Something was wrong.
Admiral Asa Soto out of the viewscreen at the wreckage of the planet's defenses. Four ships, each barely 2 miles long. Focused fire from the fleet had made quick work of the ships, but something about it was…wrong.
Each of the ships had looked ornate. They had seemed more like works of art, like a religious building or a Jedi temple strapped with guns. And each one of them had looked half dead. Whatever they had for shielding had collapsed under the first volley, and explosions wracked their tail ends before they blew. Those ships had already been attacked and suffered heavy damage. That was the only possible explanation.
But from who?
"Admiral, vessel approaching at ."
Asa turned to Felkas. "Another one of their defensive craft?"
Felkas, peered over at the sensor station. "Distance is too great at this time. But they are moving with speed. Recommend the fleet take position to counter."
"Agreed. Have the Phennir and the Pride of Carida veer starboard ,at 1.3 degrees, mark 218. I want them prepared for full volley on the target. Keep the Serenno and Calderon in their positions below us"
"Aye sir." Felkas relayed the command to the comm.
The Lusankya was arrayed far above them, shifted starboard, and aft his position. Focused fire from them would shred this new vessel, alongside his own volley. But he wouldn't risk either ship against a singular foe, in case of a trap. Varceal and two other SD's were on the darkside of the world, unleashing troops and armored vehicles on the world. From his post, they were ready to intercept any escaping vessels.
"Sir."
Asa turned to Felkas yet again as he approached. "The vessel is moving fast sir. They are now at mark 213."
Asa blinked. "So quickly?"
"Yes sir. And its big sir."
Asa walked to the frontal viewscreen. There, a massive jagged figure sliced its way through space. "Sensors, whats the size of that thing?"
"Estimated 10 miles long, 2 miles wide."
It was huge, bigger than some of the Star Destroyers but not so big as to be a serious threat. Why then, was he so damn nervous?
Rasczak and his squad advanced from their LZ. It was the loud quiet of a beginning battle, his troopers moving quickly forward through the wide open streets of the city. Four of the defenders fell before his squad as they swept into the city.
This region was a heavy populated district, with its massive buildings and dizzying cross-streets. Other squads off their left moved forward, laying heavy fire on a lackluster defense. Rasczak touched his commlink. "Alley to the right. Jor, watch our left. Hotshot, grenade, front window of the second building."
Hotshot lobbed a grenade and the explosion rocked the structure as the squad filled the alley to the side of the building. Jor let off a steady stream of blaster fire, his chaingun making its trademark blrrtttttt.
The squad hugged either side of the alleyway. "Belch, Ty, advance."
Two troopers peeled of from the walls and moved to further down the alley, before covering two exit ways. The alley was long, the backstreet of a massive habitation block. It was shaped like a long line with several t like cross sections separating each sub block.
"Clear!"
Rasczak motioned for them to advance, Jor behind them. Then he heard it. The loud telltale heavy click of a heavy weapon.
"Against the walls! Move!"
Belch and Ty flattened on the wall at the other side of the section as a harsh crkkkcrkkkcrkkk punctured the way between them and the rest of the squad.
"Contact! Jor, say in position. Hotshot, can you get them?"
Hotshot moved quickly to the edge and stuck out a hand, managing to snatch it back as red beam fire blasted the stone beside him. "Nah."
"Ok, so they got blasters. Whats the other thing? Looked like projectiles."
"Slug throwers sir." Hotshot detached a grenade from his waist and lobbed it out, toward where the fire was coming. Red beams caught it before it got far. "Accurate nerf-lovers."
"Sithspit." Rasczak took a moment, looking around for some kind of way, some avenue to get them through. He noticed several metal balcony's above, but they were twisted and bent. Just like the rest of this city.
"Anyone notice that this place looked like it was bombed? I thought Fleet marked military targets only. Nearby base should be the only thing this near wrecked."
Ty chuckled. "Thought I was the only one who had noticed how broken this place was."
Belch made an airy sound, like a sigh. "Wouldn't be the first time Fleet frakked up."
Rasczak grunted. "Maybe. Zev, to me."
Zevlin, unique in her scout-trooper armor, settled beside him. He gestured upwards, at the balconys. "Think you can get in position?"
She looked up, her tongue clicking against her teeth. She reached down to a thick pouch at her side, pulling out a thick rope of bounded nylon. She clicked an even thick and wide hook at one end and moved opposite Rasczak, pressing her back against rockcrete and spinning the rope. She seemed to adjust her position for a moment before tossing it with a grunt of effort. A clang. Rasczak looked up and saw it had found purchase on the edge of the uppermost balcony. She pulled on the rope and it held firm. Another tug and it still held. She nodded at the Senior Sergeant before pulling herself up, shatter gun hanging off her shoulder. The metal of the balcony groaned at her weight and shifted but it did not fall.
Rasczaks eyes followed her until she reached the balcony and with a kick, shattered the window there before disappeared inside.
A few moments later her voiced crackled over the commlink, a whisper. "Eyes on three hostiles, manning the gun. Four others armed, on either side."
"Paint the three on the gun. Belch, Ty, Crolin, and I will advance one the gun is quiet. Link to my firing solution, on my shot you four. Hotshot, roll a flasher, right after Zev takes them out. On three. Confirm."
They each confirmed. Rasczak squatted, signaling for Crolin to stand above him. At the edge, he paused and took a breath. "One." He linked the squad to his blaster rifle, adjusting the scope. "Two." He could hear Belch let out a small burp and he almost smiled. "THREE!"