Wanted to end the year off with a chapter kicking off our third major battle in the story. From here Cresh and company will go under many adventures and face any things during the duration of the war. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS NOR ANYTHING IN THIS UNIVERSE!
The Jabiim 9 gripped the handrails of their gunship as they made planetfall. Cresh had decided to ride separately from the Jedi and her companions, instead choosing to lead his own squad consisting of the Jabiim survivors.
They were referring to themselves as the Jabiim 9 now. Cresh could hear the sounds of anti-aircraft weapons. He heard the sounds of detonations. Gunships blown to pieces.
Brothers torn from the troops bays fall to their deaths, or burnt alive in the ensuing explosions.
He uttered a mantra for the departed under his breath. He heard Talon speak up, breaking the chaotic silence as the gunship rocked.
"LOOKS LIKE THE PARTY'S STARTED!" Talon yelled, laughing.
He had one hand on the handrail whilst the other held the Z-6 Rotary cannon that was resting on his shoulders.
The others joined him in laughing, Cresh himself chuckling as well. Then they heard the pilot's voice over the intercoms.
"Get ready for a bumpy ride boys! Enemy fire getting more concentr- a loud detonation rocked the side of the gunship.
"WE'VE BEEN HIT! I REPEAT WE'VE BEE-AHHHH!" Cresh heard the pilot's voice die out. He was probably dead.
The warning lights in the troop bay began to flash red, signalling a crash landing. Cresh gripped the handrail tighter as he looked towards the others.
"ALRIGHT BOYS! GET READY FOR A ROUGH LANDING!" Cresh yelled over warning sirens.
He felt the ship begin to drop down, then all of a sudden, control came back.
" This is Pilot CT-1794! I'm gonna try to stabilize her as best as I can to lessen the damage! Hold on we're gonna go a bit fast!" Yelled the pilot.
The gunship shot downward, at an angle going at increasing speeds. Cresh felt the ship lift upwards then crash down on its bottom, sliding forward.
They all held on, managing to keep their balance. Everything was silent for a moment, dimming red lights illuminating the troop cabins.
Cresh pointed to the doors and yelled, "Get those doors open!"
CliffJumper and Springer went to force open the doors. Cresh readied his SC4 rifle he looted from a Nimbus Commando and brought it to bear as he exited the ship, Garm and Sif flanking his sides.
Talon, Stag, and Mags exited from the opposite side with Kir following behind them. They checked the area, having landed in a broken city.
"Kir! Stag! Check on the pilots! We leave no brother behind. This will not be like Jabiim!" He yelled.
The two went to work checking the pilot canopies. Cresh scanned the area with the scope of his rifle. All clear so far.
"Captain Cresh we got a survivor! It's the copilot! Pilot seat is completely destroyed and caved in! Getting him out now!" Yelled Kir.
Cresh and the others took the front of the gunship as Kir and Stag came down with the Co-Pilot, laying him down gently. Cresh came down to a kneel beside him as the others formed up around them.
The pilot groaned in pain. His helmet's visor was shattered and his armor was dented and slightly burnt.
Cresh smiled, placing a hand gently upon his shoulder.
"Don't worry Nitro. We're gonna get you outta here and all fixed up." He said as he stood up.
"Nitro sir?" Asked Kir as he and Stag helped the wounded pilot up.
"Aye my boy! That shall be our brother's name! Now let's get a move on my boys!" As he said this his wrist comm began to beep.
"Captain Cresh come in! Can you read me? This is General Karr! What's your status?!" Said the device.
He responded.
"Reading you loud and clear Al'Verde! We had a bit of a rough landing but we're still here! Landed in a deserted city!"
"Hold your position! We'll be sending a gunship to your location!" She said.
"Aye! Aye Al'verde!" He said as the comms went off.
"Alright Jabiim 9! Find a position and hunker down! We'll hold here until evac arrives!" Cresh said .
They made it to the rooftop of a building and set down Nitro while Kir attended to him. Since Jabiim,Kir has decided to take on the medic role of the team.
CliffJumper and Springer served as scouts.
Cresh had sent them to check ahead for any enemy movement towards their position.
The two returned shortly after brandishing news. Group droids were coming their way. Majority were B1 battle droids with a few super battle droids in the mix. Their best bet was to hold them off here till aid arrived.
Mags wielded a Decee with sniper configuration so he would serve as overwatch. He took position near the ledge of the building to grant him the best vantage point. Talon and his Z6 would be on the door in case they made it inside. The others would be with him on top of the building.
It wasn't long until they caught sight of the droids. Cresh held up an open hand, telling the squad to hold their fire.
He waited until he was certain they were close enough then closed his fist. A volley of blue bolts alongside the red of his own rifle rained down on the droids. The first wave of B1 battle droids were reduced to scrap. The second wave returned fire, forcing them to take cover.
Mags was focusing his fire on the Super Battle droids in the mix. Those things were mighty durable. It took him around two shots to down them. Just as it seemed the tide was moving in their favor a droid gunship began to make its approach.
"Focus your fire on the droids! I'll handle the gunship! He yelled.
The others continued their assault on the approaching droids with Talon holding the doorway. Cresh began preparations to handle the gunship.
"EREEEEE WE GOOOOOOO!" yelled Talon as he let loose a wave of blue death from his rotary cannon.
The droids were pushed back until their larger super battle droids brethren stepped forward. These bastards were capable of taking more damage before going down.
A group of them came forward soaking up damage and firing back as they fell, forcing Talon back. Garm was at his brother's side with his Dp-23 Shotgun pumping them full of blaster bolts.
However their battle formation was shrinking. Droids attacking them from the rear and the gunship coming forward, brushing off all their rounds.
Cresh activated the grenade launcher attachment on his rifle, letting loose a grenade to strike the gunship at its front, the detonation was slightly massive, damaging the ship and causing it to crash into a nearby building and explode.
As he went to load a replacement round he heard a dreadful noise. Vulture droids closing in from the distance.
If they came now it would be the end of them. None of their weapons could stop them. They were too fast and with the droid forces approaching them from behind, there was no escape.
They were trapped.
"HOLD YOUR GROUND BROTHERS!" He yelled as he loaded another round aiming at the approaching vulture droids.
Garm and Talon were doing their best, now assisted by the others.
CliffJumper took a bolt to his left shoulder, causing him to yelp in pain as the flesh burned from the heat of the weapon.
He dropped down to one knee, a B1 coming upon him to finish him only to have its head blasted off by Garm, who helped him up.
Cresh prepared for the end as he aimed his launcher as the vulture droids came close only for his comm link to buzz once more.
"Hold tight Cresh! We are here." Said a female voice.
Both the vulture droids erupted into a ball of flame and scrap metal was a gunship shot through the smoke. The gunship landed in between them and the droids, and opened its bay doors. Two troopers wielding DC-15A blaster carbines and 67 with his rifle variant were there firing upon the droids. He saw two figures leap from the troop bay, weapons igniting.
The padawan nagai wielded a green blade while his master wielded an azure colored blade. The two began to deflect bolts back at the droids, covering the clones.
"Into the ship now! All of you!" As Siysa Karr yelled this both her and Haru extended their open palms releasing a massive force wave pushing all the droids back. Cresh and the rest of the Jabiim 9 hopped onto the fur ship, with Kir and Mags helping Nitro in.
Talon sat on the edge still firing his rotary cannon. The gunship took to the skies, waves of bolts hitting its underbelly.
Talon scooted into the ship and laid back, exhaling in relief. Cresh removed his helmet, tucking it at his side as he approached Siysa.
"Much thanks..Al'verde. If not for you we wouldn't have made it." He said
She looked at him, once more he had the sense as if she was staring directly into him.
"No thanks necessary captain. As I told you before we Jedi cherish each life and yours are ones I shall not allow to be thrown away." Said Siysa as a small smile appeared on her face, before the bay doors closed.
"Now let us go to the main operation theatre."
MANDO'A TERMS:
Al'verde: General or Commander
With the battle begins. Next chapter will be very action packed and we'll finally get to see the 222nd start to earn personality and independence, starting the their captain so stay tuned!