Operation Tropic Storm

[Talos Barrenfist]

​

Underneath deep foliage Talos Barrenfist spied out a facility crest around the shore north of their position next to a massive transport. The establishment in question was a makeshift prison camp for Republic military personal captured by the Hutt Cartel. After tracing the location to the planet of Ylesia, the Grand Army had two units, one marine platoon for assault and another a medical team for the recuse effort.

After a few minutes of quiet observation with his holobinoculars Lieutenant turned toward his fellow officer, Dr. Agranfena Landis.

Passing the binoculars over to her, the spaceborn commented.“Security appears decent but not on high alert. We should have the element of surprise if nothing else. Intelligence gathered suggests our comrades is holed up in the centeral warehouse at the docks when they’re not doing forced larbor. Any opinion on the matter?”

@Herrith

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Aggie looked to her partner, Léon, who was busy tending to the very small team assembled from their very small unit. They looked out of place in the yellow-detailed gear, but she supposed this was as much of a regular force of soldiers that they were going to get, especially considering the entire platoon they were folded in to. She nodded to him and returned her eyes to the scene before them, checking her rifle and the helmet laying in front of her. A pair of holobinos appeared in front of her face, and she took them, looking through the device as her fellow Lieutenant spoke. It felt odd leading like this.

She definitely wasn't a capable leader, that was for sure. Or at least, that's what she kept telling herself. The variables just didn't work. Her eyes scanned the various fortifications, and her brain desired to calculate their odds of getting into the facility before losing half their troops. It wasn't a high amount. Landis scrubbed the number from her brain as she pulled her rifle up from next to her legs, inhaling and scraping red hair off her forehead.

"Well, considering they're doing forced labor, I'd guess the lot of them are tired, nutritionally deprived, maybe even insane. Probably getting beaten like any POW does, so let's hope all their injuries aren't severe. As for tactically, we've got the best shot we're going to get, so I'd recommend we take it. Soon. Ish. Lieutenant. Though I'll leave the minute details to the one with combat experience."

She heard Léon mutter something under his breath.
"Suck-up..."

The doc sent a boot his way, finding it catch hard armor. Aggie hid a smile.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

“Makes sense.” Talos replied, scratching the side of his thick beard. The prisoners were said to number around at least forty. Of course given likely conditions mentioned by the doctor, not only do they need have to remove opposition without suffering heavy casualties but also escort sickened and injured prisoners out safely.

Then again I never sign up to do easy jobs. Thinking so he noticed the little kick Aggie gave to her comrade Léon. Inwardly amused, the marine shifted his focus back to the mission. Pointing to the cliff that stood overhead the beach side prison he commented.

“My second squad will escort your team up there through the jungle. It stands above the warehouse where the captives are in. The grapple lines brought along should make your descend to the building easy enough. First squad and I will advance toward the front entrance in the eastern side.

As soon you’re in position, call us in and we’ve commence the assault. My side will divert attention to ourselves and providing you time to locate and free the prisoners. Once done we will link up and move toward the prier. Our ride is standing by and will pick us in that location. Have any questions doc?”

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Aggie nodded to the Lieutenant's plan, liking where this was going. Anything on the ground was going to be risky, plus she could finally use the rappelling training that she had spent so damned long on after a couple near falls. Hazmat rarely got to use a whole lot of what it was trained for, mainly just medical stuff, so starting the more interesting and flashy parts of what they did made the job look a whole lot better. And if they were lucky, orrhaps get some more attention. As of now, Doctor Landis had her second in command and two young medics under her wing. Léon and she were the only two qualified for pathological stuff, so they were essentially an over trained medical team.

She looked at her helmet and then slipped it on, keeping the front visor open as a nod came. Landis eyed the climbing gear and then looked back toward the cliff, crawling back from the overlook and then standing up, slipping her rifle off her sling.
"No questions for the marines...we'll meet you downhill. Appreciate you bringing us along for the road trip, Lieutenant."

Aggie bumped fists with Léon and then helped him up, flicking the visor on his helmet and then pulling her visor down over her face, waiting for her detachment before setting off into the wooded regions. Time to kick ass and save lives.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Barrenfist watched them vanished further into the foliage. A minute later he gestured for first squad to follow with him. Stealthily they made their way through the forest until they came in sight of the front gate. Using the bushes and trees as cover they examined the defenses before them. One watchtower with sentries adjunct to the gate on each side and a sandbag position on the lefthand managed by a machine gun crew.

While waiting for confirmation from the others, Talos and his squad carefully line up targets to shoot when the moment comes. It wasn’t too long before Talos received the word from the other team they were ready. With a fierce smile he smiled, aiming down the sights at one of the guards on the tower to the right. Pulling the trigger, a blaster bolt flew and struck the Weequay guard in the face, killing him already before falling back.

Swifty the rest of the squad opened up, killing and wounding all the sentries in a matter of seconds. “Forward!” The lieutenant shouted to his troops. Springing up the marines rushed out of their positions heading straight for the opened gate while the the sirens rang throughout the camp. Just before the squad reached the entrance, a speeder with a mounted turret came into view, firing a volley at the intruders.

In mid run, the marines hit the dirt, avoiding but they were now pinned down. Swearing to himself Talos hoped Landis and her group on other side had better luck.

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Landis' group wasn't doing so lucky, from what she could tell. Neither was the other marine detachment, judging from the blaster fire. So far one of theirs was out of the fight from a nasty wound, and two more were injured but still able to keep holding a rifle. From what she could tell. And now they were hooking up to the ropes, about to descend onto the camp when blaster fire erupted from below, immediately killing one of the marines and nailing a medic in the leg. She cursed and clipped her harness to the line, ducking back from the fire while Léon dragged their medic back and returned a couple energy blasts.

She waves to Léon and yelled.
"I'll go, try to keep their heads down! Come join me when you're finished with our injured!"

He gave a thumbs up and applied first aid as one of the unharmed troopers clipped on with her. Aggie dove off the side, grabbing the rope to stop her fall and stabilizing herself as she pulled her rifle, running down the side of the wall while firing at the defenders. The marine rappelling down beside her, albeit slower, managed to pull a detonator off his belt and dropped it, Landis slowing as it bounced off the ground and blew open some cover while burning the combatants behind it. She reached the bottom of the cliff and unclipped, rolling behind cover and looking back up to the partner she was with. Two versus a base.

This wasn't going well.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

The speeder’s turret continued to spray blaster fire upon the pinned down marines. One of them tried to move closer but was blasted in the chest, knocking her a few feet lifelessly. Gritting teeth, Lieutenant Barrenfist hand singal to one of the others, who had a grenade launcher to prepare. “Covering fire!” The bearded man shouted to the rest of the squad, who obeyed with a laser volley.

While the cartel driver answered by speeding toward them in order to run down the intruders but the corporal with the grenade launcher fired. The projectile flew and smashed through the speeder’s glass window before exploding. The resulting shrapnel killed driver and caused to swerved before crashing into the ground on the side of the marine squad. With the threat dealt with, Barrenfist jumped from his position, shouting.

“C’mon you bastards do you want to live free forever!?” With this challenge the marines followed after their CO, further into the camp which now fully aware of their presence.

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Aggie looked back up the hill as a near blaster bolt whizzed by her left ear. The guy that had come down with her stood up and returned fire. She noticed that the group was now descending, a meager three remaining, which included Léon. They needed cover. Landis leaned back over the small piece of rooftop safety she had and fired three bolts, one in the general direction of each of their combatants. A scream came from high, and she saw a Republic trooper in full armor hit the durasteel roof next to her with a snap. She winced and then ducked back under cover to check his pulse. An angry grunt came from her throat. Fading. He was basically dead. Probably a broken neck or vertebrae.

His line had snapped.

As the rest of the group, which were two battle-ready and uninjured people, including her fellow CBRN trooper, made it to the bottom, she realized this was only going to get worse. Though it seemed the front entrance was having quite a bit better luck with their assault. Did she really just admit to believing in luck? Ah, whatever.
"Léon, see if you can--"

Her sentence was halted by an explosion two meters away from their piece of cover, and then friendly blaster fire from the crazy kriffers up top that were injured but still not quite letting themselves out of the fight. Maybe this would work out after all. Tough people, these Marines. She checked her rifle's charge and leaned over to return fire at their enemies.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Talos’ squad raced at full throttle through the camp. Already he received word in the comms about the situation from the second team. We need to get to their position yesterday! Quickly multiple hostiles from the barracks on the right were coming out of half-dressed but armed with rifles and pistols nevertheless, firing shots at the wave of attackers.

Marine marksmanship proved superior in the exchange, killing and wounding many a cartel guard especially by the trooper wielding the grenade launcher. To Talos’ right however one of his marine a new recruit took a bolt to th chest and fell the side dead. Enraged Talos fired back at the shooter, a Transdosen male in dirty overalls, killing him with a two round burst. Yards away in front the lieutenant spotted some of Agrafena’s crew pinned down on the rooftop as told before.

With their enemies at the barracks scattered the first squad pressed onward. They were determined not to let their comrades down.

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Aggie peeked over her cover and took out three soldiers that happened to have been leaning out at the same time, leaving five or so to still face off against, who were being fairly well suppressed by the Marines sitting atop the cliff face. Badasses till the end. Hopefully one of the medics up there had done their tourniquets right. People like that deserved a lot more than just a medal. She grunted as Léon's partner had apparently taken a bolt to the blast vest, pulling a syringe from her first aid kit and chucking it his way. Just a little something that would ease the pain and get his heart functioning normally after the shock of the blaster bolt. Léon popped the cap of the syringe and stabbed it into the guy's burned chest, letting the solution administer before pulling it out and chucking it off the roof. The Marine managed to sit up and grab his rifle, returning fire almost immediately as the pain-relieving drug took effect.

This was turning in their favor. They just needed to get off this damn roof before more of them came and the group really got into trouble. She flicked her buddy's helmet and knocked her own with a knuckle after pulling the breach charge strapped to the soldier's back off his pack and unfolding it, arming the device. She flipped it face up and then winged it over the cover like a heavy frisbee, watching as the soldier detonated it in midair, eliminating what remained of their entrenched enemy, plus melting a repeater's barrel.

Landis stood up and vaulted over her piece of cover, tapping into comms.
"Rooftop team's moving in!"

As she said this, she rose the face shield on her helmet. The helmet wouldn't do much in terms of facial protection at the ranges they were going to be in. She'd rather deal with situational awareness, and be able to breathe. Léon did the same, though just for the visor around his eyes, still holding onto hope that the cheap face shield would do something.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

The bearded marine grinned, spotting Landis’ solution to the rooftop opposition and heard her voice on the coms. Maybe she has Decualian blood coursing in her veins. A man can dream.Saving such ponderings for another time, the lieutenant assisted his charging marines in gunning down cartel guards rushing toward the warehouse. Swifty the squad took up position around a series of containers in front of the building.

They intended to hold this spot until its time to go. Meanwhile the marines on top of the cliff fired another grapple line and descended without further incident to assist Agrafena in her efforts.

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Once inside the facility, things started to get quiet. Really, really quiet. After the wild cacophany of blaster fire only a minute earlier, she and the other two soldiers were uneasy to say the least. What this meant? The enemy was regrouping somewhere around a corner, waiting for them to round it and get reduced to nothing more than glorified ash. She slowed her jog to a cautious walk, keeping her blaster raised and taking the lead even as Léon and their other Marine scanned the left and right down the halls and into admin offices within. She came to a stop and rose her off hand, looking around and listening for something, anything.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a clang in underfoot vents and a cry of pain from their trooper, who fell down with a scream, his boot suddenly separated from the rest of his leg. Léon immediately fired into the grates below them, and Landis dragged the Marine to a safe distance as a Dug popped itself out of the grates and launched itself at Aggie, vibroblade in hand. She narrowly dodged a swing to the throat as it latched itself onto her armor, determined to kill her or at least take her down with it. She grunted and spun on her heel, catching its sword arm with a gloved hand and driving it into the wall even as it kicked her away. She crab-walked in reverse, reaching for her pistol before Léon took a shot and burned a hole through its eye.

The wounded Marine grabbed her attention, and she pulled a tourniquet from the kit on her vest, slipping it past where his foot used to be and letting it tighten as she pulled a shot of morphine from her belt, injecting itinto his leg and putting his blaster in his hands as per request. Léon continued scanning for more people that would appear, or perhaps more Dugs. Someone had to have heard that. The Marine grit his teeth and lifted up his helmet, tapping the blaster in his hands with a nod.
"I'll watch your backs. Just get the job done, and maybe you can buy me a drink sometime, Doc."

Aggie scoffed as she stood up, checking her own weapons.
"Sounds like a plan to me. The rest of the team will probably be down soon enough. Just don't get your other leg chopped off by a Dug, and we'll see about that drink."

Léon turned his head slightly to speak.
"Hate to interrupt the chat, but I thinkwe're going to have to get moving before the rest of the people bottled up in here find out exactly where those screams came from."

She couldn't agree more, and tapped him on the shoulder as they continued for the POW area.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Kneeling beside an empty container in the center Talos much to his frustration saw more guards coming out from their stations across the harbor base. More than dozen Weequays, Klatooians and Gamorrans charged toward them from the west side. We really stirred this nest of gundarks. Finished with the colorful observation, the lieutenant load up in a fresh clip to his blaster, saying to his squad.

“Alright boys and girls it seems our lazy hosts are getting their shit together. Under no circumstances are those frakkers are to get past us. Make them pay for each step taken. Am I understood?”

“Hurrah!”

The squad members repiled in unison. Proud, Barrenfist aimed down the sights and opened fire followed by the others. A hail of laser shots were directed toward the rushing cartel members, killing and wounding all in front. However, the rest spread out and took cover behind cargo and vehicles. As result a steady stream of blasterfire were exchanged with both sides. One bolt nearly caught Talos in the face forcing him down back to cover.

“Doc, ya better hurry! More of our hosts are coming in.” Barrenfist said through the comms to Agrafena.

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Aggie and Léon didn't encounter much else on their way for the POW group, and she could guess this was because of the huge diversionary force outside currently raining hell. She made a turn after checking down a corner, then put a hand over her ear as her comms crackled to life. It was their Marine lieutenant, and he sounded like he needed some faster results. Landis motioned for Léon to take point as she stood and rose her blaster, one handing the weapon as she transmitted a response.

"Give us a few more minutes. We're there."

She heard yelling down the hall where her second in command was talking to someone. She sped up to a jog and entered the room, finding a bunch of people in Republic fatigues inside holding cells. There they were. Aggie hid a smile as she pointed to Léon, telling him to check their health, and went to a control console to open up all the cells. Republic troops of various kinds came out, most if not all were standing and in high spirits. A couple cheerful whoops came from the bunch as they looked around, some equipping themselves with blasters wherever available.

One walked up, cracking a wrist and putting on a smile.
"We can fight, been lookin' forward to it for a while now. Just point us the way. There only two of you?"

The Lieutenant responded after looking back down the hall, where people were already making an exit.
"No. Some are dead on the roof, we have one wounded watching our backs. There's more weapons all over the place there. Oh, and there's a Marine detachment helping us out and keeping enemy forces from focusing on us."

"Right, we'll get to 'em then. Meet you outside."

He rallied his buddies and took off where the hazmat team had come from a few minutes ago. Léon spoke into comms.
"Lieutenant, we're, uh, coming out now. POWs are very secure."

Agrafena nodded and bumped his shoulder, running for the ground level entrance. Maybe this would finally turn in their favor.

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Well that’s good news. Now we just need to get out of here and we can drink about it. Talos quietly concluded before firing another two shots at the enemies in front. The cartel guards they were remained where they were keeping the Republic squad pinned down. Out of the corner of his eye the dark bearded officer noticed another dozen thugs yards away rushing toward the their left flank.

Scowling and preparing the worst Talos drew his rifle toward that direction when the new hostile squad were suddenly hit by a pair of missiles screaming from above. Instantly they were wiped out and flying overhead were a squadron of Republic fighters. Seeing this the besieged marines cheered and hollowed. As for the rest of Hutt garrison who witnessed what happened they jumped up and ran for their lives.

Seconds later Barrenfist’s smile grew wider. He behold a Republic transport descending from the heavens toward the prier a couple of meters from their position. “That’s a lovely sight.” The spaceborn marine remarked outloud admits the roar of engines. Gesturing to his squad they positioned themselves around the transport’s side as it’s large ramp opened up. It would be in that Agrafena’s party with the former prisoners will come out the warehouse and see their ride was already here.

 

[Agrafena Landis]

Aggie burst through the door, expecting a firefight, and found herself staring down the Marines that had accompanied her and Léon in saving the POWs, as well as a few prisoners that had made their way out the quickest. A transport hovered and came to a stop nearby, and she lowered her rifle, relaxing slightly as the rest of the group within the main holding facility emerged from the roof and other doors, including the Marine that had been injured on the descent into the building, still missing a leg but having a smile on his face despite it. Two POWs looking worse for wear were helping him walk.

"Really is a lovely sight."

Landis shut the visor on her helmet and then took it off, placing it under an arm and brushing sweat coated red hair back over her head while Léon checked his gear and pulled off his helmet, setting down his backpack after loosening the straps with a satisfied grunt. This mission was a huge success, but despite all the praise and attention it would get, she knew her work still wasn't done. Nowhere near it. There were more battles to be fought, and more people to save, after all.