once your airborne. Hand-pick your best four men to go with you."

"Yes, sir," Animal replied.




*********************************************************


Second Squad, Joker Platoon, airborne in IDT (Gunship)


"Say that again?" Business asked, his voice altered by the helmet's voice system; the IDT took a bump and the trooper mutter a curse about army pilots under his breath, "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm all for seeing who can wiz further then the next guy. And being the hero, count me in. But two Gunships? Don't we have TIEs for this short of thing? I may be crazy in the head, but I'm not the suicidal type."

There was a sigh from the other helmeted trooper, Tech. "I'll say it one last time. The planetary government won't let the Imperial garrison out of the capital city for political agreements. And, except for direct-ground-support missions with dealing with our counter-offensive against the rebellion elements on the world, the planetary government has bared TIE usage across the world. But, this IDT isn't a TIE Fighter, now is it? We're being ID'd in as a medical transport to the garrison with wounded to get through the political red tape."

"And if the planetary government finds out?" Face asked.

"Eyes will have his shots in time. If not, we'll all be dead anyways. So there's no point in complaining about it," Animal responded.

"Have you done this short of thing, before, Eyes?" Business asked.

The Chiss smiled behind the helmet, "Classified."

"Dang alien," Business shot back, "Everything with you before the Corps is classified."

"Because," Eyes replied, "It is."

"I hate to pee on the parade, but we have one tango and one VIP to starboard and forward. Just in visual range."

"All you need to do is count the explosions to see where they're at," Face replied.

"Those are civilians dying down there. A little sensitivity," Tech fired back, then turned his face back to the action as the IDT adjusted its flight path to the on-going fight, "If the Darkest Night is correct, they've found a way through the jamming by using a top secret channel the jammer shouldn't have stored in its memory banks. Master Sergeant, would you do the honors?"

Animal nodded, then keyed the helmet comm, the familiar data coming up again on his HUD inside his helmet, "Stormtrooper unit, Second Squad, Joker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Repeat, stormtrooper unit, Second Squad, Joker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Jamming of your communications is still active. Only usable channel. Repeat, stormtrooper unit, Second Squad, Joker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Jamming of your communication is still active. Only usable channel. Please respond."


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422 , @Sith-I-5

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Lepsawn Central

"Well?" the driver asked looking to her as she continued scanning the senor feeds. "Not trying to rush technology or anything, but we need---" A bright yellow and green fireball illuminates the cabin and her screen. She quickly goes back a few frames noticing something just before the explosion. The sudden acceleration threw her back into the chair but, she didn't stop looking then she saw it a shadow, shaped like the craft that was chasing them. Some quick mental math and she knew where it was in relation to them, higher up a better vantage point for tracking them in the streets.

"Found it." She said to herself in a whisper. There was a reason it couldn't be seen on civilian sensors, they rarely were pointed up. Now with a lock on it she come up to real time watching the shadow as it danced around in the sky. Now she pulled the the map into fullscreen keeping part of her focus on the shadow chasing them. They needed to get to cover, and quickly, a few streets ahead she finds what she is looking for. It was risky but, what choice did they have. "Keep going take the second exit coming up." She ordered, "after that turn right and follow that street up to 3rd Ave, turn left on the 3rd then take an immediate right it is a small alley that empties into a covered market. Should provide some cover." It would also put them in the same space as mingling pedestrians. She worried about hurting them but, their queen and her commander's lives were on the line. Though she hoped the sounds of fighting would have scattered them by now.

If not there were no other options, the lives of civilians, while important had to be secondary for a little bit. Her heart churned thinking this but, her life too was at stake.

The route set she started sweeping the comm channels searching for one that was operable. This was more G'Spaugh's job but, she wasn't here and to be honest Natalia was brute forcing her way. An inelegant, time consuming solution but, the only one she had. Switching over to the sensors she observed the shadow still hiding up in above them out of sight.

"...unications is still active. Only usable channel." A stern voice crackled over the comm. Natalia stopped her sweep zeroing on the specific frequency. "Repeat, stormtrooper unit, Second Squad, Joker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Jamming of your communication is still active. Only usable channel. Please respond."

Her attention shifts over the Commodore still in the back taking potshots at the gunship chasing after them.

"Sir orders?"

TAG: @Bravo @Mitth_Fisto

 

IC: Commodore Peter Englewood
Ambush of Presidential Convoy, Lepsawn Central (planet of Lepsawn 1-9)


"Sir orders?"

Englewood couldn't help but smile. Help was on their way! He knew Duke wouldn't let him down!

"Respond!" Peter said almost too joyfully for an Imperial officer, "Ask them their ideas for his problem of ours and let them know we are running out of ideas!"


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Lepsawn Central

"Respond!" Her commander replied unconcealed joy in his voice. It was a little off putting at first but, she quickly recovered. In her jittery heart she could feel the start of...hope. "Ask them their ideas for his problem of ours and let them know we are running out of ideas!"

"Understood." She nodded her head turning back to the com. "Joker platoon this is Navigational Officer Natalia Markova with Commodore Eaglewood. We are traveling north on Hyperway 359 just past Marker 4 through Lespawn Central." She then quickly gave their exact coordinates down to the minute and velocity. Her voice was quivering loaded with adrenaline and fear, a bright flash of a near miss causes her to take in a sharp breath. "Requesting options for escape, our previous attempts have not yielded success." Her 'proper' upbringing and sense of duty wouldn't allow her to speak as casually as Eaglewood, even with her life in danger her mind could only find those words. The words of proper communication. Her hand shook looking at the comm awaiting a response then to the Commodore looking for approval.

TAG @Mitth_Fisto, @Bravo

 

IC: Baille Harte, bushes bordering the park behind office building
Location: capital city, Lepsawn 1-9

Baille squatted in the bushes, green leaves audibly brushing the scout trooper helmet that she wore, as she peered at the crowd of civilians, trying to spot someone that she recognised from the lobby.

Approaching someone new would risk them attracting those guys in blue.

She might not trust them, but the locals might.

"Stormtrooper uni-" Sounded faintly in her ear from a comm channel that she was not using, so she waited while her helmet automatically tuned in, hope growing in her that, well, she didn't know where this would lead. "-oker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Repeat, stormtrooper unit, Second Squad, Joker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Jamming of your communications is still active. Only usable channel. Repeat, stormtrooper unit, Second Squad, Joker Platoon. Any Imperial personnel with Commodore Peter Englewood, please respond. Jamming of your communication is still active. Only usable channel. Please respond."

She raised a finger to the side of the helm, to aid her transmission. "Joker Platoon from Flight Lieutenant Baille Harte, reading you, over?"

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Security Chief Cain Shinzon
In the midst of a tactical withdrawal, Sentry Moon, Battle of Lespawn 1-9

Hovering over the ambush near the cave entrance Cain was satisfied with the way his troopers had handled the unexpected order. He was of course saddened to have lost two troopers, not because their lives meant anything to him, but they had been good troopers. Replacing them wouldn't be easy. Of course it shouldn't prove too difficult either. Had they been more adept, they wouldn't have been killed. He set down near the observation post he had left under Sergeant Oak's command and shrugged. It might be a slight mark against his record, but the Empire didn;t seem to care much about casualties either, just results. Hopefully the information he had managed to provide to the Darkest Night would prove more than enough to offset the loss of a few troopers.

"Copy Reaper. Be advised Omega. Communications clear of channel." Cain didn't bother even sending back an acknowledgement of the order. Instead he turned to Sergeant Oak, "Let's get back to the LZ. We've been ordered to RTB (Return To Base)." There would be a shuttle waiting there for them, hopefully. Cain smirked behind his faceplate. He had been a soldier for too long to put much faith in hope. He signaled to the Star Destroyer again, this time to flight ops. "Control, this is Reaper. We need an pickup," he relayed their co-ordinates. "Also, reporting the loss of two additional troopers at this time." Looking at the scrolling display on his HUD he called up the appropriate information and transmitted the ID codes of the fallen troopers. As he waited for the reply he turned back again to his remaining troopers. "Saddle up, we're going home."

TAG: @Bravo

 

IC: Alex Qipao19, Reen G'Spaugh, UNMF limousine
Location: Lepsawn 1-9


The Bobsey Twins, or rather Reen and Alex, had heard the unexpected call from Joker Platoon as well, whilst the inside of the vehicle brightened as the driver ahead, took it from the shadowed roadways close to and underneath the elevated highway, up the nearest entry ramp, and onto the highway facing the pall of black-grey smoke in the distance, the rear of the speeder drifting out to the left before the UNMF driver accelerated and straightened their course.

Alex had his helmet on the seat beside him, so responded into his PAC20 wristcom. "Joke Platoon from Black Ice and Communications Chief Reen G'Spaugh. If you follow our comm signal, we are in a limousine on an elevated highway within the capital city. Be advised that we are not in uniform, so don't go shooting us thinking that we are Rebel terrorists."

Reen leaned towards him and clamped a hand over his wristcom. "Speaking of which, don't forget to scrape that pretty Rebel symbol off your chest."

The pilot instinctively glanced down at his chestplate, at the thing that Baille had helped him put on, back when they were expecting to visit that orbital space station. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that."

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Master Sergeant DW-418121 (Animal)
Second Squad, Joker Platoon, airborne in IDT (Gunship)


Animal listened intently to the return comm, as did the rest of the Stormtroopers.

"Joker platoon this is Navigational Officer Natalia Markova with Commodore Eaglewood. We are traveling north on Hyperway 359 just past Marker 4 through Lespawn Central." She then quickly gave their exact coordinates down to the minute and velocity. Her voice was quivering loaded with adrenaline and fear, a bright flash of a near miss causes her to take in a sharp breath. "Requesting options for escape, our previous attempts have not yielded success."

The Master Sergeant was about to respond, when another voice suddenly came over the comm, "Joker Platoon from Flight Lieutenant Baille Harte, reading you, over?"

Animal looked to Tech, who held up three fingers, each one descending into his clinched fist; then the Stormtrooper gave a thumbs up. That meant the tech-savvy had the location of the second speaker, Lieutenant Baille Harte.

"Copy Officer Markova. Hold One," Animal addressed the other caller, "Lieutenant Harte, we have your location. We will be deploying a rescue team. Hold your location. Hold Two," Animal looked at Tech and Business and put two fingers downward and walking; Business shook his head, tapped the pilot on the shoulder---who nodded---and as the IDT descended towards a roof-top and the two Stormtroopers jumped out, rolling to safety, as the IDT quickly rose again into the sky, accelerating quickly to recoup time .

"Rescue Team deployed," Tech, a Corporal, said over the Stormtrooper only channel, "En route to Lieutenant Baille. ETA five minutes."

Animal keyed the comm again, looking below as watched a limousine drive like only a trained military driver could. It could be Rebel terrorists----

"Joke Platoon from Black Ice and Communications Chief Reen G'Spaugh. If you follow our comm signal, we are in a limousine on an elevated highway within the capital city. Be advised that we are not in uniform, so don't go shooting us thinking that we are Rebel terrorists."

Suddenly Animal felt like he was collecting stray cats and not just the Commodore.

"Copy Chief G'Spaugh," Animal said, "Continue on-course to the Imperial garrison. Advise of enemy contact as needed," Animal turned back to the comm channel, "Lieutenant Baille, two member rescue team to your location in five minutes. Hold tight. Officer Markova, advise Commodore Englewood to direct towards our comm signal, as fast and as hard as he can. Keep away from civilian locations as much as possible. And hold on tight."

Animal looked to Eyes, who was lining up his sniper rifle; outside of the IDT's cargo bay, the Master Sergeant could see the Republic-era Gunship bank to port, following the Commodore's new driving. The sun was to the port of the IDT and now directly in the eyes of the Gunship heading their way!

"Steady," Eyes ordered loudly through his filtered voice throughout the cabin of the IDT; mere moments into warning alarms inside the IDT's cockpit going off as weapon signatures from the Gunship locked on to the new threat, a shot rang out, quickly followed by miniature adjustments from Eyes, as each following shot rang out. First it was the forward ball gun cockpits that dropped silent, followed quickly by the cockpit itself. As the Commodore entered an industrial area of the capital city, the Gunship started wavering in the sky before descending rapidly and without direction to the ground below.

Several moments later, a loud CRASH and BOOM could be heard, then followed by a billow of black smoke from the ground.

"I thought those cockpits could withstand small-arms blaster fire?" Face spoke aloud.

"Armor piecing projectile rounds," Eyes responded coldly, "Designed to punch through tank's armor. Those cockpits are rated against blasters, not armor piecing tank rounds."

"General issued?" Face asked.

"Negative," Eyes replied, "Put a few calls in with some Storm Commando buddies that owed me a favor or two. They get all the fun toys."

"You have friends?" Both Animal and Face asked at the same time.

"If I'd associate with you clowns all the time," Eyes replied, "I'd off myself before a Rebel could do it."

As the IDT lowered to the ground in a open field by the stopped hover vehicle, Animal barked out orders, "Time to look alive, gentlemen!"

The three Stormtroopers jumped off the IDT and, after securing the landing zone, made a B-line to the waiting limousine, the troopers securing their surroundings as they did. Time was of the essence, as both there was a second Gunship out there somewhere and the capital city would soon catch onto their ploy if they wasted too much time.

Reaching the limo, Animal put hand signals out to the other troopers to secure the vehicle as he opened the passenger door. He started ordering people out, "To the IDT!" He ordered trough his filtered helmet system, "To the IDT! MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"

As Animal searched the vehicle and cleared it of passengers, he detached his Baradium-core code key thermal detonator from the small of his back and, after keying in the access code, tossed the device into the driver seat and ran. The resulting explosion----smaller (5 meters) then general thermal detonators---expanded and within moments, after a fiery explosion, the field collapsed on itself and soon only debris and the tail end of the limousine remained.

With the heat of the explosion still on his back, Animal boarded the IDT last and gave the pilot the thumps up; soon, the craft was back in the air, heading towards the Imperial garrison in the capital city.

Animal took off his helmet and looked at those gathered; he quickly noticed Queen from the intel briefing before the op, but kept that information to himself.

"Master Sergeant DW dash Four, One, Eight, One, Two, One. Second Squad, Joker Platoon."


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422 , @Sith-I-5



**********************************************************


Rescue Team; detached from Second Squad, Joker Platoon


Business body checked through the poorly latched back metal door to the nearly-abandoned glass window factory; the metal chain snapped and the door flung open, snapping against the brick building; Tech followed through, weapon raised and scanning the area, as he barked, "CLEAR!"

"No Sith!" Business fired back as he double-timed it to catch up with Tech as they cleared back alley ways and side streets, "Or I'd be dead!"

"Shove it Trooper!" Tech fired back, his heavy breathing covering his words.

"Copy that Corporal!" Business replied with more sarcasm.

Both Stormtroopers' HUDs were placing Lieutenant Baille Harte around the corner and another block down.

Business keyed the comm channel used between the Stormtroopers and their to-be-rescued Imperials, "Lieutenant Harte, this is Trooper DW dash Four, One, Eight, One, Two, Eight. We're around the corner from you! Stay put!"

"I'm getting heat signatures around that building! Unknown IDs!" Tech said to Business.

The two Stormtroopers armed their blasters as they rounded the corner, only to slow a bit for a group of civilians that broke into a terrified dash in all directions at the sight of the Imperial troops.

"There!" Business said, pointing to the bushes!

"GET DOWN!" Tech yelled suddenly, all put tackling Business to the ground and backwards!

But, as the falling debris from the road destruction and the heat from the explosion faded away, Business was thankful as the two Stormtroopers got up and traced the source of their near-death.

As the two Stormtroopers reached Harte, they wasted no time in directing her towards buildings and cover. Tech was on the comm, "Emergency traffic! Emergency traffic! Rescue Team to IDT! Rescue Team to IDT! We're under fire from a Republic Gunship! Repeat, under attack from a Republic Gunship! We have Lieutenant Harte and will be using buildings as cover back to our drop-off LZ!"

As the general area where the Lieutenant and the Stormtroopers just were moments ago in the bush was turned into a fiery explosion from a volley of offensive weaponry from the passing overhead Gunship, Business said, "Okay! Go! Go! Go!" The trooper lead the way back the way they came, with Tech staying closing to the Imperial officer, "Follow him!" he told the Lieutenant.

The trio rounded the corner from earlier and made a b-line to the open door to the window factory.....


TAG @Sith-I-5

 

IC: Natalia Markova
Lepsawn Central

"Copy Officer Markova. Hold One," The young woman's heart pounded in her chest waiting for the reply. More blast from above rain down just missing their vehicle time and time again. She found herself curling smaller and smaller as if that would protect her. Checking her datapad she kept an eye on the second gunship, checked their direction, their velocity, anything to keep herself distracted from the death all around her.

"Officer Markova," the com crackled back to life causing Natalia to jump, "advise Commodore Englewood to direct towards our comm signal, as fast and as hard as he can." As the words came in she started tracking the signal, a little hard with the gear she had but, she was able to pull it off. "Keep away from civilian locations as much as possible. And hold on tight."

The driver turned hard heading towards the Imperial craft hovering in the air. The Navigational Officer's heart hadn't calmed, hadn't slowed even with the support of the stormtroopers they still weren't out of danger. She kept her head down just hoping the troopers had some sort of plan, because she didn't.

CRASH

The sound draws a sharp intake of breath.

BOOM

She ducked her head more on instinct that any logical reasoning. Looking behind she saw a bellowing column of black smoke rising into the sky. One gunship was down but, she knew another lurked in the sky. Regaining some control of her senses she found a place the IDT could set down and directed the driver to take them there, an empty field that was waiting for something to be built on it.

Looking up from her lap she saw the troopers file out of the IDT spreading to secure the area. At her side the passenger door opened a helmeted stormtrooper shouting for everyone to exit. Having flashbacks to her brief initial training, her drill sergeant screaming at her to get going, she released the safety restraints and rushed with everyone else to the waiting friendly gunship. Though fear was still running through her she took a seat nearest the pilot were she could check the sensors.

There was an enemy gunship still about.

Picking up the trail that she had lost when the limousine took a hard turn she scanned the feeds she had access to searching for her quarry. When she found it her eyes widened just a little.

"Pilot." She called out over her shoulder, hoping her soft voice could be heard over the cry of the engines, "relative One-oh-five degrees, distance 5 klicks elevation 200 meters. Enemy gunship, heading this way at 130 km/h and accelerating." Her voice was coming out short panting breaths, her lungs struggling to take in oxygen again.

This was not how she saw this mission going...not at all.

TAG: @Mitth_Fisto @Bravo

 

OOG: Our daughter is in the hospital. I was trying to get posts up today and tomorrow, but we'll be in the hospital until at least Saturday. Good thoughts & prayers please. She's not doing too well.


God Bless,

Jason

 

IC: Flight Lieutenant Alex Qipao19, UNMF Driver, 8888 limousine


Alex slapped frantically on the screen between himself and the determined driver.
"No, you are going to get us killed! We were ordered to the Imperial Garrison!"

"My place is by the Queen's side!" The Mercenary driver insisted doggedly, as he careened off the highway, and pursued the IDT over the nearby hill.

The windows on one side of the vehicle, vibrated as one of the Gunships that had threatened them earlier, nose-dived into the ground, and exploded, boom, sods of of earth spattering into the tinted panes.

They nosed into a farmer's field, ploughing a trail through some yellowish cereal stalks towards the vehicle that a stormtrooper was already walking away from, trailing sprinting figures towards the familiar sloped form of an Imperial Dropship Transport.

The BRIGHT flash of a detonated thermal detonator wiped out both the abandoned vehicle, and the TIE pilot's uncomfortable flashback to the ill-fated Operation Immediate U-Turn, the driver slamming on the brakes to stop them becoming part of the baradium disintegration, their nose digging into the field itself, stalks slapping the windshield, and catapulting Reen off the passenger seat, to join Alex against the screen.

Myriad expletives exploded from the Imperials, as they picked themselves up, whilst the Merc demanded to know where the IDT would be going.

"To the garrison, of course!"

"You sure?"

"Well, where else would they be taking her, the nearest 'all the lancakes you can eat for a credit' speeder stop?"

Tag: no-one

 

IC: Moff Starski
Private Suite, Javin Oversector Command & Administrative Complex


Starski finished buttoning his collar back in place on his white uniform, as he looked at his reflection through the wall length curved stainless transparisteel window overlooking the watery bay below. In that reflection, Starski also watched as the double blast door to his three-room enlarged suite opened, the fleeting tell-tail signs of a red dress and a Twi'lek's lekku, disappearing from view as the blast doors closed.

Starski smiled self-assuredly as he turned his attention back to his uniform in the reflection, the sun now well on it's way to cresting to a new day. He watched as a pair of TIE Fighters flew overhead just then, their engines blazing them further away from the Moff's view.

Tightening up, he turned from his commanding view of The Complex and he causally walked over to his over-sized semi-oval burgundy desk with a deep burgundy red high-back leather office chair and grabbed his warm coffee mug. Taking a causal walk over the conference table, he spoke into thin air.

"Good morning Alice," the Moff spoke.

"Good morning, Moff Starski," a computerized female voice said out-loud.

Starski raised an eyebrow, "We're being a formal now?"

"I didn't want to disturb your extracurricular activities," the computerized voice came back.

Starski chuckled, "Alice, that was merely----"

"You have a busy day today, Moff Starski," the computerized voice replied, cutting the Moff off mid-sentence, "I suggest we get started."

Starski shook his head with a smirk and raised his mug, "By all means, Alice."

The wall-sized flat holo screen flickered to life, showing the rotating symbol of the Imperial Crest (white) on a black background, followed by the symbol of the 19th Sector Army with white on black, then that of Alice's personal identification logo with white on black as well. Then the 3 symbols came together on the next screen, each coming from a corner of the screen and meeting in the middle. While all of this was going on, a loading bar symbol with run-off identification codes was running at the bottom of the screen through all four stages of the start-up, the bar showing in green progress and the identification codes in white. Once the green bar reached the opposite further extent of the screen and the run-off identification stated Completed, then the start-up screens disappeared and a rotating live 3D model came online, showing The Complex in wire format and showing every human being, droid, and level/room marked in corresponding detail to their location.

After Alice ran off with the day's date & time, it said, "Javin Oversector Command & Administrative Complex is running at one hundred percent. No malfunctions in operating systems or other human or droid incidents to report in the last twenty-four hours. As a reminder, the Complex's Chief of Staff is out on personal vacation today and will not be joining you on the morning conference call. Should I alert all local commands to be ready, sir?"

"No, Alice," Starski replied, "Cancel the morning conference call and reschedule for one hour from now. Mark it urgent. Please bring up the 115th Naval Battle Group, in particular the Darkest Night. I want a status update on their operations."

"As requested. Please stand-by, Moff Starski," Alice said, the screen temporarily going back to a rotating Imperial Crest symbol. Several long moments passed before the bald head of Captain Duke P. (Patrick) Totter appeared on the flat screen.

"Good morning, Moff Starski," Duke said, snapping his feet together in the full body holo.

"Good morning Captain Totter," Starski cautiously replied, "Where is Commodore Englewood?"

"Planet-side, sir" the naval captain spoke matter-of-factly.

The Moff raised an eyebrow, "Care to expand on your answer, Captain?"

The Captain paused, choosing his next words, "Moff Starski, Commodore----"

Suddenly the Captain's imagine on a clean and organized Star Destroyer bridge flickered in-and-out with the Captain's words being just as disjointed; suddenly, the imagine froze with the flickered Captain, replaced by a portable holo camera shown as if it was just being turned on and passed around a group of people. Starski could see Stormtrooper armored legs, rag-and-tags torsos, non-standard blasters with standard blasters. The sound of loud engines could be heard, light being filtered in-and-out from outside the enclosed space as heads and bodies moved about, and voices. The holo camera seemed to dangle for a moment as he could hear voices, then he could clearly see out of the corner of the down-angled camera the full body of a armored Stormtrooper jump into the frame of shot from outside, a burning hover car behind them. He could see the Stormtrooper take off his helmet as---apparently they were on a shuttle of some type---started to lift off the ground. He could hear the trooper's unfiltered voice, although couldn't see his face.

"Master Sergeant DW dash Four, One, Eight, One, Two, One. Second Squad, Joker Platoon."

Then a new voice entered the clear pick-up of the camera, although not the body of the speaker---just her legs.

"Pilot, relative One-oh-five degrees, distance 5 klicks elevation 200 meters. Enemy gunship, heading this way at 130 km/h and accelerating."

Someone grabbed the holo camera at that point and started to raise it, the device being shuffled around and showing the cargo hold full of stormtroopers and rag-tag clothed civilians, then the camera focused on a helmeted stormtrooper leaning out the cargo hold as he scanned the skies for, Starski assumed, this enemy gunship. Then the helmeted trooper turned to the people behind him and spoke.

"This is where the fun begins!"

"Hey! Does anyone see that camera on? The view screen is showing someone standing on the other side?" came another stormtrooper filtered voice out of camera view.

"Oh Sith! It is! Hey, who is that?" Said another helmeted Stormtrooper, grabbing the camera from the front view lens.

The unhelmeted stormtrooper grabbed the camera from the other Stormtrooper and cursed under his breathe, scrambling to put on his helmet.

"That's Moff Starski, you flipping nerf cake idiot!" said the other stormtrooper, grabbing the camera and saying, "Commodore Englewood! Moff Starski on the line!"

The camera was moved again to a rag-tag looking Commodore---clearly not in Imperial regulation uniform---as the Commodore started to say, "Moff Starski, Commodore---"

But the naval officer's words were cut off as the camera was suddenly jolted around as sounds of explosions could be heard---and then seen in the sky outside the cargo hold---as voices started yelling above the roar of battle. Then the holo camera signal suddenly blacked out and a yellow flashing Signal Lost icon appeared.


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422 , @Sith-I-5 (for camera footage scenes)


***********************************


IC: Master Sergeant DW-418121 (Animal)
Second Squad, Joker Platoon, airborne in IDT (Gunship)

Music: Marauders Arrive (Solo Soundtrack)


Animal looked out the cargo hold and over Eyes' armored shoulder as the Gunship zoomed around from it's first attack.

"By the center of everything!" Animal cursed, grabbing Eyes' shoulder and getting the trooper's attention, "And you said this is where the fun begins! You Sithing can of corrosion!"

"We can't get a lock on sensors!" yelled back the co-pilot, "They must have sensor jamming capabilities. Our missiles won't touch it!"

"Get me in close!" Animal ordered, "Above it!"

"Copy that!"

"Sir," said Face, "That's suicide!"

Animal looked back to Queen Natasha the Bold, locking eyes with the stateswoman behind his helmet, then looked back to Face; "We don't have a choice! That thing is better armored then we are!"

"No!" the Queen suddenly spoke, "There is a better way!" the Queen raised her wrist to her mouth and spoke, "This is Queen Natasha. Authority Code Two dash Nine dash Four. Allow the Imperial garrison to launch TIE Fighters to intercept a hostile enemy gunship directly outside the capital grounds."

"Yes, my Queen," came back a stern voice.

The pilot looked back, "I'm assuming we're canceling crazy death wish for the Stormtrooper?"


************************************

Imperial Garrison Base, Lepsawn Central


Animal looked back to his trailing 4 Stormtroopers (they had picked up the others and their rescue charge on the way back after the gunship was destroyed) as he walked away from the IDT, his helmet in his hands, "Take advantage of a few down minutes. Clean up and get some grub. Meet back here in thirty minutes. We'll probably be called back to action soon enough."

As the stormtroopers nodded and rushed ahead to some much needed luxuries in a war zone, several female servants from the elite United Islands' Royal Handmaiden Corps and several more United Nation Mercenary Force troops rushed past the Stormtroopers and to the Queen still back at the IDT. Animal didn't bother to look back, reunions weren't his thing. He was just doing a job.

But, a hand reached out and grabbed his forearm and caused him to stop. He turned around to see the Queen standing there, with her handmaidens quiet in the backghround and the UNMF troops behind them.

"Were you serious?" the Queen asked, "About jumping out of the transport to attack that gunship from above?"

Animal nodded, "Yes, ma'am."

"Thank you Sergeant," the Queen said, holding a hand over her heart, "Thank you very much."

As the Queen and her escorts filed past, several of the handmaidens giving the stormtrooper more then longing looks of affection as they passed, the Master Sergeant turned his head to something that caught his eye in the corner. Across from him, just for a moment, was a black-clad ninja-like man, crouching on the side wall of the base. Even from this distance, solid blue eyes radiated out from behind the mask that covered the rest of his face. The ninja-like man nodded with respect to Animal; Animal glanced back towards everyone following him, to see if anyone else saw the ninja. He didn't know. When Animal turned back where the ninja had been, the man was gone, as if he had never been there before.

Frowning, Animal looked to Commodore Englewood.

"Orders, sir?"

The naval officer looked at the Stormtrooper NCO, "Report back to your unit, Sergeant. Thank you for the rescue. I'll make sure to make reference to you and your men in my after action report. Unit again?"

"Joker Platoon, sir."

"Very well, Sergeant," Englewood said, holding out a hand to shake the Sergeant's hand, "From one grateful man to another, thank you once again," as the Stormtrooper nodded and departed with a salute, Englewood turned to those gathered with him, "Anyone hungry?"


TAG @Mitth_Fisto , @galactic-vagabond422 , @Sith-I-5

 

IC: Sergeant Oak
Naval Trooper Detachment assigned to Monitoring Station, Sentry Moon


"Saddle up, we're going home."


The words still echoed in his mind as the Sentinel-class Landing Craft took off from the Sentry Moon. For the ride, Oak stared off blankly to the opposite wall. For now, his mind was a jumbled mess of thoughts and recent memories.

The ambush.

The noises.

The death.

The patrol to find the attackers.

The cave.

The last moments of his blaster going off.

He could still feel the trigger groove in in his index finger, as if he was still holding the weapon.

Suddenly he felt a tap on the shoulder. It was one of the shuttle technicians.

"You're home!" the tech yelled above the declining roar of the landing craft's engines as they idled down.

Oak nodded to the tech, who walked back to his station. The landing ramp was lowered and there, standing as a silhouette against the light of the hanger bay and the darkness of the interior of the shuttle, was Security Chief Shinzon. There was no one else, just the Chief standing there waiting. Oak undid his crash webbing harness and collected his equipment and weapon and meet the Security Chief at the bottom of the landing ramp.

"Orders, Chief?"


*********************

Forward Hanger Control, Darkest Night


Lieutenant Enoch Steadfast looked down upon the recently landed shuttle with the survivors from the above positioned Forward Hanger Control; he noted the Security Chief's deposition at the bottom of the board ramp, waiting after everyone had left. Then his reasoning became clear as a Naval Trooper finally emerged as well.

Steadfast keyed the comm to broadcast over the hanger bay, "Debriefing Chief Shinzon in ten minutes, Conference Room E. Bring that naval trooper with you," Steadfast was about to release the comm button, then added after a moment's pause, "Welcome home, Chief."

Releasing the comm button, he grabbed his cane and turned around to see an Ensign standing there.

"What?" the Duro asked.

"Sir," the Ensign started uneasy at the Duro's sharp question, "Com-Scan has surveyed the planet. What Security Chief Shinzon reported checks out. There's a complex down there and we are reading energy spikes. Based on the size of the complex and types of energy spikes, whatever is down there, will be ready to fire in about an hour."

"What has the Captain said?" Steadfast asked.

"The Captain is preparing to move the Star Destroyer out of estimated firing range based on energy spikes from the Sentry Moon. He's waiting on the Commodore's arrival to make a constructive decision at the next course of action."

Steadfast huffed as he walked away, his cane tapping along, "He should just Base Delta Zero the whole thing!"

The Ensign quietly replied, "Yes, sir," to himself.


TAG @Bardan_Jusik

 

IC: Du'ra Cell (DUR-2207) stormtrooper, Surgeon-Commander Debgate, Darkest Night' docking bay

The female trooper turned slightly from the deck officer to press a gloved finger to the side of her helmet, then looked up at the Chief Medical Officer.
"Ma'am, you are required urgently on the bridge. There has been a death."

Debgate spun towards her. "What? What has happened?"

The armoured girl glanced towards James, then back up at her, and shrugged. "Uh, sounds classified."

"Deck Officer, another time perhaps." Deb' crooked her finger at her new sidekick. "Alright, with me."

"They specified you alone, Ma'am."

"Well, you can wait outside the bridge doors, but you are definitely accompanying me up there. And that is an order."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Debgate took a lift up to the nearest medbay to the bridge, collected a medical coccoon from there, and had the stormtrooper help her guide the thing into the turbolift that would give them access to the bridge.
"Stop here. Stand by."

She stepped through the main doors, into a hive of activity.

She could see along the command walkway, Captain Totter standing to attention, and addressing a monitor screen, addressing it as "Moff Starski".
She knew what a 'Moff' was, but not this particular personage.

Looking around, the Norrathian quickly spotted crewmembers fussing about a collapsed man with a colourful light-blue foam bubbled out of his slack mouth, and over the side of his pasty cheek.

"Alright, clear out of there so that I can take a look."

She waited for the crew to get out of her way.

Tag: @Bravo

 

IC: Flight Lieutenant Baille Harte, Imperial Garrison, Lepsawn capital city
Location: Lapsawn 1-9

It had all been a bit of a whirlwind, the TIE pilot reflected as she followed the Commodore and the Queen down the IDT's ramp, dropped to her knees on the landing pad behind the huge grey zigurrat of the military base, and tried to kiss the ferrocrete, the forehead of her scout trooper helm comking into the hard black material.

Ignoring the titters around her, she stayed down there as she pulled the helmet off in order to repeat the Rite of Abject Thanks; her copper tresses fell round her shoulders as the helmet came off.

She had been collected from the park bushes by a pair of stormtroopers that had scared away the group of office workers that she had helped out of that building, which even if that had not been their intention, had further saved the workers' lives due to an explosion and subsequent debris that hit the area, and almost took the troopers out.

Her bushes - the redhead smirked at the accidental double entendre - she of course meant the ones that she had been hiding under, not....ahem...had been on fire when she had ran with the troopers

"Emergency traffic! Emergency traffic! Rescue Team to IDT! Rescue Team to IDT! We're under fire from a Republic Gunship! Repeat, under attack from a Republic Gunship! We have Lieutenant Harte and will be using buildings as cover back to our drop-off LZ!"

"This is some rescue!" She had enthused through her helmet's voice filter, grinning from ear to ear at the sudden turn in fortune.

As the general area where the Lieutenant and the Stormtroopers just were moments ago in the bush was turned into a fiery explosion from a volley of offensive weaponry from the passing overhead Gunship, Business said, "Okay! Go! Go! Go!" The trooper lead the way back the way they came, with one staying closing to her, "Follow him!"

"You don't need to tell me twice!" She had assured, racing between them.

They had been picked up by the, the sweet sight of their Imperial Dropship Transport - she wondered if her saviours knew that there used to be bath soap in the shape of the things, that she now figured to be subtle marketing to bring the Imperial military into civilians' households.

An enemy gunship had tried to stop them, only to get ambushed itself by a flight of TIE Fighters, the black hexagon-finned craft running rings around the thing while surgically cutting it up with their green lasers.

Like its sister Low Altitude Armoured Gunship, the thing had ploughed into the city blocks below, setting fire to several buildings.

She wanted to suggest to Queen Natasha that she invest in some kind of publically-funded and operated Fire Suppression Service, but she had been in a bit of shellshock and the idea only occurred to her now that the Queen was walking away, grabbing the arm of one of the stormtroopers, whilst her, her, well obviously handmaidens - silent femmes in hooded grey shawls, and floor-length pleated pink skirts.

The lieutenant rocked back on her haunches in surprise. How in the Original Drokk did you girls get here so fast?

Had they been here already? Was this a case of the crysopaws (cute golden mice, large blue eyes) playing whilst the felinx (cat) is away?

"Thank you Sergeant," the Queen was saying to the stormtrooper, holding a hand over her heart, an act that resonated with the lieutenant. "Thank you very much."

As the Queen and her escorts filed past, several of the handmaidens giving the stormtrooper more then longing looks of affection as they passed, that more than confirmed her suspicions, the Master Sergeant turned his head to something that caught his eye in the corner.

Harte followed his gaze, spying a black-clad ninja-like man, crouching on the side wall of the base, then did a double-take, looking back to the dark opening to the rear of the garrison, that her eye-line had swept across, noting a pair of grey-uniformed Imperial Army troopers , escorting Alex and Reen.

She waved at them, Alex in turn pointing towards her, which seemed to be enough for the Army guards, who nodded and left them alone to hobble across to her, with Alex supporting the Communications Chief with one arm as they glanced at the departing groups, and walked up to her.

"All I am saying," The battered-looking G'Spaugh was opining in a wistful murmur that Baille could barely overhear, "is that Ensign Burkheart had it easy. He still sends 'wish you were here' holocards from Scarif, him posing with his buddies against a background of beautiful white sands and lapping blue water, giving us a thumbs up. Smug ba-"

"And he was on one of these Away Team things, was he?" Alex interrupted.

"So he says."

"Well, he definitely got off easier than Markova. Look at the poor girl."

Baille ignored her fellow pilots for the moment, to observe Englewood and the lead stormtrooper coming together, her view of them obscured by Alex' hand moving in front of her face and wiping at her lips and cheek with a damp tissue that smelled and tasted of mild disinfectant.

Spitting against it, she drew back as much as she was able, and drew back, squinting up at him. "What are you doing?!"

"You know how you get all demonstrably grateful. Remember Vader and the chocolates? You are on your knees, after a rather harrowing mission, so clearly you have kissed the ground."

"I've not got that far; I've been distracted."

"Very well, Sergeant," Englewood said, holding out a hand to shake the Sergeant's hand, "From one grateful man to another, thank you once again," as the Stormtrooper nodded and departed with a salute.

"Thanks!" Baille plaintively called across the landing pad after him.

"Hope he's going to ask us if we want a shower." Reen commented as the Commodore appeared to remember that he had come down here with some members of his crew.

"Anyone hungry?"

Baille looked up at Alex and Reen, who clearly had nothing to say to that, so looked over at Natalie and the Master Chef.

Tag: @Bravo @galactic-vagabond422 @Mitth_Fisto