Log:New Republic: Raiding Rangers

Raiding Rangers

OOC Date: February 10, 2021
Location: Munto Codru
Participants: Ambrosia Greystorm(GM), Callax Dalso, K-5Z9, Jinx, Wrrlryyhn, Perlemian Rangers

The view would be astounding from up here, if not for the mists. Rolling waves of low-lying clouds ride the air currents up, up, and away from the ravines and valleys between every rocky spire the eye can see.

Which, presently, isn't very far.

Flashes of red and arcs of blue still permeate the humid haze from afar and above, reminding all that even in the most remote of locations, the hazards of war remain a clear and present danger. But that's why they?ve come, these Rangers. Every act of surveillance, of sabotage, of delicately targeted destruction could turn the tide of this battle for Munto Codru soil and souls.

Even if the local populace is keen to see /all/ foreign powers leave.

If there's any good that comes from the dampness hanging in the air up here, it's that the temperature is balmy, pleasant. Does it make up for the aggresively steep terrain and dense treeline creating obstacles for their ascent? Likely not. At least it appears (for any sneaking ahead of the lumbering vehicles) that the intelligence acquired has been reliable. There is, in fact, a First Order presence present, but it doesn't appear to be 'moderate' at all, save for the anti-aircraft artillery stations along the fence. Two of the three speeder trucks are missing.

Is anyone home?

Oh, wait. There's a lone trooper, black pauldron, just emerged from that speeder truck. As they walk toward the decaying rear gate of the building, another comes out to meet them, pauldron capped in white. Words are being had, presumably, so say the occasional hand gesture and glance around. White pauldron appears to be doing most of the talking, black pauldron most of the listening.

In the years since Callax Dalso has joined the cause of militant anti-slavery, they have been involved in many raids and ambushes; terrorists are like that, after all, coming out of the trees and opening fire on hapless soldiery, slaver caravans and the like to ensure that the only feet moving after are those immediately free of shackles and restraining bolts. Assaulting a lightly defended base should be, in theory, very similar. But on the other hand, this is the First Order, not planetary security or slaver guards. Callax knows very well that even lightly defended, these people aren't to be fooled about with. Which is why Callax sits in a speeder truck's cargo box, plated in power-assisted armor with two droids and a very burly Wookiee, whilst the other parked nearby awaits with another squad within. Ahead of them, moving through the trees, seven sharpshooters have spread out, armed with heavy rifles or carbines; they come creeping up toward the little fort, while Callax sits listening to spurts of coded transmissions shooting down from there, their progress coming over helmet comms and singing in their ears.

<< Commander, Aurek here. We're getting into position. Looks like...two of the trucks are gone. We see very few troops here. Looks like a commanding officer and another Stormie are talking up the way. >>

<< Acknowledged. >> Callax draws a deep breath trying to imagine the picture in their mind. << You know the drill, Aurek. Slot the officers first if you can, then get moving so they can't pin you down after the first couple salvos. We want them to keep guessing so we can move up and hit them while they aren't looking. >>

<< Acknowledged. We're on it. >>

Droids and living beings moving together, one unit, heavily armed. If it weren't such a throwback, it might be considered admirable. But the Rangers aren't admirable. They're going to play to win. Hard and dirty as they have to be. >>

Kayfive cared not for the weather. STormies died just the same when you shot them enough. Her position sticking up through a hole in the armor plating was a bit strange, legs splayed at odd angles to maglock onto the vehicle's internal bracing. But she could rest her bipod on the top of the chassis, and that's what mattered.

As the truck trundle along, a small shape breaks away, disappearing into the underbrush as the small seeker droid makes her way up towards the enemy lines, staying in the foliage as best she can. Unfortunately, the branches are a bit more dense and hard to fly through than intended, meaning she's shaking a few branches audibly as she moves, trying to stealthily move into an observation post. Or if she can get closer to a computer port, perhaps she can cause some trouble.

Wrrlryyhn sits in the truck with the others. The moisture played havoc with her fur, as it tufted and curled, from where it stock out of her armor. As they waited, she rechecked her weapons. As usual, she bristled with them, in addition to her bow caster, a ryk blade, and spear. But this time, on her belt with her droid, she carried a med pack. That was new. This too she checked.

"It doesn't matter /why/" the black pauldron says to their subordinate and gestures with their rifle to the gate. "Orders remain as they are and so will we. Now get ins--"

The other stormtrooper holds up a hand, the abrupt nature of it silencing their superior for a precious moment of listening time. "D'you hear that?" The expressionless visor swivels to look vaguely in Jinx's direction, carbine at the ready.

Their comrade turns quickly around to assess...."Probably just the bats." And indeed, there are many such creatures nesting in the trees, chattering away. In fact, one gives a lazy swoop and flutter now after being disturbed by the droid's sneaky approach.

"I don't know..." White pauldron admits, continuing to stare.

"We've got movement, 10 o'clock," another voice buzzes into their ears. Somewhere in the upper levels of this teetering tower of doom, a pair of binocs have spied the approaching company. "Thermals picked up a few outliers but might just be the atmosphere muckin with the sensors again. Definite motion though. Vehicular, count one..two on approach."

"Copy, JB427. Fence is online." The pair jogs forward to take shelter behind the hood of their truck, eyes on the fence, back to back. Two troopers on the tarmac. If this is the fireteam assigned to this depot, then the Order must be hurtin for hired help.

<< Commander, I think they've made us! >>

These words from Aurek cause Callax to turn and bang on the back of the cargo box, calling out 'MOVE!' over the net. As the speeder lurches forward at speed and the other moves with them, Callax begins barking orders. << Aurek, target any troopers you can see and open fire. We're going to charge the fence and commence the raid. >>

<< Aye, sir, >> comes the voice of Aurek's commander. << Searching for targets now. >>

What happens next happens very fast, and all at once. As the speeders hammer for the fence, a lethal hail of blaster fire erupts from the trees; rifle fire pelts the upper window of the tower, making a crater of where the would-be spotter was betrayed by a slight glint of visorglass. The Sergeant among the troopers, squatting behind the hood of the speeder truck with their commander, takes a well-aimed shot to the helmet that turns their head into a gory canoe. And while this is happening, the speeders hit the fence - smashing it down amidst the buzzing of servoes and whatever electrification might have been applied, totally useless now as the vehicles burst through the cordon and begin disgorging their raiders. Callax makes immediately for the first of the three AA towers, the can-sized cylinder of a proton charge detaching from their armored side and being planted against the side of the emplacement tower via mag-clamp as the others open up on whoever's left, setting the plunger in one smooth motion. << Get in that tower and clear it out, >> Callax bellows. << I have a feeling those other trucks will be back - we want to get these towers down for the Rogues as soon as possible! >>

Kayfive pulls the appropriated blast helmet a bit lower over her head as the speeder's engines thrum louder. Most of what's sticking up right now is her head, and she'd really rather not lose that. As they're about to hit the fence, she lets out a yell, vocabulator distorting with volume, and holds the trigger down while walking fire from left to right. The T-21 roars, the stream of fire perforating a parked speeder which clangs to the ground as its repulsors are destroyed, before rather messily shredding the Lieutenant. Leaping out of her 'murder hole' as the speeder crunches to a stop, Kayfive charges into battle. <<Copy, Heading for the tower.>>

Jinx stops where she is as the soldiers look her way, freezing, her optics focusing on them then scanning over the buildings ahead, before transmits to the HUDs of the Ranger force as it smashes through the fence. <Fence is powered. Officer and trooper at gate. Sniper position eight o'clock, third story...oh, you see him.> she notes as the blaze of blaster fire from the snipers blows apart the window and the officer taking position inside. The unfortunate bat and the arrival of the main Ranger force at least provide a distraction, as Jinx prepares to move closer to the fence line, looking for a safe moment to float over it quickly, then slipping deeper into the base.

Wrrlryyhn keeps a low profile in the truck as barrels through the fence. Once in the yard, she leaps out of the back, pulling her bow caster from her back. Following Kay's charge, the Wookiee heads into the tower. She stays just behind the droid as they storm within.

The initial breach is as swift as it is brutal and both First Order officers are reduced to shreds before they can fully register they've been left here to die. A series of sniper shots pelt the 2nd and 3rd story windows, punishing the old stone with more abuse than nature has dealt it in half a century. One armored corpse topples from the second level and lands with a meaty thwack in some crippled shrubbery. Another visibly crumples as viewed through the firing scope. For every body seen spotting out the windows though, there was a backup body sitting at the ready to await his or her turn.

Two more bucketheads pop up to return fire. One very nearly succeeds after tracking Callax's sprint across tarmac for the AA emplacement. Alas, the lethal bolt slams into a bit of fencing rather than flesh. Their comrade is having greater difficulties though, crying out in frustration when the rifle does...absolutely nothing in response to trigger pulled. All's left to do now is duck and crawl across the pitted, half collapse floor to try and retrieve a dead fellow's weapon, instead.

Those storming the castle will find that the rear gate has not been locked back and it's more easily brushed aside than the fence! A hoversled lingers in the entry corridor there, one strap hanging from the bed. Work lights have been rigged every 4-5 meters to illuminate the tomblike aesthetic of this abandoned castle-turned supply depot, leading them inward. It?s about what you?d expect - damp, musty, in danger of collapse. Vines and other epiphytic/parasitic vegetation has crept several meters into the structure, having had many centuries to penetrate the weathered stones. The vaccuous foyer is full of drafts and ominous echoes, a modest stack of crates, and ... not much else. seventy degrees 'round from their entered position is a set of precariously winding steps that lead upward.

Free to kick the gate in, Kayfive proceeds with her T-21 raised and panning around. A quick burst of binary is transmitted to Jinx, the larger droid gesturing towards a crate. <<It's leaking some kind of black powder. You check it for traps, you're less likely to set it off.>> Turning, she put a bolt through the holocam observing the room and moved to cover the stairs.

While the assault force does its work, headed up by Kayfive, the marksmen split their efforts between overwatch and opening fire on the spotters up above. The two who attempted to take shots at Callax are met by withering heavy rifle fire from the K4 units, possingly departing their armored mortal coils from the blasts that explosively dislodge the masonry behind which they crouch.

As for Callax, the armored Ranger commander sets another charge on the second AA tower - espying part of a surveillance drone that some enterprising Stormtrooper has stripped down and affixed to the top of the turret. << Make sure to get my good side, darling, >> Callax chimes, then heads off to set the last. << Second charge set. One more left, Rangers, now let's clear this tower and be careful in there. >>

Jinx slips through the boxes littering the big room, her sensor dome twitching back and forth as she scans over multiple directions at once. And then, an anomaly. She pauses, then sends an alert, highlighting the box in question as a possible improvised explosive, before driving over to land and skittering over quietly like a little spider, before cautiously climbing the box side so she can get her manipulator in at the trigger mechanism. A snip and a slide, and she slips them back out, the explosive disarmed for the moment. <Alert: booby traps present. One disarmed.>

Munto Codru's ancient castles have seen their share of ill deeds done, so whatever spirits linger here are not likely shocked by the bloody turn of events. All is quiet. All is still.

The rigged crate does not get to fulfill its destiny of turning rebel thieves to pink mist, thanks to the little Seeker's manipulative manipulator. And, thanks to K-5's T-21, the watchers watching this drama unfolding through that little spy cam are no longer able to do so. Things are progressing swimmingly for the raiding party, even if the anticipated haul-to-be is much smaller than the intelligence report indicated it would be.

Hmmm.

On the second level, there is no one left alive to blast K-5 back down those steps. Just a few bodies strewn about with grievous holes melted through their armor and faces. There is a desk, however, with a portable computer terminal and com line.

Advancing up the stairs, Kayfive keeps her doors and corners well covered with the T-21. <<"boop. too beep click, too *cackle* click too beep beep beep.">> She gestures towards the terminal in question with one hand, before taking up a position that covers the stairs. Slightest hint of anyone coming down and they'll have their legs taken off at the knees. <<Level 2 clear. Jinx is slicing enemy systems.>>

Jinx chirps at Kayfive as she slips out of cover, moving over to the terminal as she rests on it, spidery legs balancing her as she extends an interface and plugs into the computer system, spinning it back and forth as data starts to stream across the screen. <Enemy forces were alerted to this cache being compromised. Com log refers to a 'J' but no additional data. Republic agent was spotted meeting with local militia. Cache likely relocated. Searching for new coordinates...> she transmits, seeing if there's any sign of where the cache might have moved to left behind in the buffers.

Fraggin' bats. Callax isn't dealing with this, and they aren't going to deal with wasting a charge on a turret assembly that's already laden with ready-made fuel. Drawing the flame rifle from the mag-mount on their back, they squeeze off a long burst of violent green flame, a blast of plasmic balefire that washes over the turret, the tree, the hissing bat-creatures in its branches. Now a terrifying bonfire has started, and Callax moves on. << Third turret is dealt with, >> they report. << What's the situation in there? >>

Lo...there is something in the mist.

Far below the castle's walls, shadows are shifting through the trees. Ghosts? Vengeful spirits? They multiply as they advance, creeping ever nearer, a slow and steady swarm up all side of this peak. And in addition? A low hum...a bigger shape. Two bigger shapes. Moving fast.

By the time the Rangers' overwatch catches on, the larger mystery shapes are easily identified as the missing speeder trucks. They're baaaaaaaaack. With friends.

<> The sudden chatter on the tacnet draws Kayfive's attention. <<Right after I give the reinforcements something to think about.>> Bracing her bipod on the windowsill Kayfive puts a burst into the lead speeder truck, a shower of sparks trailing behind it and one side starting to sag. <<Advancing upstairs now.>> If she had a mouth, she'd be grinning.

<Data not found. Relocating to AA gun, east side. I will try to redirect its fire to incoming reinforcements. Please don't blow me up.> The little droid burbles at Kayfive in passing, leaving the intrusion to the bigger droid as she flies out the broken window lands on the wall outside, skittering up to the roof and one of the still functional AA guns. There, she pops open a panel and extends her interface again, linking in as she begins telling the AA gun that that is not an incoming speeder truck, it is a very low flying Y-wing that needs to go away.

And here they come. << Aurek, >> Callax bellows, rushing to cover with the flame rifle in their hands, << Turn your guns on those speeders, /now/! Besh, let Kayfive and Jinx do their job. Get in position around the windows and pour fire on these humps until they stop bloody moving. Now! >> As for Callax themselves, the armored soldier hunkers down, finger on the trigger and checking the charge of the plasma tank affixed to the rifle - ready to bathe any speeder approaching in the cleansing green flame, perhaps to set it off before any troopers can dismount to meet them...

The AA that Jinx has been coaxing into cooperation is experiencing an override of its commands. The motion-activated aim skyward is temporarily suspended, enabling its new operator to select a new angle and direction for it to fire those big guns.

Both speeder trucks come under fire as they plow through the thinning treeline toward that perimeter breach. One has acquired some new ventilation, thanks to a burst from K-5 and has lost its turret. A sneaky *pew* from one of the sharp shooters hidden in the trees puts a giant hole through the chest of one of its occupants just a heartbeat later. The other truck is slammed with bursts from other droids' A280s, but continues to barrel along and return a volley of fire, for their troubles.

Meanwhile, the shadows are not far behind, rising up in formations to surround the castle's base. The first wave is just 20 meters away and closing, spurred on by the staccato of heavy blasterfire.

Advancing up to Level 3, Kayfive begins to sweep and clear while avoiding the holes and weaker spots in the floor. The signal repeater, when located, recieves a good kicking followed by a blaster bolt to its center for good measure. <<Enemy comms infrastructure neutralized. Advancing to Level Four.>>

The AA turret rotates, lowering its multibarrels downwards as it clocks into place before it thunders to life, sending large bolts of energy raining down into the general area around the incoming troops and blowing large craters out of the ground as Jinx walks fire up the road over the oncoming forces.

The incoming trucks continue to take withering fire from the troopers in the trees, joined now by the assault party taking up defensive positions in the windows; a horde of crimson light pours down upon the marching footsoldiers like red rain, striking down many of their number. Meanwhile, Jinx adds her own music to the symphony of death sparked up, blazing away at the incoming transports with the rotary cannon.

It's up to Callax to start the chorus - which they do with the flame rifle, popping up from behind cover to gush a tongue of greasy green flame into the perforated cabin of the more damaged of the two speeders. Screaming through their helmets, the voices of the burning Stormtroopers lifts into the air, a horrible cascade of misery...

Callax smoothly lifts the rifle toward the next batch, prepared to expand the chorus even still.

KA-CHOO! KA-CHOO!

The anti-aircraft turret is turned against much smaller targets than it typically handles, meaning the destruction is just that much more of a sight to behold. The first volley blasts bits of dirt, fern, and crumbling stone wall into a smoky shower of grit, dangerously near to where the still-functional truck is mounting onto even ground. A few soldiers leap for their lives, even as the driver makes a sharp change in course, but it's too late to save the truck because that second volley....

Shattered pieces of armored plating explode outward as the thing's reduced to a fireball. To compliment the inferno nextdoor, naturally.

While bodies - some more broken than others - tumble out of the way of the wreck, the First Order's assault troopers are mounding the hill and returning fire as those still standing rush through the gaps in their perimeter. "Concentrate fire on that gun!" One of them barks over comm and so two of them do. Behind them, more rising shadows are emerging from the denser green, into the open, stepping over the bodies of their fallen as they go.

As the hail of blaster slams into the casing of the AA gun, Jinx tries to make herself as small as possible as bits of molten metal spin through the air around her. Even then, the big gun keeps tracking, the blasts returning back down their original path to pass through where the remaining stormtroopers are charging towards the Ranger forces, geysers of permacrete and dirt shooting into the air along with bits of jungle plants being vaporized. Alas, they're now too close to continue targeting...and Jinx disconnects, chirping to herself And then she hightails it out of there to find a good cover position to avoid the explosions!

There's just too many of them, too many to risk the rest of the platoon - this is a raid, not a purging action. << All right, >> Callax calls over comms. << Rangers, we are /leaving/! Aurek, suppress the troops and fade back into the trees, we'll pick you up on the way out. Besh, Kayfive, Jinx, get on board the speeders and let's get the hell out of here. I've set the charges and we'll clear this place on the way out. >> Meanwhile, Callax lets loose with the flamer, another gush of glowing green fire pouring out across the misty field - and despite the wetness of the vegetation superheated plasma burns all things in its wake. Up and backing away, it's now a fighting withdrawal and exfiltration.

With the retreat order given, Kayfive puts one last burst downrange before heading for the stairs. About halfway down one crumbles under the weight of 150 kilos of charging droid, sending her clattering down onto level two. Fortunately, the T-21 is not scratched. SHoulder charging the already weakened door off its hinges, Kayfive leaps back onto the speeder, laying down some more suppressing fire that actually has the stormies hitting the deck this time. <<"On board! Hit it!">> Trails of smoke start rising from the cooling jacket of the T-21, paint starting to blister under the heat. Fortunately, she has metal hands.

Jinx chirps twice and puts on the speed, weaving back and forth as she moves low across the ground, making herself a harder target. As Kayfive reaches the vehicle Jinx catches up and latches onto her back like a backpack as she folds herself into place, burbling over her shoulder. "*cackle* click, click beep *cackle* too click." Wasaka (21433) repeats after Jinx, "Oh good, you didn't melt your rifle."

Between the intermittant streams of repeater fire, FWOOOSHes of flamer, and more conventional forms of cover fire, the Ranger's retreat is well covered! They leave behind a scene of carnage where the only stormtroopers presently still alive are keeping low, firing with greater speed but less precision at their withdrawing enemy. In spite of their casualties, in spite of the irreparable damage done to this old, historic site, their mission was a success, insofar as repelling a band of thieves. They may think differently when they realize that their communication logs have been oggled, inside, if the explosive charges don't detonate first, but for now the Captain (who lays in three separate pieces) would be satisfied.

Satisfaction must also be felt on the Republic's end of business, too, for even though there were no goodies worth taking /here/, they did manage to make off with coordinates for a second attempt. Also, they've exposed a troubling truth - there's a mole somewhere in the pipeline. Civil militia? Other civilians? Republic agents? A certain General might have choice words to say about it all.

A few stray blaster bolts chase the tail end of their getaway trucks, shooters unaware of just how few moments they have left on this world. The one or two that were bringing up the rear might be grateful for their windedness and sub par fitness as it spares their lives when those charges detonate in unison and shake a relic of masonry to its foundation.