Resistance: A Storm Hawks Story

Chapter Seven - Catch & Release

After the bombing of Vaas, the Cyclonian Loyalist Government began to ramp up it's fight against the Resistance. Under Chancellor Kraton's orders, any citizen suspected of having ties to the Resistance are rounded up and executed. As the Cyclonian Loyalist Government ramped up it's fight with the Resistance, so did the Resistance. Havelock continues leading the Resistance while inspiring hope to the people of Terra Skavis. As for Rourke, he continues to rise up in the ranks of the Resistance. One day, Rourke was conducting some repairs on his Skimmer when Callista approached him.

Callista: Get your gear ready, Rourke. We're heading out. 

Rourke: What? No briefing from the commander? 

Callista: I'll fill you in on the details once we're on the move. 

With that, Rourke gathered his equipment. After doing so, Rourke met up with Callista and her squad. Once he meets up with Callista and the others, they got on their Skimmers and left the safehouse. 

Rourke: Mind telling me what's going on? 

Callista: We've just received word that Commander Graves is leading a convoy en route to a Cyclonian Base. We're going to intercept the convoy and grab Graves. 

Rourke: What's so important about this Graves guy? 

Ryder: He's one of Chancellor Kraton's most trusted enforcers. Whenever Kraton wants a town wiped out, Graves is the one pulling the trigger. Graves also information vital to our fight against the Loyalists. Our mission is to grab Graves and get the information. 

Rourke: Sounds easy enough. 

Fuse: I managed to get a hold of the convoy's route. The convoy stops only once for refueling. We're going to hit them at the stop, but we only have one shot. 

Callista: Which means we have to move fast. We're going to set up a position outside the stopping point. Once we have eyes on Commander Graves, Rourke and I will hijack the Commander's vehicle and make a run for it. The rest of you will keep the Talons off of us. 

As Callista laid out the plan, the Resistance squadron made their way to the area where the convoy would stop. They lie in wait until the convoy arrived. Archer took aim at his sniper rifle and surveyed all the vehicles. He soon spots Commander Graves in the backseat of a heavily armored assault vehicle. 

Archer: I have eyes on the target. 

Callista: Fuse. Ryder. 

Without hesitation, Fuse and Ryder readied several plasma grenades and tossed them at the convoy. The explosions created chaos among the Talons as Archer began firing on the Talons. Seizing the opportunity, Rourke and Callista rushed to Commander Graves's vehicle and hijacks it. 

Callista: Rourke, take the wheel and get us moving! 

Rourke: On it!

Graves: Judging from the lack of discipline, you must be of the Resistance

Callista: And you're a prisoner of war, Graves. Cooperate and you'll live longer.

As Rourke began driving away from the checkpoint, the rest of Callista's squad began following them on their Skimmers. It wasn't long before Talon Skimmers began tailing them.

Rourke: We got Talons incoming!

Callista: Just keep driving. I'll start working on Graves. 

Graves: You can put the tools away. Your methods won't work on me. I'm a trained officer.

Callista: We'll see about that. 

Graves: You have made a fatal mistake, Resistance scum! If you stop now, perhaps your deaths will be quick. 

Callista: You're going to tell us everything you know. 

Callista then begins to interrogate Graves on the information. As Rourke continues to drive, several Talon Skimmers begin to close in. 

Rourke: Hold on! 

Rourke then begins performing a series of evasive maneuvers in an attempt to lose the Talon Skimmers. Meanwhile, Callista continues to interrogate Graves. During the interrogation, Callista retrieves a datapad. 

Callista: What's on the datapad?!

Graves: Go to hell, you Resistance scum!

Callista: How many innocent people have you murdered, Graves?! I'm surprised you don't remember me. 

Graves: I've never seen you before in my life! 

Callista: Well I remember you! You led the raid on my home! You killed my mother!

At this point, Callista began to take her anger out on Graves for his role in the death of her mother. Soon enough, Graves began to break. 

Graves: Stop! Please stop! I'll tell you everything!

Callista: Talk!

Graves: The...the datapad contains....blind spots! Gaps in the artillery coverage of Chancellor Kraton's stronghold!

Callista: You mean your guns can't hit them? 

Graves: Correct. They're obstructed.

Callista: So if we follow these points, then we avoid Kraton's guns. 

Graves: You'll never make it. The gaps are too big!

Callista: That's not your problem. 

As Rourke continues to drive, he is contacted by Ryder. 

Ryder(Comlink): What the hell is going on back there?! We got Talon reinforcements incoming! 

Rourke: It's not as easy as it looks! You try driving this thing while Talons are shooting at you!

Callista: Rourke, get us out of here. We've got what we need. 

Rourke: What about Graves? 

Callista: He's not coming with us. 

Without hesitation, Callista kills Graves and pushes him out of the vehicle. 

Callista: Drive us through the shipyard. We'll lose them there. 

With that, Rourke drove the vehicle into the shipyard, breaking from the Talon squadron's line of sight. They ditched the vehicle and hid among the wreckage until the Talons moved on. Once they did, Rourke and Callista met up with the rest of Callista's squad and made their way back to the safehouse. With the information from Commander Graves, the Resistance now had the means to take the fight straight to Chancellor Kraton.