Impact

[Asmus Janes]

Implants. He'd seen that on the record. That's how he rationalised everything he saw as he headed back into the hold. He flicked a switch on the side of the speeder bike, his heart thumping. It hummed with repulsors and became weightless, whilst still massy, resistant to being pulled off the wall.

Survival kits one and two were strapped either side, leaving him moments to slot the CC13 into place. He started to head for the cockpit.

“Feth!” He swore loudly, returning to grab something from a drawer. His 'oh kriff’ bag. Unmarked local currency in chits. And fresh socks. According to the spec ops boys the most useful things after water bottles and purifiers.

He rushed back to the cockpit. Everything was in place. The ship juddered as it started to slow to make a tight turn between two hills. Below the speed it would go from silly to suicidal for the drop. If all went to plan it would then accelerate, perform maneuver 3C and go down in flames. If by some miracle it avoided the torpedo it would clip the trees and go down.

“Good work. Strap yourself to the back of the bike.”

He slapped a button and an audio countdown started at fifteen. He followed Kaile back and went for the emergency release to lower the rear doors.

You've been good, he told the shuttle. She'd be the third ship he'd lost in action.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Kaile swung low, grabbing her satchel and slinging onto her back. Hands then ensured the straps were snug and tight. Couldn't risk losing this.

This is a crazy idea. The agent finally reconciled that this was a particularly hairbrained idea. However there was precious little other recourse now to save their skins. Think positive! Well, at least she tried.

Wiping those thoughts away, the agent slung herself onto the bike. Gloved hands went desperately searching for the straps. A quick glance up caught the pilot's eyes as he quickly lowered the door. A sudden brisk wind went rushing into the cabin, tousling their hair and prompting Kaile and Asmus to squint their eyes with its roar.

It was loud and almost ear deafening. Kaile wished she had goggles then. Asmus then went darting back over to her, all purposeful strides and rushed actions. In a flash he also sat down in front of her.

“Did you do this in a sim before?” She asked him as she strapped herself in.

Honestly it felt a little bit like a hologame move.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus was afraid. The roaring wind, the fragile looking bike. The even more fragile looking Espion on the back. The speed at which the trees passed by the shuttle.

“TEN.” Called the computer.

Asmus leapt aboard and strapped in. “It's been done for real!” He called. Just not by me. It was a perfectly valid method of inserting troops into the battlefield at high speed. An alternative to mandalorian style jetpacks that required significant training, or expensive IFVs that could be dropped in. Mostly though, people used dropships.

His heart was hammering away. If he failed he would kill Kaile. After all this time she would come back just to die because of some crazy scheme. Sacrificing her meant the mission was doomed and wasn't an option he was willing to entertain. This way they both had a shot. And perhaps some time.

Then his hands fell upon the controls. That fear was honed into focus you could cut the Force with. He wasn't the young man she had known. Not all the way through anyway. He still bragged and told stories, but not as much. That change had grown from a seed she had planted years ago and been nurtured by experience.

He had faith. In himself. She'd believed in him first, it had just taken him time to catch up.

“FIVE, FOUR…”

“Hold tight,” he grunted, pulling down some goggles from his helmet. One kick of the deck, a flick of reverse thrust and they were away. The flares were a deep roar above them, but the wind was even greater.

The bike kicked and bucked and for a moment he thought they'd hit the canopy backwards. Then the engines and stabilisers kicked in. He growled as he fought for control until they leveled out just above the canopy of trees. His eyes scanned for an opening. He found one and plunged them into darkness. Hot, moist air struck his face as they went down. Subtle tugs had them weaving between branches. Something caught his shirt, but he ignored it. Blood seeped into this jacket, but it was only a flesh wound from a branch.

In the distance he heard the screech of a missile. The inevitable explosion. Asmus turned to put them perpendicular to the path the ship had followed and started to count down in his head. The heat of the engine exhaust at over 600C would show up on the gunship's scanners even through the dense, wet canopy. Had to reach the river and ditch it soon

 

[Kaile Vera]

Asmus would feel the sudden snake of Kaile's arms wrapping around his torso, locking over his chest and holding tight. The roar of the wind and engines howled at her ears, and without any goggles Kaile had to press her face close to the pilots back to shield her eyes. Oh stars...

The sudden drop and thrust unconsciously caused her fingers to curl in, and being pressed so close to his back had its own problems once the jostles and added turbulence began. The humidity was vicious, the scent of rotting vegetation and wet sand saturating her skin. The trees and limbs from the canopy were no better as they sank down, shot forward by Asmus’ guidance while her belly flipped flopped in the free fall.

Branches and limbs scraped at her arms and legs. A sharp whip managing to slice a thin red line across her cheek. Even using Asmus as a shield did nothing to shelter the bite of the wind on her flesh. Nothing the medkit won't fix but at least - for now - they were alive.

For how long?

Pulling back, Kaile's bangs went all over the place in the force of the wind and their speed. The river wouldn't be far, but they had precious few time to ditch the bike and head for the treeline. The city would be but a few kilometers away.
If they could make it.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus almost overshot the target. Suddenly they were in bright light, coming out from the trees to cross the wide river. He hit the reverse thrust, feeling Kaile press into his back as they decelerated.


He didn't speak as he stopped over the rockiest ground he could find. A riverbed was a good place to comb for footprints. His spec ops trainers had given him a good trick. Make it to water that can be crossed to throw something off your scent and then head upstream a few hundred metres before cross. Usually the enemy would reach the crossing and search downstream for the exit point.


Asmus unfurled her hands from his chest and slid down. They were exposed here, needed to move quickly. He slung the bags on one side of the speeder to the ground. He could hear the gunship, somewhere far overhead. No, not close, he decided as his hearing adjusted to the quiet now the engine was off. Far away, but not far enough.


“Might take them as long as an hour to find the crash site and get boots on the ground to realise we didn't go down. We made nearly ten clicks west, it would have crashed about five to ten clicks north. Day and a half on walking to reach the city.”


He nodded as he stated each fact. They could have been in much worse shape.


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/73/05/8d/73058d1edbf2bcd93bfac6f6c2b54b91.jpg


https://slm-assets0.secondlife.com/assets/5755471/lightbox/JungleMoss12x32.jpg?1339895194

 

[Kaile Vera]

Boots hit the ground, splashing onto the riverbed and saturating the hem of her pants and her boots. Nothing to be made of it and Kaile had been used to it before. Water sloshed as the agent picked up one other bag and slung it over her shoulder. A bit more extra kilos but they may need the equipment. Right now, they needed to move fast.

Day and a half? Need to move fast.

Panning her gaze, Kaile took stock. Thick moss and vines surrounded the ravine. As did boulders and low hanging vines. Her dark head went whipping over her right, catching sight of Asmus as he went waddling over to her. Water sloshing around his ankles, he ended at her side.

“You good?” she checked him over briefly. Chocolate brown eyes swept over him to check for any injuries. Nothing life threatening, but she had to quell her need to investigate further.

“Good.” Came his affirmative. Goodness, this was still so surreal. Okay. Focus. Pressing two fingers behind her right ear, she felt for the small hook uplink. She'd downloaded the dated map aerial surveys. Her eyes flickered blue for a brief instant.

“Let's go.” She huffed out, heart still hammering in her chest. All adrenaline now. They had to get enough distance between the ditched speeder bike and move to the city.

Taking point for this part, Kaine lead them along the riverbed, using the water to hide their tracks. Moss and algae made the round pebbles slick, prompting Kaile to try her best to keep her balance. Off in the distance she could hear the faint sound of that gunship’s engine.

Water soaked her boots and the hot humid air formed a slick layer over her skin. No time to stop.

 

[Asmus Janes]

This was why socks were high on the list. He followed along after walking the speeder bike onto deeper water, giving one final push before he flicked of the repulsors. It slowly sank, hissing as the rushing water cooler the durasteel in an instant. It sunk out of sight.

Asmus had seen about the uplinks on her files. Had asked about them curiously, mostly out of surprise that his hands had never found them. They were well hidden, quality gear that you didn't easily feel. But nothing in the assignment sheets suggested something that could allow her to interface with a machine like that.

No point asking. If it was advanced Alliance Intel tech his good old 'criminal background’ wouldn't permit him the clearance to know.

When they found a point where the trees overhung the river itself he stepped out and filled a canteen. It purified instantly on drinking with a bunch of filters in the lid. In these conditions they could perhaps need four litres a day when moving briskly, training reminded him.

He slid the weight over his chest, balancing out the weight behind. The rifle was a more awkward weight, but he wouldn't keep it long. Hard to pretend to be on a camping trip with a rifle. There was a fold out shovel in the bag, he'd bury it before they reached town.

Hearing the gunship rumble draw closer he spoke up; “deeper into the trees?” They were on the right side of the river at least, would have been hard to cross its deepest points. The thick, wet canopy would shield them from scanners.

 

[Kaile Vera]

“Aye,” down to the tree line. From there we can get cover. The agent tried to reconcile the map in her mind with her surroundings. North, south, east, west. The ravine runs about two klicks north east then rounds out towards the east. There should be a creek that continues north east still and a mountain ridge that forms a natural barrier just south of the city.

A quick glance up and the agent sloshed through the river. Up ahead the thick trees came right to the river edge. This would work. A quick motion of her hand and she directed them towards it. Her foot almost slipped twice but she managed to catch herself. All the while she kept her ear out for the hum of engines. Stepping out of the river and right under the canopy, boots would find leverage on moss covered ground. Now they'd have to work with thick tree roots and move over them.

Her breathing fell into a familiar cycle. Breathe in and breathe out. In through the nose and out through the mouth. A few tree branches brushed over her, her hand extending out to push them away.

More boulders and a bit of white water could be seen rushing along the river. Every now and then she'd check behind her, glancing to see if Asmus was alright. However, much to her surprise he kept up with her pace. He struggled with the blaster rifle, but his steps were as sure as they could be.

 

[Asmus Janes]

He gave an affirmative nod as she turned back to him. Just a hint of an encouraging smile. Already he was disconnecting his mind from his legs and every step he was taking. It wouldn't be long before they started to ache and there was no point thinking about it.

She wasn't the only one seeing the other in a new light. He'd dropped her out of the back of an accelerating shuttle on the back of a speeder bike. That had barely phased her and now she was leading them on. That caught him off more than the trick she'd pulled in the shuttle.

But of course, with her job, she could harden herself if she needed to. It didn't change who she was. Just as much as his training and newfound confidence didn't change who he really was underneath.

A shear face loomed ahead of them. Only a few metres high, but it would sap their strength and keep them in one place for too long. Given the slope of it, it looked like they could head to the right for a while and get around.

A shared glance was enough for agreement and their picked their way around, looking for a better place to get back on track.

“Takes me back,” he murmured, pulling up alongside her. “Three months of training for the eventually of being shot down. Think the spec ops guys quite enjoy hunting pampered pilots through the woods for weeks on end.”

It hadn't been pleasant. The process had been repeated in several conditions on different worlds. By contrast a couple of days he could live with.

“We've got plenty of creds in the bag for when we get there,” he said after getting some breath. The city was big enough to swallow them up, but security wasn't likely going to be as lax as they had been expecting.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Even as he said it, Kaile couldn’t quite picture Asmus going through Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape training. SERE training was, well, not the most fun experience to say the least. Arctic survival training had been the worst.

“Well…” she began, using her hand for balance as she climbed over a large tree trunk. Up she went and down back to the ground with a crunch of leaves. A flick of her head and her bangs flew away from her eyes. Blood trailed in a dry line over her cheek. From her peripheral the brunette caught sight of the pilot.

“They do.” it was the first time since they left the Subversion she flashed him a ghost of a smile.

“Enjoy hunting down pampered pilots through the woods.” turning her head back forward, Kaile used her legs like pistons to keep her moving. So far nothing within earshot would warn of any approaching gunship. A grunt, a short pant. Kaile could already feel the burn in her calves and her thighs. Liquid would squeeze out of her boots with every step. A small grimace crept over her lips at the sensation. If there was one thing that could be on her top ten things she disliked the sensation of. Wet socks and wet boots.

Credits were good. Blending in better.

“We’ll need to find a ship.” they needed one in order to complete the extraction. Some land features matched the aerial survey. Hopefully they would also match what they found in the city.

 

[Asmus Janes]

He chuckled. The sound felt good even to Asmus. “Here looks good to get back on track,” he suggested. Just a short Scrabble, barely six feet at a forty five degree angle of rocks. She veered in its direction and started to step carefully up the slope. Asmus looked up to the sky. Thin beams of light cut through from above. A nice thick canopy to keep them out of sight. The only way they were going to be caught was boots on the ground. No chance of casting a net of bodies, someone would have to find their tracks. As long as they were careful the chances of being caught before reaching the city were very slim.

“I have credits...And dry socks. Several pairs.” He flashed Kaile a disarming grin. Walking on rocks made the squelching boots even more obvious. “You can thank spec ops for that one.”

Just the small climb had his quads aching before reaching flat terrain again. “Should be plenty. Might even be able to hire something.” Not bringing it back would be for the greater good. “Are you going to get in as close to the asset as possible and work up a plan when we get there?” He asked. Asmus was well aware that his usefulness would come down to playing pack mule to the city and perhaps arranging the transport out.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Now that made her laugh. This was the second time that he'd mentioned credits. Was he that concerned that they'd end up having to revert to other means to get on by? Unlikely. Odds were that he was just starting to tire and didn't realized he'd made the same comment earlier.

Although the knowledge there were more socks was certainly amusing.

"They drill that into you too?" she said in between pants. Water dredged from her own soaked socks to the boots around. They'd have to find a good place for shelter and hopefully dry out their boots. They could't risk a fire either. It would likely be a very cold night.

Now as for the asset...

Her brows furrowed in contemplation. She'd been already considering how this would affect their timeline. This would delay the amount of time they had for her to prep and slip in.

"Once at the city I'll need to insert myself into the conference as soon as possible. We are already on a deadline." Kaile could make due with a closet and a few wipes to clean off her face. An agent had to be able to work in all manner of situations. She could change over into what she'd need to stand in as the secretary easily enough.

As long as Vo didn't add the heels this time.

Cheeky bastard. He did enjoy making her mission interesting.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Alright, hopefully he hasn't panicked and bugged out before we get there," Asmus said. It was a very real possibility, but there was no point worrying about that which we could not control.

"And yes the socks was a very specific lesson. Sorry, they'll be a little big on your feet, but I reckon that's better than squishy feet the whole way."

He'd enjoyed hearing her laugh again, especially under the circumstances. Asmus wasn't really a soldier, pilots were a different breed. But Jarrick had always told him that an army marched on its sense of humour, but food. His squadron bonded, but they weren't subject to some to the same hardships. Didn't have to go without food or drink stuck in a trench full of disease. He imagined having people nearby who could make you laugh could go a way to get you through.

The noise of the gunship was a constant drone. It would be a deafening roar if it was close, Asmus reminded himself. Once they'd established there was no crew on the shuttle what would they do? Go high and scan for infrared. They'd have to avoid clearings. Kaile probably knew that but he'd warn her if they approached one.

"You know any pilots who use implants?" He asked conversationally.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[SIZE=13.3333px][member="Asmus Janes"][/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]"I've socks." She added tossing a glance over her shoulder. Rays of filtered light shone upon her face, haloing her in filtered light. One extra pair. Sweat glistened over face, grime already coating it. Wisps of hair clung to her flushed cheeks and neck. Truth be told, it had been a mission or two since taking a long trek through the woods to make it to her objective. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“I doubt they'd fit you.” A small joke, but humor where it came. Also to hide the slight widening of her eyes as she swung her head forward at his inquiry. Vo had covered how certain circumstances may result in utilizing her cybernetic uplink to proceed. Not really a surprise; considering the extent that cybernetic enhancements were prolific in the Galaxy. Not to mention that the pilot had made quite an extensive exploration of just about everywhere he could reach. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]That brought a tint of red to her face that had nothing to do with the trek. Asmus had found the subtle interfaces inlaid upon her skin just about an inch and a half in the hairline behind her right ear. At night she felt his fingers gingerly drift over them, feeling him resonate with curiosity but holding those questions back. Hearing it confirmed by Vo had only fanned the interest since. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“I know a few who do.” An honest answer. A few pilots utilized enhancements to aid in boosting the abilities of a pilot. The Motion Interface package by SoroSuub for example.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“They use it for a direct interface between the craft and pilot.” [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus considered this in silence for a little way. Fortunately the occupants of the planet had killed off any serious predators millennia ago. Weather forecast was good too, but the hot and humid days didn't match the chill nights. The woods would help though, keeping them cool in the day and trapping some heat at night.

“I don't think I'd ever get rid of sticks,” he decides. “But there's so much information to process. It's why we have a much of visual, audio and haptic cues. What's it like when you get information from one. Like, if you get just one number. Is it just suddenly a memory, do you hear it in your head as if you're thinking?”

He unscrewed the cap of his heavy canteen and took a long drink. It was a bit heavy, but it balanced the weight on his back. A kilo per litres, but they would need a lot in these conditions. He offered it in her direction.

Using something like that would require retraining. But any pilot who ceased training, learning and updating their knowledge and skills belong in a reserve squadron. He didn't stay at the top of his game by cruising along and resting on his laurels.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[SIZE=13.3333px]Kaile let her fingers curl around the offered canteen, bringing it to her lips for a few measured sips. Too much water and that could cause problems. Too little and she’ll end up dehydrated. Getting a level balance while conducting as much physical exercise as they were required walking a fine line. Not to mention resources. It wasn’t just that they were hiking with added weight it was also a consideration of just where else they may be able to resupply if needed. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]Cool water washed over her tongue and coated her dry throat. A slight squint up at the woods and the thick forest allowed a constant level of awareness. That hum of the engines were still fairly distant but they couldn’t push their luck. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Umm.” Kaile bit her lower lip, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Not quite really either.” she gave him back the canteen. One foot stepped in front of the other to resume the hike. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Ever been on spice?” well might as well go into the curious questions. But there was a reason for it. Although to be frank, Kaile figured that if Asmus broke the rules with Twister, he likely experimented with spice. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Yup,” he admitted freely. “It's on my record next to all the other 'criminal activities’,” he laughed. But there was a hint of strain in it. His past hadn't been a problem with the Rogues, but it seemed to rankle with the Subversion’s CO.

Or perhaps he personally annoyed the Captain and it was just something he could bring up as a stain on his record that prevented access to certain information. Which wasn't fair, they knew how loyal he was. But someone out there with a desk job saw that connection to a criminal world as a risk.

As if they wouldn't, in the same swipe of a pen, hire the merchant Fleet to move weapons and carry out missions on behalf of the Alliance.

“Mostly when we stopped off for a time at the more fun locations,” he added thinking back with some fondness on the journey he had taken to become a young adult on the Quintessence. “Haven't touched it since the academy obviously.”

Why had he added that hastily? It wasn't like she was questioning his integrity. But her opinion mattered to him. A great deal.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[SIZE=13.3333px]Ah. That again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]A look back caught the scoundrel pilot’s reminiscing smile, but his voice had told her a deeper story. Likely having to do with Captain Amedgener. Her lips pursed. Reading the man and knowing part of his history told her that it wasn’t insomuch a dislike for history as much as Asmus managed to get under his skin. It irked her. A wave of defensiveness rose again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“You’re not the only one in Eseyes with a record you know.” she added, swinging her head forward. Jaw set and a muscle twitched. Even her step became a bit more forceful as if imagining the act alone would give the Captain a piece of her mind. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Really, you have saboteurs, counterfeiters, and even intelligence officers that came here without a clean nose or one thing or another.” another scowl and she continued on. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Anyways.” a particular hitch in breath came as she swung over and around another tree trunk. “ That sort of haze you feel on space. The floaty feeling?” her scowl relaxed as she attempted to explain.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Feels like that at first; as if you can see everything and feel everything at the same time. Just more refined, focused. The first time is rather overwhelmin’. Almost like a bad trip. Takes practice to get used to.” she admitted. Of course, maybe the fact that she had a knack with machines with the Force helped. But it was as honest of a description as she could give. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

He gave her a warm smile for her first comment. He could sense her becoming a touch indignant on his behalf. Was it fair of him? The Captain had his ways that just didn't mesh well with Asmus. But then he'd come and brought it up in front of Kaile as if taking a personal jab.

Hopefully Asmus could be the better man and not escalate the situation. Probably could for the most part, but the ship did get dull at times and he still had the mischievous streak.

“I suppose sorting it would be the hard part. I'm used to various cues drawing my attention to the key information. I'd need to be able to focus on the important things like the speed and bearing of a torpedo, above the fact that my fuel level is sixty percent. Likewise need to really notice when fuel is getting low.”

It would be dark before too long. They'd planned to make contact early evening and that was closing quickly. Well at least there was no one he'd rather share such a tight space with. Taking off boots and socks was a dream right now. He quickened his pace. They needed to get some distance between them and the crash site. A few seconds of shuttle flight and speeder bike travel made as much of a difference as hours of hiking of course, hence the mad plan.

“Can't use the long range comm-link here,” he reflected. Would have been lighting a beacon. “I'd like to get them aware of the situation. And curious to find out what the hell got those SAM sites in place. That kind of torp can be launched from a mobile platform though.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[SIZE=13.3333px]That was a problem they’d have to figure out a solution. Even her cybernetics were not the end all be all. However, she did have access to the holonet. While she mulled over this, the brunette would add, “There are other means.” a pause. “ For pilot enhancement.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]A hand reached out to grasp a branch and help maintain her balance. With a grunt, she pushed forward. The protest of her thighs and calves had increased. Yup, once they made it out - [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]if [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]they made it - then she would be sore in places that would likely protest any more punishment. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]A flash of a recollection hit her. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]Gulp[/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]. [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]Maybe[/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“Ever heard of Vanir Technologies?” she continued. It was a company founded by Alric Kuhn. While they specialized in a plethora of areas, the one Kaile was the most familiar with were their VT Thrones. The Messa had one. It was a helm that allowed Kurt to be able to make the ship an extension of himself. No internal cybernetics required. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“As for contacting… might have something I can do.” couldn’t send a comm, but she could connect to the holonet. Just needed to get close to a village or something similar before opening a line. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=13.3333px]“We can use an umbra channel to talk to the [/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]Subversion[/SIZE][SIZE=13.3333px]. Give an update.” [/SIZE]