The Phantom came down hard on the Lowman Assault trooper. From a general physiological understanding he knew something would break – just not what – so the crunching sound upon his landing was one he didn't dwell on. He didn't have the time either. Chaos reigned everywhere, all adversaries on edge and the trooper next to him was already mid-swivel with his blaster raised, barrel glowing.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxM8M7Unbg
He caught the wrong end of Layla's thrum-staff however, which smashed his helm in and knocked him backwards to the ground. The surprised trooper let go some stray shots from his automatic blaster as he went down. One of them took out a class one vector drone. Standard issue--for all League frigates.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpha70exISK
Well that was just wonderful. If the League had brought a whole entire frigate then this wasn't a regular run off the mill such as had been implied by his client. He would claim an extra fee later but first...478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYkoBlimXi
“Layla, how'd you miss an entire frigate?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j0T1cN0sQ
“Oh come on they have shields most people can only dream of. Besides it probably arrived after we made land fall and I won't pick up anything from down here, what with all the signal jamming. Now quit your whining and watch your back.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUiLnEZ2Q7
“Why, when I know you've always got it covered” he pulled out his sonar disrupter and shot two League paratroopers in rapid succession that had sought to intercept them. They went flying into the heap of rubble that was once a building. He finally got his bearings and headed left along a back alley whilst she took the right. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs2wdOevOo
He was headed towards the yawning cavernous entrance where the main event was taking place. Hopefully he would get there without much hindrance. His combat gear had a cloaking mechanism for sound, visibility and heat, but it wasn't so effective when one was running through an active war zone. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9kjhHNEj5
It bought him a little time though. Enough to zip by or take out a threat before it registered and reacted. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJQ0Zdjz5V
The chaos and carnage was for now working in his favour, but clarity as to who fought who, was somewhat obscure. There seemed to be 4 different adversaries, including the actual defenders, and they were all shooting and blowing each other up. The details of their objectives were unclear. Everyone here was here for the same target, that was clear.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8dCQe9uSE
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUSo0F8wlz
Gorann Kalenko had joined forces with the mercenary from Valguard. Together they had managed to recruit a small contingent of militia from the local inhabitants of Clato. Unfortunately things went downhill after that. Half of them were either lost, dead or quit while tracking the two targets up this blasted, too cold for sanity, mountain range.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDp3Fyp6bj
In fact, with the way the mission had so far progressed, he had been glad when they had caught up with the target and seen him crest the ridge, vanishing beyond. All hell broke loose later on, however. One of the broadcaster droids had followed them up and survived the trip long enough for federal ships to get a lock on their position and movements, after they made it over the ridge bordering the hanging valley. Just long enough for a hidden gun turret to pick out the droid. The droid's cloaking device was fully functional. Heck, he didn't even know it was there until it's burning parts and shards struck three of their party. If the town hadn’t already been warned of their approach now they were. It was easier to shoot a cloaked droid when you were looking for it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTtn03jfNA
The first problem with hiring amateurs is that they panic under fire. They fled in all directions like Paria hens and the combined cloaking failed. That's when he realised the entire valley was a death trap. Gun turrets along the entire vale picked them out from all directions. If it hadn't been for the frag class assaulters that flew into the scene, he would have been lying charred, back there in the dirt. They made for an excellent diversion, and together with Mirza and the operative from Valguard, they harried what few they still could and made it to the town proper.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP67P8lFBML
By then the sky was filled with all kinds of aircraft. Some were firing at the turrets, some dropping troops, some doing bombing runs, plenty were burning out of the sky but a lot more were coming. Then the League came into the picture and the entire battlefield turned upside down.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC12aXjjbU5
The second problem with hiring amateurs is the emotional attachment. Kalenko realised this the moment his exile militia crossed paths with federal assault troopers. Exiles were one of two . They were either born on the Four Brethren or fled to them. Both had a personal score to settle with the Federation. The two were firing at each other before he could even formulate a counter measure. To make it worse the commanding officer's orders were most likely to apprehend, and eliminate where necessary, any and all exiles. No amount of badge flashing would get him out of this situation fast enough. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11IDSCOvjb
Mirsa had already come to the same conclusion and more. The League troopers, which Kalenko had only come across in Dosiers, weren't actually there to aid the federal host. When it seemed witnesses were few enough, they fired at federal and exile units alike. The result; everyone was fighting everyone.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCgq1ntR8z
The home team had still not made an appearance but drones were pouring out of the huge cavernous opening at the far end from whence the town seemed to sprawl out from. Also, from this distance, it seemed all units there were facing heavier resistance than most. League units hadn't made it that far. He couldn't tell from what, but as yet the laser turrets and GTA cannons were doing plenty of damage everywhere. It was there, that he was certain he would find the target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNLFibhTBn
He shot an assault trooper in the back and rolled to take cover next to the mercenary. The heavily armoured league trooper near him was a little too preoccupied with the ion cannons pelting him. Another distraction and a little more time.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sLljIkUeS
“Still alive, Mr Discreet?” She shouted over the din of nearby explosions.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJpqR5H4Sr
He grinned “What? Me die and leave a fine lady such as yourself in all this fun alone? Not gonna happen.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaw5u83PEn
“Glad to hear that. So what new game had you in mind seeing as we're fresh out of 'toy soldiers'?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMisNPeZc3
“Who needs toys to play soldier?” He winked. “This one is called 'duck duck go'! The target is the cave on the other side of town. Just ten blocks away. Are you game?” 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy0ottmP3t
She finished checking her newly acquired weaponry, courtesy of the bombed League trooper a few feet away, and slung out a compact mine launcher. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1tG7u00bX
“Ready when you are.” She smiled seductively. He returned her smile and crawled over to the dead trooper to relieve him of the few hand grenades Mirsa hadn't already done so. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXML4BP4kGI
“Ready” he declared when he got back and threw the plasma grenade back into the street. As the Astral class League trooper was lifted of the ground, Mirsa turned and stepped out onto the street. In the two seconds before he followed she had already planted mines on four turrets, their motions already setting the charges off. The lady made guns seem alive, she did. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3knlZa4F9
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfom5yTRRm
Layla was the first to reach the cave. Unlike the others she had opted for the roofs. The turrets there were designed mainly for airborne and large enemy units. They had difficulty with fast targets that scaled walls and kept low. Her cloaking device was an added advantage but as an added insurance policy she left timed charges on every turret she passed.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbo8V5shnl
She lay back against the low, slanted roof and calmly surveyed the scene before her.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpxjSbaJEM
The mouth of the cave was littered with corpses. Some Nebulon troopers had managed to erect barricades and were returning some fire, but theirs was a hopeless cause without heavy artillery, she didn't even think they knew what they were firing at.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBJ7wr2nsp
She pulled out a pair of scopes and zoomed in into the dark cave.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrBtCowMPW
“Where are you?” She spoke calmly. Her ear piece crackled to life with a lot off background noise.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdm2qbbcDg
“Not far.” Another explosion went off nearby that fed back through the comm-link.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAtiZ2kTlF
“Having fun, I see.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdMpRfuVX0
“Well, I guess that's one way of putting it.” the Phantom replied, “What you got?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylUGDxstaB
“Blast doors 500 paces in and open. Some kind of heavy artillery gun. I'm counting ten of those and manned.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGev1FJtJ6
“I can't tell whether those are battle suits or droids. I've never seen anything like them. There are dozens of them and that's what's been using the assault troopers as target practice.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4MUlbJNrB
“Great!” He shouted as another chorus of explosions rocked a few buildings closer now. "We need a decoy. Any chance you can borrow a few rides for us?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7grBN2IGS
“Already on it boss.” She had already unclipped a slender case off her back and was in the midst of assembling a rather long rifle. She spied a retinue of some League Crawlers coming into the foray from her right “Decoys coming up. EMP override in 20 seconds. Infiltration in 60. Be ready for your ride then. I'll be right behind you Ghost.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdO6zJ8SXF
“Roger that Psycho” and another explosion went off 2 buildings down from a different direction. She eyed it for a moment, thinking, then went back to her business of setting up her rifle. Which she finished a few seconds later and loaded the cartridge with the ammunition.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq96g7nzSn
She propped herself up a bit and took aim. “Here goes”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrpfyl0967
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLr1X2appM
Mirsa saw the three crawlers veer suddenly towards the cave and accelerate just as they cleared the streets and came to the large open space in front of the cave. Their Shields were at full power and visible from their distance. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljGGz3C0II
She acted out of pure instinct and ran towards them. Barely managing to scream for Kalenko to follow. It took him a split second to realise what was happening, and he was soon beside her sprinting across the battlefield under heavy fire.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqjRRTU45m
They sprang on to one of the crawlers as it veered left to right and held on for dear life. The impact at those speeds was jarring. He thought it wondrous he hadn't been thrown off or crushed as the crawlers swept into the cave with a rush. He was exhilarated and, for some reason, glad to see Mirsa was in her element.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZebqlJAWDe
His moment of euphoria was abruptly cut off as he heard the whine of thrusters behind them. They both turned to see 4 drones from the defence, fly in right behind them and open fire. His blood went cold and he thought his time had finally come.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mr3IJXvAK
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pO2QyqQ5N
“Dammit Layla, can't you fly these things nicely. You'll throw me off”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mrBga3lcj
“Give me some credit here!” She screamed back. “ I'm controlling seven alien military units with one hand whilst holding on for sanity. What more do you want from a girl?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j6dlrddFE
“That she fly straight!” He grit his teeth.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzSe7VYVQE
“You whine too much.” she said as the drones did another evasive manuever and fired at the battle suits and manned gun turrets.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLRXoZIhBL
"Remind me again why I finally let you tag along for a field mission?" He yelled478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKCpVl2KcR
"Because I'm bored and I might die before I step out of that tin can ship of ours!"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU7TShOsRy
"Then why do I have the feeling I'm the one who should be worried about dying!?"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI56FlYEwC
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4yURS7TSI
The bulldozing crawlers didn't fare so well. One veered straight into the strange ray the turrets were shooting. The shields saved it but they also failed, whilst it lost control and veered left and right to crash into the other crawlers. They too swerved about, but at those speeds and that distance, there wasn't much the defenders could do to stop it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdSjszQNmm
They made to retreat and abandon their stations, but that too was too little too late. Turrets were torn, battlesuits were either swatted aside or crushed as the crawlers bulldozed, flipped and careened through the tunnel and the drones flew in tow ,where they crashed past the blast doors. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsUeJVJ1Vp
Kalenko and the mercenary let go when the ride got choppy, rolling as they hit the ground. They quickly came to a stop thanks to all the wreckage. They had to duck, though, as the drones flew by low and fired another hail. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjvfCiYhM3
A few shots must have finally hit the spot because one of the crawlers exploded and the drones flew into the blast a second later. They too exploded taking with them more battlesuits and infantry.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC5GFTzxnV
Kalenko and Mirsa got up slowly, shakily and painfully. The blast doors were still open, and for a moment he could see both worlds, disoriented and trying to make heads or tails out of what just happened. Even Mirsa's confusion was apparent.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lGW7lgObH
They decided to ask questions later and get a move on before everyone else recovered. They slowly began to limp and walk off the pain , onwards through the carnage of broken turrets and mangled battlesuits, towards that ever elusive target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr1oNg5dUa
The aggressors recovered first, and advanced into the cavernous tunnel when they were just a few paces from crossing over. Their front line made up of ATS disrupter vehicles, accompanied by those ever imposing League Astral class battlesuits, and covering ground at a rapid pace.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniYo0DW3dI
Another blast went off inside. It must have been another one of those drones. It had started a fire, the inferno spreading to all the wreckages and making a small barrier. Then the huge blast door started to slide down and close. Someone on the defence had their head back in gear. They certainly understood the meaning of haste and urgency.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjii5wdY5b
They ran but didn't stop when they got through, those disrupter vehicles were fast on their heels. Quite a few units would make it through but that blast door was simply too vast to hold up. It would have been almost akin to holding the mountain itself and any that got in would be cut off from the outside. Either way they didn't want to be caught in the cross fire. So on they ran.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrgDXarKKb
Onwards, jumping headlong through the fire, where they came out on the other side in two identical rolls, and got up running. They stopped themselves short however, as they took in the scene before them.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyvR5bflcj
Behind them they heard the steady whines and thrummings of moving military vehicles and personnel, as they came rolling over and around the burning wreckage. The two had to backpedal further into the gigantic cavern, for fear of being run over. The assailants stopped short as well, as they took in their adversaries.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bMpxUa5YZ
A long silence fell across the cavern broken only by the sound of more marching as more units made it into the cavern. The attackers from Nebulon and the League were staring at every gun and every able body that yet remained in battlegear. At every drone and droid remaining in Ode. The defenders were still outnumbered but no-one looked inclined to give any quarter. Behind them the rest of the town was holed up behind another closed blast door.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41mwGvSmQZ
With deafening finality the blast door closed, echoing throughout the cavern, then silence fell. Both sides roared and surged forward to clash. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW4qFpC27L
Then a searing bright white light from the podium off the left The Phantom came down hard on the Lowman Assault trooper. From a general physiological understanding he knew something would break – just not what – so the crunching sound upon his landing was one he didn't dwell on. He didn't have the time either. Chaos reigned everywhere, all adversaries on edge and the trooper next to him was already mid-swivel with his blaster raised, barrel glowing.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7uZMgumsP
He caught the wrong end of Layla's thrum-staff however, which smashed his helm in and knocked him backwards to the ground. The surprised trooper let go some stray shots from his automatic blaster as he went down. One of them took out a class one vector drone. Standard issue--for all League frigates.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgiRtRuAQH
Well that was just wonderful. If the League had brought a whole entire frigate then this wasn't a regular run off the mill such as had been implied by his client. He would claim an extra fee later but first...478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLdFyT3OF6
“Layla, how'd you miss an entire frigate?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKZOUgbXyu
“Oh come on they have shields most people can only dream of. Besides it probably arrived after we made land fall and I won't pick up anything from down here, what with all the signal jamming. Now quit your whining and watch your back.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGx2W7qdmD
“Why, when I know you've always got it covered” he pulled out his sonar disrupter and shot two League paratroopers in rapid succession that had sought to intercept them. They went flying into the heap of rubble that was once a building. He finally got his bearings and headed left along a back alley whilst she took the right. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjBCxnnJwR
He was headed towards the yawning cavernous entrance where the main event was taking place. Hopefully he would get there without much hindrance. His combat gear had a cloaking mechanism for sound, visibility and heat, but it wasn't so effective when one was running through an active war zone. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSojV5U21X
It bought him a little time though. Enough to zip by or take out a threat before it registered and reacted. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6jEBJckm7
The chaos and carnage was for now working in his favour, but clarity as to who fought who, was somewhat obscure. There seemed to be 4 different adversaries, including the actual defenders, and they were all shooting and blowing each other up. The details of their objectives were unclear. Everyone here was here for the same target, that was clear.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUKWdVRzJC
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSEyweykXs
Gorann Kalenko had joined forces with the mercenary from Valguard. Together they had managed to recruit a small contingent of militia from the local inhabitants of Clato. Unfortunately things went downhill after that. Half of them were either lost, dead or quit while tracking the two targets up this blasted, too cold for sanity, mountain range.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5IDXONIwa
In fact, with the way the mission had so far progressed, he had been glad when they had caught up with the target and seen him crest the ridge, vanishing beyond. All hell broke loose later on, however. One of the broadcaster droids had followed them up and survived the trip long enough for federal ships to get a lock on their position and movements, after they made it over the ridge bordering the hanging valley. Just long enough for a hidden gun turret to pick out the droid. The droid's cloaking device was fully functional. Heck, he didn't even know it was there until it's burning parts and shards struck three of their party. If the town hadn’t already been warned of their approach now they were. It was easier to shoot a cloaked droid when you were looking for it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBOkVKkjB3
The first problem with hiring amateurs is that they panic under fire. They fled in all directions like Paria hens and the combined cloaking failed. That's when he realised the entire valley was a death trap. Gun turrets along the entire vale picked them out from all directions. If it hadn't been for the frag class assaulters that flew into the scene, he would have been lying charred, back there in the dirt. They made for an excellent diversion, and together with Mirza and the operative from Valguard, they harried what few they still could and made it to the town proper.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WRHRasnNA
By then the sky was filled with all kinds of aircraft. Some were firing at the turrets, some dropping troops, some doing bombing runs, plenty were burning out of the sky but a lot more were coming. Then the League came into the picture and the entire battlefield turned upside down.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpvnWI0heB
The second problem with hiring amateurs is the emotional attachment. Kalenko realised this the moment his exile militia crossed paths with federal assault troopers. Exiles were one of two . They were either born on the Four Brethren or fled to them. Both had a personal score to settle with the Federation. The two were firing at each other before he could even formulate a counter measure. To make it worse the commanding officer's orders were most likely to apprehend, and eliminate where necessary, any and all exiles. No amount of badge flashing would get him out of this situation fast enough. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7zzZCsc1j
Mirsa had already come to the same conclusion and more. The League troopers, which Kalenko had only come across in Dosiers, weren't actually there to aid the federal host. When it seemed witnesses were few enough, they fired at federal and exile units alike. The result; everyone was fighting everyone.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5YZ86w3pY
The home team had still not made an appearance but drones were pouring out of the huge cavernous opening at the far end from whence the town seemed to sprawl out from. Also, from this distance, it seemed all units there were facing heavier resistance than most. League units hadn't made it that far. He couldn't tell from what, but as yet the laser turrets and GTA cannons were doing plenty of damage everywhere. It was there, that he was certain he would find the target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy4NhGnF9s
He shot an assault trooper in the back and rolled to take cover next to the mercenary. The heavily armoured league trooper near him was a little too preoccupied with the ion cannons pelting him. Another distraction and a little more time.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezrz8biWzT
“Still alive, Mr Discreet?” She shouted over the din of nearby explosions.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhTBTupB3j
He grinned “What? Me die and leave a fine lady such as yourself in all this fun alone? Not gonna happen.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e78NrkhBg
“Glad to hear that. So what new game had you in mind seeing as we're fresh out of 'toy soldiers'?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLVFIDwPcG
“Who needs toys to play soldier?” He winked. “This one is called 'duck duck go'! The target is the cave on the other side of town. Just ten blocks away. Are you game?” 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp5lsddOAr
She finished checking her newly acquired weaponry, courtesy of the bombed League trooper a few feet away, and slung out a compact mine launcher. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzlfrpSJFK
“Ready when you are.” She smiled seductively. He returned her smile and crawled over to the dead trooper to relieve him of the few hand grenades Mirsa hadn't already done so. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3koeJnDOa
“Ready” he declared when he got back and threw the plasma grenade back into the street. As the Astral class League trooper was lifted of the ground, Mirsa turned and stepped out onto the street. In the two seconds before he followed she had already planted mines on four turrets, their motions already setting the charges off. The lady made guns seem alive, she did. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspAZzOP0jE
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7BdoSAVmG
Layla was the first to reach the cave. Unlike the others she had opted for the roofs. The turrets there were designed mainly for airborne and large enemy units. They had difficulty with fast targets that scaled walls and kept low. Her cloaking device was an added advantage but as an added insurance policy she left timed charges on every turret she passed.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3lEfdioCP
She lay back against the low, slanted roof and calmly surveyed the scene before her.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHw0mrvu7A
The mouth of the cave was littered with corpses. Some Nebulon troopers had managed to erect barricades and were returning some fire, but theirs was a hopeless cause without heavy artillery, she didn't even think they knew what they were firing at.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wYL4UFTx2
She pulled out a pair of scopes and zoomed in into the dark cave.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88iZ0ZDVGu
“Where are you?” She spoke calmly. Her ear piece crackled to life with a lot off background noise.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNVSRRzCbd
“Not far.” Another explosion went off nearby that fed back through the comm-link.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ883ISLleIC
“Having fun, I see.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA0bGiB4bv
“Well, I guess that's one way of putting it.” the Phantom replied, “What you got?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJllQRYkroN
“Blast doors 500 paces in and open. Some kind of heavy artillery gun. I'm counting ten of those and manned.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGN1u1yuAt
“I can't tell whether those are battle suits or droids. I've never seen anything like them. There are dozens of them and that's what's been using the assault troopers as target practice.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNkSW9XDjH
“Great!” He shouted as another chorus of explosions rocked a few buildings closer now. "We need a decoy. Any chance you can borrow a few rides for us?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWfW6iuuv1
“Already on it boss.” She had already unclipped a slender case off her back and was in the midst of assembling a rather long rifle. She spied a retinue of some League Crawlers coming into the foray from her right “Decoys coming up. EMP override in 20 seconds. Infiltration in 60. Be ready for your ride then. I'll be right behind you Ghost.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJILF09RuuC
“Roger that Psycho” and another explosion went off 2 buildings down from a different direction. She eyed it for a moment, thinking, then went back to her business of setting up her rifle. Which she finished a few seconds later and loaded the cartridge with the ammunition.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0993eC5wuI
She propped herself up a bit and took aim. “Here goes”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpJ2To8W1n
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yFaCcTlzK
Mirsa saw the three crawlers veer suddenly towards the cave and accelerate just as they cleared the streets and came to the large open space in front of the cave. Their Shields were at full power and visible from their distance. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1asPs52drj
She acted out of pure instinct and ran towards them. Barely managing to scream for Kalenko to follow. It took him a split second to realise what was happening, and he was soon beside her sprinting across the battlefield under heavy fire.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRUli4VfcK
They sprang on to one of the crawlers as it veered left to right and held on for dear life. The impact at those speeds was jarring. He thought it wondrous he hadn't been thrown off or crushed as the crawlers swept into the cave with a rush. He was exhilarated and, for some reason, glad to see Mirsa was in her element.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQixielyrl
His moment of euphoria was abruptly cut off as he heard the whine of thrusters behind them. They both turned to see 4 drones from the defence, fly in right behind them and open fire. His blood went cold and he thought his time had finally come.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UIaHUe0md
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi8Iessci4
“Dammit Layla, can't you fly these things nicely. You'll throw me off”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdhHwcX65L
“Give me some credit here!” She screamed back. “ I'm controlling seven alien military units with one hand whilst holding on for sanity. What more do you want from a girl?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVAECYpDTj
“That she fly straight!” He grit his teeth.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5xaTNbu2J
“You whine too much.” she said as the drones did another evasive manuever and fired at the battle suits and manned gun turrets.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJgkinuSOt
"Remind me again why I finally let you tag along for a field mission?" He yelled478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96ifXmSVNu
"Because I'm bored and I might die before I step out of that tin can ship of ours!"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6dRataNIw
"Then why do I have the feeling I'm the one who should be worried about dying!?"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbSETDAySS
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr9NmENicE
The bulldozing crawlers didn't fare so well. One veered straight into the strange ray the turrets were shooting. The shields saved it but they also failed, whilst it lost control and veered left and right to crash into the other crawlers. They too swerved about, but at those speeds and that distance, there wasn't much the defenders could do to stop it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc1TUBguSb
They made to retreat and abandon their stations, but that too was too little too late. Turrets were torn, battlesuits were either swatted aside or crushed as the crawlers bulldozed, flipped and careened through the tunnel and the drones flew in tow ,where they crashed past the blast doors. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQlg45WLeY
Kalenko and the mercenary let go when the ride got choppy, rolling as they hit the ground. They quickly came to a stop thanks to all the wreckage. They had to duck, though, as the drones flew by low and fired another hail. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkriTf9z3a8
A few shots must have finally hit the spot because one of the crawlers exploded and the drones flew into the blast a second later. They too exploded taking with them more battlesuits and infantry.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYP2CdBZTA
Kalenko and Mirsa got up slowly, shakily and painfully. The blast doors were still open, and for a moment he could see both worlds, disoriented and trying to make heads or tails out of what just happened. Even Mirsa's confusion was apparent.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBFreEXPgi
They decided to ask questions later and get a move on before everyone else recovered. They slowly began to limp and walk off the pain , onwards through the carnage of broken turrets and mangled battlesuits, towards that ever elusive target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jxp9U1epo
The aggressors recovered first, and advanced into the cavernous tunnel when they were just a few paces from crossing over. Their front line made up of ATS disrupter vehicles, accompanied by those ever imposing League Astral class battlesuits, and covering ground at a rapid pace.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09mnDApWXu
Another blast went off inside. It must have been another one of those drones. It had started a fire, the inferno spreading to all the wreckages and making a small barrier. Then the huge blast door started to slide down and close. Someone on the defence had their head back in gear. They certainly understood the meaning of haste and urgency.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEz1RhLR5z
They ran but didn't stop when they got through, those disrupter vehicles were fast on their heels. Quite a few units would make it through but that blast door was simply too vast to hold up. It would have been almost akin to holding the mountain itself and any that got in would be cut off from the outside. Either way they didn't want to be caught in the cross fire. So on they ran.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUyrHZlj2j
Onwards, jumping headlong through the fire, where they came out on the other side in two identical rolls, and got up running. They stopped themselves short however, as they took in the scene before them.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qOgcorRgQ
Behind them they heard the steady whines and thrummings of moving military vehicles and personnel, as they came rolling over and around the burning wreckage. The two had to backpedal further into the gigantic cavern, for fear of being run over. The assailants stopped short as well, as they took in their adversaries.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJb1QCUPBx
A long silence fell across the cavern broken only by the sound of more marching as more units made it into the cavern. The attackers from Nebulon and the League were staring at every gun and every able body that yet remained in battlegear. At every drone and droid remaining in Ode. The defenders were still outnumbered but no-one looked inclined to give any quarter. Behind them the rest of the town was holed up behind another closed blast door.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVXpbdbJbA
With deafening finality the blast door closed, echoing throughout the cavern, then silence fell. Both sides roared and surged forward to clash. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol2hnfo4gi
Then a searing bright white light from the podium off the left wall lit up the entire cavern.
He caught the wrong end of Layla's thrum-staff however, which smashed his helm in and knocked him backwards to the ground. The surprised trooper let go some stray shots from his automatic blaster as he went down. One of them took out a class one vector drone. Standard issue--for all League frigates.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpha70exISK
Well that was just wonderful. If the League had brought a whole entire frigate then this wasn't a regular run off the mill such as had been implied by his client. He would claim an extra fee later but first...478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYkoBlimXi
“Layla, how'd you miss an entire frigate?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j0T1cN0sQ
“Oh come on they have shields most people can only dream of. Besides it probably arrived after we made land fall and I won't pick up anything from down here, what with all the signal jamming. Now quit your whining and watch your back.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUiLnEZ2Q7
“Why, when I know you've always got it covered” he pulled out his sonar disrupter and shot two League paratroopers in rapid succession that had sought to intercept them. They went flying into the heap of rubble that was once a building. He finally got his bearings and headed left along a back alley whilst she took the right. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs2wdOevOo
He was headed towards the yawning cavernous entrance where the main event was taking place. Hopefully he would get there without much hindrance. His combat gear had a cloaking mechanism for sound, visibility and heat, but it wasn't so effective when one was running through an active war zone. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9kjhHNEj5
It bought him a little time though. Enough to zip by or take out a threat before it registered and reacted. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJQ0Zdjz5V
The chaos and carnage was for now working in his favour, but clarity as to who fought who, was somewhat obscure. There seemed to be 4 different adversaries, including the actual defenders, and they were all shooting and blowing each other up. The details of their objectives were unclear. Everyone here was here for the same target, that was clear.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8dCQe9uSE
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUSo0F8wlz
Gorann Kalenko had joined forces with the mercenary from Valguard. Together they had managed to recruit a small contingent of militia from the local inhabitants of Clato. Unfortunately things went downhill after that. Half of them were either lost, dead or quit while tracking the two targets up this blasted, too cold for sanity, mountain range.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDp3Fyp6bj
In fact, with the way the mission had so far progressed, he had been glad when they had caught up with the target and seen him crest the ridge, vanishing beyond. All hell broke loose later on, however. One of the broadcaster droids had followed them up and survived the trip long enough for federal ships to get a lock on their position and movements, after they made it over the ridge bordering the hanging valley. Just long enough for a hidden gun turret to pick out the droid. The droid's cloaking device was fully functional. Heck, he didn't even know it was there until it's burning parts and shards struck three of their party. If the town hadn’t already been warned of their approach now they were. It was easier to shoot a cloaked droid when you were looking for it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTtn03jfNA
The first problem with hiring amateurs is that they panic under fire. They fled in all directions like Paria hens and the combined cloaking failed. That's when he realised the entire valley was a death trap. Gun turrets along the entire vale picked them out from all directions. If it hadn't been for the frag class assaulters that flew into the scene, he would have been lying charred, back there in the dirt. They made for an excellent diversion, and together with Mirza and the operative from Valguard, they harried what few they still could and made it to the town proper.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP67P8lFBML
By then the sky was filled with all kinds of aircraft. Some were firing at the turrets, some dropping troops, some doing bombing runs, plenty were burning out of the sky but a lot more were coming. Then the League came into the picture and the entire battlefield turned upside down.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC12aXjjbU5
The second problem with hiring amateurs is the emotional attachment. Kalenko realised this the moment his exile militia crossed paths with federal assault troopers. Exiles were one of two . They were either born on the Four Brethren or fled to them. Both had a personal score to settle with the Federation. The two were firing at each other before he could even formulate a counter measure. To make it worse the commanding officer's orders were most likely to apprehend, and eliminate where necessary, any and all exiles. No amount of badge flashing would get him out of this situation fast enough. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11IDSCOvjb
Mirsa had already come to the same conclusion and more. The League troopers, which Kalenko had only come across in Dosiers, weren't actually there to aid the federal host. When it seemed witnesses were few enough, they fired at federal and exile units alike. The result; everyone was fighting everyone.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCgq1ntR8z
The home team had still not made an appearance but drones were pouring out of the huge cavernous opening at the far end from whence the town seemed to sprawl out from. Also, from this distance, it seemed all units there were facing heavier resistance than most. League units hadn't made it that far. He couldn't tell from what, but as yet the laser turrets and GTA cannons were doing plenty of damage everywhere. It was there, that he was certain he would find the target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNLFibhTBn
He shot an assault trooper in the back and rolled to take cover next to the mercenary. The heavily armoured league trooper near him was a little too preoccupied with the ion cannons pelting him. Another distraction and a little more time.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sLljIkUeS
“Still alive, Mr Discreet?” She shouted over the din of nearby explosions.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJpqR5H4Sr
He grinned “What? Me die and leave a fine lady such as yourself in all this fun alone? Not gonna happen.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaw5u83PEn
“Glad to hear that. So what new game had you in mind seeing as we're fresh out of 'toy soldiers'?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMisNPeZc3
“Who needs toys to play soldier?” He winked. “This one is called 'duck duck go'! The target is the cave on the other side of town. Just ten blocks away. Are you game?” 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy0ottmP3t
She finished checking her newly acquired weaponry, courtesy of the bombed League trooper a few feet away, and slung out a compact mine launcher. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1tG7u00bX
“Ready when you are.” She smiled seductively. He returned her smile and crawled over to the dead trooper to relieve him of the few hand grenades Mirsa hadn't already done so. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXML4BP4kGI
“Ready” he declared when he got back and threw the plasma grenade back into the street. As the Astral class League trooper was lifted of the ground, Mirsa turned and stepped out onto the street. In the two seconds before he followed she had already planted mines on four turrets, their motions already setting the charges off. The lady made guns seem alive, she did. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3knlZa4F9
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfom5yTRRm
Layla was the first to reach the cave. Unlike the others she had opted for the roofs. The turrets there were designed mainly for airborne and large enemy units. They had difficulty with fast targets that scaled walls and kept low. Her cloaking device was an added advantage but as an added insurance policy she left timed charges on every turret she passed.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbo8V5shnl
She lay back against the low, slanted roof and calmly surveyed the scene before her.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpxjSbaJEM
The mouth of the cave was littered with corpses. Some Nebulon troopers had managed to erect barricades and were returning some fire, but theirs was a hopeless cause without heavy artillery, she didn't even think they knew what they were firing at.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBJ7wr2nsp
She pulled out a pair of scopes and zoomed in into the dark cave.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrBtCowMPW
“Where are you?” She spoke calmly. Her ear piece crackled to life with a lot off background noise.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdm2qbbcDg
“Not far.” Another explosion went off nearby that fed back through the comm-link.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAtiZ2kTlF
“Having fun, I see.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGdMpRfuVX0
“Well, I guess that's one way of putting it.” the Phantom replied, “What you got?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylUGDxstaB
“Blast doors 500 paces in and open. Some kind of heavy artillery gun. I'm counting ten of those and manned.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGev1FJtJ6
“I can't tell whether those are battle suits or droids. I've never seen anything like them. There are dozens of them and that's what's been using the assault troopers as target practice.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4MUlbJNrB
“Great!” He shouted as another chorus of explosions rocked a few buildings closer now. "We need a decoy. Any chance you can borrow a few rides for us?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7grBN2IGS
“Already on it boss.” She had already unclipped a slender case off her back and was in the midst of assembling a rather long rifle. She spied a retinue of some League Crawlers coming into the foray from her right “Decoys coming up. EMP override in 20 seconds. Infiltration in 60. Be ready for your ride then. I'll be right behind you Ghost.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdO6zJ8SXF
“Roger that Psycho” and another explosion went off 2 buildings down from a different direction. She eyed it for a moment, thinking, then went back to her business of setting up her rifle. Which she finished a few seconds later and loaded the cartridge with the ammunition.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq96g7nzSn
She propped herself up a bit and took aim. “Here goes”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrpfyl0967
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLr1X2appM
Mirsa saw the three crawlers veer suddenly towards the cave and accelerate just as they cleared the streets and came to the large open space in front of the cave. Their Shields were at full power and visible from their distance. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljGGz3C0II
She acted out of pure instinct and ran towards them. Barely managing to scream for Kalenko to follow. It took him a split second to realise what was happening, and he was soon beside her sprinting across the battlefield under heavy fire.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqjRRTU45m
They sprang on to one of the crawlers as it veered left to right and held on for dear life. The impact at those speeds was jarring. He thought it wondrous he hadn't been thrown off or crushed as the crawlers swept into the cave with a rush. He was exhilarated and, for some reason, glad to see Mirsa was in her element.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZebqlJAWDe
His moment of euphoria was abruptly cut off as he heard the whine of thrusters behind them. They both turned to see 4 drones from the defence, fly in right behind them and open fire. His blood went cold and he thought his time had finally come.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mr3IJXvAK
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pO2QyqQ5N
“Dammit Layla, can't you fly these things nicely. You'll throw me off”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mrBga3lcj
“Give me some credit here!” She screamed back. “ I'm controlling seven alien military units with one hand whilst holding on for sanity. What more do you want from a girl?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j6dlrddFE
“That she fly straight!” He grit his teeth.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzSe7VYVQE
“You whine too much.” she said as the drones did another evasive manuever and fired at the battle suits and manned gun turrets.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLRXoZIhBL
"Remind me again why I finally let you tag along for a field mission?" He yelled478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKCpVl2KcR
"Because I'm bored and I might die before I step out of that tin can ship of ours!"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU7TShOsRy
"Then why do I have the feeling I'm the one who should be worried about dying!?"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDI56FlYEwC
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4yURS7TSI
The bulldozing crawlers didn't fare so well. One veered straight into the strange ray the turrets were shooting. The shields saved it but they also failed, whilst it lost control and veered left and right to crash into the other crawlers. They too swerved about, but at those speeds and that distance, there wasn't much the defenders could do to stop it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdSjszQNmm
They made to retreat and abandon their stations, but that too was too little too late. Turrets were torn, battlesuits were either swatted aside or crushed as the crawlers bulldozed, flipped and careened through the tunnel and the drones flew in tow ,where they crashed past the blast doors. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsUeJVJ1Vp
Kalenko and the mercenary let go when the ride got choppy, rolling as they hit the ground. They quickly came to a stop thanks to all the wreckage. They had to duck, though, as the drones flew by low and fired another hail. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjvfCiYhM3
A few shots must have finally hit the spot because one of the crawlers exploded and the drones flew into the blast a second later. They too exploded taking with them more battlesuits and infantry.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC5GFTzxnV
Kalenko and Mirsa got up slowly, shakily and painfully. The blast doors were still open, and for a moment he could see both worlds, disoriented and trying to make heads or tails out of what just happened. Even Mirsa's confusion was apparent.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lGW7lgObH
They decided to ask questions later and get a move on before everyone else recovered. They slowly began to limp and walk off the pain , onwards through the carnage of broken turrets and mangled battlesuits, towards that ever elusive target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr1oNg5dUa
The aggressors recovered first, and advanced into the cavernous tunnel when they were just a few paces from crossing over. Their front line made up of ATS disrupter vehicles, accompanied by those ever imposing League Astral class battlesuits, and covering ground at a rapid pace.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniYo0DW3dI
Another blast went off inside. It must have been another one of those drones. It had started a fire, the inferno spreading to all the wreckages and making a small barrier. Then the huge blast door started to slide down and close. Someone on the defence had their head back in gear. They certainly understood the meaning of haste and urgency.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjii5wdY5b
They ran but didn't stop when they got through, those disrupter vehicles were fast on their heels. Quite a few units would make it through but that blast door was simply too vast to hold up. It would have been almost akin to holding the mountain itself and any that got in would be cut off from the outside. Either way they didn't want to be caught in the cross fire. So on they ran.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrgDXarKKb
Onwards, jumping headlong through the fire, where they came out on the other side in two identical rolls, and got up running. They stopped themselves short however, as they took in the scene before them.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyvR5bflcj
Behind them they heard the steady whines and thrummings of moving military vehicles and personnel, as they came rolling over and around the burning wreckage. The two had to backpedal further into the gigantic cavern, for fear of being run over. The assailants stopped short as well, as they took in their adversaries.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bMpxUa5YZ
A long silence fell across the cavern broken only by the sound of more marching as more units made it into the cavern. The attackers from Nebulon and the League were staring at every gun and every able body that yet remained in battlegear. At every drone and droid remaining in Ode. The defenders were still outnumbered but no-one looked inclined to give any quarter. Behind them the rest of the town was holed up behind another closed blast door.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41mwGvSmQZ
With deafening finality the blast door closed, echoing throughout the cavern, then silence fell. Both sides roared and surged forward to clash. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbW4qFpC27L
Then a searing bright white light from the podium off the left The Phantom came down hard on the Lowman Assault trooper. From a general physiological understanding he knew something would break – just not what – so the crunching sound upon his landing was one he didn't dwell on. He didn't have the time either. Chaos reigned everywhere, all adversaries on edge and the trooper next to him was already mid-swivel with his blaster raised, barrel glowing.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7uZMgumsP
He caught the wrong end of Layla's thrum-staff however, which smashed his helm in and knocked him backwards to the ground. The surprised trooper let go some stray shots from his automatic blaster as he went down. One of them took out a class one vector drone. Standard issue--for all League frigates.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgiRtRuAQH
Well that was just wonderful. If the League had brought a whole entire frigate then this wasn't a regular run off the mill such as had been implied by his client. He would claim an extra fee later but first...478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLdFyT3OF6
“Layla, how'd you miss an entire frigate?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKZOUgbXyu
“Oh come on they have shields most people can only dream of. Besides it probably arrived after we made land fall and I won't pick up anything from down here, what with all the signal jamming. Now quit your whining and watch your back.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGx2W7qdmD
“Why, when I know you've always got it covered” he pulled out his sonar disrupter and shot two League paratroopers in rapid succession that had sought to intercept them. They went flying into the heap of rubble that was once a building. He finally got his bearings and headed left along a back alley whilst she took the right. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjBCxnnJwR
He was headed towards the yawning cavernous entrance where the main event was taking place. Hopefully he would get there without much hindrance. His combat gear had a cloaking mechanism for sound, visibility and heat, but it wasn't so effective when one was running through an active war zone. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSojV5U21X
It bought him a little time though. Enough to zip by or take out a threat before it registered and reacted. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6jEBJckm7
The chaos and carnage was for now working in his favour, but clarity as to who fought who, was somewhat obscure. There seemed to be 4 different adversaries, including the actual defenders, and they were all shooting and blowing each other up. The details of their objectives were unclear. Everyone here was here for the same target, that was clear.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUKWdVRzJC
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSEyweykXs
Gorann Kalenko had joined forces with the mercenary from Valguard. Together they had managed to recruit a small contingent of militia from the local inhabitants of Clato. Unfortunately things went downhill after that. Half of them were either lost, dead or quit while tracking the two targets up this blasted, too cold for sanity, mountain range.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5IDXONIwa
In fact, with the way the mission had so far progressed, he had been glad when they had caught up with the target and seen him crest the ridge, vanishing beyond. All hell broke loose later on, however. One of the broadcaster droids had followed them up and survived the trip long enough for federal ships to get a lock on their position and movements, after they made it over the ridge bordering the hanging valley. Just long enough for a hidden gun turret to pick out the droid. The droid's cloaking device was fully functional. Heck, he didn't even know it was there until it's burning parts and shards struck three of their party. If the town hadn’t already been warned of their approach now they were. It was easier to shoot a cloaked droid when you were looking for it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBOkVKkjB3
The first problem with hiring amateurs is that they panic under fire. They fled in all directions like Paria hens and the combined cloaking failed. That's when he realised the entire valley was a death trap. Gun turrets along the entire vale picked them out from all directions. If it hadn't been for the frag class assaulters that flew into the scene, he would have been lying charred, back there in the dirt. They made for an excellent diversion, and together with Mirza and the operative from Valguard, they harried what few they still could and made it to the town proper.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WRHRasnNA
By then the sky was filled with all kinds of aircraft. Some were firing at the turrets, some dropping troops, some doing bombing runs, plenty were burning out of the sky but a lot more were coming. Then the League came into the picture and the entire battlefield turned upside down.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpvnWI0heB
The second problem with hiring amateurs is the emotional attachment. Kalenko realised this the moment his exile militia crossed paths with federal assault troopers. Exiles were one of two . They were either born on the Four Brethren or fled to them. Both had a personal score to settle with the Federation. The two were firing at each other before he could even formulate a counter measure. To make it worse the commanding officer's orders were most likely to apprehend, and eliminate where necessary, any and all exiles. No amount of badge flashing would get him out of this situation fast enough. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7zzZCsc1j
Mirsa had already come to the same conclusion and more. The League troopers, which Kalenko had only come across in Dosiers, weren't actually there to aid the federal host. When it seemed witnesses were few enough, they fired at federal and exile units alike. The result; everyone was fighting everyone.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5YZ86w3pY
The home team had still not made an appearance but drones were pouring out of the huge cavernous opening at the far end from whence the town seemed to sprawl out from. Also, from this distance, it seemed all units there were facing heavier resistance than most. League units hadn't made it that far. He couldn't tell from what, but as yet the laser turrets and GTA cannons were doing plenty of damage everywhere. It was there, that he was certain he would find the target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy4NhGnF9s
He shot an assault trooper in the back and rolled to take cover next to the mercenary. The heavily armoured league trooper near him was a little too preoccupied with the ion cannons pelting him. Another distraction and a little more time.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezrz8biWzT
“Still alive, Mr Discreet?” She shouted over the din of nearby explosions.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhTBTupB3j
He grinned “What? Me die and leave a fine lady such as yourself in all this fun alone? Not gonna happen.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e78NrkhBg
“Glad to hear that. So what new game had you in mind seeing as we're fresh out of 'toy soldiers'?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLVFIDwPcG
“Who needs toys to play soldier?” He winked. “This one is called 'duck duck go'! The target is the cave on the other side of town. Just ten blocks away. Are you game?” 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp5lsddOAr
She finished checking her newly acquired weaponry, courtesy of the bombed League trooper a few feet away, and slung out a compact mine launcher. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzlfrpSJFK
“Ready when you are.” She smiled seductively. He returned her smile and crawled over to the dead trooper to relieve him of the few hand grenades Mirsa hadn't already done so. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3koeJnDOa
“Ready” he declared when he got back and threw the plasma grenade back into the street. As the Astral class League trooper was lifted of the ground, Mirsa turned and stepped out onto the street. In the two seconds before he followed she had already planted mines on four turrets, their motions already setting the charges off. The lady made guns seem alive, she did. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspAZzOP0jE
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7BdoSAVmG
Layla was the first to reach the cave. Unlike the others she had opted for the roofs. The turrets there were designed mainly for airborne and large enemy units. They had difficulty with fast targets that scaled walls and kept low. Her cloaking device was an added advantage but as an added insurance policy she left timed charges on every turret she passed.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3lEfdioCP
She lay back against the low, slanted roof and calmly surveyed the scene before her.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHw0mrvu7A
The mouth of the cave was littered with corpses. Some Nebulon troopers had managed to erect barricades and were returning some fire, but theirs was a hopeless cause without heavy artillery, she didn't even think they knew what they were firing at.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wYL4UFTx2
She pulled out a pair of scopes and zoomed in into the dark cave.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88iZ0ZDVGu
“Where are you?” She spoke calmly. Her ear piece crackled to life with a lot off background noise.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNVSRRzCbd
“Not far.” Another explosion went off nearby that fed back through the comm-link.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ883ISLleIC
“Having fun, I see.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxA0bGiB4bv
“Well, I guess that's one way of putting it.” the Phantom replied, “What you got?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJllQRYkroN
“Blast doors 500 paces in and open. Some kind of heavy artillery gun. I'm counting ten of those and manned.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGN1u1yuAt
“I can't tell whether those are battle suits or droids. I've never seen anything like them. There are dozens of them and that's what's been using the assault troopers as target practice.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNkSW9XDjH
“Great!” He shouted as another chorus of explosions rocked a few buildings closer now. "We need a decoy. Any chance you can borrow a few rides for us?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWfW6iuuv1
“Already on it boss.” She had already unclipped a slender case off her back and was in the midst of assembling a rather long rifle. She spied a retinue of some League Crawlers coming into the foray from her right “Decoys coming up. EMP override in 20 seconds. Infiltration in 60. Be ready for your ride then. I'll be right behind you Ghost.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJILF09RuuC
“Roger that Psycho” and another explosion went off 2 buildings down from a different direction. She eyed it for a moment, thinking, then went back to her business of setting up her rifle. Which she finished a few seconds later and loaded the cartridge with the ammunition.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0993eC5wuI
She propped herself up a bit and took aim. “Here goes”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpJ2To8W1n
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yFaCcTlzK
Mirsa saw the three crawlers veer suddenly towards the cave and accelerate just as they cleared the streets and came to the large open space in front of the cave. Their Shields were at full power and visible from their distance. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1asPs52drj
She acted out of pure instinct and ran towards them. Barely managing to scream for Kalenko to follow. It took him a split second to realise what was happening, and he was soon beside her sprinting across the battlefield under heavy fire.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRUli4VfcK
They sprang on to one of the crawlers as it veered left to right and held on for dear life. The impact at those speeds was jarring. He thought it wondrous he hadn't been thrown off or crushed as the crawlers swept into the cave with a rush. He was exhilarated and, for some reason, glad to see Mirsa was in her element.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQixielyrl
His moment of euphoria was abruptly cut off as he heard the whine of thrusters behind them. They both turned to see 4 drones from the defence, fly in right behind them and open fire. His blood went cold and he thought his time had finally come.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UIaHUe0md
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi8Iessci4
“Dammit Layla, can't you fly these things nicely. You'll throw me off”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdhHwcX65L
“Give me some credit here!” She screamed back. “ I'm controlling seven alien military units with one hand whilst holding on for sanity. What more do you want from a girl?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVAECYpDTj
“That she fly straight!” He grit his teeth.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5xaTNbu2J
“You whine too much.” she said as the drones did another evasive manuever and fired at the battle suits and manned gun turrets.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJgkinuSOt
"Remind me again why I finally let you tag along for a field mission?" He yelled478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96ifXmSVNu
"Because I'm bored and I might die before I step out of that tin can ship of ours!"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6dRataNIw
"Then why do I have the feeling I'm the one who should be worried about dying!?"478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbSETDAySS
#478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPr9NmENicE
The bulldozing crawlers didn't fare so well. One veered straight into the strange ray the turrets were shooting. The shields saved it but they also failed, whilst it lost control and veered left and right to crash into the other crawlers. They too swerved about, but at those speeds and that distance, there wasn't much the defenders could do to stop it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc1TUBguSb
They made to retreat and abandon their stations, but that too was too little too late. Turrets were torn, battlesuits were either swatted aside or crushed as the crawlers bulldozed, flipped and careened through the tunnel and the drones flew in tow ,where they crashed past the blast doors. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQlg45WLeY
Kalenko and the mercenary let go when the ride got choppy, rolling as they hit the ground. They quickly came to a stop thanks to all the wreckage. They had to duck, though, as the drones flew by low and fired another hail. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkriTf9z3a8
A few shots must have finally hit the spot because one of the crawlers exploded and the drones flew into the blast a second later. They too exploded taking with them more battlesuits and infantry.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYP2CdBZTA
Kalenko and Mirsa got up slowly, shakily and painfully. The blast doors were still open, and for a moment he could see both worlds, disoriented and trying to make heads or tails out of what just happened. Even Mirsa's confusion was apparent.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBFreEXPgi
They decided to ask questions later and get a move on before everyone else recovered. They slowly began to limp and walk off the pain , onwards through the carnage of broken turrets and mangled battlesuits, towards that ever elusive target.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Jxp9U1epo
The aggressors recovered first, and advanced into the cavernous tunnel when they were just a few paces from crossing over. Their front line made up of ATS disrupter vehicles, accompanied by those ever imposing League Astral class battlesuits, and covering ground at a rapid pace.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09mnDApWXu
Another blast went off inside. It must have been another one of those drones. It had started a fire, the inferno spreading to all the wreckages and making a small barrier. Then the huge blast door started to slide down and close. Someone on the defence had their head back in gear. They certainly understood the meaning of haste and urgency.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEz1RhLR5z
They ran but didn't stop when they got through, those disrupter vehicles were fast on their heels. Quite a few units would make it through but that blast door was simply too vast to hold up. It would have been almost akin to holding the mountain itself and any that got in would be cut off from the outside. Either way they didn't want to be caught in the cross fire. So on they ran.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUyrHZlj2j
Onwards, jumping headlong through the fire, where they came out on the other side in two identical rolls, and got up running. They stopped themselves short however, as they took in the scene before them.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qOgcorRgQ
Behind them they heard the steady whines and thrummings of moving military vehicles and personnel, as they came rolling over and around the burning wreckage. The two had to backpedal further into the gigantic cavern, for fear of being run over. The assailants stopped short as well, as they took in their adversaries.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJb1QCUPBx
A long silence fell across the cavern broken only by the sound of more marching as more units made it into the cavern. The attackers from Nebulon and the League were staring at every gun and every able body that yet remained in battlegear. At every drone and droid remaining in Ode. The defenders were still outnumbered but no-one looked inclined to give any quarter. Behind them the rest of the town was holed up behind another closed blast door.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVXpbdbJbA
With deafening finality the blast door closed, echoing throughout the cavern, then silence fell. Both sides roared and surged forward to clash. 478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡol2hnfo4gi
Then a searing bright white light from the podium off the left wall lit up the entire cavern.
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L6AwYUvpS
ns 172.70.130.252da2
and then Add to home screen.