Breaking an Empire IC

[Black Garuga]

Mission is compromised, repeat, mission is compromised! Need extraction now, now, now!

Black listened intently to the radio and dropped it. As it landed, everything seemed to slow down for a second, his squad members looking at him and saying: "Sarg, is everything alright?" But then the sudden crack of concrete on the roof woke him from this slow-motion.

"Guys, I have bad news, the mission is compromised, we need to get to the extraction point NOW, otherwise we will be left behind"

"But Sarg, Fletcher is down there, we haven't heard and hodori coming up the stairs so he must still be alive"

"I agree with you there Johnson, we must always remember our motto, 'No-one gets left behind, unless they are dead'. Ok, since Fletcher has a half-melted leg, he cannot walk, so, two of you are going to carry him to the extraction point, while I divert the hodori Bastards away from you, giving you enough time to get out and get Fletcher onboard. Hopefully, if everything goes to plan, I will meet you there as well before the rescue leaves, got that?"

The other two members of the squad gave a prompt 'YES SARG' reply.

"Good, now, lets destroy this here barricade we have built eh?"

While the other two members began to dismantle the barricade, Black leaned over the roof edge and onto the street to find Shade and his group trying to run and fight off the incoming hodori. He bent down and picked up one of his favorite weapons, a browning. Mounting it on the roof Black aimed and looked down at the street. He glanced back at the other members of his Squad to see that they have dismantled the barricade.

"What now Sarg?"

"Well, now you two go downstairs, see if Fletcher is alive, tend to his wounds and hold that spot until I come down and meet you, in the meanwhile, I will open fire on these hodori bastards which are pursuing Shade and his group, although I'm not too sure if I make things better or worse, only after I have done this will fate roll the dice. Anyway, go on people! lets move!"

The other two members vanished down the stairs. Black picked up his radio and clearly said specifically to shade and his team:

Gray team, we have a visual on you here up on the roof, we will give you a little heavy fire assistance, but stay to the right closest to the buildings.

Black put the radio down and reloaded his mounted browning.

"Come get some"

[arinot]

Aisha just kept running, blindly firing behind her

"SHADE! IF WE GET OUTTA HERE I'M GONNA KILL YOU!!!!!"

She clumsily vaulted a table before pushing it down behind her. plasma splattered the floor behind her. The actual floor, not just plasma
she quickly found her clip gone and attempted to set a new one in while running...
It was a feat of extraordinary dexterity... but after all those years of learning to cut quickly, it snapped into place about the 5th time
and then more lead went flying

[Shade Leshyr]

Shade continued to place himself between the leaping Hodori and Aisha, firing shots off to make them keep their heads down, but why weren't they moving up like Hodori usually did? His question came from a sudden cry from Aisha as a Titan stepped in her path, blocking her path. Shade turned toward the new threat, but the titan appeared to be overly pissed as it reached forward and picked the fox up with one hand, flinging him into the side of a nearby building. The air escaped the vulpine's lungs and his gun went flying somewhere down the street. Seeing their quarry stopped dead in their tracks, the leaping squad turned and began returning fire at the turret setup that peppered their shields rather uselessly at this range.

The titan gave a soft growl as it looked at Aisha, reaching for her...

Gold Team, begin extraction operations

The sound of engines firing up broke the titan's concentration just before a small transport ship appeared over the group, three turrets locking on and pounding the armored behemoth with the biggest rounds that the rebels could muster. Its shields could protect it from getting blown in half, but the laws of physics still counted and the titan found itself shot off its feet to slam into the leaper squad, laying on them in a daze as the ship settled down nearby and two rebels jumped out, one running to grab Shade and the other to help Aisha to her feet and hurry her into the vessel. Slamming the door shut behind them, her rescuer yelled at the pilot to lift off...

Another vessel slid up alongside the building that the suicide squad had taken residence in, hovering near Black, "Get in!" He yelled as a similar thing happened with the sniper team and every member of the other teams nearby...

[Black Garuga]

Black screamed to his crew down the stairwell as the transport ship began to pull up beside the building

"COME ON GUYS! THE SHIP IS HERE, GET HERE NOW"

Black could hear the careful but frantic footsteps of his team along with injured Fletcher being helped by the other two. Black went to the pilot and told him that they had one injured, the pilot nodded and told one of the crew to deploy the ramp and first aid. Black went to the stairwell door and lifted Fletcher up, allowing the other two to run aboard and strap themselves in. Black carried Fletcher onto the ship and placed him in a flatbed before folding the ramp up and kneeling next to Fletcher near the bed.

The ship began to take off, the slow whining of the engines heating up, the world seemed to tilt as the ship made a sharp left, the vibrations from the guns on the ship shook through the floor of the ship. Smoke, fire, plasma and burning could be seen and smelt through the ship as they passed great plumes of black smoke rising from semi-destroyed buildings, free-standing only from the ridged metal structure left.

"FLETCHER, YOU DID WELL BACK THERE, AND I WILL MAKE SURE YOU GET YOU'RE MEDALS THAT YOU DESERVE!"
Black screamed over the howling wind that was whistling through the ship and the ever rising sound of ship's engines. After that ordeal they were glad to get out alive, but they dreaded to think what HQ thought of their performance that day.

[Buzzwolf]

Judas stood glaring at the holoscreen before him, a snarl forming on his lips. he stood up strait and composed himself. suddenly the picture of calm as he strode around the holoscreens toward 'Voice'. "I know well what castling is, voice. and it is a foolhardy move." he stopped directly beside voice, staring down on him from his towering height "it leaves you open when you have no pawns left!" at the same moment, his gauntleted hand launched out, his hand wrapping around 'voices' throat and slamming him into the nearest bulkhead "How dare you use my own men for your petty little trap!" his fingers start to dig into the wall behind voice, leaving holes on each side of his neck "And the fact that you would Lie[i] to those men..." He ground out

"Sir! Rebel transports moving in! they're falling back! Jumper team reports...no captures." the voice studdered, amazed. the Jumpers had never failed a mission. Ever. "His Holy Voice's plan didn't work Sir!"

A thin smile slipped across the admirals lips, turning into a toothy grin "It seems your King has just fallen, voice...while mine still stands." he let go of voice, letting him slide the two feet he'd been held up on the wall to the floor with a thump "Monitor, send the Jumpers the command for a delta Six. they'll know what to do...we're gonna fix this little mess [i]His holy voice has made."

"Aye sir. sending the orders now" the Monitors fingers flew across the command console at mind boggling speeds. then paused, waiting on a response, and nodded. all in the span of a few blinks of an eye "Jumper team confirms. moving to execute order Delta Six"
______

The titan growled as it levered itself over, slowly recovering from the heavy rounds that had knocked it clean off it's feet. It looked up and around for it's quarry, finding a drop ship starting it's accent, the Jumper squad on the other side. one of the Jumpers was flashing the Titan a series of rapid arm signals. it knew exactly what to do. it's helmet snapped around, getting it's bearings and finding the route it needed, and latched onto the side of the building, leaping and bounding upward along the buildings, following and creating an intercept path around one of the buildings.

Suddenly launching from the side of a building, the titan caught the small craft completely unaware, adn throwing the balance stabilizers completely off kilter, pulling it low with the addition of the large weight load on it. the craft tilted adn banked sharply, the titan scrabbling to maintain it's grip, leaving large goudges where it's clawed fingers had dug in, and was suddenly gone as suddenly as it'd appeared, leaving the occupants nothing more than a good deal shook up

The titan watched wearily as the craft slipped away, and climbed out of the impact crater it'd left in the pavement level. a single jumper trooper jogging up to the titan with a nod.

the titan watched the craft vanish, a deep grumbling coming from under it's helmet. it Hated Delta Six manuevers.

[Shade Leshyr]

Voice had made no movements when Judas went into his rage, neither fear, or rage, not even a quickening of breath had taken hold. As Judas released him, he landed on his feet without so much as a bend in his knees. Two clicks rang out and a collective gasp came from the assembled Hodori as the stone at the top of Voice's staff lit up with a blinding light and Judas found himself floating helplessly the same two feet that he had held the deceptively small figure moments ago, "You would do well," Voice spoke in a flat tone, "to remember that without me, you wouldn't have a king admiral. Without me, you would kill them all and then there would be no need for you and your... children... would find themselves ordered to throw your carcass into the nearest star... soon, there won't be a need for you anyway, once my special forces find the artifact, I will personally request that you be the first subject and I will ensure that I find a way to make you think that you need to throw yourself into the nearest star."

Voice inclined the staff slightly and Judas flew through the air to smash into the nearest wall as Voice calmly walked to the nearest door, exiting with one final jab, "Remember your place Admiral... remember the shit hole you crawled from." The door slid shut behind him and Judas was released from the effects of the staff. Several of the station managers muttered to themselves as they looked from the door to Judas.

Both of them were pissed...and that meant hell for the crew...

______________

"What the hell!?" Shade shouted as the vessel shook from the sudden attack. For a moment, he swore he could see through the visor of the titan as it latched onto the ship. The pilot banked the ship and Shade was quick to grab one of the safety bar, making sure Aisha grabbed it as well. The titan scrambled to get a good hold and Shade almost died from relief as a final banking dropped their unwanted passenger to the ground. The disguised ships met up as they sped away from the town and zipped right through the hole left in the Hodori air defense from another ship's departure, disappearing behind the world's moon, linking up with a stealth cruiser that wa hiding behind said moon.

The transports set down in the hanger and the cruiser turned and made a quick jump to get away before the Hodori could mass to come searching for them. Shade climbed out of the transport into the hanger, turning to help Aisha out before he heard a male voice call out to him, "What the hell happened out there Leshyr?" Shade turned and snapped a salute at the tiger that had spoken. Said tiger was in the same uniform as the rest of them, but everyone knew one of the rebel commanders when they saw him. Maximus Tierwall did not look happy.

"Ambushed at the loading pad sir." Shade said softly, waiting for the ass chewing he knew was coming. It never did, Maximus just sighed, looking over at the suicide squad as they hopped out, "One of them got injured and now it's for nothing, do you understand that Shade? I don't know how they knew to drop in on you at that exact moment, but now it has earned us more problems than solutions. The only reason you aren't demoted and cleaning the latrines is because," he turned and he was smiling now, throwing Shade off completely, "we actually did get something out of it. Thanks to our failed raid, a little freelance cargo runner was able to escape. Now let's get home before the chief unwraps the present. I want to see the look on his face." The tiger laughed as he walked off, heading for the bridge...

[arinot]

"..."
Aisha was panting and completely spent, and already pissed about the near death experience
"I... Am goinna.... kill someone...."
she walked up to shade, and attempted to punch him in the face, but it came off as her wiping her fist across his head. She then grabbed over his shoulder and let him drag her
"...well... so we did something right at least... right?..."
she looked back at the transport behind her before looking forward once again
"got any idea what the cargo was? Mr. Tiger dude.... Maximus... whatever, seemed pretty happy about it..."
A dumb grin spread on her face

[Buzzwolf]

Judas did nothing but let out a long low growl as 'Voice' chastized him and finally let him down after bashing him into the bulkhead. he landed on his feet in a crouch, one hand on the deck. perfectly. and stood up as the doors slid shut behind Voice, ignoring the comments of the bridge behind him for the moment as he pulled up a holoscreen with the face of a Hodori in a lab suit and mask covering his face "Did you get the readings?"

The Hodori in on the screen gave a chuckle "More than I could possibly have hoped for sir"

"Good. I presume there will be no further delays then?"

"None at all, sir" the hodori on the screen held up a small module. a single status light blinking on it

"I expect it in my hands by 2300 then. you can keep the data the sensors picked up for whatever your 'research' is.... all I need is the module"

"Of course, Sir. it will be ready" the holoscreen flicked off and Judas stood slowly, composing himself before turning to face the silent bridge. throwing a glance here and there at the 'monitors' "What the hell're you looking at?!" he growled out and every last one jumped back to work, or at least tried to look like they were doing something to avoid the Wrath of the admiral "Monitor"

"y-Yes sir!?" the closest one jumped as another nudged him to let him know the Admiral was speaking to him. his hands shaking visibly as he turned to face the admiral "yes sir...?" he asked a little less yelling

"Comm Captain Issimar. His job is done. I expect to see him in my Readyroom in one hour. and recall the rest of the troops. tell them to bring whoever they've captured to bay six. I'll be down after I speak with the Captain" his hands were folded neatly behind his back as he looked out the forward windows to the planet below. the picture of calm rage.

____

The sleek black ship slipped through the closing hanger doors and locked into the docking clamps mere moments before the massive ship made it's jump. Everyone aboard knew the ship, or at least the 'old' rebels did. the Famed Black Comet, said to be able to outrun even the fastest of hodori fighters, and with it's proper pilot at the helm, it could do so in even the tightest of corridors, making a fool of any ship chasing it.

The twin engines hissed and clicked as the systems powered down, the black chrom of it's hull seeming to shift and adjust to the lighting, making it seem 'fuzzy' if you weren't looking directly at it, and all the easier to pass over at a glance.

a ramp clicked and dropped from the bottom of the craft, slowing just mere inches from the hanger deck before easing itself the rest of the way down on it's hydraulics. Two figures appeared in the opening, the White femal striding confidently off the ship, a mission in her eyes as the other tagged along, never having been this deep into rebel actions. "Max!" the White vixen called out as she spotted the tiger, then turned to the black fox for a moment, "I need a to have a few words with Max, mind making sure the techies get their box of goodies?"

The black fox nodded, "Sure" Sasha smiled and took off to head the tiger off before he had gotten to the ship. a pair of the techies were already making their way over, both staring in awe at the ship, probably not sure if they were actually seeing it before them, or still dreaming. both appeared to be some kind of small fox breed, not to mention from an outer world judging by the fact that one said something in a language Leah didn't understand a single syllable of. the other turned and startled Leah as the second small female smacked the first across the face. a little more muttering in their odd language, and both suddenly had a wide grin as they scurried up to Leah

"Blak comit?" one asked, getting right up in her face with her broken galactic standard.

"...yes...Black Comet..." she patted one of the landing struts, pulling back from the apparant twins a little as they all out invaded her personal space. the hull sat just out of reach for her "Are you here to get the box?" they looked at her confused a moment, their Galactic standard clearly lacking, then as soon as one had it, she barked something back and forth with the other, and they both had it, and both nodded "...okay then..." she gestured to the ramp and their jaws dropped. she was inviting them onboard. Leah turned and headed up the ramp, watching them out of the corner of her eye with a soft smile as they stood at the base of the ramp, staring after her. one scurried behind the other, urging her sister to go up the ramp, clear even in their odd language. the sister looked down at her feet and the base of the ramp, and tenitivly put a foot on the ramp, the other held her paws to her face biting back a 'eep!' as absolutely nothing happened. the one with her foot on the ramp, scrunched her eyes and put her other foot on the ramp, completely tensed, waiting on the 'trap' to spring. she risked a peek around at a sound from her sister, who was peering over her hands from around the side of the ramp. They chirped something back and forth and both suddenly took off up the ramp, almost spinning Leah around as they zipped by. appearantly both knew the layout of the ship already. Leah rolled her eyes still smiling at the antics of the two and followed after them to the cargo bay.

[Shade Leshyr]

Max's ears perked up as a familiar voice entered them and he spun on his heel to face the owner, "Sasha! You sly little vixen, I didn't even know you were hiding out in that bar! I knew if any of the freelancers were gonna come through it would be you and the big boy," he paused looking around, a confused look coming to his face, "speaking of him... where is Corbin, I don't think I saw him get off the ship with you and the other vixen there...," he looked down, seeing Sasha's face and he paled, "Sasha... where's Corbin?"

Shade gently hoisted Aisha up onto his back, carrying her toward the living area of the ship, "I have no idea what could be making him so happy, but hopefully it will give us a bit more of an edge than this attempt. You hungry?" He grinned over his shoulder at her as his stomach growled. Near death experiences always made him hungry...

A short, female mouse stalked toward the suicide squad, her eyes empty of all emotion except determination. She had to look up at the members of the squad, but all of the immediately snapped her a salute, gulping softly. She was their CO, Victoria, and had been known to take down dragons three times her size. She looked at Fletcher, staring at him for several moments, making the soldier start to tremble, "You're still alive," she said suddenly, "God must not think you're worthy and the devil thinks you're pathetic. Get to med-bay and get yourself patched up. Next time you earn your places in heaven or make the devil find torturing you to be fun. Dismissed." Hardass? no, she was a cold-hearted b****.

[arinot]

Aisha had to think about it for a second
"YES! I'm hungry like a BAMF"

She nudged his stomach with her foot lightly, though only as a consequence of being mentally and physically exhausted.
"Take me to my food steed!"

She slumped on him and let him carry her weight...

Normally, she was very professional... but there was a kind of high that came from nearly dying... and being hungry enough to eat a cow... not that she'd do that...

[Buzzwolf]

Sasha's quick stride slowed as Max spoke, the immediate observation of her lack of companion. She found herself looking at the floor more than him. "That...that's what I needed to talk to you about Max...Corbins gone Max...He saved us..." she looked back at the black comet "A Titan attacked us during dust off...if not for him, we never would've made it..." when she looked back at him, there was a certain fire in her eyes "I want a team Max. I'm going back for him."

______

"Hey hey! Careful with that!" the twins had taken to tilting the box back and forth, rattling it around, and listening to it. not moving it. but they ignored her and tipped it again to the side.

They turned and smiled "No worry! We move box!" She gave Leah a thumbs up and turned to her sister, They both turned to face the box, one on each end, arms outstretched toward it, hands open, palms facing the box. Leah stood staring at what they were doing, a glow was eminating from the back of the odd gloves they wore, some odd recitation in their own language slipping from their mouths in perfect harmony. a line of light slipped along the base of the box, and climbed up the corners. a thin hum came from the box, and it lifted off the deck.

Leah flinched, taking a step back out of habit "...What in the hell...?!"

"We lift box!" They said with a set of wide smiles. a series of clicks and barks went between the pair and leah side stepped as they guided the box out of the Black comets cargo bay, and down the Ramp to the Hanger of the rebel ship. the one leading lifted a hand and waved to her, Leah just lifted a hand, watching them, simply stunned

"Where in the hell did they find those two..." Leah crossed her arms and leaned against the landing strut, waiting for Sasha to get back, who seemed to certainly be taking her time...maybe there was some place she could grab a bite around here. The mentally smacked herself. she should've asked the twins when they took the cargo. she sighed and picked a direction and a hallway, hoping she might find some place, or someone that could point her in the right direction

[Shade Leshyr]

Max stared long and hard into Sasha's determined eyes, but his own were equally as determined as he folded his arms, "No... I'm sorry Sasha, but no. You're not geared for an all out assault on the Hodori and none of my men are. Look me in the eyes and tell me that Corbin wouldn't kick my ass if he knew I let you do something that bone-headed. No? That's what I thought. Corbin did what he did to save you, and the best way to honor a sacrifice like that is to stay where it's safe, do you hear me," he saw the rebellious flash in her eyes and he knelt down to her eye level, "Sasha, don't even think about it. I see so much as a finger move in the Comet's direction, I'm grounding it indefinitely. We don't know that he's even alive Sasha... I really hate having to point it out, but... even if he managed to fight off the titan, there would still be the handler's to deal with... I'm sorry Sasha..." The tiger's face was somber, but unyielding, his eyes looking at her sympathetically, but with an edge that showed he would not be moved...

Meanwhile, Shade laughed a little at Aisha's antics, "Hold fast, oh valiant rider, we're almost upon the place of eating." The eating area of the ship wasn't the most luxurious thing anyone would ever see, mostly military standards of seats and tables filling the room with the serving line on the far wall next to the kitchen. Handing Aisha a tray, Shade grabbed one of his own and moved down the line, chatting a little with the servers, making little jokes at their observation of the new "monkey on his back." Then one of the servers made the comment, "Well, nice to see you found yourself a girlfriend in all this." Shade just laughed, "I'm holding true to my promise, I don't move on until my mother and father are resting peacefully." Carrying Aisha, Shade found an open table and helped her down into it before taking a seat himself.

The announcement followed the twins as they rushed forward with their cargo, "All researchers, report to lab 1, repeat, all researchers, report to lab 1." Researchers of all sizes and shapes came rushing out of the ship's belly, each of them chatting excitedly among themselves. The rebels were not going to risk the Hodori getting anything back before they'd taken it apart, so the ship had been equipped with a fully equipped lab and no one wanted to miss the grand unveiling of a Hodori weapon's insides...

[Buzzwolf]

"No..." she wore a stunned look "You...you can't...Max...You can't do this to me..." Her eyes began to well with tears, and she hit the second phase "He's alive Max! I know he's alive! Corbin wouldn't let a silly thing like a...Titan...beat him" the words sounded hollow as they slipped her lips, even to herself they seemed as such. she was grasping at dust.She Collapsed against the tiger, sobbing softly into his chest "Please Max..." She got out between sobs "...he's all I've got..."

Leah sniffed at the air, following her nose as she found her way into the mess hall. nothing beat the sense of smell to find a quick bite, and before she knew it, she was in the mess hall. she sidestepped a group of scientists as they mobbed out of the mess hall, confused, she just blinked after them wondering what that was all about. then an idea sparked and she looked into the mess hall and her eyes lit up. the chow line was all but empty! She let out a squeel of joy and darted for the line, scooping up a tray and sliding it along the counter, her claw tapping on the sneeze sheild pointing out the various dishes with a wide grin. it always made a day better to get a good meal in.

She turned as the server handed her her last plate, and she thanked him with a smile, her tray loaded down, and turned to find herself a table. all the tables near by had either a mass of scientists chatting about scientific nonsense, or empty tables waiting to be cleaned for the next meal. she 'hmmmd' as she looked around, and her eyes fell on a table with only two occupants, not scientists. A fox, and just one other. a human...unusual, but it would work perfectly. She zig zaged through the tables, excusing herself here and there as she bumped into occupied chairs "Hey!" she nudged one of the open chairs with her hip, scooting it back "Mind if I join ya?"

The twins eeped! and scrambled to get out of the way as the flood of scientists swarmed the box the moment they stepped into the assigned lab. They hugged each other with an eep! and a squeel! here and there as the scientists rushed around them, they backed into one, who grunted something at them, and they scrambled to get out of the way, bumping into another and another till they found themselves out in the hallway looking in on the mass of scientists. One looked up, looking this way and that, the hallway finally clear of the rowdy scientists, she ran up to a scanner by the door, and put a hand on it, it flashed green with an acknowledgement light and [Delievery confirmed] indicator. she made some chirping noise to her sister, and her ears perked up, and returned the chirping noises before they both started off down the hall now that their job was done and confirmed

[arinot]

Aisha glared at the commenter
"who said I was anybody's girlyfriend. huh?"
She glared until mirth at being alive overrode her mild anger which gave way to chuckling

"Allright Shade... you get some food... and I'lllll.... sleep for now until food arrives"

She proceeded to faceplant into the table and quickly fell into a light slumber as the adrenline had begun waning off and she was entering a period of crashing

[Shade Leshyr]

The feline's arms wrapped gingerly around the vixen sobbing against his chest, "I'm sorry Sasha... you're too valuable to send on a suicide mission in the hopes he might be alive. Sasha, we need you here, helping us.... if you promise me that you won't personally get involved unless you know he's out there, I'll give you command of what I can to search for him, but please, in the mean time we're short on officers and spies and those we have are fresh, greener than grass. They could use your teaching."

_____

Shade grinned as Aisha practically fell unconscious before Leah's voice entered his ear. He looked at her and smiled warmly, "You go right ahead, I don't bite, but Aisha here might if she was awake," he eyed her, "say, I don't think I've seen you around before. Name's Shade," he offered her his hand, "light gunner and rebel to the core."