Ask Invasion Those who Remain

[Covax]

The plan with Crimson Dawn and assassin did not go as expected. Terra had proven to be much better at criminal enterprising then Covax. But her questions during the meeting raised questions of his own. It was time to get back to what he did best.

Just days after the initial invasion of Yavin and the Jedi were ready to abandon the planet and it's people. Covax's previous connections with the former Darth Caelestis had afforded him the opportunity to once more work with the Empire. However this time it would be joining some of the rank and file. Troopers assigned to kill or capture teams to hunt down pockets of the resistance still remaining on the planet.

Though he was working with fresh faces, he was pleased to be out here on the battlefield doing what it was he did best. The towering human was dressed in his custom merc style armor and armed to the teeth with his usual kit. Ridding in a older troop transport, the vanguard was shoulder to shoulder with @Max Dram and six assault droids. Along with a pilot, and intelligence operator @Darrand Cresta ridding up front.

@Alhon @Srota

 

[Max Dram]

A smile flickered across Max's face as the transport sped across Yavin. He was in his element, armoured shoulders pressed back against the bulkhead and weapon in hand. The prospect of hunting Jedi and their ilk drawing closer every minute.

"So what did the Jedi do to you?" He asked the burly mercenary next to him. "Or is it just the credits you're chasing?". Max didn't look at Covax as he posed his questions, instead staring at the bulkhead opposite. He and the merc were of height, of age and, from what Max knew, both trained killers. He was not used to partnering with such an equal match and he didn't like it one bit.

He glanced up towards the cockpit, hoping Cresta was going to find them enough prey to share. Max had met the other Lieutenant before, if only socially, and got the sense he was a solid operator. They would certainly find out soon enough.

@Srota @Taz

 

[Darrand Cresta]

Cresta was strapped into the shotgun seat of the transport as it bounced and jumped its way across the terrain, moving through the forest at speed. He gazed out the window as the others talked amongst themselves. He hated being away from his men, leaving them to survive on their own without him. But sometimes the mission called for such indulgences. He cycled through the various vision modes installed in the visor of his Imperial Assault Armor, watching the heat of the jungle bloom in the thermal vision mode. He allowed his vision to acclimate for the moment before cycling back to normal vision and setting to work examining his whipcord launcher. Once he was satisfied that his armor equipment was working, he checked the three thermal detonators on his belt, as well as checked the action on his E-11D and his DA-34 before he rose from his seat and ducked through the hatch and back to the other compartment.

"So, gentlemen, we are hunting down resistance cells, correct? What's the lead we got on this one? What are we expecting? What about Rules of engagement? And finally, are we bringing back any alive to make finding the others easier?" He used the commlink functions built into the armor so that the others could hear him over the squealing and rocking of the metal transport as it moved on, swerving to avoid a fallen tree, which set the armored soldier off balance for a second, prompting him to reach up and grab the ceiling to steady himself.

@Taz @Alhon

 

[Covax]

Covax was not as existed and on edge as his new teammate. The possibility of finding a Jedi was not out of the question, but unlikely. The Sith themselves preferred to hunt those prey, while the Imperial military was left with the rest. Like any other military. There was SF, conventional, and in his case, mercenary work.

That was fine for Covax, having worked for the Republic, and with Jedi in the past. He was in no hurry to burn a financial bridge by hunting a possible client. A resistance or militia force, well that was a different story.

"Your superiors called, and I answered." He replied to Lieutenant's question. Covax was used to the line of question. Most loyal to the Empire didn't like or perhaps maybe trust the ranks of the Foreign Legion, which technically Covax fell under the privy of in order to work for the Sith. Perhaps it was the freedom to come and go as they pleased, perhaps it was the much better pay, or perhaps and more likely it was because they were not as zealous as the conventional forces. "I'm here for a job, same as you."

Thankfully, Cresta keyed up on the comms just then. "Well, according to the intel from your office....scans show a tiny village built into the mountain just ahead. Possibly, a cave, or cave system. Orders from above are to kill or capture. Children of course are capture if at all possible. Testing, training, brainwashing....whatever" He said teasingly but knew there was more than a little truth too. "Droids will purge the cave and set for demo, unless you boys feel like going spelunking?"

@Srota @Alhon

 

[Max Dram]

The merc's responses were short and clipped, but then Max hadn't really expected him to tell his life story. He was not the type.

"and I thought it was just us jarheads who danced to orders" he replied, rising to stretch beneath his armour "Job for you, duty for me. But we're all on the same team today".

The Lieutenant listened closely as Cresta and Covax talked over the intel. A mountain village seemed unlikely to be harbouring much of interest, but that was probably what the enemy wanted them to think. The Resistance were insidious like that.

"They can blow the whole mountain up for me" Max offered, glancing at the droids. As much as chasing resistance rats through caves appealed to his primal instincts, it was not the best use of his talents or tall frame. "If we flush them out they'll be easy prey". He consulted the topographical map on his datapad "are we sure there are no exits on the far side for them to escape?"

@Srota @Taz

 

[Darrand Cresta]

Cresta listened carefully as the merc went over the plan. The rumbling of the transport filled the compartment, and sent the armored commando listing from side to side as it swerved to avoid another fallen tree. He caught himself with a hand on the side of the transport and the clatter of duraplast. Thankfully, they had the commlinks to keep them audible. He listened carefully, taking in the details of the operation as the others spoke. He didn't really speak here, listening carefully, thinking over the plan once he had internalized it. The only real sound he made was an audible exhalation of relief at the fact that Children were to be kept alive.

"Do we have an estimate on the number of hostiles we can expect? I assume we will be following up the droids to mop up anything they cannot kill? Do we know how deep these caves run?"

He looked about the compartment, eyes landing on each of his companions and on the droids, evaluating them, wondering if it would be enough. Three men and some droids to face an indeterminate number of resistance operatives. It was going to be cutting it close, but at least there would not be any Jedi there, or so he hoped. If there were, there was bound to be trouble...

@Taz @Alhon

 

[Covax]

Covax gave Max a mused look of indifference from under his helmet. He could of rubbed it in the man's nose that he managed to din with Lords of the Sith. Was saved by and later danced with one of the most skilled and doctors in the galaxy. And perhaps most importantly, answered to only one man. Who was also one of the most powerful and richest beings in the known universe. This...this was just a little side job he was doing to keep in the graces of the Empire.

"Well, when duty isn't enough. Come find me. I'll have work for you." The crime boss finally commented. He was working on building what was left of the Crymorah Syndicate into, something a little different. But he was not ready to announce it just yet. Least of all to a couple of loyal soldiers. But time would tell.

Hearing the questions of both Imperial soldiers, Covax was quickly becoming a little frustrated the sheer lack of shared information from the higher ups. "You're the fucking Intel guy, how the hell do I know more than you do?" he fired back at Cresta in him commlink.

Just then the pilot alerted in the transport's speakers. "One minute out."

"Look, you boys want to nuke the hill side, be my guest. I'm here to kill or capture some resistance fighters, maybe secure a village to be turned into like some base or mining outpost. I get the impression this isn't a key part of the operation, you know, a merc and a couple of droids backing up a couple of fresh faces officers?"

@Alhon @Srota

 

[Max Dram]

Max decided to leave his sparring with Covax, deciding to treat the merc's invitation as a recognition Max might be a useful to have around. Besides, credits were always good to have, but he was not quite ready to turn to contract jobs to get them.

"Well I don't see any exits" he said, flipping back to the map of the mountainside "and we're a small unit, so we can't waste time looking. If any hostiles escape, Intel will have to answer for themselves". He shot a glance at Cresta. Max was not about to criticise his comrade or the Intel trade in front of Covax, but he was a little disappointed how little info had been disseminated to Cresta when it had apparently been shared with the merc. The Empire was its own worst enemy sometimes.

"Intel's useful, but soldiers win the day" Max said, cutting across them. The pilot's warning had focused his mind. "Kill or capture the resistance, seize the village. That's good enough for me". He suited up, feeling the transport slowing as it arrived at the drop off a little way out from the village.

"Fire team attention" he barked, turning to the droids.

The six 008's snapped to immediately, shouldering their blaster rifles. "Roger roger".

"You support our initial advance on the village, then make for the caves once we have a foothold. Understood?"

"Yes Sir" the Team Leader replied, lifeless photoreceptors blinking. Max smiled; droids always gave the right answer.

@Srota @Taz

 

[Darrand Cresta]

Darrand chuckled at the merc's retort. "You know the old adage about Military Intelligence... Besides, I don't collect the intel, they just tell me where to go, and sometimes what to shoot. As our friend says, its the boots on the ground that matter most." He watched the pair as they set to work, getting the droids ready and turned making his way back to the cockpit, before tapping the driver on the shoulder, then tapping his helmet and holding up 2 fingers, indicating to go to channel 2.

Hearing the click of the driver as he joined the channel, Darrand looked to the viewport and then back down to the map. They were getting closer to the village with every second. "Bring us in here." He said, pointing to a position on the map half a kilometer out from the village.

"Yes sir." The driver assented and Darrand clicked back to Channel 1, before turning back and making his way to rejoin the others. "I told the driver to leave us half a klick outside the village. That should help keep us far enough out that we can try and get the drop on them, if we can get them without warning, we might even be able to take them out before they make it to the cave system."

He looked to the others and then to the droids, wondering just how well these droids would do at discriminating between adult and child, perhaps it was to be a good thing that the three of them would handle the village proper. The transport skimmed ever closer, the destination approaching closer and closer with every second. Darrand swayed, keeping on his feet as best he could, bracing himself with his off hand, his blaster rifle gripped firmly in his dominant hand as he faced the exit port, ready to step out into a hail of fire, or the cacophony of a quiet jungle.

@Taz @Alhon

 

[Covax]

**OOC Note. Jumping ahead a bit. Lost some muse for this one.**

It would be several moments later. The plans were set, the intel passed on a best it could be. Under the cover of early morning they arrived at the village. To no one's surprise who experienced war, the village was just rising soon they would be packing speeders and pack animals. Likely trying to find the nearest space port. The Jedi were losing, leaving, or both. These people had no guardians. It was time to leave.

The droids deployed first. Attempting to flank the village from the right, and moving towards the cave. Meanwhile the living members of the party took point. Covax, apparently first. He wasn't surprised. The Empire paid well but they also used you as a bolt catch.

The towering human did his best to get low and use the early morning shadows to his advantage. Seeing a poorly training look out near a small hut. The former soldier made his way toward the man. Pistol in one hand, knife in another. If he could take the man quietly he would, if not, well that's what the hand cannon was for.

@Alhon @Srota

 

[Max Dram]

Max was pleased to be touching hard ground again. He padded through the ankle high grass toward the village, his sleek black armour absorbing the early morning shadows. It was time to go to work.

Covax was up ahead, closing in on the lookout hut like a tank silently advancing before the storm. The Lieutenant let him go, instead angling left towards the back door of a house on the outskirts of the village. He drew up and tried the handle; it was unlocked. Such fools.

Max gently opened the door, slipping inside with more grace than his large frame suggested possible. There was no sign of anyone, but there were opened drawers and piled belongings all around. They were getting ready to leave.

Without warning, a man came hurrying down the stairs in pseudo-military dress, a heavy satchel in his arms. Max didn't make a sound, but the man glanced in his direction on instinct, eyes wide at the sight of an armoured soldier in his house. A single shot was all it took to send him sprawling down the last few stairs, Max's rifle punching straight through his petty rebel outfit.

"Osca?" It was a woman's voice from the bedroom above, no doubt drawn by the unexpected sound.

Max smiled. The hunt had begun.

@Srota @Taz