"Great, Kol, deploy your drones and keep watch for any surprises, we will have to hold out for the time being."
Derek and the squad had reached the centre and reunited with Kol and the others. Because of the enemy reinforcement, they replaced their ammunition and rechecked their weapons, but they knew that they would not hold out for too long, they needed an alternative.
"Don't these guys have anti-aerial weapons, if we get them, we could deal significant damage to their aerial advantage?" wondered Mark.
"You are right, I remember seeing something of the sort earlier" replied Kol as if a light bulb was lit.
"Ok search for it, the rest of you mind the entrances. Get the natives to duck for cover" ordered Derek.
He put his MA-25 down on a crate and inspected the ammunition he had left. Because they were from the landing pad the group was still by the entrance, exhausted but were huddled beside him.
"The enemy will anticipate that our plan will be to hold out here so they will try to flank us from all directions, cover all the entrances, and push them back if they enter. By me some time, I will go after them myself."
He picked up his gun determined for his next objective.
…
The base was now fully surrounded by the enemy operatives, each too suspicious and cautious enough to attack prematurely. They were mostly grouped at the many entrances of the base while the others went to the shed to investigate the situation there.
Only two ships were in the air flying about, watching and served as cover and the eyes in the sky.
"There have been no actions for forced entry yet, they have however stationed snipers all over, I have identified two but there might be more."
Lara's warning was heard by the whole team, they knew they had to fight within closed quarters which was riskier and placed the natives in more danger.
"They have rocket launchers too."
Lara went through all of the squads one by one, her scope identifying the enemy's combat capabilities and locations. Not only that she investigated the ships that roamed the air and the ones on the ground.
"Counting over sixty enemies. They have containment crates I believe were meant for minerals. They all are similar and there appears to be no high-level member among them. Risk assessment minimum."
…
Derek was soaring through the passageways of the base with his gun in hand, in front, he could see the exit sign, he knew the enemy was just over the door as he could see the doors being breached.
He pulled his gun up and before the enemy knew it, he released his blasts on them in quick succession. The impact was loud and strong enough that it caused a disturbance heard around the base.
"Be careful they will flock in a different direction now, probably mine. Lara, how many are at my position?"
"Five sir… There is a ship going your direction too."
"Damit"
It did not stop Derek though, he pushed through into enemy lines, when he emerged from the door he could see the disoriented enemies. Proceeding with his advantage he smashed one of the men with the rear of his gun as hard as he could knocking him out on the spot.
After that he was facing two of the men and behind him another aiming his weapon at Derek. Because the barrel was pointing back at that man, all that Derek did was press the trigger, then he abandoned the gun pulling his knife out and the blaster on the other hand.
He stabbed the closest one to him on his rib and pulled the blaster on the other, before he could pull the trigger, he noticed on his side the final target was ready to shoot at him and the others if needed be.
Like the MA-25 he abandoned his knife and pushed himself back while firing three shots at his target. As he switched back, he could see the enemy's blasts zooming past him, one passing in front of his eye with just an inch.
The enemy adjusted targets but Derek had already taken cover and crouched behind a disposed crate. He could hear the cries of his targets, especially the one he stabbed and the one shooting and cussing him out.
"Now Lara!"
Speaking that he emerged from his hideout and put a hole in the man he had stabbed. In front, his other obstacle stood with a hole in the head, taken out by Lara whose scope was still burning with heat.
Derek did not waste time he retrieved his weapons and made sure that the enemies were really dead then he retreated back inside the base.
Just as he entered, he was just barely missed by a shot from a sniper.
"I was just missed by a sniper Lara, find the location."
Lara searched for the sniper mark and from that she retraced the location and found them.
"Found em"
…
Angela who was at the mine finally appeared into full view, though it was dark, she could see the base from how high she was. The burning ship remains along with the ships flying overboard.
With her done with her part, it was time for the team to be done with theirs, so they began their operation. The first thing done, was Lara took out all the snipers she was aware of, she knew that she would reveal her location, but she was willing to risk it.
In the meantime, the team found the anti-aerial weapons and shot down the two ships that were monitoring them. With those obstacles removed, they engaged in full battle.
The enemy finally infiltrated the base and was met by the Troopers and learnt what it meant to fight a Trooper, much more a Shock Trooper.
The Shock Troopers in the group such as Derek, Sienna, and Mace were able to attack multiple enemies at once. Being faster and stronger than the average Trooper they were able to contend against the odds.
Granted there were injuries, no matter how talented a Shock Trooper was in the end they were human too.
The likes of Mace accompanied by Mark were able to bulldoze through the enemy using their physical strength to punch mane and snap the enemy. While Sienna and Derek used speed and skill, moving in between, and cutting up their enemies before moving to another all before the enemy knew what was happening.
Kol and Harlan remained as guards for the Nol'vs who were terrified and held covering themselves in the hall under the tables.
Other than that Kol was also watching the action through his drones that showed the entire situationship outside and inside. He not only was able to watch but he gave the directions and the number of the hostiles to the team, while also identifying sniper locations that Lara couldn't see to located and took down.
Because of Lara's involvement, she had to move constantly from her location. After some time after snipping a man, she would jump from her cliffy position, run across to another location, and get a better, secure view.
After some time, Angela entered the battlefield as the wildcard that the enemy was unaware of, using her skill she was stealthy and was able to attack the enemy from behind.
The enemies who had diverted their attention to the base and the mysterious sniper did not see her coming and only noticed when their comrades were quickly falling.
After the change in the flow of the battle, the squad abandoned their defensive position opting for offense instead. Emerging from their corners, they killed the few who were still alive and had infiltrated the base, then they exited the entrances shooting down their foes until the battlefield was filled with death and destruction.
****
At the distance, the first light of dawn cut through the smoke and ash that still lingered from the wreckages of the battles. Derek's team emerged from the shadows, weary and bloodied from the battle but they were still battle-ready, their weapons firm in their arms.
Their suits were bloodied and streaked with dirt and ash. All around them, the remnants of the battle were scattered---burning ship husks poked from the ground, smoke curling up into the pale sky as from the fire remaining from explosions.
On the scorched earth and walls of the base were the blood and human remains of the enemy soldiers who were dismembered and killed in the battle. They ranged from severed head and limbs all scattered everywhere.
Derek and his team were tired, their breaths heavy and their legs forcing them to knell from the straining activity of running, dodging, crouching and evading of the over numbered enemy.
"Kol, status check!"
"No sign of enemy movement detected sir. It's over" he replied, his voice relieved.
On Kol's arm was his controller with multiple screens, one screen was glitching probably from a drone that was destroyed and only three remained showcasing the entire area.
"Affirmative, the area is clear" Lara added as she too was scouting the area.
"Alright, regroup everyone,"
Lara and Angela were already moving towards the base, more specifically to the location of the natives. The others were making their way to Kol's position as he was the one in the squad with a radio to call headquarters.
Wein was the last to join, his eyes were busy scanning the area for just the chance there was another ambush. His eyes were also fixed on the distance in the sky which thanks to the goggles zooming was made possible.
"Kol contact headquarters, tell them we have secured the location and the hostages."
"Yes sir"
…
They made their way to the others, the sun was now fully rising, and it shone across the land. The team was exhausted, some holding their guns with one hand resting them on their shoulder as they walked.
"I bet the Nol'vs chief leaders are happy. With House Voss participating they will finally get the planet back from the insurgents," Sienna was the one to talk. His voice was heard by the whole squad breaking the tired atmosphere.
"They must be, but now they will fall under the authority of the Empire" replied Mark. "Nothing in this world is free after all."
"Do you guys think House Voss will claim dominion over this planet this time?" Lara's curious voice interrupted the conversation.
"Not, a chance. House Voss is not the only one deployed here, there is Count Melle who also interfered" replied Sienna. "House Voss will relinquish ownership rights as it has always done."
"I wonder how much we will get this time, Thalsaris is a huge planet and filled with many resources" Mark spoke.
They reached the others, the Nol'vs were terrified but joyous that their saviours were back and helping them even though there was a language barrier.
"I have sent the report sir." Kol spoke, he unlike the rest still with energy.
"Good, now we wait."