3,961
Eight months passed, bringing in a new year for Tairek and I. For Conall and his men though, they had been here for a lot longer. The operation had continued slowly but surely. The militia had covertly funneled equipment out of the training camps, and into the hands of the Mandalorians. Jan supplied the insurgents with food stuffs. Evenia and Jaina had gathered more and more information out of their respective Republic officers, delivering their findings to Doug and Gawain, whom then reported to Tairek. On one rainy day, Conall called in his top officers, Tairek, Gawain and myself, into his makeshift tent within the mountains. Jan, not physically present, was there via holo.
"Alright, here's the deal." Conall began. I could already tell he had formed a pretty clear picture of what was going on, as he went straight to business. "There is something here on Rori, playing everyone like pawns. I don't know who. What we do know is, they hired the Feeorins to train the militia."
"Where did they get the funds, sir?" Gawain inquired.
"I was just getting to that. Those 'missing' citizens, captured by ERCS, are being sent as slave labor to local Kassoti spice mines. The money trail that we've picked up shows our principal is hiring smugglers to sell the spice to the Hutts. That's how they've managed to hire the mercs."
"Drug trafficking? Bold move." I said, somewhat impressed with our foe's actions.
"Don't get too fond of them Doug. We've also learned they are planning to send the militia here. To attack us."
"What?" Tairek nearly shouted.
"We let a stranger into our home. Someone has compromised us. Which also means they've compromised our friends in the militia. And possibly our friends in Gardoose as well." Conall said. Tairek stepped forward.
"Let me go and warn them. If we lose Arku and his boys-"
"Go Tairek. But know that the Feeorin and the militia are being sent first to oversee the final mining operations to the east, before they deal with us and their brothers. We've got a small window before they attack." Conall said. Tairek turned to me.
"Come on lad, I'll need you on this one."
Tairek and I left Conall's HQ in the mountains, traversing the muddy terrain en route to the militia camp. Reaching the foothills, we headed north, north west around the nearly overflooded swamps. By the time that we came into range of the camp, it was night fall. The camp seemed to be ablaze with activity.*
"Celebrating?" I said, confused.
"Aye. They probably know they are going into battle soon. Let's be hasty lad." Tairek replied. By way of foot, we snuk towards the camp through the tall grass. Many militiamen were partying, though plenty were in tents, obviously far from ecstatic. Tairek had us split up. I made my way down one perimeter of the camp, while Tairek went the other way. I snuk along, peering through the tent window flaps to spot Arku. Several minutes into my search, Tairek contacted me. I made my way back around the perimeter, eventually finding Tairek, outside a tent, talking with Arku who was inside.
"What's dees about?" Arku asked.
"The militia and the Feeorin mercs are going to attack our HQ, but first they are going to clean house." Tairek answered.
"What? Dats impossible. How would day know about us?"
"There's no time to explain boyo. Gather your men, and meet us outside."
"Alright. Could be a while."
Tairek and I left the camp, going south a ways to hide in the tall grass. 40 minutes later, we saw Arku and the rest of the anti-Rep militia sneak out of the camp. We emerged from the grass and caught their attention. Arku and the militia joined us.
"If they find we're gone, they'll hunt us." Arku said to us. His men looked worried and upset, fingers on the triggers.
"Which is why your coming with us. You lads are no longer safe here. I'll explain on the way." Tairek said to them. We began trekking south back to the mountains. As we neared the massive swamps, Tairek finally explained it to them.
"There's an insider. Someone talked."
"Obviously." Arku replied.
"Cut the snark boyo or I'll rip your ears off. The lad and I are saving your life."
"Oh?"
"Aye. First, the Feeorin and their loyal buttboys were going to kill all of you. Then in the next few days, they would look after the final stages of the mining operation. Kill all the slave labor there. Then attack our HQ in the mountains."
"When would all this happen?"
"Soon." Tairek said with finality. I hated not having a definite answer. Just then, Tairek and I were contacted through our helmet comms.
"Tairek, Doug, new orders. Do you have Arku and the militia with you?" Conall asked.
"Aye, cousin."
"Good. New information. The Feeorin and the militia are heading to the mines tomorrow. I want to be ready for them. I'm transmitting coordinates now. We'll meet you in a couple hours. Conall out." Conall finished. Tairek turned to address everyone.
"The Feeorin know you've all left. Their timetables have been pushed ahead. They're going to the mines tomorrow. We're grouping with my brothers there."
"Dis sounds half-assed." One of the militia piped up.
"Its better than nothing, big ears."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
It was a little after dawn, as Tairek, myself, Arku and the militia took cover within the tall grass, a few hundred feet from the mine entrance. The Kassoti mines themselves were accessible via the quarry, which itself was accessible via one narrow, winding walkway down into its mouth. Laying on my stomach next to Tairek, I scanned for any new targets with my helmet. Nothing. There was only us, and the workers down in the quarry and mines.*
"Tairek," I whispered, "they should be here by now."
"The mercs?"
"I meant Conall, but them too."
Before we could continue, we picked up new signatures on our helmet scanners. From the west. We cut the chatter, and remained hiding as a large force – the Feeorin mercs and the pro-Rep militia – clambered over a hill, en route to the mine. They were just feet away from the tall grass as they passed. Their combined numbers were impressive, a few hundred or so. As they began winding down the rocky slope into the quarry, we heard a familiar voice over our comms.
"Sorry to keep you guys waiting. What's your position? Over." It was Conall, finally.
"We're in the grass north west of the quarry, over."
"Good. We're just to the south. We spotted the targets."
"Aye, they're going down into the quarry cousin."
"Perfect. When it's clear, make your way to the path. We don't want anyone getting out."
AliveI thought to myself, finishing Conall's implied orders.
"Aye. Will do."
"We'll approach and circle the opening. We'll surround and destroy them. Keep your heads on your shoulders you two. Conall out." Conall finished, and Tairek turned to address the militia.
"Let's move. Hold your fire. Our task is to make sure no one escapes."
"What about all the workers? We joined with you Mandalorians to liberate Gardoose, not to kill civilians. We're not ERCS." A Twilek militiaman said. Tairek contacted Conall.
"Conall, the civilians are off limits."
"Of course." Conall replied simply. Tairek turned back.
"Watch your fire. Let's move."
We sifted out of the tall grass, making our way over to the single pathway leading down into the quarry. At the same time, Conall and his troops appeared from behind the hills to the south, and crept forward towards the quarry. Reaching the quarry, they began to circle its mouth, while our group set up an effective defense of the pathway. So far, so clear, they hadn't noticed us. Several of Conall's men equipped bazookas, took aim at select targets, and on their commander's mark, fired. The Feeorin and the militia were taken by completely by surprise, as groups of them were blasted apart. Civilian miners ran and hid, as their overlords ran for cover and returned fire.
"Watch your buckets lads!" Tairek yelled over the comm. The angle of fire allowed our foes to shoot at the only parts of us that they could see – our heads.
It was an intense fire fight, as we had to duck more often than they did. Our militia, unarmoured, were playing it safe, while Conall's men took turns ducking out of cover to shoot down at our foe. They were hidden behind crates of Kassoti, which was notoriously flammable – a fact not lost on us. We took potshots at the Kassoti, exploding several crates, forcing the survivors to huddle together. One of the Feeorin dropped a smoke grenade to cover their movements. They were effectively concealed. Us Mandalorians activated our helmet's IR sights to spot them.
"They're making a run for it, watch that path!" One of Conalls' men warned.
A large group of militia, led by Feeorin, began running towards us. Our team directed our fire into the mass of targets charging us. They took bolts and fell, off the path or face down, tripping their friends. But it wasn't enough. As the militia fell, charging from behind them were Feeorin, armed with wicked, curved swords. They made contact with our militia, hacking through Zabrak and Gungan alike. The rest of us began backing away for some range. The militia fired furiously into the mass of Feeorin, while Tairek and I made use of our gauntlet rocket darts. I fired an explosive tip, killing a few, while Tairek fired KO darts to wear them down. Nevertheless, they kept coming. One tossed a concussion grenade, disorienting the militia while Tairek and I fell backwards.
Coming to a few moments later, I saw the Feeorin knock aside our militia, rather than kill them. Three were left as they came down on Tairek and I, two on him, one on me. My foe yelled a battle cry, as he attempted to slice my head clean off. As he brought his arms up to swipe, I sat up, jamming my gauntlet vibroshiv into his stomach. The Feeorin yelled, and I knew I had only one moment to take him before he reacted. I threw my body forward, smashing him onto his back, as I crashed on top of him. Before he could kick me off, I pressed my other fist to his face, and unleashed my gauntlet's laser, frying his skull point blank.
Tairek was being overwhelmed. One Feeorin held him down, while the other was preparing to hack his hand off. The one with the sword cried out, as one of Conall's snipers on the other side of the quarry pegged him in the spine. The militia by now had recovered, and aimed their blasters at the Feeorin. The merc grinned, stood up and backed away from Tairek. He was walking backwards towards the quarry. I moved slowly to take him down for questioning, but he was quick. Turning, he backfisted me, knocking me to the ground, and made a running jump into the quarry. He wasn't trying to escape – he wantedto die. The remainder of us who survived looked down, and watched as he crashed into the pool of burning Kassoti. Tairek walked over and helped me up. I took my helmet off and rubbed my face. Arku and his militia joined us, while Conall's men regrouped.
"I see more suicides on this job…" I mumbled dryly.
"We have to get those miners." Arku said to his militia. "Everyone ready?" His men grunted. "Good. Careful of the fires, let's be quick."
Arku and the militia began down the path into the quarry to round up their fellow citizens of Gardoose. Tairek and I held back, as Conall and his men rounded the quarry mouth towards us. Tairek and Conall talked, while I looked down into the quarry. It was a noble and honourable task they were doing, simply rescuing their brethren. I joined the conversation, but before I could utter a word there was a thrashing from the nearby forest. Running out of the woods were a group of militia, armed with swords and bows. We were hit with a volley of arrows. I took an arrow in the shoulder pauldron and dropped to the ground, putting on my helmet. Tairek was hit in the chest, Conall in the leg. His men began firing back, but more came. From one of our own there was a roar of pain. I turned to look, and saw Gawain struck in the eye with an arrow, his helmet on the ground beside him.
"Gawain!" I yelled, and began crawling over to him.
In a rage, Gawain stood up, the arrow still in his eye as the militia swordsmen charged. Gawain reached up, pulled the arrow out, and bit his bloodied eyeball off it. The militia stopped dead in their tracks, astounded and intimidated by the man. In their surprise, Conall's men fired, quickly eliminating our attackers. The few survivors fled, and Gawain personally ran after them, jumping on them and snapping their necks or crushing their spines. Tairek, Conall and I recovered – the arrows hadn't pierced through the other side of our armour. We watched, impressed, as Gawain killed the last of the enemy militia, blind in one eye as he was. Conall nodded, and turned to us.
"We'll talk when we get back to camp. Our job here is done. Let's go."