"Load the boxes in the speeders - as much as we can carry. We might get locked in a siege, and I want to be prepared for that if we are. We move in, kill what we can, and take hostages inside before killing leadership. I want you on the turret, 'Rook'. That understood?"
“Affirmative.” giving a nod towards Cato.
Turret Duty.
Rook’s gaze flicked towards the mounted weapon. Being behind the turret meant she’d be exposed. First to get fired on, but first to punch through. Loud, Exposed, Obvious. Expendable.
‘Perfect.’ A flicker of amusement can be heard in her tone
“Guess I’m the distraction now”
The metal creaked under her weight as Rook pushed herself out of the passenger seat. Slinging her sniper rifle over her back as the strap slid snug into place. With one fluid motion, she grabbed the side rail, hoisting herself up. Boots thudded against the steel bed of the speeder. The whole thing was barebones, a repulsor-lifted war truck. Rear turret mounted on a rusted patched swivel with ammo crates bolted down. It was ugly, effective, and disposable. No one would think twice about them being with the Empire.
Boxes that were brought with them were handed to her. Placing them off to the side, thudding into the cargo holds one after another. The speeder creaked under the weight as if it didn’t like what was being asked to carry. She bent down, popping one of the latches of the boxes. Grabbing a bandolier of thermal detonators.
‘Three, four, five.’ Clipping them into her belt in practiced rhythm. The weight familiar, comforting in a strange grim sort of way.
‘Just in case. Always in case.’ She always told herself.
One of the operatives, “Vekk”, took notice of Rook strapping a belt of thermal detonators, after hoisting up the last box. Deciding to be cheeky,
“We gift-wrapping explosives now? Or is this your idea of being subtle?”
Moving herself to the gunner rig.
“Subtle gets you missed. Explosions get results.” Rook grabbed the harness, tightening it around her torso with a click. Locking her into place
“Either way, everyone is getting a gift.”
Vekk gave her a questioning look.
“Thermal.” Rook’s smirk was covered as she pulled up her scarf over her nose, covering half her face. Shaking his head with a dry chuckle, Vekk walked towards his speeder. Settling himself in the driver's seat while his squadmate mounted their rear turret.
"We'll need them on the way back. Sith Fleets will arrive in 48 hours, and we are to join the initial assaults."
"Locked in." Giving a silent thumbs-up as Vekk keyed his comm to Cato,
“All-clear” The speeders roared to life as they sped toward the city. Dust kicked into the air. Low, fast, and loud. Less than 48 hours to be a hit amongst the locals.
As they entered the city limits, banners on flag poles and buildings fluttered with Republic colors. It was quiet as the city slept in peace. For now. Grabbing two thermal detonators off the bandolier, setting the timer.
“Rook to Cato. Turret is hot” She threw each one to both sides. One, breaking into a glass fronted building and the other vanished underneath some parked vehicles.
“Activating turret now.” She didn’t hesitate. Pulling down the trigger, the mounted heavy blaster came to life. Bolt blasters raked across the parked vehicles and along the building’s walls and glass. Across from them the other speeders mirrored the assault. Turrets blazing as the other squadmates howled curses and cheers of the destruction.
Moments later, the thermal detonators went off. The explosion and turrets woke up the whole city. Civilians poured out of the buildings, confused and panicked. Rook swung the turret mid-spin, arming more thermals. Hurling them into the crowd of people. Her trigger finger hesitated for a split second, before letting the turret rip into the crowd. Rook didn’t flinch when the thermals denoted in the crowd or the bolt blasters shredded the line of civilians who were trying to flee. But she felt it. Her jaw clenched, a reflex. Death wasn’t new to her, neither was war. But killing innocents? A handful made sense. But by the masses of this magnitude? Shaking her head, there was no room for whatever feeling was trying to creep into her.
Rook. No. CT-312 kept telling herself, they were necessary casualties. It was for the mission. Sacrifice the few for the many of this planet. This was a better option for the people in the long run. It doesn’t change when she is Rook. Swinging the turret facing back to the front, her eyes glared as she focused on targets.
"Cato, How long until we reach the building with the leadership?" Pulling the trigger again, shooting with precision. Hating the brief feeling of hesitation she felt from before.
Fire spread throughout the city. Some buildings toppled over as banners that once fluttered in the wind proudly were now torn and burning. Caught in the destruction and chaos. The air was covered in smoke and scorched metal as screams echoed through the streets. Panic and disbelief of the growing horror that the Kard’uk was behind the attack. Local comms and media stations crackled with confusion and shock. Explosions continued, bodies littered the streets. Within moments the local law enforcement came to greet them. Firing back at their speeders.
“Looks like they finally sent us a welcome party to greet us."