Shot In The Mark

[TheSilentWind]

Ord Pardon, a planet that housed a Rebel base. The Rebel base was strategically significant, as it was the command center for the Rebel operations in the Mid Rim. That was not the reason why Aura was here. The reason why she was here was because she wanted to practice her marksmanship skills. Aura had been using blasters, and various weapons for a long time. Nevertheless, the their was always room for improvement, no matter how good you were with a particular skill.

As she entered the large field outside of the base, she could see various targets such as droids, and other equipment that had outlived its use. Their were various targets that could be destroyed by the weapons the Rebels possessed.

The young Mandalorian Rebel could hear various Rebels speaking to each other, from basic conversations about how each of them were doing, to the fact that the Rebellion was dramatically increasing at a very fast rate. A large man went to the front, and clapped his hands, indicating to the other Rebels to listen to him.

"Today we shall conduct exercises that will help improve our marksmanship skills. The Imperial Army has various exercises that are designed to help their troops improve their skills in marksmanship. Unfortunately, that is one of the many reasons why they have been able to dominate the galaxy. The Rebellion is going to change that, and this is one of the exercises designed to do that.". After the large man finished speaking, various Rebels went to positions and began firing on targets.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

Ord Pardron. Officially the birthplace of the resurgent Rebellion. Here it was where the remnants of the last Alliance army united. And with the remnant of Defiance Squadron, they formed the now 'Galactic' Rebellion. With the attack on the Reckoning and other strikes against the Imperials, however things were getting dangerous. Nevertheless, the victory against the Sith and Imperials served as a resounding success for a new wave of recruits wavering in from everywhere, gathering especially at the Ord Pardron Base.

And indeed those recruits needed training. For the Stormtroopers - although many Rebels called them " bucketheads" - where a formidable force with superior discipline and tactics, but above all: superior training. However the training staff on Pardron wished to change that. Thus a big number of recruits and hardened veterans would train to get the same discipline as the Imperials soldiers, while the more brighter minded were working to create new tactics for the soldiers to utilise. Therefore they needed advanced training, but not before the basic skills like shooting the target.

It was at this pivotal time that Xzig made her way to Ord Pardron together with her sidekick Alisha. Together in their YT-2400 - They still needed to get a name - the two women flew to the Rebel compound. First they were ordered to identify themselves, a habit Xzig had become used to. She knew the Rebellion had to use caution.

And thus the flight controller spoke: " This is the Surgo Mining Base. Please state your business." Xzig smiled as he heard the voice to that comm-link. " Hello Griwen. Nice to hear from you too again. This is Xzig. I have a companion, Copilot Alisha Dawnstrider." Xzig replied. " Xzig. Is it you? My dear, that must have been ages. Well, you have permission to land on platform 12. I take it you're here for the shooting training?" Answered Griwen. " Indeed we are." Xzig simply said.

And so Xzig placed their ship on their designated platform. Xzig opened the ramp, but as always waited for Alisha to go first, simply out of respect. " After you, as always." Xzig simply stated. She was curious to see the shooting skills of the young woman. She definitely does not look the type for killing, but we'll see, Xzig thought.

 

[Frannykins87]

Alisha couldn't remember the last time she felt this nervous...in fact, she didn't think she EVER felt this nervous. When Xzig explained to her what they were doing, she agreed wholeheartedly that the rebellion definitely needed to keep up with the imps training and discipline..but the thought that she would have to actually do that training herself...was a little daunting to her.

"Well was always going to happen...I will need to be able to defend at least myself in this war.." She thought to herself.

Still, she tried to keep her worries away, mostly by playing with Blanky. Before they left for Ord Pardron, Alisha made sure that they little guy had enough food while she was training. She definitely didn't want
the pet to be a nuisance during training..not to mention that it would probably get scared as hell at the noise, so she put him in the home made small metal cage she made when she got him, adding enough food to last a while. This cage was resting beside her, so she was able to pet the Tooke from time to time. It was like her stress relief ball.

She didn't talk much on the way to Ord Pardron. She was curious to see what it was like. She was briefly working on the Rebel Dawn before Xzig found her and they formed Tatoo squad. Her thoughts were interrupted
by Xzig's short interchange with the flight control. They landed the ship at the mentioned platform and proceeded to exit it.

"After you, as always"

Alisha smiled at her friend.

"Seems like you know a few people" She chuckled as she exits the ship with Xzig behind her. When she
reaches the end of the platform, they are instructed by an officer to the building opposite the hangar, where the shooting was occuring. As they approach the building, she turns to Xzig, biting her lower lip

"I don't know how I will do...I have never held a gun in my hands...Only torches..though I suppose you could burn someone with it if you really need to defend yourself"

She chuckled at that silly though. She shook her head, almost scolding herself for such silly thoughts..She joined a war...nothing much funny about that..But she figured a bit of humour to lighten the mood might help from time to time..

But now her step slows down a little bit as she sees a group of people being addressed and shortly after, directed as some targets, at the far end of the building they just entered.

"That must be it..are we late??" Alisha asks Xzig, a little alarmed, and started hurrying along towards the group.

 

[TheSilentWind]

The commander looked around, seeing the last batch of Rebels arrive. Those that arrived later wouldn't be considered late, they would just have to wait to fire on the targets. Various stations had been arranged, all of them designed for the sole purpose of practicing one's marksmanship skills. The Imperium may have looked down on this exercises as odd and ineffective, but they weren't. They had the same degree of effectiveness as the Imperium exercises. The only difference was that the Imperium exercises were more flashy.

"You go first." the large man who was a Rebel Commander said. A girl, quite short and slightly taller than Aura approached the gun. The target was within the appropriate range for her to fire her pistol. The girl however would have get a head shot, as she had specifically chosen to be given that challenge.

The Rebel Commander went and approached the girl. "Ready." he stated while the girl positioned herself. "Set.. and Go." he stated, signalling the girl to fire. Two blaster bolts approached the target, both of them coming from the girl's pistol. As the girl looked at if she had gotten a head shot, her visual expression changed to a disappointment. She had come very close to a head shot, but it still wasn't a head shot.

"Next." the Commander shouted, waiting another Rebel to come to his station.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

As Alisha walked out, her remark to Xzig was not lost. Xzig smiled. " Oh yes. Griwen and I go back a long time. He has been the first voice you hear when you approach for more than 10 years I believe. He has been here only 2 years though. First he worked as flight control on...Well, never mind. That was too long ago. And my tong is loosening to much already. Let's just get to the range, okay." And she walked further.

Alisha was very nervous, and Xzig knew that. As they walked to the building, the young girl said with a scared voice that she never held a gun, only torches. Xzig felt compassion for Alisha, and said with a calming voice: " You'll be fine. And besides, you can never be as bad as that one guy who missed a shot from 8 meters. Well, that is actually hard now that I think of it. If it wasn't against a Tusken...on a Bantha!" And Xzig giggled. They approached the building, and so Xzig let Alisha enter first.

As they walked in the range, they saw some were already at work. Xzig looked around for any people she knew. But most looked like fresh recruits. While all the veterans provided the training. " Good afternoon, miladies. You are here for your training?" Said a young man who walked up to the two women. Xzig looked at Alisha, who looked very nervous, and nodded. " Excellent. If you follow me, I will explain our outlining of the programme. " And he spread his arms. Xzig, looking to Alisha again, followed the young man.

" Here on our left, you can see the basic ranges for practising on unmoving targets. It is befitting of all untrained recruits. I recommend it to you, young lady," He said to Alisha, "...and I'd recommend this to you, milady. We have an advanced sniper range, for the more sportive ones. If you want something else, we also have grenades, rockets, and a battle simulation, as well as several tactics classes given by several veterans." Xzig nodded. It was indeed huge what the resistance had put together this time. It was a large scale preparation for battle, or so it seemed. She smiled at Alisha, and patted on her shoulder. " I'm sure that you can do it. Just shoot the spot, I'm certain you'll get the hang of it soon." She stepped into the sniper range, but she made sure to watch Alisha very closely to see her progress.

 

[Frannykins87]

{OOC: Sorry for the long post guys!! :P}

"You'll be fine. And besides, you can never be as bad as that one guy who missed a shot from 8 meters. Well, that is actually hard now that I think of it. If it wasn't against a Tusken...on a Bantha!"

Alisha laughed heartily with Xzig at that. She was so glad Xzig came with her, it made her less nervous. Alisha was still smiling as they finally reached the practice area.

" Good afternoon, miladies. You are here for your training?"

Alisha's nerves kicked in again slightly. It must have shown because as the men that greeted explained, he was looking at her a lot, which didn't help in Alisha's mind, but she paid attention. She nodded and grinned slightly when the man pointed out the basic range. Hearing all the options available, Alisha couldn't help but feeling impressed. There were a lot of programs. She wondered what it took for the rebellion to organise everything.After the man finished, Alisha felt Xzig's encouraging pat on her shoulders.

"I'm sure that you can do it. Just shoot the spot, I'm certain you'll get the hang of it soon."

Alisha turned to her, smiled and thanked her as she walked towards the sniping range. Alisha turned her attention on the basic range. The man was kind enough and he seemed to be encouraging, so her nerves eased a bit. After all, she thought, you gotta start somewhere. The man asked her if she had her own gun, to which Alisha shook her head, so he picked up a blaster pistol from the nearby container. After a brief explanation of how blasters work, which Alisha was very grateful for, the man handed the blaster to her.

As they arrived a little later, there was a bit of a queue on the targets. Alisha didn't mind, to be honest. She wasn't nervous so much for the actually having to shoot, now she was more nervous about showing her lack of skills to people..As her turn nears, however, she notices she wasn't the only beginner. There were people shooting and missing completely.

"Oh good..at least I'm not the only one..." She thought

There were also different stations for different challenges indicated by a sign, Alisha noticed, for the more advanced people. But her queue was only for simply trying to hit the target. There were a couple of those beginner stations, as there seemed to be slightly more people than advanced. Alisha wouldn't even dream of getting a headshot at this stage as she saw a couple of girls trying..=

"NEXT!!"

Shouted the man in charge of the headshot stations. Meanwhile, the man that gave her the blaster and showed her how to use it encouraged her forward. It was her turn. Alisha stepped forward and in her head, was trying to remember what the man told her. But her hand was a bit shakey, so when she did put her hand up for a shot, the shot went a little wide. It did hit the target, but barely. Alisha shook her head and smiled nervously.

"Don't worry you will have plenty of tries. But just try to think of the target as an imp!And keep your arm out and pointing to where you want to shoot"

Alisha nodded and let other people have a shot while she went at the back of the queue again. She looked at her blaster.

"Hmm if I do ever meet an Imp, I definitely need to make sure I know how to shoot..."

She looks up again, and as she was curious, she glanced over the headshot queue, to see if anyone hit the target.

 

[TheSilentWind]

Aura continued to shoot, and hit the target she was supposed to hit with reasonable accuracy. Each exercise she did, she aced, and that was why the ARES Member decided that she needed to face a much more harder exercise. Aura left her station and went to other stations, some which varied from shooting an extremely fast droid, as well as being able to shoot multiple targets that traveled at fast speeds. Whoever had organized this exercise certainly knew what he/she was doing, and he/she certainly was an expert at marksmanship.

The Mandalorian went, and approached a headshot exercise, in which she saw two females, as well as other Rebel members. It seemed this exercise was certainly difficult, but Aura liked a challenge.

When she went in, Aura knew that using a sniper rifle would guarantee her a kill shot right away. She therefore decided to use some of the blasters that were there.

Aura went up, and grabbed a blaster. She then went up and aimed at the target. As she aimed, she began to count to three seconds, wanting to properly position herself. After she did this, she fired, hitting the target's head, therefore making it a headshot.

The Mandalorian's most powerful strength other than her Teras Kasi martial art was her marksmanship skills. Nonetheless, Aura wanted to one day diversify her skills, in order for it to range to a more wide range of skills. In addition to that, she also wanted to learn how to use explosives, as she knew that they were very useful in guerrilla warfare.

As she did this, she began to leave, seeing that many people were looking at her. Despite her skills in marksmanship, Aura wasn't one to brag.

 

[Flying Dutchman]

(OOC: sorry for the long post, but I guess it's battle time!)

As Xzig approached the Sniper range, she saw a number of helmeted soldiers. They were all trying to hit the spot, which several failed by far. Others came closer, but only hit where the breastplate and armpits would be. Xzig felt nervous. She had little training with Sniper rifles, heck no training with any long-range blasters at all. She always preferred to sneak in a use her vibroknife. That didn't make any noise, if you cut at the right spot. And Xzig was experienced enough to hit the right spot. blaster pistols, she could handle well to. But Sniper rifles, or even repeating blasters where strange for her.

Thus when the officer handed her a rifle, and pointed her to the range, she was a little shaky. Luckily the officer was kind enough to explain the aiming techniques, for which Xzig was very grateful. Then he pointed her to shoot. As Xzig went forward, and took her position, she took a moment to take a deep breath. Then she aimed, a little higher than usual, as the officer instructed her, and took a shot. With her shaky hands, the shot went a little wide, but it was able to hit the shoulder of the target. Xzig smiled. She wasn't so bad, and that for a first try! She got back in line, several men impressed by her first shot.

She took a look over to Alisha, who was still trying to cope with her shooting. Then she had a look over to the head-shot range. She saw something. A helmeted women, presumably Mandalorian, showed off her skills. She didn't get a head-shot, but it was certain that she was well skilled with her marksmanship. Somehow, she looks familiar. Then, Xzig remembered. That Mandalorian, Xzig had saw her while she was in ARES. " Well, what would you know. It's a small Galaxy after all." She mumbled and laughed. some men looked to her, so she gave them a an angry face, and they soon looked the other way. Perhaps we'll have an reunion later, that would be nice, she thought.

Flight Control chambers
" Sir, we have an unidentified ship moving to our location. Should I warn him?" Asked the monitor officer. He had been staring to the holoscreen for quite some time now, to see if other guests would arrive. Apparently, they were all inside. But then a strange signal appeared. a ship, bearing no signature. the officer was worried. Therefore he informed the Flight Controller, Griwen.

Griwen looked up when he heard the officer's voice. He walked to the holoscreen, and looked to where the officer pointed. " Indeed. Strange. But no worries, make him come closer, and we'll contact him. Comms, open a channel." Said Griwen. He thought it was just another visitor again, but then he saw no signature. " Understood sir. Opening a channel now." said the Communication Officer. Griwen nodded. They would hear who it was soon enough.

" This is Surgo Mining Company, Pardron Base. State your business." Griwen said with a bit of anger in his voice. If this was some kind of joke, they would pay for it. But then a voice spoke from the other side of the channel. " Come come now. You and I both know this is not a mining outpost. You are hiding here. And it is time for us that we show the galaxy what the so-called 'Resistance' can do. You are powerless against the Sith. But yet, we are not here for the Imperium. Indeed, we are here for you. And now get off my channel!" And the contact was broken off. Griwen stood there, startled. What he feared, had come.

And soon the vessel approached. And it fired upon Flight Control. Griwen soon braced himself, and then shouted: " All men to defensive positions." As he said it, the shot hit just above the glass windows. But still, an explosion, followed by a shock-wave, penetrated the weakly armoured chambers. Griwen shouted: " Everyone, get down!"

Training area
Battle Theme: Battle of Endor Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPCPw1dww3E

Xzig was still in line when an explosion was seen from the Flight Control Chambers. Then, a mysterious vessel was seen opposite of the Base entrance. Luckily, already encampments rose, with E-Webs and Blaster turrets coming up and being manned to attack the ship that hovered above. Yet, the ship began firing back, attacking the outskirts of the outpost. Soon, several recruits went up and began shooting the vessel as well. Several recruits were shot on sight, while the E-Webs were shot by the blaster cannons of the ship, which was now advancing further into the outpost.

Xzig ran up to Alisha, who was frightened by the sudden appearance of the ship and the shooting that followed. Xzig soon reached her, and took her behind some crates where they found cover. Although Xzig had seen more fights than she would've liked, she knew Alisha didn't. So she quickly took in a motherly stand, and asked: " Are you alright?"

Unknown to her, several troops came in from land, and began attacking recruits on the ground. With most soldiers occupied to attacking the ship, most enemies were neglected. Several recruits, more experienced, however, began shooting back to the advancing troops.


Flight Control
Griwen got up after the explosions subsided. Glass had broken, tables and seats were tumbled, machinery was destroyed. But most of the engineers and officers had survived. They had stayed down for at least 5 minutes, until the vessel turned it's attention to the training grounds. cables were cut and hung from the ceiling, spilling electrical current on the floor. Glass shards laid around the room. But casualties had stayed low. Griwen looked at his chest, which was pierced by a piece of metal. Not deep, but it hurt for sure. Griwen walked up to a comms desk, were a broken voice shouted: " Come in Flight Control!" over and over. Griwen soon reached the desk, and said, exhausted from the explosions: " This is Flight Control. We have...confirmed attack. Casualties here...unknown."

The voice on the other voice remained silent for some time, until a familiar voice came up. " Enjoying your view? I hope you will suffer as much as I have. You have taken everything from me. So now I am taking everything from you." Griwen was startled again when he heard the mysterious man. " You have no idea, what I am capable of." The man continued, and then cut the channel again.

Griwen sat down, holding his chest and beginning to pull out the metal shard. It hurt every inch he got it further out, but eventually he got it out. He held his chest as fresh blood came out, but he would survive. And then, he passed out.

War Room
" Captain Norrad. We have a crisis on our hands. A vessel has begun attacking the base. The recruits are in danger!" A man who stormed in said. Captain Norrad, the designated commander of the base for today, looked up from his datapad. This was serious news, Norrad knew. But nonetheless, the base was ready and prepared. " Copy that. Men, to your battle stations." Norrad answered. Soon the officers manned a manner of holoscreens, data stations and other equipment to view the battle.

" We have to secure the perimeter. Send in any Anti-Air squads we have to fire upon that vessel. Order all others to shoot the ground troops. Send in the wounded to the medbay, and secure the recruits in the mining shaft. They will act as shelters. I don't want any more casualties. send the soldiers to the front, the recruits to the shaft. Got that?" Norrad continued after he saw the view of the battlefield. " Yes sir. Soldiers up, recruits back." Answered an officer. Norrad nodded.

Norrad had feared battle would come, but during a very important training? He had hoped to avoid that.

 

[Frannykins87]

(OOC: Sorry guys it took so long!!Won't happen again, promise :))

With a few people in front of her still, Alisha looked around and saw Xzig doing her shooting. She waved and smiled at her as she took her turn and went back in line. She couldn't see where she shot, but from what the reactions of people around were, it looked like she had a pretty good shot. There was also another woman, Mandalorian she assumed, judging from the helmet, that just finished a shooting exercise with multiple moving targets. People were looking at her, as if impressed. Alisha saw she hit all the targets. "Well I am so far from that..but..baby steps!"

Alisha turned her attention to her own stationary excercise, hoping to improve her shooting . It was her turn when the whole mess started.. As she held her baster to shoot, an explosion erupted from the Flight control rooms..Alisha got startled and almost dropped her gun in surprise. She turned to face the area entrance and saw a ship advancing into their area..Turrets were firing at it, and the noise was intense, but the ship began firing back and Alisha saw a few recruits falling to the ground...

Her face was pale and she was shaking. She looked around for something to hide behind when she saw Xzig coming up to her, worried. She dragged her by her arm and both of them ducked behind some crates at the end of the room, as the ship continued its advance, shooting at people that probably only just held a blaster for the first time...

"Are you alright?"

Alisha nodded rather nervously.

"I'm....ok..but..how?? where?? and...." Alisha looked around the room frantically..the ship continued her firing around the room.

"Imps!!!" She exclaimed, suddenly angry and obviously extremely agitated. "It's gotta be!! Who else?! Who else would shoot at people that can't defend themselves yet?? How?? how the ******* would they have..."

Alisha's angry outburst was interrupted by several shots fired that came close to her end of the crates behind which they were hiding.

"AHH!" Alisha screamed in surprise...."Dam! well no time for that crap now...We need to get out of here..."

She raised her blaster she was still carrying on her right hand. She looked at Xzig. If it was any time in which she would have to stop being a baby and get some shots fired for real, it would be that.

"I suppose it's time for some real target practice..."

Alisha was determined to get out of there alive. She didn't come that far with the rebellion just to die from a random attack from unknown people. She was scared as hell, but determined. She took a peak from the space in between the crates, and saw some men firing at the recruits..more fell...She took a big gulp, and tried to remember the few things the instructor said to her about shooting. She looks up and tries to get her courage to quickly have a shot at the attackers, and raises her body slightly..but what would that achieve..she thought...she'd probably get herself killed...She knew if she lined herself to shoot outside the crate, she would be vulnerable...She ducks down low again and looks at Xzig with desperate eyes.

"Shit...I wish I could shoot...what do we do.??" Alisha turned to Xzig, her voice wavering with doubt and fear both.