Ask Purging Dissent

[Calvin Viett]

​

The ISS Caiman exited hyperspace perfectly, the long snout of the Yuso-class corvette resting above Ord Trasi.

"Helm, bring us into geosynchronous orbit with the planet's primary space platform, one kilometre directly above exit gate three".

"One kilometre! Sir that's way inside safe maneuvering protocols"

Lieutenant Calvin Viett turned to the man, his cybernetic golden eye seeming to flash in the light. "An organised insurgency will be watching for unusual activity, private. The traffic around gate three will screen our presence, but only if we are close enough to the gate for our energy signatures to conflate".

"But the port authority Sir, they-"

"-are under Imperial jurisdiction" Calvin finished, raising his voice only marginally. "You will transmit command override four seven, one one zero and comply". He remained braced, staring the helmsman down.

"Aye Sir". The Caiman gradually began to move into position.

Calvin turned back towards the viewing port, lips curling ever so slightly as he breathed deep with satisfaction. For years, he had watched General Dram be a great leader of men. Calvin long lusted after that power and prestige, to know how it felt to reach such a pinnacle of excellence. Today, it felt exceedingly good.

Order on the ship. Soon, order down below. Ord Trasi was their world, but the intelligence told of dissidents who worked tirelessly to take it from them. Calvin would not let that happen. Hutt-funded or not, ragtag band or organised insurgency, he would find them and eradicate them. So much had been lost in the East, cohesion in the West was critical to their survival.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Vallyrie Winters]

Vallyrie had barely made a name for herself in command of her own platoon before she was hoisted up as Company Commander following a very unfortunate accident with the previous commander and the Lord-Commander of the Imperial Knights. Iron Company was hers now, not just Second Platoon. So as with all "promotions," Vallyrie now had to sit in on meetings she would otherwise like to be an email. One such was figuring out what the mission was from the Navy. Hard not to keep your hands and uniforms clean when you got to blast away your problems from orbit. Not at all like the infantry.

She made her way in her full Assault Corps trooper armor painted with angular browns and tans. The helmet rested pinched between her left arm and hip, leaving her right hand free to grab the AZ-1 blaster pistol holstered on her right hip. Dress uniform? Yeah she had one. She could count on one hand the amount of times she'd actually worn it though. Vallyrie was an Assault Corps trooper; when the Empire had a hammer sized problem, they dropped Iron Company in with her leading from the front.

Her armored boots clicked across the mirror clean floor as she made her way onto the bridge. She snapped to attention a two meters from Lt. Viett and rendered a salute. Despite them being the same rank, Navy always took command billet over Army. They were able to see the battlefield as a whole from their perches up in orbit while the mud crunchers like Vallyrie risked life and limb doing the real work. In the Empire, they saluted the position and rank, not the man, though. Once on the ground, that's when Vallyrie became queen.

"Iron Company reporting as ordered, Sir," Vallyrie said, holding the salute until he returned it before snapping her hand down to the seam of her trousers.

@Alhon

 

[Calvin Viett]

Calvin heard the armoured boots even before he saw the woman's reflection in the polished duraglass.

"At ease" he replied, turning and returning the salute. Calvin had spent years saluting his superiors and now enjoyed being the one on the receiving end. He had a niggling worry that his cybernetic arm was a fraction slower than his old limb, but the pride swelling in his chest helped him bury it. Besides, the techs told him it was all in his head.

Lieutenant Vallyrie Winters was young, neither tall or broad, with smooth features and platinum blonde hair that reminded Calvin of the debutantes of his childhood. She was unknown to him, but what little he did know inclined him to like her, despite his desire to be objective.

Women could be dangerous though. He had watched General Dram lose his commission over one, and very nearly his life. Calvin would need to treat their partnership with caution.

"Excellent" he nodded, noting her martial bearing and fine armor. "Highly suitable camouflage for the terrain below" he commented, remarking on the shading that would blend well with Ord Trasi's landscape. It contrasted starkly with his own white panelled suit.

He led her to one side of the bridge, where a briefing table projected a holo image of a settlement, in the foothills of the northern mountains.

"Bas Ridge" he explained "a provincial mining town, one of the few on Ord Trasi itself. ISB intelligence has traced several leads on insurgent activity here, from disparate cells across the planet". He motioned to a large industrial structure, built into the slope above the town. "An ionite mine. While publicly run by corporate interests, we believe it has been entirely infiltrated by pro-Hutt elements".

Calvin could barely keep the scorn from his voice. The blow the vile slugs had dealt to the Empire made him seethe, and after all the General and others had done to save the galaxy from Raze. Now dissidents here looked to newly independent worlds and hoped to break Ord Trasi free of the Empire too. Such ingratitude.

"Most if not all the main players are believed to be concentrated here, in either the town or the mine. We must apprehend them and cut off the head of the snake before their network has time to disperse or react".

He clasped his hands behind his back, turning to regard Winters. "What will be Iron Company's approach?".

@TheDudeMike

 

[Vallyrie Winters]

Vallyrie's brown eyes watched the briefing unfold, her face resting in an absolute emotionless state. Infantry had a switch in their heads. When it was time to feel things they turned it on, when it was time for business they turned it off. Vallyrie hadn't turned hers on in... well- it was a long time. As Lt. Viett turned to regard her and ask what Iron Company would do, Vallyrie kept her eyes on the map. The Imperial made wheels of tactics, strategies, and operating procedures conjuring up twenty different plans in a heartbeat.

"Are there any exits from this mining facility outside of the front entrance?" She asked, pointing to the ionite mine. Mines usually only had one entrance as far as she knew, but there could be escape tunnels. "If not, first step would be to drop a platoon in front of it; no one gets in or out- period." Vallyrie pressed a button that allowed officers to draw on the projected map, placing the symbol for her Weapons Platoon at the entrance of the mine. Since they had the heavy weaponry for the company, they could set up the impromptu seige with heavy repeaters, mortars, and rockets.

"Not everyone would have shown up to work today. So next step is to drop the other three platoons in a half-encirclement of the opposite side of the town. They'll push through the town doing wellness checks on every house. I'll make sure my troopers bring soft hats so they can greet the locals with an actual face," Vallyrie explained, placing the symbols for first, second, and third platoons in their respective places and drawing arrows through the town toward Weapons Platoon. "Will probably need a few search and detain droids to help gather intel and any insurgents we find. The rest of them will only have one way to run, right into the heavy guns of Weapons Platoon."

She mentioned the last part by pointing to the platoon on the ridge. Putting the pen down, Vallyrie turned to Lt. Viett again. "Any air assets in a perfect galaxy would be on a mix of recon patrols around the outskirts and on call for fire missions."

@Alhon

 

[Calvin Viett]

Lieutenant Winters did not disappoint.

"There are no known exits aside from the mine entrance" Calvin confirmed, though he wished he could be completely certain none existed. Mines typically had escape tunnels for cave ins. It could be an ISB oversight that none had been mapped.

"Barricading the entrance as a prelude to an incursion is logical, but I suggest we then move in quickly". It was a reasonable assumption that the top leadership based themselves in the mine itself. They could not be allowed to escape, take their own lives or destroy intelligence.

Calvin turned his head towards the other markings she had made. "Encirclement of the town is similarly appropriate". There were undoubtedly agents of the insurgency elsewhere on the planet, but nexus of their activity was here. Not a single one of their core people could be allowed to escape.

"We estimate insurgent numbers between 50 and 100, significantly less than Iron Company. However, it is possible they will have forged links of support with the locals". Some people had no grasp of the bigger picture, or what was in their best interest. "We should prepare for a high degree of resistance. If we encounter less..." he shrugged slightly, finding no precise way to say it "it will be a bonus".

The bridge doors opened and two privates approached, carrying the Lieutenant's own heavy set of armor. "I will accompany you and Iron Company to the surface" he informed her "but you are in command of the field operation Lieutenant. I am content to join the units dealing with the mine, or the town, as you think fit".

@TheDudeMike

 

[Vallyrie Winters]

"If time is paramount, then I'll bring Second up to the ridge too. They can push into the facility, Weapons can put most of their guns facing outboard. First and Third will push through the town and drive any insurgents up towards Weapons," Vallyrie explained, correcting the icons on the holo-map. A thousand variables changed everything in a battle, and thought Vallyrie had never been tested in combat yet, she strove to be the best ground commander she could be. It was a lot of studying, and a lot of training.

"First and Third Platoons will conduct soft knocks first. The moment contact is initiated, they'll elevate to hard knocks," Vallyrie said, turning her gaze to Lt. Viett. "Squad leaders will use soft caps and switch to helmets when needed. Everyone else will be in full battle rattle. If they want a fight, they picked the wrong company." Not only was Iron Company specialists in COIN operations, they were Assault Corps troopers. Kicking in doors was what they lived.

Having the Naval Lieutenant say they were going to accompany her on the ground was a shock. She hadn't expected the man to actually want to come down to the devil's den with her and her company. Picking her slack jaw up and regaining her composure, Vallyrie nodded. She pointed to the ridge where Weapons and Second Platoons would be dropped off.

"Headquarters Platoon will be up on the ridge with Weapons. From there, we can join Second Platoon in the assault into the facility. If you have a team for forward observers, I'd leave them with Weapons Platoon under Lt. Vasguez. They can spot targets and call in air assets as needed. First and Third Platoon comm-ops will relay through the ridge, so they'll get all traffic," she explained, pointing to the relevant points on the map. "Iron Company can be on landing craft in ten minutes, sir."

@Alhon

 

[Calvin Viett]

Calvin nodded, satisfied. He liked Winters' plan; the soft vanguard leading a hard assault should enable them to get as deep into the town as possible before any alarm was raised. By the time it was, the necessaries would be in place.

"I would expect nothing less, Lieutenant" he answered "see you there in eight". He braced to return her salute as she went to mobilise her men.

Calvin made his own preparations. He chose two crewmen and a sergeant to act as observers on the ridge, handing the bridge and control of the Caiman over to his second. Iron Company were the muscle in this operation and he had few men to spare, but he did not go into any theatre without at least some of his own people.

"Rico, Blake, you are with me". The two marines hurried to his side, gleeful at getting to join in on the action. They and the three observers fell into step and his little group took the elevator down to the main hangar.

Boarding ran like clockwork, due in no small part to Iron Company's evident discipline and protocols Calvin had instituted. Hangars were busy, dangerous place where dawdling or idle chatter could cost life and limb, to say nothing of undermining efficiency. The Lieutenant had made both disciplinary offences on his first day.

Calvin strapped in and braced himself against the hull as they exited and began their steep dive, taking a trajectory designed to minimise the chance of being seen by scopes down below.

His blaster rifle sat primed and ready in its sling and the typical loadout of an IDF trooper was arranged perfectly on his person. He remained unhelmeted for now, opting for his combat headset. His heavy grey armor was not as camouflaged as Winters's, but it was a comfort all the same. Like the late General, in the field Calvin preferred brute strength over speed.

@TheDudeMike

 

[Vallyrie Winters]

The descent was like any other. Vallyrie had her helmet over her face, and her F-11D with a lightweight stock slung across her chest plate with her right hand grasping the pistol grip. Her left hand was above her, gripping one of the stabilization rings that hung from the ceiling of the transport. Around her, Headquarters Platoon waited silently. It was made up of mostly support personnel, but they were armed to the teeth just like her. One of the most endearing things about Iron Company was shortly after she became company commander a lot of the troopers started carrying combat shovel kits just like hers on the back left of her belt. If she needed it in a melee, she'd rather be able to use the AZ-1 blaster pistol holstered on her right hip in tandem with the shovel.

The craft jerked to a stop, and the ramp lowered. Vallyrie made her way to the end of the transport. She was the first Imperial boot to touch the ground that would be their battlefield. If she had her way at the end, she'd be the last one stepping off the field too. The dust and dirt being thrown around by the thrusters made no difference to her, being fully armored, though she did switch into visions mode on her helmet for a quick scan of the plateau they found themselves on. She took a knee by a rock, waited for Headquarters Platoon to follow suit in a arc of coverage that met with Second Platoon and Weapons Platoon's.

The plateau was part of a trail dug into the cliff face, enlarged for the entrance of the mining facility so that ships could land and take off, if Vallyrie had to guess. The entrance to the facility was fifty meters to the north. To the south, at the base of the cliff, the target town sat. There were three pathways, either carved out of rock or filled in by dirt, leading up to the landing. Weapons Platoon was already setting up their E-Web heavy repeaters on tripods to cover all three approaches and have interlocking fields of fire over the town. The mortarmen set up their equipment bags behind them like a barrier toward the entrance while they set up the mortars toward the town. Rockets and snipers lined the rest of the landing.

Second Platoon was already advancing toward the entrance, and Vallyrie wanted to join them, but she waited to see First and Third Platoons land on the far side of the town. Just as they had planned, the squad leaders were wearing soft caps and the movement into the town was relatively relaxed as they began knocking on doors.

Vallyrie turned from the town and jogged over to the advancing Second Platoon, no doubt running into Lt. Viett along the way.

@Alhon

 

[Calvin Viett]

Their descent was quick and uneventful. Civilian air traffic had been scattered by military order, so the skies were clear. Even if the insurgents were expecting them, which was unlikely, there was no intelligence to suggest they had the capability to stop the Imperials.

The transport landed on the plateau some distance below the entrance and Calvin watched intently as Iron Company deployed. The Lieutenant ensured the landing site was secure and a perimeter established before heading up the slope, Rico and Blake in tow.

”Lieutenant” he called, noticing Winters catching up with the platoon. “You are aware of our targets” he said in a low voice “but the ionite in the mine itself also has value”. The mineral was not their primary goal, but a secondary objective of his own he now felt confident to share with her. “This operation may be an opportunity to secure a quantity“. Calvin had designs on experiments that would benefit the Empire, but had been reluctant to raise eyebrows by officially requisitioning the materials just yet.

The Platoon ascended quickly, approaching the mine entrance before the two pairs of gate guards could properly gather themselves.

”Woah woah” one exclaimed, beckoning the others and shouldering his weapon uncertainly “what’s this all about?!”

@TheDudeMike

 

[Vallyrie Winters]

Vallyrie stopped in her tracks when her name was called. She turned, waiting for Lt. Viett to catch up and then continued at a brisk pace. Securing some ionite? That rose some questions, but Vallyrie wasn't in the business of asking questions. Hers was not to ask why, but to do or die. She gave the man a quick nod, thankful that her helmet blocked all sight of her quirked eye brow and questioning gaze. Maybe in due time.

Second Platoon fanned out, all four rifle squads made up of ten troopers each spreading out, keeping good intervals between troopers, and most importantly, creating one long firing line that any force would be a fool to challenge openly and directly. The platoon stopped, raising their blaster rifles to bear on the two pairs of security guards and the guards did the same. The difference was that Vallyrie's troopers were far more confident in what they were standing up against. She turned to the platoon leader and motioned with her left hand to move forward and seize the guards. Her right hand held her rifle, shouldered and at the ready, aimed in the guards' direction.

"Drop your weapons!" Vallyrie called. Her command was echoed down the the line of troopers, and then repeated again and again by the squad that was moving forward to secure the guards. The pair of guards on the left dropped their rifles immediately, throwing up their hands. Smart move. The second pair decided to start shooting. Dumb move. They managed to get a bolt out each before Second Platoon opened up with every rifle they had. It was over forty rifles against two.

One of Vallyrie's troopers got hit by a bolt in the chest plate and went down. The squad medic rushed over and began rendering aid immediately. The pair that had fired were hit with enough bolts to kill a rancor each. The remaining pair of guards stood stunned and afraid until the squad approaching reached them and secured them with hand-cuffs and zipties. The rest of the platoon moved forward, surging like water from a broken dam toward the entrance.

Vallyrie watched as medics from Weapons Platoon came over to deal with the wounded trooper. The tell-tale sound of E-Web heavy repeaters opening up along the plateua said that the other platoons had run into some dissidents. The light thunk of mortars being fired said it was enough to call for fire. Vallyrie turned to Lt. Viett.

"They know we're here now," she said. "Let's make this quick." Moving with the platoon, another squad set up breaching charges and executed a flawless breach. While everyone inside had heard the blaster fire outside, they weren't ready for smooth entrance the troopers made. Despite Vallyrie wanting to stay out with Weapons Platoon and direct fire and assets, she stepped through the breach into the mine.

Spoiler: Dice Roll

9/20 Partial Success for if the guards drop their weapons

@Alhon