Dominion Fortress of Fear- Republic Dominion of Kampe

[Delro Veadgon]

Location: On the Ground
Objectives: Lay down a base of fire to protect the downed walkers, assist in carrying out CASEVAC
Allies: Republic Tala Bramsin Republic Engineering Saga of Valour

Theme

"Copy that, I'll take over." Volk surveyed the battlefield before them, considering what his next action should be. The ground-pounders needed a plan to draw fire from the shocktroopers while minimizing casualties. Volk smiled under his helmet, as he went to work adapting a ladder retreat into a plan of attack. "Split your surviving tanks into two elements, We're going to have to leapfrog on the approach. As one element advances to the next available cover, the other lays down a constant and continual base of fire. Wesk Company will form the second Infantry Element" He paused for a moment, running through the plan in his head before moving forward, "We'll need to do this quickly and smoothly, with tanks and troops moving simultaneously. Concentrate the tanks' fire on the walls, keep the Infantry looking out for counter-attacks."

Blast! Volk exclaimed in his head, as he saw a pair of his men thrown back by an explosion as a third took a bolt to the shoulder. The armor'd probably save them, but those were three fewer troops that were useful in the here and now. He rushed over with a medic to check on the two while another one of his marines pulled the third behind cover. "We'll need to act fast if we want to pull this off right." He flipped his electrobinocular visor down and laid down fire from his blaster carbine, covering himself and the medic as they dragged the two into safety.

It was just then that he noticed the Jedi and commando doing their work on the AT-ATs, taking away the GAR detachment's most immediate threat. "This is our shot.! Wesk Company, covering fire..." He waited a few seconds, letting his men get their blaster carbines and rifles loaded and aimed in the proper direction, "Now!" His blaster carbine erupted in continual three-round bursts of blaster bolts, joined by those of the rest of his company.

 

[Bayaz]

They had barely missed getting taken out by falling droid arms and now she was talking crazyness.

"Take the-Wait, what do you mean?!" Before he could get an answer out of the twi'lek she had reached the end of her countdown. He cursed and scooted forward as she jumped, gripping the controls of the speeder and looking up in amazement as the Jedi as she scaled the walker.

"Damn, wish I could do that..." he muttered. But now what was he supposed to do? He attempted to keep pace with the walker waiting for a signal or something from the Jedi. A sudden shift in the walker's movement nearly mad him crash again but when he saw the walker open fire and take out the other he let out a low appreciative whistle. He pulled the speeder over to marvel at the Jedi's handiwork when he got a message from Corellian command. A dossier began scrolling down his HUD...


Colonel Viktor Wilheim
Commanding Officer of the Frozen Hand Base
Considered an HVT by Republic Intelligence.

Capture or Kill.

Well they had their mission. He tapped his com and tried to hail the Jedi.

"Hey Blue, we got our next goal! Capture the commanding officer. Think you can give me a lift to the bunker?"
Cambria Zadira

 

[The Monster]

Sergei was doing his sweep when the other soldier identified himself and stepped into the open. He sighed in relief as he'd found the man he was looking for. He spoke quickly as he brought the other up to speed.

"We have the wounded in the rearmost walkers, soon as we can get gunship support to get them out we'll move them," he paused as the Merc made his intentions known, "Well then if you don't mind we'll need all the help we can get down there,"

With that he shot his grapple gun into the ceiling of the hole and hopped off the ledge, fast roping down to the canyon floor and motioning for the other Merc to just use the same rope. When they both were dirtside, Sergei would detach the rope and the cable reeled itself into his wrist mounted launcher. By now the republic tanks were close enough to the walls to begin shelling them, and Sergei started walking forward and speaking.

"If we can keep this up, we should take the wall in-" he was cutoff by the particular screeching of missiles tearing towards them. He didn't speak as he simply hit the dirt fast as he could, and then watched as the missiles hit the lead walker, and tore it apart. First the front legs crumpled under the barrage, followed by the cockpit taking a direct hit, and the troop bay exploding as the tank was blown apart by an ammo explosion. Getting up quickly Sergei roared over the comms.

"All surviving units move up! We have no time to wait for the tanks, TAKE THE WALL!"

Sergei then rushed forward, moving much faster than a man his size in that heavy of armor should be able to move. Along the way he picked soldiers off the ground and beckoned them to follow, until he got to the lead unit of rangers that had been up until now spearheading the assault. But now they were taking cover and trying to shoot back at the wall. Sergei simply dove to their cover behind them as he continued his rush.

"Why aren't you moving up!?"

"We lost the tank we can't advance under this kind of attack!"

"Watch me! Come on you sons of banthas, do you want to live forever? Follow me!"

Sergei then leaped over top of the rocks they were using as cover, and with a challenging roar charged across the last distance to reach the walls. Through the hails of blaster fire, through the missile barrages, the certifiably crazed mercenary charged. And the soldiers he'd rallied followed him, not wanting to be outdone by some random mercenary who just so happened to be more angry than any of them were afraid. There was no more time to be afraid, no more time to try to maneuver for better positions. There was only one way through, and it was straight forward. The remaining tanks returned what fire they could with their heavy and light cannons, but Sergei knew there'd be losses. Which is why he lead from the front. Someone else might stop to catch their breath, find some cover, any excuse to try and stop. Which would get more people killed, so Sergei didn't stop. And with the example of him to follow, the regular troopers had no choice but not let themselves be outdone. Sergei never stopped shouting at those behind him to keep moving, through the blaster fire and explosions of oncoming weapons fire. When he finally got to the base of the wall, only then did he stop to turn, waving the others forward. When a few reached him, he immediately issued orders.

"READY GRAPPLE GUNS, TAKE THE WALL AND PROVIDE AN OPENING FOR OUR BROTHERS! FOR VICTORY OR DEATH! EGO SUM DIGNUS!"

With that Sergei fired his grapple gun, drew his pistol, and started his ascent up the wall firing his pistol at any who dared peer over the edge down at him.

Arash Garshasp Tala Bramsin Bayaz Republic Engineering Delro Veadgon Cambria Zadira

 

[Tala Bramsin]

"Bout time we had an officer take over," a trooper next to Tala grumbled and Tala elbowed the man. Not that either of them could really feel it through the armor, but it was the thought that mattered.

"You say something Waxson?" Tala said, yelling through the helmet. They were ducked down behind a piece of rock as one of the E-WEB emplacements hammered away at the canyon floor. Most of the heavy weaponry up top had gone dark. The commandos and special forces up there seemed to have gotten the job done. The big enemy walkers had been getting pounded hard by their own walkers and the crazy Jedi on a speeder bike. Crazy, but it seemed to work. If they were all that fast, it would have worked out quite well. But sometimes speed didn't work.

"No, sir!" The reply came back. "Just it was good to have you next to me!"

"That's the spirit, lad," Tala said brightly, watching the tip of the repeater's barrel. The gunners had been pushing the weapon to its max and he'd been tracking the cooldown cycles. Missiles were hurtling towards the advancing column, but Tala ignored them for the moment. The rayshield gate was so close now. He slipped a thermal detonator from his belt and left his finger hovering over the activation trigger.

Its weight sat heavy in his hand. Just a few more seconds. The barrel of the repeater went red and the firing ceased. It gave them a small window of opportunity. While elsewhere, he could the rest of the troops going for the wall, Tala dove forward, running in a crouch until he flung himself down behind the ray shield emitter. A thumb pressed down on the detonator and he chucked it behind the rippling red energy.

Heartbeats passed until an explosion tore through the small fortified area. Debris and flames hurtled through the air, only to drop still as they hit the energy field. That was all he needed. Tala ducked around the corner of the emitters and made a run for it. Some lunatic had gone up and around to bypass the gate and was assaulting the walls directly.

"You heard the captain!" Tala yelled over the comms. "Get at it! Keep up the suppressive fire! Rest of you, move! Lay down fire on the top of those walls!"

The Monster Arash Garshasp Bayaz Cambria Zadira Republic Engineering Delro Veadgon

 

[Arash Garshasp]

Arash Garshasp, Stellar Legionnaire
Location: Upper Canyon Level, Heading to the Bunker
Objective: Secure Medevac

Spoiler: Equipment

VDS-02 “Bulwark” - Pattern Military Mobility Shield
VCS-01 “Aspis” Pattern Combat Shield
VW-03 Mk II “Apollo” - Pattern Solarized Disruptor Pistol
TTH/TPV-001 “Xiphos” - Pattern Plasmatic Vibrosword
VCP-01 "Hoplon" - Pattern Combat Powersuit

Arash eyed the other mercenary and with a grin he nodded as the mercenary immediately took for their next objective. His HUD displayed a different route towards the main wall of the fortifications, and with the attacks from the main armored thrust of the Republic many of the remaining enemy guns were forced to keep the spearhead at bay. Unfortunately for the enemy with the removal of another bunker on the top of the Canyon, it hampered much of the possible firepower the enemy could sling at the Republic.

The enemy was no fool and as Arash peered below the canyon wall and down the main fighting, the enemy had begun its own counter attack to push the Republic back. Was it enough? Arash couldn’t possibly say, but for all intent and purpose Arash was tasked to break through into the fortification. And if a breach needs to be taken, taken it shall and held for the Republic. He breathed in a sigh of relief as he noted more armour reserves were being brought up to the front and with perhaps not a moment too soon as yet another Republic Tank met a fiery end before the fortress walls.

Looking behind himself, Arash attacked his grappling hook, and with a quick check on his armour’s tethering link, he lept down below and ran down the Canyon wall. His legs pressed into the wall to launch him directly below, using his next step to both slow him down a tad and change direction when needed. The servos of his power-suit whirled into life as he sprinted down the canyon with large leaps. Arash thanked the impact-gel in his suit, but worried about soreness he’d no doubt feel once his adrenaline rush came down. What was it my father would say? Oh the follies of youth? Arash laughed as he continued his mad dash to the fortress wall.

The majority of the enemy fire seemed to have increased towards the continuing attacks of the Republic, and Arash minded little as he enjoyed not being shot at by the larger and heavier weapons of the fortress. With the wall coming in closer, Arash unlinked his tether and with one last leap he jumped towards the wall below, free falling for a few moments, and with a large thud Arash made it to the top of the wall. Only given a single second, Arash breathed and jumped out of the way as several automated defense turrets had spotted an enemy and began to fire at the young Thyrsian.

Okay, okay. . . okay.

Tala Bramsin The Monster Saga of Valour Bayaz Cambria Zadira

 

[Dracken Pryce]

Kampe - Orbit - CDF Starchild

He looked out at the carnage before him. Alarm bells were blaring on the bridge and the starchild had several hull breaches, the Republic fleet was extremely battered, but the space superiority of the Frozen Hand was gone. What few ships they had left retreated along an unknown vector and hyperlane, their remaining vessels lay broken and shattered. The siege had lasted days and from the look of the ground on the long battle would go on longer still. While intelligence suggested the commanding officer was in the compound being assaulted by the Republic, it looked as though there were several other fortified positions. As he looked down at the battle below he could only mutter to himself.

"May the Force Be With You..."

 

[Republic Engineering]

​

False-firelight bathed Gideon’s patrician features as he stared down at the battle transpiring within the canyon below. Sigma Squad had taken out their primary objective and gave the armoured column the momentary reprieve they needed. The guns and emplacements along the Western approach were silenced.

However, the Eastern bunkers still remained. There was another Squad that was dispatched at the same time as Sigma to clear them out, but it seemed they were lagging behind. He couldn’t tell why.

It wasn’t like they weren’t subjected to different training regimes or combat simulators.

Nevertheless, the details mattered little.

Only the mission.

:: Echo Lead, this is Sigma Lead. Status report?::

Silence was his only answer, until moments later - a voice crackled to life across his suit’s Comms System. The speaker was breathing heavily, a clear sign that they were reaching the limit of their physical endurance. While their armour was able to support their weight and augmented their abilities, the organic flesh encased within still felt fatigued - especially in the furious tumult of a firefight.

To add further credence to the dire straits that the Commandos of Echo Squad found themselves in, the plasmatic chatter of discharging energy weapons resounded in the background of their encrypted connection.

:: Sigma, this is Echo.:: The Commando heaved. :: Two of our number were taken out. Unable to complete the mission. Unexpected Imperial resistance. Will have to abort. Fallen unrecover-::

Gideon snarled.​

:: Hold your position, Echo Lead.::

:: Sigma.:: The connection emitted a burst of static, followed by another round of gunfire. :: Unable to maintain position. Cover compromised.::

“Dammit,” Gideon hissed.

He blinked twice, signalling his armour to swap open another threaded channel of communication. This time, instead of branching out to the remaining Commandos of Echo Squad - his armour connected with the rest of Sigma instead.

:: Hatchet here, alongside Whisper and Dynamo. What do you need, Sir?::

:: Echo Squad’s fallen behind and has been reduced to half-strength. Provide covering fire in sniper configuration. I’ll grapple over and finish the job.::​

A trio of green acknowledgement runes blinked across Gideon’s visor, and within moments - a barrage of plasmatic quarrels erupted, causing a ripple of explosions to blossom amongst the distant Imperial fortifications.

With practiced precision, the Commando mounted an ascension module onto his weapon and magnetically-locked the grip to the interior of his palm. It’d support his weight, and that of his armour - but it needed to anchor itself in the canyon, lest he fell to his certain doom or paint the exterior of a Republic walker. So, Gideon took aim and fired. The grappling hook soared high through the air and sunk deep into the canyon’s rocky edifice - firmly securing itself by drilling into the earth beneath its metallic embrace.

He didn’t hesitate. When the line was secured, the Commando surged forward. There was a measure of primal fear that raced through his veins as his feet carried his armoured form ever-closer to the edge. However, through his training, that sensation was swiftly embraced before it crippled his movements.

Jumping right as his boot connected with the canyon’s lip, He remotely activated the ascension gun’s motivator - which sent the Commando racing towards the Eastern approach, and the Imperial bunkers that lay beyond.

| Tala Bramsin | Arash Garshasp | Bayaz | Cambria Zadira | Theo Vereen | The Monster | Delro Veadgon |​

 

[Saga of Valour]

Colonel Viktor Wilheim
Commanding Officer of the Frozen Hand Base
Considered an HVT by Republic Intelligence.​

​

They advanced. Despite everything that Viktor and his subordinates threw at them, they pushed. Undaunted by the losses they were taking. Was it the Jedi that stood alongside them that gave them the courage to defy the odds? Or perhaps it was the notion of vengeance that drove them forward? Viktor couldn't tell. Whatever it is - it was working. They rallied after the canyon's surface bunkers were destroyed, pushing forward harder and faster than he could've ever imagined. The Walkers they destroyed were pushed aside, doubtlessly disturbing the dead from their places of rest. The man hoped he'd have more time, as the window for withdrawal was slowly closing. He'd sacrifice those under his command to escape. It was the Imperial way, after all.

However, his heart began to race when one of his Comms officers informed him of the battle in Orbit. The Frozen Hand's Fleet was broken. Defeated by the New Class vessels that found themselves in the Republic's hands. The advantage was theirs, to begin with, and Viktor was a fool to believe he had a chance. Everything hurled at the Republic was nothing more than a desperate gambit. It was then that the realization hit him, and his blood went cold. With the Fleet scattered, and his armies reduced to pockets of 'valiant' defenders - his life was measured in moments.

He wouldn't be able to escape.

They'd kill him for what he's done. Forcibly depopulating an entire planet? That was akin to grand theft, as well as kidnapping on the grandest scale. It could also be spun as a war crime - especially once they found out what those people were being used for. It was doubtful these men and women would grant him, or his command staff any clemency. If they were anything like their spiritual ancestors, a grand trial and summary execution awaited him. No matter the branching path time took to reach the distant future - he was dead. The abyss was waiting.

Sweat beaded across his brow as the Officer sought to fight against his primal nature, the fear that bubbled within his breast.

"Order," Viktor began, his voice cracking. "Order a withdrawal."

Several officers glanced his way, unsure of what they heard. Viktor was a man who often ascribed to the tenets of the Tarkin Doctrine. He'd use fear as a weapon, and never retreat in the face of overwhelming odds. His determination should've been enough to steel the collective wills of those beneath his command.

It wasn't.

His spine bent as if he was nothing more than a reed caught in the wind. Viktor's mind, like his heart, continued to race. Maybe, if he was lenient to those under his command - he'd receive a softer form of penance. Perhaps he'd still be able to live after the Republic inevitably took this imposing Canyon fortress, especially after they heard his plea for unconditional surrender. The Republic liked that sort of move, no? They wanted to take as many enemy combatants alive, and as prisoners to stand on their moral high-ground. Giving quarter to a defeated enemy seemed to be what 'supposed' good guys relished the most.

Yet, their comms were jammed. They couldn't get in touch with the Republic Forces in Orbit, nor whatever remained of their own, scattered flotilla. It would've been foolish to try and broadcast over an open channel on the surface, as well. The enemy was likely jamming surface communications as well, and it'd be unlikely that his pleas would be heard. It wasn't a chance he could take.

"Flee, dammit." Viktor cursed. "FLEE FOR YOUR DAMNED LIVES!"

The order would've likely been passed through the chain of command, but at that moment? He didn't care. His feet carried him from the command centre before his mind caught up.

Panic, set in.

He had to get out.

He had to survive.​

He didn't want to die this day.​

| Tala Bramsin | Arash Garshasp | Bayaz | Cambria Zadira | Theo Vereen | The Monster | Delro Veadgon | Dracken Pryce |​

 

[Tala Bramsin]

Tala crouched at the base of the fortress wall, helmet tilted upward as he watched what was happening. Chaos and uncertainty for the most part. They'd cleared their way to the base of the wall. Shock troopers were rappelling up the wall. He'd paused to catch a breath as he watched the top of the wall for anyone trying to drop things on him from above. Rocks would still hurt, even within the armor, and he had no desire to go through that. "Get me those breaching charges!" He yelled. "Need to keep 'em busy everywhere! Put it there!" He pointed to a support buttress not far away.

An explosive specialist ran towards with, with a heavy blastic pack of charges. Heavy repeating fire from the walkers kept up the barrage along the top of the walls and above. The technician slapped it onto the stone and pressed buttons. "Ready, sir!"

Tala nodded and waved to the rest of his mixed squads. "Clear the radius! On three!" The men around him ducked even lower and ducked behind the buttress they were using for cover while Tala counted down with his fingers. As the final one closed into the fist, a deep explosion ripped through the stone wall, sending chunks flying as the shockwave shattered the sandy stone.

"Go! Go! Go!" Tala was yelling again as he pushed towards the still-smoking breach in the wall. With that weakening the strength of the surrounding pieces, it would be enough for the walkers to batter their way through into the central area of the fortress. And once the walkers were in? Well, it'd still fall to them to clear out the corridors and innards that burrowed within the canyon wall. So much for the fancy heavy vehicles.

He pushed through the breach, ducking behind the rubble as the other squads moved to take up the position. With this, they could catch the Frozen Hand in a crossfire from above and below. Left them exposed, but the shock troopers were supposed to be really good. He wouldn't put any credits on it though. One could only shoot so many stormtroopers so quickly.

"Get some launchers on those inner gun!" He yelled over the endless din of blasterfire that was piercing through the chaos. "Fleet Command, this is Ranger Actual. Breached the wall. Feel free to rappel in the reinforcements!"

"Roger that, Ranger Actual. Skyward Sword en route."

Tala grinned as the satisfactory thump of thermal detonators being flung from launcher tubes filled him with satisfaction as he could just make out their shape land on the fortress' inner ring of defenses. Overhead, he could hear the reassuring thrum of the gunship engines as they maneuvered into place. Cable unspooled downwards towards the center of the fortress and the inner defenses while a third barrage of plasma came hurtling down from above. Tala wasn't crazy enough to rope down from a gunship, but he admired those reckless enough to do it.

Saga of Valour Arash Garshasp Cambria Zadira Bayaz The Monster Theo Vereen Delro Veadgon Dracken Pryce

 

[Republic Engineering]

​

With a crunch of sensation rippling through his armoured frame, Gideon’s boots impacted the canyon’s wall. The grappling hook remained anchored within the cliffside and supported the Commando’s bulk. It was an unspoken worry that drifted through his mind as the man skirted from one side of the canyon to the next. Thankfully, as his boots connected with rock - everything within his mind narrowed to a point. The entirety of the world, and the tumult of the ensuing battle that surrounded him, closed in around itself. All that mattered now was to vault over the edge and throw himself into the thick of a firefight. What remained of Echo Squad needed to be saved, especially since it seemed that they had encountered a few troubles doing it themselves.

So, as the man crested the side of the canyon, Gideon casually discarded the spent ascension package. He re-mounted the lethal modules of his weapon and listened as the rifle harmonically chimed. When the maximum power setting was achieved, the Commando went to work. His pace became swift, as the weapon swept across the battlefield. Every target of opportunity that he encountered found themselves ruthlessly dispatched. Only smoking corpses found themselves lying in Gideon’s wake. There was something in the corner of the false fire-light of his visor that went unseen. It was a kill-counter, and with every passing moment, the numerical ticked higher, and higher.

Imperial troopers, clad in the characteristic white armour of the Stormtroopers, burst forth from hidden alcoves or roused themselves from hastily spaded trenches.

They collapsed soon after revealing themselves to the Commando, with carbon-scores staining the innocence of their battle armour. Gideon was, for the lack of a better word, unstoppable. When his weapon finally ran dry, the soldier threw himself into cover and began swapping out one plasma cartridge for another. All-the-while, he was taking fire. Blaster bolts rang off against the exterior of the bunker - narrowly missing their intended target. The Balmorran was unconcerned. He knew that his advanced forms of training and the mobility shield situated around his waist would protect him when the time came.

Slamming home the fresh plasmatic magazine, Gideon surged back into action. However, the unexpected happened. A heavy, armoured hand came out of the shadows, knocking the Commando’s weapon down. He reacted swiftly, but it wasn’t quick enough. His actions saw him in an awkward position, where he was trying to arrest his forward momentum and strike his unseen attacker from across his body. It wasn’t long after that the brute managed to throw the heavily armoured Commando to the dusty earth beneath. His weapon was an arm’s length away, torn from his grasp and casually discarded. Gideon grunted painfully as his armoured form impacted the surface.

Though his armour was outfitted with advanced technologies, and some of the best impact gel in the galaxy, the man still felt the contact. His head swam with swirling, unseen lights - denoting some cranial impact and a possible concussion. It took everything the Commando had to regain his senses. The nigh-invisible attacker revealed himself then. It was a battle droid of ancient design and one that bore the markings of the ancient Galactic Empire. The damned thing was tall and quick. Within seconds of hitting the surface, the battle droid moved over the fallen Commando and placed its metallic foot on the man’s helmet. After it found purchase, the Droid’s foot began to descend.

His helmet creaked and groaned under the mounting pressure. He felt the fear from his jump across the canyon return. If he didn’t move, or act soon, the battle droid would crush his helmet underfoot - as well as the precious nerve clusters that were shielded beneath.

Gideon snarled.

With a clawing hand, the Commando began tearing at the exterior armour plating of the Droid’s leg - hoping to find purchase and tear the casing from it’s riveted mounting. His fingers scraped uselessly against the welded plates. He couldn’t find the gap, and the pressure was beginning to mount. That was until his other hand pulled a Vibroblade free. With a depression of his thumb and the ultrasonic thrum of activation filling his aural receptors - Gideon plunged the sharpened blade into the Droid’s leg. It tore through the durasteel casing and found itself stuck in a bundle of tensile cables, and hissing liquids began to spew outwards. He struck something vital within the Droid, and the towering automaton toppled backwards - having lost balance as it recoiled in the facsimile of pain.

The Commando scrambled to his knees, then. With blade in hand, Gideon surged forth - burying the knife into the Droid’s chassis several times. Though unseen by the partially crushed helmet and the cracked visor that adorned his clean-shaven crown, the Balmorran’s eyes were wild and red-rimmed with an untamed rage. The discipline and iron-clad Will that the man was becoming known for faded away. He was nothing more than a beast now. His blade rose and fell in tune with his thunderous, ursine heart. When reason managed to take hold and shackle his rampant emotions in the darkest recesses of his mind - Gideon found himself staring at a bisected battle droid, savaged by the edge of a vibroknife and a taloned claw.

He sighed then. Heavily.

Unwilling to recount the carnage he inflicted upon the battle droid, the Commando simply roused himself from the dust, picking up his discarded weapon as he rose. The distraction of the ambush had stolen valuable slices of time from Echo Squad’s recovery. He needed to move. They needed him, and they needed him yesterday. So, with blood leaking from his ear and several gashes in his forehead - Gideon swiftly darted from one emplacement to another, seeking the friendly marker that’d denote his surviving comrades along the Eastern-most approach. His weapon drew a bead on more and more targets of opportunity, before bathing them in unstable energies.

They would die.​

These wretches… would all die.​

| Tala Bramsin | Arash Garshasp | Bayaz | Cambria Zadira | Theo Vereen | The Monster | Delro Veadgon |​

 

[The Monster]

Sergei rocketed up the side of the wall, noting that his plan, while certainly a little on the unorthodox side, had worked. While he'd lead a ground assault directly over the wall, another team was breaching the gate proper. That meant the firepower of the enemy was now split in two trying to respond to them both, and that much less effective because of it. By the time Sergei reached the top he could hear the booming of what he remembered as satchel charges. The main gate had been breached. Which meant this was an all infantry fight now. He didn't hesitate as he climbed over the side and fired several shots from his pistol to clear a small opening for him to get over the top. From there he began engaging in a close quarters melee, but something felt off. The resistance from the enemy was getting less coordinated, like their 2C had been hit.

Except Sergei hadn't seen any bombers or fighters come in to hit the target yet.

What spelled it out for Sergei was when he kicked a soldier down, shot his friend right behind him and then hip tossed the third right over the top of the wall who went screaming to his death. The soldier just laid on the ground holding his hands out to shield himself from what should have been a quick death. And Sergei stayed his hand as he almost shot him, but realized these men weren't fighting to kill anymore, they were fighting to survive. They were terrified. Sergei kicked the man's weapon away and with a solid kick to the head knocked him unconscious. These men didn't have any fight left in them. As he zip cuffed him on the ground, Sergei called over comms.

"I don't know what you did, but I've got my first guy to surrender all day,"

Sergei then moved on, leading his commandeered troopers across the wall, shooting those that didn't surrender, and securing those that did in temporary bindings. Sergei was about to call in that more were surrendering when offered the chance, when one of the Frozen hand soldiers pulled a grenade on him as he feigned surrender. Sergei once again didn't hesitate, kicking the man off the wall, and forcing the rest down at blaster point. He wasn't going to unnecessarily kill anyone who wanted to surrender, but at the slightest hint of treachery he put them down. It all came to a head when Sergei entered a bunker with three men at his back, and encountered six men who just sort of looked at him, with another man shouting that they fight. Sergei kept his weapon raised, and was getting ready to open fire, when one of the Frozen hand soldiers gunned down the officer, and then threw his weapon away. The rest followed suit, and when Sergei began to secure them, he could hear the soldier who killed him crying. When he got to him, all he could say was he didn't want to die. Sergei didn't say anything until he got outside of the bunker.

"Friendly forces be advised, I think their command chain has fallen apart. I've got men trying to surrender left and right. What's the call with the prisoners of war,"

Sergei wasn't going to show these men any cruelty, not now. He was a professional soldier after all, and these men were now becoming his responsibility. As he looked back at them, he could feel it in the air, damn near see it in their posture. It was over, and while for some they'd die fighting, for others, they just didn't want to die here. Sergei was obligated by his own personal code and what he had learned as a soldier long ago to laws of war, that separated professionals like him from the animals he so desperately fought against. He wouldn't relax just yet, but his gut told him this was the end of this fight at least.

Tala Bramsin Republic Engineering Saga of Valour