War Child--Rogue One

XLIII

We load up the next day, with a total of twelve men, women, and otherwise, in the Ghost, the biggest ship of the fleet.

"So where are we supposed to be flying?" Linami asks her temporary copilot, Rees Giova.

"Coruscant, to a factory belonging to Wert Pluot."

We take off, and I walk back to the main area.

Our team consists of Tinred, Rees Giovan, Ciara, Kubamanu, Gaspard, Tim Plent (who replaced Akbar when he was moved up to Rebel command), Jiff (a Calamari who refused to be called anything else), Kila Gont, Liyo Jenno, Red Quol, and of course Linami and yours truly.

Seven humans, two Mon Calamari, and three Twi'lek.

To avoid making conversation, I double check everything in my jacket.

Rifle.  In working order.

Comlink.  In working order.

Field knife.  Stashed.

Rations.  Stashed.

Suicide pill.  Secured.

Everything is in order.  We still haven't landed, so I join Rees and Linami in the cockpit, leaning on the back of my wife's chair.

"How's it going back there?" she asks, not looking away from her controls.

I shrug.  "I wasn't paying attention."

"Are you ready?"

"Everything's in order."

"Captain Andor," Rees says.

"Yes?" Linami and I both say.

"I mean Cassian."

"Yeah?"

"I think maybe you should help figure out what the infantry and sniper strategy is, and then lead them.  You are the highest ranked here, besides Linami."

I push off Linami's seat. "Alright."

Everyone's discussing completely irrelevant topics when I come back.  I clap my hands once and stand as confidently as I can.  "Does anyone have any ideas as to how we get into the factory?"

Red raises his hand. "I was sent the plans for the factory."

"That'd be a good thing to send the captain," I mutter under my breath. "Alright. Show them to us."

He taps something on his datapad and a three dimensional image of a factory floats above it.

"Tell us what we're looking at."

"Um.  The plans are supposed to be here."  He puts his finger through the hologram and taps a room.  "The main office.  It's unconfirmed whether or not there will be guards.  If there are, they will be here, here, and here.  Three positions.  At least one has to be compromised for anyone to get in."

"We should have at least three teams," I muse.

"I suggest four," Gaspard says.

"Of three each?"

He nods.

Linami comes up behind me, with Rees.  "We're on autopilot for now.  What's going on?"

I point to the plans.  "Team one, going for the first guard station, will be Gaspard, Kila, and Kubamanu.  For the second, Tinred, Rees, Liyo.  Third, Tim, Ciara, and Jiff.  Linami, myself, and Red will go for the plans.  Copy?"

Everyone nods.

"I have placed one sniper on each team.  I want you to find high ground first thing, and take out as many as you can as quickly as you can.  The other two on each team will stay concealed until you are forced out, and pick off as many as possible."  I sigh.  "They should have sent us more bloody soldiers."

"We'll make a dozen feel like one hundred," Gaspard promises.

"Hear, hear!" Red yells.

Something beeps.  "That's the autopilot," Linami says, and she and Rees head back.

As we land, I look around at the whole crew.  This very well could be my last mission ever.  These could be the last friendly faces I see.

"May the Force be with all of you."

"And with you."  A spattered chorus.  Everyone is thinking the same thing.

We land and I locate Red and my wife.  "Are everyone's comlinks operational?"

Everyone double checks theirs.  "Report in when a station falls.  One of us will notify the other crews when the plans are destroyed and all crews report here."

We're leaving the Ghost in a hangar next door to the factory.  An inside man let us in.  He's got enough clearance to let us in, but he can't manage to get enough to visit the office.

I glance at Linami.  She nods.  So does Red.

"Move out!" I command.

The other three teams run for the exit.

We listen in on the comlinks.  We can hear their conversation to each other.

"Kubamanu, are you in position?  Over."

"I am.  Over."

"We are ready when you are.  Over."

Another team checks in with each other.  "Ciara, you may begin firing.  Over."

"Copy that."

We sit and listen to the conversation.  Nothing stands out until Ciara's terrified voice comes in.

"Andor!  I need backup!  Over!"

"We don't have backup!  What happened to your team?  Over."

"They're gone!  Dead!  I need backup!  Over."

I sigh.  "Fall back.  Come here, but don't draw anyone back.  Over."

"Copy."

I look over at Linami.  She's got tears in her eyes.  I put my hand on the side of her face and wipe away the tears.  "Stay strong until the mission's over.  There will be plenty of time to grieve."

She nods.  "I am one with the Force, the Force is with me."

I repeat it.

"Andor!" Red calls.

"What?"

"We've got a positive!"

"Which entrance?"

"It's the farthest away, but it's open.  It's time to go."  He slings his blaster over his shoulder.

I nod.  "Let me radio out to the others."  I pick up my comlink, which I dropped earlier, and press the button.  "Andor to all units.  An entrance has been cleared.  Team two is to hold that entrance until we arrive, then return to the Corellian Ghost.  All others are to return here immediately.  If we don't succeed, leave.  Over."

"Team two copies."

"Team one copies."

"Copy," Ciara says, coming through the door.  "Except I'm coming with you."

"You need to stay here.  It's safer.  We've already lost at least two.  I don't want to lose any more."

"I am going.  I'm the second best sniper in the Rebellion."

"You're better than me."

"Then I should go."

I sigh, and look to my other two teammates.  Red shrugs, but Linami nods.

"Alright.  Let's go."