posted February 18, 2001 11:57 PM              

30 minutes later

As squad 2 arrived,the battle was still going on. "I guess we are reenforments this time eh Japer" said Kahjorn

"I guess your right this time." said japer

Then squad 2 advanced up with the other troopers." Japer! Flank off the left side!"yelled Cosmic.

So Japers squad ran over and started defending the main strike force. It was about five minutes in the battle when even more pirates came from behind some weird looking building."Ok guys we need alot of courage. This is going to be really hard."

Japer motined for squad 4 to follow him. So squad 2 and 4 moved around the building behind the pirates. "Ok when I give you the fist come out behind the building and blow these pirate scum to pieces!"

Japer came out from behind the building and hollerd" HEY! Hold up dont shoot. I surender."

Japer threw down his rifle and got the pirates off their guard. He raised a fist and then the rest of squad 2 and squad 4 ran out and attacked the pirates. " Exelent plan Japer" said Seth

"This is just one win of many. We need alot more of this to win this war...

posted February 19, 2001 12:34 PM               

The two men didn't have on the standard Stormtrooper gear. They did, however, have blasters held across their laps.

As Kahl was slowly drawing his blade, another man popped out of the tent; it was Wapo this time. This didn't slow Kahl from drawing his blade though, in fact, he didn't stop till he heard one of the two men speak up, "So, when's Kahl supposed to back?" said a familiar voice.

Kahl came into view of the two men and said, "Right about... now." Kahl smiled as the two men stood, "Long time no see, Tarkin, Raistlin. I thought you guys were still trainees?"

Raistlin spoke up, "We still are, hence the uniforms, but we were sent down here to continue our training so we thought we'd stop by and say hello."
"Yes, but we weren't supposed to come here," Tarkin said, then broke out into laughter, "They're probably still expecting us... wherever we're supposed to be, I forget."

Wapo waved to Kahl, "Hey, welcome back... so how'd it go? What did you do, exactly? Can we expect a regiment of troopers to be here anytime soon?" Elwapo grinned, hefting his blaster, "I sure hope not, I'm still resting."
Kahl brushed a hand through his blonde hair, a vigilante strand had fallen in front of his eyes, "Well, I paid a visit to Commander Anakin: Apearantly, he gave the order to kill the civilians. I had a brisk chat with him, he seems like a rather nice fellow, I'll have to invite him over to our camp for tea sometime... if we're still here, that is."
Wapo frowned and looked around cautiously, "So you think they might attack us?"
A smile cracked on Kahl's face, "It's a possibility, but I doubt it. They'll probably have me watched, and they'll probably be watching you too, Wapo, but that's not of importance. Those that are watching us probably can't fly anyways."

"Why would they need to be capable of flying in order to watch us, Kahl?" asked Wapo.

"Well, I'll explain that in a moment, for now I'm going to need some things," Kahl motioned towards Raistlin, "I need you to get me a map of this planet, more specifically, a map of all the locations of supply depots, communication towers, and transports." Kahl then motioned towards Tarkin, "I want you, to get a map of this system, with all the Imperial ships and locations mapped, and also a map of this sector in space... see if there's one for the 'Reis' system, if there is, see if there's any files on it telling about Imperial presance."

posted February 19, 2001 12:37 PM               

SGT Cosmic lay on a small bed. His armor was taken off so that he wouldn't have to struggle with the extra weight. His arm was throbbing, but he took some bacta about ten minutes ago.

He stared around, lights were shining brightly above him. He looked around the room some more, some test tubes and such...needles too.

He hated this throbbing pain! He knew for certain that it was going to be at least four days before he could go back into the heat of battle with his blasted arm.

He stared at this arm...a bacta strap was on it to control and stop any bleeding and destroy any pain remaining.

His bed was in a sit-up position. A button on the side of the bed called for a nurse. He wondered if he'll live through the war...pirates, wounded soldiers...dead civilians...dead children and women...all the nightmares he could want for a lifetime was staring at him in the face.

His armor was no where in site...Probably in the repairing and cleaning room. Thought Cosmic.

A little TV was in front of him. He grabbed the remote and flipped it on...channel 1...channel 2...ah! Nothing on!

He didn't want to watch TV anyhow, not while his friends were out there, trying to win this war while he sat in bed.

He wondered how the rest of squad 2 was doing...they were pretty low on ammo the last time he was there. He was pretty sure the EIH base sent a little squad of troopers to asssist in the endeavor.

He could picture it...Red blood armor with heavy blasters, firing at anything that moved...troopers in white armor (armor of terrror) fired counter attacks.
Dead soldiers and pirates on the ground.

He shook his head as he thought.
War is not good for anything. You fight, you get injured, and if you're lucky, you don't die. Loved ones and friends are fighting for their homes and families. People die every second, just to have a small victory. War is pointless...all you have in the end is sadness from the casualties that you have lost.

Cosmic wondered how Anakin, Kahljorn, and Fury were doing...he knew that the soldiers he was with were privates and were pretty scared.
THey've never seen war in the eye before...He knew how they felt.

But all he could do right now was just not to sulk and feel sorry for himself...only hope for the best for his mates until his arm was better....

posted February 19, 2001 01:01 PM               

Seth parked his speederbike, gave his blaster one quick check before entering the enemy base.

This would be the third time he came back here since the war started. He hated killing marathons actually.

Wraith Squad filled into the base, scanning for anything that is of interest. A trooper tapped Seth shoulder and pointed towards a door with many sounds coming from it. The Infantry's barracks. Seth grinned maybe he hasnt finish catching pirates with their guards down. They should have known better. Wraith Squad quietly approached the door. Seth nodded to Mulat. 1...2...3...With one heavy heave, the 2 troopers crashed the door down.

Seth was to see yet another group with their pants down. Opening fire on them, the pirates were, obviously, caught surprised. But it was too late. Withing minutes, they lay all scattered on the floor. Seth breathe and disarmed all the pirates and ferreting for valuable information. Nothing. Seth shrugged and they filed out the narrow door again.

Later, they were joined by the Panthers who were fighting at another direction.

Seth said, 'Japer, found anything?'

'Nah. I think our biggest haul was from that secong commander.'

'I guess so actually. But letes' discover more of this base. We have only explored the right side of the base. Now tis time to check out what stuff the back has to offer.'

Japer grinned and nodded. Seth was soon to find one answer: Stupid pirates. They arent even trained to shoot properly. Why, just now a pirate was actually inan advantageous position than he is and that pirate fired.

And missed totally. Instead, he actually hit his own comrade behind Seth. Seth chuckled as he blasted down that pitiful pirate. Now they just have to cook up another wonderful scheme to round up those pirates, and victory was definately theirs.

Wraiths and Panthers managed to cover the entire back part, killing off the armed pirates, but letting the civilians go. There were actually quite many of them.

posted February 20, 2001 02:57 AM              

Then all of a sudden a pirate was running by when his hed flew off." JEEEZ I guess the VE has a sniper up here somewhere" said Japer

Then Seth pointed out to Japer that War Women was up on a roof of a building acting as a sniper.Japer fliped out his comnet" Hey War Women nice shot"said Japer

"Thanks Jap. Il be out of your squad for a while while im acting as a sniper."

" Ok tell me your werabouts in a while."

"Sure thing"

Japer and Seth ran in front of the rest of the 2 squads to get a better look at Zeus. They over heard that the pirates were going to invade the VE base in 6 hours. " We have to contact base now! yelled japer

Then Zeus looked down and saw Japer and Seth...

------------------
you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight

posted February 20, 2001 07:51 AM               

SGT Cosmic was receiving a last checkup of the arm.
He was sitting upright on his bed while the nurse took a look.
He had no shirt on and his red blood armor was hanging on the wall.

"Alright, Sergeant, you're all patched up! Good luck on the battlefield!"
Cosmic winked at the nurse.
"Thanks...I'll becareful. Hehe!"

He jumped off the bed and ran towards his armor...The laser blast hole had been repaired. His armor was as good as new.

He quickly put on his armor and ran outside.
Ah! Fresh air at last! He'd been couped up in that tent for four days straight! It was like the greatest thing, being outside!

He walked towards the main tent. He pushed away the flap of the tent and saluted as he walked in.
Anakin had heard of his blasted arm and had gone to visit Cosmic. Anakin was there now. He saluted Cosmic and smiled.

"Good to see you up and around, Cos. Lord knows we need another good soldier out there." He made a worried expression. "One with experiance."

Cosmic's expression changed from happy to curious.
"What's wrong?"
"Ah. We have plenty of soldiers to do the job, but they don't have any battlefield experiance. Some of them haven't even been in the test scenarios! This is a first-time thing for a lot of them."

Cosmic nodded. "I see. Well, if you get me out there, I promise I'll lead them to victory."
Anakin nodded.
"The thing is, Cos, is that we are losing more soldiers than killing. Because they're so inexperianced, they're dropping like flies."

Cosmic shook his head.
"Well, I'll get a vibro-blade and a heavy blaster and I'll go out there on a speederbike-"
"No!" Anakin cut him off. "You can take the weapons but do not use a speederbike. In your absence, Cos, the battle has become very tense. None of the soldiers, or very little of them, have speederbikes anymore...The heat of war has just begun to get wild. You'll be taking an armored mini-hovertank on your journey. A lot of the commanders have that now."

Cosmic nodded. He thought about not having the wind blowing on his face with his helmet off at 200 MPH. Even though he was disappointed, he obeyed.

"You think your well enough to go back into battle, Cos?" Asked Anakin.
"Yes, Ani. I'm pretty sure. I'm just worried about the privates and all. They're so...not ready. That's the best I can say."

Anakin nodded. "I know. Well, you must be off if you want to get some more pirate chop."
Cosmic nodded. He saluted. Anakin saluted back and Cosmic walked out of the tent.

He went to the armored vehicle tent and saw an engineer there.
The engineer saw Cosmic and quickly saluted. Cosmic returned the salute.

"What can I do for you, Sergeant?"
"I want to use a hovertank...Is there one available?"
"Yes. There's one more left. I'm afraid all of the other commanders have left with them. But here," he gave the starter keys to Cosmic. "This'll start it. Have you ever ridden in one of these before?"

Cosmic nodded. "I've had a little training with them in the simulaters. They ride nice."
"Indeed they do. You will think they ride lovely as soon as you go out on that battle field...ack! All that blood...all those bodies...Good luck, Sarge!" He gave a salute. Cosmic nodded and saluted back.

He climbed up on the hover tank and lifted the hatch. He climbed in and started the engine.

Wroooaomrm! The engine was like a huge truck! The hover vehicle slowly lifted off the ground as the engine whined to life.

Cosmic drove it out of the tent and headed back to where he used to lay....back where squad 2 was...

He knew that they had help from EIH squad in the previous battle so he had to kind of make a guess on where they'd be now. His plan was to go back to where he was, then see if he can find any clues to where they might be.

He was going back into war...this time fully loaded!

posted February 20, 2001 12:47 PM               

Seth didnt know how he did it, but with the help of Jep, he managed to crawl to another cargo box, cursing silently on being hit so many times. He painfully took out a bacta pack from his pack and placed it over his wound, and motioned Jep to continue to fight.

'Jep, I can take care of myself. Just ask WW to cover me.'

'Are you sure. That seems to be a nasty wound.'

'It aint that bad.' Seth said but winced again when the bacta acted on yet another part of the wound.

Jep said ,'I think I better radio for a trasport.'

Seth kept silent. The pain was too much for him to even mumble.

He faintly heard Jep radioing and smiled. First he rescued Cosmic, now he himself is being rescued.

Finally, he couldnt hold up much longer. That Zeus guy can shoot man.

---Base---
In no less than 1 hours later, Seth found himself back in Base on a wheeling stretcher. He tried to feel for his leg, but it felt numbled. They must have numbed it up. That explains the absence of pain.

He felt himself being wheeled into the operation room before losing concious... ...

---1 day later---
Seth woke up to find himself in a room decorated in white. He pulled off his covers to see a leg heeling up, but evident of having some hard times in the last 23 hours or so.

He flexed his leg: It seemed to be in perfect condition.

He was going to get out of bed, when a doctor came in. He said, 'great to see you up pal, but you aint leaving here yet.'

Anger shot up inside Seth's ; he badly wanted to return to the battlefield, to where his comrades are fighting for their honour.

'I'm not caring...AWWWWWWW!'

Seth was putting down his leg, when he felt the same old pain searing through his leg. He closed his eyes, trying to lessen the pain.

The doctorwent over to the bedside and said, 'I thikn you should understand by now.'

Seth nodded wordlessly. He laid back in his bed, taring up the ceiling, thinking how the scene would be like by now. Jep, his squad ... his comrades, fighting aginst the pirates .... under the name of Vast Empire.

Right now, Seth would have given anything to be with them.

posted February 20, 2001 03:27 PM               

Now was when the plans would begin, Kahl took a look around camp, Raistlin and Tarkin were asleep, they had probably been out late getting the things he had asked for. Wapo wasn't around...
As Kahl stood up, and whiped his eyes clean and stretched a bit, he noticed Wapo from a distance. As Wapo neared the camp he gave a wave, and walked to Kahl and spoke in a quiet voice, "Our ships are right where we left them, about half an hours walking distance."
Kahl nodded, and began to wake up Raist and Tarkin. After he noticed them relentlessly begining to awaken, he entered their tent.

The tent was a rather dislute place, nothing was there, really. Kahl and Wapo prefered to sleep outside, and all their supplies were out there as well. The only thing that littered the floors were a few maps, and what looked like a folder. Tarkin and Raistlin had found what he had asked for.

Kahl began to look over the maps, they were perfect. They had the locations of both the things he needed; supplies and the communications tower.
The system map of 'Reis' was also there, it was a mostly uninhabited system- the few persons who were there were miners, and maybe a historian or two. The only planet in the system that had been inhabited was deserted a decade ago. He was pleased to say there wasn't much- if any- imperial presance in the system.

As Wapo, Tarkin and Raistlin entered the tent, Kahl gave looks of thanks to Raist and Tarkin, then prepared to go over his plans, yet again.

"Alright," began Kahl, "Here's what we're going to do." Kahl spread the map of Loaith before them, and pulled a marker out, "You see these here?" Kahl began to circle three building scattered about the base, "These are basically supply depots, we're going to break into each one, individually, and take as many supplies as poosible. We have to be careful though, if necessary, just knock a man unconscious." Kahl knew they could all render a man helpless with just their fists, they were ex-pirates after all, "We are then going to approach this" kahl identified another structure about a quarter of a mile away from the base, "Comm tower, it keeps contact with the few ships orbiting this planet. We're going to make sure all of us leaving doesn't seem too suspiscious and make sure no one gives us away, I don't think we'd have much luck against any of those ships up there," everyone grinned. "I have a few thermal detonators in my bag, and if they don't do the trick we should find some explosives in the supply depots we raid."

"Now, after we've disbled the comm tower and stolen the supplies, you guys are going to flee to this transport with all the supplies," Kahl indicated where there should eb a few transports that ferried people and supplies to and fro the planet, "While I go to make contact with hte pirate's."
This was a part of the plan he had kept secret from them before, and Kahl could see the varying looks of surprise on their faces; Wapo looked like he had expected to be surprised, and maybe even thoought he might be planning something like this. Tarkin looked like his mother was tapping on his shoulder after he had stolen a pie, and Raist just looked plain surprised.
Raist spoke first, "But what if the pirate's attack you?"
Wapo shook his head, "No, I doubt they'll do that to someone who's coming in peace. And besides, we might be able to use them..."
Tarkin spoke next, "Of course, they can help us get off the planet, and help us deal with them in the future... I should've figured we'd need them."
Raistlin nodded his head sternly, "Yes, I thought as much..."

Kahl began again, "Alright, you guys are going with Wapo, you're going to need to protect him in the transport, it doesn't exactly have the best of weapons. Maybe you can steal some ties... if necessary, our old ships are here," Kahl indicated another place on the map, "You can take them, try to capture any possible ships, we'll need them."
Raistlin shuffled his feet, "How're we going to know if you made it out?"
Wapo smiled, "I think Kahl has a new base planned for us, correct?"
Kahl looked at Wapo and nodded his head, "Right," he said as he pulled the system map out, "This is the Reis system. We'll be fleeing here, it's mostly uninhabited, thought there will be a few mining colonies. The only planet in the system that has ever had any form of intelligent life is this one," he pointed to the third planet in the system, "Reis IV, or as we call it, 'Heifel.' That will be our new home, and there are plenty of places there to setup a solid base, I already have a few picked out in my mind. Everything clear?"
Wapo began to speak again, "Of course it's all clear, but I don't think you should get all the fun to yourself, I'm coming with you; when you go to meet the Pirate's." Kahl began to shake his head, "No Kahl, you can't, and it won't. If the Pirate's don't kill you, the Imperials will, and in this case, being by yourself won't make much of a difference. Anyways, having three extra arms around won't hurt you any, will it?" Wapo began to grin.
A voice sounded from outside, "Make that four." All four men leaped up, blasters and Vibros in hand, when a man entered the tent. He was wearing the same uniforms Tarkin and Raistlin were wearing, he, however, seemed much younger than the two.
Wapo had his blaster pointed right at the man's head, "Who are you and what do you want?" Wapo said in a queit, but stern voice.
Well" began the boy, "I'm Private Osirius, I was ordered to find these two, "He indicated Raistlin and Tarkin, "After they seemed to disapear. I overheard you guy talking from outside your tent.... and I want to join you. I've never really been a big fan of Imperials anyways."
Raistlin, Tarkin and Wapo all had their blasters pointed to Osirius's head, while Kahl had his Vibro blade ready to pierce the man's heart.
Tarkin began now, "Why should we trust you? Why shouldn't we just blow your head away, right now?"
Osirius now began to see what he had gotten himself into, he had probably thought they'd gladly except him... he had the look of deep thought on his face...
"Well?" said Raistlin, getting a little impatient.
Osirius began to speak, "Well, for one... I could have ran off and reported you immediatly... for two... you're willing to recruit Pirate's, why not me? And finally, I could still give out a shout, and they'd be upon you before you could flee..."
The tip of Kahl's blade was touching Osirius's skin, right where the heart would be, Kahl could feel the man's heartbeat right up along the blade, "Very well, you may come along... but it won't be easy."
Osirius let out a long breath he didn't even seem to notice he had been holding, "Thank you."
Kahl smiled at Osirius, "I assume you overheard our plan so I won't have to explain it to you, yes?" Osirius nodded.

"Alright, then let's begin. Since there's been a change in my original plans, we'll to improvise. The first thing we'll do is approach the Pirate's, it seems the most logical. Then we'll take the supplies, and I'll knock out the comm while you guy get the transport, I'll escape in one of the R-41's. Okay?" Everyone nodded in agreement, "Then let's move out."

--------------------------------------------
Near the front lines.

Kahl heard a "Hmmm" sound come from Wapo, "What're you thinking about, Wapo?" asked Kahl.
"Well, we're nearing the front line, which means they'll be lots of troopers around, I think it'd be best if we went around... and I think we know of an open path." Wapo cracked a smile.
Kahl smiled backed, "Of course, the Ridgeline they sent us along to sweep up the civilians. Alright, let's go. It should be about an eighth of a mile that way." He pointed to his left.

As the group approached the Ridge-line, they noticed another group of men. One of them seemed vaguely familiar...
The other group of men noticed Kahl and company, and began to draw their blasters, and took aim... Raistlin began to draw his blaster, but Wapo held his arm back.

The other group of men noticed this action, and slowly began to holster their weapons at their leaders orders, the man who seemed familiar...
As the two groups began to aproach eachother, Kahl realized why the man seemed familiar- he was familiar, "Poly" yelled out Kahl. The other man seemed stratled at first, then paid closer attention to the men, "Kahl? Wapo!? Raist, Tarkin!? What are you guys doing here? And in Imperial uniforms?"
"Well," began Wapo, "We joined the Imperial army sometime after we divided..."
"Why would you do something like that? You know they've been murdering innocent people?" said Poly.
"Yes, actually we do." Poly looked at kahl questioningly, "And that's why we're here, we're rebeling against them. We have it all planned out, we were coming to get some aid from the Pirate's."
Poly smirked, "Well I can tell you they won't aid you any, they're all staying here to prtect their homes, and I suppose you mean to leave the planet?" When Kahl nodded his head, Poly spoke again, "Well, I don't see anything wrong with me joining you again, maybe some of my men will join you?" Poly looked to his men.
One man stepped out, "I will" Wapo looked at the man with a look of recognition on his face, "I know you" Wapo said, "You're Nivv?"
Nivv nodded his head, "We worked together for a while."
Wapo nodded in agreement, "Will any of your other men be joining us?"
The rest of the men shook their heads, Kahl formed a slight frown and said "Alright then, let's head back to base."

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nearing the base.

Kahl inspected Nivv and Poly; they were obviously Pirate's and would probably be shot on sight, no matter what Kahl said, good thing he had thought of this ahead of time.
"Look in my bag, there should be some extra trooper gear, put it on or you'll be shot." The two men agreed and began to look for something that fit them.

"Alright, we're going to hit some supply depots, after we're done all of you are going to escape in a transport, and any other ships you can rustle together, while I take out a comm tower. We're going to meet in the Reis system, but first the Supply depots." Kahl began to inspect his men, "Okay, Poly, I want you to go with Tarkin and Raistlin, they know the locations of the supply depots, correct?" Tarkin and Raist both nodded, "Good, I want you guys to take the one on the eastern edge of the base." Kahl nodded towards Nivv and Wapo, "I want you two to take the one on the northern side of the base. That leaves me and you," Kahl indicated Osirius, "We'll take the last supply depot, Okay?" Osirius nodded. "Okay, go. You guys meet at the transport while I take out the Comm tower, remember to take any possible ships."

As Kahl and Osirius split off from the rest of the group, he realized he was going to have to take Osirius with him to take out the tower, and was also going to have to fly an R-41 with him, "Can you fly?"

Osiruis seemed distant at first, "I think I can manage..." Kahl nodded, that'd have to do.

As Kahl and Osirius neared the Supply depot, they noticed two men standing guard with blasters. "How're we going to get passed them?" asked Osirius.
"It's easy, we'll just tell them we were asked to gather some supplies, they're barely even ranked, maybe just out of academy. They'll probably go along with it. If not we'll attack them, fists only, just try to render them unconscious."
Osirius nodded, "How can you see from this distance? I can barely even make them out. They could be Rancor's for all I can see." Kahl shook his head in confusion.
"Let's just go."

Kahl Saluted as he neared the guards, Osirius quickly followed suit, "Good monring privates, we've been asked to gather some supplies and bring them to Squad three."
The guards looked at eachother, then begun shaking their heads, "We're sorry, sir, we've been ordered not to let anyone enter the supply depot, unless we're ordered to do so directly."
Kahl shook his head and sighed, "Don't call me 'sir', Privates." Kahl struck one of the men in the nose, and hit him in the vocal cords so he'd be unable to give out a call, then grabbed his head and brought it down to his knee, this put him on the ground. He noticed Osirius had pulled his blaster out and used it to bludgeon the man in the temples, the guard fell on top of the man Kahl had just taken care of.
Kahl smiled, "Good job... let's go." Osirius smiled back.

Kahl picked up and took the keys from one of the guards belts, and used it to unlock the small lock that kept it closed. As they entered the building, a quick look around showed him everything was perfect. Blasters lined the walls, food stuffs were stacked in crates along another wall, and medical supplies lied in bins on the far wall.
"Grab as much stuff as you can, use the Trooper packs and bags over there to carry them, be quick about it." Kahl walked over to the food and opened one of the crates, 'Perfect,' he thought to himself, 'Packaged rations, they'll last a while.' He began placing as many of them as he could into a bag, then grabbed a trooper pack and filled that up. He then moved on to the Medical supplies and did the same, when he was finished he looked to Osirius and noticed he was burdened with blasters and thermal detonators, "Are you going to grab some of these, Kahl?"
Kahl sighed, "Might as well, I think you have enough there for a regiment though, through me one of those crossbows, a repeater blaster, and a couple quick-fire pistols." Osirius grabbed what he had asked for and awkwardly threw them to him, he caught them and buckled them onto his belt, and wore them around his body.

"Alright" begun Kahl, "Our ships are about 30 minutes out of base, we probably won't make it on foot, so let's go steal a speeder or something. There's probably some in back of this building, it is a supply depot, after all." Osirius nodded in agreement.
As they exited the building Kahl was happy to see both men were still unconscious, and probably wouldn't give them much trouble-- unless someone found them.
Kahl and Osirius ran to the other side of the building, and just as Kahl had thought, there was a speeder there, Kahl through some of the supplies in there, and thought for a moment, 'I could go back in get some more supplies, we might need them..'
"What's wrong, Kahl?" Osirius said with a worried look on his face.
Kahl hopped out of the speeder, "Wait here, be prepared to go at any time."
As Kahl entered the supply depot, he once again grabbed as many supplies as he could and put them in a bag. Mostly medical supplies and food stuffs, but as he was leaving he gathered a few more blasters, some mines, a few large rifles, and one rail detonator. 'They might come in handy,' he thought to himself.
He walked awkwardly to the speeder outback, burdened by the weight. He threw the stuff into the back of the speeder and hoped in besides Osirius, as he was doing so he heard a loud voice say, "Hey, what's going on!? Are you guys Okay?"
Osirius didn't even hesitate to ask, he started the speeder and jeted towards the location of the Comm tower.
Once they arrived at the comm tower Kahl quickly jumped up, grabbing two of the quick firing pistols, and entered the building. He held the two comm officers up and motioned for them to keep quiet, he grabbed the headsets from both of them and spoke into one of them, "Help, we're under attack by pirate's, they're trying to disable us, send hel--" the message would've surely broken off as Kahl began to disperse many shots into the communication equipment.
He motioned for the officers to get out of the building, as Kahl stepped out he noticed Osirius had set up explosives around the comm tower, he had a detonator in his hands, "Let's get out of here, I can detonate these from a distance." Osirius motioned towards the two officers, "You two would be wise to get well away from here." The two officers began to run away.

Osirius jumped into the speeder again, motioning for Kahl to do the same, and started off towards where the ships would be, Osirius detonated the explosives as they were driving away.
As they arrived, he saw the two R-41's he had hoped would be there, 'It's all so perfect' he thought to himself. "Come on, you sure you can fly these things?" he asked Osirius.

Osirius hesitated again, "I think so, I can pilot a tie decently, not much experience..."
"Well, I'll insert the coordinates into your nav computer, and when we're in the air, you just be ready to hyperspace out, Okay?"
"Okay" said Osirius with a bit more confidence.
As Osirius was loading the ships, Kahl began to calculate the jump, he knew the coordinates by heart, so it wasn't much of a problem. "Done."
"Me too, that's all of the supplies." said Osirius as he was brushing some dirt off his shirt.

As kahl was jumping into his R-41 he said, "Then jump in and let's get the hell out of here."

As he lifted off and went through the standard system procedures, telling the patrols that he was teaching a friend how to fly one of these things, he couldn't help but think if Wapo and the others had got out Okay, 'the only way to find out is to goto Reis.'

Kahl spoke over the sytem comm, "Punch it, Osirius." Kahl saw osirius disapear from his sensors, and he pulled his hyperspace lever too.

As he arrived near Reis Iv, or Heifel, he noticed a transport begining it's decent on the planet, Kahl spoke over the system Comm, "Did everyone make it out Okay?"
He heard Wapo's voice over the comm, "Yes, we're all here and well, beautiful plan."

Kahl began his decent onto the planet, when he landed and stepped out of the ship, he couldn't help but breath in the beautifully clean air, and notice his surrondings. So green and full of life.
"Home again" said Kahljorn, as a voice ringed in his head, "Yes, welcome home."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And so the rebelion was born. All who oppose us, beware.

The following members have defected to the Rebelion:
PFC Elwapo
PFC Kahljorn
Private Osirius
Private Tarkin
Private Raistlin

posted February 21, 2001 04:30 AM               

A lot of damage in just a few days time. The remaining pirate forces had given up the field of battle just a few hours ago and had quickly jumped onto shuttles and left to the other two planetary bases. The enemy had lost a lot of heavy equipment in this round, but that left a lot of in-city fighting against some new veterans to the Imperial way of warfare.

Not that the Imperial forces were doing any good at keeping it together. Fury had just come back from the infirmary nominally to oversee mop-up action around the captured base. Mostly it was to get away from a pretty gruesome scene of damaged troopers, wounded soldiers, and some civilians who had gotten caught in the middle.

The injuries concerned him on a professional and personal level. What was bothering him now was the defection of some troopers with the traitors Kahljorn and ElWapo. If they ever caught with that group, it sure would be a fun trial: AWOL, dereliction of duty, theft, assault of a superior officer, refusal of orders, extortion, consorting with the enemy, aid and comfort to an enemy, larceny, fraud, treason, conspiracy, and about twenty other charges had been levied against them.

The real reason Fury was on a rock smoking his lungs out was he couldn't - not matter how hard he tried - figure out why they had done it. Sure, Imperial life was hard, difficult, structured, and sometimes morally challenging. But orders could be adapted and situations could be altered to an extent. No civilian in Fury's zone of control had been wantonly murdered. That might have been a violation, but then again it was good military sense and thus defensible.

And the whole "they were just pirates" angle really bit him to the core. Maybe they were, in the sense that they hated law, and structure, and honor. Fury had joined a pirate gang out of a need to survive. For the most part, the crews he were with had fought for a better life, not for profit merely at the expense of others.

But these guys were meant to have been an experienced group of operators meant to improve the Corps, not thwart it from within while in the midst of a campaign. Instead of challenging an order, they rebelled. Instead of questioning the execution of a mission, they left their assigned stations, chafing at orders from their superior, and later complained when they couldn't do their own thing. Shining stars? Traitors, incompetents, and cowards as far as Fury was concerned.

Standing up, he stubbed out the remains of his cigarra and grabbed his helmet. Despite their losses, both battlefield and otherwise, the army had to collect itself and prepare for the next part of the campaign. All in all they were doing quite well and had a lot of be proud of. Hopefully that momentum would be the prevaling mood in camp.

Passing by a couple of sentries, Fury went into the base in search of where his office may have be placed. He had a lot more work to do if this planet was going to be taken...and surely MAJ Anakin and HCOL Ghen had some more waiting for him.

posted February 21, 2001 07:10 AM              

"Nom first we don't have anymore speeder bikes,second some troops have left the VE. They have started a rebilion.I belive two of them are in your squad" said the base.

" Who, my squad is loyal to the Empire."

"No, sorry Kahljorn and El Pawa have joined the rebbilion." said the base.

" Thats bull! japer started another sentance when Zeus and about 3 other pirates came around the corner of the suply crate he was hiding behind.

" Surrender or die!" yelled Zeus

" NEVER" yelled Japer and started firing at them and hit Zeus in the leg but then the other pirate blasted Japer in the arm" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" yelled japer.

"th th this is Ja Ja Japer. Hu Hu Hu Hurt n n need med medics" said japer weakly into his comnet.

" Leave him here to die" said Zeus.

Japer layd there with his arm almost seperated from his shoulder.He wondered if help would ever come. Then Japer passed out...

posted February 21, 2001 02:35 PM               

Cosmic was riding in the Imperial Hovertank for two days straight now. He was still en route to his destination. These tanks were nothing like the speeder bikes! The tank was going like 90 miles per hour, max! Any more power and it'd toast the engine.

Cosmic yawned as he stared through the little oval holes in front of him...his only sight. He glanced at his radars now and then to see if anything popped up. He knew that it'd be a long ride...

Cosmic stared at the battlefield before him. Hundreds of pirates and troopers were dead on the ground.
BEEP! BEEP!
His radar! He was picking up one life sign!....from a pirate!

He grabbed his heavy blaster and opened the hatch. He crawled out from the tank and walked towards the lone survivor... His legs were broken, his neck was snapped. He couldn't move. He was breathing real hard.

Cosmic couldn't keep a tear from falling down his cheek. He brought out his blaster...aimed at the pirates chest...and fired.
The big BOOOOOOM echoed through the hills.

SGT Cosmic only killed for two reasons...to defend himself...and compasion. He knew that the pirate was going to suffer if he didn't shoot him. The pirate was dead now on the ground. Cosmic put his heavy blaster in its holster and knelt down. He grabbed two handfulls of dust and walked up a hill.

He raised his arms and released the dirt. A wave of dust filled the air. The wind swept it across the battlefield of the fallen ones.
Cosmic slowly whispered: "Ashes to ashes, and dust to dust."

He took a deep breath and walked back to his hovertank. On his way, he stopped at a nearby fallen VE soldier.

"A private." Muttered Cosmic. Cosmic took off his helmet and patted his head. "You were a good soldier...fought for your Imperial friends..."

He placed the soldiers hands together on his chest, and placed the helmet on the soldiers chest, right above the hands.
"You will get the purple heart for this, lad." Whispered Cosmic. Cosmic said a little prayer before returning to his tank.

He started up the engine and rode off into the horizon.

SGT Cosmic was picking up massive life signs...about 20 miles ahead of him. He also caught laser blasts! He gave the tank full speed and headed for the direction of the fighting.

------------BATTLE GROUND---------------

Cosmic was behind a small hill just behiind the whole battlefield. He quickly ran a scan for any surviving troopers...many! He gave the tank a little gas and hovered over the hill.

Soldiers! Injured and bleeding real bad! Cosmic saw a bunch of pirates just beyond another hill...looked like the grand finalle for the pirate attack...looks like they were to weaken the VE force then anhilate it by a great force.

Cosmic quickly aimed at the large force just on top of a hill. He aimed his cannon and fired a blast ball of a mixed matrix.

He ball flew through the air and made a loud, firey explosion as it hit its unready victoms.

Cosmic ran outside his tank and started pulling in wounded soldiers...VE trooper were still fighting...blasters in hand they kept firing for their lives! Their "brothers" were wounded, they had to save them...cover them...at least let them know they were safe before they passed on.

Cosmic had some bacta on him and started putting some on the wounded.
A lot of them were on the ground, some were at least the rank of corporal.

----------ten minutes later------------

Cosmic had all of the wounded in AND on his tank. He made just enough room to drive out. He quickly signalled the other VE soldiers to fall back...they did so with no hesitation.

Cosmic ran to the tank...he saw a lot of pirates advancing to their position...he fired lasers and cannons.......dead in minutes they were!

"Thanks Sarge! You helped us a million!"
"No problem, Private, I was once in your place."
Cosmic waited until the soldiers were on top of his tank, holding the wounded.

Cosmic made a quick lifesign search...none alive...
He typed in coordinates to the onboard ETA computer system...

DESTINATION: Elite Iron Horse Base.

It might have a little smaller Medic Tent but at least it's only a day away!

posted February 23, 2001 01:36 AM               

A thud of the door, a swish of curtains, and Dr appeared at his bedside, taking note of his heartbeat, his dripper, and his wound.

Dr muttered, 'Seth Ixesis, wounds completely healed, heartbeat normal...' and gave a grin at him. 'Hey guy, I think you can be out by this afternoon.'

Seth was elated. 'Hehehe, I'll be back at the battlefield! I am missing it. Thanx Doc!'

'My pleasure. How's it going out there?'

'Not bad. We are at an advantage for now.'

'Good. Well, all the best to you then.'

'Thanx!'

---Same day 1 PM---

Within hours, Seth found himself standing at the doorway of the hospital facility. He looked at his wounds, completely healed. He ran back to his barracks to get his armour and ammunitions.

After putting on the now shiny and gleaming armour (It was sent to the Armoury for repair and polish), Seth put to his utility belt, and went to collect his blaster.

---Same day...2.00PM---

Seth boarded a transport carrying reinforcements towards the battlefield. He got a hitchhike from its friendly pilot who was willing to carry one more passenger (anyway, what difference is there to the weight? Minimal). He found himself stuffed at a corner with at least 20 armours' weight pressed against him. He made a mental note to tell Major Anakin about this.

After the long (and pressurizing) ride to the battlefield, they were dropped off around 20 degrees south from the main entrance of the pirates' base. It was a short hike there, but the landing area was well-protected with caverns. Stormtroopers filed out of the transport and assembled in their respective squads. Seth started off, knowing that his squad would be most likely to have fought for 3 days non-stop by now. Just as he were to step out of the cavern, he heard someone yelling his name. He turned around to see a squad leader calling.

'Hey, you are Seth from Wraith Squad right?'

'Yeap.'

'Somwone from Squad 4 radioed me a message that Squad 2 and 4 are at the back of the base holding off all attempts by the pirates to escape, led by Zeus. Japer has been seriously injured but luckily Mulat rescued him in time before he was truely finished. Anyway, we are the reinforcements for your squad. I think we might need your help in guiding us there.

Seth nodded and within minutes, the entire assembled headed for battle...

---Back to Enemy Encampment---

Seth led the reinforcements to the back of the base, and from there, they started fighting their way through. It was a tough battle. Zeus's men were obvious well-trained and were like the best and most abled-bodied fighters he had seen so far. And with Zeus able to manipulate his squads, they were in for a tough battle at close quarters.

They did not meet so much resistance at first, but as they pressed in, the resistance grew. Seth never fought in such an equally contested battle before. He either overpowered the enemy, or vice versa.

Finally, they reached their counterparts: Squad 2 and 4. They immediately evacuated the injured back to the transport with 2 troopers as cover. There was quite some troopers that are seriously wounded. Seth scanned the battlefield for Japer, as he didnt see him with the wounded and those who are still fighting.

'Wierd, there's no sign of him.' Seth whistled softly to himself while he boxed another pirate who was actually foolish enough to stray so near his hands fatally. He started to become worried when there's still no sign even after some time. He glanced backwards as he gave another pirate a flying kick. Almost all the injured were evacuated.

Seth decided to ferret Japer out. If he isnt dead, get him back to the base. If he's dead, the least he could do was to protect his body and his armoury and initials.

After going round and round for some time, Seth still couldnt find him. He looked backwards to see the last 2 wounded preparing for evacuation back to the transport. Suddenly, he noticed an VE-armoured foot covered with dried blood at a corner. He rushed over to find Japer barely breathing, keeping himself alive with sole will-power and a few bacta packs he had with him then. Seth ran towards him.

'Jep, are you ok?'

No respond.

'Jep?'

Seth felt his hand. There was still a heartbeat, except that it was getting faint. Jep needs help seriously. Dragging jep towards the door, Seth motioned 2 troopers to cover him while he got Jep back to the transport, noted an emergency sign for Jep before rentering the battle ground again.

Filled with anger from the loss of his comrades who were either injured or killed, he took it out on every pirate within his blaster's range. Never had he felt such great fury. He hunted out especially for Zeus, to return the bolt that he sho at him.

Destruction surrounded Seth as he progressed with a grim atmosphere. Pirates collapsed under his merciless aim. His heart burned with a cold fury.

Finally, he reached Zeus. The leader pirate by then was shaking his fear, seeing his comrades and counterparts collapsing and dying before his very own eyes. Now, as he looked at Seth, recognisation flicked across his face as the one whom he had shot 3 days ago. He was withdrawing his blaster rifle from his holster when Seth's bolt caught his in his right arm. He dropped the gun and tried to control his pain while Seth destroyed the gun. His eyes turned white with fear, and he begged for pardon as Seth advanced upon him. Seth shot him again, this time at his left leg for good measure, before binding him up for questioning back at Home Base.

Seth charged on, his anger complete.

posted February 23, 2001 07:42 AM              

" Man, I'l I can rember is seeing Zeus and 3 other pirates, and then they shot me in the arm and Zeus commander them to leave me to die. By the way, whats your name?" asked japer

" Thats a very intersting story. And my name is Pickard, James Pickard." said james

" That sounds like somtin from Star Trek!" replied japer astioned.

" Well my dad was a pysco he watched WAY to much Star Treck."said James laughing

Japer started to laugh but then his arm recived a HUGE amount of pain. Japer screamed his lungs out." Jeez, that must really be painful."said James

"No it feels like a summer breeze. OF COURSE IT HURTS"! yelled japer

" Ok Ok dont get smart. We will be at the base soon. In the mean time let me change that old bacta. That has been on since the you got shot." said James

" Ok, just make it quick Pickard" said Japer

James aplied the bacta on Japers wounded arm. As it was taking place, the pilot announced that they would reach the base in 1 hour.

1 hour later

As they arived at the base, James put Japer on a strecher. They moved him to a differnt room than the one he had the first time he was hear. They placed him into his bed and he wondered how his squad was getting along...

posted February 23, 2001 08:58 AM               

SGT Cosmic helped unload the injured soldiers from his hovertank...never in his life had he been so helpful! Well, that's what he thought.

When they were done, Cosmic walked over to the Command Tent and saluted.
The Commanding Officer saw him and saluted back.

"Hey Cos. What can I do for you?"
"That Hovertank that I'm driving is just not good. Sure it has great armor and great fire power, but I need something that's fast and menouverable! Get a a Hoverbike with a mini cannon attached to the front and I'll ride that into battle...not the tank."

The man nodded. "Very well. I see that you have taken in some casualties. We are grateful."
Cosmic shook his head.
"They're soldiers. Soldiers help soldiers..that's what we do...we fight, we save."

Cosmic saluted and walked out.

The brightness of day welcomed him as he walked out of the tent.

He walked over to the vehicle tent (a very small tent just enough to fit a few tanks and hoverbikes) and opened the flap.

He was a Hoverbike and jumped on. A mini cannon was on it. He fired up the engine and slowly hovered out of the tent.

He flipped on the radar and squad coordinates....

"Let's see...squad 2 and 4 are havin' a heat wave of fightin!" Murmered Cosmic.
Cosmic got the coordinates and rode off at 200 MPH.

Cosmic took off his helmet and took a deep breath of the fast-paced breeze.
Man if felt good to have air! Cosmic had his vibro-blade and heavy blaster in their holsters as he rode off towards squad two and four.

-------------Mid Battle--------------------

Cosmic arrived and was met with loud bursts of lasers. He saw that squad 2 and 4 were trying to keep pirates from escaping. Cosmic saw a pirate jumping around and dodging the lasers.

Cosmic took out his heavy blaster, aimed, and fired. The pirate fell to the ground.
Cosmic rode down to the troops who were shooting like mad.

"Need a little help?" Yelled Cosmic. His voice was almost unhearable. The troopers nodded..the ones who could hear him.

Cosmic's armor was like a target...the pirates saw that. He was like the red target on the game Darts...he and his red armor.

Some pirates redirected their fire to Cosmic. Cosmic quickly ducked as he saw the shots speeding towards him. He quickly ran to some rocks and started aiming and firing...2......5.....8.....His kills were building.

Troopers fired their stormtrooper rifles as fast as they could. Trying to keep up the firing rate.
Cosmic fired again....and again.

The pirates were numberable now..you could count them!
Cosmic quickly put away his heavy blaster and grabbed his vibro-blade. He ran out into the open and slashed a pirate standing on a rock.

Five more pirates were running towards him. Cosmic did a mini summer-salt and sliced off their legs.
They fell to the ground, grasping their used-to-be legs. They were screaming and hallering.

Cosmic ran towards a bunch of pirates holding blasters and firing...The VE trooper were covering him. Cosmic jumped and swang his blade around as fast as he could.

Pirates were dropping like flies. Cosmic saw that a bunch of pirates were behind rocks, firing at the VE soldiers...Cosmic ran towards them and swung.

A pirates arm fell of...a leg.......a head.
Cosmic saw one last one....he ran towards him and brought both hands up to swing...the pirate saw him just in time and quickly punched him in the stomach.

Cosmic dropped his vibroblade...shock ran through his body...he lost some air! He was heaving in air as fast as he could.

The pirate punched again, Cosmic parried it and elbowed the pirate in the mouth. The pirate stumbled back. Cosmic got into his battle stance. The pirate lunged at him. Cosmic stepped aside and let him fall to the ground.

The pirate got back up and got into his battle stance. Cosmic quickly moved to the side of the pirate and punched him in the kidneys.

The pirate's hands quickly grabbed his side out of instinct.
Cosmic quickly did a spinning back kick and hit the pirate with his foot in the head. The pirates neck twisted to one side before he fell.

The pirate was moaning now, but he still got back up. Cosmic quickly did a front kick into the stomach, then did another spinning back kick to the chest. He then did a side kick back to the stomach...and finally, he quickly got side-by-side with the pirate and quickly flipped him.

The pirate fell to the ground, his head hit first, and he was knocked out. Cosmic quicklky dragged him by the arms towards the rest of the VE soldiers, they quickly tied his hands together and put him on one of their hoverbikes.

Cosmic got back on his and started the engine. He saluted the soldiers before zooming off towards the EIH base...once again he had to go to the medic tent...He didn't notice it at first, but the pirate had like mini blades on his knuckles. When he punched Cosmic, the blades punctured his armor and dug into his skin.

Cosmic knew that he was going to be ok, at least he was alive!

posted February 24, 2001 08:49 PM               

Sudddenly he paused. He glanced around wearily. Something wasnt right. He looked around and found himself in this chamber filled with wierd-looking pipe that seems to run to nowhere near. Checking around, he found himself staring at a series of meters, each with a different reaading.

'Geesh, I must be inside the main utilities chamber.'

He was about to head out of the door, when it suddenly slammed in front of him. He startled, and heard all the exits slamming their doors too. Suddenly he heard a 'sssssssssssss' sound, which sounded suspiously like something pumping out gas. Then he realised they were. But it was too late. He caught a faintly sweet smell before he slumped across the floor.

(Note: I have something for this. Pls dunt rescue me )

posted February 24, 2001 10:16 AM              

"Hello Japer how is your arm today?" asked James

" It needs some more bacta but besdies that its fine. By the way, when can I return to combat? I have a score to settle." said Japer

" Oh not for a LONG time Japer. That arm will take a long long time to heal. All you need to worry about is keeping that arm all right."

" Fine but I swear i wont stay here forever."

Japer laid in his bed wondering about how his squad was doing. Then James had to leave and go to pick up some more injured troops.

4 hours later

Japer laid asleep when he had a dream. It was on the batle field with all of his friends coverd in blood screaming for help. And Zeus was standing above him laughing. When japer tried to shoot him he always ran out of ammo.Then a strange voice woke japer up "I'm very sorry sir, James Pickard your docter was killed trying to save injured troops. I belive a man named Zeus killed him"

" WHAT?!" yelled japer

" James is dead, I know it is hard for you but..." the man couldnt finsh the sentance

" Thats it That is ******* it. Im outa here right about now." said japer while he put on his gear.

" No, I forbid you to go. You must stay hear and rest that arm of yours."

Japer didnt answer, he just walked out and found a speeder bike and took off...

------------------
you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight

posted February 24, 2001 02:57 PM               

Seth woked up to find himself in a depressing looking room with cold metal as walls.

'Oh seesh, I must have been captured!'

He tried to think and remember what happenned, but he was hit by such a severe headache that it took a lot of energy just to think. He laid down on his semi-hard bed, letting the headache to simmer down a bit first.

He could only remember fuzzy images. The most distinctive image he had was before he blacked out.It was the smell of something faintly sweet. Chlorofoam gas. He was abducted. He also remembered low whispering as he felt being hualed out to a transport.

He slowly stood up and slowly examined his cell. It was made of tough durasteel. Tirelessly, he searched for an opening, somewhere to escape. No luck. The cell was well-sealed except for a ventilator for him to breathe. He sat down again to ponder about the situation. What he was going to do now.

Suddenly the door to the cell started to slide open. Seth's hand instinctively where his holster is. And grabbed air, at the place where the blaster usually would be. He was disarmed and helpless.

By now, the door was open, and in stepped 3 figures, a pirate commando, a tall and dark men, and a slightly shorter man from the doorway. Seth observed them as they were observing him. The tall, dark man was discussing with the other about something was observing. Seth couldnt help thinking that they were talking about HIM.

The dark man motioned to the commando at a slightest movement of the finger, and the commando came up to Seth and cuffed him with thin yet strong handcuffs. There was no use struggling.

He didnt know where he was, and what they were doin.

posted February 24, 2001 09:45 PM               

SGT Cosmic was just healing from his stomach wound when a soldier came running.
"Sergeant Cosmic! Japer has gone...to kill Zues I think!"

"Whoa! You think! He's been angry at Zues for a long time! Go! Get a squad out...I'll come as soon as possible...don't leave without me! If he's gone alone, he's gonna need help! MOVE!"

(I gatta see what Japer's gonna do..)

posted February 25, 2001 08:47 AM               

Seth stared at the cold, metallic walls of his cells, his body starting to recover from a series of torturing sessions just now. He moved his aching body to his bunk. He painstakingly laid down and thought what had happenned just now.

Seth wondered what they were thinking as they stared at him. After what seemed to be an endless period of cross-staring, the tall man grunted some incomprehensable language to the commando, the commando grabbed him roughly and twisted his arm, causing him to wince in agony. The men noticed and laughed out loud. Right from their soul. At that point, Seth would have loved to give them one of his famous double-up back punch.

He was literally dragged along, trying to put up resistance and was rewarded with blows. Finally, he was dragged to this room with many equipment inside. Dangerous looking equipments. It clicked in his head. He had seen similiar equipments in the VE questioning room. 'Oh no ... I am going to go through torture.'

Seth felt himself being roughly pushed behind, and he felt himself being tied to a board lying horizontally. He braced himself for what was coming.

The tall man walked over. He stood above at Seth and stared at him for long momments. Seth stared back insolently. As far as he knew, he wasnt gonna say anything.

'Okay, you total Imperial bastard, what's your commander's name?'

Silence filled the room.

'When I speak to you, you answer! Looks like those imperials didnt discipline their troopers properly eh? I am giving you one more chance ..... WHO IS YOUR COMMANDER?'

Seth refused to speak. He held his faith with him.

'Refused to speak? Then I'll MAKE you speak.'

The next thing Seth knew was an object filled with frightening objects used for torture floating towards him. He prepared his resistance.

When IT started, waves of agony filled his body with pain, causing him to cry out in his mind. But on the outside, he still stayed resilent.

The tall man saw, and adjusted the torture to be more painfully. Seth saw him withdraw with a superior smirk on his face. He knew that that man would be enjoying himself.

This time, the machine advanced with a needle in its compartment ... Seth knew what it was. Electricity at extreme high voltage.

---Outside the room---

Agonized screams could be heard wafting through the door. A pirate commando passed by, stopped and listened before moving away, shaking his head. His name-tag gleamed a name. Iarco.

---Back to the Prison---

Seth shuddered, pondering what to do. Suddenly, a compartment opened, revealing some food. Seth didnt feel hungry. He prepared to lie down again and spend a night before comtempltating how to escape tomorrow. Suddenly, he heard shooting of gunfires outside.

posted February 25, 2001 11:17 AM              

Japer steped of the battle field and manuverd around the battling pirates and troops. He looked everry where but he found no Zeus. Then he rembered that ledge that Zeus had came from. So japer traveled to the other side of the battle field on foot. Then when he reached the leadge he saw that there was a way to get into their base. But then right as he was about to start walking on the ledge was blown off by a gun turret." HOLY ****. WHERE THE **** DID THAT COME FROM?!" japer yelled

Japer decied to jump. He got on the other side and jumped with all of his anger and all of his hatred. He grabed the ledge and was dangaling about 50 feet in the air." O MY GOD!!!! O MY GOD!!!!!!!! HELP ME GOD PLEASE!!!!!" japer cried.

Then he finally musterd up the strenghth to pull himself up to the platform. Then he stped into the base to find there were hunderds of pirates in it. He was glad he brought a repeter rifle. " DIE YOU MOTHER *******!!!!!" yelled japer as he fired his repter till all of them were dead.

Japer walked around the base till he saw Zeus running for a safe hold. " HEY ZUES! Rember ME?!yelled Japer

" Yes Yes I do. Your that damn storm trooper that shot my leg." said Zeus

"Ya AND YOU BLEW MY ******* ARM HALF WAY OFF!!!!! yelled Japer.

" Yes but why can't we put the past behind us? How about you join me?" asked Zeus

" Why in the hell would I want to do that? I am a loyal trooper."

" Yes thats what they all say" said Zeus

"Ya sure, I am going to kill you now!"japer said.

"Just try" said Zeus with a hand motion

" Whatever you say Zeus" said japer

Jape raised his rifle and then two pirates grabed him from behind. As they draged him away, Japer shot Zeus in the head. Zeus fell but Japer could see he was still breathing. " YESSSSSS!!!!! I DID IT!!! SEE YOU IN HELL ZEUS!!! japer screamed as they took him to a cell...

------------------
you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight

posted February 25, 2001 09:54 PM               

SGT Cosmic just recieved word from Main Base of Sergeant Japer's capture.
Cosmic got the coordinates from Main Base and traveled to EIH Base.

-------------EIH Base-----------------

SGT Cosmic jumped off his bike and ran toward the Command Tent.
"Hey! I need a squad of troops now! Whatever it takes! NOW!" Cosmic didn't even salute...HE WAS IN A HURRY!

A mini squad ran outside with heavy blasters in hand.
Cosmic's heavy blaster was already loaded and set to kill.

"Follow me! We gatta friend to save!" Yelled Cosmic.
Cosmic ran, along with the rest of the trooper, to their hoverbikes. Cosmic jumped on and fired up the engine..the troopers did the same...they were off in a matter of seconds. Cosmic spoke on the in-helmet intercomm between troops.

"Listen up! Here are the coordinates..I'm transferring it to your hoverbike computers...uploading now."

The troopers received the coordinates and set their bikes in that direction.

Cosmic was in front of the mini squad...leading the way to rescue............

-------------------AT THE ENEMY BASE----------------

Cosmic signalled his troops to be aware of enemies.
Cosmic searched around with his eyes...troopers on top of a hill....the bunker where Japer was held, and about ten in front of the darn thing.

Cosmic signalled prepare to fire....He signalled with his fingers...3.........2..........1........."FIRE!" Yelled Cosmic. The troopers already had their sites in mind and fired immediately.

Pirates were falling dead...Cosmic ran to his hoverbike and got out a sniper...He aimed from his hover bike at the pirates on the hill..........BOOOOOOOOOOM.............BOOOOOOOOM.BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! Then at the ones on top of the bunker.........BOOOOOOOOOOM........BOOOOOOOOOOOM.BOOOOOOOOOOOOM! All dead.

Cosmic signalled the rest of the troops to enter and fire at will....

----------------INSIDE THE ENEMY BUNKER-----------

Cosmic new that the bunker was cemented...he ordered to remove blasters and take out vibroblades...the cement would make the sound of the blasters deffening.

Cosmic sliced and sliced...the troopers did the same....They found an on-wall map and stared at it...THe map had prisoner locations.....ummmmmmm..........JAPER! Cell 10...Cosmic ran along with his troops to Japer's cell.

Cosmic killed the guard and sliced the bars..
"Japer! You alright!?!"
Japer nodded but was not responding very well.

Cosmic stared at the troops..."The torture droid! Get Bacta and let's get him outta here! I'll free the rest of the troopers in here...MOVE!"

The troopers acted immediately...the carried Japer out to their hoverbikes and rode off to EIH Base...Cosmic remained behind...freeing what was left of the VE Troopers....

posted February 26, 2001 05:57 AM               

---Enemy Encampment : Base Unknown---

Seth stood out as he heard blaster shots and some terrified screaming outside his prison door. He was downright hopeful. Hopefully it would be some VE troopers.

But this wasnt the main base that the Army High Command had ordered them to attack. It had to be one of those sub-bases. But for a sub-base, this seemed to be more well-equiped than the main one. Surprising.

Suddenly, he heard a muffled voice through the door. 'MOVE AWAY FROM THE DOOR!' the muffled voice shouted. Luckily Seth took the advice, because the door immeadiately exploded and through the charred remains, Seth can faintly make out a couple of pirate-clothed humans firing at each other.

'What the hell is happenning?!?'

(Sorry, I have to had dinner. To be continued...)

posted February 26, 2001 08:28 AM               

---Prison Cell whose door was blasted open---

Seth was in a daze. First he was fighting, then he was gassed and captured, and then he was popped into a cell and later tortured by pirates. Now he finds his cell door blasted open by a PIRATE. Not that he aint happy, but he was seriously wondering what the heck was going on.

He found himself pulled along the corridors by a pirate who was shielding him. Lazer bolts exploded around him as he struggled to keep up with his 'saviour' (?). His mind was still slightly blurred.

As his surroundings came more and more into focus, he noticed that they were away from the little battle area and alarms are ringing profusely. He looked at the guy beside him. He was breathing rather hard. Seth glanced at his tag. Iarco. He looked hard at Iarco and saw a battle-worn face whose jaws were set in a straight line. He gave an impression of a great warrior.

Seth asked, 'Why did you rescue me?'

He didnt reply for a momment, studying Seth as if whether he should say or not. 'Lets' just say that I was tired with all the sickening corruption and weak leadership here. I have agreed with some pirates to rebel the current High Command of the pirates and when we heard of a VE Imperial was captured, we decided that we could free him and maybe join the Empire against the pirates. Thats why we rescued you. I am hoping that you would not disappoint us. We are risking everything for this.'

Seth listened to all these in silence. He knew that they had risked their lives fr thi dream, and furthurmore, it would be an asset to the Vast Empire if they really mean what they say. He said,

'I guess I can help you, but first you must get all the rebels, get fast transports, and we better make our way. Your commanders wouldnt take long to realised what had happenned.'

Iarco nodded and spoke into his comlink. Within minutes, they managed to find a good number of replusorbikes. Seth was rather impressed.

The group speeded back to VE Base.

---1 hour later---

Seth and his new-found allies stopped some distance from the entrance of VE Base. Seth motioned them to stop, pulled Iarco aside and said, 'Iarco, I think it would be wiser for me to first notify my XO first about you all before you all even attempt to get close to the base. Because if you do, the guards might just blow you all into pieces.

Iarco nodded and Seth turned away, trudging back to VE Base.

---VE Base---

Major Anakin was at his desk planning out attacks with the Tactical Officer when his Comphone buzzed. He lightly touched the button and said, 'James, what's the problem?'
In came the reply, 'A young trooper called Seth Ixesis is requesting for your audience.'

'Show him in.'

Almost immediately, Seth strode in and saluted with reverence at Anakin. He stepped up nearer to Anakin's desk and related his story as briefly as possible. After listening to him, Anakin sat back and thought for a while. Finally he said,

'Are you positive that their intention were so as they said?'

'Quite sure, Major'

'Bring this Iarco for some questioning before bringing the entire group in. We mustensure that they are not spies from the pirates. As for you, I think you better have a medical checkup and rest before returning to battle. I'm sure your squad-mates would be glad to see you there.'

'Yessir!'

Seth exited. Anakin thought for a while, wondering what should he do. Shrugging his shoulders, he returned to his planning. They would have to be questioned first.

---Corridors---

Seth strode down the corridor, making also a link to Icaro, asking him to come down for questioning. Icaro radioed back saying he would. Seth pocketed his Comlink, and headed towards the Medical Bay for checkup.

On the way, he suddenly realised that his full armour was taken away at the Enemy's base! His armour that he took much care of! He was deeply upset and disappointed. He was only in possesion of his arms for only 1 month and this had to happpen to it! With a heavy heart, he called up the Armoury to order a new one. 'Thats it. A tidy sum of money gone from my bank.' Seth sighed as he left the Armoury. He wondered how Iarco was doing.

------------------
Seth 'ShadowHawk' Ixesis
Coporal of the Wraith Squad
TRP/CPL Seth Ixesis/4SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [IH]

posted February 27, 2001 10:28 AM               

SGT Cosmic freed all of the imperials. 100 in all. It was a lot of work! His heavy blaster was nearly out of ammo. There was a lot of pirates guarding the darn base!

Cosmic ran outside with the one hundred troops and waited for some hoverbikes to arrive.

Cosmic had previously ordered hover bikes to come and pick them up...unmanned so that the troopers could ride them without being in the back of someone.

Cosmic smiled as he saw their faces. Their armor was taken away from them....along with their helmets and weapons. Armor....that was like your pride and joy in the VE....the look of your armor.

Cosmic heard a slight hum.....then louder....engines! At last! They were here! They had been traveling at 200 miles per hour.

Cosmic motioned for them to jump on the hover bikes. His heavy blaster was placed in its holster as Cosmic jumped on to his....his was already there...

The soldiers laughed as they climbed on....freedom was a great thing to have.
Cosmic stared around the building...blood was everywhere from the fight he previously had.

Cosmic shook the thought out of his mind.
"Ok troops! Let's go home!" Yelled Cosmic.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!" The troops all yeld.

Cosmic started his engine....but then he heard a hundred engines whine to life from others.
Cosmic started off first, the troops second. They followed him back to Main Base.

----------------One Mile From Main Base--------------

Cosmic halted them before entering.
"Ok boys, you're dressed like pirates here. Let me tell them you're coming in. This happened to another fellow friend of mine in the VE."

The troops nodded as Cosmic contacted the Base.

----------Main Base---------------------------

"This is Main Base, what can I do for you Sergeant Cosmic?"

-------------------COSMIC - HOVERBIKES-----------

"Yeah, I got one hundred rescued troops here from an enemy bunker that I previously raided to rescue Japer. Can you let them in without any trouble?"

------------------MAIN BASE--------------

"Sure, Sergeant. Just as long as they're Imperial."

-------------------COSMIC-----------------

"Great! Sergeant Cosmic out."
Cosmic motioned for them to press on.
"We can go in guys! Be happy! You're home!"

The troops cheered as they took off. They saw a couple of white tents in the distence...then more....then more....Main Base Tent!

The troops stopped their bikes and cheered. Main Base troops helped some of the ones with arm and leg injuries to the Medic Tent.

"Great job Sergeant!" Congratulated a guard. "Thanks!" Replied Cosmic.

posted February 27, 2001 04:00 PM               

The trick was how. Squad Two had ventured into the enemy's front yard and had gotten pretty beat up. Sergeant Cosmic had commandeered some troops and had led an assault on a prisoner holding facility. Thankfully the attack had gone off successfully. Fury grabbed the datacard that had detailed the planned and approved rescue mission that had been set for the next day, cleared it of any details and threw in into his Out bin. Granted, stormtroopers had a lot more leeway in respect to operational activity but Cosmic had of late been taking that to an extreme. Never mind the risks he took to himself, but he had abandoned his squad in the heat of battle on more than one occassion and had grabbed men and materiel slated for other tasks to fulfill his personal agenda. Not that anything he did was malicious. The young trooper meant well and he did do an outstanding job. That was actually the only reason some goon from the Imperial Security Bureau hadn't come in and executed him in the middle of the night.

Fury picked up the datacard that had been floating around the chain of command for days. Cosmic's request for squad leader. Granted there was a need for one in the Raiders. As much as Fury loved to be at the front, he was now asked to do more than just shoot it out with the enemy. But Cosmic? Well, that had it's "if's". He just needed to remember to follow orders, and more importantly, to remember how to work as a team player in a team with goals, obligations, and a mission. Control, he just needed some control. But who was to judge. Cosmic had filed it with his SL, who passed it to Fury, who passed it to Anakin, who had passed it somewhere until it came back to Fury. Should he make a decision, or send it floating again? Fury made a few notes in the datapad and saved it. There still was a campaign to finish. Administrative stuff could take a backseat. Hopefully Cosmic could calm down and get a little more with the program before somebody got unnecessarily killed. Right now though, Fury had a platoon of troopers to keep active and alive.

Fury put on his armor and headed out to the field. Looking around, he felt like such a office type. The other stormies he say running around the command facility had dirty, dusty, dented armor, some of it slighty off-color as replacement parts had been fitted over time. His far superior red tinted armor was going to waste on a regular basis while in the office. Only one cure for that. The paperwork could wait. He still had the right to be a field trooper so that was exactly what he was going to do.

Fury sighed as he headed to the motor pool. So much for grabbing the first available vehicle. He signed out a Tykannin Turbines 3-2-XR speeder bike. With the capture of so many commerical goods, the Corps could manage to add some speedier vessels to it's fleet and at 800 kph this baby could leave an Aratech 74-Z choking on vapor.

After a harrowing twenty minute trip through rubble, live power conduits flittering in his path, and two relatively efficient checkpoints, he arrived at the forward staging area. Damn, there was a lot of machines here. Artillery and anti-aircraft suites were assembled along with various types of hover tanks and assault vehicles. Fury hadn't been here for three days and the difference between a series of foxholes and rubble bunkers to what was before his eyes was startling.

Trying to remember what the field looked like before when it was rocks, splintered trees, and shattered permacrete, he found his way over to the platoon's CP. There he found SGT Saden orchestrating a difficult manuever requiring much dexterity, will, and patience...ordering supplies. Sensing a lull, Fury spoke up. "A couple questions. One, do they believe you are on their side?"

"Yes. I've been on the horn for about an hour now."

"Not too out of the ordinary. Now, do they think everyone is dead but you...and you're hoarding?"

"At first, but I gave them everybody's rank cylinder codes and we are all technically still alive in the records."

"That's good to know. Anything I can do? Not with that of course..."

"Hang on, LT....Yes, we need rations and medical supplies for the ENTIRE platoon. And blaster packs would be nice on this trip. We keep stealing them from the regulars moving into position and forcing them back towards you guys." A pause. "No, that's not theft. That's negligence on your part." Another pause. "Yes, I'll hold." Timber answered dejectedly.

"Shouldn't have angered him I guess."

"Can't be helped Sergeant. They know how to push your buttons just like they did mine. Thanks for stepping up and doing that though."

"No problem...sorta."

Fury walked on to Squad Three's encampment. Most of the men were cleaning weapons, though PFC Jediwannabe was nominally in charge and trying to get his own supplies. "Yes, we've been off the line for three days. We are going to need some transports or swoops or something though, since we had some probing raids to do in the a.m." He looked up at Fury with plaintive eyes. Fury shrugged and waited, though he did throw the trooper a stick of candy he'd grabbed at the PX that opened at the headquarters facility. "No, that won't do. I need them TONIGHT to use TOMORROW. I can't wait another day. Huh? Yes, I'll hold." Covering the transmitter with his hand, he asked, "What am I doing that's wrong?"

"Nothing. And that's the best part. Other Imperial sector groups don't even bother to resupply their stormtroopers. Our people just have a hard time meeting our needs. Remember, we're out of the regular scope of planning. When we ask for something it's like a whole new world opens up for some people. They'll get used to it, you'll see."

A few hours later, supplies (mostly) received, Fury sent out his probe teams. With enemy resistance centralized in only a few locations, it was important to contain the enemy while breaking the back of it's military might. It involved a balance of vigilance with a need for caution. Move too fast and the enemy could breakout and spread across the planet again. The last thing Fury wanted on his head was a guerilla movement on one of the VE's new homeworlds.

Calling over the team members, Fury directed his attention to SGT Cosmic. "Okay people, the sergeant here will be group leader. We've got a demolition team borrowed from the regular army to assist you in making your way to your objective and in fulfilling your task. There's a reason they call us shock troops and I just wanted to remind the enemy of that." Laying out a map, Fury flipped on a grid marker and started laying out items from his touchpad. "Here is the secondary objective of our initial orders. What most of us are headed for is a major confrontation with most of the military might still arrayed against us. For you guys however, I have a special treat." Flipping the grid, he focused on a smallish city with a central band of commercial area highlighted.

"In this area, somewhere, are the political, commercial, and military leadership of the current residents of this planet. We may call them pirates but they have lived here so they think of themselves as just regular citizens. They are certainly fighting like it's their home. What we need is to strike a blow to the morale of the citizens of this planet. I want you to capture the following list of people." Holograms and details popped up for various beings, cycling through at about once every ten seconds. Fury handed a datacard to Cosmic. "Those are your primary objectives. They are slated in three orders of importance. If you have to, ace the second two groups, but we need the real bigshots alive and in captivity. We have an infiltration team already in the city with your ticket out of town already arranged."

"Second objective, eliminate the area as a threat to us. There are large concentration of arms and troops in this location. It also happens to be sitting just near a large fusion reactor. Since they made it a military target, I'm not going to be too concerned about civilian casualties. Don't hunt them in the streets like some people did here, but don't shed a tear for people who have had plenty of time to know better."

"Be stealthy. No suicidal charges, no heroic gestures. Abduct your targets, give them to the infiltration team to handle, do it again until you no longer can do so safely. With the aid of the demo team, try to take out that reactor. Questions?"

No one raised a voice. "Alright men, you move out in the morning. Good luck."

Cosmic, any questions? Just let me know at [email protected] . If anyone wants to volunteer for this mission, let me know as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll assemble a team from the AWOL troopers and Cosmic can use them as he wishes. Give it about 24 hours or so before doing any posting Cos. Thanks.
------------------
2LT Fury
PLT CMDR/2LT Fury/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1REG/TF Devastator/VEA/VE [IOC]

posted February 28, 2001 02:33 AM               

Seth plopped into his bunk, real tired after trekking. Although he didnt do really much these days, he still felt rather tired. He snoozed once he laid on his bunk, dozing off, having the much needed (mental) rest.

---The next day---

Seth woke up with a start. He had a terrible nightmare. It was all about the enormous civil war he went through when he was young. Bomb shells bursting, gun shots, dead victims of war everywhere .... Seth was terrified. He also lost his best buddy, Desh, in that Civil war. Sometimes, he wondered, would he be like one of those dead in the battlefields?

Seth shook his head, not wanting to think about it. He rested back on his bed. Suddenly, an incoming transition came in.

All troopers who would like to join SGT Cosmic in an inflitration mission, send a reply to Platoon Commander Fury before this day ends

Seth perked up at a thought of an inflitration mission. He immeadiately sent a reply message to Fury, telling him about his interest.

After radioing the message, he sat back, and waited.

Waited.

posted February 28, 2001 10:42 AM               

Sergeant Cosmic was already up at one 'o clock in the morning. A lot of troops were at this time. Getting breakfast and exercising.

Platoon Commander Fury had previously told him of the group he was going to lead:

Cosmic was inside his tent, preparing for the mission. He was charting a map on where to go first. Ideas of heroic acts popped into his head, but he knew that now was deffinately not the time for such acts...

All the troops were up now, awake and alert, ready for anything that came upon them.
Sergeant Cosmic saw all of the people on his list huddled in a little group. (Seth Ixesis, I'm gonna wait and see what Fury has to say about you joining before say anything about you.)

"Hey troops! You ready for what you are about to undertake!?" The troops all nodded.
"Well were not going yet! I'm going to make sure that there aren't any screwups in this mission! We will have simulations of this mission about twenty-feet over there." Cosmic pointed, twenty feet beyond the Main Base Tent towards a group of trees.

"We will practice of what's about to come. I also have been ordered by Platoon Commander Fury NOT to wear any Stormtrooper gear during this mission, until we have come to the last section of our mission. We will be wearing a different type of armor. I am thinking about just wearing pirate clothing with lazer proof vests and leggings underneath. I will check that out with Fury first. So, on this mission, we will use guns, but we will use only NON-ARMED guns. We'll have like a little lazer that will pop out instead. You will also wear an informing device to tell you when you get hit. If you get hit by the lazer, which will not hurt you, you're device will start to beep....you're then out of the game...not out of the group, but out of the game. We will then start the simulation over again until we have no screwups. Now, I know that when we get out there for real, we will all be afraid, but let that not interfere with our objective! Let's begin!"

The troops all nodded and fallowed Cosmic into the Main Tent. Cosmic saluted, all the other troops did too. Fury was there, he saluted back as he saw the troops.

"Good morning, Commander." Said Cosmic. "Good morning, Sergeant. I see that you have your group in order."
"Yes, sir. I want to have a couple of simulations of what's going to come before actually setting off into the city. It'll give the troops something to expect once we arrive, instead of running like dogs back to their tents."

Fury nodded. "Very well, I approve that, that's a good idea." "Oh and Commander, you also said that you didn't want us to wear stormtrooper armor, so I was thinking about wearing civilian clothing, maybe pirate clothing, with laser proof vests and leggings underneath. I can just stick on a VE symbol on the left arm sleeves of the troops. I can make it so that it'll be hard to recognize. Only VE will see them."

Fury nodded. "I'll see about that. I don't want them to know were coming. Did I make it clear to you, Sergeant, about what your objectives were?"

Cosmic nodded. "You did, sir."
"Very well. I want those objectives brought back alive! Except when you assault the fusion reactor. That's when you can put on your gear."

Cosmic nodded once again.
"I will await your decision on the clothing, sir. In the meantime, I will start the simulation with the troops. I will also teach them some martial arts techniques just in case that becomes necessarry for hand-to-hand combat. Hopefully we won't have to go through that, but it's good to have in the back of the mind."

Fury nodded. "Begin your simulation then."
"Yes sir." Cosmic saluted. Fury saluted back, then all of the other troops saluted. They left the tent and followed Cosmic to the supply tent where they got their "tag-gear".

They went to the "field" to start the simulation of combat.

posted February 28, 2001 03:40 PM               

PFC Demi Wraith and CPL Seth Ixesis appeared as Fury was scribbing some new calculations for tactics and supply. The hardest part of any mission was get the right hardware. He noticed the two troopers standing in front of him.

"Ah...at ease." he said, returning the salute they had been standing there offering. "So, you want to go on a head-hunting mission? I assume you've read the briefing info I sent you?" Two helmets bobbed down, then up again. "Alright then, grab some civilian clothing and a non-standard set of armor. Your team is doing a little pre-mission simulation over in the two block area near the park and that damaged commercial center to the east of us. It's cordoned off, but the guards will let you through once I add you to the list.

"Though SGT Cosmic is in command, this is an infiltration and strike mission. If you have any ideas on how to conduct the mission, confer with him. This isn't a battlefield situation. You have some leeway in how things go. The goal is to stay alive and achieve your objectives as quickly and easily as possible. Once you are in a situation though, he's the boss and you must obey. The trick is to make it the best possible situation you can. You're both fairly experienced by now so don't hold back any observations you deem necessary.

"Aside from that, there will be a convoy of three Trast repulsorlift trucks carrying some supplies...food, bandages, something like that. This will be your ticket into the city. Using a fairly circuitous route it should take about six hours or so. SGT Cosmic will fill you in on everything else. Good luck men."

The two troopers headed off to the training area and left Fury to wonder how he was going to manage a squad and a platoon. The trick, of course, was leadership. SGT Saden was filling in nicely and MSG Japer was a nine-lived vornskr. Squad 4 was holding up well after heavy action, and Fury thought he was doing fairly okay at keeping the Raiders intact, even though Yillamien was at the edge of death in a bacta tank nearby.

In any case, between the strike force Cosmic was leading, an assault on another of the enemy's primary base would take the Corps one step closer to fulfilling it's mission. Maybe then they could take a breather and relax for a bit.

posted February 28, 2001 05:20 PM               

SGT Cosmic had his lazer gun out and his lazer-hit detection vest on. So far, it's been a half hour and no one has been "killed" yet. Then suddenly.........

BEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!! BEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!

"Cease fire!" Yelled Sergeant Cosmic. Cosmic ran to the trooper with the beeping vest on. He was standing with his laser blaster in both hands.

Private First Class Maul was seeping in deep breaths of air.
"You're did fine, PFC. You lasted a whole half hour. The thing is this is mission might take us at least two hours to complete." Cosmic took off his stare at PFC Maul then looked around him.

"I am very pleased with your ability to be swift, soldiers!" Began Cosmic. "But our mission is at least two hours long. We have key targets here that we don't want to kill! If we want to get them out of the city as fast as we can, we have to save as much men as possible! That means no dyin' on your part! Let's begin the simulation again!" Cosmic reset PFC Maul's dectection vest and began the simulation again.

---------------Tenth Round of the Simulation - 3:00 PM---------------------

Sergeant Cosmic was in a sweat...so were the soldiers that were running around him. This was their tenth round in the simulation. So far no one has gotten "killed" by the lazer. Plus, they have been running around, dodging lazers for about an hour and forty-five minutes.

Cosmic checked his watch. "Fifteen minutes more...." He whispered to himself. Suddenly, a soldier dodged a lazer right in front of him. Cosmic fired, but missed. The soldier was behind a tree.

Cosmic quickly ran to another location. Better to keep movin' or you'll get yourself killed!
Cosmic watched as lazers ran back and forth across the battlefield of trees and dirt.

Suddenly, the fire stopped. Cosmic heard heavy breathing. He knew the troops were doing what Cosmic had previously told them...To save your ammo until you see something worth shootin'.

Cosmic then saw a trooper run. He saw the battlefield re-light with lazers.
Cosmic changed his location again.

-----------TWO MINUTES REMAINING------------

Sergeant Cosmic was taking huge breaths of air. The air was humid and dry. Cosmic checked his watched.....one minute...

Cosmic ran to another location....he saw PFC Maul run across the field to another tree. He quickly dodged a lazer but fell flat on his face in the meantime. He tripped over his own legs. Cosmic quickly fired and heard a loud BEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!!!! BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!!!!

"Cease Fire!" Yelled Cosmic....all of the fire stopped and the troopers came out. Cosmic walked over to Maul.
He checked his watched then smiled.

"Excellent job men! You have just been fightin' for two hours and five minutes! Five minutes above the time for fightin'! Good work! Let's hit the showers! I want you guys to get a good shut eye. Put your weapons and vests and leggins back in the supply tent. Take a shower and get some shut eye. I'll get a shower myself then talk to Command."

The troops nodded as they heard this...they were deffinately pleased of the outcome.
Cosmic helped PFC Maul up.
"You don't have to blame yourself, soldier. You survived five minutes above time. I'm proud of you and all of the other troopers for that. Now I'm sure that we can do this mission without failure. I want you to take a shower and get some rest now."

Maul nodded. "Yes Sarge." And he walked away.

----------------AFTER COSMIC'S SHOWER------------

Cosmic dressed up after he took his shower. He walked out of the Bath Tent and walked over to the Command Tent. His hair was slicked down and shiney.

Cosmic opened the tent flap and saluted. Cosmic saluted back before smiling.
"Got them ship-shape, Cos?"
Cosmic snickered.
"Yeah. They're excellent troops. I'm confident in their abilities now. Before we set off, I want to give them a little martial arts training. I forgot to do that after we did the lazer run. I guess lettin' them rest first is a good idea."

Fury nodded. "A body needs rest to survive a day." replied Fury.
Cosmic grabbed a clipboard and a pen.
"What are you doing Cos?" Asked Fury.

"I'm going to write down my report of the troops, Fury."
Fury nodded. "Very well. Proceed."

-----------------One hour later---------------

Fury had read Cosmic's report and nodded. The troops that had been doing the simulation were now in the briefing room, being re-briefed about what to do...key points, key characters and everything. What not to kill and what to kill.

Cosmic was sipping a cup of coffee. Fury was sitting in a chair in the main tent...waiting to see what Fury was going to say.

Fury put down the report and nodded once again.
"That's a good report, Cosmic. I am making a list of supplies that you will need for this mission."

Cosmic nodded. "That's a big job, Fury. I heard that Seth Ixesis and Demi_Wraith spoke to you about the mission?"

Fury nodded.
"Yes they did. I told them of your simulation..I told them to take it up with you..they'll find everything they need with you."

Cosmic nodded.
"With your permission, Fury, I would like to see them go into my simulation before actually setting off. As you saw yourself, it took us about eleven runs straight to get it perfect. I guess I could get them the martial arts lessons first, that way I won't leave the other troops with nothing to do. That is, of course, if they want to join the mission. I'll let them discuss that with you."

Fury nodded. Cosmic took another sip of coffee...thinking about the mission....

posted February 28, 2001 06:29 PM              

"Was that words I just heard!?"said a docter entering Japers room.

"Ya acutally it was."

"Good Good we are making progress. When you arrived you were uncontess and almost dead. By the way my name is Bob Kenlick."

"I really dont care. The last time I befriended on of you docters his ******* head got blown off."said japer

" O I heard about that. I'm very sorry about James. He was a great docotor.

"How the hell would you know anything about him"? asked japer

"Well, I was right beside him when he died. He was walking back to the transport and then he saw a chain with half a locket on it. He picked it up and he saw it was yours." So when he stood up he got his head blown off" said Bob

"He found that?! I thought I had lost it forever."

"What is it of?" asked Bob

" Me and my wife. She is back on Nar Shada were we got married. Any way, do you still have it?" asked japer

" Yes as a mader of fact I do. Hold on let me get it for you. What is your wifes name."

" Its Jessica. Il wait for the locket now."said japer

Japer laid in the bed but he quickly fell asleep.Bob entered and laid the locket on the bed post right by Japers bed.

Bob walked out into the hall and looked for a comlink. He enterted a search for Jessica on Nar Shada. He found one and sent a message that her husband Master Sergent Japer was serously injured. After he sent it he wondered if she would even care.

4 hours later

Bob walked into Japers room and saw that he was still sleeping. Then he rembered that he sent that message to Japers wife. He pulled out his comlink and sure enough there was a message for him. He looked at it and it was from Japers wife.It read" Hello thank you for telling me. I really havnt heard from him in about 1 or 2 years. I thought he was dead. Tell him that his 3 kids say hi if he even rembers them.Once agian thank you."

Bob thought about this and felt sorry for Japer. He decied to put his comlink on japers bed post and hoped that he would read it. He wondered if Japer loved Jessica or if she even loved him...

------------------
you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight

SL/MSG Japer/2SQD/1PLT/1/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE/IOC/LoC/CM/BS

posted February 28, 2001 06:50 PM               

Sergeant Cosmic stared at the sky...the sunset was beautiful here!
He had finished off two cups of coffee. One decaff and one non-decaff.

He walked over to the Medic Tent and opened the flap. He saw a room full of beds and soldiers in them...

Cosmic searched for a bit then spied the man he wanted to see.....Master Sergeant Japer.
Cosmic walked over to him. Japer was staring at the message that Bob had given him.

"Hey Japer." Said Cosmic saluting. Japer looked up and smiled. He saluted back. "Hey Cos. I was just reading the message my wife sent."

Cosmic stared at it, then nodded his head.
"You look good after all you've been through, Japer." Japer nodded.

"Yeah, but, I probably would've died in that enemy bunker if it hadn't been for you."
Cosmic made a motion with his hands to not worry about it.

"Hey, I saw that you were held prisoner in an enemy encampment. When a friend sees a friend like you in trouble, that's their natural instinct...to go and save the ones who need saving."

Japer nodded slowly, then went back to staring at the message.
"Hey, you got any pains?" Asked Cosmic. Japer shook his head. "Nah. The bacta's taking care of that. All I have to do now is get better so I can get on that mission you're leading."

Cosmic chuckled. "I hope you get better, Japer. In fact, that's what I wanted to talk to you about...the mission I mean. This'll be the first time I have led a mission like this. It's not the same as a rescue mission, Japer. This is find, capture, and destroy in one whole mission! I...I hope I do a good job on this. Platoon Commander Fury placed me as Group Leader for this one. I've been simulating troops in a nearby field. They're succeeding, but.......But I hope I can lead them to success. I know I'm an excellent leader, Japer...I know that I'm a natural born leader. I love leading....."

Japer nodded. "Well, when you're in command of your troops, Cos, just command 'em. I know that you will succeed with this mission, Cos. I know you. You're ambitious and reliable. You do go into dangerous areas and even risk your own life at times...sometimes I think that the people think you're kind of crazy going into the heat of battle alone with just a heavy blaster as your aid..."

"I mean well though." Japer nodded. "I know you do Cos. I know you will do good on this mission...trust me."

posted February 28, 2001 09:52 PM               

The medic headed strait for the medical tent and dropped his bag once inside. A Lieutenant was filling out paperwork for a trooper that was brought in for a "patch and go." The Lieutenant glanced at the medic's shoulder and said, "One moment Corporal." After the officer finished the line he was working on and he looked up at the Corporal while putting his pen down. The Corporal produced a small datadisc. The Lieutenant slid it into his datapad and looked over the file of the medic in front of him. Finally he spoke up, "Ok Swanson, Squad 2 has a few wounded, including the Squad Leader when he does manage to break out of the medical tent. You will be all over them like white on rice if anyone gets a hangnail. We are dealing with pirates, so don't expect to keep your "medic status." They will shoot anyone who is from the VE. Bring a blaster and a toothbrush. Right now the medical tent doesn't need help. Get some sleep and some gear, you'll most likely be leaving soon."

Corporal Greg "Stitch" Swanson saluted, grabbed his bag, and left the tent. He had just finished his medical training aboard the m/SSD Mustang and felt ready to use it, but he wasn't so sure about fighting. He had taken a secondary course on firing blasters of just about every kind and he had been the sharpshooter of his class... He just wasn't so sure about shooting a person.

posted March 01, 2001 05:39 AM               

Seth leaned against the stone walls of the Stimulation Centre. SGT Cosmic told Demi_Wriaith and him to meet him here. He didnt need to actually guess what they were going to do. The answer was pretty obvious.

Stimulation. I mean, that's what's the centre's for right?

Seth glanced around. Targets, galleries ... typical. Glancing down at his pirate clothes, he felt a bit uncomfortable although they were of quite some quality. He was happier in a stormtrooper suit. Inspecting his clothes, he noticed a 'VE' badge at the left sleeve, a very complicated design. He almost couldnt make it out, but a VE trooper or officer would be able to tell after 2 days in the VE Army. He grinned. SGT Cosmic can really design, whether it was logos, or maps.

Suddenly, the doorway slided open, and Seth turned around to see Demi_Wraith walking in. Like him, he was also dressed in pirate clothes with the VE logo on his left sleeve. They exchanged salutes, and Seth said, 'How do you find your new 'uniform'?

Demi_Wraith grimaced and said, ' I guess I feel more at home in the stormtrooper armour.'

'I was also thinking of that.'

At that momment, SGT Cosmic stepped in. He saw Seth and Demi-Wraith standing at a corner and strolled towards them.

'Hey guys! I see you are punctual. Good, cause that means we can get this over and donw with. I want to see how you two will be if you are in the real battle mode.'

Both nodded.

'Okay, I'll give some instructions and then we'll see how this goes.'

Cosmic then walked over to a table, motioning Seth and Demi_Wraith to follow him. When they stood by him, he rolled out some papers.

'Okay, I'll just tell you some basic formation plans and emergency codes and escapes. This will be an inflitration mission, so we'll have to make this as silent as possible. First, .... '

Seth and Demi_Wraith listened attentively to Cosmic for 15 minutes before Cosmic straightened up and boomed ,

' Okay guys, let's see you in some actions! '

He activated the room and Seth and Demi_Wraith practised all the moves that COsmic just told them as well as they could. Sometimes, Cosmic would shouted at them when they performed a move wrongly, telling them how they should do it. But after six tries, both of them managed to perform the moves, shots, abduction perfectly well.

Cosmic was real pleased.

'Okay, you guys were real good! I have total confidence in your abilities to carry out this mission with me. I think we'll just have like one more stimulation before all of us can hit the showers. And for a bit of variety this time, I shall join you in this stimulation.'

'Great! '

After yet another hour of stimulation, Cosmic shouted, 'Okay, PERFECT!' and the stimulation returned to its original state.

Cosmic took off his infra-red sensors and grinned at Seth and Demi_Wraith. 'Okay, I think you can hit the showers now!'

'Thanks Sarge!'

both Seth and Demi_Wraith ran out of the centre, competing to see who can arrived at the showers first.

---Shower room---

Seth rinsed himself while Demi_Wraith thumped impatiently at the shower door. Both of them managed to get to their rooms at the same time, but apprently Demi_Wraith could not find his pants in time, so Seth managed to hit the showers before he did.

'Hey Seth! You have been inside there for at least 1 hours. There's a stinkin' person out here.'

Seth replied, 'Just another momment, Demi_Wraith!' which would have been the fiftenth time he said it. He grinned to himself.

This time, he kept his promise. Within 2 minutes, he swung out of the shower room to meet a fuming mad Demi_Wraith, and said,

'Okay, I apologise. But trust me, once you start showering, you never want to stop. It just feels so wonderful to be clean, especially during battle.

'Yeah, I get your point.' Demi_Wraith replied as he stepped into where Seth was 2 minutes ago.

Seth looked back for a while, tapped his soap bottle, before moving out of the room and back to his barracks.

---Wraith Squad Barracks---

Seth plopped down on his bunk, tossed his stuff beside him, and snoozed. He hadnt really snoozed for a long time, which was actually only one day ago. Well, it felt like a long time. Anyway, he didn't sleep much when he first arrived on this planet for his assault mission.

---4 hours later---

Seth was awaken by a beeping sound beside his bedside. It was a transmitter machine. He keyed his password for access to his message, and then he read it.

'SGT Cosmic here. Calling to all troopers in inflitration team. Prepare and meet at Stimulation grounds in 10 minutes time. Bring blank blasters with you. We dun't want anyone hurt.'

Seth leaped out to bed, and quicky dressed into his pirate clothing, before running towards the stimulation room to meet SGT Cosmic and the rest of the inflitration team.

posted March 01, 2001 10:20 AM               

SGT Cosmic waited for the troops to come. He was wearing the pirate-like uniform with the VE symbol. He also had an outline under the VE symbol with the letters GL, meaning Group Leader, underneath the VE symbol.

The troops walked in wearing their uniform. Cosmic saluted the troops as they walked in. Good morning men. You will be simulating a battle no more. You will be simulating the real thing.

Were aiming for political targets here, so you can bet there won't be a battlefield. There will be snipers and pirates with guns. You won't see any women with sticks or bats or thirteen year old kids carrying guns.

These pirates will be grown men and well trained, so that they may protect their political leaders.
I've designed a program that will make this simulation almost exactly like the conditions you'll be having in the real mission.

They key points here are not to get killed, don't kill your objective, and kill anything that looks like a pirate and points a gun in your face. REMEMBER! We don't want our objectives dead...they're no good to us dead.

I have also installed camera's, just like in a political buildiing. TRY TO AVOID BEING SEEN ON THEM! If you're seen, they will send out more troops...We don't want that. I've also brought in here dummies with no weapons. Those are for your hand-to-hand martial arts training.

There are also dummies on wheeles! They will be moving targets! I have also installed an intelligence chip in their skulls to make them "smarter" in battle. That means, in simple terms, they won't make the same mistake twice. They learn and adapt, so be careful with them!

I've also got a group of dummies with snipers all around this room. Even though you can't see them, they're there. You'll be able to detect them with your infrared goggles that you will be having on. You will sense heat.

You also have a lot of crap around this room, so that means you will have a lot of cover. I am wearing the new pirate-like uniform on...I see that you're wearing the same...good. As you can see, I'm also wearing the laser-sensing vest and leggings. I brought some here so put them on. You have two minutes. I also brought the "toy" laser-guns for you to shoot with. These are not loaded. They only make your vest beep.

And don't get freaked out in battle that you will aim for a pirate but shoot your fellow soldier in the meantime! Remember to relax! You're no good to us dead either! So gentlemen, put on your gear and get ready."

The troops quickly put on their gear as SGT Cosmic checked things off on the checklist.
When the troops were done, Cosmic walked over to them.

"Alright, I've designed this simulation the have logical order. Our first target will be the president of the city...The mission will have a tightly guarded situation...be on your guard.

I will be with you in this exercise so don't worry about being alone. Get ready....."

Cosmic was about to punch in a code but stopped.

"One more thing, I want you to notice something. As soon as I turn this thing on, all the dummies will start to move at once. Don't be afraid. They will attack in order. So get prepared!"

Cosmic punched in the code and the simulation began.........

posted March 01, 2001 12:48 PM               

So far, Stitch had managed to relax a bit, but he still found himself checking to make sure the century posts were manned and that they were still awake. Deciding to do something semi-useful, Stitch headed to the medical tent and ducked inside. The smell of "over-clean" never failed to curl his nose hairs, but it wasn't as bad as being in the Mustang's sickbay.

A friendly looking Sergeant nodded and smiled at Stitch and continued to check on the trooper next to him, sleeping on a cot. Moving quietly around, Stitch saw the face of the trooper and he couldn't have been 18 years old.

Shaking his head he moved to another cot and saw a Master Sergeant that was a bit older, but still fairly young. A small locket was hanging on the bedpost and was hanging open. Without waking the MSGT, Stitch bent down to see what was in the locket. Before he could get a look inside the locket he felt a slap on his chest and looked down to see the iron grip of the Master Sergeant on the collar of his armor. The MSGT growled at Stitch and shoved him backwards.

Trying to regain his composure and balance at once he backed over an empty cot and fell over that, hitting his arm on a crate. He quickly got to his feet and ran out of the tent cradling his arm.

------------------
MED/CPL Greg "Stitch" Swanson/VEA/VE

posted March 01, 2001 06:18 PM               

Sergeant Cosmic was in a heavy sweat. Soldiers around him had been fighting real hard...sweat poured down their faces...finally, they all heard a RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG!

The Bell!

SGT Cosmic heard machines starting to shut down.
"That's it guys! Two hours is up! Good work! Hit the showers and get some rest! It's about twelve 'o clock in the afternoon right now. I'll make sure we start tomorrow. You guys did well...the most important thing to learn about infiltrating is surprise...I'll see if we can take off at 13 hundred hours."

Cosmic motioned them off...the soldiers went and left for the showers...Cosmic overlooked some papers before heading to the showers himself...he checked off names that succeeded in the sim. So far, everyone had done well..no one was "killed".

Cosmic walked out of the room to hit the showers...and talk to Fury about the 13 hundred hour mission........tomorrow.

posted March 02, 2001 11:25 PM              

"Hey Jap,what can I do for you?"asked Cosmic

"Sign me up"said Japer

"What?"asked Cosmic

" You heard me, sign me up for the mission"said japer

"But what about your arm? You can't fight with that arm!"pleaded Cosmic

"Look Cos, I need to do this. If I die it really wouldnt hurt anybody. I mean, not even my own wife cares if I die."said Japer

"Ok, whatever. Come down the simulation room to practice."said Cosmic

"Ok,I will be there in a few minutes."said Japer

Japer put on the simulation equipment and practiced for about 3 hours and then finally when he was done he decied to take a shower and prepare for the next day...

------------------
you ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight

posted March 03, 2001 12:07 AM               

The clear voice of one of the officers from the medic tent could be heard through the speaker. "Your Squad leader is on the move. He's joining Sergeant Cosmic on his little 'mission.' You stay with the squad leader. Command has been complaining about a shortage of Squad Leaders. LT Walker, out."

Stitch was in the middle of his "Yes sir" when he heard the line break between the comm-link. He sighed and picked up the small medical bag beside him. It contained enough rations for him and everything he would need on the field. He had watched Cosmic and his troops drilling earlier... they were getting better. Much better in fact. Stitch made his way to the "laser tag" arena and found all of the troopers still in training. He looked at a small crono on the desk infront of him and saw that they had seven minutes left to this drill. They all looked hot an sweaty.

After the crono went off and the simulation was finshed, Cosmic was the first one over to Stitch. Stitch asked who the Squad Leader for Squad 2 and Cosmic jerked a thumb back to a worn-out looking Master Sergeant... the same one from the medical tent. Gulping, Stitch introduced himself to MSGT Japer and then to the rest of the group. He was to be their field medic. Japer seemed not to remember being angry at Stitch, but he wasn't going to offer the memory to him.

Slapping him on the shoulder, Cosmic led Stitch over to a table with the equipment for the simulations on it and said, "Grab a set. You're in the next round."

------------------
MED/CPL Greg "Stitch" Swanson/VEA/VE

posted March 03, 2001 12:28 AM               

Sergeant Cosmic gave Stitch some papers to fill out for being a medic. So far, the troops have done well....even Master Sergeant Japer. Even though his arm was kind of out of order, he still packed a punch.

In all of the rounds, no one has gotten hit or even close to it. Cosmic smiled.
"Gentlemen!" Cosmic yelled as the simulation stopped. "I am very pleased with your work here. Seeing your work right now at one 'o clock in the morning is great. We won't be doing any sims anymore. WERE GOING ON A MISSION!"

All of the troops yelled at this. It appeared that MSJ was the happiest...longing to fight was what he was longing.

Cosmic motioned to hit the showers.
"I want you to take a shower and then rest for like twenty minutes while I take it up with Platoon Commander Fury to launch the mission. You've done well troops! You've dodged everything. Good work!"

The troops yelled once again and then left for the showers tent.
Cosmic watched as Japer walked out of the simulation centre....

Cosmic quickly ran to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
Japer turned around and saw Cosmic.
"Hey Cos! Great sim eh? Oh, thanks for letting me get into this...I really appreciate it."

Cosmic gave Japer a look. "In fact, that's what I want to talk to you about, Jap. It's your arm. I have different feelings about you going into battle with us."

Japer knew that something was going to come up. "Oh? Like what?" He asked.
"Well Jap, you have kind of a bum arm. You are more likely to get killed out there with just one arm..."

Japer motioned with his hand "no problem". "Hey, all I want is to fight in this mission.."
"Yeah, but Jap, if you get killed, it's not good for the VE...a squad won't have a leader....and it'll look bad on my part...they'll think, High Command will think that I didn't play my part in this misison well enough...letting you die in this mission."

Japer took a deep breath.
"Listen, why don't you and I go talk to Fury ok? Let me see what he's going to say first before letting you come with us alright?"

Japer shook his head. "I know exactly what he's going to say, Cos. 'You're arm is injured, so you should stay in the medic tent for at least another weak.' I just know he's going to say that Cos! C'mon! Please! Just let me stay in!"

Cosmic sighed. "Jap, if you get killed out there it'll look bad on my record...I'm not supposed to let anybody get killed!" Cosmic was more insistant now.

"C'mon Jap, let's go talk to Fury...I promise that I will try to get you into this..Ok?"

Japer nodded. "Fine. Let's go."
Cosmic nodded. "Good. Let's go take a shower then we'll take it up with Fury."

Japer and Cosmic left the building and hit the showers...

posted March 03, 2001 06:23 AM               

Each squad had dug a nice defensive position in while artillery and some regimental repulsortanks helped keep the pirate forces off their backs. It seemed that the enemy didn't want to mix it up in an urban area again, so they had decided to rush the Imperial lines before an offensive could begin. Fury had seen another eight of the aerial cannon platforms get hit from enemy return fire from just his vantage. The few recon passes made by TIEs had come pretty close to being shot down as well. This time the enemy was experienced, determined, and angry. Once they held off the incoming assault, it was going to be a slugfest taking this objective.

Removing his helmet, he took a couple quick pulls from a canteen and waited for his noncoms to arrive. It was a welcome respite from digging firing pits. Presently, a captured landspeeder arrived with the two troopers emerging with grey regular army tunics over their infiltration clothing.

Both saluted as Cosmic spoke. "LT, MSG Japer has been down at our training site working to try out for the mission. As he's still technically on sick leave he didn't check it in with you. Now, I don't want to make a judgement call that will go on record, sir, but it is my opinion that, while he can hold up his end of the fighting, he's just too hurt to be able to handle the scope of what we're getting into."

Fury nodded. "Japer? Your thoughts?"

Looking a little uneasy, Japer began. "Look, Lieutenant, it's not like I can't shoot straight. I have an injured arm. My legs work, my eyes can focus, my finger can pull a trigger. I can do this mission."

"Okay, nobody's calling you an invalid. Ease off sarge. Here's the problem I've got. We're about to get bum-rushed by about a legion of enemy troops. Rather than retreat to the garrison and pop them off like womprats in a box canyon, command wants to take them down right here...without giving ground of any kind. I was gonna pull you out of a medtent myself in a few hours.

"Look, I've got a mix of new troopers and some well-armed regulars to replace your squad. I need you to use them as roving reinforcements. Iron Horse is hurt, the rest of us aren't that great either. The regulars are only going to be able to help so much, so whatever you can do to fill the gaps will be of great assistance.

"Besides, Cosmic's team may be rappelling, dangling from towers, ceilings, crawling through sewer pipes...a lot of athletic things that require full mobility. Stand by." Fury got the access code for central personnel and tracked down the new medic, CPL Stitch.

"Corporal, this is Lieutenant Fury. I've noticed you've been assigned to MSG Japer. Could I get your professional opinion of his condition?" Fury waited, then spoke out loud. "Fit, but only insofar as ground combat is concerned...Some loss of mobility and activity until healed...Uh huh, understood. Thoughts about the mission as you have been told them? Okay, thanks for the heads up soldier." Cutting the connection, Fury looked up at the duo in front of him.

"Between those two factors, I'd rather you be here on the line where I do need you in a leadership position than hurting yourself more on what's already mushrooming into a big mission. Can you deal with that?"

Japer looked disappointed but nodded, "Yes sir. What now?"

"Well, grab your gear, get Stitch back over here and assembled at the bunker you passed on the way here at 1900 hours. We'll move you into position and hopefully we'll all be in place by dawn. Intel says we will be getting some company by then." Turning to Cosmic, "You'd better get your team out of here ASAP. It'll be hard to get out of this area undetected once everyone puts up probes and whatnot. So, good luck trooper." Fury extended his hand and shook Cosmic's. "And Japer?" Japer turned around. "Next time there's a glory mission, it's yours."

The two troopers walked off to the waiting landspeeder while Fury grudgingly picked up his entrenching tool again and got back to work.

------------------
2LT Fury
PLT CMDR/2LT Fury/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1REG/TF Devastator/VEA/VE [IOC]