The Sequel
![imaNkyn.png](https://i.imgur.com/imaNkyn.png)
![5Zt38y0.png](https://i.imgur.com/5Zt38y0.png)
Location: Sewer system below the Capitol Building
Objective: Infiltrate
Aliies: Rebels - [member="Atlas Viridian"] | [member="Icarus Volcata"] | [member="Kira Vaal"]
Enemies: The Sith Empire
Equipment: DC-15s carbine, Bondar Saber, 3x sonic grenade.
Navigating the network of sewer tunnels via a holo-projected map on a wrist datapad, the small group moved through an increasingly elaborate and cramped labarynth of corridors. After a few minutes, they walked in a single file line, military boots kicking up small splashes of goop from the shallow pools that sat stagnant in the pits of the stained concrete floor, slick with a foul-smelling slime that threatened to topple their balance should they take a wrong step.
A sense of claustrophobia began to overtake her. The roof was low enough that the taller of their group had to duck their heads to avoid rusted pipes that jutted haphazardly from the ceiling. She tried to steady her breathing, running a hand along the rough stone as she walked. Her eyes were ahead, locked to the neck of the soldier in front. Her nerve would hold. It was a force of will, but she would not be the weakest link. She had to be brave. Had to be stronger than she ever had before.
The interminable stalk through the sodden tunnels came to an end with a heavy metal door: one noticeably different from its surroundings. Kirie wasn't sure whether she was relieved to be getting out of the stink or terrified that they were now actually breaking into a sith complex. The portal was made of some sort of tough alloy, one that wouldn't corrode even after years of service. It was locked tight, with naught but a small touch pad to indicate its function. That would not work for them. None of their biometrics matched those of a recognised employee. Yes, they could hack it, but that would take time they didn't have. Instead, they'd developed a more brute-force approach.
Raising her arm, Kirie dialed a frequency on her holocommunicator, her nimble fingers navigating the small touchpad with practiced ease. Rebel Command, or so they called themselves. They were the masterminds of this operation. Their contact had been frustratingly limited, but the channel was open to report their status or request orders. So she dutifully tapped the keys, crafting a short, simple message:
<: MARA-1: "WE HAVE ARRIVED" :>
Moments later, a reply.
<: RCOM: "10-4, PROCEED AS PLANNED." :>
A keen observer monitoring comm traffic would notice a short burst of information. The first, from a secure device somewhere below the Capitol Building. The second, an answering ping, piggybacking from so many different signals towers its origin would be near impossible to pin down. It was a risk to send such messages, especially one powerful enough to penetrate from underground. But the team understood these risks. Besides, command was confident such short messages would easily be lost among the sea of traffic brought about by the various other raids and demonstrations.
That was the theory, anyway.
Kirie turned to face her companions, raising both her slender hands and speaking softly. Her voice was soft and harsh, unaccustomed to the practice of speech. But not everyone on the team spoke sign, so she had to take one for the team.
"According to the schematic, this is it. Let's get to our positions."
She raised her right arm out in front of her, and the small droid wrapped around her arm unfurled its arachnoid legs and stretched like a cat, before skittering off her arm, leaping to the wall and up to a pipe in the roof. It wasted no time burrowing into the metal, and she saw it dissapear inside, no doubt already climbing out of the pipe on the other end, dismantling the alarm system and cutting the lock. It was a clever little thing, even if it did give her the creeps.
This was it. They would be inside within moments.