CARGO BAY
Caio had been helping load supplies in one of the cargo bays when the first warning sirens went off. The section stood half frozen, staring at each other before the voice came over the comm
"Now hear this, all hands to battle stations". Caio dropped the crate he'd been moving. The navy rating were moving for the lockers at the rear of the bay. He managed to catch one by the arm, "What the feth's happening man?"
The rating shook his hand off with a snarl "We're being boarded is what!" he said, "Standing orders are to arm up and get ready so get about it!". Caio let him go, staring at some of the other soldiers gobsmacked. "We better do as he says" Somhairle said, breaking into a jog for the rear of the bay. Caio and the rest of the section followed him. "Maybe we should head for our own gear?" "Do you want to be caught wandering around unarmed?". Caio shut up, he made a good point.
The small group of soldiers lingered awkwardly at the back of the crowd, the navy crewmen there moving with practised precision. This was something they'd drilled for and no doubt experienced for real as well. Blaster shotguns and carbines were passed out along with thermal detonators. "The navy lads look like they know what they're doing" Caio murmured.
A petty officer spotted them and barked an order. They came closer and she held up one of the weapons, it wasn't much bigger than an E-11 but was certainly bulkier. "Know what one of these is?" she demanded, "Seven shots in the magazine. The blaster bolts spread so don't waste it if they're down the other end of the corridor. Load, like this", she did a quick demonstration before unloading it and shoving it into Caio's hands. "Everyone grab one. Take detonators too".
There wasn't a peep out of the soldiers. Every platoon had been contributing a section for work parties per watch and different uniform or not, an NCO was an NCO. "Where do you want us?" Caio asked meekly. The petty officer pointed towards the hatchway, "Out of the way. We know what we're doing, ye don't. Stay as a reserve, I'll tell you what to do".
No complaints there. The soldiers didn't even have armour but the navy and stormtroopers had the training and the gear. A shudder went through the ship and the lights flickered. Everyone stopped for a moment. The petty officer jabbed her hand towards the hatchway "Move" she said before turning to shove weapons into more naval ratings hands.
"She won't hear any complaints from me" Somhairle muttered as they moved to guard the hatchway. Caio's mouth was dry but he tried to keep his tone light. "Didn't think my first action in uniform would be in space". Somhairle chuckled but then a shout "THEY'RE HERE!".
Caio whirled around, the shotgun clutched tight in his hands. His gaze went up, a shower of sparks falling from the ceiling. They were coming through from above. A shotgun fired and a petty officer screamed bloody murder demanding to know who'd shot it. Something seemed to fall from the hole and there was a torrent of metal just spilling through, raining down on the ground.
The Navy parties began to open fire, the blaster cannons sending laser fire at the boarders. The stormtroopers punctuated the deeper blasts with their faster firing blasters. Caio could see nothing, only hearing the chaos of over two hundred blasters firing at close range. Then the screaming started. And metallic grinding tearing sounds.
A gap appeared in the line and Caio got his first look at the enemy. It wasn't much taller than him and it stood on two legs but that's where the similarities ended. A metallic arm had gone right through a navy armsman while two more were busy eviscerating its captive prey. The head swivelled ninety degrees and its eyes flashed bright as it targeted the small group of soldiers. Caio was dimly aware he was yelling, swinging the shotgun open and emptying the magazine in a couple of seconds, the others copying him. The thing lurched backwards, going down under the fusillade.
"What the frack is that?!". That was down but its compatriots were too busy tearing apart the counterboarders. A bloodied stormtrooper reeled from the line, his helmet off. A moment later the rest of the head went with it. Gaps were appearing in the line and the navy were retreating.
Five of them advanced in disturbing silence towards the eight soldiers at the hatchway. There was a moment where it seemed to be just them and the dead or dying Navy crewmen before the blasters started firing again. Caio dropped to one knee, slamming in a fresh reload. The whole cargo bay stank of ozone, lingering in his nostrils like burnt meat. He was moving forward when Somhairle caught his collar. "We're bloody well moving!" he yelled, indicating how anyone not bleeding out was making a run for it. The line of retreat was over a slick bloody surface, First Order bodies strewn in with metal. Even maimed, the cybernetic creatures still tried to grab at the fleeing defenders, pulling themselves along the ground with their arms.
The hatchway was sealed behind them but the moment of peace was destroyed by the sound of metal scrabbling against it on the other side. Then dents as something tried to batter through. "Not staying here" Caio declared, checking his shotgun with shaking hands before taking off down the corridor. It seemed to be every man for himself at the moment.
