The movement to the northern gate was uneventful which Alan was happy with, although it bothered him slightly that the area was not guarded.  Either they don’t have the resources for a patrol or they are so heavily defended that they don’t need a patrol thought Alan as he wondered which option it was.

Signalling to the squad, they dropped to their knees and Alan took out one of the sniper rifles to find out how heavily defended the northern gate was.  Damn he thought as he scanned through the vast number of enemy troops stationed on and around the gate.  This is going to be fun he thought sarcastically as he signalled to the squad to gear up with their sniper rifles.

“Listen up” said Alan, “we’re going to take out as many troops as we can with the rifles before slipping inside to take out the power plant”.

The squad nodded in unison as they took up their position and aimed their rifles at the enemy troops.  They’re going to be in for a surprise thought Alan as he checked his watch.    The watch ready 04:59 and Alan watched it, willing the time to move forward.  What seemed like an eternity transpired but eventually the watch moved forward until it read 05:00.  Finally thought Alan to himself.

“Open fire” said Alan as he looked down the scope of his own rifle located an enemy soldier and fired.  All hell broke loose as numerous volleys of blaster bolts lashed out.

My vision was momentarily replaced by pure white before the helmet adjusted to the lighting and darkened the feed. Damn suit: even the helmet's not as good. The other RAIDERS are climbed out around me; Snipes is holding a long-barreled sniper variant of the E-11, while Vox has the standard A-280. From what I've seen and heard about that Sergeant Major, he knows how to use it too. Something about him still gives me the creeps, something unclean. It's not his appearance; it's something I can't quite place.

No time to think about that now; Snipes is gesturing for us to move around the hill. The hovervan floats higher as we race around the hillside, weapons ready to fire.

The E-Web's are opening up again, and this time there's an explosion. Shots must have burned through the durasteel plates and hit something vital. Still, the carrier's doing its job: none of the barricaders have noticed us yet.

That's about to change. Snipes clenches his fist, the signal for us to get ready. The Privates make a few last minute scope adjustments, something they should really have done earlier. Vox just looks through his rifle's sight, finger inside the trigger guard. As for me, I just give the PLX a few taps on the side. It's an odd habit, but I've never quite managed to shake it and probably never will. The superstitous part of me thinks it brings luck.

The Platoon Sergeant brings his arm down, and all hell breaks loose. The other troopers empty their rifles into the formation, hitting gunners with bursts of energy. They alternate fire so as to not be forced to reload at the same time. Snipes shoots twice, each shot hitting a trooper in the vunerable neck area. Brilliant shooting ,really, but it's somewhat unnecessary. I sight, then pull the firing lever back. A shaped charge shrieks from my pelex one, turning slightly as it homes in on the largest heat source in the area.

Unfortunately for the entrance defenders, it happens to be the last two E-Webs, set up somewhat too close to each other. There is a flash of light, and the HUD darkens again. I'm really beginning to hate this tin can. Still, I can see the pieces of machinery, barricades, and bodies fly up like a geyser, and I take a moment to watch them fall before following the others in their charge.

"Area secure. Repeat, area secure. Approaching mine entrance now."

The AT-ST slowly rocked back and forth as it meandered to the southwest towards their destination. "clunk clunk clunk clunk", the repetitive undulating was starting to make feel a bit sick. The sergeant unbuckled and opened the hatch of the AT-ST.

"What are you doing?" Jori asked, as the wind whipped through the cabin.

"It smells like a bantha's nutsack in here, and we aren't to the combat zone yet, so keep your pants on." Angel replied, removing his helmet. Climbing through the hatch, he propped himself up on the top of the AT-ST and observed the landscape.

In the distance he spotted a small hill surrounded by heavy woods at the base, and thinning near the top. Gathering that they were  headed in that general direction, Angel produced a small pair of microbinocs from his scout armor and decided to take a closer look.

It would be tough for the ATSTs to navigate up a slope in heavy woods, and Angel silently wondered why the Lieutenant had decided to send them through the thickets. Shrugging it off as command knowing better than he did, he returned to scanning the tree-line.

Instinct told him that the insurgents knew they were coming, and that they were setting up defenses at their obvious weak points. From the satellite photos ingrained in his memory, he knew the rest of the compound was walled high all around.

Knowing this didn't help his stomach.

Then in the micobincos, he spotted movement in the distance.

"CONTACT" Angel shouted down into the cockpit. "3 kilometers out in the woods. Multiple enemy units." Focusing the bincos a bit more, Angel got a better idea of what they were facing. "Looks like a mechanized unit, possible two or three light armored tanks with support troops."

He dropped back into the cockpit and shot Kami a look. "Roger that" She said, and opened the comlink to the command transport.

"This is Jester lead, we will make contact with enemy troops in approximately 10 minutes."

Paladin squad quickly eliminated any remaining forces guarding the door to the powerplant. Kyrus Hassar watched quietly as Saphira planted the charges onto the base of the door.

"Clear." Alan said, although Kyrus didnt think anyone would be stupid enough to stand in the way of the blast. But he kept his comments to himself.

The door popped off its hinges with a loud 'bang', and instantly Kyrus rolled in, taking the right flank. Alan followed suit, taking the left. The rest of Paladin stormed in, in preparation for cover fire. But the only ones in sight were a few scientists, with a look of surprise on their faces.

Kyrus saw a scientist reach under his desk."NO!" He cried, but  before Kyrus could do anything, the scientist's hand had found the emergency button.

"Set your blasters to stun, everyone." came the controlled response from Alan over the helmets com. Kyrus quickly thumbed the switch and shot a few scientists, until they were all on the floor, unconscious.

"The security should be down here any minute now." said Alan. "Let's hurry up and find the jamming device and then head down to the control room to shut down the shields.

Kyrus spotted a map of the fire escape routes on the wall, and he quickly pulled it off before they continued deeper into the complex.

Ror rode the back of his Dewback horribly, as the creature walked Ror had to hold on tight to keep from falling side to side. "I don't like these things much," He muttered to himself. All the sudden dirt sprayed up off the ground as a couple of slugs went into the ground at Gizmo's, Kand's Dewback, feet. Ror's own Dewback tried to turn and run but Ror kicked it hard with his spurs and it stopped.

Ror scanned the trees as another shot rang off, this time hitting over by Helena. Ror saw the muzzle flash and smirked, "gotcha!," he yelled. Bearing his rife to the tree where he saw the muzzle flash Ror launched a couple or rounds, the round pounded into the tree he was in. Damn!

Gimp pulled his Dewback up to Ror, "where is he?"

Ror pointed to the tree and the two of them let off a volley of rounds. Either Ror or Gimp hit the man because the man screamed and fell from the tree.

Ror rode his Dewback over to where the man fell to confirm the kill. The man layed on the ground grabbing his arm trying to not make a sound so Wraith squad wouldn't notice him, but when he saw Ror coming he grabbed his rifle and shot at him. The Dewback panicked and flung Ror from his back. Ror quickly jumped up and let a roar before jumping on top of the man.

Both Ror and the man drew their kinves and started fighting. The man tore into Ror's arm but Ror stuck him in the leg. Then they were in a dead lock, each trying to press their blade into the other's throat. After a minute of struggle Ror pushed the man's blade away and stuck the edge of his blade into the man's neck.
With a victory roar he stood up as the fighting the squad finished off the ambushers around him.

Soon Kand was calling for order, "Alright squad prepare to move out!"

Orobos had his full kit together. He was suited up in his full shocktrooper armour he'd had to get converted when the squad was changed over to Storm platoon. At Least it hadn't caused him as much trouble as trying to find some armour that would fit him right before their company was being deployed. Orobos jogged away from the armoury. He'd just been walking in as Gates ran past. He now headed towards the hanger. Most of the Squad was already in the shuttle all suited up and ready for deployment.

Once the rest of the Squad arrived they were off leaving the hanger behind, Tadath eventually becoming a distant spec along with all the other planets and stars along the horizon. They spent a few hours playing cards, sleeping or just talking as they approached their destination.

On approach to the planet the Pilot announced that they'd be planet-side in around ten minutes. One last weapons check and they were down. The Ramp slowly opened and they moved out onto the planet. They could see the rest of storm platoon but nobody else in the near vicinity.

The sound of much larger shuttles carrying the artillery into the drop zone deafened them as engines nearly three times as powerful as the ones on the troop shuttles heaved the ton weight through the sky with incredible ease. The squad spread out to secure the ground for more forces to begin landing.

They stepped into the lift. Kyrus pushed the button marked 'B', and with a slight shudder, the lift took him and Alan down the shaft.

They stood there silent for a moment. Kyrus, absent minded, looked around the small lift. There wasnt much there aside from the floor buttons. He looked up and saw the display that showed where they were currently. His eyes continued up toward the roof. There was a small hatch, used for a fire escape. Perfect.

"Sir," Kyrus said. When Alan looked over at him, Kyrus looked upward. Alan followed his eyes and spotted the hatch.

With a sly grin, Kyrus nodded. "Well that will work, too." Alan replied.

They quickly opened the hatch and climbed out of it. When they were up ontop of the lift, it stopped. From up here, they heard the doors hiss open. Kyrus saw two men in security uniforms step through. Him and Alan quickly shot the two in the center of their heads. Then they dropped down into the lift, ontop of the bodies.

Kyrus looked around. They were in a control room of some type. He saw from across the room a switch labeled SHIELD. Kyrus looked at Alan and said, "Area clear."

Angel's first shot caught some poor unfortunate soul square in the face, filling the air with the sweet stench of burned flesh. Whirling, Angel swept the legs of the insurgent coming up behind him with a vibroaxe. Finishin g the spin, he drove his vibroblade into the man's chest and pulled the blade downward, opening him from stem to sternum.

These guys really are a makeshift bunch He thought to himself. Another twinge in his mind, and he threw himself backwards as a round of repeater fire tore through the air he just inhabitied. The shooter vanished in a plume of smoke as an AT-ST blast vaporized him before he could track Angel's movement.

An explosion behind him knocked the sergeant off his feet as the second AT-ST's concussion grenade struck home on one of the enemy's tanks. Before Angel could get his feet, a laser bolt whizzed past his head, rolling, he gained his feet in time to see another laser headed straight for his chest. The bolt struck home, melting away armor  to hit flesh...then disappeared.

The soldier who fired the shot paused in disbelief. "Yeah," Angel shouted to the man, "You're screwed." With the AT-ST's mopping up the rest of the troops and systematically demolishing the last tank, Angel allowed himself a little fun.

Reaching out with the Force, he channeled the energy he just absorbed and with a quick telekinetic jerk of his hand, snapped the man's neck.

A second explosion sounded nearby as the last tank was destroyed, and a free path to Jester's destination opened.

"Angel" Kami's voice sounded through his comlink. "You alright?"

"Never better boss." He replied, "I'll hoof it from here, tell Star to drop her ground troops here and we'll head for the vehicle depot."

"Roger that, our AT-ST took a few hits and one of the leg drives is acting up, but we should be able to move on." Looking back towards the walkers, Angel saw sparks coming from the right leg, and the walker moving with a noticable limp as it moved up the hill.

OOC:

Just a reminder, no one knows about the DJO officially, so don't write about Angel doing any open signs of Force usage. I only do this sparingly, and to explain some of his reflexes, and when it's clear therer is no one to see his actions.

OOC:

This is giving Jori’s point of view of the battle.

Jori made sure to shoot everywhere except where Angel was. The other Jesters assigned to ground duty had yet to leave Goldie. The enemy was surging forwards and as Kami swung Bertha around, he saw that Angel was holding his own with a hold-out blaster and a vibroblade. Grinning, he let loose a concussion grenade and took out about twenty of the enemy, most dying from friendly fire as their comrade’s fingers pulled the trigger as they were slung around, spraying laser bolts everywhere.

If I keep sending them flying and they keep pulling the trigger like they are, it won’t be long before we can move on to the Vehicle Bay.

Just then, the tanks moved forward and started firing. As each of the missiles flew towards them and past them with one hitting the leg of Bertha and damaging it, Jori started shooting concussion grenades towards the tanks, noting that they seemed extremely effective.

“Uhhh… Kami? It looks as if the concussion grenades are having an extra effect on the tanks. That means we can take them out quickly, which might just give us an advantage. The Vehicle Bay is supposed to be right over the hill, right? So, they might be expecting this force to hold us off until they can get whatever stuff they have in there up and running. If we hurry, then we can decimate this force and head over the hill and blow them up before they can get some powerful weapon that can destroy us operational.” Jori said, still steadily shooting death at the doomed troops and tanks.

Kami nodded and commed Goldie. Soon, they had blown all the tanks up and were in the process of killing every troop before they could get back to the Bay. As Angel killed the last soldier, he turned and Jori saw a gaping hole in his armor. Hearing Kami’s sharp intake of breath, it was obvious she did too. As she commed him, she started moving Bertha to follow Goldie over the hill. Kami relayed the news of the Angel and the others opting to stay on the ground. As the Vehicle Bay come in sight, Jori became sick to his stomach.

“You see, Kami. This is exactly what I was meaning when I said we need to hurry.” Jori said as he sat in disbelief at the sight that lay before him.

Ror and the rest of Wraith squad rode onward with their Dewbacks, Ror looked at his hud display and as they were in the middle of coordinates 0405. Ror looked around at the thick wood all round them, scanning for any more ambushes.

"Okay guys we only only about half a click to a click away from our target, the enemy will most likely be ambushers and snipes so scan the top of the trees." Kand said scanning their fronts.

"If we our ambushed be careful with your Dewbacks they arn't fond of fighting and this is our first run with them so they might run," Helena added as she moved hers right behind Kand's.

Ror nodded even though there was no point as he continued scanning the left. His Dewback still made him sway from side to side so he was having a hard time scanning the forest. One of the others coughed into the comlink and force Ror, and probably others, to tense up for a second.

A slug exploded into the ground in the middle of the squad, forcing all the Dewbacks to run into different directions. All the sudden the air was heavy as blaster bolt flew through it. Ror and his Dewback were forced off by themselves to the left, he didn't see which way the others went.

Ror grabbed his RB-407 and looked around as his tired to calm down his Dewback at the same time. Ror was having no luck finding any enemies at the moment.

This didn't last long as a blaster shot went right over his shoulder causing Ror's heart to jump. Ror turned to the direction where the shot came from and let fly a good 10 second burst. He didn't think he hit anything as his running Dewback caused his shot to fly up, down, and every other direction.

Ror shot his spurs into both sides of his Dewback and forced it to a stop where another shot zoomed past his shoulder. Behind me! He thought to himself as he spun around in his saddle and located his assailant. He let another 10 second burst fly and this time found his target.

As he turned around his Dewback to go find his squadmates he wondered how the others faired.

EDIT: I never posted this, okay?

RK grimaced at the pain that shot up through his leg. He had been hit twice with multiple throwing knives cutting deep; luckily though they didn't hit anything vital. The only problem now was getting up, but out of sheer terror he had grabbed his Dewback's reigns, at least giving him slight leverage. As he pulled up the dewback tried to shake RK, off not helping any.

“Calm down, it's alright.” He knew it didn't do any good.

“RK you alright?” A familiar voice has crept up behind him, startling both him and his Dewback.

Once calmed down he replied, “Fine, just a couple minor cuts.” RK turned to see Specter sitting atop his Dewback.

“That's good, we better catch up with everyone else.” Spec didn't even so much ask if RK needed help, he just pulled on his Dewbacks reigns and headed off. RK didn't mind though, he felt fine, after all this was just another day in the life of wraiths, only this time it was with animals.

RK gritted his teeth one more time and pulled himself up, pain shooting up through his leg, but instead of giving up he just continued. Soon, he was back up onto the Dew back's back; finally letting pressure of his leg.Alright, now the hard part, riding.

He let off a low crack of the reigns and instantly felt the dewback jerk forward, almost throwing him off. “I'm never going to get used to this.”

He felt like an idiot. Looking up from the holotable, Darr supressed a snigger, but Riq wasn’t as kind.

“Well, don’t you look purdy,” he said, grinning. Arnaut glared at him and readjusted his armor plate. Not plating, plate. Singular. Fashioned after the snowtrooper design, the matte black plate covered only his torso and provided supreme protection for the officer on the go. At least, that’s what the Imperial Officers’ Armory Guide had told him. It’d looked much better on Veers.

He snatched his comlink out of Riq’s outstretched arm, still frowning, and forced it into his ear. Laugh at him, would they. Well, they’d see. When the command center was penetrated by an artillery round in the forward compartment, with minimal shattering of the outer metal – thus reducing shrapnel that could harm Arnaut’s unprotected head and/or legs – but with a large concussive force, enough to crush, say, an unarmored ribcage, and preferably within a two meter radius of Riqimo...oh yes, then they would see. Who’d be laughing then? Not Riqimo, that was for sure. He’d probably be dead. Or...slightly bruised, with multiple fractures. Either way, he would be in no condition to laugh at Arnaut and his silly fitting armor.

The battlefield beckoned. The holotable before him projected the entire area of operations in a shimmering blue, almost mirage-like image. Indulging himself, Arnaut walked two of his fingers across the field, trampling the small, shimmering blue soldiers into the ground. But what was this?

He tapped a few of the controls on his side of the table, and a small, holographic tag popped up next to the area Arnaut had stopped at. Jester Squad.

“Ah, yes,” Riqimo said, noticing the tag that had displayed. “They engaged a little over twenty minutes ago, when you were still fishing you’re armor out of a crate in the back.” He laughed a little at the word armor, eliciting another glare from Arnaut.

“Doesn’t look like they’re doing so hot,” Arnaut commented, letting Riqimo’s jab slide. This time.

“Tanks and quite a few infantry,” Riqimo nodded, “but they seem to be handling, At least, they’re making good time toward their target. Can’t say the same for the Wraiths, though.” Arnaut looked over to where Riqimo indicated on the table.

“Floundering without me,” Arnaut sighed, half-jokingly. “Who thought it’d be a good idea sending them in on dewbacks?” Arnaut asked, looking around the cramped interior of the command center. Darr pointed hastily towards Riq, and it was his turn to be on the defensive.

“Their terrain navigation is impeccable! And they don’t make as much sound as speeders,” he contended.

“Speeders don’t go galloping off into the woods when you shoot at them. Or did you not think people would be shooting on this battlefield?”

“They’ll be fine. Look they’re already reforming.” Indeed they were, bringing their mounts to bear, and moving forward-ish once more. Not quite toward the objective, but they were probably under fire.

If they got killed...well, he wasn’t going to let that happen. He was in the position to make sure it didn’t happen.  The thought comforted him. Calmed his mind, at least. Still, staring down at the holographic blue figures, his hand twitched, subconsciously moving toward the rifle slung over his back, and he felt the strong desire to jump out of the vehicle and join his former squad on the field itself. It would probably be a while, he guessed, before he got used to sitting back when others did the fighting and dying. All part of the job, though.

He straightened his uniform, shifting the armor slightly, and hunched over the table, somewhat sobered. He had a job to do.

Alan started to advance on the enemy position.  There were several soldiers dotted around the floor, each under cover.  Alan decided to take on an area where there were only a few soldiers.  Better to take them down one by one thought Alan.  He hoped the rest of the squad would be careful, one stray movement could mean their last.

Sliding along the floor he sneaked behind an enemy soldier who was on his own.  The soldier was scanning ahead of him, oblivious of the danger behind him.  Not wanting to give away his position, Alan holstered his weapon and moved stealthily behind the soldier.  Grabbing his head, Alan twisted violently and heard an audible crack.  The soldier’s body went limp and Alan lay it down gently on the floor.

One down, I wonder how many more there are thought Alan as he looked around for another enemy soldier.  A wooden box beside Alan shattered, pieces of wood flew around him, hitting his face and getting caught up in his hair.  Son of a bitch cursed Alan as he dove to the ground, weapon raised.

His com chattered and Kyrus’s voice came through saying “are you ok Sir?”

“Yes, I’m fine but that was too close.  Can you get a fix on the bastard that has me pinned down?” queried Alan.

“Stand by” replied Kyrus.

Alan waited and heard several blaster bolts before Kyrus’s voice came back through his com to say “you’re all clear now Sir”.

“Thanks” replied Alan thinking to himself that was too close.

Squeezing off the last shot in his blaster, Angel dropped another insurgent solider. "Sithspawn," Rolling out from behind the rock he was behind, he threw the empty pistol and thwapped another soldier square in the face. Then scrambled back to cover.

"I'm empty." he hollered to Verk, who was pouring round after round into the enemy line. "I'm going for the ATs...cover me!"

Verk nodded, then tapped Maze "Cover fire on three....THREE!"

The two troopers popped out, Maze tossing one of his few remaining grenades, Verk laying down a sweeping swath of deadly laser bolts. Darting out from his cover, Angel made a beeline for Kami's AT-ST. Explosions rocked the ground beneath his feet as dirt flew in the air and clouded his sight. Shucking and jiving, he peeled off one of his grenades and tapping into the Force, lobbed it well over a hundred meters towards one of the three remaining tanks. The grenade landed under one of the repulsorlifts as Jori squeezed off a direct hit on the tank.

The grenade detonated an instant before the beam hit, the combined strength overwhelming the small craft as it exploded into a ball of flame.

Cutting to his left, he saw Maze and Verk creeping around one of the two tanks still running. Seizing the momentary confusion in their attackers, Angel dashed towards the same tank as Maze and Verk.

As it swung around to begin its assault on Kami's damaged ATST, Angel leapt on top of the tank, followed closely by Maze and Verk. Opening the top hatch, Angel threw in his final grenade, a flash bomb, and shut the hatch and counted to five. A dull thud was followed by screams, and the three troopers dropped into the tank. Maze and Verk each shot one of the men inside, while Angel dispatched the other two with quick vibroblade slashes to the throat.

"Dump'em and lets get down to business." Angel said, lifting one of the bodies out of the hatch. The other three bodies followed closely behind. "You guys take this tank, and give me a rifle." the sergeant said, grabbing Maze's rifle. "I never did like vehicles."

Hopping out of the tank, Angel shut the hatch behind him and made his way towards the vehicle bay. Time to make things go boom.