[h3]First Platoon[/h3]
While the handful of men from the Sapper platoon assisted the Special Operations platoon in the hangar bay, Captain Karada’s first platoon continued to fight their way toward the bow of the ship. They found every passageway blocked as they pushed forward. The sappers took the time to place charges and blow out the blast doors. After each explosion, there was an ensuing firefight.

“We may as well remain together with all these obstacles between us and our objective,” Captain Karada spoke to his section leaders over the radio. “First Squad take the lead. Sergeant Paltoy, cover the right in case a door should open.

Sergeant Pendragon’s section increased fire forward as they advanced into the mercenary’s view. Within seconds of the first section’s advance into the enemy fire, Trooper Vijay Aidasani, a Kuati native took a laser blast square in the chest. It sent him flying back across the floor. His body now lifeless and unmoving. A pair of third section soldiers quickly pulled Trooper Aidasani’s corpse back out of the line of fire. They didn’t know he was dead until they began checking his vitals.

Corporal Kramuk, the third assistant section leader looked up at Captain Karada shaking his head in a slow morose manner, indicative of finding a dead comrade. “Well, we can’t expect for all of us to live,” the first platoon commander spoke out of turn. He was hurt by the loss, but knew it was possible. This is the nature of the game, when you live by the gun, often enough, you die by the gun. “Corporal, get your section into the fight. Reinforce the first section!” The Captain ordered the section forward. Maybe they could get two sections to focus on the enemy.

As soon as the third section entered the fray, Trooper Ananya Corbo, a female Alderaanian soldier took a shot to the face, causing blood to splatter across two of her section mates. When the realized what had happened; the horror hit them hard. The two vomited on the floor where Ananya once stood. Seconds after Trooper Corbo fell, Captain Mosh Karada took a laser shot in the throat decapitating his head from his body. The four section soldiers were near their platoon commander when he felt and were mortified to see the man they looked up to  lost in such a manner.

Major Tavik caught up with the platoon just as Captain Karada lost his head. He also was taken aback. The Captain was someone he respected. They  may not have always got along on everything, but knew the Captain was a veteran of the clone wars. Major Tavik respected the m an for his experience. He was immobilized for almost a full minute until he finally shook himself out of it. He turned to his left spying Senior Sergeant Raydon Kent. The Commandant looked squarely at the platoon sergeant, “Sergeant! You are the platoon leader! Get this platoon moving!”

Sergeant Kent considered the Captain a good friend and a valuable asset to Rancor Company. He was deeply saddened by the loss of Captain Karada. He knew he would have to take over as the Platoon Leader. “Yes sir!” Sergeant Kent yelled at the Company Commander.

He charged forward behind the third squad. “Increase your fire! Get these bastards!”

Major Tavik turned to the company frequency to let the other platoon leaders know. “All Ranco elements, this is Major Tavik. It saddens me to tell you all, but Captain Mosh Karada of the 332nd Mobile Assault Infantry Company has perished. Senior Sergeant Raydon Kent has taken over as the First Platoon Commander.” The Commandant paused briefly to allow that to sink in. Then he rekeyed his mic and spoke, “I want a SITREP from each of the platoon commanders.”

Captain Kruger was a very good friend of the Mosh Karada’s. He wanted to weep. He felt the loss the hardest. He slid to the floor beside a vehicle in the [i]Majestic’s[/i] bay. He shook terribly. He could feel his eyes welling him, but resisted the urges. Finally, he pulled himself together and regained his footing. “Felidron! Increase the fire! That means you took, Lieutenant!” He was angry and wanted to kill everyone on this ship for the loss of his friend. The Sapper Platoon Commander, Percy Lomax had only met Captain Karada in the past few weeks. He had the impression the Captain was a knowledgeable officer and he held true respect for the man. He knew this would be a terrible loss to eh first platoon if not the company as a whole.