Cat & Mouse: Planetside Edition

Chaleydonia - Christophsis

Like thunder, rolling before a storm head, the air vibrated with the sounds of war. It felt as if the crystalline surface of the planet itself sung, echoing the sound of blaster fire and explosions. The Separatist fleet had come out of no where, blockading the planet and trapping Senator Bail Organa and his relief effort, and while his contingent of Clones were keeping the conquering droid army at bay, their supplies were dwindling and they were on the verge of being overrun.

Rumor was the Republic fleet was trying to punch through, and indeed if one were to look to the sky the telltale flashes were there, the flashes of a fighters engines as they turned, the flash of explosions and laser fire, shapes like tiny insects crawling across the sky. Nervously the troopers looked to the small warehouse where the Senator and what remained of command were gathered, the occasional blue reflection indicating at least communications were working.

Someone yelled, urging everyone to take cover as the easily identifiable zip of the Vulture droids powerful engines could be heard above the din, their laser fire strafing the ground, the droids continuing to test the Republic defenses. Despite the threat, the hard duracrete still smoldering, Commander Colt strode confidently through the pale smoke, his helmeted gaze taking in the troopers behind their cover, that even without being able to see the Commander's eyes appeared to be judging.

Colt cut an imposing figure, his personalized ARC Trooper armor somehow seeming clean and fresh despite wearing it in battle for the past number of days. Gruffly he ordered those that were within shouting distance to fall in, calling for attention as he briskly walked the ranks, casting them in what could only be considered in appraisal.

"You all will have to do," he stated, his gravely voice making it seem a statement of fact. "The Navy has been trying to drop supplies to us for the past few days. The Clankers' air superiority has made the task near impossible but one of our boys was able to get through ... and delivered our gift behind enemy lines.

His helmeted gaze swept across them, "And we're going after it ... so gear up."

---

Arius checks his equipment is all in place, clips two grenades to his harness, and uses any remaining time to give his weapon a quick once over. He was expecting to need it.

"Right guys, let's be at 'em!"

He was glad to be moving. Take the battle to the enemy, rather than sitting on the defensive. Not that he couldn't hold a position with the best of them, but they were here to win the war, not just avoid losing it.

V looks at his comrades and although he is not in a leading position a small speech should be ok.
"Alright guys, you've heard the bosses let's have some fun and destroy these scrap machines. My name is V and I challenge everyone of you to get more of these Droids than I do! The republic counts on us, give them everything you got! FOR THE REPUBLIC!"

With an instance V jumps accros the barricade and moves to the next cover. The battle can only be won, if the attack is strong enough, but staying on spot and hoping that the artillery will do their jobs, doesn't fit V's mentality.
"THIS IS FOR MY FAMILY YOU SOULESS BASTARDS!"

Arius doesn't budge an inch, but turns to glare at the other troopers, just in case they also get stupid ideas.

"Orders are to skirt the front lines under artillery support, so that is what we are going to do. Anyone else who disobeys will have ME to deal with."

"Besides, the poor bastard doesn't even know where he's meant to be going!"

He shrugs, and looks over to Commander Colt.

With near reckless abandon V - but not before giving an impassioned speech to boost morale - the stout trooper leaped the barricade and moved to the nearest cover. The flurry of movement pulled the attention of Commander Colt, his thoughts on the soldier's sudden charge hidden behind the faceplate of his heavy ARC Trooper armor as Arius cautioned the rest of the squad against following their brother over the wall until the artillery could provide cover.

"Sergeant," the Commander barked, "Get your men organized and over that wall. I want overlapping fire arcs and scan for enemies." Over their the tactical communicators in their helmets they could hear the ARC Trooper's grizzled commands, ordering the artillery to open fire while subsequently ordering those Clones that would remain to defend the base to throw out a smoke screen.

The ground rumbled, the whistle of the heavy kinetic shells heard even through their helmets as they screamed over head, as the air began to fill with smoke. The squad, a bit disjointed despite their Sergeants urging, eventually made it over the barricade and perhaps a bit rattled by the continuous pounding the Clone artillery was putting on the droid army's front lines as they joined V's side. Commander Colt, eyeless stare holding the Clone Sergeant for a brief moment before waving the squad on, "Get them together trooper."

Cautiously stepping down the line the ARC Trooper paused at V to place a calming hand on the aggressive soldier's shoulder, "Why don't we let me take point," he stated simply and quietly for the troopers benefit only. With a final glance at the hastily assembled squad Colt began to move out, quickly shifting from cover to cover as the Republic forces continued to screen them with smoke and heavy guns.

---

At the accusation of cowardice, Arius bristles, but this time keeps his mouth shut. He had talked out of place before, where he should have let the Sergeant deal with the matter, and he wasn't going to make that mistake again. However, he was rapidly altering his judgement of Colt.

Arius advances swiftly, but making sure not to outpace his comrades, giving precise covering fire and the odd word of encouragement.

With a somewhat relaxed view of military discipline, accompanied by a blatant - though polite - disregard for Commander Colt's order, V pushed himself away from cover to rush forward weapon trained downrange with a challenge for his squad mates to follow. In contrast, Arius for his part silently chastising his self for stepping on his sergeant's toes, knowing the chain of command was put in place for a reason. Reasons that in the end saved lives. With more individualized encouragement to his brothers, Arius too pushed off to swiftly join V behind a blown out speeder turned on it's side by the pock marked road.

Commander Colt stood in silence, one not needing to be an expert in reading body language to know that the ARC Trooper was bristling, as he watched the squad move out to join Aruis and V. Gripping his weapon tightly he followed, his no nonsense gait as he stomped after the troopers a clear indication of his ire.

Pushing his way to the front of the line, his helmeted gaze swept the area in front of them, the wide plaza that had been their base turning into a city street as buildings now towered to either side, the smoke slowly dissipating as the artillery fire began to become less frequent. "Sergeant. Move the squad into that building up ahead on the left," he growled over his shoulder, "CT-0450. A word."

With an emphatic Sir! the Clone Sergeant had the squad moving, the path V and Arius had chosen affording ample cover, as the troopers expertly moved ahead a block and entered the selected building, two troopers taking a knee at the door to provide covering fire should it be called for.

Commander Colt stood head cocked to the side and staring at CT-0450, called V, without saying a word. The confident, aggressive trooper could all but guess the Commander's eyes were narrowed behind the darkened visor of his helmet, his body rigid and erect and clearly not particularly happy with the him.

"Let's get one thing straight Soldier. This is my command. You can either get on board with that or," he spat, his gloved hand pointed back the way they came, "You can see yourself back to Command. There will be a lot of Clankers to shoot at that way if that's all your after." He crossed his arms, his posture becoming more relaxed as and his tone civil, "The chain of command exist for a reason and should be respected ... There is a time and a place for more independent thinking and that is a definite conversation we can have but right now it's my way or the highway."

---

Arius advances half-way to the building and, with a hand signal and a glance for permission at the Sergeant, hunkers down to cover the commander and his errant comrade. He is thus out of earshot, but still able to jump into action should trouble occur at either location.

Carbine at the ready, ever alert, he waits for them to rejoin the squad.

Standing closest to the exit of the building, in which they went, V looks at his commander and speaks through his helmet.
"Don't make my day sir, I love to shoot some droids, but I don't like dying on the contrary. I don't want the sternest clone trooper in the army to be my enemy..." V stands up from his kneeling position and moves his helmet up, so that Colt can see his eyes. "If you think your way to keep us safe is the best, than I will follow you, brother." He puts the helmet back in the original postion and gets back in the kneeling postion and speaks again with a humorous tone in his voice "But don't let me wait to long to get some of these bastards."

While looking outside to spot, if any enemy has taken notice of them V looks at the soroundings of the building, if there is a way through the building. A better route around the frontline would be through the buildings on the side of the road, or for the best, above them.