RPG: The Naltoon Assault (Page 8 of 8)

Griffin, Elka and Ol' Vik where moving through the streets of Naltoon,

"You know, when i get back to base, i hope they got that pasta left! god that was realllyyyy niceee!!" Griffin said out of the blue

Elka glared at him

"Is that all you ever think about?" she moaned

"Pretty much, the only thing thats not trying to kill me really...then again..." Griffin paused to think

"Bah what am i thinking of!" he sighed "Food wouldnt kill me!" he cheerfully replied to himself

Griffin neared the corner of the wall

"Watch the corners!" He whispered as he placed himself on the corner of the street, it was a wide cross junction. easily could get mowed down...or ran over. It was too quiet, far to quiet.
Then in the distance he could see the heat waves coming off two black shadows......Speeder bikes.

"Guys, we got enemy light armor down there, say about 1200 metres...Wait for them to pass or engage?"

"Im in no mood to fight a pair of speedies, just leave them" Elka said

"Very well, Baseplate, this is Griffin copy?" He kneeled down and spoke into his comms

"This is baseplate. status Corporal?"

"I got an unknown, Elka and myself, were coming in now....Oh and baseplate?"

"What is it Corporal?"

"Got any of that pasta left?" Griffin happily spoke into his comms

"......." The comms line went dead

"Does that mean they do or they dont?" Griffin said confusedly to Elka

Elka gave Griffin a slap then grinned.

"Just go Griff....Just go!" she then ushered Griffin

Gemma and Dodger were watching the smoke clear when they saw the awful scene unfold before them. Gemma immediately lifted her rifle to take out the Imp but Dodger placed a hand on the barrel making her lower it, “If you kill him you’re no better than the murdering scum he is.”

Gemma nodded, “One thing’s clear. I know I’m on the right side. Who murders someone like that? Quarry didn’t even have time to defend himself.”

“That’s the Imperial way,” Dodger growled.

“You don’t happen to have another charge you could set off?” Gemma asked.

Dodger shook his head, “Not one that wouldn’t result in Elna getting killed.”

Gemma nodded feeling somewhat demoralised. “I’m going kill that Imp, if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

Dodger grinned beneath his helmet, “If I don’t beat you to it first.”

Jaith did not at all feel troubled by the recent turn of events. He had killed a member of the Rebellion. He had killed an insurgent. A terrorist. He was defending the citizens and soldiers of the empire. He was defending Raina, he was defending Carbine. What he did needed to be done. He had to fight, he had to kill, so people like his sister could continue their lives in peace. But sometimes things happened, and the war was brought to them. Unfortunately this had happened, and now, exposed to what he did to defend people like her, his sister seemed to be in a state of shock, appalled at what must be done to ensure safety. She may hate him, but what he did, he did for people like her.

Gemma and Dodger returned to the Rebel compound to find the others standing around the mapping station. “What’s going on?” Gemma asked as she moved in.

“We’re tracking the battles, we’ve lost a lot of our people and we still don’t have the plans.” Captain Athos told.

Dodger reached into his pocket, “This might help.” It was the reader Quarry had used.

“The plans?” Captain Athos asked with astonishment.

Dodger nodded, “Consider it a last gift from Quarry.”

Athos’ face dropped, “Oh I see.” He took the reader and plugged it in, it didn’t take him long to find the plans. “They’re here.”

“Can you transmit them from here?” Gemma asked.

Athos frowned, “We could but it’s likely that it would be intercepted. We need to get off world.”

Gemma looked at Athos, “Let me guess you’ll need a distraction.”

“I think the chaos in the city centre is doing that.” Athos replied.

“The Dark Trooper?” Dodger asked.

Athos nodded, “I suggest you help with the chaos if anything.”

“Now that’s the kinda news I like to hear.” Dodger said with a grin.

“Okay Captain, we’ll go back out.” Gemma said as she restocked on clips and grenades.

“We’ll get ready to send the message, I’ll contact you when we’re ready.” Athos told.

“Let’s roll out,” Gemma called to the others. She’d tell Elka about her sister soon enough.

“Let’s roll out!” ordered the Rebel sergeant to her team.

Hiding in the shadows just inside the Rebel sanctuary’s entrance, Ghost tensed.  Need to get out of here and report this location…

Slipping out the door silently just ahead of the oncoming team, he looked back to make sure he hadn’t been seen. 

Sure his presence had gone unnoticed, he darted out…only to literally collide with a sentry he’d avoided while entering the area. 

Without a second’s hesitation, and with a surge of adrenaline from the surprise and shock of the encounter, ’57 wrapped his left arm around the trooper’s neck and thrust his right glove blade into the young man’s exposed throat below his blast visor. 

Dropping his blaster in shock the trooper tried to scream, but only a sickening gurgle was heard.  Before the Rebel was totally limp, however, another pair of sentries walked from around a nearby corner.  DAMN!  Must be a change in the guard shift!

Leveling their blasters, both cut loose.  Shoving the increasingly heavy trooper into the line of fire, 57’ blocked the shots and looked for an escape.

From behind, he could hear the Rebel sergeant and her team running up.

“THIS IS SS 2557” Ghost shouted into all his communicator frequencies, hoping someone was listening.  “I HAVE DISCOVERED THE REBEL BASE!”  Letting the dead trooper fall, 57’ pulled his disrupter and scout blaster as he dropped to one knee.  “TRACK MY LOCATION!”  Just dodging a bolt, Ghost fired his scout blaster and hit the Rebel they’d been calling ‘Dodger’ squarely in the shoulder, sending him to the duracreat with a thud and a yell.  “I REPEAT!”  A shot from behind grazed his shoulder.  Turning on the two oncoming guards ’57 leveled one with his disrupter and knee-capped the other with his scout.’  “..THE REBEL OPERATION CENTER IS AT MY…”

The impact of the hit knocked ’57 from his firing position to his back.  Looking down, he could see the smoldering hole burned through his chest plate.  Tilting his head weakly back up, he could see the smoke trailing from the Rebel sergeant’s blaster.

“I’ll be damned….” He sputtered.  “….killed by a woman….” 

Weakly, he attempted to raise his blaster and fire again, but she was ready and squeezed off another bolt.  His head snapped back from the shot to the helmet, he never felt the bolts from her companions…

Gemma watched as the Imp went down and felt a slight wave of relief. She got him in the chest and then gone for the head, exactly where his com would be. She knew that he certainly would have been reporting their position. She turned to Griffin, who had just tripped over the body, “Tell Athos we’ve been compromised. We need to evacuate and get off world as soon as possible.”

Griffin nodded, “Yes ma’am.”

“Elna check on Dodger,” Gemma instructed as she stalked towards the still form of the Imperial soldier.

She saw that her first shot had penetrated his chest armour. She kicked his blaster away from his outstretched hand and moved towards his head. The protective face plates were shattered and one side of the helmet was torn asunder from the blaster shot. She was surprised to see that the Imps face wasn’t a charred mess. It seemed the helmet had taken the brunt.

She knelt down and removed the helmet, one side of his face was lined with thin scratches and the faintest burn damage from the head shot, but the rest of his face was unmarked by the destruction of the helmet. “They make half decent helmets it seems,” Gemma muttered to herself as she peered into the inner lining of the helmet. “Tracking device,” she said to herself as she noticed and small flashing icon on the remaining shards of the HUD display. She dropped the helmet to the ground and stamped on it a couple of times before smashing the butt of her rifle on the remains to crush the intricate electronics.

Gemma touched her headset, “I need a clean-up crew in sector three.”

She turned to Elna who was checking Dodger’s shoulder. “We need to move out. Dodger are you able to blow those charges?”

Dodger looked up, now without his helmet, “I’ve never heard sweeter words uttered.”

“Okay then, it’s time we finish this.” Gemma said as she readied her rifle. “Let’s move.”

Gemma was leading the remainder of her squad back out into the action. She stopped as she heard Athos’ voice though her headset, “Sergeant we’ve located Harvim’s position in the Imperial building. I’ll send the co-ordinates to you.”

Gemma quickly took note, “Okay we’ll see if we can get him out.” She told as she turned to the others. “We’re going to need to split up. We’ve got to get Harvim out and do a sweep for Elna.” Gemma said as she looked at Elka.

Next Gemma turned to their explosives expert, “Dodger, we need you to do your magic but you’ve got to leave the best until last.”

Dodger grinned, “Yes ma’am. Can I borrow Ol’ Vik? I’m going to need someone to lean on,” Dodger said as he held his injured shoulder.

Gemma looked at Ol’ Vik with a raise eyebrow, “Your choice?”

Ol’ Vik grinned, “As long as I get to knock around some Imps I’ll be happy.”

Gemma nodded, “Good, then Elka and Griffin will come with me. Best of luck everyone. May the Force be with you.”

Dodger shook his head, “You and the bloody Force, why can’t you believe in something of substance, like the Tooth Fairy.”

Gemma almost slapped him one then remembered his shoulder, “You’re insane Dodger, guess that’s why I like you.”

Dodger grinned, “That and for my stunning good looks and charm.”

“Don’t over do it,” Gemma said then turned serious. “Let’s roll.”

Soon enough Gemma had the co-ordinates. “Right, we’re going to use the tunnels again, we must be care that the Imps haven’t already located the various ways in.”

With that Gemma led them to the nearest entry to the secret underground tunnels. They travelled to the hidden basement on the elevator which they rode on. Gemma entered the pin code so they could reach the hidden level. From there they run through the sewer system and Gemma was glad she’d left her helmet on, as she pulled the portable breathing mask from the side. Griffin on the other hand was coughing a spluttering.

Elka laughed at him, “See you should have kept the helmet.”

They reached the apex they were looking for and Gemma led them on, they had to crawl through some ducking but soon enough they were inside the Imperial complex. Gemma quickly found a control panel and checked the security images, “Seems they’re busy higher up. I’m guessing it’s from Quarry’s early escapade.”

The trio moved on with little resistance. “Now the tricky part,” Gemma said, “We need to get to the detention block.

Havrim just sat around as Elna sobbed.  She was going through a hard time and he could understand.  But as she sat against his chest his senses were slowly returning to him.  There was still a dull pain in his head that would not go away.  The imps looked busy.  They were running back and forth in front of his cell.  Something was up.  He caught mentions of infiltration.  Havrim allowed himself a small smile.  Leave it to Gemma and Griff. 

"Don't worry Elna.  They'll be here soon.  Gemma's got me out of quite a few sticky situations."

"The dentention block eh?, Yeah been there a couple of times. Never seem to like it there so i kind of just walk out" Griffin said

"By the way Sarge...i dont suppose you got taught how to read at school then?" Griffin smirked pointing out a wall sign which had all the rooms and directions...well an arrow in a general direction.

Gemma just gave a smile as if to say i hate you, in a nice way though

"Oooooo mess hall! can i pop in to get some food on the way?" Griffin said, if he was a dog, he would be wagging his tail.

This time Gemma and Elka gave him a glance as if to say NO!

"Cant blame me for trying, i suppose" Griffin smiled

"Oh i can" Elka replied digging Griffin in the stomach

"Ow...No need" Griffin moaned rubbing his stomach

"Ok enough of the childs play! we need to get to this detention block" Gemma said, turning serious again

It took time but Gemma, Griffin and Elka found their missing Rebels. With Harvim and the distressed Elna, they made their way back to base.

Athos was already on the flag ship, Glorious. It ascending into the sky, Athos was amazed that they’d managed to steal the plans to the second Death Star.

Dodger lay bleeding, his life slipping away. He opened his eyes one last time and smiled. “A job well done,” he said to Ol’ Vik before he passed on to the next realm.

**Getting ready to wrap up, if anyone wants to post now's the time to do it before I tie up the loose ends.**