Outback Holdout

[Merrick Helmsdottir]

Merrick wanted to spit a little as they passed outside of Azures spaceport and in their speeder off to the outskirts of capital. The blue light of his tracker lit up the heavy night sky, air so thick it threatened to choke him with every breath. Still, he powered through. He was glad that, when all was said and done, he wasn’t going to be the one stuck here. Still, he could cross the Mid Rim off his travel list now. Something to write home about.

Not that the building they came upon seemed much to do so though, and why anyone would come here in the first place was beyond him.,

A two story warehouse looking thing that, from the outside, did not seem as imposing nor important as he had been led to believe by their dossier.

Perhaps it was bigger on the inside.

For now though, that wasn’t the goal. Smugglers held themselves up their. Small time, but there. Though doubtful anyone offworld would be using their services. He and his friend were meant to clear em out, one way or another.

To that end, parking the speeder round the side, Merrick, who had worn all his normal arms and armour ready for this, approached the warehouse quietly from the side, taking care not to be seen,

“Alrighty, any preferences on how we deal with em?” Merrick asked his partner quietly. Probably something that should have been discussed earlier, but no harm in having this particular conversation now.

@Ulysses

Spoiler: OOC

As 72 hours have passed with no opposition, this thread has been changed to ASK

 

[Ben Drake]

Ben looked across to his companion. Sith made him uneasy. He was just a simple soldier. He had known officers good, bad and mad, but he had always tried to stay away from Sith.

If nothing else, they were too... independent. Ben was a ranger, yes, and so not a toy soldier on parade. However, he was still used to working as a team, covering each other's backs. From what Ben had heard of the Sith, they were just as likely to stab your back as watch it.

Another thing was unusual to him: being asked his opinion. Either he was (rarely) in command, in which case he gave orders; or he wasn't and so he took them. Preference never came into it.

He looked at the Sith quizzically, as if this was a test. He rattled his brain for his NCO training. He wanted to give an answer that matched Imperial army doctrine.

"First, orders: we have been tasked with clearing this area of malcontents. Second, enemy: currently unknown. Third, options: with an unknown enemy, we have two options, go in fast and hot, assuming all operators hostile, or slow and quiet, assess the situation and gain intelligence. We haven't been given a full strike team, so the situation would suggest the slow and quiet option."

 

[Merrick Helmsdottir]

"And I do think you'd be right there Ben. I'm not looking to get shot today. I'm not actually looking to get shot any day, but some days I'm just more ready for it than others, ya know? Today Isn't one of em" Merrick replied as he scanned the building, looking across for entrances and exits to the damn thing. While it was out of the way, it had certainly been built for a purpose, and funnily enough one of those purposes hadn't been 'easily infiltrated'.

That said, he was ready and on guard already in case things went bottoms up. So far though, so good. They were at their location, they were armed and armoured, and now they were making a plan.

Merrick looked round the building, checking his gear. A first option,

"Up there, window, balcony. We get up there, we get a good look at what we're dealing with" Merrick said, pointing out the spot. There was a staircase that could get them up there, rusty as it was.

@Ulysses

 

[Ben Drake]

Something else that didn't sit with the soldier: the Sith's easy familiarity. As far as Lance Sergeant Drake was concerned, the army was built on respect, and that respect included a healthy respect for the dangers they faced every day, dangers that claimed the lives of his friends and colleagues.

The next decision didn't come easy to him either. It was always beholden on a soldier to put himself forward for the risky jobs; or at least not volunteer other people for it, not openly anyway.

However, when he looked at their respective skills and equipment, there only seemed one way to pull this off.

"Ok..." He suddenly realised that, despite internally berating the Sith for his lack of formality, he had no idea what to call his colleague. He would be damned if he called someone without rank 'sir' "... Sith. I'll cover you."

He raised his rifle into his shoulder and planted himself in a kneeling position at the corner of what looked like it was once a weighing station for vehicles taking goods out of the warehouse.

To his front-left he could trace the entire stretch of the stairway up to the balcony. His right shoulder was braced against the corner of the outhouse - but he could easily peer round if there was any movement. To his left, he could see all down the side of the main warehouse. To his rear-right, he was protected by the building and rear-left was the only real blind spot, but that was the way they had come and he was fairly sure that they hadn't been followed.

 

[Jason Maverick]

Jason had followed the men. Unfortunately, the two men hadn't been told of another person coming in to help. While one of the men was a Sith, Jason was fairly sure they hadn't noticed him. While Jason was wearing his uniform and armor, Jason kept quiet in the shadows, remembering his Intel training. Once the men approached the warehouse and began beginning their work, Jason stepped into their view. "Fancy seeing you two here. I'm Jason Maverick, Imperial Intelligence, and i have been assigned to accompany you. Sorry for the late entrance. If you would like me to provide identification, i'm happy to." Jason finished his explanation with a short nod. Keeping his arms out in front of him in the universal gesture meaning no harm.

@Ulysses
@Nightfall
OCC: sorry to intrude on your little party, but the more Imps, the better!

 

[Merrick Helmsdottir]

Merrick hadn't been expecting company, having now taken a spot in front of Drake, his own blaster in one hand, ready and waiting, but he wasn't about to turn down another friendly gun if it was available,

"Maverick, alrighty then, wasn't expecting another man alongside but if you can shoot straight we'll take ya" he'd spun back to look at the man, gun pointed at his chest. He was a little on edge as he scanned the horizon. Neither he nor his partner thought they'd been followed, so you couldn't blame him for being on edge, even if his demeanor didn't show it,

"Got a copy of that assignment? I like to check in" he said it with a smile, but if the man could have followed them, anyone could have, and it made him worried. Hopefully the agent was legit, they still had a place to storm. Though for now he kept his head on a swivel, his eyes peeled for trouble around.

Assuming he was, he would pop back off and fall back into line with Ben, ready to attack,

"Slow and quiet then, just like Ben said"

@Ulysses
@Brick

 

[Ben Drake]

As soon as Ben heard the man behind him, he jumped - cursing his misfortune. He threw his body and rolled round to the left, putting the corner of the building between him and the interloper. He quickly gathered himself and came back to the edge of the building to see who the guest was. The agent was lucky that he saw the insignia before he was shot. He was doubly lucky that Ben didn't shoot him anyway for sneaking up unannounced before mouthing off so that the whole area might hear.

"Oi, special branch!" he hissed "I don't think they heard who you were in the warehouse." He came back round to the side of the outbuilding he had been on before. He would wait for the Sith to be satisfied with the papers, keeping watch as before. Once that was complete, he would tell the newcomer to "make yourself useful and watch our rear. The Sith here will then make his way up to the access point and check the situation. He will either make ingress alone, or call us up. Got the plan?"

After some confirmation from Jason, he would nod to Merrick to initiate his climb, covering as before with his rifle.

Kraffing mixed operations

Spoiler: OOC

The 72 hours have passed and so Nightfall will make this ask

I have started a dice thread here

Remember to take a bonus when you get to the window, Nightfall

@Nightfall @Brick

 

[Jason Maverick]

Once Jason had handed his credentials to the Sith, Jason said calmly, "Alright, sounds fool proof." Jason took out his rifle, and placed his back to the agent and the Sith. Jason looked around his surroundings, and nodded, a couple of low-life scum, what's the worst that could happen?

@Ulysses @Nightfall

 

[Merrick Helmsdottir]

While it seemed they'd managed to keep themselves under wraps for up until now, they were only just coming upon the hard bit: the actual infiltration. The mans papers seemed more than fine, good thing too. Which meant they were back on the clock. Nodding to the pair, Merrick moved up the stairs, doing his best to keep low and silent. However, it seemed today his best wouldn't be good enough.

The staircase was far rustier than any of than it appeared, and close to the top the stairs creaked dangerously. A voice on the inside, muffled, a smuggler poking his head out the window to check what was up,

"Oye! Fellas! Trouble!"

Not an ideal start to the day.

The smuggler threw himself inside, probably scrambling for a weapon as below them the sound of a door swinging open came behind them, footsteps and shouts as half a dozen men, rough and tumble looking types ready to fire.

Kriff.

Kriff, kriff, kriff.

Though turning quick and firing off a bolt, striking one in the arm, he took the same, a graze across his shoulder as he threw himself in the window and into cover.

He damn well hoped the others were ready for a fight.

@Ulysses
@Brick

Spoiler: OOC

Welcome Brick! Let's power through it :)

 

[Ben Drake]

Coming out under the gantry, the gang of miscreants came out straight into Ben's overwatch. The leading two received wounding shots as they crossed the threshold, forcing the remainder to reconsider. It gave those outside a momentary respite to consider their options.
@Brick @Nightfall

 

[Jason Maverick]

Everything was going great so far. Unfortunately luck was not on their side as Jason heard a commotion from where the Sith had went, and several blaster sounds. "Two options either we go up and help, or we stay here and fight."

 

[Ben Drake]

Ben was sure that there were times when discussions like this were important. While an engagement was unfolding before their eyes, they just needed to get on with it. He gestured up the stairway.

"Go on, special branch, I'll tie them up here."

He would quickly prepare a grenade and lodge it under the door that the others had just come through so that it might blow up at their feet when they next open it. He would again retreat to an overwatch position, diagonally opposite the door.

@Brick @Nightfall

 

[Merrick Helmsdottir]

Peeking back out the window, he watched as Drake managed to nail the smugglers that had sped out of the warehouse, forcing them back around and inside. Good thing too, they were off balance now and had no idea of their numbers. If Drake was keeping them busy and covered out front, then he had a second option,

"Maverick, cover me!" he called down to the agent with a wink, his plan might have been a bit ambitious, but their enemies were still in shock, he meant to keep it that way.

Stepping from the window, he looked down over the warehouse from the upper walkway. The three who rushed back in were met by a different man, who shouted orders and updates. Clearly the boss. A boss, it seemed, who wanted to bug out of here, having run desperately backwards, stealing up a pistol and papers in quite the rush.

Well, Merrick meant to make him worry a little more.

As smugglers fell back, he ignited his lightsaber and leapt down from the balcony, his blade slicing down the nearest man as Merrick fell to the earth, pulling his blade back defensively.

This was going to be easy.

@Ulysses
@Brick

Spoiler: OOC

There we are, we can just start again from the top of the posting order :) Shouldn't take too many posts rolls from here anyhow

 

[Jason Maverick]

Jason nodded at the other agent, and ran up the stairs. He put up his blaster, and nodded at the Sith. "Got it!" As the Sith sliced someone down, Jason started shooting into the fleeing smugglers. He caught two of the retreating scum in the back, both of them falling to the floor dead.

@Ulysses @Nightfall

 

[Ben Drake]

Hearing the commotion inside, Ben moved out from his overwatch position and headed up the stairs. He did not know how it was going inside and so walked up the steps backwards, keeping a bead on the doorway. In order to keep his footing sure, he walked slowly but purposefully.

He got up to the balcony after the last shots were fired. Seeing that the other two had the pit under control, he passed along the gantry to the far end. As he passed Maverick, he put a hand on his shoulder: "nice one, special branch," and shouted to the Sith, "don't go out the front door if you like your feet."

He looked out the window to take stock of their surroundings

 

[Merrick Helmsdottir]

Hearing the two banter behind him, Merrick threw a little salute Drake’s way as he ran toward the warehouse rear, gunning for the smuggler leader. The two had done good work, all that was left now was to finish him and go home.

The man vaulted over a table and found cover behind it, his blaster shaking in his hand. They hadn’t been expecting to be caught, it was more than clear, though the fellow still had a few tricks up his sleeve it seemed.

Though Merrick reaches out with the force to rip the blaster from the fools hand, the kriffer managed to hold on, snapping on the trigger and sending a bolt sparking into the ground before Merricks feet, making him stop with a grunt,

“Not bad buddy, but not a chance you can take the rest of us” he said, keeping his lightsaber up,

“Wouldn’t it just be easier to let it drop?” Merrick gestured to the mans blaster. Whoever he was, he glanced around, his men’s bodies on the floor, the other Imperials on the walkway. The decision was easy,

“I give up!” He cried, dropping the blaster to the floor, keeping his hands in the air as Merrick approached, ready to disarm. The day was won,

“Good decision bub”

/EndThread

@Brick @Ulysses