[Pre-DOTR] Mandalorian Flashback

[Tsunami]

(OCC: Participants while this is an open thread please only join if you can be of use to the storyline. This is a warzone piece and as such it would be preferable that those joining have some form of military training and would ICly help the Mandalorians. If you are unsure but would like to Join, please message me via PM.)
(@Prudence @Ecclessey)

Two Years Prior To Timeline Start.
Somewhere in Mandalorian Space.
1300 Hours.​

A large group of insurgents have attacked and reduced a small Mandalorian mining colony to rubble. Various precious and valuable resources are being siphoned and loaded onto ships in the center of the colony while the vast majority of the surviving population are being held south of that point.

The Mandalorian government has deemed it necessary to send in the Mandalorian Special Forces. These elite and highly trained members of the Mandalorian Military operate under the harshest of environments against often unfavourable odds. Led by a newly appointed squad leader in De'vad Kryze the small group of five have been tasked with assuring the safety of the survivours first, before attempting to take back any stolen recources.​

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright lads lets keep this simple, we are going to be dropping in roughly 4 kilometers away from the target area. We are going to move to this location." He spoke with confidence pausing for a moment to point to a position on the map rougly 700 meters away from the colony. "From there I want to perform some quick recon of our entry point, I want communications checked too. Things are going to get heated pretty fast once we enter so if were going to die, lets make sure we take a few of them with us first." His men nodded as he finished his talk and they all did a final weapons check before they hit the drop off zone.

A while later...

They had reached their first checkpoint and had performed the tasks that they had be asked. Noticing an exposed entrance to the colonies drainage system they called in their findings and recived intel that the drains would lead them under the colony and into a large building. The building was not only a good place to hold and defend but it seeminly provided the team with a good view of the surrounding area. Packing up their kit and setting off they made entered the drainage system.

Traveling through the drainage system was simple, a lot of the waste that would have been held there had drained out through the multiple breeches the enemy had made during there assault. De'vad had made the call to place charges along the line of the piping to provide a failsafe in the event of their capture or imminent death. As they exited the drain work they were surprised to find the place so deserted and were able to enter and sevure their position in the building almost instantly.

"I'm going to take the top floor. We need one at the back, with the other two preparing to engage on my mark. Lets give them a taste of what it means to face true mandalorians." De'vad quickly made his way to the top floor and stayed crouched by a window. His plan was to draw some of the men to his location and have his men mop them up while he provided covering fire. Peering over the wall now he rested the stand of his sniper on the ledge, his left eye closed and his right eye not blinking. He was totally focused as he scanned the area for his target.

"There you are, contacts will be approaching from eight o'clock. Prepare to engage boys. Three, Two, On..." The first shot fired, his eyes widened as a large set of armoured artillery began rolling into the vicinity. "No one mentioned anything about those!" He continued firing shots from his sniper picking of multiple enemy insurgents before the building he was in began getting peppered with artillery fire. "We are not equipped to deal with those from this position. Get the coms up, we can hold this position but we are going to need air support."

Without warning a large explosion rocked the building and an all too familiar hiss of static could be heard through De'vads comlink before. Silence. "Come in, does anyone hear me?" It was at this moment he realised he was on his own. His only hope was that someone, somewhere had received his squaddies transmission before being blasted to bits.​

 

[Prudence]

Mandalorian Space
Karnarian Mining and Construction Facility, Concordia
1300 Hours​

Prudii leaned back into his seat as his Lethisk-Class Armed Freighter made the rapid descent into the Concordian atmosphere. He ran a quick diagnostic check of the systems. Everything he had was charged and primed and ready for a first assault. He had been working as a bounty hunter and a mercenary, while also retaining his loyalties to Mandalore. In the instance of the current Concordian rebellion he had stood by on retainer for the instance that he might be needed. The Mandalorian military was very spread and diverse in its makeup. The Special Forces Commandos had already been deployed but weren't expecting the armor that they were facing. Small insurrections like this one were cropping up across the system like a brush fire. A symptom of a growing disease. Dissatisfaction.

"We're going to need air support!" had been his queue to enter. Waiting above the planet he was monitoring the team's comm frequency, as well as that of several other teams across the planet.

"Come in, does anyone hear me?"

Prudii switched the comms on with a crackle "I hear you Kryze. I'm inbound."

The ship pressed him against the seat as he accelerated towards the planet faster than his inertial dampeners could compensate. His target analysis computer began marking targets, four in total so far. He flicked the guards away from the levers that controlled his missile bays and flicked the switches, sending missiles spiralling away from his ship towards the ground in fiery explosions on the ground, eliminating two targets. He switched over to his control stick as he juked the freighter over slightly, lining up the dorsal mounted heavy blaster cannon, and smothering the remaining artillery position in a debilitating amount of plasma. His ship rocked as several rounds hit his shields, bouncing harmlessly off.

"First pass is complete, have you suffered casualties?"

 

[Eccles]

Background

Bandomeer's Dillawaire Company was only a couple of hours away when the call came in that Mandalore's colony was being raided. Initially even the captain had shrugged it off, saying that Mandalorians preferred to fight alone anyway, but it didn't take High Command long with their orders to provide support wherever needed. What followed agitated the captain endlessly as whenever he established a line of contact with the Mandalorian Armed Forces he was told that their Special Forces never failed and wouldn't do so now. No help was necessary. Bandomeer High Command refused to acknowledge such a prideful and above all foolish statement and ordered the Dillawaire Company to stay put, leaving the decision with the captain.

So that's how Cavalas Wren, whose father came from Mandalore, was sitting in a troop transport shuttle flying over a small settlement that looked like it had been carpet bombed for three months straight. This would be Cavalas' first actual battle, having only just fulfilled all his training requirements last month. "Chin up, lads." their lieutenant grinned "If there's one thing you know for sure joining a battle after the mandalorians is that you'll barely see any action." and Cavalas felt reassured as the lieutenant seemed convinced of this fact and he'd been a soldier for nearly a decade. It came as a surprise then that the pilot suddenly yelled something that had the lieutenant's grin turn upside down real quick. "What do you mean, artillery? Where the kes are the Mandalorians!?"

Shocked, Cavalas turned his neck and peered outside where a large building was being peppered with said artillery. As he watched it crumble the shuttle suddenly rocked violently and the pilot yelled "Incoming!" through the intercom. Next thing the recruit saw was fire and the lieutenant's head smack violently agains the side, crushing his forehead and launching the dead man to the back of the shuttle as it the craft carrying a good forty man crashed into the ruined settlement below. The moment would haunt his dreams for the rest of his life just as the question how he could ever be so lucky to come out of the crash intact. He wasn't the only one as about ten on his side of the shuttle seemed to have survived with only small fractures and a horrible look of shock in their eyes. "Hey you're a Wren! You're a mandalorian! Where the kes are your people!?" a fellow recruit and coincidently childhood friend threw at him from a few seats down the row. Next to him sat an unlucky fellow who had received the full weight of the lieutenant on his neck and the awful angle it held now left no room for doubt on how severely it was shattered.

"Bloody Korriban Jacen! We're from the same town! I don't even know a single of those fanatics." Cavalas shot back as he unfastened his safety belt, trying his best not to look at the death and despair around him, and started to climb from the wreckage that thank the Force did not explode. "Where are those famous special forces of theirs anyway?" he complained angrily as he approached a group of his fellows that had taken refuge in an abandoned building that had lost its roof in the bombardments.

"Good of you to ask, private Wren." one of them shot back with an angry look "as you're one of them, you'll go ahead to these coordinates. Derrick caught a transmission of theirs before a shard of glass from the cockpit all but decapitated him and you're the volunteer to go check it out." he continued and as Cavalas looked at the others for support he came to the frightening conclusion that they all agreed with him. They needed to vent their anger over their loss and as it was obvious to them the Mandalorians were to blame, and Cavalas Wren was closest to a Mandalorian they knew, they vented that anger out on him. Cavalas took a deep breath and managed to keep steady as he took the datapad with the coordinates. They might've been sending him to almost assured death, but even so he'd do it with his head held high. That was the foolishness of boys during their first battles. "These coordinates" he realized "they're exactly below that building we saw being battered by those artillery units."

"We figured that's where the Mandalorians were holed up. Bloody rookie move if you ask me. If there are any survivors you'll find them there. We're going to see who we can save here and move towards the place they got the natives imprisoned. With any luck, we'll see you there with those special forces hm?" the soldier replied with a shrug. He might've been less indifferent if Cavalas hadn't been such a recent recruit, but he was still a member of their company and had expected a few words of good luck at least. It was no matter, he checked his armor and pistol and took a firm hold on his blaster rifle as he set out among the ruins towards the last known location of the Mandalorians.

 

[Tsunami]

A Transport ship flew recklessly into the settlement, the artillery shredding it and sending it spiraling downwards. De'vad couldn't help but feel slightly responsible for the men that perished in that craft but he had a job to do. He tried reaching the crashed craft on coms before what seemed like a friendly voice spoke back to him through his comlink.

A craft hurtled overhead and annihilated the artillery position bellow him. "I've lost contact with three of my men. The way down is blocked so I'm going to have to jump of the top of the building. I've never failed a mission and I don't plan to start now. A craft just crashed moments before your arrival. If you're sticking around i'd sure appreciate you locating these insurgents transport crafts." He was used to giving orders, he'd been training a long time and it just came naturally to him. His main concern was the downed craft however and with no regard for his own safety lept from the top of the building.

Upon nearing the ground he activated his Jet back to slow his fall. As soon as his feet touched firm ground he began sorting his weapon. A sniper was of little use to him now and with short change of attachments he set of towards the reckage. No doubt he would meet enemy forces along his path and he was fully prepared for it, his gate was long but presice and cautious as he kept his eyes open and his body alert for any movements.

 

[Prudence]

"Understood, give me a moment."

Prudii spun the craft around, performing a rather neat turn, and began to aerially scan the ground. He flicked a switch on his console and spoke into the comms "Ground forces, this is Kyramud. I'm streaming my view of the insurgents to you." He waited a moment and then began his downward descent, targeting one of the enermy transports and ripping through its engines, sending it crashing to the ground. His view shook as an artillery round impacted the side of his ship, nearly knocking it out of the sky from sheer force.

"You've still got quite a bit of artillery down there." he said, "I'll try for one more pass but I"m not sure I can take more than that."

 

[Eccles]

For a settlement that's being raided for its resources, Cavalas met a surprising amount of insurgents so far. Namely zero. His nerves were killing him as well while he made his way through the rubble with his rifle firmly pressed against his shoulder and his eyes shifting towards all possible places of entry. He was afraid, how couldn't he be, but so far there had been no need to test and see what he could, at this moment, still remember from his training. And so he slowly moved closer to his destination, the location where he was supposed to find the Mandalorian Special Forces. His nerves were suddenly jolted when someone came down from the sky just around the corner and seemed, if only for a moment, too distracted as he checked his weapon. Cavalas quickly turned the corner and approach him from behind "You there! Drop your weapon! I'll shoot damnit!" he cried and his voice cracked as even he realized how unconvincing that must've sounded. "Are you an enemy, or one of the Mandalorians?" he added as he suddenly became unsure whether or not this man could actually be one he was send to find.

 

[Tsunami]

De'vad's comlink was crackling as the voice of his unknown salvation could be heard once more. "That's fine, just do what you can. You have already done enough. Whats your full name pilot." He waited for a reply, if he was going to have to deal with some artillery he was going to have to get closer. He knew he could comfortably hit his targets with his bow at one hundred and fifty meters but it would be dangerous with no cover.

No time after finishing his trail of thought he heard a young voice. "Am I a Mandalorian?" pondering for a moment if this was an insult or not he didn't have time to make more enemies. "Yes, I am De'vad Kryze. 1st battalion Mandalorian Special Forces." He began walking towards the young man. It might have been unnerving at first for the lad however when he reached him De'vad held out his hand. "I saw your transport get taken down. Who are you?" Waiting for the mans reply he then continued "Are there any survivors? We should get moving, this isn't your fight but I'd appreciate if you would lend a hand evacuating some of the civilians."

As De'vad finished talking he looked into the air to see what his pilot friend was up to. If he managed to keep the enemy transports grounded now, they could commandeer them and evacuate all those on the ground. With his focus set, he readied his body once more for the task at hand.

 

[Prudence]

Prudii heard the reply come over the comms as he spun down for his final approach.

"Prudii Kyramud." he said shortly. "I'm not one of your commandos. I'm a mercenary. So is becky."

He brought the freighter around and flew as low as he could. His targeting computer had identified the position that had damaged his left stabilizer, and he laid into it with everything he had. Piercing the armor with his blasters he gutted the insurgent war machine and flew off, ascending as he did. Behind the position of the communications there was a small opening in the rubble that looked like it had once been a landing strip. "I'm coming in for a landing behind you. I'll help you finish the mission and provide exfil."

He slid the ship through the air towards the position, mindful of possible artillery positions.

 

[Eccles]

He couldn't help it, but Cavalas' hands were shaking as they held the rifle. It made him look like even more of a recruit next to Mandalorian that introduced himself as De'vad Kryze. "Cavalas Wren" he stammered in reply before he exhaled slowly trying to regain himself "Bandomeer Armed Forces, Dellawaire Company. I got about a dozen men half a click to the east. But they-" he stopped to aim at a low overflying freighter before returning to face the De'vad "they're moving to free the prisoners and will be underway by now."

The young recruit couldn't help but admire the calm and confidence the Mandalorian seemed to posses in a situation like this. He didn't look down on him for not being part of his squad or a Mandalorian, but instead behaved like a professional soldier. To Cavalas that was a big contrast to his friends at the Dillawaire company, which made him believe all those impressive war stories they tell about mandalorian warriors. For all he knew, Mandalorians were an example to be followed and he'd proudly do so. "I'll take your lead, commander."

 

[Tsunami]

"Wren aye" he smirked slightly under his helmet. "Always good to fight along side another Mandalorian. Especially a Wren. His statement was as equally aimed at his calming his new acquaintances nerves as it was about uplifting his spirits. To De'vad a Mandalorian was a Mandalorian. He then proceeded to reply to Prudii "Copy that Prudii, me and Cavalas are going to be doubling back to the guys crash site. Apparently there is a small group of them moving from there towards the prisoners. Rendezvous with us there."

He was glad to have people with him. Regardless of his confidence De'vad wasn't stupid he'd be a fool to turn down the help from others at this point. His only hope is he could catch up with the remaining crash survivors before they faced the enemies artillery and forces unprepared. As the most experienced soldier on the battlefield at this point it was up to him to get everyone out alive now.

"Lets role Cavalas. Cover my six."

 

[Eccles]

Cavalas frowned, he knew that his father was from Mandalore, but he wasn't aware of any family members being soldiers, too. He'd figured it was better to ask him about it later, though, as that really wasn't a conversation for the battlefield. Instead he nodded at De'vad and turned around to the way he had come. "No disrespect, De'vad, but it'd be better if you covered mine. I know the way back and they're a lot less jumpy with me than they'd be with you turning into their sight." Cavalas paused as he was unsure about what he was about to say next "we don't see many Mandalorians in our battlefields these days". There was truth in that statement, but it wasn't uncommon for companies consisting of conscripts of a specific planet to never really fight with those of others, despite this loose alliance the governments had going.

The way back went a lot faster now that he knew his way through the ruins and they found the small encampement of the Dillawaire Company in no time. "Just-" Cavalas halted De'vad "let me make the introductions" a slight smile crept unto his face as he stepped passed the first sentry and into the camp with his Mandalorian ally in tow. His hands didn't shake anymore, nor did his voice crack as he spoke. It was strange, perhaps it had to do with the aura of confidence surrounding De'vad and that it was the Mandalorian commando that treated him as an equal, praised him even without ever having him seen in action. Cavalas felt strong, and that strength was noticable as he adressed his fellows from Bandomeer "I fulfilled my task," he told the veteran soldier that had send him away for the mission he hadn't expected him to return from. He attempted to look uninterested and his focus did shift from Cavalas to De'vad the second the Mandalorian stepped into their camp, but there was this shiver of hope in his eyes that Cavalas hadn't expected to be able to see. "His name is De'vad Kryze, of the Mandalorian Special Forces."

A brutish man, perfectly fulfilling the archetype of an experienced soldier, rose from his place near a broken long-distance communicator and approached the Mandalorian with a grin. He looked as if he had once been a butcher that joined the army in times of war and never looked back. Large hands, thick neck and eyes that seemed like they've seen it all before. "Nice rifle you've got there. Let me guess, you're one of those pussies flying up into a building and sniping enemies from afar." He spat a big yellow-ish blob near De'vad's feet "I bet you've never had to thrust your knife in a man up close, your eyes locking with his as the life seeps out of him." he then turned around to face the remaining men from the Dillawaire Company, all were gazing up at him. "We don't need the Mandalorian Special Forces to save these people. The Dillawaire Company has stood for worse fires more times than I can count and we never faltered or became dependent on the Mandalorians."

Cavalas was taken aback by the treatment De'vad was given, but as he looked around at the faces of his fellows from Bandomeer and he could see their shimmer of hope grow as they nodded to the archetype with confident smiles, he understood why it had been done. With a subtle handmotion he told De'vad not to make a scene, not to be offended and certainly not to try and proof his superiority over the butcher. Not now, not in front of the men that needed above all to trust in their own capabilities.

 

[Tsunami]

De'vad couldn't help but be impressed. The young man who have almost been quaking in his boots had suddenly began giving him orders as if they had known each other for years. It was that bond that was often found on the battlefield between soldiers, two men from different backgrounds thrust into a unfriendly and unforgiving environment. Well, maybe not so different backgrounds in Cavalas Wren's case, he was of Mandalorian blood after all.

He followed Cav all the way back to the crash site and just before they entered De'vad was told to let Cav do the talking."Alright fella, the stage is yours." He didn't see a reason not to let Cavalas do the talking, these were his people after all and it was more than likely that he would know them better. Upon entering the area which the company was held up he listened in silence as he was introduced. He looked around at the group of men, all fairly underequipped by Mandalorian standards and with hardly any of them paying attention to the battle field.

A large man much bigger than De'vad approached him, spouting nonsense about how his men had done this and done that. It was almost humorous that he would act as such when his men couldn't even land a transport in the fallen colony while a Prudii had made multiple runs overhead with minimal damage. When the man had finished talking and spitting in De'vad's general direction he took a moment to speak. "Then I am assuming you have a plan. I have my own mission here and I have no intention of failing it. If your men are half as good as you just made them out to be, then consider me under your command for the time being." He spoke with gritted teeth, but the insults were said through sheer ignorance rather than actual knowledge. De'vad could have dropped the big guy instantly, punching him in the throat and using his body to absorb the fire that would have been shortly followed by the rest of his men yet it would of solved nothing.

As the thoughts ran through his head three insurgents popped their heads over the top of a wall. None of the other men had noticed but De'vad's HuD picked it up almost instantly. They were only thirty meters out and an easy shot for someone of his calibre. Sliding his feet to the right he moved into position to the side of the veteran soldier firing three quick short bursts of his rifle. The rounds covered the short distance in the blink of an eye shredding through the torso of the men.

Un-phased by what had just happened De'vad said "There will be more of them. Whats the plan?"

 

[Eccles]

"The plan is that we move out and free the prisoners." the former butcher said in a isn't it obvious manner, which made some of the others smile. The simplicity of the plan, or really the lack of a real one, showed that the man in charge of this detachment of the Dillawaire Company was not an officer and instead as a mere grunt he was accustomed to getting orders, not giving them. With his back now turned towards De'vad and the little knowledge of leadership that he had learned from observing Captain Dillawaire, the butcher divided the eighteen survivors into three groups of six for which he each appointed the most senior members of the company as the respective leaders. Cavalas was included in the Butcher's group, but De'vad was left out of the count altogether.

Suddenly the Mandalorian swung his rifle upwards, giving most men present a nervous breakdown and even the butcher grabbed his knife and turned to turn De'vad into a kebab. Ofcourse, when the three insurgents fell down screaming they were rightly embarrassed by their nervous assumption. It just wasn't easy to trust someone from another planet's military as they could be your allies now, and your enemies tomorrow. It wasn't the grunt making those decisions. "Right," the butcher said as he turned his eyes away so De'vad couldn't see the embarrassment written in. "De'vad, try and keep high ground. Our three groups will move separately into the same direction, so covering our asses won't be easy. You think you can do that?" he didn't ask and nodded himself as he watched how the three groups got together and he joined the one with Cavalas.

Cavalas, in his turn, had been the only one that wasn't alarmed by De'vad's sudden motion and wanted to thank him heartily for probably saving most their lives. Instead he only nodded at him, fearful of how it'd look if he was more friendly and open to this stranger than to the men he served with. He already had his name against him, after all. Therefore he stuck to the butcher and did not accompany De'vad to higher ground, besides, he was more useful on the ground as he didn't have any experience with spotting for a sniper.

It soon became apparent that the insurgents really were on the move as a detachment had probably been send to search for survivors from the Bandomeer troop transport and kill them. Two minutes after the groups had split up, the Mullen Squad, named after Derrick Mullen their most senior member, reported gunfire. Cavalas had wanted to go and help, but the butcher gave him a right foul slap on the head and told him to continue. If they got stuck fighting in the ruins the enemy would just keep pouring men at them, which with their numbers they wouldn't survive long. Their main objective was reaching the prisoner camp, Mullen squad would understand, every member there already had a couple of notches in their belts. Cavalas could only hope that maybe De'vad would've found high ground in time to help them out.

 

[Tsunami]

De'vad having already scouted the local area before hand had the perfect spot for what he had been asked. It left him rather vulnerable, but gave him perfect coverage of the squads operating on the ground. As he activated his jetpack he performed a one hundred and eighty degree turn, placing his rifle on his back as he took flight before reaching for his bow.

With a flick of a button his bow extended outwards. He pulled for an explosive arrow and looked out over the battlefield spotting the last of the artillery emplacements. Taking aim he pulled the bow string backwards before letting the arrow fly. It was a number of seconds before an explosion was heard by which time the second arrow was in the air. The second explosion marked the end of the insurgents biggest advantage on the battlefield and De'vad landed on top of the building he had been aiming for.

Drawing his rifle from his back once more he fiddled with the attachments, and set up scanning the battlefield. He wanted to keep an eye out for Cav but his attention was drawn to another of the two groups. Mulen Squad had come under considerable fire in the last few miniutes and focusing down the scope he started reeling off shots. The first, second and third shot forced the enemy to back off their approach from the rear.

Switching his sights back over to check Cavalas' squad he hovered over the head of the veteran soldier. He thought of how easy it would be from all the way up here, but his sights were quickly drawn back to Mulen Squad who seemingly were drawing most of the action.

 

[Eccles]

"Mullen here, we're being decimated. Lutin Squad, what's your location?" Derrick Mullen almost begged into his communicator. Besides himself he only had two men left and they were already running out of ammo. They had noticed their Guardian Angel at work as several hostiles dropped before being able to make lethal hits, but the urban environment blocked much of the sniper's vision. Truth be told, Derrick was quite desperate. "This is Lutin, we're half a click South-West of the big explosion earlier." his communicator replied and announced a sigh of relief. That explosion was De'vad blowing up the artillery, thus Derrick knew in which direction they could pull back to join with Lutin squad.

"Alright, Mason, set the charges. Jon, if you still have those flashbangs use them now." and Jon nodded, activitating one of two flashbang grenades and coming slightly out of cover to throw. It had barely left his hand when a bolt from a blaster rifle went straight through his skull and made him drop lifelessly to the ground. The yelling coming three seconds later meant that the insurgents had been really close and caught the full bang, which gave Mason a small window to place his mines and tap Derrick on the shoulder, his cue to get out of there. The most senior member of Mullen squad grabbed the remaining flashbang, activitated it and threw it aimlessly over his shoulder while he and Mason zigzagged through the ruins. They had managed to run about twenty meters when they heard the mines explode, but neither of them was very inclined to look back.

The five men that were following the butcher had come furthest along than the others as they were nearing the encampment after ten minutes of running through the rubble. But there was no denying that despite their swift approach, the six of them were getting tired. Their nerves had been wrecked by the crash and the uneven ground was difficult to walk on, let alone run. "I think I see the main road there" the butcher panted, "that'll lead us directly to the prisoner camp we saw from above."

"That's open terrain, Danny" one of the others shook his head, "we take the main road we'll get eviscerated." he let himself fall against a wall that had been partly blown away from the bombardments. "Not necessarily" Cavalas interjected. The young recruit had been looking at the main road, too, and spotted a speeder van that probably had been abandoned after hitting the wall it was parked against. "I know my way around speeders and if I can get that thing to work" he pointed towards the speeder, much to the joy of the butcher "we can ram the flying Bantha shit at them. Very good, kid, very good."

After a short moment of rest they put the plan in motion and crossed the main street in a hurry before Cavalas dashed underneath the control panel and the five others took positions around the van to watch for danger.

 

[Tsunami]

De'vad had continued to lay down cover fire throughout the action unfolding below, but he too was running out of ammo and as his allies moved further and further away from him he had little option but to follow. Kneeling down he sorted his weapon for a third time, folded down his bow and proceeded to jump once more off a building of great height.

As he fell noticed that the others were taking a rest and while he didn't condone it due to the situation he could maybe understand. Activating his jetpack he shot in through the whole in which the artillery had made and began searching through the rubble. Among the rubble was the corpses of his three comrade's but he had no time to moarn, he found what he was looking for, it was slightly damaged but with a bit of tinkering he managed to hook it up to his own communications.

"This is De'vad Kryze, My team is dead and we have come under heavy fire. If you are reciving this message command, send transport. We have allied casualties and civilians. I repeat we have allied casualties and civilians."

He had hoped that the message made it's way to command but he couldn't be sure. Untill he recived a reply, he had to consider the possibility it was still on him to complete this mission.

"Guys where do you want me" He said, his voice slightly muffled by heavy breathing as he ran across the rubble towards the location he last saw his allies.

 

[Eccles]

"Over kessing here!" Lutin yelled as he saw De'vad running past their position. With Mullen and Jason, Lutin squad now numbered eight and they were somewhat at an impasse. "We saw you shooting down a lot of hostiles, thanks for that" Mullen said as he spotted De'vad and Jason concurred immediately "Aye, wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you."

Lutin wiped the sweat from his brow. He knew that despite the butcher's trust in him, he wasn't cut out to lead anyone and it was already giving him a headache. Whether or not he should advance, pull back or keep a stand, Lutin just didn't know. "Are you an officer?" he asked De'vad as he turned towards them "because-" he hesitated "if you are, I'm begging you to take command of me and mine." he face went sour as he said it, but he saw no other solution than to admit the Mandalorian to be his better.

Three miles to the east Cavalas was head first in the speeder van's engine "Almost there"

 

[Tsunami]

De'vad was feeling pretty good overall, he wasn't beginning to fatigue just yet and had plenty left in the tank. The only thing he was running short on though was Ammo. His weapon system meant that the sometimes interchangeable clips used in weapons would be of no use to him, and with the way some of the men sprayed their weapon when shooting they were going to need it.

As he was jogging he heard his name and turned to see Lutin and his squad. He listened to what the group had to say, including that of Mullen and Jason who believed they owed their lives to him. "Look, I'm not some guardian angel. I lost three of my men, you have lost countless of yours. Despite what you are told, we Mandalorians are just as human as you are and we fall just the same." He paused looking around, the men who looked at him for guidance didn't seem impressed by what he had said, and who could blame them. "What I am saying is, you and I. Regardless of background are more similar you know. Sure we fight with our guns but the real fight, the real battle out there... He spoke with a loud, assertive and confident voice that only grew as he spoke. "The real battle is up here, and in here. You need heart to keep going, now don't stand here looking at me like you are helpless. There are civilians out their who REALLY are helpless. They are relying on YOU, and YOU and YOU. On all of you."

De'vad stopped, slung his empty rifle on his back and drew for his two side arms. Cavalas was three miles to the east and the prisoners were in the center of the town, roughly one and a half miles west of their current location. De'vad planned to create a pinsar and close around the enemies. He said nothing to the men and began walking, but they followed. He had given them more that courage, he had provided them with duty and that was a powerful thing.

"Cav, we are making our way to the center of the colony. Come from the east, we can attack as one and have them surrounded. I repeat we are coming into the center of the colony." He continues a fast pace onward making sure those behind him kept their eyes peeled.

 

[Eccles]

As De'vad's message come through on the butcher's communicator, who frowned at the seeming insult of adressing the young recruit instead of the appointed squad commander, Cavalas tried to fire up the engine for the fourth and last time as it suddenly sputtered to life and started hovering inches above the ground. "All aboard!" the youngest member of the Dillawaire Company cheered and the butcher took a front seat next to him. "Your pal just radio'd through." he said it in a disapproving tone "He said they're making their way for the prisoners from the east and wants us to go at it from the west." he explained and silently counted his remaining ammo. "Who are they?" Cavalas replied, slightly confused as he was sure De'vad had been alone when he encountered him, but the butcher seemed to have an answer "I imagine it's Lutin squad and whoever survived from Mullen's."

That, at least, made sense and Cavalas steered the speeder van towards the city centre. "Alright lads, open up the windows and prepare those rifles." the butcher ordered and rolled down his own window on the passenger side before he turned to Cavalas "keep your head down while you drive, wouldn't want a bolt to split your head open in your first battle."

Afraid it would actually happen, Cavalas sank down into the driver's seat and was barely able to see the road as they approached the encampment. "Let's draw their attention so the others can take them unaware" the butcher told them and Cavalas stepped hard on the gas as they sped past the guardhouses. The five members all got their rifles out, some angled over the roof or through the back of the van and fired short bursts to attract maximum attention. Cavalas caught only a glimpse of the damage his fellows were doing, but he knew it was considerable.

 

[Tsunami]

De'vad and his group could hear the battle begin as they reached the centre of the colony. From what little De'vad could see, Cav and his group had got a vehicle moving and they were drawing the fire of the enemy. Luckily for them this meant that De'vads team could now sweep in behind and take the insurgents by suprise.

Being careful not to talk and remains silent as possible De'vad gave basic hand signals, ordering his men to enter strategically placed buildings around the centre of town. It was quite funny watching Cav drive around, his head barely visible he was ducked so low. When everyone was finally in place De'vad gave the order to behin and a volley of blaster fire rained from several buildings.

The insurgents were taken totally unawares, their bodies spinning to try and work out who to target or shoot at. Some even tried to flee but with a vehicle on their side it was unlikely they would escape. Suddenly De'vad thought about the transports, he had no idea what jogged his memory, but he needed them stopped, talking to those within the vehicle he spoke through his coms system.

"You guys in the vehicle! There is still a chance we can get to those transports with that. We can finish the last of these guys off, but we need to stop those transports. These people's livelihoods are contained in those ships!"