Howmi ran off to confront a new enemy, trying to keep them away from the cargo hold.

Is this even the right cargo hold? He wondered, Is there even another?

Howmi saw a single man holding a smoking blaster. He immediately saw Howmi, and fired the
gun. The blot caught Howmi's own pistol, immediately knocking it from his hand, and
flinging it down the hall.

"Now, hold on, sir, I..." He said, his rather silkily gruff voice told the man, he was a rather tall
man, very grisly, very husky, and very dangerous looking. He had dark green eyes, and a buzzed
head, very odd. His face was scarred with battle. Overall, he didn't look all to friendly.

Click.

Silence. No one moved.

Click, click. Click.

The blaster was empty. In a rage, he threw the blaster at Howmi, after realizing that he didn't
have any more power packs. The blaster hit him in his left shoulder, and knocked him to the floor.
He heard his armor crack, and then felt the pain of being kicked across the hall. Circuits and
panels broke and shattered as a massive dent in the side of the hall was made. Howmi felt ribs give
way. Still he came, but he was farther away, now. When he walked close enough reach him,
Howmi, flooded with adrenaline, pushed himself off the wall, and gave him a swift side swipe to
his face. His lib busted, and blood flew. However, he quickly recovered from the blow, and his
anger fueled him.

Howmi dogged every hit thrown at him. The man was strong, but slow. He got off some of his
best hits on the man, but to no avail. He was too strong. Too well built. He couldn't run, though.
He was backed into a corner while he was trying to dodge the bulking man's blows. If he stayed
there, he would be killed. He saw a slight opening, and took it, dashing to the side to sprint down
the hall... he hadn't gotten five feet when the man brought his fist slamming into him.

Howmi felt a massive punch to his chest, breaking his StromTrooper armor into tiny bits. He felt
them enter his stomach, and felt his back go into a wall, then give way. He crashed through, and
skidded to a stop next to a desk. A pistol fell next to him. A slugthrower. Howmi picked it up,
and let loose the five remaining shots in the clip. All straight in the chest. Still, he came. What was
this guy made of?

He enjoys this, Howmi thought, If he didn't, he would have killed me by hitting my
face in long ago.... I wonder if I should be thankful for that, or wish he didn't enjoy it quite so
much.

Howmi's armor crackled and sparked with the last bits of electricity flowing throw it. The hulking
being that was his tormentor came at him, blood soaking through his thick shirt. He grabbed
Howmi's arm, and broke it like a twig, with a big grin. He slung him over his shoulder and into
the floor. Every rib in his body by now was shattered three times over. One of his legs bones
actually broke out of it's fleshy shell. He felt enormous pain, everywhere, and yet, his body
wouldn't let him shut down. Surely, he would die.

Howmi saw the man come right up to him, and take him by his neck.

This is it.

The human's grip was weak, however, and after what seemed an eternity, Howmi slumped to the
floor... just as a large explosion came from his right.

Finally, the pain overcame him, and a blanket of darkness came over Howmi Martin.
  -----------------------
TRP/PFC Howmi/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/Tadath/VEA/VE [LoR]

I'm so sick of running...

Kami pulled another breath into her lungs, and allowed her pace to slow now that she and Eviscares had lost their pursuers. She was helmet less, ammoless and generally pissed at the way this mission was turning out.

Dropping her pace down to a walk, she called to Angel in her mind.

He responded immediately, obviously close by.

"Wait." Was all she uttered at Eviscares, who had gladly slumped against the closest wall, glad of the chance for a breather.

"What...ever, you say..." He gasped, sliding his helmet free to reveal a pale face.

Kami turned on the spot, glancing back in the direction they had come. Smoke was slowly filtering down the hall, suggesting that the combination of a fire and a kitchen galley was too big a problem for the raiders to handle.

Then suddenly, Angel was at her side.

He grinned as Eviscares jumped into the air, unaware of the Sergeant's deadly silent arrival. Flicking amber eyes to Kami's, he left his methods unexplained,

"Raz is at the bridge. If he can get the sublight engines running again we might stand of chance of reaching Cepany in one piece."

Kami opened her mouth to reply, then hesitated. "Howmi."

Angel paused, then nodded, "I sense it too."

Eviscares walked over to stand beside the two, "Sense what?"

Kami reached out, lightly resting a hand on Angel's chestplate, "Get back to Raziel and get this wreck moving before it burns down. 'Cares and I will get to Howmi."

Angel's mouth opened to voice protest, but Kami was already moving, her mind focused on the task again. Eviscares glanced over at Angel, noting the rare display of emotion which ran openly across his face as he watched her lithe figure disappear.

He offered a shrug, "If its any consolation sir, I'm impressed that you've managed to keep up with her at all."
Sliding his helmet back over his head, he loaded his last clip into his pistol, and jogged off after his squad leader.

 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
SL/SSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/JRN Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-

(o^_^o)

Kami slipped under another of the man's blows, causing him to let out a soft snarl of frustration. Flicking her wrist, she opened another part of the bulking soldier's body, and he cried out, slumping forwards as blood flowed free from his body.

Someone he regained his footing, and somehow...despite the numerous blaster and knife wounds sapping at his strength, he came at her again, roaring defiance at the pain which plagued his body. Kami dodged another poorly aimed blow and lashed out, catching the hulk beneath the chin with her booted foot.

The man's neck flew back with a sickening crack...and finally he fell, landing in a crumpled mass of weeping wounds upon the steel grey floor.

Kami hovered on the spot, her gaze carefully tracing the man's fallen form for any signs of life. Seeing none, she turned and climbed back through the hole in the wall, dropping down beside Eviscares.

Eviscares looked over at her, his expression unreadable through the blank expression of his helmet, "He's bleeding internally. Most of his ribs are broken, so there's the possibility that they've punctured a lung." He gestured to the other private's leg, where bone was clearly visible, "I've bound his arm, but his leg..."

Kami sat stunned momentarily, then dropped to her knees. Reaching out, she pushed sweaty hair back from the wounded private's head, then let her eyes trail to his bloodied leg.

"I can splinter that, but I don't have the nerve to move him again." She bit her lip, resting her other hand gently upon the private's ribcage to feel the damage beneath her fingers, "Gods...we could have killed him just moving him that short way."

Eviscares shifted his weight, glancing about him in a clear sign of nervousness, "We can't just sit here Sarge, the raiders are moving through the whole ship. They'll be here any moment."

Kami glanced at Howmi's face once again, the shook her head, "No, we stay." She flicked flashing green eyes back to Eviscares, "I'm not leaving anyone behind."

The private searched his squad leader's face, saw the barely contained anger reflected there, then nodded, turning his visored gaze back to the hallways.

"We stay."

 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
SL/SSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/JRN Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-

(o^_^o)

Messing with electronics really wasn't his favourite pastime. Coupled with his limited knowledge of starship workings it meant Raziel really wasn't having a good day. He swore under his breath as another faulty connection overloaded the console. He was good at disabling things, shutting down sensors, opening doors, unfortunately all of the breaking had been done for him and he was finding out the putting things back together could be far more difficult.     The engines were ready to go, but he needed the shield back up before he dared power up the lasers and make a run for it. The Nav-Comp was mostly fried so he doubted it would ever plot routes again.     He paused for a moment, staying impossibly still. He twisted his head around to look at the bridge entrance. He could make out the distant sounds of footsteps. Armoured soldiers, twelve, maybe thirteen of them. By the timing of their steps some were carrying heavy weaponry or equipment. In a straight fight he wouldn't stand much of a chance given the circumstances. But he never, ever, entered a straight fight.     Angel turned the last corner before the bridge, in a hurry to get the ship going again. He realised as he turned the corner that his feelings had temporarily blinded him. Two full squads were ahead of him, slowly advancing on the open bridge entrance. He skidded to his knees and brought his blaster up to his shoulder.     Wait he felt the silent command and let his finger rest lightly on the trigger. The first of the soldiers ducked through the open blast doors as he advanced cautiously into the dark bridge. Angel couldn't quite make out what happened next, but something slid around the soldiers neck and hoisted him up.     Only the soldiers dangling legs were visible through the door, the squad leader started shouting some orders and the squads backed away from the doors, taking aim at the area above the door. Then the soldier broke free, he dropped down to ground and stumbled back out through the blast doors. He hurriedly back-pedalled into his squad mates who started blindly opening fire at the door.     "Its only one of them, perched above the door!" the soldier shouted. The soldiers began to back away from the entrance, the squad leader calling for grenades. A pair of soldiers spotted Angel behind them now and turned to face him.     Then the thermal detonator, that Raziel had magnetically attached to the first soldiers armour exploded. At such close proximity the blast ripped most of the squad to shreds, sending body parts and weapons flying through the corridor.     A few bodies still moved, but Angel put an end to that with a few shots. He hurried towards the bridge as Raziel dropped to the ground in the doorway.     "Slick," Angel conceded.     "I thought it was rather good," Raziel smiled.     "How's it coming?"     "Well if you can get the shields up we're ready to make a move, though I think we need to do something about the pair of shuttles still attached to our hull and unloading troops," Raziel said, pointing to a monitor that showed a force of soldiers pouring onto the ship. "I've shut all the blast doors and activated any ray shields I could, but there are still a few making their way to the cargo hold now,"

  -----------------------
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +
PL:A/1LtRaziel/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/{EW1} (WoS1) 2x(VP:1) {IG} {CDS} {BoA} {PoC} {BC}
Assistant Squad Leader - Squad4 Wraiths
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989.

"God does not play dice with the universe" - Albert Einstein
"Who are you to tell God what to do with his dice?" - Bohr
"God does not play dice with the universe. He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time." - Terry Pratchett
CM/DJK Raziel/lion 1-5/Krath/VEDJ/VE (WoS1) (VP1) (VP2)

Scavenging some corpses for ammunition and probably grenades. Basically a very simple idea, which promised a good chance of success. But this time it proved to be a little bit more difficult then expected because all the raiders Kami and Eviscares encountered weren't what one would call corpses. And so the two troopers found themselves right in the middle of a close combat. Luckily they had been able to flatfoot their opponents and by this reduce their number to six.

"Six mercs against two of us... That's almost unfair..." Eviscares said while grinning almost like a maniac under his helmet. His blades were once again delivering quick death to the raider who tried to defend himself with his blaster rifle swung as a club. The body of the man dropped to the floor, his chest opened from the left shoulder to the right hip. Immediately Evis approached the next of his enemies.

"I should fight with my eyes closed" Kami replied, her face showing a mean grin while she was playing with her opponent. The mercenary didn't know who he was up against and was trying desperately to hit Kami with a Vibroblade, but she dodged all of his blows. Then as if she had grown tired of him in an instant, she skipped forward and cut the man's throat.

The other soldiers were brave enough to stay and fight but it didn't take for long until they had joined their fellows on the floor. Looting them proved to be quite succesful and Eviscares turned to Kami, his eyes having a mean glare. "Look what I found..." he said and showed two IV-17 plasma grenades to her.

The Senior Sergeant seemed like she couldn't believe her eyes at first, but then hastily grabbed one of the detonators. "You know what Private, you seem to be finding just the stuff I like" she told Eviscares with a wink. "Now hand me over this ammo and lets get going again... We have a shuttle to catch."

"Aye Ma'm" he affirmed, handed Kami the three Powercells and started reloading his weapons. After checking the ammo counters of his guns he looked up at Kami again, seeing that she was finished by now too.

A small tilt of the Head into the direction they had to go, was everything they needed and they were on their way again.

After a short run through the corridors without enemy encounters Kami and 'cares finally reached the doors of the Hangar where the Escort ship was. Using this short moment of protraction Eviscares adressed his Squad Leader: "Do you think that this is our best choice?"

"I think it is our only choice Private" Kami answered, readied her E-11 and prepared to hit the control panel.
"I count down from 3 to 1 and then we go in, 'cares"

"Copy that, I'm ready."

He gave her thumbs up what she answered with a sad smile and the beginning of the countdown.
"3"
"2"
"1"

(ooc:sorry kami, took a bit longer... my mum occupied my pc)
  -----------------------
Iron Horse Squad

Take me out
To the black tell 'em I ain't coming back
Burn the land
And boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me

Who dares wins!
TRP/PFC Eviscares/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR]

    The three Iron Horseys stood their ground guarding the special cargo. Now it was down to hand to hand combat between the pirates and the three imperials. Virius had his treppus blade out and running white hot its blade vibrating making a soft whining noise. Varron had his claws and JR had a vibrobayonet out and whining hot.

    There were a few more pirates coming through the small hole in the door blindfiring as to get some cover and try to kill the vulnerable imperials. The trio would wait until the pirates didn't expect it then they would jump out and either stab them or chuck something heavy in their direction.

    A pirate then had a good idea of throwing in two smoke grenades to try and cover their entrance to try and surprise the Horseys. This however lowered the chances of the pirates and equaled the fight.

    Virius opened a small burst encryption on the squads channel to try and break through the interference. "Guys, separate and lets hunt these guys down. Also if you find any more smoke grenades, let them fly the cover is needed."

    Varron and JR nodded to their ASL and separated to go find something to kill. Virius headed to the back of the cargobay, sheathing his blade he always relished the time when he didn't have to use a weapon. Unless it was his E-11/H, but he loved hand to hand.

    Virius crouched low and slowly moved through the smoke in the room. He heard a small clatter of boots to his right and Virius froze, a pirate came through the smoke but didn't see the imperial in time. Hands came out of nowhere and grabbed the pirates head, Virius whispered only one word, "Died tired."

    Virius twisted his arms which in turn snapped the scum's neck. Virius brought the enemy's body down slowly and silently to the ground. Grabbing a cryogen grenade Virius thumbed the pin and flicked it away, he kept a hand on the release lever as it won't go off.

    Switching to IR Virius saw a heat signature and seeing it was a foe on his FOF Virius tossed the grenade to the feet of the unsuspecting person. The grenade went off and froze the soldiers boots to the floor. Virius watched to see that the man stayed frozen but struggling still.

    Virius had an idea and it might work, setting off Virius went to find another pirate to complete his task.
 
-----------------------
Staff Sergeant
Frank "Virius" Carter
Combat Slicer
Executive Officer - Iron Horse Squad
ASL/SSG Virius/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [ES1] [WM]
"Duckie!" -- Dr. Mallard
-----------------------
Mr. VE/Mr. VE Virius/Show Host/VE Today Show/VE/VET

Angel plopped down in the firing chair for the double turbolaser cannon mounted on the top hull of the Rambler, and activated the Heads Up Display. The console in front of him flickered to life, giving him readouts of the gunboats. Putting on a headset, Angel keyed the ship's internal comm-system to reach Raziel on the bridge.

"Standby on those shields Raz. As soon as I fire the first volley get them up."

"Roger that. I'm controlling the belly turret from here, so I should be able to at least make them come your way."

The first of the two remaining gunboats floated lazily into his viewport, Angel keeping the targeting recticle just off of it to prevent a lock from forming. This would keep the pilot from suspecting anything, and woul not set off its turbolaser lock alarms. Angel's fingers gripped the trigger, readying his shot, when Kami's message blared in his mind through the Force.

Logan and another just escaped from us in the hanger bay... A wave of anger and frustration more powerful thyan any Angel had felt from Kami before plowed into him. It immediately jumpstarted the Dark Side flowing through his veins. It whispered to him, calling for Logan's blood, telling him to forsake his comrades and exact revenge for the good men and women who had died today. Bloodrust rampaged through his brain, willing him to take up his saber and cut down those who opposed him...

Taking a calming breath, Angel told himself there would be a time for such things, then focused his power on the gunboat now almost directly in front of him.

A slow smile spread across his face, Sucker... he said himself. Moving the targeting recticle over the gunboat, he pulled the trigger.

Three bursts of pure green light erupted from the ends of the turbolaser battery. The frist set of twin lances hit the gunboat and exploded over the shields. A small explosion of the shield generator on the fighter preceeded the second volley only by a split second. The second volley hit the gunboat, melting the hull into slag. The third ruptured the missile bays, causing the torpedos inside to explode brilliantly in blue light.

Angel was already in motion, tracking the other gunboat. HE could feel the vibrations of the belly turret firing, as Raziel attempted to swat the remaining fighter. Watching his radar carefully, Angel stretched out with the Force and used to it read the mind of the pilot. His smile turned into a full grin as he swung the turret around and held the trigger down.

A sheet of lasers cut right across the path the gunboat pilot was taking. Unable to avoid the deadly stream, the fighter passed into it...and emerged the other side an exploded hulk.

"Raz, get us out of here now." Angel called to the bridge. The lieutenant's reply he didn't hear, as he was already in the lift down to the hanger.

Logan Angel said to himself, using the Force to pop open the small hatch on his armor. Pulling out his saber he removed his helmet and wiped the sweat from his forhead.

You'll pay...

 
-----------------------
=[Arrogant Elitist Fire Team Captain]= Iron Horse Squad
=[  Winner: Biography Comp 2005  ]=
AS-2/FTC/SGT Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/1SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1RGT/1BAT/VEA/VE/Tadath [LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] [WM] {BoA}
------------------------
CM/DJK Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle 1-1/Sith/VEDJ/VE/Lopen [VP:1]
------------------------
Fallen....only to rise.
Risen...only to fall.
The circle is now complete:
The Angel of Death has returned...

"We wait... but for what?"

It was obvious that Eviscares was at the brink of bloodthirst and would gladly give into it if he could. This little shooting excercise had only got him started.

Still maneuvering the escort ship around the corvette Kami looked at him and showed him a bright smile. "We wait for either the support from Cepany or for some more raiders to blow to eternity." she stated.

"Not sure what I would prefer, Ma'm" D'kaleth answered, still breathing heavily.

 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad

Who dares wins!

TRP/LCPL Eviscares/1SQD/1PLT/COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR]

It's over...

Angel's message flashed briefly through Kami's mind as the space before the corvette shimmered, abruptly replaced by the dominating shape of an Imperial class carrack cruiser. The large ship altered course towards the Rumbler, already broadcasting towards the wounded corvette and her escort.

"Rumbler, this is Commander Saunders of the Crystal Dagger, please respond."

Kami snatched the comm, feeling a wave of pure relief course through her veins, "Commander, this is Sergeant Kami Sharpe of Iron Horse Squad. The Rumbler isn't likely to make it to Cepany in its current state; we've lost our hyper drive engines."

There was a brief pause, followed by the sight of a Lambda class shuttle dropping from the main bay of the cruiser, closely flanked by four ties.

"Understood Sergeant, we have mechanical and medical crew on the way," Another brief pause followed, before the Captain spoke again, his voice decidedly more emotive, "Have you an estimate on the number of survivors on board?"

Kami's hand clenched about the comlink, "My squad, and possibly a few crew members, all of which are badly wounded."

"The cargo Sergeant?"

Swallowing the bitter taste in her mouth, Kami answered, "Still safely locked away."

Static filled the cockpit, before the Commander continued.

"I know this will sound hollow in the face of recent events Sergeant, but I would personally like to thank you and your squad for your heroic actions. You have done the Empire a great service."

Kami met Eviscares gaze, then lowered the comlink, unable to reply. Taking hold on the escort shuttle's controls, Kami steeled herself, then brought the shuttle's nose around to head back to the Rumbler...and the cleanup job that awaited her...


*        *        *        *        *        *

Hours later, Kami sat within the officer's lounge on the Crystal Dagger, having just finished her debriefing with the impeccably dressed Commander Saunders of the VE Navy. Now, he paced before her, conversing quietly with his staff as he contemplated the next step.

Kami's eyes threatened once again to close, as the extent of fatigue and shock brought on by the amubush once again battered her senses. Angel, who sat next to her, slid his hand beneath the table, tightly clasping hers in a gesture of sympathy and encouragement. Virius, who stood as Angel's side, white stormtrooper armor reflecting the blaster scars and dents of heavy fighting, threw an understanding look in her direction, looking close to collapse himself.

The Rumbler's cargo had been immediately moved from the corvette to the cruiser, followed shortly after by the survivors of the raid, some six crew members and one trooper from Alpha Squad. Howmi had also been transferred across, heavily sedated and in critical condition, to the cruiser's medical bays. Early prognosis suggested that it would take weeks for the young private to recover, longer even for him to adjust to his new artificial leg. Kami only hoped that the medics were wrong, and that the healing process would allow him to get back on his feet as soon as possible.

Logan had been transferred back to the carrack under heavy guard, and was also undergoing medical treatment within the medical bay for severe burn scars on his face. Kami had seen the ex-Captain only momentarily, the sight enough to provoke an almost sick sense of satisfaction within her at his fate. He was to stand trial at Cepany, along with two other surviving raiders, all of which would no doubt be broken by interrogation long before they took the stand.

She and Raziel had met privately with Commander Saunders as soon as their feet had touched down on the Crystal dagger to discuss what they had pieced together through their brief contact with the minds of two of the traitors. Kami had no doubt in her mind that the man she had briefly scrutinized was from Cepany, whilst Raziel confirmed this with a hunch of his own. It was rumored that the rebellion movement there had been growing stronger day by day, with the fact that they now dared to openly resist the VE suggesting that their cockiness may have been assured. They had almost succeeded in retrieving the cargo. Almost.

What had scared all three senior troopers so badly however was the extent to which the rebellion had infiltrated into the VE ranks under the guise of loyal members. Indeed, Logan had reached the rank of Captain unnoticed, hinting at the possibility that even the high ranking members of the VE could now be potential traitors waiting for a moment to strike and cripple Empire forces. Saunders, notably pale-faced, had disappeared not long after to send several highly encrypted messages to high command.

She had also met briefly with the rest of her squad, all of which bore battle wounds, and all of which were deeply frustrated. They had achieved a victory of sorts, but in the face of the betrayal committed by Logan and his companions, the victory seemed hollow, and the cargo's continual safety...unimportant. She had spoken quickly to all of them, immensely proud of the way they had stood firm in the face of seemingly unbeatable odds, but well aware that even her gracious words couldn't make them forget the sense of failure that this mission had thrust upon all of them.

The Rumbler had been left behind with an escort and a mechanical crew, both of which would attempt to restore the corvette to working form, or salvage it for valuable parts and leave the ship drifting in space. Kami hoped desperately that the corvette was repairable, for the thought of leaving Captain Tomas's beloved ship for the scavengers was enough to make her feel sick to the stomach.

"...will be a state funeral once we reach Cepany for those killed in the ambush," Saunders was saying, his dark eyes flashing over the three IH members, "If your squad would be so kind to atte...."

"We'll be there." Kami interrupted, coming slowly to her feet, "If we are done here Commander, I'd like your permission to contact my Platoon, and let them know what has happened."

"Already taken care of Sergeant." Saunders smiled, nodding permission at Angel to allow him to step forward to gently support his Squad Leader in a gesture on informality, "You and your men get some rest. You will be notified when we reach Cepany."

Gathering enough strength for a salute, Kami turned and walked from the lounge, Angel and Virius a pace behind her...all three already contemplating the after effects of such a large scale betrayal...

 
-----------------------
Iron Horse Squad
SL/SSG Kami/1SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [CoR] [IG] [GCA] [BC]
TRN/KAD Kami/Training 1-3/VEDJ/VE
-=Surrender to your darkest dreams, and you'll live as you've never lived before...=-

(o^_^o)