This'll be repeated in my main timeline thread but I wanted to finish off the story-line I started in this thread just so it was complete and could be read on its own.
SLS Fletcher Crashsite
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses OZ
26th January 3114 Flying quickly towards the crash site Blood and Glasberg mounted the gatling gun onto a bracket attached to the side door of the Sky Eye giving them some firepower should they need it. “I thought we were giving this thing back?†Miia complained
“Well it’s one of their guns, I’m sure they won’t mind too much†Blood suggested
“This is a civie aircraft they don’t want to give them guns.â€
“It’ll be a nice surprise for them.†Blood said but Miia didn’t look happy as the aircraft continued to fly forwards towards their target.
The Sky Eye helicopter was soon over the crash site of the SLS Fletcher, there was very little left of the small ship, surprisingly there were few Hell’s Horses at the site either. “Not much chance of much surviving onboard that.†Miia said glancing back “what do you think?â€
“Fly over the target we’re dropping three boxes on it.†Glasberg said as the aircraft continued to move forwards. As it flew over the crash site Glasberg and Blood threw three boxes of high explosive out the side of the ship. The packages fell slowly from the aircraft onto the wreckage exploding on contact covering the ground in high explosive fire destroying any data that still remained there. “Keep flying broadcast on the emergency channel, see if any of our people are listening.†He suggested Miia nodded
---
Several kilometres from where the Fletcher had crashed Judd Thompson saw the explosion but didn’t know the reason for it. He’d intentionally avoided what was left of his ship, there was nothing there for him. As he moved through the undergrowth, he saw a path had been cut through the woods creating a road for the Horses to keep their people supplied part the way along the path was a small single story checkpoint station. Slipping his Gauss SMG to his back he instead drew out the grenade launcher aiming it at the checkpoint he saw a single Hell’s Horses trooper coming out and thought about taking the shot. Thompson had a second thought for a moment thinking about the flare he’d seen from the exploding Fletcher and decided that the checkpoint, while a smaller explosion would likely cause too much trouble for him. Instead he turned to the right and continued into the forest.
For what felt like hours Thompson moved through the undergrowth watching his back as he moved but no-one was following him darkness quickly began to envelop him as the rain returned once again. Suddenly out of what seemed to be nowhere a structure appeared in the darkness there was no lighting on but it appeared sound. Moving around the building he couldn’t see any sign that the place had been occupied anytime recently. He moved quickly up to the building putting his boot onto the door kicking open the door he wasn’t a young man anymore but he still knew how to force open a door. Entering through the door, he quickly scanned the room inside and found a comfortable hunting cabin which obviously hadn’t been lived in some time. Turning he pushed the door closed securing it as best he could with its broken lock he’d stay tonight and move on in the morning once his clothing was dry. Tonight, he’d try to get the rest he’d need to continue to avoid Hell’s Horses patrols.
---
As night had closed in the crew of the Sky Eye had turned to their night-vision goggles as their aircraft battled through the worsening weather. “I’ve got something, SLDF troops engaging Horse units to the east three kilometres distant.†Turton said glancing up from the radio set
“Take us over their Miia low and fast†Glasberg said glancing at Blood “you fitted it get on the gun.†He said as the aircraft began to bank tightly to the right speeding up as it turned and dived. “Miia bring us over their position, we’ll see what we can see on the first pass†he ordered opening the side door a gust of wing blew into the aircraft along with plenty rain water.
Leaning out the door Glasberg and Blood peered through their night-vision googles and spotted the contacts as they approached. On the goggles the four SLDF crewmen were easily identifiable as their uniforms had special reflective materials woven into them for exactly this sort of mission beyond their position were at least seven Hell’s Horses contacts who were getting closer to them. “We’ve got seven enemy contacts to deal with Turton left door cover, we’ll take right, Miia I need you to get us into a decent firing position but keep us moving when I change magazines bring Liam into the fight.†He said she nodded and slowed the aircraft’s speed as Liam Turton climbed over the seat and opened the other door raising his rifle to peer out the door.
“Alright boys making the turn†she said bringing the nose of the aircraft around to the left but continuing to move the aircraft along its same path. As she did, she tipped the aircraft’s right side down slightly. Neither Glasberg or Blood needed any encouragement immediately Blood opened fire with the gatling gun which spun rapidly throwing out hundreds of deadly bullets that ripped through the undergrowth below. Ned Glasberg was more refined with his shots aiming his rifle from the shoulder he peered through the scope taking pot shots at targets missed by Blood’s indiscriminate fire.
“Over the target Liam get ready!†Glasberg warned as he began switching magazines from the other door Liam immediately began firing down on the targets below a each of them heard bullet’s hit the underside of the aircraft.
“We’re taking damage hold on!†Miia called out she kicked in the aircraft’s engines bringing the aircraft out of the firing line turning tightly through the night’s sky she turned the nose away from targets again allowing Glasberg and Blood another strafing run this time each of them gunned down members of the chasing Hell’s Horses. “Great jobâ€
“Take us over them again†Glasberg ordered “make them count†he ordered the three nodded and this time aimed for the fallen troopers making sure they were dead. “Miia take us down, you and Turton are taking the survivors back to civilization and will find them a way to get home.†He said looking at Wesley Blood “grab provisions and ammo, we’re going for a hike†he said as the helicopter came down to land on the ground, they shouted at the SLDF crewmen to approach as they did Glasberg and Blood hopped out onto the ground grabbing their personal weaponry. “You two, get these people to safety, find them lives in one of the settlements where they can hunker-down and wait for extraction, then join us when you can. We’re going to find Thompson and kill whatever else gets in our way.†He said to his other team members as the crewmen arrived “the cavalry arrives! You guys are safe now!†Glasberg said to them as they climbed onboard, “you two take care of them and of yourselves.†He said as the chopper took off again climbing into the skies. “Let’s move, we need to be a few kilometres from here before that squad’s CO comes looking for them.â€
Crashsite, Sky Eye aircraft
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses OZ
26th January 3114 Star Colonel Vandermice Lassenerra stalked over towards the crashed Sky Eye civilian helicopter. The aircraft had been intentionally crashed, there were no bodies inside, the crewmen had obviously seen that the aircraft had reached the end of its usefulness and abandoned it. He glanced over the small aircraft and the technicians crawling over the aircraft and chose to ignore them instead turning to one of his trinary commanders Star Captain Taro “mobilize the entire cluster, hunt them down.†He commanded the man who simply nodded and ran off, the people who had destroyed Hell’s Horses property and killed members of his Clan would pay for their actions.
---
Elsewhere on the continent Judd Thompson climbed out of the makeshift bed he had been given and stepped out of the shed into the fresh air. The person who had put him up for the last few nights local farmer Jeremiah Miller was already at work moving his equipment around for his days work. Judd moved to help the older man move some equipment across the farmyard. “Thank you for your hospitality.â€
“The least I could do for someone in need†he said finishing moving the piece of equipment moving across the yard to get another with Judd following. “What will you do now?â€
“Continue moving, the longer I stay here the more at risk you are from Clanner reprisal.†Jeremiah nodded “I appreciate your assistance.â€
“Of course,†Jeremiah answered “it has been good to have the company, since my wife passed away it’s been quiet the Horses mostly leave me alone.†He said grabbing another piece of equipment to move “where will you head from now?â€
“I’ll head for the river and try to sneak into one of the cities from there I’ll try to stay hidden from the Horses until my people get into contact, as much as I’ve been able to survive out here in the bush it can only go on so long.†Judd said helping him move the other piece of equipment.
“Hardsell is down river the first settlement you’ll come to.†Jeremiah said “if you get into the city look for a merchant near the Railway Station called Milton Bailey tell him I sent you, he’ll give you somewhere to lay low.†Jeremiah promised him.
“Thank you, neither you nor your friend need to help me.â€
“You and your people have tried to protect us from these Clansmen for many years, it’s about time we give you something back.†He explained “they can’t do much to me, this is my land they destroy it I’ll rebuild.â€
“They could just kill you.†Judd said trying to make him understand the risk.
“And if they did, they wouldn’t have anyone to provide them with food, they need me and people like me. If they come, I won’t resist them and I’ll say I found you hear and went up river, that’ll give you a head-start.â€
“Thank you, Jeremiah, I appreciate everything you’ve done.†He said reaching out and shaking the man’s hand “I won’t forget it.â€
---
After dropping off the SLDF crewmen and directing them to contacts within the city Miia and Thurton had stolen themselves another vehicle and headed along the river searching for the other members of their team and for Thompson. “Never thought I’d ride to save someone in a Freedom 900!†Thurton shouted over the fans of the hover jeep.
“We make do with what they had!†Miia shouted from the controls “they had plenty of them and we didn’t have to steal it!†She called out as they raced up the river heading into Blair Atolls wilderness. At least they had a vehicle and one that would slip into the common traffic of the occupied world.
“Everyone will know we’re coming that’s for sure†Thurton said
“Are you going to complain at ever step of the way?â€
“Whose complaining?†Thurton said smirking looking out of the hover jeep as they moved down the river.
---
Creeping through the undergrowth Ned Glasberg and Wesley Blood were also headed for the river as another day was ending and the light was fading. They were no closer to finding Judd Thompson and hadn’t had contact with the other members of their team but Ned knew that if Miia and Liam had been able to get more transport they’d use the river as the easiest method of reaching them.
River Crimond
Blair Atoll, Hell’s Horses OZ
1st February 3114 Judd Thompson hid in the undergrowth watching as the large Hell’s Horses controlled freighter moved down the river past his position, he had come to the river thinking that it would give him a source of water and make it easy for rescue teams to track him. All of the SLDF flight crews had been trained to seek out water as a way of getting help. It was a risk he knew it but he didn’t have much of a choice he couldn’t trust the locals to continue to help him like Jeremiah Miller had. Unfortunately, a river like the Crimond, which was a trade river, was impossible for Thompson to cross without a boat which kind of left him boxed in. Now less than three hundred metres from him a three-hundred-metre-long freighter and barge combo were moving slowly down the river and he was stuck watching them hoping none of the crew had heat vision goggles to see him. He kept his weapons close to him ready to defend himself if need be but couldn’t do much else.
As the ship passed, he saw dozens of other boats passing in both directions, perhaps coming this way had been a mistake he’d come across too much civilization. As he watched the freighter Thompson heard a click behind him it was unmistakably a weapon hammer clicking into place. “Drop your weapons and do not move, you are under arrest.â€
---
Glasberg and Blood had rejoined Miia and Thurton on the Freedom 900 and were travelling down the river trying to keep a low profile with the local traffic and Hell’s Horses patrols they had been passed by several Clan VTOLs that morning and not one of the aircraft had paid them anny attention but they knew that it couldn’t continue by now the Sky Eye would have been found and the Hell’s Horses would know there was a hostile team on planet.
As they passed a massive Avalonmax-class Freighter and barge they observed a lot of commotion on the riverbank as a small boat approached a ground team from the Freighter. In between them they saw a single man in cuffs. “Shit†Glasberg cursed glancing out of the Freedom 900 “Miia hold your course, keep your heads down boys we can’t do anything right now.†He ordered as the Hovercraft sped past the scene.
“Boss, if they get him on that freighter Thompson’s on his way to Horse interrogation. I can hit him from here.†Blood said checking the range as they continued down the river.
“No†Glasberg ordered “hold the course†he said “we’ll swing around in a few kilometres. And hit them tonight.â€
“What if they airlift him out?â€
“It’ll have to be a damned good pilot to land on that damned thing no helipad on that model of Avalonmax. Thurton, we need an exit strategy for after we lift him out, send a message to the extraction boys we’ll be coming in hot tonight or tomorrow morning they need to be ready for lift.â€
“And hope the hell that Halcyon isn’t still in orbit.â€
“One problem at a time.â€
---
The laugh could be heard all around the camp as Star Colonel Vandermice Lassenerra received the news that an insurgent had been captured on the River Crimond and his picture was sent to him. He recognized the man immediately “and to think I deployed an entire Cluster to track you down. If I’d known it was a prize such as you, I’d had deployed an entire damned Galaxy!†Lassenarra commented “all I had to do is wait for you to stumble across a Solhama force on a freighter. He laughed again finding the whole situation amusing. His people had found a prize worthy of words in the Remembrance and a prize that may get him a posting to a world worthy of his name and abilities. He immediately called for air-support to be sent to escort the freighter into port.
---
Hours later Glasberg and his team approached the Avalonmax using minimal thrust from their engine sneaking up on the huge ship. Despite its size they new the crew complement would be only between twenty and thirty the crew weren’t a great threat it was the additional security the Hell’s Horses had brought with them that would be the issue. While the corridors of the civilian freighter would make it impossible for the Horses to use Battle Armour onboard the ship, they could still cram dozens of infantry soldiers onboard. Each of them was armed with a Horse Assault Rifle-201, or HAR-201, because they were on a Horse planet ammunition for the weapons should be plentiful. “We keep moving take down anything that we come across that isn’t Thompson.†Glasberg briefed them finally as Miia Lahtinen brought them in closer time was of the essence Wesley Blood fired grappling hooks onto the back of the ship and they quickly made their way onboard. “Miia, Wes take out the bridge sweep the corridors as you go each room.†He ordered they nodded knowing their orders. “We’re going through the ship until we find Thompson he said to Liam Thurton.†Who nodded.
What followed was ten minutes of utter carnage as the four special operations operators made their way through the freighter shooting anything that moved. Some of the crew were likely innocent of the Hell’s Horses desires but the four operators were not taking any chances Blair Atholl was in the heart of Clan territory they’d take no chances with the people they were coming across. Moving from room to room the troopers eliminated everyone in their path with heavy automatic weapons fire. Finally, they reached the room that a badly beaten Judd Thompson was being held in. “One, Three, target secured status!†Glasberg panted as Thurton released the beaten General. “Three, status.â€
“We’re both injured but mobile to extraction point, bridge is disabled.†She said gasping for breath Glasberg didn’t like the sound of that but he’d see how they were when they got back together.
“You need to move your ass sir; we’re getting out of here hold on to me you step where I step.†He said Thompson nodded placing a hand on Glasberg’s shoulder “MOVING!†He called out with Thompson forming the centre the threesome moved back through the ship picking their way through the bodies as they went Thompson picked up a sidearm.
Back on the rear deck of the ship they found Miia Lahtinen and Wesley Blood waiting for them blood streamed from Miia’s left shoulder while Wesley Blood appeared to have a thigh and hand injury. Glasberg looked at him questionably “got into a knife fight with an ex-Elemental†he explained Blood himself was a big man but an “exâ€-Elemental was still likely a huge prospect. “She came of worse, I’m good to go.â€
“Good back to the Freedom†Glasberg said the five of them headed to the ropes keeping their weapons ready for action as suddenly there was a roar overhead and a Durga Attack Helicopter buzzed the freighter flying its length. “DOWN!†Glasberg shouted seeing the twenty-five-ton craft begin to turn. It was a fast-agile aircraft with coaxial blades above the craft a single rear stabilizing tail it was armed with a mix of pulse lasers and long-range missiles and could keep pace with most hovercraft. “Ideas, because that thing will burn us with lasers and missiles if we try take off on the hovercraft.â€
“Cheap RPG†Liam Thurton said raising his HAR-201 which he’d fitted a grenade launcher to “I just need him to come close†he said dropping his backpack “you guys get ready to drop, I’ll drop them.†He said “extract when you get onto the hover, I’ll get out the slow way†he promised them “take care.†He then turned without another word and began to head along the ship as the Durga began to approach again flying down the left side of the Avalonmax its chin turret nose chin turret turned covering the ship.
“They are looking for crewmen.†Miia Lahtinen said “they’re going to know something’s not right.â€
“He only needs one right moment, Com’on Liam†Blood whispered as he did Liam Thurton suddenly popped up from his point halfway along the freighter’s length and fired the grenade launcher directly at the twin top rotors on the Durga. The armour-peircing round exploded between the two rotors shattering the linkages there causing the aircraft to stutter in the air as Liam opened fire with a stream of assault rifle fire on the cockpit armour. Because of the height of the aircraft it drifted down and hit the water heavily. “Yes, well done son!†Blood shouted as behind him Miia had lowered herself onto the Hovercraft and Thompson was on his way as Blood turned back towards them several troopers appeared from the far side of the ship and opened fire on Liam Thurton with at least one shot hitting him in the shoulder the trooper turned back towards them and returned fire but another shot hit him knocking him off balance and over the side of the ship. “You…†Blood cursed stepping towards the Horse troopers.
“No! We go and we go now!†Glasberg ordered him “Liam’s off the boat I hope to hell he made it but even if he didn’t, we don’t help him by dying now. Go!†He ordered. Soon after the Freedom 900 took off from the rear of the freighter leaving it and the burning VTOL. House later they they arrived at the waiting Pallas Transport Shuttle which had been acquired by another SLDF Team for extraction operation. The two-hundred-ton twin winged long bodied Pallas was built by the Hell’s Horses and made for the perfect extraction aircraft able to lift into space and join regular Hell’s Horses space traffic. They were soon off the surface of Blair Atholl and were heading into space, they’d soon receive a signal from a friendly JumpShip or WarShip which would extract the team from the system, they weren’t out of the woods yet but they’d done their job.
Onboard the Pallas Thompson approached Glasberg, Miia and Wesley Blood were both receiving medical attention, Liam Thurton was god knows where but Jed Glasberg had gotten out with barely a scratch. “Thank you for the rescue…â€
“Glasberg sir†he said identifying himself his rank didn’t matter.
“I’m sorry for your man, he was very brave.â€
“It’s the job sir†Glasberg said “your crew knew that too, sir, we picked up a few of them they’ll work their way out of Clan space the same way Liam will.†He said confidently
“I hope they all make it.â€
“It’s the job, sir†Glasberg repeated rolling over into his bunk he’d rescued the General it didn’t mean he needed to like him his team had suffered on this op, they’d return to friendly space and get ready for the next op. “It’s the job†Glasberg mused as he drifted off to sleep.