Lay of the Land

[Asharad Graush]

Why is she helping me?

But then again, he realized that she was no Sith.

She was a Knight of Ren.

Whether she wanted to or not, she was going to help him if it furthered the cause of the First Order.

He had told her to leave him if necessary, and she probably would if he didn't keep up with her when they got inside, if they didn't get gunned down the moment the door opened.

It was an arduous task, even with Isla's help, but he didn't stop, even as he felt the blood caking on his back. He just... Let out a grunt. In the distance, but certainly close enough for them to hear was blaster fire, steadily growing closer. If she were to look behind her past the tree line they had just emerged from, she would see faint bolts of crimson lancing through the trees, back and forth. The 482nd Stormtroopers were approaching from plenty of angles, eventually surrounding the compound and closing in.

In every direction there were flashes of crimson as the stormtroopers drew closer.

"Much more than you," he bit out, barely shooting a glance in her direction. On his lips, there was a slow grin forming as he said, "We push it inside with the Force," he directed. Whoever was behind that door was going to be getting a face full of bulkhead. If he could summon enough strength and had enough time to do it, those behind would be crushed.

With the Disciple of Ren? They could do it easily, even if she was bad at telekinesis, which he doubted.

"Now."

And then he shoved, slamming his palm against the bulkhead door they cut out as if he meant his hand to go entirely through the door, as it shoved it out with the Force.

 

[Isla Ashen]

The sound of blaster fire was heavy in the night air, it was all around them. However, this time it came from the white-clad Stormtroopers. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed that the forest was full of red flashes, and the shadowy silhouettes of those moving through the trees. Isla caught A’sharad’s remark, and the sight of the grin forming on his face. Her head bowed in a nod as she listened to his instruction to push the piece of the bulkhead inside, she was already beginning to focus and pull the force in around her in preparation.

It was a task that could be done with the force of one, and with the power of two behind the action, there was a high chance of success. Isla’s saber continued to cut through the door, and she watched as the piece of metal began to dangle, as if suspended by only a thread. As A’sharad gave the word, she unleashed a wave of the force, her open palm facing towards the door. It worked just as they had planned, the cut out was sent speeding inside, taking out the few that were unfortunate enough to be in the way.

“Let us make quick work of this place.” She said quickly, already in motion. Once the area was clear around the base, she could venture to guess that they would be joined inside by the Stormtroopers. This was going to be easy, right? Well, it seemed that the rebels were ready and they were soon met with more blaster fire. Isla stepped forward to deflect the bolts that she could, a few cutting close to her arms and legs.

 

[Asharad Graush]

Isla was stepping into the doorway past him, he leaned partially on the wall as he palmed the hilt into his left hand. He tightened his lips and he was once again determined as he stepped in after the Disciple of Ren, golden lightsabre twisting around in his hand to bat aside the multiple colours of the bolts that were flying towards them.

He continued to advance however which forced him to use more concentration to bat aside the bolts. Lightsabre flicking through the air, just as A'sharad's Shien form was about to be broken by the slowly overwhelming blaster fire, even more crimson bolts joined the fray. These shots were more precise however. The stormtroopers fired as they came through the hole in the bunker door single file. They were quick, efficient, and in large numbers. Soon enough the enough guards that were by the door were felled and it was just Isla, A'sharad, and a rapidly growing number of Stormtroopers.

"Hostiles eliminated, Sir." A'sharad's lightsabre was still activated and he turned it off a few moments later as he regarded the dirt caked armour of the First Order.

They arrived much faster than he had thought they would. Hadn't they had to travel around a swamp?

He looked past the apparently platoon leader in front of him and raised a brow.

From how dirty his armour was, it was clear that they did indeed meet the swamp, but instead of maneuvering around it, they went through it.

"Report."

"There are fewer rebels left within the facility. Four other platoons are converging on our position right now. Shall we begin cleansing the base?"

A'sharad nodded.

He couldn't hear the Stormtrooper issuing orders, but he must've muted his vocals to the two force users for less distractions as he distributed orders to his men. "Come," he said to Isla and he immediately began running down the unmarked corridors. He was slower than he had been originally, what with the wound slowing him down, but he continued down the halls anyway.

Behind them they could hear the thundering footsteps of the 482nd platoons moving down the corridor behind them, and then breaking off into the multiple corridors that branched off from the entrance corridor..

Soon there was the sound of blaster fire as A'sharad finally slowed to a stop.

"We should be close," he said, behind them a squad or two of stormtroopers were following after them. Help, most likely.

Going through multiple hand motions, the same platoon leader as earlier lead the near two dozen men down the closest corridor. It too was reinforced, but the doors were already opened, personnel that appeared to be non-combatants were fleeing from the room. Likely technicians clearing the data on the storage devices. "Hurry," A'sharad said as he joined dirt caked stormtroopers surging down the hallway to the command centre, blaster bolts firing every few steps as they moved quickly.

 

[Isla Ashen]

Isla continued to fight, her crimson saber flashing through the air. But just when it might have seemed that the two force users were about to be overwhelmed, help arrived in the form of white-clad troopers. Well, their armor was less white now, and stained with mud and debris from their trek through the swamps. It only spoke to their dedication. Blaster bolts came from behind Isla, meeting their marks swiftly and accurately. It wasn’t long before she found that the corridor was now quiet, and she waited while A’Sharad conversed with one of the armored men.

She had listened quietly to the report; it seemed that their mission was moving towards success. Despite this good news, their job was not done just yet. Isla nodded to A’sharad as he spoke, and she followed along behind him. It was clear to Isla that his strides were slower now, even somewhat labored, compared to earlier, but she said nothing. There were sounds from behind them, but they were the footfalls of their trooper comrades. Isla could hear some of them breaking off in other directions, but some remained just behind her heels.

The Ren came to a halt next to A’Sharad, and a moment later they were focusing on a set of doors. This time, at least they would not have to go cutting through, for they were left wide open for them. There were frantic people attempting to flee, their eyes wide and their panic was palpable. Pathetic. The troopers would take care of them, for this was easy work.

She could see the command center up ahead, and she did not break stride as she moved along with the Colonel and the Stroopers.

Almost there.

 

[Asharad Graush]

A'sharad allowed the Stormtroopers to enter the Command Centre ahead of the two force users.

There were still rebels in there, and when the stormtroopers heavy footfalls were heard, their blasters had been trained on the door. Orders and procedures were issued through their comm system, A'sharad heard none of it, but he knew it was happening. He must've been given command of the First Order Stormtroopers that were indoctrinated from an early age, not that he cared. They were the next best thing when it came to the Clone Troopers of old.

There was a brief moment where nothing was happening, and then the blaster bolts erupted from every side.

Stormtroopers dropped, but there were more of them and they took down the rest of the Rebels.

"Room secure," someone called out.

By the time the Disciple of Ren and the High Colonel actually got into the centre of the room, all of the rebels were dead and there were about eight Stormtroopers left in the room in all sorts of positions that you'd imagine a sentinel to be standing in. He walked towards one of the consoles, dragging his fingers across it lightly before he nodded his head slowly and turned to another one and began pressing all the buttons it. All he was looking for was... Life support in the deeper levels of the facility.

Cut off life support.

Close the vents.

Stop the circulation of air.

Stormtroopers had their own source of oxygen. While the remaining rebels would eventually begin to realize their air was growing thin, the Stormtroopers air would remain fresh.

"We have succeeded, Disciple of Ren," he said. He sat back onto one of the consoles. "Finish clearing the facility, Captain."

"Yes, Sir!"

Salutes all around and they were gone in a moment.

"So you've seen Stormtroopers in action now."