Reach of the Empire IC

[P-47 Thunderbolt 4,160]

Hale, seeing the man get out of the gunner's seat, sprints towards the AT-TE and leaps into the air, whipcord slashing through the air...  It slams hard into the gunner and wraps around him several times. Hale pulls himself up on the cord, reaching the side of the walker, as the LAAT/c continues its ascension, Shoot him! Bring 'im down! He yells to his squad who fire a hail of blaster bolts, but the target is just too far away and they can't land a hit. Then, glancing down he realizes just how far away the terrain has gotten, as he swings back and forth, dangling from an opponent, and starts to feel a little bit woozy.

[Edgehawk 3,158]

The Tusken lookout on top of the silo belatedly sees the turret aiming at him, and brings his slugthrower to bear, but stumbles in his haste and plummets to the platform.

At the turret, the wounded Fitzsimmons struggles with the whipcord that the flying Hale has entangled him with. Banshee indeed! It takes a few moments, and no small amount of effort, but he manages to shrug his way out of the ensnarement. As he slips free of the cord, Hale's vertigo intensifies as he realizes he is in free fall. 

 

[SithArissa 912]

Cani had served on many ships where the engine rooms where set on multiple levels so sliding down a ladder during an emergency was nothing new. 

"Gotta fight big guns with big guns" 

She muttered to herself, and broke into a run for the landing pads. 

[Rabobankrider 3,409]

Grunting with annoyance through his helmet as Den raises his rifle and begins to walk towards the  hulking walker. "Advance and then fire! The way you lot shoot you'll hit your squad leader before you hit the target!" he would shout over his shoulder to Hale's squad. As he moves closer to the walker his pauses, squinting down the sights as he lines up the shot. He was no sharpshooter, that was a given, but he was still good enough to wear the white armour. Firing off two bolts of red plasma, he would smile beneath his helm as he watches the shots fly true, smashing into their target. "That's the way it's done!"

[P-47 Thunderbolt 4,160]

Nice shot Luks! In spite of his current predicament, Hale knows a good shot when he sees one (particularly when it just might save his hide).

[Edgehawk 3,158]

As Fitzsimmons shrugs his way free of the whipcord, he is already swinging his heavy rifle up into place when Den’s well-placed fire slams into him. He returns fire, sending a volley of red plasma back at the Duros trooper then slams the release. The AT-TE immediately disengages from the LAAT/c, and drops down into the crater, uncontrollably it would seem.

Still aboard the Stormcrow, Veitra suddenly awakens in a cool sweat, vague visions lingering just outside the edges of her perception. Touched by The Force? By the Emperor? Just a dream? She cannot tell, but she does hear sounds of battle outside.

Ranged hvy @ luks: 1eA+2eP+2eD 3 successes

 

@Rabobankrider 13 base dmg to Luks.

@Von3679 Roll initiative and act in this upcoming round, or your character will be shifted into dormant status.

 

 

[Shlambate 2,679]

Seeing the commotion go on with the AT-TE Drogos immediately rushes to the beasts he had seen earlier while passing through the camp. 
 

Mounting the Varactyl he grabs the beast by the reigns and charged towards the AT-TE trying to apprehend the traitor atop it. Seeing the trooper Hale almost fall he glides toward the soldier, and extends his hand catching Hale. 

Edited October 12, 2019 by Shlambate

[P-47 Thunderbolt 4,160]

Drogos grabs Hale by his right arm, but seeing Fitzsimmons falling away, Hale makes the snap decision to use his whipcord to try to grab hold of the the falling traitor, Oh no, you're not getting out of this that easy! Once more, the whipcord slashes through the air, wrapping itself around Fitzsimmons. Got 'im! Hale then, with the assistance of Drogos, scrambles up onto the varactyl, trailing Fitzsimmons behind him, dangling from the cord.

[Edgehawk 3,158]

The hovering LAAT/c had no intention of just taking fire from the rogue stealth fighter. Opening up with both turrets, it unleashes a hail of laser fire upon the Phantom, which is obviously considerably worse for the exchange. When the firing stops, the pilot drops the carrier down deeper into the crater.

 

(

@bsmith23 I’m afraid both turrets struck true, delivering 9 points Hull trauma. A Hard Mechanics check can keep it together for a fairly controlled landing; it is equipped with an ejection system if it comes to that extreme. Edit to add: easy Crit for exceeding HT. Take 1 System Strain).

Edited October 13, 2019 by Edgehawk
Crit

[bsmith23 696]

"Stang!! That's just great! I swear,  when are they going to start putting shields on these suicide sleds?" Somar hits his comms, hoping they haven't been fried yet. "Phantom's been stitched! Attempting to put her down soft!"

[Rimsen 1,368]

Cursing to himself, Evon quickly pulls out his comm and tries to reach the Intrepid. 

,,Come in, Intrepid! This is Agent Evon Taltron. Do you copy? Over."

The harsh voice of the dispatcher comes through the channel. ,,Agent Taltron, the situation is under investigation. Until further notice, your group is flagged as hostile. Cease fire immediately and stay where you are. Over." 

,,Negative Intrepid. Agent Briar aquired new evidence in the matter of the Veiled Sorority. First Sergeant Fitzsimmons and his troops are collaborating with Porel Vakra, and they were firing on Agent Briar while she was deciphering the recent communication in the Hellhound Crater. She is relaying through the intercepted messages. For the Emperor's love, lieutenant as an ISB Agent I have superiority! I command you to send air support and a prisoner transport for Fitzsimmons and his men!"

,,Negative Agent!" - says the comm officer with an unflinched voice. "You and your task force is compromised, until the Captain doesn't order otherwise." 

Evon cuts off the communication and vents some of his frustration with some phrases that he had learnt from the lowest spacers on Ord Mantell. He contacts the Task Force: ,,We are on are own people. Intrepid wants us to cease fire and wait until they pick us up... Lieutenant Up-His-*** mentioned it's an order or what-not." - Adressing the Fourth Brother: ,,Maybe The Inquisitorious can overrule the Intrepid, sir?"

 

Edited October 13, 2019 by Rimsen
Typos

[SithArissa 912]

"MOVE YOUR SORRY ASSES I DON'T HAVE A CLEAN SHOT!"

Cani screams down the coms to Drogos  and Hale. 

[P-47 Thunderbolt 4,160]

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WE'RE DOING!?

[Shlambate 2,679]

"Pay her no mind." The Inquisitor says fully calm despite everything that was going on. "This beast would still be in her way even if we were as fast as she wanted." He pats the Varactyl that he was riding.

Edited October 16, 2019 by Shlambate

[Rabobankrider 3,409]

Den is nocked back a few paces as he is left with a singed black hole in the centre of his armour. "Strewth that stings" he would growl to himself as he pokes at the hole. "Well, it'll add character to this shell I guess". Seeing the others struggle to find a clear shot on the enemy, Den runs forwards, keeping his head down as best he can. Gritting his teeth he breaks into a sprint before sliding down onto one knee. Raising his rifle he takes aim at the enemy. "Scuff up my armour? Let's go two for two eh?" Flicking the switch on the rifle to stun, he aims to take this prisoner alive. 

However the bolt that leaves the gun is not the blue ring he expected, but the red plasma shot that he was more accustomed to. To his credit, it is another good shot from the stormtrooper, just not what he was aiming for. Looking down at his rifle, he gives it a sharp shake before checking the switch on the side. It was still set to live, he must have not caught it properly. Shrugging, he takes aim once again. If the target didn't want to get shot, then he shouldn't go against the might of the empire. 

Edited October 17, 2019 by Rabobankrider

[Edgehawk 3,158]

“Task Force 75, Agent Ostell, your intel checks out and that is his voice. All Units: Tank Commander First Sergeant Fitzsimmons has been compromised. Take him alive! We want him for questioning. Cease hostilities with the Cav unit until we know more. Assault Carrier Houndstooth, Tactical Enforcer Hellhound, stand down! Next one who fires answers to a flight of TIEs, incoming. Intrepid out.”  

As the transmission cuts through the tension of the moment, the Hellhound plunges into the bottom of the cenote with a splash, breaking the surface tension for the lifeless body of Fitzsimmons as he follows after. The hanging vegetation and reflections had previously disguised the true nature of the crater’s base from above, and the water had not been been on any of the nav displays. 

The Phantom spirals downward as well, as the hotshot pilot struggles to manage a controlled landing. If he can stick the landing, there are enough engineers about that the bird might just fly again.

[Rabobankrider 3,409]

Moving closer to the edge off crater, Den would hold his breath a little as he leans over the edge to watch the splash. He'd never been a fan of heights, and this reminded him. Sucking his teeth as he sees the body impact with the murky surface, the trooper would turn to face the others. "Alright, I know I shot him, but I'm not going to get him". 

Turning away from the sight he walks back towards the group, rifle slung over his shoulder. "Look I know that the higher ups said they wanted him alive, but he was firing on imperial military personal. You don't just walk away from that. Either they go down or you take causalities, and my job's to stop that kind of think happening". He certainly wasn't going to admit he'd missed the stun switch on the rifle, better to look aggressive than incompetent. 

Edited October 22, 2019 by Rabobankrider

[Edgehawk 3,158]

“Sergeant Major Hale, you are off to an inauspicious start. Please rein in your squad. If your crack shot is not fit to follow orders, the Intrepid is short a mess cook... Fitzsimmons may have deserved a traitor’s death by firing squad, but an interrogation first would have been desirable.”

Lieutenant Somar tries desperately to bring the Phantom down safely, but the stick is unresponsive and he’s coming in way too hot. The only place to set her down without crashing and burning, is in the water. Lining up the landing as best he can, he sets the prototype down on the still rippling surface, ejecting at the last moment. As the pilot drifts down into the entangling foliage nearby, the stealth fighter begins its own inexorable descent into the depths... 

The LAAT/c Houndstooth swoops down and latches onto the sinking fighter it had winged, like an edgehawk snatching a fish from a lake. Its powerful magnetic holding clamps salvage the winged bird from a watery demise, and the carrier pilot opens comms with Somar: “No hard feelings, flyboy, but you did shoot first. Hop on if you want a lift.”

The Intrepid chimes in again: “This is not over, but for now, secure the crater’s engineering operation and get after that rogue walker. And see what you can find about this Operation Carnevale the traitor spoke of.”

[P-47 Thunderbolt 4,160]

Yes sir, I accept full responsibility for my actions and the actions of my squad. If any punishment is to be given, it should be mine. Hale chafes slightly at the dressing down, but bites his tongue and thinks to himself "blasted backseat drivers, don't know what it's like on the ground!"

[Rimsen 1,368]

Evon knows, the squad needs some morale boost now. For a few moments, going through his psychology knowledge, Evon is switching to short range communications and calls Sgt. Hale and the rest of the squad: ,,With all due respect, that junior uniform-rack have never had an assault cannon in his face, the squad handled it the best possible way."

Narrowing his broadcast to Sgt. Den Luks: ,,BTW Luks, I have something in my medpac, if you need to calm your nerves. Look me up before we move on. 

Edited October 23, 2019 by Rimsen
Adding some flavour

[Rabobankrider 3,409]

Responding after a moment on the com, Evon would hear Den's voice. "Sounds like a plan to me. May as well get that sorted now, while the brass pretend they know what's going on". With that he would move across to the interrogator, shifting the position of his helmet so he can see a little better. 

[Rimsen 1,368]

Evon's holding a Choc-Stick to the soldier. Here, eat this. You'll feel better. He turns on his com: Anybody else in need of medical attention?

[bsmith23 696]

If anyone could see under Somar's helmet, they would have a hard time telling if the shade of red was from fury or embarrasment, most likely both...

[Rabobankrider 3,409]

Removing his bucket entirely, the Duros would take the stick with a nod and a smile. "Cheers, appreciated" he would state as he begins to crunch it down in his mouth. He wipes his brow with his forearm as he glances behind him at the crater. "Pretty wild huh? I figured we'd be dealing with pirates or gangers, not traitors like that". 

[Imperial Stormtrooper 831]

Briar got up from the partial cover that she had been heading towards before the short fight ended, Well that could have gone better she thought to herself, looking at the crater where the AT-TE and Phantom had disappeared into. "Why did he show his hand know." she muttered, mostly to herself. Before going onto the comms "We should probably continue the search for the walker. The message from Fitzsimmons implied that it was one of his people that was taking it, they may know something about the Pirate Queen's plan that we don't, at the very least we need to stop him from getting rid of the scientist." Briar said, hoping is wasn't too late. Before noticing the dust that had accumulated on her uniform. "But, uh, I'll be right back." she said heading to the shuttle to change into her armor.