Chp-27: Wounds and Worries
Sabine Wren
Hyperspace, VCX-100 Ghost
Shaken. That was the only word that could be used to describe the Spectres at that moment. They were shaken.
Sure, throughout their many adventures, they had close calls more often than even she would've liked, yet never like this.
The rescue of Hera had almost cost them everything. While the initial stages went well, the extraction was incredibly dangerous. The jumpacks she had designed meant that they had made it pretty far from the Defender factory, even as Pryce destroyed it to get to them.
What almost got them, however, was the TIE's. A Defender, accompanied by two other TIEs with X shaped wings. They were all powerful, fast, and utterly wrecked the
Ghost.
Even now, looking out the window, she could see the myriad of scorch marks and slagged armor paneling. Their shields were wrecked, some thrusters had to be deactivated to avoid detonation, and both her and Chopper had been hard at work to repair what they could from the inside.
Now in the common room, she could see Hera coming down from the cockpit. Like the rest, she was shaken. The ace that had flown that Defender, combined with those weird new TIE's had been a massive threat, and even Hera's exceptional piloting skills had only barely gotten them out.
In fact, it was due to Kanan and Ezra using the force to drop a boulder from one of Lothals passing spires on the Defender that they were able to get away. It didn't destroy the ship, whoever was piloting clearly had the talent to just barely dodge, but it gave them the opening they needed.
It was then that Kanan walked in, followed by Ezra and Zeb.
"Group meeting, everyone." he stated, motioning for them all to sit.
As they did, his milky white eyes seemed to scan them, the Force giving him a sight of sorts.
"While this mission was a success, considering we were able to both free Hera and destroy the Defender factory, it's clear that this was the closest call we've ever had."
And it was. Kanan had one arm in a cast, Hera was still shaking from the interrogation, and the rest had a myriad of bruises and cuts. Chopper even had scorch marks!
"The Ghost is in worse shape than us" Kanan continued "And Phoenix Cell said that they don't have the parts to spare for our repairs. Thing is, they need us for further action, so their sending us to get more permanent repairs."
Sabine perked up at that. "The Rebellion doesn't have any repair yards close by, right? Where are we going?"
"Minda" he replied, and Sabine barely contained her excitement. "We've got an orbital yard over there that is secretly run by the Rebellion. They don't normally like operatives showing up in person, and prefer to just send out parts discreetly. Unfortunately, the only other repair centers that are both safe and can repair the
Ghost have either recently been destroyed or are beyond our reach."
"So we're laying low and lickin' our wounds, then?" growled Zeb, clearly unhappy.
Kanan nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. Minda is an out of the way system, but advanced enough that we can get repairs, and maybe even upgrades that will help in future missions. Phoenix cell, and the rest of the Alliance is moving to start the war."
At this, he sighed, and sat down by Hera, the two interlinking their arms. "You all know my misgivings on starting the war now, but it's going to happen whether we want it to or not. As we understand it, Minda has been advancing and progressing its economy and technology sectors quickly. If there's any place we can get our hands on some upgrades for the Ghost and ourselves without too much risk, it's there."
He then gestured at Sabine. "And someone is clearly excited to go."
She couldn't hold back anymore. "It's Minda! They apparently have some great stuff! PDAs better than this one, StormTroopers with power armor! I even heard they aren't humancentric!"
Ezra gives a light laugh at this. "So that's where that terminal you love so much comes from. I thought it was a paradise given how much you like that thing."
Before she could retort, Chopper rolled in, beeping. They were coming out of hyperspace, and needed to pick up some quick supplies an do some really sketchy patchwork repairs.
As they filed to their positions, one thought bounced around Sabines head.
Once they won this war, she was vacationing on Minda for sure!
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Sergeant Mory Kaylee, LK-778
Edin System, Edin 2, 40 miles south of Edin City
The wind whipped past the window as the K79 zoomed through the night. Her and nine other troopers were packed into one of the two transports that were approaching a criminal hideout.
Scouts had identified it as a local distribution hub of locally made, and highly illegal narcotics. It made her want to spit, but that would just dirty her helmet.
Her parents rampant drug abuse was what pushed her to the Academy, and what pushed her to do her best. When she and her squad were assigned here, she wondered if she had insulted someone.
But now, she was doing her job, and loving it.
Checking her PDA, integrated into her
new armor, she saw they were approaching their destination.
The facility was nestled under an overhanging cliff from one of the local massive plateaus. Scouting indicated that it was a decently sized facility, complete with walls, turrets, multiple buildings, and the possibility of a cave system that burrowed into the plateau.
"Alright squad, we're approaching the objective. I want one last suit check, pronto!"
"""Yes, Sergeant!"""
As they did that, she got into contact with the other part of their squad. Unlike the other squad in the K79 next to theirs, the pilot that sat above them was different.
He piloted one of the few LECA models that had been produced, and was in its cockpit, magnetized to the top of the transport. VH-221 had proven himself incredibly adept, and because of that would be their heavy fire support for this mission.
His LECA had been outfitted with what was being called the Fire Support kit. That meant that alongside his rapid fire blaster cannon, his shoulder mounts had an E-Web turret on one and a short range missile launcher on the other.
"221, status"
"Diagnostics read all green, Sergeant."
It was then that her PDA pinged once more, indicating that they were approaching the enemy base. The camera connection allowed her to see the enemy base in the distance, and the blue streaks of the ion torpedoes that just slammed into their front gates, while some more hit their comms tower. No real damage, aside from the complete shut down of any communication equipment and turrets within.
Feeling the transport slowing down, she reconnected to her squad frequency.
"Alright Troopers, this is it. 221, I want you on that vanguard, the rest, split into battle buddies. Intelligence suggests that there are three buildings within the compound. Squad 1 will be covering the other two, and it's our job to clear the first one. Keep your guns up, comms open, and feet quick, understood!?"
"""YES MA'AM"""
The LA-AG blasted the gates open, and in went the transports. She could hear the blaster cannons on the front of the K79 opening fire as the doors opened, and her squad rushed out.
Immediately they took cover behind the transport as 221 stepped down, weapons spraying red death in multiple directions. She started picking off what few pirates were still scrambling to reach cover.
Scanning the battlefield, she entered comms. "513, 690 and 730, I want a breach and clear of that door now!", pinging the front door of the building in front of them.
It was a prefab of some kind, two stories tall and covered in scrap metal sheets where the walls had worn away with time.
Advancing with the rest of her squad, the previous three troopers lined the wall. One opened the door, another tossed a flash, and the third entered soon after.
In mere seconds half her squad was clearing out the building. Room after room, they spray through the door then check for survivors, leaving none alive.
Outside they could still hear 221's LECA E-Web and main cannon roaring, turning the few remaining static defenses to chunks of meat and slagged metal.
Finished with the first building, her squad exited out the back, aiming for what seemed to be the living quarters. The patterned repeated, clearing rooms, tossing flashbangs, and copious use of full auto in the enclosed quarters. Thankfully, they had all come equipped with newly made extended magazines. The techs had thrown together a simple modular kit for the E-11 could simply be attached, like putting on a glove. It increased ammo capacity and came with a simple cooling system for the barrel.
It was no DLT-19, but it did the job and kept the cost below 1500 credits, cheaper than an E-22. It also made spraying down the longer sight lines of the barracks easier.
Once they finished the barracks, they left to find that the third building had already been cleared.
"Troopers, I want a perimeter established yesterday! And 221, guard the gate!"
Ignoring the chorus of affirmatives, she switched comms to field HQ. "HQ, this is LK-778, we have secured the site, over."
"...778, this field HQ. Hold position, and identify any potential valuables. Transports and army troopers will be there to take over in an hour. Over."
"Understood, HQ. Over and out."
With the exchange finished, she sighed. For all that the training they received as StormTroopers was some of the best, fear was a constant.
Before she could continue on her way, her comms lit up.
"Sergeant, we have a cave opening here. Permission to investigate?"
"Negative trooper, wait until I'm there."
It took less than a minute for her to be back in the main building. Some troopers were gathered around a newly revealed trapdoor that seemed to connect to an underground cave system.
Shining a flashlight revealed nothing but the steps downward. Until she noticed something…else.
Something small was reflecting light at the very bottom of the tunnels. An itch began at the back of her mind. Something was off.
She activated her PDA's scanning function, and narrowed the radius to around 40 meters ahead. Pointing it down the tunnel, she saw what she feared. A little blip, confirming a life source. Then another. And another.
That's when they screeched, bounding up the steps like an animal.
"Fire!" she yelled, and the four of them did, sending a wave of blaster bolts down the hatch. That only served to slow the beasts, yowling in what was either pain, rage or both.
"Retreat!" she ordered, knowing they couldn't kill these things with infantry weapons. And retreat they did. Booking it out the front door and into the main courtyard, she yelled out to 221. "All weapons trained on that building!"
While confusion emanated through the comms, the LECA pilot complied, turning his weapons to the door just as a small horde crashed through it. Now in the light, it was clear that these were, or used to be people. Their eyes widened and mad, the skin on those that still had it was hardened and ashen. And their jaws, covered in blood and nearly unhinged.
She promptly lost sight of these features as the LECA's main tri-barreled main weapon opened fire, hosing down the incoming horde in so much red it was like looking at a star. The shoulder mounted E-Web blaster joined in, as did the rocket launcher, turning the horde into chunks.
After a few seconds, the blasts stopped, and the horde was no more.
Breathing heavily, Mory analyzed the situation, and realized that there was more at play here than what she could handle.
Comm HQ once again, she knew only one thing for certain.
This wasn't going to end well.
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Hi there folks! Woulda had this out sooner but I've been struggling to figure out what the next arc should be, as well as how fast or slow things should progress. Worry not, though, as the R&D POV chapter is on the way and will be both glorious and incredibly informative as to why the skunkworks have been so goddamn effective and fast.
Aside from that, it's ground vehicle time! Upcoming issues on Edin and beyond will force Las to upgrade his ground forces. Thankfully, by the time that happens, he will be much richer. This, of course, means that the name of the game will be quality over quantity(though quantity is still appreciated). Effective ground vehicles, be they cannon, fannon, or just cool concept art like the
Storm Walker is all appreciated and will be taken into serious consideration. Prolly cause I read every comment like a madman.
Any feedback on where the story should go is greatly appreciated!
Thanks for reading!
-Freefaller
