[IC] Star Wars - The last light goes dark

[Rultaos]

((Hillan has dropped out of the game. The GM used a dice-roll to determine Isaac's fate))

"Move it! Go! Go!" Radio shouted as he and Mech emerged from their position and sprinted towards the AAT's. The two Jedis also emerged from cover and began running at the other AAT's. Isaac and Jason used the force to jump on top of the AAT's as a few droids tried to blast them in the air, and then began cutting away at the hatches with their lightsabers.

Meanwhile, Radio and Mech were just running up to their target. Radio and Mech quickly fired upon the B1 droids guarding the tanks to cover the Jedi. Afterwards Mech knelt down to boost his squadmate up to the top of the tank, while Radio quickly hopped onto his hands and pulled himself on top of the main gun. "Gyaah!" The B1 droid commanding the tank exclaimed as it swiftly ducked down and shut the hatch. Radio knelt down on the main gun and slammed his fist on the hatch. "Blast! Damn droid closed it on me!" He exclaimed angrily. He quickly drew a breaching charge and stuck in on the hatch as a makeshift explosive. He then jumped off as the device detonated and opened the hatch.

As they did that, Isaac and Jason were coming up to help them, when suddenly a few B2 Super Battledroids turned around and fired upon them. The two Jedi had to tun on their lightsabers and deflect the blaster fire as they backed away into cover. Meanwhile, the AAT hijacked by Spotter and Cockpit turned towards the SBD's and started firing its guns. "Mech, boost me up and cover the general!" Radio commanded. Mech nodded and knelt down as Radio quickly jumped up once more. After helping Radio up, Mech armed his DC-17's blaster and started firing at the B2's. As Radio reached the top of the hatch however, the main gun swiftly started doing a 180 degree turn, forcing Radio off balance, and knocking the commando off. He had to grab onto the barrel of the gun to stay up. "Dysfunctional metalheads!" Radio cried in rage as he climbed back up the gun.

Once he reached the top however, the main gun suddenly fired, forcing Radio to brace himself to avoid falling again. He quickly activated his detonator and dropped it inside, jumping off as it exploded and destroyed the tank. The Commando was breathing heavily and knelt on the ground. "Radio, Mech, what's your status? Me and Cockpit are firing upon what's left as the droids to let Thrasher's men advance." Spotter said over the comms. Radio glanced towards the lower left portion of his HUD that showed the vital-signs of his squad. "Me and Mech are fine.... We're regrouping now to-" Radio started but was cut off by Mech.

"Sir. We have a problem." Mech said flatly. Radio stood up and headed towards his squadmate. "Oh blast..." Radio said in a trembling voice. Mech was kneeling on the ground, above the limp forms of both Isaac Newgate and Jason Veritars. A little way down, the ground was scorched, indicating they had been shot by a powerful armament and were launched to where they were now. "The Jedi are down. I repeat, the Jedi are down!" Radio said frantically into his comms. "What?!" Thrasher exclaimed in disbelief. "Damn it all... Thrasher, we need a medic here now!" Spotter added.

---

A little while after the last of the droids were wiped out, Clone troopers were carrying the bodies of the two Jedi and rushing them into a Gunship. Kappa squad was lined up near the ship, looking upon their Jedi leaders as they were secured inside the ship. A Clone Medic approached them. "General Newgate is severely wounded. But he should live if we get him to a bacta tank quickly enough. As for Padawan Veritars... He was dead the moment he got hit. There was nothing we could do." The Clone reported. "Understood..." Spotter replied somberly.

Thrasher approached the squad. "What happened? What... The blazes happened?!" Thrasher said angrily. Kappa Squad could not speak, they knew they had made a terrible mistake. "We gravely miscalculated..." Spotter replied. "That's a Hell of an understatement, commando! We just lost the support of two Jedi and a Gunship because of your gamble." Thrasher said aggressively. The Clone sighed. "I'll reassign two demolition squads to give you support for your sabotage. I hope your squad is still worth this entire operation..." Thrasher continued, quieting down a bit as he returned to his tank.

Suddenly, the city-wide speakers and their comms came to life at the exact same moment. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. This is Dai Yeelo..."

"What is this? How did he get on our frequency?!" Thrasher asked, but none of the Clones could provide an answer. The strange announcer told them about how he had planted a virus on the droids, and that they would help them fight back the CIS. "I don't know if we should trust this... Hold your fire if you spot any droids that match that description, but take them down if they try to shoot you." Thrasher ordered. "Yes sir!" The Troopers responded in unison. "I hope this is true though. It will be one of the first good things to happen today..." He muttered to himself.

"We're moving out, men. Get ready!" Thrasher said over the comms. Kappa Squad returned to Gunship Triton in silence. As the doors closed, Radio spoke up. "I'm sorry, squad. It's my fault we lost them. I didn't destroy my target fast enough..." He said sadly. Normally this would be the time Cockpit made a joke to lighten their mood, but even he was silenced by the severity of the situation. So Spotter took it upon himself to speak.

"Don't talk like that, Commando." He said. Radio turned towards him. "But sir, I-" He replied, but was cut off. "Remember what our trainer said... The reason we're squads is because we are just pieces; we aren't whole. Without a shoulder, the arm can't move. Without a head, the body is useless. Everything we do is made possible by each other. Your victory is our victory. Your failure, is our failure. You are never alone in whatever you do. Never forget that, soldier." Spotter explained.

Radio lowered his head. "Yes sir... I apologize." He said. Cockpit piped up. "Lighten up, brother. We still got another battle ahead of us. And I don't wanna annoy anyone by having our communications expert crying over the comms" He said in mock seriousness. Radio actually made something of a chuckle after that. "Yeah yeah, I got it..." Radio replied.

Spotter briefly smiled under his helmet, but only for a moment. He knew they still had a fight ahead of them. This time, he did not intend to suffer even greater losses. They would complete their objective, and pave the way for the assault force; He would not fail again.

[Nariata]

As Anora and her squad entered the building where she could find help not only for her Blackguard brother but also Spar, she began to feel a sense of dread fall upon her. With an audible thud her good shoulder fell into a nearby wall as the injury to her ankle had finally got the better of her. She looked around the shop, and after finding nothing worth her note she rested her weary eyes on the doctor they had come to see. Her right brow arched up underneath her mask as she examined the man, if he could even be called that with the extensive amount of cybernetics that adorned his body. He seemed to be more metal than man, something that made a shiver fall down her spine. She would not speak to the cyborg, instead she raised a finger towards the Mandalore and motioned with it for him to come over. The sound of his heavy feet beating a quick path across the worn floor could be heard across the room as he made his way towards Anora.

“Yes ma'am, what do you need.” He said as he crossed his arms and stood in a relaxed stance. Anora turned her body to face him, as well as point her thumb towards the man who could heal her squad.

“I need you to agree on a price with him, he will most likely try and bleed us dry.” Her body moved closer and her left hand fell on his shoulder with a tight grip. “Make sure he does not.” The Mandalore simple nodded his head in acceptance before he stormed off to talk to the doctor. With a turn of the body, and with a palm raised and outstretched towards the wall, she went back to leaning against the wall as she waited. Her head began to feel hot, the helmet was not really designed to be used in the hotter sub-levels and had a very underpowered cooling system when compared to others.
Her right hand raise dup and flicked her hood back, and with a quick motion with her free hand she lifted her mask off her face. Her free hand moved up and glided over the top of her horns and down her heavily bariaded hair. Her eyes darted left upon hearing a voice.

“That's not what I expected you to look like.” Spoke Spar as he rocked back and forth ever so slightly as he let out a soft left laugh.

“Oh? And what did you expect, something hideous?” She quickly chimed back as a fake grin raised itself up her right cheek. She quickly moved her hair until it swirled around her neck like many snakes around their prey. The Mandalorian quick removed his helmet as well, causing an eyebrow to raise and a jaw to drop on Anora's face. Her right hand quickly placed itself on her lightsaber as a reflex but she quickly removed it.

“You look like a clone, Spar.” She quickly spoke “Not what I expected either.”

“I am a clone, rather was born one. I was born with the name Alpha-Ø2..” He paused as he placed his helmet underneath his right arm “Never got the whole obedience thing down so I escaped from Kamiao when I was still young.” He said asthe corner of his lips fell, and an empty expression came upon his face.

“Ma'am” Spoke the Mandalore in a quick voice as he approached form her side. “The Jedi and a small group have entered the sub-levels according to that doctor over there.” He said as he readied his blaster “I suggest we distract them while your Blackguard heals over night. Lead them away from this post.”

“I agree.” She responded as she moved to Spar's side and whispered in a soft voice “You stay here.”

“But ma-” He tried to respond

“That's an order, you need to heal more than I do.” She spoke as she gave him a pat on the shoulder. “After he can walk and you're healed, meet us on level 1525, when you arrive make radio contact but only then. Radio silence until you reach that level or the Jedi find you. Protect him, no matter what do not let the Jedi take him away. You understand?” She said as her eyes matched his with a firece look.

“I understand” He said as he placed his helmet back on his head and went over to the Bacta tanks.

“You” Anora spoke as her finger was thrust towards the face Mandalore. . “Let's give those beasts a target to hunt.”

[TheUnknowable]

Kal caught a bit of the conversation between the Mandolorians and Anora. The last few sentences gave him pause though. Hadn't he just told her that he wouldn't let her war spill over to the sublevels?
"Wait a second," said Kal walking up to her as she lifted her cloak, "I can't have you waging a war down here in the sublevels. You need to buy time for your people to recover, fine. I'll go meet the Jedi and offer to guide them. I'll take them to clubs, information brokers, and the like for the next day or so. They'll think I'm helping them out, but I won't let them get near you. After that, I'll leave them at some club and tell them that I give up."
Without waiting for a reply, he motioned for his people to get ready. "You wait here while I go talk to them." As he moved to leave, the message came through a nearby comms unit Drask had set up in the waiting room. It was by a slicer who claimed to have taken control of several battle droids, and sabotaged the rest. "If that's true," Kal said to Anora, "then you have just become far more valuable to your cause."

[POOPHEAD189]

5 minutes later, Coruscant sub-level...

---

"Dai Yeelo, who's this clown?"

"Hacker, wasn't much trouble before, don't know how he got to the droids."

The group, consisted of three security officers and a jedi, made their way through the underbelly of Coruscant. Guided by specialist Yann's tracking device and Morrin's force detection, they now stood a couple of buildings away from a shady looking clinic.

"Doesn't matter to us," Nya reminded. The sub-levels were damp and foul smelling, making her skin churn in many uncomfortable ways. The Firrereo took off her sweat drenched helmet, cliping it to her backpack while smoothing out her dual tone hair with her free hand. "This looks like the place."

"I should setup over there," sergeant Hemmings pointed to a platform overlooking the clinic. "Looks like a good vantage point."

Nya nodded in agreement. She watched as Hemmings slung his sniper rifle on his back before climbing onto a pipe, traversing a series of ledges and boards, and finally disappeared out of her view. The three remaining members proceeded forward, stopping again in front of the clinic.

"Alright," Hemmings announced. "I'm in the shadows here, got a good sight line on the door but can't see inside."

"That is fine," Morrin noted, he tipped his feline head at the direction of the clinic entrance. A man, with a bionic arm, made his way out of the building. "They are coming to us; let me handle this."

Morrin slowly approached the cyborg man, with Nya and Yann not far behind him. The togorian raised his paw in greeting, while at the same time, channeling the force for persuasion. "Hello. My companions and I are looking for the invaders, force users and mandolorian mercenaries. We believe they have gone through the clinic, do you have any information?"

[Rultaos]

"Airfield is just up ahead sir. Multiple contacts are around the perimeter." A Clone sniper said into his comms as he peeked out from one of the higher floors of an office building. He examined the outskirts of the airfield with the scope of his rifle while a fellow clone watched his back. Droid patrols surrounded the place, AAT's stood sentinel, several Dwarf Spider Droids patrolled the area and scaled buildings to get a vantage point, and Droid snipers were positioned in the higher floors of the airfield structures.

"They have plenty of heavy weaponry and snipers protecting the place. AAT's at the front, Spider Droids on the roofs. A head-on assault is gonna put us right in the middle of a firestorm." The sniper said. Several floors below him, Thrasher's company stood on standby. "A head-on assault is our whole purpose for being here, soldier... Alright, get back down here and rejoin your squad." Thrasher replied. "Alright... Tank line one. Head off to the sides, and prepare to flank the enemy. Squads one to five, move through the buildings, and get ready to provide cover and suppressive fire when we begin the assault. The rest of the squads, take position behind the tanks and be prepared to find other cover once things get hot." He ordered. "You're leading the attack straight on, sir?" A Clone trooper asked him. "Where else would I rather be?" Thrasher answered with some enthusiasm. "Let's give these droids a little taste of the Republic's wrath!" He continued. "Sir, yes sir!" The clones answered in unison. And with that, the diversionary force began getting into position.

---

Meanwhile, Gunship Triton received the order to break off from the main squadron, and wait for a Sniper to let them know the most poorly defended area to break through. "Understood, sir." The pilot said. With that, the Gunship carrying the commandos flew off. Behind them followed another Gunship holding the demolition squads Thrasher had given them.

Inside the dark passenger area of the Gunship, Kappa Squad was doing a final check on their equipment. "Cockpit, how's our explosives?" Spotter asked as he counted his detonators and ammunition clips. "Counting the ones Mech is carrying and estimating the Demolition squads'... Enough ordnance to level an entire garrison, sir!" Cockpit replied. Spotter nodded. "Alright... Kappas! Get ready for action. This entire operation is banking on our success. This airfield WILL be put back into the hands of The Republic. No matter what it takes." Spotter said forcefully for one last boost of morale for his team. "Time to deliver their one-way ticket to the Hell." Cockpit said. "This will send a message to the Seps..." Radio added. Mech simply looked at Spotter and clutched his weapon tightly as he gave a short nod.

"We've found a good place to hold position. We'll stay here until the coordinates have been given." The pilot said into his comms. "Roger that! We're beginning the attack now!" Thrasher replied. Blaster-fire could be heard in the background of his voice.

---

"FOR THE REPUBLIC!" A white Clone Trooper shouted as he and his squad advanced through an open street to reach the airfield. They ran towards the wall of the area, firing their blasters wildly at the multiple B1 and B2 droids standing on top of the wall. The Droids began returning fire and a B1 manning a stationary gun turret mowed them down before they crossed the street.

"Damn Spaarti-cloned idiots... We need real soldiers for this assault..." A Clone Trooper with the blue markings of the 501st said as he took cover behind the debris of buildings as red blaster shots were flying over them and hitting their cover. "Have you been able to re-establish contact with the other squads or General Skywalker?!" He shouted towards a 501st Clone handling his comm set. "Negative, sir. No luck." The Clone replied. "Damn it all... We need support here or we'll never be able to advance!" The squad leader said. "Sir! We got movement on the wall!" Another clone said, pointing at the wall occupied by the Droid guards. The suppressive fire began decreasing as several B2 Super Battle Droids and squads of B1's began moving along the top of the wall, heading somewhere else.

"Where are those clankers going?" The squad leader wondered out loud. "Don't know... But this gives us a bit of an opportunity." The previous Clone said. "We need to take out their heavy gunners. But how do we-" The squad leader began. However, he was suddenly interrupted by two Gunships flying out through the gaps of the buildings, going above them, and firing its weapons on the droids on the wall.

"Hahaha! Well, what do you know, sir?!" The squadmate said. "Advance up, now! Prepare your grappling hooks for rapid ascension." The squad leader said. With that, the squad of three Clones quickly ran through the street and prepared to scale the wall.

---

Kappa Squad quickly jumped off their Gunship, and dropped onto the wall after it had been cleared of droid contacts. "Secure the area! Don't let any droids alert the rest of them!" Spotter ordered both his team and the Demolition squads as the Gunships turned around to leave. The Demo squads had the same Dark-Maroon markings of the 717th, but had Engineer helmets and had backpacks carrying explosives. They were also armed with DC-15 blasters. The section of the wall had been cleared, and the inner area below it was also empty. The nearest living droids were too far to notice them, for the moment.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of grappling hooks latching onto the wall. Instinctively, the Kappas and the Clone Engineers aimed their DC's at the hooks. However, they lowered their weapons as soon as they saw three Clones of the 501st climb up to the wall. One of the troopers saluted them. "Sir! Clone sergeant, Sync of the 501st. Reporting for duty, sir!" He said. Spotter saluted back. "Spotter, Commando of the Spec Ops Brigade. What's the situation here, Sync?" He asked. The clone lowered his salute. "Me and my squad were sent to destroy Anti-Air batteries in the airfield to keep the skies open for General Skywalker and his squadron. But resistance was too heavy. We got separated. The other squads are probably dead, and only two troops are left of my team." Sync explained.

Spotter nodded. "Well you're in luck. We're here to sabotage these Separatists for the combined assault of General Skywalker and the 717th. What are the locations of these batteries?" The commando asked. One of Sync's squadmates stepped forward. "We were given these holomaps detailing the position of our targets." He said as he produced a map of the airfield. "The anti-air batteries are scattered across the field. Covering the entire area of the sky above the airfield. There's two on the north and south, with one on the west and east side each. They're all well-defended." He explained, pointing to the red, highlighted area on the map.

Spotter looked it over for a moment, quickly formulating a plan before turning to the Demolition squads. "Alright, you go with these troopers and help them destroy their targets. Me and my squad will continue to covertly move about the field to seek and destroy other targets. Once the batteries are down, you boys should do the same. When you're finished, let us know and we'll contact Commander Flash to begin his attack. Then we regroup at the Imperator docking area to assist in the final push. Is that clear?" Spotter explained.

One of the Demolition squad leaders spoke up. "Are you sure you'll be fine on your own?" He asked. "I work better when I'm only leading my squad. It keeps us quick and coordinated. We'll trust you to do your part if you trust us to do ours." Spotter answered. The Clone Engineer nodded. "Alright then" He said. He then turned to the 501st soldiers. "You three, take us to your targets." He said. "Yes sir." The three clones said they scaled down the wall, and headed off to the western side of the field.

"No time to waste, Kappas. We've got some munitions to destroy." Spotter said as he and his squad began rappelling down the wall to search for possible targets.