Subject File:
Lieutenant Rolaris, Lukka
112 Infantry Division
"Tell me again why we want his man?"
"He is incredibly qualified, and most importantly a survivor."
"He was just recently promoted to Lieutenant, taking him from the unit may do more harm than good"
"The Republic has needs all across the galaxy and right now, he will do nicely to fix them"
"Very well, lets start the interview process. Bring them in"
The door hisses open and four men in uniform walk in, each with varying degrees of injuries visible. All of them filed in, stopped, and faced in unison. At the snap of their durasteel boots coming together the left most man saluted.
"Corporal Hyme reporting" The man said lowering his hand when indicated.
"Corporal Lore, Corporal Bidda, Private Oak" the other three followed suit.
"At ease gentlemen, this isn't a board of inquiry into a wrong doing, this is an interview about the actions of your new Lieutenant so please, be honest in everything regarding the event on Hill 441"
"From the beginning now"
--- 1 Week Prior ---
"Sir, are you sure the orders are just for 3rd Platoon?" Asked Rolaris as he stooped to get into the troop transport.
At 6'6" he towered over most troopers, including Lieutenant Ollen. He weighed in the upper 280's outside of armor, and while he may never be the fastest in the Battalion he was certainly near the strongest. His voice came out quiet and guttural, a thick scar running around the base of his neck marking where he had been hung on a backwater planet before his rescue and sudden enlistment.
"Yes Sergeant, 3rd Platoon's tasking is to hold the hill top, the rest of the Company is pushing further into the valley so we will hold the top as a security element to prevent a flanking attack"
"Sir, the men want to get into a fight but that Hill is the center nexus for three paths through the mountains. For one platoon to hold that is suicide"
"I thought your Mandalorian spirit would welcome such a fight" Ollen said with a smirk "Move the platoon out within the hour, get what extra supplies you believe we will need in the coming days"
"Sir" Rolaris said before leaving the transport.
His boots left indents in the soft earth and a storm could be seen cresting the far mountains; it would be here in the following days. 3rd Platoon was in its staging areas, the squad leaders checking their men as he had already informed them to begin predeployment checks.
"Sarge, what's the news" Cpl Hyme came up asking
"Nothing good, tend to your men we move out in 20"
"So we are really taking that hill? Doesn't sound good"
"It won't be unless we can dig in before that storm gets here" Rolaris said with the slightest tilt of his head.
The squad leaders did their job quietly and efficiently getting the platoon formed up as Lt. Ollen and Sgt. Rolaris returned from the final briefing with the Company Commander.
"Imperial activity has been seen by Republic flybys over the mountains, it looks like a light company. This won't be an issue so long as we get dug in before they arrive so the hike out there will begin in earnest, Squad leaders take your men out in tactical columns." Ollen said waving his arm off.
The 42 men and women of 3rd platoon began the long hike up to Hill 441's crest, it wouldn't be tear near nightfall that they would arrive.
"1st Squad you are in charge of clearing our lines of fire, I want those trees reduced and bring the wood up to make bulwarks. 2nd Squad begin digging the primary fighting positions. 3rd Squad you are on security, 180 degrees to our front" Rolaris said over the tacnet so his voice could be understood.
"Sir, are you wanting reconnaissance patrols out tonight?"
"Negative Sergeant, we will make do with an observation post here... and here" he said transferring the data to Rolaris's HUD.
"Yes sir, I will take the men out"
The sun was just beginning to crest the mountains, a strange dark orange glow as it shown between the mountain peak and the brewing storm, as 3rd Platoon finished their defense preparations.
"Half watch, get the men rest Sergeant" Ollen said as Rolaris and two troopers returned from their observation post.
Rolaris didn't even have to relay the order as his squad leaders had done the job of preempting the command and had men resting already.
Rolaris settled into the command pit and attempted to get some rest, he turned up the audio amplifiers of his helmet before managing to lazily drift to sleep. He wasn't sure how much time had passed before a low whine began to penetrate his slumber, he gave his eyes a few blinks before his mind locked on the noise.
"Incoming!" he roared into the tacnet moments before the first mortars slammed home.
Earth, fire, and shards of metal flew into all directions as the sky rained brimstone upon them. There was no incoming blaster fire which only told Rolaris that they were still advancing while the mortars kept his men down in their holes.
"Prepare for a ground assault, as soon as the rain stops prepare to repel the enemy" Rolaris said hunched over so he could just see over the lip of the command pit. To the north side the storm was unleashing a monstrous amount of rain which his HUD couldn't penetrate which meant the attack would most likely be coming from the east down the other mountain path.
"2nd Squad, the enemy will be coming your way first, I'm on my way" Rolaris said before climbing up out of the pit.
"Sergeant get back down before you are cut down" Ollen called out after him to no avail.
Rolaris's long stride chewed up the distance between him and 2nd Squad as he used his helmet's sensors to best determine where the mortars would impact. He caught a few glances as members of 3rd squad saw him run by their fighting pit.
To be continued.
