The LAAT gunship was designed to transport troops into an active war zone in a quick and efficient manner. At the same time, it could provide fire support from above raining down death upon an enemy. It's looks reflected this to Wilson Taylor, it looked like an MH3 Black Hawk transport helicopter and Apache Attack helicopter got together and had a child. On top of that, it also twin rocket launchers that stretched out aggressively above the cockpit like the horns on a bull.The only thing Taylor hated about the craft and he really hated it was the fact it was painted white a very bright white. That made it stuck out worse in the air, than the big red dot on the Japanese flag. Sure it wasn't exactly a stealth craft anyways but, the color added to Taylor's concern about being blown out of sky. He wasn't a pilot but he knew the boys in 106th SOAR would've raised a serious objection if the Army wanted to repaint their helicopters bright white.
He stood inside one holding onto a line like a world war two paratrooper right behind Republic Commando Boss. They had since synced communicators to better communicate tactics.
"Ace, when you were a Terran Soldier and not a contractor did they often send you on missions like this one?" Asked Boss.
"As much as I'd like to I'm not at liberty to disclose any details of past operations." Said Wilson.
While it was certainly understandable Boss wasn't entirely comfortable with going into a war zone with someone he knew absolutely nothing about. He needed to ask a question that wouldn't have an answer that would be considered classified.
"Gabriel's told us he was in a unit called pararescue are you at liberty to talk about your unit?" Asked Boss.
"No, " Said Wilson, "Actually one thing that defines my old unit was the absolute lack of information we were allowed to disclose. In fact, there was a time the government wouldn't even acknowledge we existed to the public."
That gave Boss somewhat a clue at what this man did. Sergeant Vau once described missions of plausible deniability. Usually involved assassination, special reconnaissance, or other actions a nation-state couldn't acknowledge for one of many reasons. Usually, it had to do with counter-terrorism. Meaning this man would have to be exceptionally skilled at covert infiltration and direct action. Those were skills that did, in fact, apply to what they were currently doing. As for sabotage Boss knew Scorch had that covered.
"Gees is there anything about you that's not classified. Like your friend Para seems to be an open book." Said Fixer who stood right next to Boss.
"Well ya see where I come from a Spec Ops unit is either tier one or tier two. Tier one boys are black ops the nature of what we do is in the shadows so to speak. Tier two guys may need secrecy to get what they need to get done but they usually aren't assigned operations that are branded as covert. We can acknowledge their actions and activities."
"Interesting way to do it." Said Boss, "We just do whatever the tell us to do. They haven't shown distinction between operations."
"Yea, well we aren't exactly doing something that may need be denied later. I don't think any one's gonna cry over a few blown up cannons and some dead droids and possibly some dead organic mercenaries."
There was a sharp click as the pilot activated the intercom. Everyone looked as if expecting to see the pilots face.
"LZ five cycles out. Hope you boys are ready."
Everyone moved rather swiftly as they all raised their guns. Then a series of clicks popped as everyone flipped their safeties off. The lines were already prepared for the drop.
Ten cycles passed the LAAT came to halt, choosing to hover over a selected area. The doors flew open the lines flew down. Everyone in near sync slid down and made it to the ground. Taylor was quick to raise the sights of his carbine to his eye as he waved it checking for hostiles. Gabriel's came right behind him. The commandos had formed a circle of sorts to ensure the LZ was secure. The LAAT then pulled up as it corrected its course going back to the cruiser.
"Deltas move." Commanded Boss.
The commandos quickly did as told moving out covering all their flanks. Taylor and Gabriel's choosing to join them. Talk was up it was time to see what these guys were made of.
Viktor Starikov had just about recovered from the vodka as the LAAT took off. The ARCs were surprisingly silent. No pre-mission banter that Starikov enjoyed with his old team. Nor did they seem the least bit curious about him. A private contractor who was surveying their actions. Position changed Starikov would want to know as much as he could about a man who would survey him.
"ARC stands for Advanced Recon Commando no?" Said Starikov.
"That's exactly what it stands for." Said Alpha 17.
"Alright, out of curiosity how many of your missions have been specifically recon?"
"15."
"How many missions have you been on?"
"200."
Starikov raised his right eyebrow. This would have to mean 185 out 200 missions could be defined as recon. In other words, 92.5 percent of all missions were direct action type missions.
"What's the point of calling you Advanced Recon Commandos if you rarely ever do fucking Recon. Why not just advanced commandos or Advanced Raiding Commandos if the acronym has to sound cool?" Questioned Starikov.
"Don't ask me, I just point and shoot it's not my job to come with names." Said Alpha.
"I shall make note of it next time I encounter a Jedi then."
The ship came to halt. There was no speech everyone just moved as the doors flew back revealing the bright rays of the systems star bearing down on them. Starikov raised his hand to block it as the ARCs strapped cables to their belts.
"I see why they were the helmets." Said Starikov to Joel.
Then the two terran contractors came down the ropes last. They landed on very moist grassland that dug into Starikov's boots. The jungles of Felucia were visible behind them. The grass itself was tall and very moist. It must've just rained.
Alpha took lead Fordo fell in behind him as according to rank. Six and Shock sprinted up together behind them and CT-7567 sprinted right behind them with Ranger falling behind.
Starikov noticed that these boys wasted no time at all getting to work. It's what you would expect from any kind of SOF outfit. But these guys had a certain way they moved that showed their determination and displayed aggression as they sprinted with their blasters.
Alpha stopped, holding his hand back. That signaled everyone to stop. Then everyone dropped down into the tall grass. Starikov and Joel followed suit.
Two patrol droids on speeders zoomed overhead. The sound of the engine roared above.
After the speeders passed they resumed their sprint. Starikov was impressed at how fast they moved.
The trek kept up for ten minutes before they came above a hill. Below the hill two minutes away was a small airfield. Vulture droids stood on the tips of their tall legs hooked up to fuel lines. A few hyenae bombers were being loaded up as well. B1 battle droids marched in perfect sync around the airfield. B2s stood sentry with menacing metal bodies and wrist blasters . Their small heads ingrained within their chests.
"Alright, we'll attack from two ends. Six and Shock on me we'll hit east, Fordo you take Ranger and 75- ya know what you need a name." Said Alpha before allowing the raid commence, "Has to be something strong an aggressive a proper name for a clone soldier."
"Rex," Starikov suggested.
The ARCs all looked at him. Even Joel looked at him. He was a surveyor why was he giving suggestions?
"Why Rex?" Questioned Alpha.
"See on my world there were once giant creatures call Tyrannosaurus Rexes. They were the biggest, badest, creature out of all them. They killed anything they felt like killing."
"Huh, I like it. Alright CT 7567 your Rex now," Alpha said pointing at him, "Flank west with Fordo. Starikov you and Sarc on me, if you're going in I want you on me so you dont die. Otherwise I can already here command unleashing their wrath upon me for getting an expensive contractor killed."
"Sarc's a sniper he'll hang up here. But I didn't come all this say and pick out this shiny blaster to not kill something."
With that, they broke up into two teams and sprinted off in two directions. Joel went down on his stomach and focused acog around Starikov. He then moved it up to where they were sprinting to.
"Sniper with no spotter just fucking beautiful." Said Joel.
The droids never could've seen it coming. Starikov formed the biggest smile as Alpha through two thermal detonators at two B2s guarding the eastern entrance and six B1s on patrol that were just unlucky enough to be there. Two giant bright fireballs expanded consuming the droids in their entirety. They were entirely vaporized upon impact.
Six and Shock opened fire in perfect sync blue vibrantly flashing from the muzzles of their blasters. Blaster bolts of the very same color flew right towards a squad of four B1s behind the gate that had been smashed by the impact of the thermal detonators. The bolts went through their chest and faceplates causing metal fragments to fly from the bodies of the mechanical soldiers. The remnants of their metal bodies were scattered across the ground.
Alpha then brought up his Westar M5 and dove into a combat roll through the gate. He got to his knees and squeezed the trigger his blast set to burst. However, it was hard to tell seeing how he used the rifle. There was a millisecond at max between trigger pulls.
Starikov charged through the gate holding his own carbine. He picked out a pair of droids coming on Alpha's left flank. He aimed. Bang! A gunshot shouted out. The droids crashed to the ground a bullet hole through both their skulls. Starikov looked over his shoulder where Joel stared right at him through the scope of his rifle.
"Joy kill," Starikov grumbled.
He was interrupted as a chain of explosions broke from the west flank. Captain Fordo charged in first holding a single blaster pistol. He fired eight times with hius quick trigger finger the bolts splattering three B1 battle droids face plates before they could process what was happening. Ranger charged in and waved this mighty chain gun as huge squeezed the trigger the blue blaster's bolts spewed from the many barrels that spun faster than the propellers on a helicopter. More droids then Starikov could possibly count fell at Ranger's feet.
Quickly Alpha strapped charges on to fuel barrels. As soon as he was done he ran the rest of the team followed suit. Fordo saw him and drew his team out as well.
The charge went off the whole airfield went up in a huge fireball. The explosion thundered so loud Starikov thought he was going to go deaf.
Joel became worried Starikov was killed in the blast. Bolton would not be pleased if Joel messed up the only job he had given him. Relief washed over Joel as the blond Russian was seen sprinting alongside Alpha 17. Joel then got up holding his rifle in both hands ready to join them.
Everyone regrouped at the top of the hill. Starikov shot Joel a look. He lacked a smile and the way his eyes were trained on the SARC was like a scene out of a western before a man was shot down in cold blood.
"Sorry I ruined your fun Starikov. My orders were to keep you alive see."
"As much as I want to beat that smug smile off your face, " Starikov started then his frown changed to a smile, "I have to admit that was a good shot."
As they shuffled under the tall jungle trees that obscured sunlight and the humid air created a very warm and musky environment, Wilson Taylor couldn't help wonder if this was how his grandfather felt in Vietnam. Though they were doing two utterly different jobs. It was still an interesting connection with a relative no longer among the living. He ceased those thoughts knowing it was the wrong thing to think about at this moment. It had nothing to do with the current mission at hand.
Instead he turned back to the commandos. Boss the group leader had taken point. He checked every corner with his DC17M blaster carbine. Taylor noted he was very sharp. The other commandos walked only a few feet behind him, all with their carbines raised scanning every section of jungle around them.
They began to reach the end of the tree line when Boss raised his hand up in a firm first. Everyone stopped. He then opened his hand motioning down. Everyone went down to their stomachs and crawled right up to the end of the tree line.
In front of them two large separatist anti-air cannons in a small village. B1 battle droids patrolled in perfect sync. Six B2 super battle droids stood sentry near the guns as well as two Droidikas.
"Let's make this quick, " Said Boss on the com chat, "Fall on me. Scorch you'll deal with the B2s."
"Got it." Said Scorch readying his grenade launcher attachment a round placed in ready to fire.
The squad rose in perfect sync. They fired in near perfect sync. A droid patrol near their position was shot three to two times in the chest or head. They didn't even know what was coming. The commandos then moved into the village quickly. Taylor simply watched as that was what his job mandated.
Delta squad moved perfectly together passed a small hut, Boss leading the way. They moved around the corner Boss and Scorch quickly shooting out the droids to the left while Sev and Fixer shot the droids out on the right flank.
Delta squad then arrived near the center of the village. Scorch took point with the launcher opening fire. The round made contact with one of super battle droids releasing a blue explosion that sent metal shards of the six super battle droids flying. The two Droidikas began to turn having faced the wrong way.
Fixer throughout a droid popper. It went off disabling the shields of the destroyer droids. Boss and Sev quickly sent each three blaster bolts to the faceplate. More droids began to swarm towards the center of the village.
Boss pointed towards Scorch then towards artillery shells laid out. Scorch scurried over. Boss then turned his back to him as Sev changed his blasters configuration to sniper. Sev quickly placed one bolt through three droids. Fixer held the trigger on his carbine down going full auto. Boss throughout a grenade. The explosion cleared out a few and then proceeded to also go full auto.
"Done." Scorch said.
"Fall back Deltas." Said Boss.
After letting off a few more rounds and ending a few more droids, Delta squad lowered their guns and sprinted out of the village. As soon as they were back in position with Taylor, Boss took out a trigger. He pressed the button down. The village erupted into several large fireballs. The sound of the explosion roared.
The village before them had been turned to blackened rubble with neary a sign of life.
"Alright Delta's back to the extraction point." Said Boss.
Taylor was quite impressed with their performance. The speed they moved and how fluid they executed their attacks in perfect teamwork was quite impressive. Their ferocity when carrying out combat was also impressive and their ability to move silently to get to the kill. These guys were space SEALs and in CQB pretty close to Delta Force. And while certainly, they proved effective in taking out an Artillery battery you could've sent any light infantry airborne force in order to complete this job. Their skills should've been utilized elsewhere. HvT raids for instance. Right now they could be working together to assassinate a separatist general. And really impact the war. Notes Taylor would keep for later.
"Ace, get cold feet all of a sudden." Said Scorch, "Kind of wanted to see a Terran in action."
"I'm here to survey you. So, unfortunately, I have to avoid anything that would distract me from that mission."
"Well, that's no fun, " Said Scorch.
"How did we do?" Asked Boss. The Sergeant wanted to know exactly what the contractor was going to say to his Boss.
"Probably shouldn't say, " Said Wilson, "Whatever my comments may be, I wouldn't want them to affect your overall effectiveness. Criticism may dig too deep and praise may inflate your ego."
"Criticism would make us more effective. Then we could correct the error for next time."
"Alright, I found it a bit reckless after all that explosion may have tipped off nearby outposts. And as skilled in combat as you gentlemen are facing say a full armored division complete with tanks may not be in your interests."
"Out in the open, " Replied Boss, "Perhaps I've taken that into account. They'll be expecting to meet a clone legion. We use the jungle to hide and ambush the enemy at random times."
"Guerrilla tactics than. Not a bad idea. Unless of course they decide to bomb the whole forest." Said Taylor.
"They'll cease attack. Alerting us to such action by mistake, we'll move and they'll miss then we resume our harassment of the enemy force." Said Boss, "One way or another we'll kill them all."
"I like your attitude I'll tell you that much."
Omega squadron had it rough on this operation. They'd dropped in to an immediate ambush by trandoshan mercenaries. After killing the mercenaries they managed to assault and neutralize an airfield. However, more trandoshans met them on the way to extraction point. Atin their tech guy was wounded. He'd been hit by several slug rounds.
Niner the squadron leader acted quickly. Now they were sprinting towards the extraction point Fi their sniper and Darmen their demo carrying Atin. They made it.
The LAAT hovered above. It's bright lights shining proudly upon the squad clad in black armor.
Then a rocket struck the wing of the gunship. The explosion tore it off. The gunship swerved to the side in a circle. Omega squad hit the dirt as the LAAT crashed upon the ground meters away.
Niner was quick as he rolled to his back and raised his carbine grinding his teeth as he opened fire on full auto. Two Trandoshans who were closing in for attack were both struck by the rapid blue boots of energy. As soon as the sank into the woods. He stood up.
"Behind the LAAT now!" He shouted.
Omega moved quick again. The LAAT haf crashed against its side, on its good wing down in a valley. Blaster bolts flying at them Omega squad slid down a hill into the valley. Their boots crashing in the mud created by a recent flash flood.
They dashed over to the craft where one horribly wounded pilot was still alive. He saw Niner in his black Katarn armor standing over him. Niner quickly used his armored fist to break the glass. He then grabbed the pilot by his left shoulder dragging him out.
"Have you sustained any injury?" Asked Niner.
"Crashed on my right arm. Pretty sure it's broke."
"Alright, " Niner said the turned to the squad, "Place the wounded inside the LAAT quickly squad."
They did as commanded. Niner then stared back at the tree line they'd just run from. Those mercs couldn't have been far behind. He also knew command would be hesitant to send another craft. If he was going to get his squad out alive he was going to have to take a huge risk.
He pressed a button on his communicator. A ding went off in his helmet.
"This Niner Sergeant over Omega squad. Our LAAT's been shot down. I acknowledge that proves its too hot to send another. But we have sustained wounded and are in desperate need of evac asap. CIS is hot on our hides. We'll take any help we can get." Niner said over open coms for everyone to hear.
Darman and Fi looked at him. Niner new what their concerns would be.
"We didn't have any other good options. At least all our brothers know our plight." Said, Niner.
"Yea, but so does the enemy, " Said Darmen, "I'd prefer to not die in this junk heap of a world sir."
"Why so you can die in the junk heap of another world." Joked Fi.
Darmen turned to react to him. A loud bang from a slug slinger changed that. Fi took a hit in his gut crashing against the LAAT. Both Niner and Darmen turned squeezing their triggers. The shooter was drenched in blaster fire. His body turned to black with smoke rising from it as it crashed into the valley. More hostiles were moving among the trees. Darmen fired off a grenade from his launcher the explosion cleared a section of the tree line and vaporized a few other mercs.
"Fierfek!" Cursed Niner, "Of course the kriffing trained medic is the one who goes down."
The wounded Fi was also hauled into the LAAT leaving Darmen and Niner.
"With all do respect, sir, I don't think anyone's coming for us," Darmen said, "After all they'd only be putting themselves in danger. We're stuck here till the white jobs storm the place."
"In that case Dar I plan to go down fighting. I won't die till this valley is filled with bodies."
"Right behind ya sir."
He heard the communication and then stopped. The ARCs and Joel all stopped as well.
Joel stared at Starikov blankly. The man didn't look wounded. And it didn't make sense that he cared about the communication. Joel read the files on Captain Viktor Starikov, former Russian Spetsnaz Alpha group and then mercenary for a company that entitled itself Legion international. He was apart of operation viper. A Russian operation in Syria against insurgents. The UN labeled his efforts as apart of a death squad. It ended with a data leak of the operatives involved. The terrorists went after their families. Starikov was not spared his daughter ended up in the hospital his wife dead. Joel would've mourned his wife and been with his daughter if he had either. But Starikov after being put out of work goes of to join Legion international. A PMC which had committed no shortage of controversy. Starikov was a cold cruel bastard.
"Something wrong Starikov?" Joel questioned.
"That squad of clones how far off are they?" Asked Starikov.
"Omega?" Alpha questioned.
"Yeah, those guys." Said Starikov.
"Five clicks, " Rex said, "Traced the communication the second it hit."
"Doesn't sound too far." Said Starikov
"Starikov, " Said Joel, "That's a little off of five miles besides why do you care?"
"Suppose, you saw men you knew well in a similar plight. And for unexplainable reasons you didn't do anything. You couldn't do anything. But let's say years later a similar thing happens to men you dont know but those unexplainable reasons are no longer a factor what do you do."
Joel formed the most bewildered look on his face. Even squinting his eyes. Starikov was making no sense.
"I'd suppose I helped them." Replied Joel, "Is this some kind of redemption thing?"
"Point being I'm going to turn around and go do something. So I need at least a direction to sprint in."
"Hold up, You're going to help a group of commandos who just alerted the entire enemy force of their presence. They are going to be surrounded. And not only B1s but B2s, Droidikas, Commando droids, trandoshan mercenaries, and tanks. What you're talking about is a suicide mission, " Said Alpha 17, "With that being, I can not allow you to go alone."
However, the tone in which Alpha spoke suggested enthusiasm to go on this mission, not a concern. Starikov liked this type of soldier.
Joel however slowly shook his head. He didn't really like the idea of a suicide mission.
"Your kidding right. You heard this Niner we shouldn't expect evac. What are we gonna do? Jump in the fire and wait till the fire department comes by?"
"Or we kill all of them." Said Alpha.
Starikov chuckled a bit. He really had been put on the right team.
"I like your style, " Starikov said, "Besides I know for sure there's two others going in."
Wilson Taylor sprinted through the jungle Gabriels not far behind and Delta along with him. He heard a chime go off in his ear. It most likely wasn't Bolton. He pressed his hand against.
"What do you want Starikov?" Said Taylor still running and holding his rifle in one hand.
"Well cowboy you wouldn't happen to be running towards that squad would you?"
Taylor stopped causing Gabriels to do the same a long with Delta. Perhaps Starikov had information.
"Gabriels talked me into it why?"
"Well, I figured it's kind inefficient to be doing the same thing and not communicate."
"Ha!" Wilson said with a bright smile, "You of all people decided to go on a rescue mission. Tell me did you finally locate a soul?"
"I could do with out the sarcasm cowboy, how far out are you?"
"Two clicks, " Said Wilson, "You."
"Five."
"You better run like hell."