Mission #14 - A New Ally?

[Niil Spaar]

Nill checked a sigh, then gave Mariah a brief nod.  "Twenty minutes that we don't have right now.  Damn.  Well, it was worth a shot; we'll have to check it out later.  Keep looking to see if you can find a schematic for downstairs in the meantime.  I'll be back; Collan's found something."

Walking over to what he suspected he'd be finding, Niil steeled his stomach as he stared at the corpse of a KDF trooper.  A royal guard trooper . . .

Wait a damned minute . . .

Niil was about to call for Lieutenant Querro, but thought better of it.  Time enough when he came back down.  "Check him for ID or passcards for now, Collan; I'll inform the lieutenant of what you found when he gets back down here.  This is one bit of info that I'd rather not chance over the comm.  But yeah, a royal guard trooper near a lift that has a hidden set of controls?  Interesting."

[GM Craig]

Rooting through the pockets of a decaying corpse is not exactly in Collan's comfort zone, but if we was going to be a medic, he's probably have to get used to such things.

Clearing away the debris to get more access, Collan can see the rank insignia of a Captain. Opening the blaster-pocked armour, Collan manages to find a set of dog tags. The body lying under the rubble used to be one H. Kaeter, was 34 years old, and was born on Karvis. There is also a service number. Going through the rest reveals no other details about the trooper.

There is one more detail - the body under the rubble was clearly female. With the helmet in place, Collan is spared a look at the corpse, but the armour is definitely shaped for a female torso.

[Actions?]

[Niil Spaar]

Niil looked at the body with a pang of regret, and shook his head.  "Another life the Empire will answer for.  Thanks, Collan; I knew that wasn't a pleasant task.  I'll take the ID and pass it on to the KDF when I'm able.  You might as well see if Mariah needs a hand; if she's doing all right, just keep an eye on our perimeter for any movement until we're ready to go."

Walking over to Lieutenant Querro, Niil whispered, "I, umm, had Collan check out the source of the smell, and he found a body in KDF royal guard armor."  Holding out the dead captain's ID tag to the lieutenant, he muttered, "Her ID tags."  Niil waited, watching the lieutenant's expression - and waiting for a possible explanation as to why a royal guard captain was found next to an elevator with a secret access panel.

[GM Craig]

Querro looks confused. "Why would the royal guard be here? There was a contingent with the princess and prince in the family summer home when the Empire struck, but that's some ways from here and outside of town. Maybe they took refuge here during the attack?"

[Niil Spaar]

Niil shrugged.  "It's possible; Mariah found a hidden control panel that takes that lift down below ground.  Maybe this is a bolt-hole connected to the summer home.  I've got the feeling that  there's a lot of tunnels below."

[GM Craig]

Queero nods. "Interesting. And a mystery, perhaps. Not sure how it impacts our mission today, but HQ will likely want to know."

[GM Craig]

Querro has just finished speaking when Trax's voice is heard over the com.

"We've got a probe droid up here.  I don't think it's seen us yet so get your asses to the shuttle so we can do this before we are spotted."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil's eyebrows fairly flew into his hairline, and he barked, "Mariah, get that hidden control panel sealed up ASAP!  Everyone else, let's get ready to double-time it to the shuttle!"  Keying his comm, Niil whispered, "Trax . . . just the one droid, or can you see others around?"

[GM Craig]

Mariah closes up the control panel as everyone else heads for the shuttle.

Trax is on Niil's comlink as he runs through the factory floor to the main doors.

"Two others, inert, on other roof tops.  Ours is on the opposite side of a debris pile and I don't think it will take long to spot us and report."

[Collan]

Collan hefted his pistol. It was his preferred weapon. This was going to be hairy.

"Can we jam it?"

[Niil Spaar]

Niil gritted his teeth and muttered, "Shit.  Copy that, Trax.  I hope to hell those droids have a short transmitting range, or taking that comm tower down might be a moot point.  Add those droids as your secondary targets if you can.  Spaar out."  To Collan, he added, "I'll have to see if the shuttle has a jammer on board.  If not, we're in for one hell of a slugfest."

Hefting his blaster rifle, Nill growled, "Mariah and I are coming out now, so cover us.  The second we get the green light from Trax, we're going in hot."

[GM Craig]

You guys pile in to the shuttle and secure for a rough ride. The shuttle lifts off on repulsors, waiting for the go signal.

[GM Craig]

Then, there is the sound of an explosion, and little bits of metal rain down on you from up on the building. Looking up, Niil and see a large plume of smoke rising into the sky.

[Collan]

Collan dryly noted, "I think that's the 'go' signal."

[Niil Spaar]

Niil shook his head.  "Not until Trax has taken care of the two gun emplacements facing our approach vector.  We charge into those while they're still active, and we're bantha steaks.  Still, if we get delayed any more . . ." 

Keying his comm to the troopers on the roof, he said, "Spaar here.  Trax is busy, I know.  I need a SITREP here."


OOC:  Just to clearify, we were supposed to wait for Trax to take care of the comm tower and at least two of the gun emplacements first before the shuttle makes its run, right?