Lip padded forward, DC raised to fire the moment any droid appeared.
So far there had been none but a single sentry though, the thing having had its head torn off by Cutter as the recon trooper moved ahead of the main force. Behind him the others followed, Wrench's slightly plodding movement, Fourth's deathly silence...and the two jedi that almost seemed...hesitant.
So far it was going great, the droids at the entrance had been torn apart without much problem, there weren't much in the way of enemy sensors according to the scouting Cutter...and despite Fourth's doubts the jedi seemed content to keep quiet as they ghosted on.
So all in all they were just royally screwed.
Lip grinned.
The corridor they were moving in was a mixture of brown stone of the hollowed mountain and dark grey steel the separatists seemed to favour on this planet. It was wider then the door had made him believe, almost a dozen steps wide and sporting a few crates of various shapes that Lip if he remembered correctly were used for repairs and recharging of the droids.
It was also a bit high in the way of ceiling, making Lip feel as if they were exploring the cave of some great monster. Though large enough to fit an advanced dwarf spider droid he doubted they would encounter one. Not that a small army of B2's was a better option...
"Master..." The word was but a whisper, but enough to make Lip glance back to see Weela stumble, a hand coming up to her chest. "...I...I think I can feel him, he's here master."
"What did I tell you about talking?" Fourth grumbled, not even bothering to look back at the two troubled-looking jedi.
Ignoring the commando the twi'lek placed a hand on Weela's shoulder, steadying her. "Turn away from it padawan, quench your being...he must not know of us yet."
"Yes master." Weela nodded, lips pressed tightly together as she visibly paled under a strain Lip couldn't understand.
"Is this going to affect the mission?" He dared asking while pointing at the now wobbling Weela, knowing Fourth would be interested in such a subject enough to tolerate talking outside the radio. "She looks horrible."
Weela managed a surprisingly childish pout, sticking her tongue out at a surprised Lip. "Thank you for the kind words."
"There will be no difficulty." Boc Fac added, throwing his padawan a stern look that she didn't seem to register.
Despite the helmet Lip could tell Fourth was scowling even as he continued his cautious advance. "If you say so...sir..."
Before things could turn into another game of insult-the-jedi Cutter's voice cut through the static that the separatists transmissions were eliciting. "Cutter reporting, located elevator, need immediate reinforcement to continue advance."
As one the three commandos moved into a jog, drawing a sigh from Weela as she and her master found themselves hurrying after them.
Cutter asking for reinforcement...that always meant the need to hurry. Fourth seemed to think the same thing as he growled through his com-link: "Cutter, send me your visual, I want the situation." A few moments passed as the group hurried on, then Fourth growled on: "Right, Lip I want you to hit the console right away. Wrench, the left side corridor must be mined. Cutter and I will keep the right under control."
"Roger that."
"Confirmed."
"Affirmative."
Already putting his weapon over behind his back Lip saw the corridor split left and right, judging by the large door at the end there was an elevator there...a quick scan quickly located the console to it on the right side of the door. Using what little cover offered by the console Cutter was crouched low, dodging back and forth from it as he fired of quick bursts at something hidden on the right.
Jogging forward Lip saw Wrench turn tightly to the left as they reached the T-crossing, hands already reaching over to grab a hold of his supply of explosives. The crates of energy storage would make a might fine boom...and since the corridor was empty Wrench would be able to work undisturbed. Over on the right though...
Lip saw at least seven B1s using crates and alcoves of the corridor as cover, even as he watched one had its head torn off by Fourth as the squad leader took position in the corner of the corridor. "Thermal!" Barely had the words left the commando's lips as the spherical explosive flew towards the droids, the explosion tearing aside two crates and the three droids using them as cover.
Forcing himself to look away from the combat Lip went up to the console, quickly bringing it online as he with practised eyes identified the programming and firewalls. "Give me twenty!" He snapped, annoyed by Cutter dodging and weaving right next to him. And here he was standing still like some living target...
"What will-"
"Just stay out of the way!" Fourth growled, silencing the jedi. Glancing over Lip saw Weela frown even as she and Boc stepped closer to the elevator, pushing their backs against the doors so as to minimize their exposure to the enemy fire. It was strange seeing a jedi duck...muttering a curse Lip focused back on the task at hand and forced his way past the first firewall.
"We got supers!" Flinching Lip felt the sting of a heavy blaster shot hitting his shoulder. Ignoring the sudden pain he continued, pushing past the second firewall with a little more difficulty than expected as the fingers in his right hand stiffened.
"Firewalls down! Ordering elevator...it's descending now." Lip muttered, relief coursing through him as he went unto one knee and pulled out his blaster. Ahead of him there was two B2s leading a dozen B1s in a bold advance against them, their fire raking the commandos position.
"Good, you and Wrench on anti armour, I want those supers gone." Fourth muttered, his shots bouncing off solid black armour of a super even as it sent two heavy blasts against him, one burning a hole in his cover while the other sent him stumbling back when it hit him in the chest.
"Glad to oblige sir!" Wrench rumbled, him and Lip both switching over to their explosive attachments with movements that mirrored one another to the moment. A second later Lip could take aim as Wrench muttered. "I take the right one." Lip just grinned, Wrench always wanted the right one...
With the press of a trigger Lip felt the familiar push of the weapon as it launched its explosive forth. Both B2s blew into pieces, the two closest B1s collapsing as well as scything droid-parts tore them apart. Then Cutter and Fourth opened up with new vigour, a torrent of blaster fire scything through the now exposed B1s.
Turning his weapon over to the standard Lip groaned inwardly as Wrench called out: "Droids incoming on our rear!"
"Let the explosives take care of them." Fourth muttered, nodding towards the rightward corridor. "Focus fire on the new arrivals."
"Oh man! They don't quit do they!?" Lip whined, watching with irritation as a new wave of droids approached, fortunately it was just a flood of B1s...flood. "Man that's a lot of them!"
"Thick crossfire, grenades ready for enemy charges." Fourth muttered as Cutter fell over, riddled with blaster fire. "Cover Cutter Lip!"
Instantly obeying Lip went down to cover Cutter with his body while his companion's shields recharged. He hated that order...Lip grimaced as the flurry of shots coming Cutter's way hit him instead, burning through his shields with surprising speed. "Thick crossfire please!"
The flurry of shots put forth knocked a dozen droids over, putting a stop on the enemy charge as the droids threw themselves into cover in an oddly human way. Without need for orders Cutter and Wrench switched to the sniper attachments on their weapons, ready to tear the hiding droids apart. Lip couldn't help but glance back, seeing half a dozen droids being turned to scrap as the crate they passed exploded into fire and scything metal.
He also saw the doors to the elevator beginning to open.
"Retreat into elevator now." Fourth growled, how he could see that without actually look back Lip had never been able to figure out...he obeyed though, quickly moving into the spacious elevator. He didn't even want to think what would have happened if it had carried enemy troops...
Turning he found the doors already closing. The assembled jedi and clones breathing a sigh of relief. "Well that was easy..."
Fourth shrugged, already checking his blaster. "But now they know we're here. Men, count your weapons..."
