[center][h3][b][u]Commonwealth Embassy, Duro One[/u][/b][/h3][/center]

[b]“Get that transport loaded!”[/b] Sergeant Ross yelled. [b]“NOW!”[/b] The Commonwealth sergeant aimed at figure of a being he could make out in the misty white cloud of tear gas. The rubber bullet he fired struck the being, eliciting a yelp of pain in reply.

[b]“Sarge!”[/b] One of his subordinates yelled. [b]“We’re on our last tear gas grenades!”[/b]

[b]“How much longer till that transport is loaded?”[/b] Ross asked, firing another rubber bullet into the tear gas. The [i]transport[/i] in question was a civilian shuttle they had managed to commandeer from a Commonwealth civilian freighter in orbit. 

[b]“Sixty seconds!”[/b] A second soldier answered.

[b]“Tell those damned fools to hurry!”[/b] Ross ordered. They had been under siege ever since the military junta took control of Duro One. At first the Commonwealth embassy guard figured it would die down. When it became clear the situation was only going to get worse they had requested an extraction, which was quickly cleared and transportation was slated to arrive within the week. When it became clear that the rioters were going to give them a week the embassy had requested aid from any Commonwealth ships in orbit. Hence the single shuttle extraction.

[b]“Take cover!”[/b] A soldier yelled, following his own advice and diving behind some sandbags as a petrol bomb soared in the air towards him. It fell short, with only a few flames reached the sandbags and quickly sputtering out.

Ross himself was forced to dive for cover when an individual using an assault rifle fired at him from within the tear gas. He could feel the riot ramping up. Soon they would rush the embassy in mass and he wouldn’t be able to hold them back. All he had was two squads, one of which was a militia squad. 

[b]“Fire the last of the tear gas grenades!”[/b] Ross ordered. Grenade launchers answered him, launching the last of his supply towards the mass of people beyond the embassy. [b]“I am authorizing the use of lethal force. All soldiers are hereby ordered to switch to combat rounds and shoot to kill.”[/b] He connected his radio to the embassy’s system to use its loudspeakers to speak to the crowd. [b]“Lethal force will now be used on any individuals who attempt to enter the embassy.”[/b]

[b]“The transport is full and lifting off now!”[/b] One of Ross’s militia reported. Good. That meant half of the embassy would soon be safe. All he had to do was keep the rioters back for one more load and then he and his men could be extracted too.

He turned to watch the shuttle lift off and start to climb towards orbit. There was a flash of movement -  a missile! - and then the shuttle was enveloped in a ball of fire. It would appear that Ross and his men wouldn’t be leaving the embassy any time soon.



[center][h3][b][u]Houston, The Free Star Commonwealth[/u][/b][/h3][/center]

[b]“So let me get this straight,”[/b] President Brown said, [b]“we have an embassy under siege, with barely enough soldiers to secure its perimeter during peaceful times, with no means of evacuation on hand, and we have already suffered significant loss of life amongst the embassy staff. Does that about summarize the situation?”[/b]

[b]”Um… yes sir.”[/b] The secretary of defense answered.

[b]”Please tell me the extraction force has already departed.”[/b]

[b]”Well sir it's taking more time then expect to shake loose the ships we need-”[/b] The secretary was cut off by the president slamming his fist into his desk.

[b]”Our people are getting killed out there!”[/b] He yelled. [b]”We should have forces there already to protect them!”[/b]

[b]”Well yes, but our navy-”[/b]

[b]”Why do we even have a navy if its incapable of protecting our people!”[/b] Brown took a deep breath to calm himself. [b]”Pull ships from the defense force here. Anything that can be spared.[/b]”

[b]”But that’ll leave our defense forces here weakened!”[/b]

[b]”Then so be it.”[/b] Brown shot back. [b]”If the relief force doesn’t leave within forty-eight hours I’ll see that you’re held responsible for the loss of every citizen’s life on that damned planet. And if there are any Rangers able to send them too.”[/b]

[b]”Yes mister president. Is there anything else I can do?”[/b]

[b]”Yes, yes there is. You can hand me your resignation before the end of the day.”[/b]