Ask The Unstoppable Machine

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn continued trying to fall back, ultimately finding cover behind a boulder outcropping along the path as blaster fire continued to tear into the snow and stone around him. Sizzles of melting ice and chunks of blasted boulder surrounded him, and he was forced to fall back again, running away in a zig-zag that only narrowly allowed him to avoid being shot and killed.

The ambushers appeared wise enough not to leave their cover and pursue, knowing that fighting a Sith at close range was all but a suicide attempt, and this allowed Varyn a reprieve and escape.

Kriff, they planned all of this, didn't they? he asked. He could feel the wind picking up and with it the snow that slapped against his goggles. He pulled out his datapad and forwarded his location to Altair as he continued along the ridge for a ways.

Hey! I found a cave. We might be able to take cover in here, he said. I think moving during this storm is suicide, he said. Not that it was going to be very fun to hunker down without food or real heat, but it was better than dying to the elements. The Force had sustained both Jedi and Sith through much worse in the past.

He didn't settle in, though. He waited at the opening, looking for Altair amidst the snow and eventually lighting his saber so that the red blade could be a beacon for him to find. He knew he risked the insurgents finding them as well, but if their pattern stayed true they would continue to move with the civilians and perhaps leave the elements to murder the two Sith.

Over here, to your left! he said into his comlink as he spotted the tiefling. He headed deeper into the cave away from the immediate entrance and took a seat on the ground, pulling away his face wrap now that they were out of the biting cold.

Guess we're going to have to find a new way to root out this mole, he said, already trying to think of what that would be but coming up empty for the moment.

Every stage of this was a trap, wasn't it? he said, as much to himself as to Altair. He cursed internally once again at the situation they had found themselves in.

 

[Altair Din]

While Altair could tolerate the weather better, a storm and poor visibility afflicted him all the same. He listened to Varyn’s comms and begrudgingly agreed. There was no sense in attempting anything in this weather and risking death when they were going to be outmatched at every turn.

“I can’t see shit!” Altair called out when Varyn told him to find him. However, he spotted the telltale light of a saber vividly standing out against the white out storm. It took him a while to trek to the other Champion, but Altair clawed and half climbed to the cave entrance. The tiefling dusted the snow off before entering the cave and sitting down across Varyn. He took a moment to survey the cave to ensure it was actually empty.

Altair removed his helmet and set it down next to himself, still feeling the effects of the biting cold. Varyn would have it far worse, but it was risky to light a fire just yet. He sighed as he looked out towards the storm, “Every fuckin’ step,” He answered the Champion, “It’s gotta be one of our men that turned. They know exactly how we’ll execute our operations,” Altair tried to go down the list of soldiers, trying to figure out who could have been the informant.

“Since they’re adapting to everything we’re doing, the turncoat is with them,” He explained, his breath coming out in wisps of fog, “It ain’t just an informant. It’s either someone that’s got eyes on us or someone that’s traveling with them. Hell, it may be more than one person,” Altair shook his head, feeling defeated.

He reached for a flask on his hip filled with rum and took a swig before tossing it to Varyn, “You really had my back out there,” Altair gave him a faint grin, “Though I s’ppose you ain’t got anyone else out here right now to watch yours.”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn was, in fact, freezing even with the cold weather gear. He was starting to hate this planet, but the fact was, this was war. War was misery, and complaining about it was bad for everyone. In fact, even these musings about his misery was a defeating attitude.

He shook his head as Altair confirmed what he already knew. They'd been sold out and not only was their platoon dead, he was sure that more than a few men from the other companies.

Who else do we have if not each other, right? he said. He took the offered drink and took a swig, the warmth making him momentarily feel better. We're still gonna make it through this. I can feel it, he said, honestly and then chuckled and broke into a smile.

Boy, that sounds mysticy, doesn't it? he said.

His mind turned back to what Altair had said about the traitor being with them and how everything they'd done was monitored and the enemy had eyes on them, something clicked. His eyes went wide with realization.

Kriff, they don't have eyes on us, they have ears! he said, sitting up straighter and now exuding an energy that he didn't have before.

If there's a traitor in say, comscan, he'd have encryption codes for all our comm channels, he said, knowing Altair would know where he was going with this.

But they'd have to be working out of a comm station. Something that could intercept all local communications. If we can hit that, we can turn the tides. But if we report things back to command, it'll all be blown because they'll know they're found out! he said.

 

[Altair Din]

“Comscan..” Altair repeated as he had a similar look of dawning realization on his face. He sat up straighter as well as the storm continued to rage outside. It was complete whiteout conditions at this point and he was sure no one could really see into the cave right then. It was likely safe for them to build a fire. Altair reached into a small rations bag he had with him and emptied out the chips from one of them. He placed the bag between himself and Varyn before drawing out a lighter to ignite it. The oily residue helped the flames catch and they soon had a tiny fire between them. It was clear the gesture was more for Varyn than for himself - the tiefling was cold but not shivering where Varyn likely couldn’t feel his fingers at this point.

“We only have one way to confirm this,” He said quietly, “We address each other and relay a bogus plan over the shared comms and ambush whoever shows up there. Play the same game they been playin’ with us,” Altair explained, rubbing his chin in thought, “It’s risky and some of our own men may fuck it up somehow, but I’d rather do that to narrow it down ‘cause we’re blind right now.”

It wasn’t the most brilliant plan, but they had few options. Going out and mindlessly hunting the enemy was going to be impossible. The civilians and the group were likely leagues ahead and had found hidden shelters to wait out the storm. Luring them out into a trap was the only feasible option.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn was thankful for the fire that started and scooted closer to it until he was almost hugging it. He extended his hands out so they were close to the flame, even the slight heat. He glanced back to the white nothingness outside of the cave and wondered how cold it was.

Pay your dues. Can't order men to go through anything you haven't done before, he told himself, trying to make him feel better before pushing his mind back to a distraction of their conversation.

What if we just do it ourselves? he asked. They were tapped into our comms well enough to know we were tracking them and where on the ridges we were going, he said. Maybe it was lack of trust in their troops or maybe it was not wanting to put them in the line of fire or maybe it was because Varyn just preferred to rely on himself and those he knew well... even Varyn wasn't sure, but he wouldn't argue with whichever way Altair preferred.

Dude, you don't even look cold, he said, forcing a smile before wrapping his face back up. He knew little of Tieflings, and their resistance to extreme temperatures was something he'd never come across before.