Working for Charity

[Hugo Ion]

Planet Kabal
Ronis Island​

On the outside, the town of Marck seemed nothing like other than your typical remote settlement. It was anything but that. Hiding among the trees to the east three hundred yards away, Hugo Ion and his seventy rebels laid in wait. The blue humanoid looked through a holobinoculars, scanning for anything recon could’ve missed. He spotted a few sentries patrolling the dirt roads across the neighborhoods but not much else.

Too quiet even for a dirt town. Do these country terrorists want to be found?

Of course it the fact wasn’t lost on him that the Imperials would label him and his organization in the same way. The thought of being compared to a bunch of mass murdering xenophobic hicks like the Kabal Freedom Front was insulting to say the least. Keeping such pondering to himself Hugo instead turned to his Corellian partner in crime, Aldo Raine. Giving the binoculars over to the human, he whispered.

”According to our little bird, the KFF is keeping the engineers inside the townhall with the tower. Security may seem lax, but I have a bad feeling the scum are hiding some nasty surprises in case of trouble. What is your opinion Raine?”

@Zay

 

[Aldo Raine]

A man stands among his comrades, yet still he is alone.

The sleeping city of Marck layout before the band of Rebels following the lead of the Alliance Commander himself. Their mission was straight forward: Get in, get the target, and get out. The only thing stopping them from doing that was the seemingly serene scene set before them. According to their intel, this location should have been crawling with separatists, but it wasn't. Hugo scanned the city with a pair of binoculars.

”According to our little bird, the KFF is keeping the engineers inside the townhall with the tower. Security may seem lax, but I have a bad feeling the scum are hiding some nasty surprises in case of trouble. What is your opinion Raine?”

Aldo Raine was crouched beside the only being in the galaxy he considered anything even remotely close to a friend. Hugo Ion had seen something in the disheveled, alcoholic, former CorSec officer. What he'd seen, Aldo couldn't fathom, but no matter hard he tried to distance himself from the Duro and his Rebellion, Ion refused to let the surly Corellian go. In typical Aldo fashion, he took the offered binoculars surveyed the area without a word. A normal member of the rebellion would have reacted with pleasantries and a mouthful of yessir's, but that's not what Ion wanted.

Alliance Commander Hugo Ion was the type of man that preferred results too ceremony, and Aldo Raine was good at getting results. Raine surveyed the area again. Something was off. An organization like the KFF didn't survive as long as it had by leaving themselves vulnerable. This felt like a trap.

Aldo lowered the binoculars and handed them back to Hugo. "Looks like a trap."

He kept his gaze on the horizon, and after a beat, he added, "I'd send a quarter of the forces directly up the middle to spring the trap then smash into them from the side with the rest of our forces."

@Minuteman75

 

[Hugo Ion]

Raine’s police instincts were impressive as always. Indeed, the commander appreciated the Corellian going straight to the point and making his recommendations. Hugo putting his left index finger and thumb on the chin gave the idea some thought. Swiftly the Durosian nodded and said.

“Trap the trappers I approve. Which is why I will be leading the first team into the town to divert attention. You will take the rest of our force and outflank our hosts.”

Turning to Aldo Raine with an expression that broker no objection Commander Ion added. “Remember our objective here Raine. Get those engineers out quickly as you came no matter what.” Done with his instructions Hugo subsequently gathered forty rebels to him. That left thirty members for Aldo to lead.

The first team proceeded to advance low through the grass veiled between the trees and the town’s eastern entry. Within ten minutes they reached it and entered Marck without incident. They pressed further onward a few more yards before one of the lead rebels spotted movement inside a barn on the left side. Immediately blasterfire from several of the house on each side fire on the rebel team.

“Spread out! Don’t make it easy for them!”

Hugo shouted to the men and women with him. They complied began to take cover around walls and speeders, exchanging blaster shots with the terrorists.

@Zay

 

[Aldo Raine]

The Corellian's mind worked over the details of the current situation. Aldo was visibly caught off guard when Hugo gave his order. He wanted to argue, he wanted to take Ion's place in the vanguard of the operation, but Aldo could tell Hugo's mind was made up. The Corellian's brow furrowed as the anxiety of impending combat loomed ahead. With a quick salute and, "Sir." in response, Aldo rallied his troops and proceeded to their current location.

The Corellian immediately established two direct subordinates in order to diversify their mobility. Of the thirty there were two that had distinguished themselves from the others, Cal Vazra, a gruff scar covered Natolan, and Diz Avers, a cunning Kel Dor. He gave Diz five troops that were fleet-footed and made them the scouts. He allowed Cal five rebels of equally stoic demeanor and called them the demo team. They'd arrived ahead of Hugo's forces due to their enemies failure to focus on their flank. They remained concealed beneath the tall grass and foliage. From his concealed position to Hugo's approaching flank, Aldo spotted a stirring of activity.

Into his com he barked, "Fall in, it's time to move. Keep your eyes up."

The band of thirty rebels methodically moved into the city. They approached quickly and quietly easily staying out of the enemies sight as Hugo and his vanguard held their attention.

Sloppy, he thought. Aldo hailed Diz and said, "Take your troops around to the back of the facility and secure the area. Com if it's no good. We need to locate a way in."

Diz confirmed and he and his five-member band slipped off and out of sight. The Corellian moved on to Cal and had the Natolan's forces merge with Aldo's unit in order to focus the enemy. A mixture of foot soldiers and battle droids emerged from their target and began to engage Hugo's force. Aldo waited... one beat... two.. three...

"NOW!"

Aldo and twenty-five rebels opened fire on the enemy forces. The Corellian fired in short bursts with his R5R dropping one adversary after the next. The battle was in full swing and the symphony of carnage accompanied it. Aldo's cold tired eyes watched as one being after another was blown up or blown away. Soon the firing began to slow. Aldo took this opportunity to hail Ion.

"Commander, I've got a squad working on securing a way in through the back. What do you think about taking a select group and going in the back."

Aldo ducked behind an old broken down speedertruck, reloaded and took a breath. He peeked around the corner spotted a separatist and returned to cover. He counted to three rounded the side of the truck and fired his rifle. A plume of blood spurted from his enemies chest as the being went down. He retreated to cover then shifted to the other side of the truck and watched for another target. They'd need to move soon.

Diz hailed Aldo, "Rear entry secured. We await further orders, sir."

It was up to Hugo, if he wanted to fight it out through the front door Aldo would follow, but he wouldn't be happy about it.

@Minuteman75

 

[Hugo Ion]

Hugo blasted an advancing battle droid into pieces with a three shot burst from his cover behind a street corner. The rest of his rebels were holding their own against their local ‘hosts’. Laser shots flew across both sides along with a grenade here and there. A lively bunch aren’t they? Hugo couldn’t help but think.

Fortunately their team’s diversion played off. Soon enough Commander Ion heard further shooting and spotted a small explosion several yards away. The Durosian grinned, knowing what it meant. His suspicions were confirmed when he received Aldo’s message. Hugo paused, understanding what the Corellian was implying beside alerting him of the situation.

He let out a short grunt of amusement amidst the chaos all around. By this point Hugo understood why his fellow rebels wanted him out of harm’s way as much as possible. Aldo Raine was no exeception but at least the ex-cop was offering an option he can remain useful. After another moment passing Ion answered back through the commlink.

“I’m on my way there. Keep these nerf herders busy.”

Swiftly he notified the first squad, and they provided covering fire. With their assistance, Hugo ran toward a parked speeder bike that someone carelessly left behind. Counting his blessings, Hugo got on it, activated the engine and sped out of the town into the countryside on the right-hand side. Subsequently, the rebel leader drove toward the rear without incident. Seeing that Diz’s team had secured the entry Ion stopped the bike meters away from them.

Hugo jump off and rushed to their side. With a silent hand signal he commanded the team to commence the assault. Then without hesitation the rebels charged forth. The few terrorists outside the townhall held themselves at a fence and fired on the the attackers. Yet the rebels pressed on firing back a murderous firepower into the enemy position. Seconds later the guards were cut down, dead or wounded.

“Townhall area secured. Moving inside now.” Diz alerted all units fighting in Marck, with Commander Ion by his side.

@Zay

 

[Aldo Raine]

Aldo smiled to himself as Hugo agreed. Truthfully, the Corellian didn't trust anyone but himself and the commander to lead the two-pronged attack he was setting into place. From his cover behind the speeder truck, he hailed Cal, and his grizzled demo team.

"Hope you boys are ready to go to work." He said, knowing they were itching to get in an do work.

"You know we are boss, say when."

A grim smile settled on the Corellian's lips as he said, "When."

Cal and his five brutes quickly approached town hall from the east and placed two small charges on the door. After a short reprieve, the sound of a boom followed by intense blaster fire told Aldo, the scar covered Natolan was going to work. He stood from his cover and gathered the rest of his forces at the front of the building. He placed them into a defensive formation and instructed them to hold the area. This would ensure their eventual egress once they retrieved the captives.

"First area secure, you joining us, sir?" Teased Cal.

"On the way now, roll out the red carpet for me would ya?"

Aldo added himself to Cal's forces and took control of the squad. He raised his com and hailed Hugo to update him on their progress.

"Commander, we've taken the front and are preparing to breach." He'd await the commander's response and then answer any questions his superior had, before prepping the vanguard for entry. The Corellian smiled as he looked around at his fellow bootlickers. It was good to be back in the company of brethren on the battlefield. Now, however, he was saving the lives of the innocent and that galvanized him.

"Place charge!" He called taking the point position as Cal set the breaching explosive.

"Charge set, Sir!" Cal returned to formation and awaited Aldo's queue. A moment later the door was blown open and the vanguard engaged.

The battle was short and clean, Aldo's forces neutralized the enemy with little resistance. The Corellian reloaded his blaster rifle and updated Hugo.

"Foyer secure, coming your way." With a silent gesture, the group fell in and continued toward their mark. It wouldn't be long now before the captives were liberated. Aldo smiled, he loved it when a plan came together.

[edit:] Dice Thread
@Minuteman75

 

[Hugo Ion]

Stacking up on the walls to the building outside Hugo heard Aldo reporting his team were about to do the same. “Acknowledged Raine. Give them hell.” Counting down to three with his fingers the commander signaled his team to breach. The door blew opened and rebels advanced inside amidst smoke from the small blast.

Three surprised terrorists were in the hallway in front of them. Hugo and his men immediately opened fire, cutting down the hostiles before they can react in time. Hearing his Corellian comrade’s update the commander replied back. “Loud and clear, see ya on the other side.” Then the team pressed forward through the hall.

Their objective was within reach.

@Zay

 

[Aldo Raine]

Aldo's squad fell into formation as they systematically picked their way through the labyrinth-like office building. Ever door had to be opened, every room scanned cleared and marked. It was slow going and monotonous. The first few rooms are panic-inducing and then you become numb. Ten rooms in that complacency cost him a solider.

Before the squad could ready up their point man breached and when he did he was lit up. Aldo's eyes went wide in surprise as he dove down a nearby corridor. "Take cover!"

His squad scattered avoiding further casualty. There was no time to mourn the dead, Aldo peeked his gun around the corner and took a few pop shots. He doubted he'd hit anything. He needed to regroup and avenge their fallen. Aldo, pulled his gun back around the corner and hailed Ion.

"We're pinned down just outside the hostage room. We've got their attention. Move in as soon as you're ready!

Now it was up to the commander. Once Hugo made entry Aldo's squad would be able to use to the entrance as a distraction and close in on the final members of their opposition.

@Minuteman75

 

[Hugo Ion]

With Aldo’s newest message, Commander Ion directed his team toward the opposite side of the hostage room. They stacked like once before and breached. Tossing a flash bang into the room and turning away back to cover Hugo heard the grenade ignited, causing the terrorists to cry out in blinding pain. As soon that happens the squad rushed inside. There were four terrorists covering their eyes in obvious torment.

Hugo and his rebels did not hesitate to aim and fire killing the hostiles within moments. The defenders dropped to the with blaster holes. The Duros noted to the right hand a cell with the captive engineers also temporarily blinded. Grinning Hugo walked over and shot the lock off and opened the cell door. Letting the team medic take care of the now liberated prisoners the commander called out to Aldo.

“Great job everyone. Now let’s get these people out of here.”

It wasn’t too long before the rebels and the newly liberated prisoners made their way out of the settlement. They were picked up by Alliance transports that arrived soon after.

//The End

@Zay