Star Wars Universe

Aura gave Marco a thumbs up. She grimaced as she felt her back spasm again but managed to hide the discomfort (it was less-severe than before). She glanced over the machine and nodded approvingly. "Get in the open where they can see you Marco. As soon as that loading ramp descends all communications go down and we have three minutes, tops. "

Aura activated the charge on her rifle and tampered a bit more with the machine as Marco stepped out into the clearing by himself. She held her finger up to her lips and gave a pointed look at Angela, then a wink to show she was joking. This one is turning out to be just as crazy as the rest of them. Maybe she won't stab me in the back.... It'd probably end up hurting her more than myself. Shaking her head to focus, she turned her attention once again to Marco.
-------------------------
Artemis blended with the shadows as he approached the edge of the treeline, breathing softly. Marco was approaching the vessel (whose loading ramp was beginning to release pressure). Only a matter of seconds now. He looked over at Aura, who had her finger on the switch for the communication's blocker. As soon as Marco made the first move she would flip it, and the group would charge. He probed outwards with the force, wrapping his energy around Marco, heightening his senses. We've only got one shot at this... Artemis thought. Let's hope we don't fail horribly.

Marco breathed slowly and evenly as he stepped out into the clearing, focusing on keeping his heart rate low. Even so, he felt it pounding in his throat. There was a thrill that preceded a battle... an exhilarating charge of adrenaline that shoots from the core and energizes every muscle and nerve, pulses through every vein, sends sparks racing through the mind.

It's been too long, Marco thought, Oh how I've missed this.

Earlier that day it hadn't seemed real. Storming the listening post- he hadn't expected a challenge- never imagined the danger waiting for him- but this time, he knew he was walking right into a gundark's nest- and he was ready for it. He felt the reassuring weight of the blasters and knives hanging from his belt, felt a heavy backpack full of various grenades and Nikka's new armor, ready for her. He felt the weight of the helmet in his hand, ready for him to simply slip it on and dive headlong into a fight. And most of all, he felt the pressure of the oncoming storm weighing down on him. This will be the hardest fight I've ever faced, he thought.

There was a weighty thump as the shuttle's landing ramp hit the ground, and a clack of boots as a dozen fully-armored Republic troopers stepped down into the clearing, followed by a tall, slender man in a crisp uniform. The republic insignia decorated his left chest pocket, and polished silver buttons ran down the front of the square-shouldered black jacket. His face was tall and thin, with a good chunk of it making up his forehead, which was completely bald. His cheekbones were high and sharp, his eyes small and cold, and his nose hooked and eagle-like. His thin lips seemed locked in an endless frown.

"Chase August, it is an honor to finally make your acquaintance," the man said mechanically.

“Believe me,” Marco replied with a humorless smile, “the pleasure’s all mine.”

This has to be him- the captain. Need him alive and undamaged. Move fast. Grab his shoulder. Sling him down. Bring the knee up- right to the side of the head. Can’t hit the face- Joab will know- just take him down fast and efficiently and move on.

All of these thoughts ran through Marco’s head in a fraction of a second, and in another second the captain was on the ground and not getting up soon. The republic soldiers were moving into action then, and Marco had just enough time to draw his blasters before her was surrounded by them, their weapons drawn and aimed at him.

“Commander Joab,” one of the soldiers barked into his comlink, “it’s just as you suspected. He’s putting up a fight. …Commander? Commander, do you copy? Commander! Respond! ...What the kriff?!”

As the other soldiers murmured nervously, tightening their grips on their blasters, Marco grinned wide. Good work, Aura. Now take ‘em!

Artemis entered the clearing in a sprint, hands outstretched like claws. He felt the heartbeat of the two soldiers nearest him and wrapped his energy around it, slowly flexing his outstretched digits. The men clutched their chests and staggered forward as their cardiac tissue contracted and began to crush inwards on itself. Grinning, he switched his attention to the Captain. Reaching downwards, Artemis hoisted the man off of the ground and began moving towards the edge of the forest, using the Force to strengthen his carrying capacity.

----------------

Aura flipped the switch as soon as Marco crippled the captain of the vessel. She immediately hoisted her rifle to her shoulder and aimed, firing a bolt into the skull of one of the soldiers approaching Marco from behind. She fired again, this time on one of the soldiers trying to enter the transport. "Make sure they don't take off!" Aura shouted at Angela and Andred as they took off towards the battle.

Heavy breathing caught her attention, and she turned to see Artemis with a limp man over his shoulder. "Good boy. Put the man down and go help the others." She said as he supported the man against a fallen tree. Aura took a moment to look over the man, then stripped off his uniform down to his undergarments. She quickly put on the gear, switching her blasters into the holsters and stuffing a vibroknife and some dataspikes into her boot. "A bit loose, but it will have to do," she muttered, brushing dust from the outfit. By now her datapad had finished scanning the man. Satisfied, she produced a syringe from her discarded gear and injected it into the man's neck. The man stirred, slowly opening his eyes. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Aura in his uniform, and he struggled to get up.

Aura kicked him harshly in the ribs, returning him to the forest floor. "Good evening, Lieutenant...." She looked at the ID badge attached to the uniform's belt. ".... Grahm Sanctus. I'm afraid you and your ship are being subject to impressment. I assure you, however, we'll do our very best to ensure you a valiant death if you cooperate."

Aura pressed a command on her datapad that began recording as soon as Sanctus scoffed, "I'd rather die than aid you.... Imperials. Terrorists. Whatever you pathetic scum consider yourselves."

Grinning, Aura ended the recording. "Actually, you just did. You see, you're going to help us regardless. Your voice is ours. Your body is ours. But don't worry, I'm sure the mandalorians will have a fun time taking care of you while we're gone. There's a pretty young girl with purple hair - she'd love to meet you."

Aura planted her toe against the man's mandible with a heavy kick, rendering him unconscious. Taking a deep breath, she entered a command into her datapad and approved the function. Her entire being flickered with light as thousands of pixels of light patterned over her skin. Within a few moments, two Grahm Sanctus's were in the forest. Aura moved her arm and watched as the unfamiliar flesh-toned appendage moved in unison with her thoughts. Speaking out loud, her voice morphed into that of the Lieutenant's: "Here goes nothing..." Slowly, she exited the forest into the clearing.