For the Tatooine natives of the Twin Star Platoon, one of the harder things to get used to was the fact that it rained on Eriadu. While most would find it welcoming after a month of hot and humid weather to experience a light to mild drizzle. This was no drizzle.
It was a downpour.
The eighteen members of the Twin Star Platoon were training outside today.
The platoon stood in rank-with their Imperial State Trooper Armor on with green camouflage ponchos over them-near the large bulky blast doors that allowed one to travel outside of the base. In front of them was Captain Lawrence. Behind them was an AAT with a four cadet operated crew from the Sixteenth Eriadu Armored Division.
"Twin Star Platoon. Your mission cadets are to escort Tank Sergeant Joel V'tar and his crew to the target area eleven point zero eight miles out set up for us last night by the engineering corps." Captain Lawrence shouted over the rain.
How he managed to do it, they had no clue.
"Along the way you will have to combat both the weather and dense jungle that makes up this lovely planet." The captain laughed silently at his own joke. "However, between you and your objective is a Company's worth of BX Commando Droids."
Everyone felt their hearts sink at this. The droids were resilient. They could be shot four times by their main weapon, a BLT-20A Medium Blaster Rifle.
The only cadets who had something different were Tangie, Oliver and Falynn. Both Tangie and Oliver had T-21 Light Blaster Canons while Falynn-who was the best shot out of everyone in the entire platoon-had a E-17d Sniper Rifle. While slower at reloading, if a droid or living being was shot with it, they would be shredded.
"These droids are equipped with E-55 Sniper Rifles, E-110 Blasters and have also been given a single E-WEB and E. . All of these are set to stun and will knock you out cold. Their mission is to stop the AAT by any means necessary using the resources given to them." Captain Lawrence finished. Turning to his right he addressed the tank crew.
"Sergeant V'tar are you ready to go?"
"Yes sir! We can start as soon as the gate opens."
"Excellent." Captain Lawrence turned back to the cadets. "Second Lieutenant!"
"What is it sir?"
"You chose which squad takes point. Dismissed!"
"Sir, Yes Sir!" Captain Lawrence left the area leaving the platoon to do their planning. Marcus called the three Sergeants over.
"Okay we will do this by the book. Skywalker, I want Zulu up front." Luke blinked at Marcus' decision but nodded in conformation. "Sergant V'tar, how many hits can your tank take before its out of commission?"
"Hmm… That's a tough one. Standard blasters would take an hour of concentrated fire to burn though the
hull. But that E-WEB Captain Lawrence mentioned, I would say maybe twenty on the sides and behind otherwise about twenty five or thirty from the front." The Tank commander answered.
"And the droid Poppers?"
"Two or three of them would take us out." Marcus crossed his arms thinking of what to do.
"Alright then, I'll split Romeo in half, three on each side of the tank. Falynn, I want your squad to take up
the rear. If those droids circle us then we're done for." The girl nodded noticed that she wanted to argue in some way but held her tongue. It was a solid plan. Especially for one made on the spot. "Alright then get to your squads we'll depart the moment that gate opens."
"I'll tell the others." Luke said as he left the circle.
As the Sergeants were making their plan the members of the squads introduced themselves to the tank
crew.
"So where are you boys from?" Ce`na asked. The Tanks driver, a boy with dark brown hair, who introduced
himself as Ron answered.
"I'm from Polis Massa, the other three, Joel, Karl and Cody who are the commander, left gunner and right
gunner respectively are from Bespin." Ron said. Tangie raised an eyebrow at this.
"I thought Bespin was a gas giant?"
"Why do you think I'm the tank driver?" Ron said with mirth in his voice. The members of Twin Stars who heard this let out a chuckle. They would have continued but their respective commanders returned. Luke jogged over to Zulu and told them the plan.
"We're taking point." At this Bruyere and Tangie groaned.
"Really? This better be worth it because I'm not walking for fives hours through all of this,' Ce`na waved her hands at the opening gate that revealed a beach front with a dense jungle behind it. 'While being the ones who get shot first."
"Too late to change the plan now." Jyn said as she walked out of the safety of the base.
"Come on Zulu, let's move!" Luke called quickly catching up to Jyn. Soon the platoon was moving in formation around the AAT towards their objective. All they had to do was escort the tank.
That wouldn't be too hard.
Right?
Behind the Twin Star Platoon, located at the top of the gates security and control tower stood Captain Lawrence.
The Captain that was put in charge of the group of cadets was in deep thought while we watched the platoon enter the treeline. During the first month of training the platoon had shown that they were competent with their blasters and have proved that they can work as a unit.
It made him feel confident that he could volunteer them for any training session. His only worries were Sergeant Pyxis and Private Erso.
Both were at the top of their class and acted like model soldiers.
But he knew that Sergeant Pyxis sent two of her squadmates to the infirmary but didn't report it because he hoped that the problem solved itself. Sadly it seemed that he was wrong. He could only hope that she valued the safety of her squadmates more than her own pride.
As for Private Erso...
he has had his suspicions about her since day one. But gave her the benefit of the doubt. He had listened in whenever she and Sergeant Skywalker spoke because it seemed that he wished to know her secrets as well.
He was broken from his thoughts when an officer came up behind him.
"Captain, the Platoon has entered the mission area. Shall we notify the droids?" The officer asked. Nathaniel Lawrence would be called by some a sadist. In some cases they were right. Did it bother him that people call him that? No. Not even in the slightest.
"Yes, and put the droids to the advanced setting." The officer froze and looked at the Captain.
"But sir-"
"Do it." Just like that Captain Lawrence shut down any opposition and made his decision clear. Let it be said that Nathaniel Lawrence was a man who knew what he wanted. When he wanted it.
"Y-yes sir." The officer turned and addressed two of the engineers in the tower. "Set the droids to the advanced setting, tell them that they can move the moment they get their orders." The engineer's nodded and transmitted the orders. Silently praying for the cadets who just entered the mission area.
Deep in the forest, the company of BX droids activated.
They were located directly in between the treeline outside of the training facility and the mission areas objective area. The droids leader, a BX commando droid identified by its bright yellow markings transmitted the orders to the others. Not even a moment later the droids began to traverse through the jungle with ease leaving only twenty five others behind with the E-WEB. The droids that advanced forward spread out to cover more ground.
They would find the cadets one way or another. It was only a matter of time.
Those of the Twin Stars Platoon felt like they had marching for an hour.
Which was correct in a scene as it has almost past that mark.
In the front of the formation the members of Zulu Squad walked in a single file line with their blasters over their head.
Why?
Because they were using the only path that led into the jungle. Which apparently on storming days like this has a tendency to flood.
Their only saving grace was that the rain had grown a little lighter making it easier for them to see where they were actually walking. The other members of the platoon were not doing much better either.
Over all, everything was slow and miserable.
Taking the lead, Luke pressed on despite the fact that his feet and legs were on fire from the pure amount of energy it took to step forward. Squinting his eyes he saw a shadow in front of him. He groaned when he realized that a tree had fallen. He proceeded to call it in.
*This is Skywalker to V'tar, Skywalker to V'tar do you read me?* Luke waited for a moment before his transmitter crackled to life.
*This is V'tar to Skywalker, I read you Sergeant what seems to be the problem?*
*A Tree fell, telling Romeo to climb up onto the tank so you're not open to attack. Zulu and Victor are going for a quick swim.*
*Understood Skywalker, relaying the message now.* Clicking off his helmets Comm. Unit he addressed the rest of the members of Zulu squad. Turning around he shouted to the five behind him.
"We have to go under, keep your blaster above water or it'll fill with who knows what!" Luke called over the rain.
"Understood!" Hearing the response Luke nodded to himself and took a deep breath. He was very thankful to have a helmet.
In one quick motion Luke went under the muddy water and pushed his blaster over the log.
For the few seconds that he was under, not even his helmets visor allowed him to see what they were walking through.
Breaking the surface of the water Luke made sure to catch his rifle before it went underwater. This was repeated for each member of the platoon, bar those in Romeo who rode on top of the AAT's repulsor wings.
The platoon continued on for about another twenty minutes when Luke felt something was wrong. It felt like something was watching him.
While Eriadu had many animals this felt different. He continued a few more feet, looking around as he did so. The position of the trees grew tighter.
He couldn't help but think it would be a perfect place for an-
PEW!
-ambush.
Luke hated being right some days.
A blue blaster bolt came from the trees. It would have hit him if he hadn't thrown himself to the side.
Getting back to his feet he called out.
"It's an ambush! They're in the trees!"
Not a moment later a hail of blue blaster bolts rained down on the platoon. The cadets tried to return fire but were at a disadvantage as they were still in the water.
Luckily Joel and the others were able to get a shot off. The tank's blast sounded like a high pitched scream that lasted only for a second.
The laser hit the tree causing it to fall backwards and thankfully away from the waterlogged path. With the tree gone three figures fell with it and landed into the water. Before they had time to get up Luke managed to hit one of them in the head causing it to fall back down while Tangie who was behind him ripped the other two apart with his cannon.
The platoon was still for about a minute waiting for a follow up attack. But nothing came. Thankfully Marcus called out snapping everyone out of their paranoid searches for any kind of movement in the trees.
"We need to move before the rest of them show up."
"What we need is to get out of this damn water." A.J said.
"I agree with A.J we're sitting ducks here. We would all have been taken out if not for Joels good aim." Terrence said.
"Well we can't just cut through the jungle. We would have to leave the tank." Ce`na said.
"Ce`na you're a genius!" Francis said.
"What?"
"How is she a genius?" Tangie was too slow to evade Ce`na's outstretched hand, "Ow!"
"Let me explain. If that's okay with you Marcus?" Francis asked.
"I'm all ears."
"Great! Okay so here's my plan. Zulu will advance ahead of the others while Romeo splits and moves along the edges of the trees that are keeping the tank from moving anywhere that's not the path. Last but not least Victor will ride on top of the tank allowing Sergeant V'tar to drive faster." Francis finished.
"That sounds like a wonderful plan." Amilia said. The other members of Victor Squad nodded along with her including Falynn who was feeling the same strain as the others for once.
"I agree it will make things go a lot faster." Joel said from the tank commander's hatch.
"That makes ten for the plan and twelve undecided." Marcus spoke. "Anyone wish to speak their opinion?"
"No sir!"
"Good. Skywalker gets moving, we'll start following you when we have everyone in position. Radio in if you get over run." Marcus ordered. Luke saluted.
The members of Zulu dragged their way out of the muddy water and onto the relatively dry branches of the trees around them.
"I thought we would never leave that muddy water." Bruyere said as he stretched his sore legs.
"I know. I'd rather sun around the facility than do that again." Ce'na stated.
"Don't get comfortable, we need to clear the way." Jyn said.
"We know Jyn, just give us a minute and we'll head out." Zachary said. Jyn rolled her eyes under her helmet and turned around to where Luke was. The farm boy was looking off into the distance. Since they started an hour and a half ago the rain had become barely more than a drizzle allowing them to see a lot farther in front of them than they were able to before.
"Something wrong?" Jyn asked the squad leader. Luke jumped in his armor not expecting to hear Jyn's voice. Despite a month of training Luke was still the same farm boy from Tatooine as he was then he started.
"Gahh! Oh, Jyn. you startled me there. What was your question?" Luke asked.
"Are you alright?" Jyn asked again.
"Yeah yeah, Just… I feel like we're going to be walking right into a trap." Luke said. Jyn frowned. During their time training Luke has shown to be very lucky when it came to gut feelings. If only he wasn't-! Jyn shook her head clearing her thoughts. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about that. Focusing on Luke she realized that he was watching her. As a distraction she pressed Luke for answers.
"Are you sure?"
"No, I'm not. But it wouldn't hurt to be prepared." Luke said. Jyn nodded.
"I'll tell the others to be ready for anything."
"Alright." With that Jyn left. With that Jyn left to relay Luke's concerns to the rest of the squad. It wasn't long before the squad of six moved out. They walked without anything in their way for about another twenty minutes when Ce`na stopped.
"Ce`na, why did you stop, what is it?" Luke asked. The Twi'lek just put her finger in front of her helmet telling him to be quiet. She then moved forward and pointed to the other side of the much shallower but still waterlogged path. Following the direction she was pointing they all saw it.
A large group of BX Commando droids in the trees. Somehow they hadn't noticed them. Luke whispered out the plan. For all he knew the droids had tapped into their communications.
"Ce'na, Bruyere, Zachary and I will get behind cover. Tangie, I want you, to jump out from behind the trees and pin them down. Jyn, I want you to flank them while they're distracted. Does that sound good?"
"Yeah, Just make sure that they don't hit me while I'm out in the open." Tangie said. Zachary, Ce`na and Bruyere nodded along. Luke turned towards Jyn. Despite having a helmet on she could tell from his body language alone that he was wondering if he should come with her or not.
"I'll be fine." She said. Luke nodded.
"Alright then. Tangie, whenever you're ready."
"Thank you Luke, if I get shot, then it's an honor."
"Just get going." Ce`na whispered impatiently.
Soon everyone was in their positions. Luke, Ce`na, Zachary and Bruyere were each behind a different tree while Tangie was the farthest away from the group of Commando Droids. Hopefully Jyn was far enough that when the droids take cover they would have left their back open to her.
Taking a deep breath the Zabrak of the squad psyched himself up for what he was about to do. To think that he had been a common street thug before all of this…
Without a second thought he jumped out from behind his cover and fired his cannon not even trying to aim it. Their plan seemed to work. The commando droids didn't react fast enough causing two of them to be blasted apart by Tangie's cannon.
However that was just enough time for them to get to cover and counter attack. But before they could fire back, Luke, Ce`na, Zachary, and Bruyere fired at the ones who left themselves open to them. They managed to take several more out.
"Twelve down one hundred eight eight to go!" Bruyere shouted.
"You kept count?" Zachary asked.
"You didn't?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"To be fair, I was avoiding being shot earlier."
"Less talking and more shooting boys!" Ce`na called over the whine of blaster fire taking cover behind the tree she was using as cover when a blue stun shot came a little too close for comfort. Despite their best efforts at taking out the droids, more just keep coming.
"Where is Jyn! We're going to be overrun if she doesn't flank them!" Bruyere said, taking cover behind a volley of blaster fire.
"I'll try to raise her on Comm.'s!" Luke said getting behind his cover and turning his radio on. *Jyn! Jyn do you read me! Where are you!?* Luke received nothing but static. He decided to try something else. *Joel! Joel can you read me?*
*I read you Luke, what's going on!*
*We've been possibly flanked! I can't get Jyn on the comm. I need artillery now!*
*Alright but I need a position!* Luke cursed. He didn't have any kind of spotter equipment on him. None of them did. It was just their luck too.
*Never mind then. I-I'll figure something out-" Before he could finish a loud crunching sound ripped through the air. Peeking his head behind his cover he saw that Tangie managed to break the thin part of the tree's trunk that the droids were using as cover. As it fell he watched as a droid went with it.
"Bruyere! What number are we at now?"
"Thirty two!"
"Don't stop firing. There are still over one hundred and fifty of them left!" Luke said. "I'm going after Jyn! Are you guys good here?"
"Don't worry Luke, we will be fine." Ce`na said.
"Right. Ce`na you're in command until I return.
"Roger!"
"I'll be back."
Luke ran in the direction that Jyn went. The farm boy kept his back to the trees and low to the ground.
As he moved he heard the sound of a girl shout in pain.
Jyn! Luke thought as he raced forward.
He arrived at the edge of a clearing in the jungle as he saw Jyn fall to her knees clenching her left arm.
In front of her was a BX Commando Droid with yellow stripes. Beside it was the broken shape of what was once Jyn's blaster. Raising his own, Luke wasted no time before gunning down the leader of the droid company.
Seeing it fall he ran forward and knelt down next to his beaten squadmate. Taking off her helmet the first thing he noticed was that she was bleeding from the lips. Before he could ask her if she needed help he was her eyes widened looking at something behind him.
He turned around just in time to see a black metal hand hit his helmet's visor head on.
Oof! Luke fell backwards as he was punched several feet backwards. Did droids always hit that hard?
Picking himself up he was able to dodge the next punch that was aimed for his face.
He lunged at the droid to tackle it to the ground but it merely caught him.
He hung there for a moment before the droid pulled its fist back and launched it into his chest.
With every strike Luke felt like he was being hit with a speeder. Thankfully it didn't last long.
After eight hits to his chest the droid threw him over its shoulder and onto the ground landing on his back. The droid walked forward until it was just over Luke.
The farm boy watched as it raised its food over his face.
PEW!
The droid fell over. Picking his head up slightly he looked behind him to see Jyn holding his blaster. She walked over slowly until she was on top of the droid and unloaded several rounds into its chest and head before setting the blaster down and checking on Luke.
"Are you alright?" Luke asked her despite the state he was in. For the first time since he had arrived here he saw Jyn crack a small smile.
"I should be asking you that." She said.
"Hehe- ow… Yeah, you should." Luke said in pain. The mysterious girl lowered herself and helped Luke stand on his feet. "What happened?" Luke asked her as he picked up his blaster while they walked back in the direction their squad was.
"It was a trick. They saw us from the start. The leader and two others were going to flank us and I ran into them. Managed to take two out and shoot the leaders blaster out of its hand. It then proceeds to jump at by and try to pull mine out of my hands." Jyn said to Luke.
"That explains the rifle."
"Yeah…" Before they could explain further they heard something running in their direction. Raising his blaster Luke got ready to fire. Thankfully he didn't have to as Tangie, followed by the others broke through the trees. Seeing the blaster pointed at them they raised their hands up.
"Don't shoot!" Tangie exclaimed. Seeing the group Luke smiled and turned to the Twi'lek.
"Ce`na report."
"We managed to hold them off taking out ninety eight of them. Just before we got here Marcus had reported that the droids flanked them just after you cut communications with Sergeant V'tar, but managed to take out another seventy four with little damage to the AAT but we lost Terrence, Oliver, Lucia, Rachar, Amilia and Durran. What about you two? You both look like you went through hell." Ce`na asked.
Luke frowned for a moment before letting out a sigh. The loss of six to one hundred and seventy two was not a bad ratio. But Luke would have preferred it to be zero.
"We had to fight the droid's leader. Jyn took out two of them before I arrived." Luke said as both he and Jyn sat against a tree stump. As they spoke Bruyere tended to their more visible bruises on their face. Luke nodded to him in thanks.
"That means that there are still twenty five out there." Zachary said.
"In that case I say we regroup with the rest of the Platoon. We should arrive at the objective with little opposition." Luke said as he placed his helmet back on his head. The others saluted and made their way back to the rest of the platoon. Upon their arrival both Luke and Jyn were placed on the repulsor wings of the tank. For the next hour and a half the platoon marched to their mission objective.
When it was in sight they were about to cheer, only to realize that between them and their objective was twenty five commando droids and a E-WEB.
"Hit the deck!" Marcus yelled as the E-WEB opened fire at the tank. The platoon scattered and fired at the gun emplacement. Luke and Jyn were able to get off the tank pulling the bodies of their unconscious comrades with them before the E-WEB's lasers slashed against the tank. Luckily Joel seemed to work fast enough and shot at the E-WEB destroying it and five droids along with it.
"Push up!" Marcus ordered. The Platoon and tank moved forward, firing at the droids that stood in their way.
"Six,"
"Five, Four,"
"Three,"
"Two,"
"One! That was the last of them." Bruyere said. As the last droid fell the jungle fell into a silence.
They had made it. It had taken them several hours of poor weather conditions and combating gorilla warfare but they did it. They could only pray that they didn't have to walk back.
Thankfully they didn't have to. Upon entering the objective they were contacted by Captain Lawrence and were told that a TIE/rp was inbound to their position.
When it had arrived a team of medics came out and checked on them. Today was hard and stressful.
But that wasn't going to stop the Twin Star Platoon.
(A.N: Longest chapter yet and it doesn't have any type of world building in it! If that is not progress then I don't know what is. I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter, it took a while to write and when I was done I felt like my soul was sucked out of me. I hope you all have had a great Christmas Morning and holiday so far!
I thank all of those who have given me comments on what to fix or things that I have missed.
I might write/post another chapter before the new year about some other things in the galaxy [Might, might not, its up in the air].
"The Twin Star Platoon with the assistance of Sergeant Joel and his crew from the Sixteenth Eriadu Armored Division have just completed the first test that will decide their futures! What is Jyn hiding? Is Falynn's lack of pride something you should worry about or just a product of poor writing? Find out next time on The Imperial State of Terra!")