Log:First Order: Spelunking
Spelunking
OOC Date: March 26, 2016
Location: Felucia
Participants: HM-8668, RK-8801, Foil, Emma Starflare, Oozlevort, Fuze, DZ-1141, Pyre, First Order
On the afternoon of Datunda the 14th, at a remote village on the jungle planet of Felucia, the First Order forces are still going about their duties of searching the planet and interrogating hostages for information regarding the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker. Flame troopers are moving about in packs, setting fire to the jungle forest while the natives of Felucia can only watch in horror as their home goes up in flames. The cave that sides just behind the remote village is still largely a mystery, only two lone Stormtroopers have delved within, and the reports they came back with were certainly not good. A large bubbling river that emits a strange haze is known to be far below, some form of flying fauna is reported to have done quite the number on the TIE pilot known by "Fuze" and was confirmed by soldier "Hela". Orders were delivered mere hours ago that Assault Group A would be venturing into the tunnels below to discover what Skywalker was doing down there, and to exterminate any opposition with extreme prejudice. The Bounty Hunter Agent from the initial landing on Felucia was paired with the assault group and a lift set into place above the vertical shaft that leads into the inky blackness below.
HM-8668 takes a moment to inspect the security perimeter set up around the cave and then do a final inspection of the lift and the troops. "We know the orders. Do not use explosive devices needlessly. Our priority is evidence and information followed by eliminating all hostiles. I expect our Gand to be of use especially at the river. Order of March is Rika. Oozlevoert , myself, Foil and Emma."
Oozlevort draws his pistol and checks the power setting. "Yes," he says to Rika, then peers into the cave with his strange compound alien eyes. Perhaps he can see in the darkness.
Falling back in the pack EM-1710 nods her head, her face hidden by her helmet as she moves with the unit and flicks on the stealth field she carries, shimmering out of visible spectrum. "I'll watch over you," she acknowledges and adjusts her sniper rifle. The cloak will probably be useless in the water, but at least for the time being she can make the most of it. (re)
"Sir, yes Sir!" Rika's husky growls over voder. Behind the mask of her helmet she bares white yeeth in a silent snarl Save the Evidence yes, but those things need payback for hurting a comrade. Outwardly she nods, helmet tilting as she move out, rifle at the ready, rifle on its sling across her chest, finger alongside the trigger guard. Across her back is the Baton, just in case things go all CQB....
The lift awaits the squadron, a sturdy metal affair that is close to fifteen feet across each side with railings to keep passengers from falling off. A narrow ramp leads across the open chasm to the lift, and then is pulled back as the last of the Troops makes their way across. With a faint metallic whine as the lift is engaged, the platform starts to slowly descend. There are spotlights at each of the four corners of the platform, able to be turned on and swiveled if need be. In minutes of the slow descent, the group is plunged into complete darkness. Long distance to Sesti Gath: Hux nods. Would you like to ask them all when would be best for them this week?
"Combat Pairs are Rika, Oozlevort. Then Emma Foil. I will move with which ever group seems necessary. Stay with your pair unless necessary. Chain of command is myself, Rika, Emma, Foil, Oozlevort. Team 1 is the assault element. Team 2 is Support. " Hammer waits in the middle, listening. "Lights off until we hear something. We do not know if they are attracted to light. Turn on the searchlight, on command and then move away from it. As we move out, cycle the lights. Do not keep them always on until commanded."
Oozlevort is a short, squat Gand, but he still kneels as he takes up his position on the lift. When they begin to descend the Gand blinks his compound eyes, allowing them to adjust to the darkness. He sees all in the darkness except for colors. His pistol is at the ready, in case any of those flying monkeys come at him.
The trooper designated FL-5114 is here as well. He's with the other, unnamed soldiers. He's not a heroic character like Rikamonster or The Hammer or Emma the Darktrooper. He's just FL-5114. He's standing at the ready, rifle across his chest, with slightly pink armor. Well, honestly, very pink armor. Rancor bloof doesn't scrub off well. On the plus side, fixed foot! FL-5114 adjusts his weight, looks around, flexes Hello Nexu! flavored finger armor. "...I got a bad feeling about this."
Rika, per Hammer's command, takes point with the Alien Bounty Hunter, taking the far left corner ofthe platform, just below the searchlight. She kneels, crouching, helmet moving alertly. Her rifle is at the ready....she does wish for the anachronistic comfort of a bayonet....blades are something of a comfort to CQB specialists....ooc check poseorder, foil i think you missed that
No words from 'Emmy', just a silent acknowledgement as the Sniper fans out and gives Foil a pat on his shoulder. "You're on the lights duty," she says softly to the trooper she's partnered up with while peering down her scope into the darkness.
The lift continues its slow but steady descent and the further it goes, the deeper and more pressing the darkness gets... until it changes. A faint green light seems to be fuzing with the darkness, black turning subtly to include traces of deem emerald and then growing steadily more noticeable. The light pulses at a steady and slow rhythm, there and then gone, there and then gone, seeming to grow more and more pronounces the further downward they go.
HM-8668 spots the green glow. This is why he wanted the lights off at first. He points at the glow and then at the Gand and where he thinks Emma is, making the fingers towards his own eyes and then point out, signal for them to look it over.
Oozlevort peers around as they continue to descend. "Perhaps it is algae. Or some sort of mineral that glows," he supposes, but keeps his pistol at the ready.
EM-1710 peers through her scope, but the green light just earns a shrug of her shoulders lightly before she lowers her weapon. "Bioluminecent or something maybe? No confirmed visual over here."
Rika blinks at the first sign of the lights, but they grow stronger. Yes, definitely there. She glances round, at the others, they are visible now in that ghostly light. So she catches the signal to the others. She wonders if the flying things of sharp tooth and claw can hear them coming. In answer to that she steadies her grip on the rifle, watching alertly for signs of trouble.
Pinktrooper FL-5114 nods worthlessly at EM-1710's command. Lights duty. Lights duty. He repeats it internally a few times, so he won't forget as he stalks forward, viciously pastel. He is the color of bruised flesh. Exotic blood! The strawberry paste of traumatic deceleration.
...Nope. Just not happening. FL-5114 cannot will himself into feeling badass while wearing festive Lifeday colors. He sighs faintly, his shoulder pauldrons slumping as he trudges on, covering EM-1710's backside. Diligently. Focused! Wait, is there a green pulse up there...?! That looks important... "Hey," he whispers. "Should I turn on the light?"
HM-8668 peers into the darkness. He keeps communication low and to a minimum. "No light, yet. The glow is all around us. Very large. "
Oozlevort points his weapon downward. "The water is glowing. That must be the source. There is water below."
Water? "Brilliant," Emma comments as she flicks off her stealth field rather then risking letting it short out. Shimmering back into visible spectrum the woman shakes her head. She'd swum plenty for exercise. Here's hoping everyone else had kept themselve skilled up if that water was going to be getting deeper.
He knew she was invisible. FL-5114 wasn't just staring at empty blackness three feet to the left of EM-1710. "So...uh...these suits aren't waterproof, right? They just filter smoke?" He looks around cautiously. "...Wasn't an X-Wing down here? Where did it land?"
Water...so. No using the Baton then..not unless she wanted to throw it in and cook everyone. Alound, all Rika's reposnse is a huff of breath, carried by the Voder in her Helmet. She she peers down, wondering how deep it is...
As the group rides the lift further downward, they can tell as they drop out of the vertical shaft into open space. There is a faint breeze that whistles through the darkness, the faint green glow not enough to give perfect vision, but shapes and shadows can be made out. Far below, they can now hear the rushing of water, and indeed that glow does seem to be coming from with in. The surface of the water bubbles and pops, a smoke wafting upward from the surface and filling the open space with a hot, humid moisture. Every now and then, a faint swishing can be heard, a wooshing through the air around the troopers as their lift drifts further downward. Eventually they can see that the lift seems to be lowering toward a small outcropping of rock that can be followed toward one edge of the underground river.
HM-8668 grunts under his breath at the information relayed by the team. He is on the verge of ordering a sweep with the spotlight because he is wondering the same thing as Foil about the x wing. Then they spot the outcropping and he points to it. Voice soft and minimum. "Deep and fast. probably has aquatic rancors in it. stay alert but do not disturb the water , yet. " As soon as the lift touches down, he gestures for Rika and Oozlevort to leaf off. "3 meters between individuals. 5 meters between teams."
Oozlevort nods at Hammer. The Gand raises his pistol and steps off the lift, moving along the ledge in a cautious bit of movement. "The water... Oozlevort is wondering why it would glow. Or why the Skywalker would come here."
"There are worse places to hide then a planet that will eat those who come looking for you," EM comments as she falls into position, her light off for the time being but her cloak also remaining deactivated even if they haven't gone trapsing into the water afterall. Moving along the outcropping the sniper keeps her weapon trained and ready, listening for threats as much as looking.
"Yes, Sir!" Husky voice giving a crisp but quiet response to Hammers commad. "Opzlevort, 3 meters behind me, stay sharp..." She crouches, legs flexed to take the jolt of landing. "No telling, think that's what we;re for..." Then the jolt, and she is moving out with a fast, silent crouch, rifle up and scanning with her gaze, covering all angles. For all her size amd armour, she moves with a silent, loose grace.....
"I wonder if I could wash this blood off in there..." Leaning forward against the railing, FL-5114 peers down into the depths. Then he's moving off with Emma, rifle toted before him as he hustles along. He's mostly admiring the cavern, the hint of water, the green glow... "So beautiful."
As the troops offload the lift, they are able to make their way down the rocky slope toward the bank of the green bubbling river. The smoke that wafts up from the bubbling and popping waters smells fetid and fills the air with a smell similar to that of a decaying animal. The rock seems to form a natural ramp that leads to the thin walkway which is roughly twenty yards wide and skirts directly south of the Stormtroopers' current position.
HM-8668 moves off the platform, head turning about as he scans. He lets the first two move out and them follows at 3 meters, getting ahead before beckoning at team 2. No comments on the esthetics of the surroundings.
Oozlevort only follows after Rika, keeping back a few meters as she asked.
So far unaware of any further threats, EM-1710 continues her cautious pace scanning with her weapon for targets and danger while doing her best to try and ignore the smells. Rika moves, silent and ghostly in her white armour and the mist...as she goes she lift her head, pausing, as if listening, fist raised to indicate HALT. She casts a swift, intent glance upwards. She keys her mike, whispering over the coms. "We have company, aerial, multiple bogeys, circling us, up in the mist. My guess is the same things that got Fuze..." She glances about, "No cover, unless you fancy a swim. I certainly do not."
FL-5114 was admiring some fossils embedded in the wall of the cavern when suddenly the Walkure signals a stop. Snapping his rifle up, FL-5114 aims all around, trying to see the things swooping around them. He's slightly crouched, braced against a charge from above. He doesn't say anything fancy, this time. Cool guys don't interrupt a potential ambush.
HM-8668 thinks quickly. Better here than on the lift. "Emma, Foil, move past me quickly. I will set a light on the ground, pointing up. I will turn it on and move away. Everyone be ready to fire if they attack me or the light. Teams engage one target each. " And, after Foil and Emma follow orders, does as he said he would.
EM sees them, she sees pretty darn well suprisingly. Moving onwards cautiously the sniper keeps her weapon ready and her eyes focused on the targets. She won't lift her rifle to give away that they know what's up, but she's ready to lift it and shoot at a the slightest hostile action. FL-5114 hustles past the Hammer, his kirshwasser armor glimmering salmon in the dark. His rifle is still held aloft--he won't be taken by surprise. Not gonna get wrenched into the sky by his shoulders. Not gonna get eaten. "I knew I should have asked AS-3001 out. I knew it, I knew it." He sounds more angry than terrified.
As the light is places and clicked on, loud ear splitting screeches can be heard filling the large subterranean chamber. The cries bounce off of the walls and carry the spine tingling feeling similar to nails dragging down a chalk board. The light shoots high upward into the darkness and suddenly those swooping shadows are given form. Huge flying beasts circle high above, their skin leathery and their wingspan easily the length of two normal height men. At the end of each wing is a paw with long fingers capped off by massive claws. Powerful legs extend downward, muscles bulging against the leathery skin. Fanged maws open at the appearance of the light and several beasts dive toward it and the fleeing Hammer. Two of the flying beasts swoop for Hammer as he runs from the light, three more diving for the light.
HM-8668 suspects the creatures are just waiting to attack. The light plan is either really good or going to get him killed. Or both. He waits for the others to get in position. "3. 2. 1. Now." He flicks on the light and then begins scampering backwards. Sensing more than seeing, Hammer performs a quick diving roll and then comes up, firing at one of the beasts swooping towards him. "Next time, bring a flamer, Hammer... "
The light comes on and the creatures rush, EM fires a single precise blast from the sniper rifle as the creatures Rush Hammer, her eye closing behind the scope as she exhales a sharp breath to the image of the creatures they're faced with. This planet has some nasty things waiting at every turn it seems.
As the light co,es on, Rika spots two of the Beast rolling in to attack her commander. SHe picks the left-hand one, tracking it smoothly, leading it just...so. The shot break and the bolt sizzle to her target. She is completely unaware of the snarl she she is making, the sound eeries through her voder....
FL-5114 fires wildly into the sky, managing to tag a wing on one, but it's not enough. "Oh no. No no no no you don't!" Swinging the rifle around toward the one swooping for Hammer, FL-5114 fires another huge blast at the creature, attempting to bring it down! As three Troopers aim for the two monsters diving for the fleeing Hammer, the two beasts are taken down without too much difficulty. Hammer manages to dodge both snapping maws and blasts the left beast in the chest, which slows it just enough for Rika's blast to catch it in the back of the head. The monster spins off course and screeches as it splashes into the deep green waters. Emma's shot is true and the head of her target explodes in a shower of blood that douses Hammer as the carcass crashes into the ground and skids to a halt. Foil is the only Trooper aiming for the beasts diving for the light, and as such his wing shot isn't enough to take one of the three beasts down and they are soon on the light, snapping at it hungrily and then one grasps it in a powerful taloned foot and begins to take flight.
Having been hovering near the platform as the others moved on out and down the stone pathway, PR-3742 turns at the screeching and and diving of the flying monsters. He turns hustling forward as two are shot dead, crashing into the green glowing waters, and charges right to Foil's side. As the beasts snap at the light source, the huge Flametrooper known about the Finalizer as Pyre flicks the switch on his flamethrower and the small plasma torch at the end bursts into life, hefting his weapon, he points it at the three monsters and with a roaring bellow pulls the trigger. The pressurized tanks on his back blow fuel through the nozzles attached to the weapon and a huge burst of flame fires out directly toward them.
The Pinktrooper's shoulder pauldrons slump as the shot goes horribly lackluster. He's about to snark off something sarcastic and inspirational when suddenly there's a HUGE PILLAR OF FLAME engulfing things! His irises shrink to pinpricks as the light amplification of his helmet destroys his eyesight. Inside the helmet, his jaw is hanging open...but he thinks he sees movement so /screw it/! Flipping off all safeties and holding down the priming trigger for a little too long, Foil snaps his rifle up and fires off a shrieking bolt of plasma at one of the flying horrors, "You're not going to eat me! I taste too delicious to die to the likes of you!"
Her first target easily cut down, EM-1710 drops to her knees as she turns her sniper rifle now toward the next beast her scope would fall on, taking a breath and firing. In all the chaos and hungry flames? The blonde trooper is as ever, a beacon of calm motion and practice.
In the chaos and the stacatto bursts of weapons fire and the coughing roar made by the flame thrower, DZ-1141's presence is one of silence as she tracks the sound of wings in the darkness punctuated by licks of flame that sear outward in great belches of flame that ruins her night vision again and again. DZ-1141 eases through the darkness and takes up position near
The burst of flame that erupts from the nozzle of Pyre's flamethrower, the dark cavern is illuminated in a fierce orange glow. Above the flying beasts screech in terror, the sound piercingly high and likely debilitating to any on the ground who were caught unaware. If anyone were to glance up, the would see thirteen flying beasts still in the air counting the three that are on fire. One beast that was caught in the burst of flames, the one that clutched the flashlight shrieks in terror and flaps off in retreat. So blinded by panic is it that it wheels and crashes into the glittering stone walls at full tilt, its head cracking sideways and then falling from on high back down toward the group in a fretful. The other two wheel and in defense fly one toward Emma and the other toward the trooper that wields the flames like a beacon. The two manage to sidestep the beasts, their attacks off center given the flames that lick them and they soar on past, acting as beacons as they soar through the darkness, shrieking in pain as the flames lick their leathery bodies. The shot fired from Foil slams into the beast that Pyre dodges, catching it in a garish wound to the body, while Emma's shot lands a solid shot on the left flank of the flaming beast she dodged.
PR-3742 laughs aloud as the three beasts are caught in the inferno that he rains on them from the tip of the blowing flamethrower. He sidesteps easily as one of the damn 'birds' flies at him with a pained screech, and turns to aim a shot at its retreating back when that terribly high pitched screech rends the air, taken up by the many beasts still circling above. "Ahhh, fuuck!" Pyre howls as his hands release his flamethrower, the torch tip at the end abruptly dying as he grips the sides of his helmet as if that would stop the noise, his head goes upward, watching as the two flaming monsters soar and screech in pain as they try to stay aloft, his eyes moving warily to the other dark forms circling above.
Aiming her weapon further, EM's finger eases back to the trigger when the sudden screaming intensifies to levels inhuman and painful. The sniper screams, her own high-pitched noise of pain heard through her helmet's communications as her hands come to the sides of her helmet in reflex trying to fight the painful sounds.
From behind the shield of the helmet, DZ-1141 grimaces as the awful shriek and screech in the darkness, continuing to wheel and swoop, silently cursing the way the helmet makes the screech assault her ears. DZ-1141 shakes her head, head angling from side to side to try to get her ears to stop ringing even as she drops to a crouch in the darkness, blaster aimed upward though she doesn't waste another shot in the darkness.
Dropping his weapon, FL-5114 grabs his helmet and shakes it wildly, crying out incoherently. He's disoriented, confused, and nearly passes out... But, at the last moment, he manages to blindly grab his rifle back up, wobbling around and trying to remain upright.
As the Stormtroopers below grip their helmets and attempt to throw off the cries of fear and anger from above, the circling beasts dive. They appear to seem at least somewhat sentient as they dive downward in groups of two, each pair going for the Stormtroopers that fire upon them. While DZ-1141's crouch manages to make her small enough to avoid the slashing claws that arc down at her, and EM-1710 manages to dodge the two that rush at her, PR-3742 and FL-5114 are not so lucky. Pyre is able to sidestep one, the other crashes into him and manages to knock him flat to his back, dangerously close to that toxic looking stream that rushes by, the beast flying onward and back skyward. Of the two that dive-bomb Foil, one seems to get off pace in its frenzy to attack and zooms by to Foil's left, while the other lands atop his shoulders, strong talons clenching on the armor that covers him and a loud crush can be heard as the beast crushes through the armor, four talons piercing into the Stormtroopers flesh on each shoulder as it snaps downward, trying to bury fangs into the man, wings flapping wildly for balance.
"Get it off get it off get it off getitoffgetitoffgetitoff!!" FL-5114 flails around for a moment...and then the talons crunch in and he screams in agony. He just got his leg crushed by a rancor!! He's going to be a full cyborg at this rate!! Fighting through the pain, FL-5114 slowly raises his arms, crying out as he does, and blasts the thing full in the side of the chest.
Pyre curses into his comms with a string of words that would likely make Kylo Ren blush. He rolls about on his napalm tanks like a ridiculously large turtle for a moment as he struggles to get his feet beneath him. Once he manages to roll to his side, he shoves himself to his feet and takes up the business end of his flamethrower. He clicks the ignitor and the torch flames to life and then there is another large plume of deadly flames rolling out to torch the birds that have swooped town to attack Dozer.
Still feeling the sting of the superscreech and the echo of her own scream rattling around in her helmet, EM lifts her rifle in time to see Foil being carried off and giving his own despirate shot at the monster's chest that doesn't quite manage to get him free. Taking a shot her sniper rifle spits a single bolt that slams through the monster's head and ends its trooper-snatching.
Of all the benefits of being not the tallest of the group, DZ-1141's ability to hit the deck at full speed and crouch down out of the swooping reach of those talon wielding monsters is now on the top of her list. Blessed, or cursed, with an agile imagination she can very easily imagine those talons reaching for her only to slice through the air where she used to be. From her position on the floor she tries to track the swooping and the shots being exchanged in the darkness, bursts of fire illuminating her fellow troopers in random, and somewhat gory, flashes. She sights on one of the two that swooped at EM-1710 and fires off another shot in the dark.
The shot goes wild, zinging off into the darkness to impact against the wall of the cave, like so many others, jostling loose some rock that crashes down onto the cavern floor with a startling crunch and rumble of sound. At this rate, DZ-1141 may begin throwing rocks instead of firing the blaster; free supply of ammo that way.
The beast that was working on tearing through Foil's armor and trying to bite his head off howls in pain as Foil's shot blasts a smoking hole into the side of its chest, blood pouring down on the Trooper, and then Emma's shot blasts through the back of the beasts head sending a burst of dark blood and skull fragments exploding outward and down over the injured Trooper as the beast goes limp and falls from Foil's shoulders to the ground. As another great plume of fire sets two more monsters on fire, that same bone chilling screech echoes about the chamber, though with the flying beasts dying left and right, and others' flesh crackling and charring with the lick of intense flames, it lacks the strength of before.
As the four flying beasts all hurtle down toward him, Pyre cursing them in the comms can be heard, "Come and get it you fucking birds!" he screams at them as he pulls the trigger on his flamethrower and a plume of fire races out to intercept the diving beasts. He manages to set all four aflame, and can only try to sidestep and dodge around as they come toward him. Two fly wide, likely blinded by the flames to arc like phoenixes into the darkness, he manages to dodge one and then the fourth collides with him like a boulder bouncing down a mountain. A pained run can be heard as the bird crunches into him and talons burst through the chest of his armor, claws digging deep furrows into his chest beneath and then catch, lifting the armor and picking him up from the ground. As his boots leave the ground he yells out, "Someone shoot this fucking thing!”
The new round of deafening screeches from the divebombing monsters has DZ-1141's ears ringing, her head ducking down, shoulders hunching, against the decibel of the screech assault. She remains crouched, shaking her head beneath the helmet, trying to dispel the ringing again, and failing to do so. The lurid gleam of fire casts larger than life shadows that streak against the darkness, giving the illusion of many more of the creatures than are actually swooping and circling in this chamber. The swearing and shouting from Pyre helps cut through the haze of confusion and she pushes to a crouch, darting forward to check on the suddenly silent Foil while her head tips back, leaning back as well so that she can look up into the darkness, "EM-1710, take the shot!”
Emma takes her shot, a single bolt hits the winged creature heavily in the head. Dropping the creature and the hefted trooper down heavily onto the ground. Giving a little exhaled breath as the target drops she's already banking her rifle towards the next monster, the flickering firelights and blaster bolt glow deflecting off the white armor. Pyre and the beast that was carrying him off into the air fall from somewhere in the vicinity of fifteen feet in the air, the Flametrooper dropping to land on his side painfully on the hard stone floor, the beast that was attacking him drifting and crashing into the green river waters. Above the Stormtroopers, five of the flaming monsters remain, fluttering around wailing in pain, the flames that coat and burn their body turning them into bright, flaming targets.
And then a small, highly maneuverable TIE fighter slides into the cavern from above. Gliding to almost a hover, it pauses, the pilot and gunner assessing the situation below. Then Fuze's crisp voice comes over comms: "Fire in the hole." And laser blasts burst from the cannons, the twin forward-firing fixed mounts and the rear gunner-controlled turret, searing white-blue pairs of bolts fizzing through the air and impacting their targets. She's drifting perilously close to the cavern walls, though.
After checking on Foil, DZ-1141 flags him as unconscious before the sound of Pyre crashing onto the hard stone floor has her moving again, this time crouching beside Pyre as she hears the sudden sound of the approaching TIE fighter. The warning, both timely and apt, has her angling away from the advancing TIE fighter, trusting her armor to shield her against any weapons fire that may rebound off of the bloody things. Getting up from the ground with a jolt, FL-5114 gasps. He's awake. He's alive.
He's in a LOT OF PAIN.
But FL-5114 is alive. Looking around, his breath echoing loudly in his cracked helmet, the dazed trooper looks up. Things on fire. Enemies. So much pain in his shoulders... But he has a debt to pay. Growling through his damaged vocoder, FL-5114 intones gravely, "Not today," and fires. Straight through the beast's heart and out the other side. Grunting, FL-5114 starts to haul himself onto his feet against all odds.
Pyre crashes to the stone walkway in a heap, a groan rolling over the comms followed by a hacking cough and a sound of spitting. Then the words, "Fucking birds. Spitting up blood here," As Dozer comes running over to his aid, Pyre is struggling up to his feet, the chest plate of his armor torn in great jagged tears, blood leaking and pouring down over the white armor. "I'm alright, I'm alright," he assures Dozer as he lifts his flamestick and goes looking for something to burn, watching the birds flying around in the sky. It is clear from his movements, however, that he is not fine, and he ends up leaning against the wall to watch, his flamethrower held before him in case any of the beasts come in to attack his comrades.
As the TIE comes screeching down the near vertical drop far down into the cavern containing the bubbling green acidic river, a few strange sights might greet the pilot's eyes unless she had been listening in on the comms. Five of the flying beasts that had almost killed her days ago flap about the dark cavern, their flesh on fire and crackling as they emit pained cries about the cavern below. The Stormtroopers left standing scramble to attack or check on their fallen comrades. As the TIE opens fire, alongside Foil and Emma, three of the five living torches are shot from the air and circle slowly to crash into the cavern floor. Two remain.
After that early close call with a stalactite, Fuze's TIE fighter drops downwards into the abyss, plummetting like a stone to get into the action. Her gunner neatly explodes one winged beastie with a well-placed shot to center mass that explodes the creature into a gory shower of burning flesh, and Fuze's hands drift expertly over the controls as she brings the craft to a hover to give her gunner a better shot at another of the things. Then she glances sideways to check on clearances. Shit. This is below the overhang, where she was lately dangling on a monofilament wire with her belly and shoulders being shredded by claws, where she was eviscerated, where without Hela she would have died...
Sweat is suddenly trickling down into her eyes underneath the bulbous TIE pilot's helmet, and for a moment she freezes. "Fuze?" mutters her gunner, cranking the turret round but unable to get a good lock on the next target. The TIE fighter remains fixed in space, twin ion engines whining. But she isn't going anywhere in a hurry. Her mouth opens, but no sound comes out, and she's suddenly gasping for breath.
Pyre is leaning against the wall and watching as the TIE stalls above. He looks out as the flaming beasts fly about and he hears that questioning tone in her Gunner's voice. "Fuze," he says into his comms, "Lock it in." The remaining beasts are far out of his flamethrower's reach, and he can only watch as the others take care of cleanup.
When he fires the deadly shot, FL-5114 can't help but cry out in agony. His shoulders are shot. He's moving on pure adrenaline now. The rifle drops from the recoil, but he holds onto it and starts to walk forward. Leg crushed by a Rancor? Whatever. Shoulders crushed by a firething? So what? Shuffling forward a few steps, the battered pinktrooper whips the rifle up again on pure willpower, shooting from the hip at the creatures above, growling, "Come get some…" I t's the darkness that most of all gets her. Not the friendly, welcoming darkness of space. That is her friend. No, Fuze's mind can only comprehend the millions of tons of rock above and around and below her, smothering her flight, ready to crush her should she do anything wrong. She draws a rasping breath and steadies herself, blinking sweat and tears from her eyes. "I got it. Minor malfunction cleared." Of the pilot, not the craft. Her fingers kiss the controls and the craft suddenly accelerates towards the final beastie, but Hammer's shot gets there first and she aborts the attack run, circling almost on a dime as her scanners survey the area.
Hammer knew that turning on the light would be good or bad. So he sent the squad ahead while he triggered events. And he has spent the last few minuts dodging and rolling around. He twists and turns, stayiing ahead of beaks and claws. He gives orders.. mostly about shooting more and faster with lots of DakkaDakkaPewPew. For quite some time, all he can do is stay alive and trust in training and orders. Until he has a clear shot at the last of the beasts. A quick snapshot. Inside his armor, he is panting. After that, he stands up. A quick breath. "Everyone, report in." Pant pant pant pant.
Pyre is still leaned against the wall of the cavern that sparkles in the green lighting and the dull orange glow of the still smoldering corpses of the beasts. "PR-3742, present and accounted for. I took a bad hit and am bleeding pretty good, but I'll make it.”
Using the scanner from the kit at her side, DZ-1141 checks over PR-3742 before stowing it again, "DZ-1141," identifying herself, "and his armor is helping apply pressure to the wounds, he'll need a medic at the evac point."
And then the creatures are dead. And FL-5114 looks around... There's nothing to keep his adrenaline going, nothing to keep him fighting... So FL-5114 simply collapses in a heap. He's done. Out.
The flaming corpses littering the walkway at various intervals do serve a purpose that the four swivel light cannons on the lift could have shown. The walk way seems to lead on about one hundred yards along the side of the river, and then there at the end there appears to be an entrance to a cave, a fierce glow that seems to be far brighter than that of the rushing river.
"FZ-4792, A-OK," comes Fuze's terse voice on comms. The TIE fighter glides lower until its panels are almost brushing the water, her multispectral imager displaying on the HUD the representations of the walls of the cave. She has it locked down now, bottled up inside her. Until the next time.
HM-8668 is on his feet and moving in seconds. He gives orders, "Emma, Rika, Uzi. Back security. Kill anything that is not us. Everyone else, with me." Hammer reorganizes on the fly. "Fuze, cover our asses and I will handpaint your fighter." And with that, the veteran trooper moves past the burning bodies to the cavern. "Foil. On my right. Dozer, Pyre on my left. Roll out left through the cavern.. move!"
"Looks like all of this may have been worth it after all," DZ-1141 remarks as she square away the medpac and rises to her feet. "Mind the 'river'," she warns, in case anyone missed that, "there's some manner of a cave, and a possibly a light coming from back there," she gestures forward and extends one hand toward Pyre, "Come on, no sitting down on the job." Stormtrooper FL-5114 immediately moves to do the opposite of HM-8668's command, instead defying orders and staying where he is. Because he's on the ground. Unconscious. With two crushed shoulders. Ow.
"Not sitting down," Pyre grunts, it is clear from his tone that the big man is pissed off at having had his chest torn open by the "fucking bird" but he shoves off the wall nonetheless and moves into position, the igniter of his flamethrower snapping again and sending the fierce pilot flame burning as he follows the rest toward the cavern.
As the Stormtroopers move along the walkway, they can tell that the cavern within positively radiates that green light. Upon crossing under the stone walkway, they find themselves stepping into some form of shrine. Glowing green lichen grows up the stone walls which glitter in the pulsing emerald light. The lichen grows along the walls and then across the ceiling, creating almost a dome like feeling that with each pulse makes the Troops feel like the room closes in on them, only to recede. Primitive drawings, symbols, and paintings are scrawled across the stone surface beneath the lichen and in the very center of the room is what looks like a large shrine. A simple stone crescent reminiscent of a moon with a perfect sphere made of the same sparkling rock as the cave walls compose the bulk of the shrine, many religious carvings in the stone. Atop this rests a burnished golden plate that has a large square in the center.
HM-8668 ignores Foil's Goldbricking malfeasance. He move in to examine the shrine area. "Dozer, Pyre, cover me." Hammer makes a circuit of the room and then checks over the alter. "Better me than the rest of you.. If the worst happens, Dozer, extract the team. Jophie will know what to do." With that, Hammer presses the large square.
FZ-4792's TIE hovers just outside the cavern, amazingly still - she's good, really good. Or she has the autopilot on, one of the two. She's selected a plasma torpodo, and it's targeted at the apex of the arched entrance to the cave. If things go south, she's fully intending on bringing the cave entrance down to bury whatever may be inside. But that's just as a last resort, right? Right.
"Presuming that the cavern doesn't explode when you cross the threshold," DZ-1141 cautions in a low voice over the channel as they advance forward. "Make sure that the what ever it is over there that's at the center of all this green glowing crap isn't wired to go up with a boom if you move it. Jedi may be all about hand holding and meditating on droplets of water about inner peace but they're equally technologically advanced to make stuff go boom, as needed." This said, she does keep her eyes on the room at large and HM-8668's progress.
The heavy golden square makes a grating sound and then a heavy clunking sound as Hammer compresses the switch. The small cave begins to rumble beneath their feet, the room around them starting to shake, a vibration that can be seen by Fuze in her fighter outside the arch. The vibration seems to be building, rising to a crescendo, and then all at once you notice that it is created by a deep and unmistakably primal hum. The green glow of the lichen that clings to the walls and ceiling ceases to pulse, the emerald green light growing brighter... and brighter.. building to a blinding white light that fills the room and pours out of the cavern, and then it just.... stops. The cavern seemingly transformed from the black glittering rock to reflecting a myriad of colors in the suddenly white as snow cavern. The light seems to converge before Hammer, above the shrine and with a swirling of lights, what is unmistakably a star map materializes.
HM-8668 drops to a knee, raising his blaster to his shoulder. He waits, ready to roll left or right. And.. instead, a star chart appars. Hammer is silent for a few seoonds. Perhaps empty. Perhaps awed by it all. He is, at his heart, the consummate soldier. All this for a map. A map!?! Professionalism takes over. "Finalizer Command, this is Besh Dorn Six. We have eliminated hostile locals. Recording information. A star chart of some sort." Hammer indicates for the squad to record the chart. Under his breath, "This had better be worth it.”
"Image the walls, the map from a full circumference of the map, measure the linear distance from the images in relation to the pedestal and the map itself," DZ-1141 says as she takes out a field camera from one of her pockets and begins taking those images in a methodical manner, measuring each one accordingly. People who handle explosives for a living are a trifle OCD in all aspects of their lives, this being a fine example of that being handy when not blowing stuff up.
Having followed Hammer and the rest into the cavern, Pyre's eyes widen beneath his helmet as the room begins to throb and glow with that bright white light. His hands grasp his flamethrower and he lifts it higher, expecting some sort of trouble, and when none arrives, he can only shake his head and says, "Well..." He glances upward, eyeing the room with a new respect as he glances back out of the cavern toward where Fuze's TIE hangs in midair. "I wasn't expecting to find this.”
Outside, Fuze sits patient as a waiting spider, her TIE fighter's engines whining steadily as the water rushes beneath her. Her fingers are still hovering over the firing stud, her face expressionless.
