Pest Control

[Talos Barrenfist]

​

So this is where they dumped the planet’s shit. No wonder gangsters are able to maintain a foothold down here. Talos thought with disgust as the stench filled his nostrils. Wearing combat fatigues and armed with his rifle the spaceborn stacked up against a graffitied wall with a unit of twenty two marines. Among their team was former cartel operative turned a Republic agent named Davik Lorso.

To be perfectly frank Barrenfist didn’t know if he can fully trust the man yet but command seemed to and he has to obey their orders.

Now that war with the Hutts is in full swing they had been given an assignment. Intelligence had pin pointed some of the gangs who run the lower levels were in league with the Cartel and were gearing up for violence. One such group was located on Level 2142 at a ruined factory. Their orders were direct, destroy the gang as an organization, dead or alive. Several yards away was the former plant, its decaying features evident to all who can see.

Turning toward Davik next to him, Talos asked. “Okay agent how you want to play this?”

@Ecclessey

 

[Davik Lorso (TL8)]

Davik had hoped this would happen when he testified in the Alderaan election and although it stung a little to betray Svallos, the news of Spectre's death had certainly been the icing on a very sweet cake. That was one down and only two more to go before the Syndicate was no longer. He'd been busy for weeks at the Republic Intelligence HQ here on Coruscant to map the cartel's inner workings for the Republic military so the brass could most efficiently lead their troops against their enemy. He had figured that today was going to be something of the same; Davik operating in an advisory role while a squad of Republic troopers took down a local gang with ties to the cartel. As such he hadn't really bothered dressing up and was still seated on his FX-630 Turbo speeder bike when the lieutenant how he wanted to play this. Krff... misread the message.

Tapping his side-arm, Davik smiled in a nonchalant manner. "Depend on which gang you want to chase out," he replied with a bit of an arrogant tone to his voice. There were countless of gangs in the lower levels and there was always one worse to take over from the one you chase away. "Level 2142 has one gang who affiliated themselves with Balla a few years ago-" he began, referencing the Hutt Lorda who was renowned for his arena fights, "-they're weequays earning most of their creds in some sick bloodsport arena." He hoped the lieutenant didn't know about the gang that was affiliated with Svallos and filled a black market niche for weapons and spice. Especially the latter still had Davik's own personal interest and he wasn't ready for them to be wiped out yet. "If you have some good men we could raid the arena inside that abandoned factory and arrest-" Kriff, what was the name of their leader again? ""-Giant Gian. That'll probably scatter them." The abandoned factory would be claimed by another gang in no time, not even making a dent in the underworld landscape, but then Coruscant would be free of one cartel-affiliated one. Guess that counted for something.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Smug-ass.

Talos did not utter the thought out loud concerning Davik as the agent gave his opinion. All the same he listened to him. It sounded like the bunch they’re about to crush were small fish among other criminals aligned with the Hutts. Regadless their fate was sealed by Hutt association along with the bloodsport business. His superiors wanted to make examples may as well start with these Weequay gang.

It’s time to see if that intel of Davik is solid. Signaling to the marines to gather around him and the agent he issued commands.

“First squad advance to the back of the factory and wait on my singal. Second squad you’re with me and Agent Lorso. We’re going kick in the front door. Once inside check your corners and don’t try any of bantha shit on the holovids, or the leather faces will be the least of your concerns. Am I understood?”

His tone brokered no debate on the matter and the twenty two marines present acknowledged through whispers so not give away their position. With a hand singal by the lieutenant the troops moved out quietly, spiliting into two teams. As instructed the first squad went around the corner, heading for the back enterance as their comrades head for the front. Squad two stacked up on both sides next to the door that clearly seen better years.

Once first squad leader reported her unit was ready, Barrenfist commenced the operation by placing a breach charge the entrance and moved. Seconds later a small explosion ingited knocking the door down. In swift motion one of the marines tossed a concussion grenade inside. Its burst of light blinded the few occupants nearby, leaving them vulnerable to the second squad’s assault. Charging in the troops in the lead fired on the four stunned Weequays armed only with pistols, gunning them down in a matter of seconds.

“Keep advancing.” Talos ordered in the middle of the team, pressing onward to the hallway in the center.

@Ecclessey

 

[Davik Lorso (TL8)]

"Alright, then-" Davik sighed as the lieutenant signalled for marines to gather around. The war had been his doing, for a part, but he still had trouble coming to terms with how serious the Republic military thought of themselves. Give the Davik the Vigo a handful of basadi with thunderslugs and he'd get the job done easy. Sure, most of them would die in a chaotic firefight, but manpower is easily replaced if you don't even bother training them. The Republic invested so much wealth into its military that all these marines -including the lieutenant- were all stumped individuals without a creative or efficient bone in their body.

Stepping off his speeder bike, Davik pulled out his SP-20 blaster pistol and checked to see if it was all in working condition, which it was. He had to give it to the Lieutenant, however, as he clearly knew his urban assault tactics and spoke to his men with a clear voice of command. You didn't really see that in the cartel. You were either rich enough to convince poor sods to risk their lives for fortune, or you were big and scary enough that they'd rather risk getting shot than their entrails being worn as necklace. The Syndicate had thrived in both with Nem'ro and The Wook, but now they were the only two left.. and the war was only beginning.

Following in the back of the second team, Davik treated himself as the High Value Member of the assault team and thus kept away from where the action was expected to be. He'd be sure to show up ahead when they reached Giant Gian so he could claim the glory of defeating the big and scary gang boss.

The team then went in with a bang and just as the lieutenant had briefed and planned, causing Davik's opinion of him to further grow.

The warehouse itself was an open space in ill-repair and sparsely filled with near-empty crates stacked along the walls to leave a large space open in the middle. This space is where the two teams would meet each other and get the distinct and justified feeling that the gang might've seen them coming...or were tipped off. A sharp whistle came from somewhere above, where the office was located, and suddenly a dozen weequays carrying illegal thunderslug pistols appeared from (among) the crates.

Four marines got killed immediately, while another was hit in the left arm. Davik was quick to dash for cover, being the closest to the crates and yelled "Ambush!" before shooting the nearest weequay in the face.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

This felt too easy for Barrenfist. By now their group should’ve encountered surprised thugs as they continued their approach. The first squad reported in no resistance through the comms. He became more uneasy as they came into the open space and with the other unit approaching from the opposite side. Before Talos could air his concerns when they all heard the whistle from above and followed by the sudden appearance of a dozen hostiles among the stacked crates, that gunned down four of his troops and wounded another who laid on the floor howling in pain.

He dived for cover next to Davik, calling out to his men. “Get out of the open and let em have it!” While the the gang may have been prepared this ambush, but their opponents were trained to counter such tactics. Two concussion grenades were thrown toward the center of the thugs hiding among the crates. Soon enough the combined firepower(rifle and repeaters) by seventeen pissed-off marines followed, raining upon the gangsters up close who hit by the twin flashbangs.

Talos aimed at one of Weequay grasping her eyes with one hand before being blasting by a three round burst into the stomach by him. She fell off a box, with a scream with four compatriots, joining her in death along with two wounded(one in the shoulder and another at the legs).

@Ecclessey

 

[Davik Lorso (TL8)]

Chaos was an easy word to describe what was going on inside the factory. Nothing of the Lieutenant's plan had really worked out the way he had hoped and yet his men were better trained than any of the basadi Davik had in his employ as a Vigo, or better yet, he still has employed as security at his facility on Quesh. Trying to put his best leg forward in a figurative sense since he wasn't going to actually get out from cover, Davik looked around in search of a good target. He found one just after the flashbangs went off and shot a bolt into his unprotected chest. That, however, wasn't the smartest thing to do because while shooting he opened himself up for an attack as well and one of the weequay's thunderslugs found a target in Davik's own chest, smacking him against the crate on impact and not only ruining his armor but bruising ribs. Davik felt the shirt underneath his armor become wet, knowing that it must be his own blood. Inhaling deeply he felt a sharp pain the close his lungs extended towards his ribcage, "Kriff-" he cried on exhale. He was going to sit the rest of this chaotic encounter out if he could.

Meanwhile the marines were proving their worth as they continued to shoot down the gangsters, killing three. That made the tally a whopping 10 dead and two wounded. Wait, the blaster fire suddenly subsided and one of the marines raised his fist, "All clear, lieutenant."

Davik felt considerable elation, but knew it wasn't over yet. This was just the ambushing force and they still had to find and fight their way towards Giant Gian. Spitting on the floor and touching his chest with his left hand, Davik rose from cover looking like a ghost. "I karking hate thunderslug pistols." Now that he didn't own one himself, at least.

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

As the last of the thugs were dealt with Talos nodded in approval when told it was all clear. “Alright, first squad will stay here to take care of Jenkins and our dead and make sure the prisoners are secured. Second squad on me we’re going up to the next level.” He commanded which was followed to the letter just as he drilled them.

Moving alongside Davik up a flight of rusty metal stairs, he remarked quietly just between them. “These leatherheads knew we were coming and were packing. Do you really think this Giant Gian would stay here if he had advanced warning?” As the party pushed forward they were on guard more so than before. Blasters at the ready and cautiously observing their surroundedings, the now ten man squad were about to reach the top of the stairs Talos who was out in front saw movement.

Without hesitation he raised his blaster and fired three round burst in that direction. A scream was heard and two more shadows appeared aiming pistols only to be mauled by blasterfire from the front half of the squad. Seconds later they up and found three Weequay corpses armed with more thunderslung pistols. After making sure the scum were dead the marines pressed on. The main office was fifty meters away to the left side and there broken machinery scattered around the room.

With their destination in range the men stayed close to the machines for cover so not to be caught out on the open like before. They spied for any sign of trouble as they edged closer.

 

[Davik Lorso (TL8)]

"Heh-" Davik shook his head upon the lieutenant's question, "-this is the only place he has any kind of power. Trust me,-" he allowed several members of the second squad pass him when suddenly the lieutenant opened fire, quickly followed by his marine subordinates. Davik's ears stung and his head hurt from the flashes that suddenly flew passed his head in quick succession. Karking Kriff, he came here today in an advisory role and now he had torn eardrums, a headache, bruised ribs and the night was only just beginning. Giant Gian would be a tough cookie to crack.

It wasn't long after that Davik spotted the giant weequay inside the office, barricading himself behind a table with a thunderslug pistol of his own. "There!" he cried, pointing at the office window with his blaster and prompting the marines to dash towards the door, one on either side and one smack in front of his ready to kick it down. That's when Davik once again saw light flashing, but not of blasters this time. Just when the marine kicked in the door, an explosion went off that obliterated him and the one to his left, blasting the remaining marine further back into the hallway. Davik, who had allowed the entire group of marines to go passed him, was safe from the blast and managed to keep Giant Gian in his sights. "He's still in there- shoot!"

@Minuteman75

 

[Talos Barrenfist]

Watching two more of his men go down enraged Talos. So as soon as Giant Gian came into view, the lieutenant with his rifle at the ready, fired four stun bolts into the large Weequay before he can pull the trigger. The giant of an alien collapsed backward with a thud. Moving inside with the men, they secured the room and the unconscious yet living gang leader. Looking down with contempt at the scum Barrenfist glanced over to Davik.

“He’s all yours. Just make sure whatever intel you get from this farker is worth what my boys paid for tonight.”

/End thread