Buoy had really hoped for some torpedoes. Vultures weren’t known for self-preservation, but surely they wouldn’t be so dumb as to fire explosives that close to themselves. Lasers meant it would retaliate with reckless abandon.
But on the plus side, they’re built into a fixed position on its body. While they do aim downwards, it wouldn’t take much distance to go either under their aim or further back beyond it. With their spindly legs and odd weight distribution, the shimmies required to realign their aim would give previous moments to retaliate.
Vulture was close, moving forward was best to get under its fire. However, that put his gear in danger of the grenade and going behind the Vulture might cause it to flee. He would need to run backwards.
He looks back, determining the path he needed to take. Unless it was some chunky debris that looked like it could survive starfighter blasts, he dismisses the idea of taking new cover. Just tries to quickly memorize what’s there as to not trip on it while taking a reverse advance. Committing what he can to memory, Buoy turns back to face the Vulture and starts counting.
“One…”
He brings up his blaster over his cover, taking aim.
“Two…”
His crouch position is ready to get up and run.
“Three!”
Buoy fires a shot at the Vulture’s head. While it would be cool if the droid turned its head towards his direction, he doesn’t wait for that visual response. He bolts up, jogging backwards as fast as he can without tripping, trying to get out of its firing range roughly guessed by its current angle. He fires at least three more shots at its head while retreating.
On three, Saddle throws his droid popper, aiming for it to land under the Vulture droid, right between all four of its legs. Since he did not overtly break cover by firing a shot, he doesn’t move from his hiding place but as soon as he releases the grenade he takes up his carbine to get a good shot at the droid’s neck while it’s presumably stunned by the ion grenade.
Graphite counted along with Buoy in his head, steeling his mind and body for movement.
It was nearly time. He’d been in these situations before, so why was he second guessing himself? Maybe it was rooted in some deep, subconscious practicality, one that told him the chances of survival were slim … slim to the point of being indiscernible. Or maybe an insecurity, that these others were relying on him.
No. Stop. Enough thought, enough waste. It was time to move. Time to move.
Time …
To …
Move!
As Buoy fired off the first shots, Graphite rose to a more stable kneeling position, rotating on his knee into a classic firing position. He centered his iron sights on the droid’s vulnerable “clavicle” area, the exposed - thought not necessarily visible - technological components. He sensed rather than saw Saddle rise and throw, waited for the auditory cue of the ion grenade hitting the ground. As soon as it detonated, he fired, as promptly as his reflexes allowed. He remained in position, prepared to fire consecutively if the first shot didn’t land.
The droid’s head snapped toward Buoy’s position, a predatory gleam in it’s glowing, blood red eyes as it begins to aim it’s cannons at the trooper. Then the ion grenade detonated, and the contracted firepower of three clones fighting for their lives ripped through it’s neck and head. The droid fell to one side with a piercing scream and a crash. This one was down for the count, but the two other Vultures sent with it would probably have something to say about it.
Blessedly, the three fighting the droid would the Captain’s voice ring out over the comms.
“Saddle, we’re almost to your position. What’s your status with the bogey?” Duke asked as he, Legacy, Boomstick, and Rook made their way through the desolate hangers.
(@wild_toa@N01InParticular@GoodGuy2006 )
Tesz pointed toward the exposed beams. “We could try to scale the wall, then jump to the wires. It looks like they should be able to take us the rest of the way up.” She said, peering upward into the darkness.
“Hope you all climb well.” She added in a lighthearted manner, forcing a smile. Master Norr did always tell her keeping up morale was important, even in tense situations.
(@Ghid@TheCobaltCorsair@Brickbot99)
While running though the destroyed hangar, Legacy was glancing around, hoping to find some intact AT-RTs, but to his dissapointment, all that could be found quickly was a handful of walkers that were shredded or crushed in the crash.
Noting the length of the hangar, Legacy says “Man, Im glad I never was assigned to the forward part of this ship, why’d they have to make this area so big?”
Saddle breathed a sigh of relief as the droid screamed and toppled over, electricity shrouding its damaged remains. However, there was no time to rest: Duke’s voice came over the comms. Shifting himself within the debris, Saddle tapped two fingers to the side of his helmet and responded.
“One bogey destroyed, sir. All troops accounted for. Two fighters still patrolling the AO. They’ll be back around any time now. Standing by for your arrival, sir.”
Saddle released the comm mic, then quickly glanced around to confirm Buoy and Graphite’s positions.
“Alright, you two!” he called out. “CO’s on his way with more survivors. Let’s try to stay in one piece until he gets here.”
(@ajtazt@Winger)
Ha! Yes! Buoy thought as the droid went down, stopping his retreat and relaxed his arms. Only for a moment though, looking up towards the sky to see if the other droids were coming.
His head snaps back down when Saddle calls and responds with, “Yes sir!”
Buoy looks around, trying to determine where would be the best place to hold out. If the ship was too dangerous, chances were their prior cover might be the best spots. He looks at the dead vulture.
“If we had enough time sir, we could rig that droid as a turret. The legs’ weaponry could take out the other vultures.”
Wannabe took a moment to consider the shape of his feet.
This will prove difficult. He stared up at the wall, wondering how in the world he was going to ascend with only one functional hand. Perhaps it would be better if he remained here? But what if General Viego Norr was in critical condition and one of these insufferable clones did something decidedly unsound, like dragging him by the heels?
Wannabe very slowly rotated at the waist until he was facing Bravebird, silently wishing his mechanical face had the actuators to emote so he could glare at the Clone Trooper. You just expressed concern over the possible health risk those wires could pose and now you force the Commander to ascend first?
“Afraid?” He asked. His voice did not imply jest, even if he did mean it.
“My feet are not designed to handle sheer vertical ascension.” Wannabe responded calmly. “I must ensure my functions are not damaged so as to provide medical aid to the Commander. You do not provide such a function, nor are you the Commander, so you are the safest and most exposable option in the event your ascent proves fatal.”
“You really know how to brighten the mood, don’t you, Wannabe?” Bravebird said sarcastically. “But I suppose you may have a point. If the Commander would rather have me go first, I would happily do so…”
Duke, Legacy, Rook, and Boomstick could see some light pouring through the far end of the hangar where the tip was broken open on impact. It looks like they were almost out of this blasted wreck.
(@wild_toa@N01InParticular@GoodGuy2006 )
Buoy, Saddle, and Graphite could hear the humming of vulture droids in the distance. It sounds like they would only have a few precious minutes before the vultures were upon them.
(@ajtazt@Winger@Keplers )
By the time Bravebird and Wannabe turn their attention back toward Tesz, the padawan had already begun climbing up the wall, a determined expression on her face.
(@Ghid@TheCobaltCorsair )
“Whaddya say we get out of this blasted ship and bust some head?” Legacy said while beginning to unsling his RPS-6 on his way to the front of the hangar.
Saddle looks up in the general direction of the vulture droids. Based on the patrolling speed of the fighters in-atmosphere, they’d be upon the group of clones in no time. He refocuses on Buoy.
“We’ve got minutes at most, trooper. If that’s enough time, give it a shot. Medic!” he called to Graphite. “You should probably head inside so you can link up with the others and help the wounded. Our rifles aren’t going to do much against flying clankers, so it’s best to get you out of the line of fire if it’s not necessary.”
Buoy stares at the down vulture, thinking it over quickly. A few minutes? Probably not unless the others were bad shots. Or…
“New plan sir,” Buoy says as he runs over to the vulture. “Giant landmine.”
He tries moving the head of the droid and shifting some of its components to slip a thermal detonator inside.
“It should still have plenty of fuel and stored power. If we can lure them to it, we can detonate this one and hopefully cause a big enough explosion to take out the other two.”
Wannabe didn’t realize what Tesz was doing until he saw Bravebird look at her. He stared, watching where she chose to find her footing, and then sent an elbow towards Bravebird.
It could be he was trying to get something across, or perhaps because he just felt like causing slight harm.
Rook turned to their commanding officer, “How is your injury, Sir?” he asked as he began searching the nearby area for any medical supplies, making use of his Vibro-sword wherever necessary.