Shippin' My Pants [Rebel Alliance/Imperial Remnant]

[Beowoof]

She lay in the forest, behind the feathery branches of a young sapling that had recently been snapped near its base, the leaves providing no protection but gratuitous camouflage. In her splotched green cloak, the Crinan resistor was invisible from behind this cover. The barrel of her projectile rifle crept out from between the limbs like another innocent branch.

An Imperial in woodland gray plastic armor of the Stormtrooper variety was in her scope, downwind and downhill, making their way from her west to her east. She had spotted another one only about a score of meters behind the soldier, though she would only be able to eliminate one of them. She had seen the consequences should she fire at the second, and what bit was revealed to her showed a bright flash of orange, followed by blackness--obviously not a good sign. It would only be one today.

Crack.

One down in the name of Freedom. The expected outcome proved itself, and the gray, plastic form fell to its knees and clattered onto the ground. The comrade ran to the fallen's side and looked about, attempting to determine the direction from which the shot was fired. That was the very reason this shooter avoided the use of blasters in these situations.

Only nineteen years old, and she was a practiced assassin--a terrorist, by definition of the Crown.

A shrill cry suddenly funneled into and jounced around her mind, frightening Jehanne. She could not have made a mistake. She was not supposed to get captured! No one should have seen her. But she scrambled up the incline and deeper into the brush, breath heavy and feet ignoring all caution as she dove further into the woods.

After fifteen minutes of lying underneath a thorny bush, Jehanne had felt no presence of a nearby enemy and removed herself from her unpleasant hiding spot. Who had made that horrid scream? She swore she knew the voice, and yet it sounded like no person she had ever encountered. It had been unnatural; distorted, and not projected from any physical source. Had it been a premonition? No, it was another witch. That much, she knew.

But where was this witch?

[member=Mrrew], [member="Fydiel Darraq"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Caius Flavian"], [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Killian Holmes"], [member=Davin], [member="Robb Killian"], [member="Kohai Drenn"], [member="Corruck Kazen"], [member="Maximilian Vinticus"], [member="Alva Calvarona"], [member="Ikki Ike"]

 

[Caius Flavian]

“You will have to forgive me if I was to forth right Lady Salvo. I am on duty it would be unwise for me to par take. Although it does smell wonderful.” I stated flatly as she released herself and proffered the elixir. ‘Celestials knows I could use a drink’
In the distance the howl and wail of the sirens began to rise across the base and city. A flight of tie fighters could be heard screaming overhead. My comm link chirped aloud and a voice could be heard in a calm collective manner “Prisoner Break in the Detention Level, I say again Prisoner Break in the Detention Level, All personnel report AAHHH…” An explosion could be heard in the distance.
“Looks like we will have to conclude this later. The Lost Cause shall remain here until this situation has resolved if you attempt to leave you will be shot down. Now then all of you quickly we must get back to the base!”
I turned and jogged down the ramp. The realization that once again I did not have a weapon. I sighed, the unexpected certainly found me wanting.

[member="Mrrew"], [member="Fydiel Darraq"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Killian Holmes"], [member="Davin"], [member="Robb Killian"], [member="Kohai Drenn"], [member="Corruck Kazen"], [member="Maximilian Vinticus"], [member="Alva Calvarona"], [member="Ikki Ike"]

 

[Kara Runo]

I heard the Lt. Commanders commlink chirp and mine did as well. The explosion rattled me, fear washed across my face. I had friends who worked down in the detention level. Probably the worst detail to be assigned too. Caius gave orders, I turned off the datapad and issued my own set of orders to the storm troopers. “Sergeant Rendall get you men back on the lambda shuttle you arrived here with. We will make our way back to the base on the speeder.” The Storm troopers were back into full adrenaline combat ready stance. Their carbines raised as they exited down the ramp. I waited for a moment as they left. I took one last look at the crew of the lost cause

“Right well again it was a pleasure to meet you all, this has been perhaps the weirdest customs check I’ve ever performed. Miss Salvo…” I sighed inwardly “I have here a permit of travel, once the situation out there has been resolved you are free to leave. Doing so before this situation is resolved will mark you and your crew as hostiles. I’m going to simply believe that you all had nothing to do with whatever the hell is going on out there” I pulled a data card from my pad and held it out to the woman.

“You are of course welcome to stay, the city is just getting back to becoming a lively place from what I hear. If you really desire more drink there is a tavern near the east end of town that is still in business. Good day to you all!” I said trying my best to keep composure. I had friends in that base. I hoped everyone was okay.
I moved to leave but my eyes glanced one last time at Robb Killian. I strode down the ramp before breaking into a jog after the rest of my fellow comrades…



[member="Mrrew"], [member="Fydiel Darraq"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Killian Holmes"], [member="Davin"], [member="Robb Killian"], [member="Kohai Drenn"], [member="Corruck Kazen"], [member="Maximilian Vinticus"], [member="Alva Calvarona"], [member="Ikki Ike"]

 

[Aurelia Grata]

“Please no, spare me!” A young petty officer wailed holding a blaster pistol up at Aurelia. The female imperial was lying on the ground against the control terminal. Several dead storm troopers and army troopers lay strewn about. Dozens of crinan resistance fighters now freed picked up weapons.
Aurelia loomed over the terrified Imperial. Fear exuded from the woman.
Eyes filled with anger and hatred bore into the woman. Her quaking hands could barely keep a firm grip on the pistol. The other fighters watched on in silence. Aurelia began to cackle. She flicked her hand to the left and the pistol was wrested from the imperial’s hand. It flew across the room and clattered against the wall.
Aurelia’s cackle subsided, her face became grim and dour.
Before she erupted with a venomous screech
“DIE!”
Electricity sparked from the computer terminal. The young woman writhed in pain as the energy coursed over her body. Aurelia stopped as the women lay there moaning. Now horribly disfigured and burned the petty officer gasped for air before slumping down.
Whether the imperial was dead or not no longer concerned Aurelia.

Dark Magic flowed into Aurelia. The crinan practitioner’s desire to get revenge burned brighter than the sun Stela.
She looked to the left and the right of her. Men and women whom she had fought alongside.
“Today we take back our freedom, today we shall break free of these bonds. We will escape this place and find refuge in the mountains, in the forests, in the rivers and creeks. Crina resists! For Nicoleta, for freedom, liberty and justice!” She bellowed and cast flames at door to the stair well. It slowly melted.
An explosion rocked the building. The electrical disruption Aurelia had caused a series of feedbacks through the upper level. A generator somewhere was overwhelmed and burst…



[member="Mrrew"], [member="Fydiel Darraq"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Killian Holmes"], [member="Davin"], [member="Robb Killian"], [member="Kohai Drenn"], [member="Corruck Kazen"], [member="Maximilian Vinticus"], [member="Alva Calvarona"], [member="Ikki Ike"]

 

[Beowoof]

The soft crackle and plume of smoke from a distant explosion in the valley that contained the concentration of civilized people became evident momentarily, and Jehanne knew that she had the answer to her searching. Oblivion... Hopefully her fellow rebellious witch was not dead.

After hanging her camouflage cloak and rifle on a marked tree, the blonde resistance fighter set a hasty pace and made for the edge of the woods, savvy about not attracting attention to herself, but not exactly cautious about running headlong into trouble. She was entirely confident that she would be warned by her supernatural sources. She had not died yet, after all.

Imperials of all ranks seemed to be in a frenzy as she entered the colonial city. It appeared as if protocol had gone out the window for the majority of them, though some were keeping in line and not abandoning their posts, lest they receive harsh reprimands. It was only natural that one might be drawn to investigate an explosion, especially if one was bored of the typical inaction that was active service in the military. Even the resistors could get a little antsy from the waiting games--and they were fewer in number and, by necessity, far more familiar with firefights. But it was things like these that reminded anyone who got complacent that there was indeed a war.

War was good. War was right. War was necessary to remove the Empire and Crown from Rodica--and thereafter, Crina. But let it not be an allied witch who dies today.

[member=Mrrew], [member="Fydiel Darraq"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Caius Flavian"], [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Killian Holmes"], [member=Davin], [member="Robb Killian"], [member="Kohai Drenn"], [member="Corruck Kazen"], [member="Maximilian Vinticus"], [member="Alva Calvarona"], [member="Ikki Ike"]

 

[Davin Jusik]

Frack.

Max cursed under his breath and took another drag. An alarm always set him on edge, even if it wasn't his job to respond to it. He watched the troopers begin to buzz about as they responded to their orders. Max buzzed his Lts to get the men on the alert and near their gear in case things escalated. He retrieved a blaster vest and a newer version of a DLT-19 from a nearby weapons rack, checking it's charge before slinging it onto his shoulder.

Never hurt to be prepared.

He approached [member="Caius Flavian"] casually and said "I can watch the rift raf for a bit if you want. So long as we don't get called up."

He'd had dealings with the man before. Those of a highly classified variety.

[member="Mrrew"], [member="Fydiel Darraq"], [member="Tugoro Taidarious"], [member="Caius Flavian"], [member="Juwiela Melec"], [member="Killian Holmes"], [member="Davin"], [member="Robb Killian"], [member="Kohai Drenn"], [member="Corruck Kazen"] [member="Alva Calvarona"], [member="Ikki Ike"]

 

[Alva Calvarona]

[member="Aurelia Grata"]

Alva sighed as an explosion could be seen from the detention complex once she stepped outside the transport. Whatever was going on was not a welcome experience. If the rebels were still active after their major forces had been defeated during Rodica's subjugation then they were more stupid and pitiful than she thought. Likely if it was them they were trying to breakout their fellows, or maybe anyone in the Imperial prison who might be of support. Heck maybe the Imperials even blundered and let a few loose in a breach of their own security. That would surely be embarrassing, but nonetheless whatever it was Crina's Second Princess had every intention of putting an end to it. Her imperial rank also not withstanding an additional duty to provide support.

Blaster shots could be heard within as well, and Alva couldn't help but find herself more annoyed when her Crinan Army unit tried to check the door and couldn't open it. They had shut everything on lockdown, and there were troopers wandering around outside the complex confused. This was a mess. With a nod she approved the soldiers who looked to her as they pulled out explosives, granting them permission to blow open the doors as she waved over several stormtroopers and issued commands to them to guard the breach with a pair of the Crinan Soldiers in their shielded royal armor. Then once the breach charges were set off she departed with her team inside.

In truth she was feeling rather concerned. Alva had felt the vortex of darkness from within while she had been waiting for them to blow the door open. It felt very much like a witch, of which the young princess had met once before after one had been captured by Lady Sorina after attempting to infiltrate and exact revenge on the Cosmina Academy, even though it was technically neutral ground, calling it the royalists pet magician coop. However, the presence she felt wasn't an old memory, but something much more recent. It hadn't been tainted back then though, it left Alva rather . . . . .disappointed. I expected better from someone so young who upheld the Practitioner's craft.

Reaching out with her senses, Alva let her magic touch upon the girl above from where the feeling of shadow emanated. She hoped she noticed the contact, after all it would be so much easier and faster if she came to see her. In fact, Alva began to lead the soldiers with her toward the open courtyard near the offices. It would make a much nicer place for a confrontation if the person she felt was who she believed she was. A nice little reunion.