Log:Throwdown on Felucia
Throwdown on Felucia
OOC Date: March 29, 2016
Location: Felucia
Participants: Ambrosia Greystorm, (not) Dash Rendar, DZ-1141, FL-5114, Hex, RK-8801, Oriana, HM-8668, Sesti Gath, PR-3742, Gerratt DeLong, Oozlevort, Mr Manylegs
The short version: The ground forces of the First Order and Resistance scrap it up in the caves of Felucia. The First Order takes a prisoner.
The long version:
The jungle planet of Felucia looms a deep and dark green in the blackness of space, almost tranquil as it rotates slowly in the weightless environment, surrounded by tiny pinpricks of stars. Intel had been passed along to the Resistance chain of command as the scouting party sent ahead to the jungle world had been forced to camp out on the dangerous planet. Word had traveled and an assault team dispatched to rendezvous with the stranded scout team, and to investigate their lead on what the First Order had been up to. As the team broke through the atmosphere of the jungle planet, they found it anything but how it had first appeared. The trees local to the area of the stranded scouts all blaze with an angry fire, filling the sky with a black and acrid smoke. As the Outrider drops low, flying over the blazing trees the troops can see various species of Felucian wildlife trying to escape the blaze and many failing. Carcasses of burned animals are abundant in the wake of the First Order insurance.
The First Order had similarly received word of an enemy ship having been picked up near the cave complex they had been delving into. Orders were dispatched and assault groups deployed to the surface to find and terminate the Resistance threat. A secondary group was assigned to cave detail with instruction to monitor cave activity and to protect First Order assets at all costs. As such, the First Order troops find themselves in a familiar cave complex far beneath the surface. A green and bubbling acidic river flowing directly through the center. A computer terminal connected to monitoring devices arranged throughout the complex rests just to the edge of the descent lift, a lone stormtrooper manning the monitor.
Flying sucked. Waiting sucked. Waiting to land, WHILE flying sucks dually. In order to divert her mind from these morale-slaying thoughts, Major Greystorm had reviewed - yet again - the brief clips of feed relayed from her eyes on the ground. It's a hole. It's dark. It's a cave. Suited up, her rhythmic heel-tapping on the floor paneling resonated with an extra, nerve-twitching metallic ring. After breaking through the atmosphere though, her mood snaps out of the realm of bordeom and into the realm of
"...Those miserable bastards." Staring stone-faced out the viewport as the Outrider touches down near to the cave, she glances to the others. "Double check your asses and activate your coms. Let's see what's changed with our friends since their last contact."
Holding point within the all to familiar cave, DZ-1141 is monitoring the sensor feeds along with the communication feed from the various element staged around the complex and on the surface of this great and wonderful vacation planet with it's boiling river of poison, it's dive bombing mutant bats from some bizarre nightmare lab and, of course, it's planetarium show of ultimate wonder. Checking in with each element, DZ-1141 initiates a comm check and status report from each while tapping into the feed from the Finalizer. "All elements, report in," comes DZ-1141's voice over the comm.
Dash Rendar is probably like the best pilot ever. And who's to argue? Surely not the dead TIE pilots from the day before. Having tested his mettle already, though, Dash decided he'd run with the ground team this time.
He flips a few switches and powers the Outrider down, moving to stand up and pick up his gunbelt, taking the time to strap it onto himself and give a look to Ambrosia, "You know, out of all the scenarios I've imagined involving you on my ship, following you into a hail of blaster fire shortly after...surprisingly not one of them."
"Leebo, keep everything in check. Make sure the old bird's ready to take off and get out when we need her," he comms through the ship, moving to disembark and do lots of cool things. Probably.
Crouched behind a rock for cover is the Pinktrooper. Bathed in blood, then buffed to a shiny, pastel finish, FL-5114 cradles his deadly rifle in his hands, rosy fingers curling around grip and barrel. "FL-5114 reporting. No sign of the enemy yet. Wait, let me check--"
Peeking over the rock, glancing around, and ducking back down, FL-5114 reaffirms, "Correction, upon reconnoitering the area, the Resistance does not appear to be here." A job well done. Looking down at a small centipede trying to crawl over his boot, FL-5114 leans closer, "Hey little guy. Are you poisonous?"
Jungles, fires, burning smoke, deep dark caves. It's a charming planet even when you haven't spent much time there yet! "Ass checked, com's up, ass double checked, looking good," Hex responds to Ambrosia. "Looking great actually." The sexiest Twi'lek here (and also only, so, also the fugliest Twi'lek here), he is settling last touches on his gear - checking his rifle, adjusting the synth-leather straps wound around his lekku to provide them some slight measure of protection against getting shot or eaten by evil bats. "Dash, if I get shot and die here, I just want you to know... I think I should have charged more than 30 an hour. I mean, I'm worth it." He follows out, disembarking with the others.
Rika is buttoned up, fully armoured as she crouches behind in a alcove. Well outside the range of Dozers toys. Her helmeted head scans the scene alertly, the muzzle of her blaster rifle tracks with it, held just below eye level, her trigger finger outside the trigger-guard, the weapon can raised and shot in a spilt second. "Dozer, Rika, checking in, nothing so far...." She moves with that loose, felid grace they all know so well, soundless despite the armor. She is ghostly in the mist from said Poisonous river.. She moves, leap frogging Pyre, careful to keep the flametroppers arc of fire clear. And not get cooked in the process.
In her armour and ready to go, Oriana, who was crammed up in the Outrider as well was fiddling with her rifle, looking it over, making sure all was in check. Every now and then eyes would move up to the others, and then return to her work. Once satisfied the rifle is put down so there is room to adjust the bandolier of grenades that's been slung over her shoulder. Counting them out softly to herself, and making sure all is in order there is a nod and a shuffle, attention moved to her thigh where her throwing knives are. Plucking one out as her head lifts as her big brown eyes peer at Dash and Amber. Openly rolling her eyes and going to stand while sliding that blade back in it's place around her thigh taking up her rifle as they go to disembark. "Yes, I needed that image right now." Shuddering, the demo girl goes to follow along with the others.
HM-8668 is supervising cave explorations for the First Order's mission. There have been reports. And then Dozer makes a possible contact report. "Acknowledged, Dozer. Rika, Pyre, move to support Dozer. Foil, follow up and form up with Dozer. Oozlevort, you are with Rika and Pyro. I will tentatively be with Foil and Dozer until contact." Hammer takes a moment to contact others on the radio, "Higher, this is Hammer. We have reported contacts of possible resistance targets. My squad is moving to investigate. Request instructions and support. Failing orders to the contrary, we will engage and eliminate." He speaks in a calm, cool tone. "Rika, you have the lead. Ooz, you are scout. Pyre, you are the backstop. Dozer, Foil, follow me and be ready to flank. Any questions?"
The camping from the night before left a crick in the zabrak's neck and she rolls it out as the others approach. She gives them a nod, checking the buckles on her weapon belts and the med pac, making sure all is tight and secured. She taps at her comms as the assault team approaches, "what is the channel, Major?" she asks, still dressed in the crimson and gray armor she wore the night before to disguise her affiliation.
PR-3742 stands likely above the rest of the Stomtroopers at a towering 6'7. He has the napalm tanks hooked securely to his back, the stainless steel hose extension protruding from the bottom of the tank around to the firing extension the pilot torch blazing in the end. He listens to the sound off of reporting in troopers and then when it comes to his turn, he says, "PR-3742, here and still sexy." The chuckle into the comms rolls out to stave off the boredom that has crept into his large bones. He chuckles as Foil looks over the rock and then drops back down. He shakes his head, it's hard to be stealthy at 6'7 with a flamethrower on your back.
Sitting in the makeshift camp that he had helped set up with the advance force, Gerratt sits in in armor. Loose fitting, mottled colored strips of cloth breaking up his form and making him blend in where he sits. As the major approaches, the Master Sergeant nods quietly swallowing before saying "Ma'am" the middle aged soldier refrains from saluting in the field, partially to keep from making the major a target, and partially because it would mean dropping the piece of charred, unrecognizable meat he currently holds in his hand. The man looked like he was at home.
Oozlevort the Gand was brought along in this hunt and now it appears he is hunting resistance soldiers. "Scout? They are landing, yes? This Gand wonders." The Gand crouches and proceeds in front of the lead group, fiddling with his macrobinoculars and their adaptors for his large insectoid eyes.
As the Resistance troops make their way along the bank at the point where the acidic river exits and pours back out onto the surface, they find the going relatively easy, a gradual slope arcs up the bank and then into the gaping maw of the cliff face. The tunnel walls are black, and when light shines upon them they seem to reflect the light in a myriad of different colored sparkles, lending to the idea that it likely contains some degree of crystal like substance.
As the Resistance move through the tunnels there is a slight tremor on the First Order scanners. A simple jump of a line, a peak in an otherwise flat expanse. The blip seems to be traceable down to the bottom most levels, where the river is known to leave the complex. The blip disappears for a few moments, and then as the troops move further it flashes again. "Lieutenant," the Stormtrooper manning the sensors says over the comms, "I think I have something. I can't tell what it is, but there seems to be activity in the lower levels.
"No?" Ambrosia grunts with poorly masked disdain to Dash as she bumps by him and pauses for a quick peek out before creeping down the ramp. "Funny, I didn't fantasize about having you follow me into it. Now be quiet and try to keep your eyes focused on something other than this sexy figure, fifty-six glorious years in the making. Copy?" A growl as she signals for the three to follow her towards the cave. Quietly. A low murmur answers Sesti's question. "Six." And fast forwarding....
The Major eyes the atrocious, acidic muck gurgling at the base of their trek up with a less than admirable nosewrinkle. "This it?" She pauses at the cave entrance to glance between Sesti and Delong.
"All units, we have activity in the lower levels," DZ-1141 confirms after hearing the confirmation via comm, helmeted head turning briefly to share a head tilt of a nod to Hammer and Foil, the nearest troopers in formation. "Preparations in advance of the arrival of enemy combatants is complete," DZ-1141 notes in a quiet aside, voice both calm and slightly detached, and eyes the map of the cave itself and surrounding chambers. "To bad we exterminated the flock of winged critters when we got here, it'd have been interesting to actually view them in combat formation, when not assaulting us, that is," a grim sort of curiosity evident in the troopers tone of voice.
There's a sly grin that appears on Dash's face as he listens to Amber's response, but he says nothing in turn. A hand moves to rest on the grip of his blaster and he trudges along behind her, splitting his attention between his surroundings /and/ the aforementioned 'sexy figure'.
He moves up and taps the Major on the shoulder, gesturing to a small black box at the bottom of one of the tunnel walls. He stops the Major and looks around at the group, holding a finger up to his lips and shaking his head at them. Another point to the device and he points to his ears, indicating that it's likely some sort of audio sensor.
"What??" FL-5114 looks up from his centipede inspection, the rogue's armor furiously rouge in the exceptionally poor lighting of the cave interior. "The lower levels...?" FL-5114 looks back at his chest-high, flat-faced boulder. Perfect cover. He sighs. Ducking down, FL-5114 holds out his gauntlet for the centipede to board it, and deposits the creature on his shoulder. "All right, time to go make the galaxy safe for... Um..." FL-5114 rises, tilting his helmet aside a bit. "...Us, I guess." Turning his helmet a bit to include the centipede in his affirmative motion, FL-5114 nods firmly.
Starting to hustle down the complex toward the lower levels, Pinktrooper FL-5114 leads the charge...until he suddenly stops, considers, and turns. "Wait, did your orders mean to head down to the lower levels to investigate, or to remain here and let them come to us? You were a little ambiguous there."
Hex regards the acidic river and sparkly cave walls thoughtfully. "I feel like this is the kind of planet where if you lick anything you've got a 50-50 chance of getting high or dying painfully," he observes, then hushes up and falls into line as they actually begin to enter the cave system. He might have stopped talking about licking the walls, but he's probably still thinking about it, given that he is totally failing to pay attention. Oh, Dash found a box, that's cool, the walls are so sparkly. Be quiet, ok, got it, wow, SO SPARKLY. Hex stares in fascination and trips over a rock. Flails. Doesn't make a racket. Doesn't move silently.
Rika moves forward at a fast, quiet crouch, reaches cover, raise her rilfe to cover the others and gestures for Oozle and Pyre to move. As they do she scans the scene, alert, rifle ready, tracking with her helmet. So they proceed, leapfrogging to point. The sharp end of the spear. She settles finally behind a slimy rock, bat-poop covered no doubt...still cover is cover. Silently she flicks of the safety of her rifle.....
"Thank you," says Hammer to the trooper monitoring the sensors. "Okay, Squad. Flypaper Ambush. Oozelvort, you are up. Find the enemy and make noise as you run for it. Lead them to cavern 27. Squad, take up positions on the the ledges in the cavern. We will open with grenades. Rika, Pyre, after that, you are assault element. Foil, Dozer and I will lay covering fire. Move out sharply. Pull this off and I will get you some sort of bonus, Oozlevort."
Moving as light as she can in the armour she wears, and while carrying her rifle, Oriana walks with the others turning her head this way and that, shifting her helmet about from time to time so it's snug and comfortable while the cave and such are taken in. There isn't much to say, more quiet and focused when Dash prompts attention from Amber eyes move that way while brows knit together. Moving to her toes a look is given to where that box is, and then further into the cave. With readying grip of her rifle feet bring her forward a few paces, with a nod down the tunnel and a hand lifting to point down the way. Two fingers come up for them to see, and then point down the way to indicate that there are two move boxes there. "Similar ones down that way." Is the only comment that's made, and it's just above a whisper.
As her fellows point out the boxes, Sesti scoots down next to one and looks it over before she picks it up, and turns it over. She narrows her eyes, toggles a couple switches and buttons, then pulls it over to the other sensor, facing them towards each other before she sets it back down with a nod. "Safe to say they know we are here," she says over comms. "But I do not think they will be able to pinpoint us when we move further in." She gives a little grin. "Think I gave whoever was listening a little something extra."
Pyre nods his head as the commands roll forth and rolls out a calm, "Roger that," and he moves into position beside Rika. He gives her a nod of encouragement and then sets off into the tunnels at a steady march, left, right, left, right. The most amount of stealth he bothers with is a slight bend to his knees as he falls in with the others, but that could be so that he does not bounce his helmet off of a particularly low hanging place in the tunnel ceiling.
Moving with the group, Gerratt moves to take point. He was highly trained, a veteran of countless excursions, a Master sergeant. He was a lethal killing machine...he was walking on slippery ground and smashing his knee into the wall. Catching himself on the wall, Gerratt mutters "Fuck" before he carries on. Not daring to look back at his squad as he hits the comms. "Keep 'em Hot."
Oozlevort the bounty hunter moves forward as commanded by Rika. He slings his macrobinoculars and draws a stun pistol, checking its setting, and then moves with stealthy intent down the rocks, approaching the lower exit of the acidic river. In the darkness and mists, the Gand findsman is more at home, and the bubbling river does give off a mild fog.
He scouts out far ahead of the advance group, having the advantage of knowing where the sensors were tripped, and moves with silence as he approaches the rather loud group of interlopers. The Gand grabs a rock and hurls it down against some larger rocks near the bubbling stream, making a great clatter, and then flees toward cavern 27 as ordered. The stone throw strikes with a loud THWAK sound.
Those pesky Resistance Troops. As Sesti moves for the sensor, the device sends a myriad of pings forth, the display jumping wildly as she lifts and turns the box. When she moves it near its brother across the way, however, a sudden earsplitting screech back feeds through the device, diving into the poor Sensor Monitor's ear drums.
Up above the Stormtrooper that had been sitting with the feed in his ear is halfway through reporting, "Yeah, there is something down there alri-" when he trails off with a wild yell and stream of curses. As he lunges back from the monitor, his chair snags a stone and he tumbles backward, flipping over into the green rushing river. There is a distinct sizzle, and he never surfaces.
As the Troopers make their way forward, the going is easy. The tunnels are swept routinely for wildlife after the incident with the Giant Pterodactyl-Bats, and as such they make quick progress toward their target chamber. Large boulders litter the floor, and on either side natural ramps slope upward to jagged cliff ledges, the tunnel continuing on on the other side.
The expression reading behind the barrier of Ambrosia's eye shield must be truly radiant...with fury, as she watches Hex stumble off his feet. One can almost see the steam. Truly. But accidents happen, right? Flexing her fingers around her rifle, she nods affirmation to those spying the sensors. Not that it matters, at this point, given the clomping grace the team's entered with thus far. "Nice work, doc. You go ahead," she breathes into her com, moving slooowly forward to bring up the rear. "DeLong, let's stay out of the goo, this time. I want all eyes sharp. Watch for triggers. In other words," a sharp look to the back of Hex's head, bobbing along up there. "Don't touch. Anything...Without my permission. If we come to a change of scenery I want you to sto--" And she quiets, listening to the sound of the clatter. There's anticipation in her silence, waiting for DeLong to report.
Hearing the wild yell via comm followed by the sizzle then distinct comm silence, DZ-1141 takes a fraction of a moment to update their troop placement numbers accordingly. With the noise that the Gand is making to draw the attention of the enemy element, DZ-1141's own progress is relatively quiet by comparison. Unlike the notably taller troopers, like Pyre, DZ-1141's own height is not sufficient to prove problematic when dodging around things like stalagtites or edging around stalagmites, let alone skirting boulders, loose rock, skittering stones or those centipedes that Foil attempted to strike up conversation with.
Locked and loaded, with no actual response to his question earlier, FL-5114 just kinda ambles into position. Not-The-Empire's Finest. Also works without hyphens. Glancing over to check on his centipede companion, FL-5114 doesn't see it anywhere and sighs, "You're crawling on my helmet, are you? Just don't obstruct the visor, okay? Or, uh, the filters. That would be unfortunate and gross." Hunkering down behind cover, FL-5114 aims his rifle at where the Resistance Scum should be appearing, idly commenting through vocoder only, "Think any of them are hot? Or, uh... Single?" He glances over at the gigantic figure of Pyre...and looks away. Not waiting for an answer there. He looks at Dozer instead...and also looks away. He sighs. Shoulders slumping a bit, the conversational Stormtrooper just waits for people to kill. "Remember, Mr. Manylegs, aim for the knees."
Hex messed up. He shouldn't have been looking at sparkly walls. That was wrong. What would Master Sergeant say?! Seeking inspiration from Gerratt, he follows along dutifully and watches the older soldier for the proper example of.... also not noticing stuff or moving silently. Hex twitches his lekku and comes to peace with the nature of the universe as a disappointing place, and follows along with the Master Sergeant taking point. His lekku perk up at the sound of the thrown rock, and he glances sharply that way... just in time to spot a wild Oozlevort in this foggy habitat, waddling away. He raises his rifle but the angle is wrong. "Got one. Running down that tunnel," he quietly draws Gerratt's attention to the running Gand. And then Gerratt's attention will be drawn to a running Twi'lek, as Hex bolts after the quarry, not quite fast enough to catch him, but keeping him in sight.
"Nothing fancy. We do not want perfect or pretty. Just chew them up. As soon as we see three of them or they hesitate, open up. Grenades first. Foil and Dozer and I will follow up with blasters. Rika and Pyre close. I would prefer prisoners but only if they make it easy. Stay safe. Good hunting. For the order. " Hammer settles in, thumbing his Adhesive Grenade.
Oriana stands here watching, listening. Hearing the thunking noise her head turns in that direction, but as others have gone ahead she will hold a little back, for now, waiting for word on when to dash in, a hand coming up to one of the grenades idly.
In Cavern 27, silently Rika signals to Pyre, indicating a ledge which should conceal the towering Flametrooper. Mindful of her Own Valkyrie figure she bends low as she climbs to her own ledge, Crouching there like some Buxom, White Gargoyle, she slings her rifle across that chest and hefts a frag grenade, angling just...so. The scurrying form of the Gand waddles past. Behind the visor, full lips part as she counsts softly. "One..." She arms the grenade, "Two..." Her whipser is husky as she draws back her arm for a throw. "Acknowledged, Hammer, Rika...ready...for the Order..."
Sesti hears the rock tumbling, and then Hex is disappearing down the cavern. The zabrak coming over the comms is colorful, as she glances to the Major. "Think we can catch him before he trips a wire and blows himself up?" she asks, picking up her speed to follow him and try not to lose set of the Twi'lek.
Pyre nods in acknowledgement of Rika and moves to the ledge just above the door. Standing just above it, he aims his flamethrower straight down. So itchy is his trigger finger that as Oozlevort waddles past, he almost sets the Gand on fire. Shaking his head, he grits his teeth and over the comms can be heard his voice growling, "Come and get us you bastards..."
Hearing the Rock, Gerratt turns his head that way, only to be distracted by the running Hex. As the Corporal bolts ahead, the Master Sergeant mutters "Aw....Fuck!" There's a moment of hesitation as he considers letting Hex get blowed up, but he bursts off after the Corporal Running as fast as he can to catch up with the younger, faster....younger Corporal. "Contact ahead!" Pushing for one more burst of Speed, the master Sergeant finally catches up with Hex at the mouth of the cave and dives onto the man. Dragging him to the ground and covering him with his own armored body growling. "Rule 1 Corporal. We do NOT run off after mysterious retreating forms in fucking caves!"
Oozlevort flees like the Gingerbread Man through the rocky caves, moving fast for a rather short creature of four feet. The terrain and uphill nature of the cave give him an advantage. He can be heard panting over the First Order communication network. "On my way," he whispers, then bolts through the entrance to cavern 27. He takes up a defense position behind the heavier hitters, preferring ambush to a straight up confrontation.
As the First Order hurls their grenades, they all manage to make it into the tunnel outside. Gerratt lays atop Hex, covering him protectively and as such, he gets most of that sticking foam, the explosion trapping the two to the cave floor. The other grenades roll into the floor and then explode in a mass of fire, rock particles and flame reaching out for the Resistance troops. Moments later, a single Cryoban flies through the air and bounces just beside Hammer's foot.
Some not nice things grump over the comm line as one of her men breaks formation to go hauling ass after /something/. "Corporal!" Greystorm barks, teeth bared. But the deed is done, and now things are in motion. "If his impulsiveness doesn't kill him, I will." she hisses. "We don't know what we're entering into here, people," she huffs, voice low and raspy as she continues at reasonable pace, scanning walls, floor, ceiling, ahead...repeat. "In my day, a cautious approach did NOT entail running headlong into an enemy nest." Of course, in /her/ day, she also wasn't outfitted with a clunky rifle and headgear. Then, "Nice catch, DeLong. Shove him back this way, so I can ---" And then shit gets loud. Loud and sticky, evidently.
Throwing herself against the tunnel wall (or knocked off her feet by the proximity of the grenade blasts, Ambrosia spies the entwining legs of her teammates disappearing beneath some foam from under the shield of her right arm. Something sharp grazes her hip and embeds itself in her right cheek (face!) while other frags rat-a-tat off her armor. Dazed, she reaches without thinking to pull a sliver of metal from her cheek, blood trickling free. "Get back to the Outrider and cover this tunnel," she monotones to Dash, shoving him off back the way they'd come. "I want it ready to fly. Oriana! Give'em a kiss hello. Tell'em that 'Ice Queen' Aderanne sends her regards..." she snarls viciously into the mini mic and drops to a knee, staring at her men on the floor while her rifle raises back into position to pop at any greedy hands snatching at the gooey duo.
Bouncing a copy of the recon maps to Foil's display, DZ-1141 opens a side channel to answer Foil's question, belatedly: "Recon of the lower cavern should now be available on your targeting system." This said as DZ-1141 is swapping the blaster for one of the grenades in the kit carried into this mission. The grenade DZ-1141 tossed is aimed with the others in the general vicinity of the noise created by the resistance troops, not aiming at any single point of contact, taking a knee afterward to shelter from the result of multiple explosives going off in the same enclosed space, dialing down the audio receptors as much as possible, DZ-1141's shoulders hunch at the same time, grimacing behind the helmet while the echoes bounce and rebound around, dust and other small grains of debris kicking upward and sifting downward at the same time.
The return bounce of grenades has DZ-1141 surveying each trajectory with care and when the grenade bounces near HM-8668 DZ-1141 abruptly grabs hold of Hammer's elbow and, with a grunt of effort, hauls against the adhesive that has HM-8668's foot stuck to the ground.
As a grenade is lobbed their way, FL-5114 ducks his head down under the cover of his chest-high wall. "They're grenading us! Barbarians!" The convenient boulder shields him from the explosion, and FL-5114 asks, "Okay up there, Mr. Manylegs? Ugh." Hauling himself up, the Stormtrooper looks over the boulder and spots...only Oriana. Well, specifically, only Oriana's /backside/. "Whoa."
Stunned for a moment, FL-5114's eyes widen behind the cool black visor of his dawn-pink trooper armor, and he reflexively flicks the damage selector from Death To All Sentients to Death To Only a Few Sentients (Sleep to the Rest). Whipping the rifle over the side of the boulder, FL-5114 leans on it as he fires out a blue pulse...and manages to completely miss the ravishing Resistance rabblerouser in the distance. "Friggin...really?!" Ducking back down, FL-5114 crouches behind the boulder. "Hey, did you see that lady grenadier?! Wow!"
Hex might have expected any number of things happening as a result of running off, but attack from behind probably wasn't it. Thud. Gerratt tackles him and he goes down, though he must remember some training from somewhere because he retains his hold on his rifle as he goes down face first. "Copy that," Hex confirms to the dirt and/or his superior in reply to what they do not do with strange creatures running away in caves, just in time for all hell to break loose. All kinds of hell. Cold hell, fiery bomb hell, but relevant to himself and the Master Sergeant, adhesive hell. "Akei ka schutta!" Hex curses in Ryl, surprised, dazed, and dismayed as he starts trying to free himself from the dual encumbrance of adhesive foam and Gerratt DeLong. "We're gonna die like we lived, you're on my ass about a sticky situation." Next time the Res will just let him run into the ambush.
After unleashing the opening volley and grenade, Hammer starts to bring up his rifle. Not waiting to see the results of the grenades. "Support.. shit..." Hammer's veteran instincts react to something unseen and he dives to the side as the Cryoban grenade goes off a second after the imperial grenades. The sergeant almost but not quite avoids the quickly forming chunks of ice. His boot is caught in the sub zero chunks. As Dozer helps pull him free, he barks orders. "Support team, fire into the corridor. Keep their heads own. Assault team, advance. Rika, get the prisoners. Pyre, torch the corridor past the prisoners." He forgoes firing to give commands. "Dozer, keep firing." He gives out a bellow, "SURRENDER! You will be treated fairly!"
There is cursing, or at least that's what one would think it is that Oriana is saying. Words are in a different language and all. Making her way down towards Hex and Gerratt. "Aye Major!" Comes the reply, with a smirk on her lips and bit of pleasure in her tone. Grabbing her cryo her hand comes up, pulls around and the grenade hits air as she lets go, it's landing point at HM-8668's foot. When their grenades go off balance is lost, she stumbles back a bit pinning a hand to the wall for balance. The other hand comes up adjust her helmet back in place though the dazed feeling lingers longer than her being off balance. Coming around just enough eyes focus as the blast comes her way. Dodging and letting it hit rock, which shards away. "So, this is how it goes huh.. well let the game begin." Now hands reach for her rifle, ready to return fire, looking over to FL-5114 first, making sure where her target is but hears the call to surrender. "Surrender? Ha! Maybe if your armour didn't look like it was trying to be a mushroom and failed!" She calls out.
"Sir, Yes Sir! " Rikas's voice is a roar as she swings up her rifle, flicking off the safety as she does. She leaps from the ledge, despite the armor and rifle, one is reminded of a very large cat springing on its prey....She lands and smoothly rolls taking cover behind the Lovers, using their prone forms as an improvised firing rest. and opens fire at the nearest foe.....the Resistance trooper is a splendid target, her bolt flies true.
Jogging to keep them in sight, and hearing Amber on the coms, Sesti tries to keep the balance between catching up, and keeping her distance in case they trigger something. When they go down, she gives a sigh as does Amber, and slows up, unfortunately straightening up as the blasts hit. She throws up her arms, spinning face first against the wall away from the entrance as fragments embed in the back of her knee where there is no heavier padding. Hissing with the pain, her roll continues against the wall so she's face front and can see her two comrades now coated in foam. She draws her blades to try and cut them free when a figure throws itself down on them to use as a prop for her rifle. Instead of cutting foam, she cuts into armor, trying to drive the trooper back away from the prone twi'lek and his Master Sergeant meat shield.
Pyre is quick to follow Rika as she jumps down from the ledge. He pulls the trigger on his incinerator and flames burst from the tip filling the corridor that the Resistance are in. He directs his fire for the target Rika shot, and then swivels as Rika is attacked, attempting to set Sesti on fire as well, or at least scare the two off into retreating.
Glued to the floor on top of Hex, Gerratt snarls basically in the corporal's ear. "You are not going to die here Corporal. That is by way of being a fucking Order, got it? I am going to get you out of here and you are going to grow up to be a God damned hero of the Fucking resistance. That is by way of being another order!" Straining against the Foam, the Master Sergeant manages to key his pressure mic for his comms, snarling into his mic with the exertion. "No Joy Major. They've got position, tech and numbers on their side. Get out and don't let them take first prize, please."
"Ya don't say!?" Ambrosia retorts to Gerrat's strained commentary. "Fall back!" Ambrosia shouts into the comm over the noise of blaster fire, holding her own position to fire back at the head/arm peeping up over her comrades' backsides. But then Sesti hops in the way. "If you can move under that mess, now's the time, gents! I am NOT picking your asses up." And she proceeds to pull the trigger, sending a volley towards Mr. Hot Pants while rising into a crouch and backstepping deeper into the tunnel. "Doc! Grab demo girl and let's go!"
Already in the processes of drawing the blaster from her side, and after ensuring that HM-8668 doesn't turn into a Troopcicle from the boot up, DZ-1141 is tracking the progress of the battle so as to best line up a shot that won't end up with friendly fire. Friendly fire, in this definition, is not exactly as friendly as it's supposed to imply. In the ensuing chaos her best attempt at a quick shot goes as well as expected, which is to say, she hits a perfectly innocent appearing stalagmite and prevents it from being sufficiently sparkly so as to save Hex from being so distracted by said sparklies. Public service achievement: unlocked!
There's a sharp gasp as the flametrooper nearly roasts that lovely demo girl... But then there's some sort of strange, spiky-headed curvy alien with her! Snapping off a shot at that one, FL-5114 just can't hit anything today. "Man, come on! At least Rancors hold still!" Then he hears...retreat?! FL-5114 pops up from behind cover, "No, wait! Come back! We're not done yet! Don't leave!" FL-5114 levels his rifle for another shot, but the barrel is still cooling down from his attack on Sesti, and it beeps at him in irritation.
Hex starts squirming, and finds that thanks to his meatshield comrade, he's got some wiggle room. "I can get out," he wheezes, "Ugh, it's a tight squeeze, but I can -" Well, the rest starts sinking in. Amber's order to retreat. The way he can get out, sorta. The way Gerratt cannot get out. The obvious conclusions about the order, here. "No," he says in disbelief. "No, I'm not leaving you behind, I can get you free of it, somehow, I can --" He can't. "I'm not --" He is. Shock has another half second to have its way with its synapses before somewhere, soldierly training finally kicks in, maybe a little too late there, and Hex shuts up and starts extricating himself from adhesive and comrade.
Before she has a chance to return fire at FL-5114 it's RK-8801 that moseys on up to her and lets those bolts free. And it hurts like a bitch. Armour can only do so much, and has she been standing more to the side from shoulder, back to thigh they dig and rip into her. A loud curse escapes the woman with as much fluidity as the blood that runs out of her free of its fleshly bonds. There is pain, and some awful flashbacks of the last time she got ripped to shreds, even some brief fear in her big brown eyes, fear of the past repeating itself while she falls back against the rock wall.
Still she is a soldier, and with that comes a level of crazy. Bringing up a hand she grabs for one of her grenades while shuffling hearing the gasp from that Stormtrooper only able to pass the quickest glances his way. That's when fire erupts. "Holy - what?! Damn, I need one of those!" Because that's what she takes from this experience at that this moment, the desire for a flame thrower while pressed against a wall to get away from it's deadly bite. Hearing the Major call for retreat she curses under her breath, not the outcome she wanted. "Here, have a parting gift on the Resistance!" Changing course and moving back, albeit a bit slowly white gritting her teeth with pain and determination, because moving hurts, that grenade is tossed into the air towards the 'troopers, more aiming for RK who has those multi shots.
The sword comes as a shock, as do the wounds. But Rika is born and bred to battle, she does not stop. She drops her carbine, letting it swing on its strap and draw her her Baton, It hums menacingly, as she turns and attacks with blurring speeds. One two and three. The first and the last are hit, palpable hits, the sparks coruscating of her opponents frame bring a grim smile to those full lips...then the grenade blurs into view and she has no time to duck it. It smacks before her and she is trapped, like fly in amber. Her baton crackles uselessly....Through her helmets visor she snarls, so feral....
The blaster bolts are coming from all sides, not a surprise when she's suddenly stepped into the middle, bringing a blade to a blaster fight. She looks down to the men below her, and notes the movement, and steps to the side to let Hex wriggle free... right into the flurry of attacks from the stun baton. She pauses as her muscles freeze with the electricity, then she steps back, covering the twi'lek as he crawls out. "Go," she says, backing off, taking a couple of swipes to keep the trooper at bay. Unnecessary, as it turns out, as the maniac is held fast by Oriana's parting shot.
As Oriana throws the grenade at Rika and then Sesti presses the attack, the large Flametrooper steps forward with a yell, "GET THE HELL BACK!" His hand pulls the trigger on his flamethrower and fire once more fills the cavern. He fans the flames toward Oriana and then sweeps back toward Sesti, the napalm induced flames leaping onto her and quickly burning hair, flesh, and armor alike. As she screams out obscenities as the flames set upon her, Pyre laughs aloud, his voice filling the comms, "That's right, burn!" He continues to press the attack until she turns tail and runs away, abandoning the organized retreat and Hex, fleeing down the cave tunnel like a flaming beacon back toward the exit. Pyre also takes a hell of a hit from the blaster fire sent his way from Ambrosia, the blast catching him full in his upper chest and shoulder.
As Hex finally manages to get himself pulled from the sticky goo, he has no choice but to abandon Gerratt and leave the man who dove atop him stuck there to the floor in a spot that would have been his alone were it not for that bit of heroics. The rest of the Resistance falls back, led by the flaming and howling Sesti as she sprints ahead of them into the darkness of the tunnels like a living torch. The have a relatively uneventful exit, making it back to the Outrider and able to flee the planet. The Stormtroopers, for the most part, had a better go of it. They are able to go and collect Gerratt, binding him in shackles and stripping of his armor and weapons and then hauling him roughly back to a shuttle and then to the Finalizer. Rika is cut free, and then the troops fall back to the higher levels and the safety of higher numbers, for now.
"DeLong...take care of yourself." Ambrosia murmurs solemnly, between rounds of fire, one veteran to another. "I'll keep after the brood. And if Hex ever catches up, he is going to become /very/ familiar with fresher duty. So just think on that." She sees a flash and wisp of smoke, indicating she'd put a hole in her target, but victory is short-lived.
Because then her daughter-in-law is on fire.
"Ditch the armor!!" She yells both into her com and over her shoulder, watching Sesti go barreling past in a rush of heat. "Ah, shit." She fires a last, haphazard shot into the cavern before turning to chase after the burning woman and catch her before she sets the damn ship on fire. Huffing and puffing, the Major does offer panting words of caution to their ride. "Dash, be advised...Sesti's on fire. I repeat: Sesti is on fire. Kindly extinguish...she ought to be on your position /real/ soon."
Hustling toward where the Resistance is fleeing down the tunnels, FL-5114 snaps off a couple more blaster shots, "Geeze. Did you /see/ those ladies?" Lowering his rifle slowly as pursuit becomes impossible, FL-5114, in his bright pastel pink armor, looks down at the entombed Garret. "Really? You're all we got?" The trooper sighs. "Oh well. At least now I'll have someone to talk to!" Kneeling down, FL-5114 leans his helmet close to Garret. "Hi there! My name is FL-5114. I like giant robots and things that explode."
