The doors separating the corridors they were fighting in dropped with a suddenness. Everyone stared in odd curiosity; initially taken aback by the abrupt silence. Moments ago, blasfire raced back and forth between the rebels of Rancor company and the mercenaries of the [i]Majestic[/i]. But now, everything was quiet. Both sides stared at a black door obstructing their path from continuing their fight.
 
“Sergeant Duron!” Captain Karada yelled. “I believe Sergeant Paltoy needs a breach. Do you have any?”

Sergeant Duron, also immobilized by the sudden appearance of the door blocking their path stuttered to attention. The Captain’s words, brought him out of his fog. “Uh…yes….yes, sir.” He patted himself down as if looking for something. Then pulled out a small charge. He handed it to Corporal Martus. “Go make a hole, Dev,” the section leader ordered his demolitionist.

“Roger that, sergeant,” the corporal grabbed the charge, then ran forward to where second section was still crouched behind whatever cover they found.

“Sergeant Paltoy,” Corporal Martus spoke to the section leader. “I am going to blow a hole in this door, please have your people move back.”

Sergeant Paltoy also stunned, but looking for a way out of their current situation. “Yes! Will do Corporal! Thank you!” She smiled when she realized what the sapper was going to do. She turned to her section, “everyone! Get up and move back! We’re going to blow the door!” 

As the section pulled back closer to the rest of the platoon, which had by now entered the ship through the boarding tube. Blast marks marred the walls and passageways around the first platoon members. A few mercenary corpses littered the corridor they hunkered down in. They were in the fight and ready to move forward. But this sudden appearance of a door halted their progress. Captain Karada was annoyed with the blockage.

Major Tavik came through the hole, taking a position to Mosh’s right. “Don’t worry Captain, the other platoons are experiencing the same problem. The third platoon has already broken through and are in a fight near the Venator’s bridge. Lieutentant Lomax has been hit and Sergeant Felidron has taken over the Sapper Platoon temporarily. I have lost contact with the second platoon leader. He has sent me no sitreps. Blow your hole and carry on.”

Major Tavik looked at the Sapper NCO, “Sergeant, how many of those charges do you have on you?”

The sergeant looked at the major, stood at attention and replied, “Sir, I have three additional charges and Corporal Martus has four. We have only the seven between us.”

“That should be sufficient for now. Carry on, sergeant.” Major Tavik then turned away from the battle and listened to a report from Captain Kruger.

His receiver crackled in his ear. Captain Karada listened as well, [i]”the sappers have breached the inner door. The Chakaar operators are here. They are under fire. We are backing them up. Helping to defend the hangar bay against the mercenaries.”[/i]

“Well done, Lorne,” Major Tavik answered. “Link up with Captain Besk if you can find him. Give him a status update on our progress. Tavik, out.” [@HeySeuss]

With these words spoken, the charge against the door impeding the first platoon’s progress detonated, leaving a rather large hole in the corridor, rendering several people in the second section temporarily deaf. Sergeant Paltoy had enough for thought to run towards the opening and toss a thermal detonator inside while lasblasts resumed their passage back and forth through the opening. The second section took up positions and continued their advancing fire.

The blast of the breaching charge and subsequent thermal detonator were enough to momentarily stun the mercenaries and hand the second section a brief opportunity to exploit the advantage. A few members ran through the door, taking covered positions along the side walls, returning fire.

Captain Karada moved closer to get a better look. He motioned for Sergeant Li Pendragon to follow him. He wanted the first section to be ready to fight through the second section. Mosh turned to his first section leader, “Sergeant, be prepared to take your section through the door. Second section will drop a few more thermals on them and then you and your people charge in, got it!?”

“Yes sir,” Sergeant Pendragon responded.

With the orders given, a lasblast hit Mosh in the side of the helmet knocking him to the ground. He was stunned, but otherwise unhurt. He rose to a kneeling position and adjusted his position so he wasn’t immediately in the line of fire again.

“Man that smarts,” Captain Karada muttered as he checked his helmet and his head. Aside from the blast marks on the side, he was otherwise unharmed.

“Keep pushing forward Mosh. We need to clear this ship,” Major Tavik spoke without asking him about his condition. The man saw the first platoon commander go down, but was just as caught up in the moment as everyone else.

“Yes sir. Will do. Yes, I am fine,” Captain Karada responded with a neutral tone. ‘Bastard!’ he thought to himself.

Major Tavik turned away from the first platoon commander. He called over the company net, “Sergeant Major, have Sergeant Dumas and Corporal Delmont bring up more breaching charges and thermal detonators. All four platoons will need a resupply before too long. The crew of the [i]Majestic[/i] have dropped blast doors, blocking our paths. We have been able to blast our way through, but will need more explosives to continue our mission. Check with the ship’s crew. See if we can get some help pushing the charges and detonators forward, over.”

[i]“Aye, aye, sir,”[/i] came the response from the Company Sergeant. The sailors in the Combat Information Center behind the bridge heard the transmission and were made aware of the current obstacle in front of Rancor Company’s advance.


[@CaptainBritton][@Lauder][@POOHEAD189]