Mopping Up

[Amari Deechi]

Gyndine was secured, but Vladet remained. The Imperial Shadows had a presence in the system beyond the more cosmopolitan location that they had chosen as their primary base. Amari saw that now as he studied the holoprojection of the base’s known layout, location, everything. While the standardized armor he and the UFARB wore came with integrated projectors, and could bring up the schematics on a whim, Amari memorized every detail before a mission. This one was no different than any other, though considering the nature of the assault on the Gyndine prison, it was no surprise to find himself with a Jedi attachment.

[SIZE=10pt]Not that he’d complain about being partnered again with [member="Drystan Marakos"] after the previous mission’s outcome. He hadn’t known her long at all but he could tell she was more than competent. After all she’d have to be to achieve her rank. Of course there wasn’t much he knew about her beyond that, and from what he could glean from others, there weren’t many who did. There was another as well joining them, a pilot by the name of [member="Tera Highwind"] , another unfamiliar face, though given the nature of one of their objectives it made sense for her to be assigned. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]After one final check he made his way to the hangar bay where everyone had been ordered to gather when they were only a short distance from the planet. Two hundred UFARB total boarding four dropships[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt], and despite the current loneliness of the Pantera frigate[/SIZE][SIZE=10pt] there would be a few cruisers joining them later on. For now there was a bit of time however, and he looked for the Jedi and the pilot. His people understood the way he worked, but it would help to go over things with them. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Unlike the operation on Gyndine, there would be armed hostiles here from the outset. And unlike the orders they’d been given there, Amari was more than prepared to authorize lethal force.[/SIZE]

 

[Drystan Marakos]

Ka-thunk.

Ka-thunk.

Ka-thunk.

Catch, and release... Catch, and release...

The fist-sized featherweight ball returned easily to hand for every throw, bouncing in an arc from the floor to the wall, then directly back toward its' origin - to be seized, mid-air, by an athletic, slender blonde woman. Her back rested against a shipping container & facing a bulkhead; easily seen from the main turbolift. Booted feet were crossed at the ankles, and her outfit seemed a tad... out of place: a vest-like red coat with a pale tunic underneath, soft pants which clothed legs for days, and a utility belt hanging loosely from her hip.

A lightsaber rested in a thigh-rig attached to her left thigh; more designed for a force-assisted cross draw. It was a specialist's rig. Sheathed at her right hip was the slim, form-fitting shape of a blaster; a VSF Fennec, to the discerning eye. Her hair was free, floating upon her shoulders like a golden breath of sunlight, and she seemed far away... as-if she were in another world.

 

[Ravenfire]

Amarchri hadn't been present during the taking of Gyndine, he had been busy training more troops but when he had heard of this idea that [member="Amari Deechi"] had mentioned of cleaning up any last forces in the area, he couldn't help but ask to be on the small team. He had allowed to be and was waiting for the next orders. He went over his gear and weapons again making sure everything was ready for the battle ahead.

He looked over the plans again. They weren't bad plans, but plans often went out the window so he was making sure he knew what to do next if they did. While he was looking his scar inflamed again as he bent over in pain. He did a quick look around and was glad no one else was here as he battled to get his back up straight. No one could know how scarred his was or else he would be kicked from the military and this was the only place he had ever felt at home in.

Once he managed to get himself back up he began putting his armour on. He really didn't need his back flaring up during this mission, it might get them killed or worse as he put some healing cream on it. Everything he had tried on the scar had never managed to get it to heal. Even one of the master healers in the order who had been sworn to keep his secret couldn't heal it through the force. This was something he would have to live with.

[member="Drystan Marakos"] I [member="Tera Highwind"]

 

[Amari Deechi]

The Umbaran was glad to see the productivity of his people. Despite the yet considerable time before their arrival in orbit over their destination everyone was already armed up, it seemed, with most still going over their equipment for their specific roles, information he'd disseminated to the officers earlier on. Amari himself carried with him the rifle he planned to carry into the assignment slung over his shoulder, still unloaded, fresh out of the crate. He caught a few envious looks from his fellows, as there weren't many being brought onto the mission, and not enough had been procured just yet to equip the entirety of the battalion.

He'd be lying if he claimed to not feel any sort of pride in carrying something state of the art into combat.

It wasn't long before the ka-thunk sound found his ears, and when he looked over to the source, he spotted [member="Drystan Marakos"] near a supply container, and headed her way. An observational nature more than anything drove him to give her outfit a quick look-over, and while it certainly seemed out of the norm given the more uniform nature of the rest of the troopers, Amari got the feeling that Drystan was anything but normal herself.

Assuming she could see him coming before he'd even approached, especially given her nature as a Jedi, Amari didn't bother with a formal announcement. "Is that a Fennec you're carrying? Not a bad choice as kinetic pistols go."

[member="Amarchri Cryo"] | [member="Tera Highwind"]

 

[Tera Highwind]

It was...an uncomfortable feeling really sitting in a dropship without being the one to pilot it. It was the kind of itch under your skin that could leave someone restless, pacing uncontrollably...if there was a space to pace. As it was the woman settled in her seat, her slender fingers playing across her harness for a moment, checking it's tension before she reached for the blaster at her side, flicking her holster open and closed idly as amber eyes flicked out over the members of the UFARB bustling around her, preparing themselves for the drop. It was comforting to see that they at least were confident and professional. Intelligence and piloting, this wasn't the first time that Tera would be dropping down into a hot landing zone...but it might have only been the second time for her. It was this feeling of anticipation that she found really got to her. At least when you were piloting, there wasn't this long period of preparation and anticipation, there was too much to do, and dropping in as a spy was nervewracking in its own way. Biting her lip she glanced over to where the operation commander was talking to one of the other members of the operation, talking about....her gun? Well whatever helped him break the ice right?

[member="Amari Deechi"] | [member="Amarchri Cryo"] | [member="Drystan Marakos"]​

 

[Drystan Marakos]

[member="Amari Deechi"]'s approach drew the silent woman from the abyss, and she caught the ball for the final time. Presence filled her eyes and she turned her head to regard the Umbaran, offering a faint smile at his question - silently, she observed the slung rifle and the uniform, familiar with the warrior's background.

"Yeah... figured I needed something with some punch. The right tool for the right job." She responded, uncrossing her ankles and shifting her back from the storage crate. She offered her right hand to the Operative in a handshake; her grip firm. It was not the first time they'd worked together. "Good to see you again. I assume we're nearly ready? I assume we're going in light, to start."

Nearby, the hustle & bustle of troops preparing for the operation echoed through the nearly-quiet hanger. The hum of engines winding up as pilots began to warm their systems provided constant background noise, and the buzz of essential conversation was quiet but ever-present.

[member="Tera Highwind"] [member="Amarchri Cryo"]

 

[Ravenfire]

Amarchri decided after finally getting his armour on, and weapons that he would finally join the others. He came in hearing the words his captain [member="Amari Deechi"] said and nearly burst out laughing. His commander clearly had no idea how to talk to jedi let alone women and half the team were of the female persuasion. He kept his soldier's persona up though making it seem like nothing was wrong.

He nodded to the two women present. "Ladies, Amarchri Cryo here to assist you all. Not that we need much with the captain asking brilliant questions about guns. In any case pleasure to be working with you today." He smiled under his armour, he knew he would get punishment for ribbing his captain a bit but it was worth it in his eyes.

[member="Tera Highwind"] l [member="Drystan Marakos"]

 

[Amari Deechi]

"More or less ready," Amari replied to [member="Drystan Marakos"] as he glanced over to [member="Amarchri Cryo"] after his little joke. "Just getting everyone together for the briefing."

With a tilt of his head he turned away from the knight, raising a hand to his lips as he whistled to get the attention of the rest of his troops. "Everyone gather up, dim the lights a bit. We've got the full plan to go over here, can't afford anyone missing it."

After a few seconds the overhead lights in the hangar dimmed just a bit, more than enough for the holoprojection to show up clearly. With everyone finding a spot to look on, he began, raising a hand and projecting the display of a large volcanic island. "Grand Isle. Doesn't look like much on the surface, but our intel gathering efforts have turned up quite a bit on it. It used to be an old Imperial base, centuries ago, but when the Shadows took Gyndine they came for Vladet as well, and got it back up and running. If you're wondering why we're going in small in a ground assault, here's your answer."

He raised a hand to control the projection, zooming it in on the image just a bit and outlining two barely visible weapons emplacements. "Two planetary defense ion cannons were already in place on the island, and we know for sure that they've been able to reactivate and man one of them. No confirmation on the second, but we'll operate on the assumption it's also active. Also, here," he said, pausing to highlight a section of the outer face of the volcano. "Intel has confirmed that the base's hangar contains a group of TIE fighters, no exact models yet, but we can assume at least four to five, in addition to a 300-strong Stormtrooper garrison."

After another second, he zoomed the image back out. "[member="Amarchri Cryo"] you'll lead a patrol to take this ion cannon here. We don't need to hold it, just knock it out. Get in, set off some thermal well charges in key areas, and get back out. Sergeant Meeran, you'll do the same for the unconfirmed activity cannon. Whether it's active or not I won't take the chance."

He gave [member="Drystan Marakos"] and [member="Tera Highwind"] a quick look before returning to the briefing. "Marakos and Highwind, you'll be joining myself and a squad to sneak in to the main hangar. The central command room is adjacent to the hangar, here," he paused, bringing up the internal schematic. "Our initial scouting reports got us some critical intel. There's a rather narrow but navigable cave here that leads into a storage area just below. It'll be a tight fit, but more than enough to get inside quietly. We'll take the way through here to the command room and hangar. Once they're secured, that's where the fireworks begin."

Clearing the highlights, he set another group, a large one to the south of the island and several smaller ones around the caldera. "The island was once volcanic, but has been dormant for ages. The topside entryway to the underground base is here, at the center of the caldera. It's more heavily fortified than any other area of the island. Five meter tall walls, cannon emplacements, the works. Not to mention several other hidden turbolift exit points around it. Fortunately for us, our scouts are quite good at their jobs, and we've got the locations of them all. While my group and those led by Cryo and Meeran move to our objectives, the rest of you will take up positions around the caldera with these exit points in line of sight. Once the command center is under control we'll give the signal to light up the main base. I'm expecting a swift response to the main assault, which should distract them enough to make it easier to take the ion cannons. Which, as soon as they're neutralized, Silver Spacy cruisers will move into orbit to provide heavier support. By that point we should have the job mostly handled, though."

After finishing, he transferred unit-specific instructions over to each of the commanders. "Any questions?"