Umbara

[Tilt07]

Upon entering the space shared by the Umbarans, Thumper carefully navigated toward their objective. When he and the team left someone would have to stay with the ship... Or not, given the mission, it'd be a shame of the Mantis got hijacked... By the same people if not similar it was originally stolen from. However the codes were up to date if not decently shaped to be recognized as a light freighter for transportation. All things considered for the vessel were handled by Thumper, so there was no absolute way that they were going to get caught based on the pile of iron that glides through space. 

 

As Tilt and Riggs readied a few more things, they would hear Quessex ask Thumper a question. Tilt made his way up to the cockpit and was about to answer until he too saw something of the ships radar. Thumper didn't notice it until he actually looked up from the pad he was given and frowned. They both looked upward but didn't see anything at first, and as Tilt looked back down at the radar the blips seemed to have gotten closer. 

 

"Mines?" Thumper asked cautiously.

 

"Fighters... Or scav ships... Be ready for anything Thumper, " Tilt expressed carefully then shouted, "You all better buckled in or hold onto something, we've got contacts incoming!"

 

[Tilt07]

"Oh... Well... That's no good," Riggs states as he was looking through the targeting scope of one of the ships guns. And like Riggs said Thumpers and Tilts minds practically said the same things. A small fleet of scavengers, possibly military black market but there was no knowing for sure as they certain meant business. 

 

”Pilot! Get this bird docked on the double. We’ve got company!” 

 

"Already on it," Thumper say's aloud as there was a sudden lurch of the Mantis with what the Clone putting everything forward into the engines, "Should ingo ahead and patch in a frequency with the 'hulk, Tilt?"

 

"No, just focus on getting us to the vessel. I want that surprise in," Tilt's reply seemed a bit hesitant, holding onto a strap above to keep balance of the shifting vessel, he counted the fleet across from them and made a mental note, "If those fighters break off and head right for us I want all guns active." 

 

"Aye aye, Captain," Thumper replies, "Should I mention that Corvette is a Marauder-class? Not to mention the various Lioaoin Corsairs they've got, despite being a patrol class ship those aren't for show-" 

 

"Just get us to the hulk, Thumper." Tilt say's hoping for the best and for his brother to shut up. The Mantis was moving at it's fastest she's ever seen and it seemed to groan here and there from the exertion it faced. Tilt had his weapons ready, and Riggs wasn't far behind, meanwhile Thumper moving the ship as of she was brand new. The Lukrehulk was in mere distance, closing in extremely quick and as of nothing was happening the Mantis easily slid into a docking bay, Thumper landing the craft. 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2022 by Tilt07

[Tilt07]

As soon as they landed, Thumper powered the ship fully excluding the security system and pulled his WESTAR commando rifle to his chest. Out last, the Clones stepped into a dark portion of the hangar and realized they were surrounded by droids. The same droids that the Clones fought again for so long, all compact together in organized unison deactivated. For Riggs it was no issue as he took it with stride, Thumper was more weary despite the droids being disabled, however Tilts mind raced in paranoia and claustrophobia. This wasn't good, so thought the Clone Captain. 

 

"Night vision," Tilt whispered softly which received green light on his HUD from the other two troops. It was a much better option than flashlights and gave then a better advantage.

 

Being more a rear guard and avoiding sight by utilizing tool towers, junk and automata for cover, Thumper couldn't help but notice and note the strange armor the rogue faction were wearing here and there, not enough to get back good glimpse from afar. At least the Umbarans as he could guess were wearing them, though they seemed far and in-between, he started to lag until feeling a tug from Riggs urging him to move forward. Several guards and several stops later, they approached to a stop which the Wing Guard started their work. Thumper wanted the chance to start digging into tech but held himself back mostly, with Tilt keeping him in check and Riggs keeping Tilt sane with occasional bumps and such. As of now the Clone Captain was trying to not "check out" and remained almost focused on the mission. It difficult due to so much of the CIS tech being familiarized in so many of his brothers deaths as well as his own brushes on numerous occasions. 

 

"Thumper... Riggs... We're going to break off for the moment. Vangar, we'll keep you posted." Tilt says to the other rear guardsman, breaking off just as the Clone said to take care of something.  That something being the CIS Droids. 

 

As uncomfortable and painful as the machines presented to Tilt he remembers a portion of the mission that needed to get taken care of. Using the droids to their advantage. Tilt would say after they allowed a patrol by, careful to not be loud, "We're gonna reprogram a few... Or a lot of these clankers... Thumper, you know how to do it without activating them?" 

 

"Of course, I wasn't an info siphon for nothin' back in the day.  Just keep me guarded, let me know what's happening." Thumper replies, starting to get to work on a back row of the machines against a wall.

 

While Tilt and Riggs kept hidden and posted,  for Thumper it was like playing with a puzzle. All droids of a same series had similar if not the same wiring, hardware, and software. Used to he would capture a combat Droid and hack into its mainframe to get an idea of layout or information for his team,  now he was deleting and uploading a series of codes into the killing machine. Codes that made the droids fight for the Clones, their entire infiltration team, and of course benevolent toward passersbys such as the slaves and common workers. Rinse and repeat, what at first turned into a three minute operation would become a 30 second hack per machine, of course, he was we'll aware of the patrols and engineers, he would find his own coverage preventing from getting spotted. 

[Tilt07]

Progress was made, and while there were no guards or droids passing through Thumper gave a quiet but obvious hum. He had already hacked into a variety of Battles Droids both standard and heavy models, the Vulture drpids were especially hard but they only proved a half minute's worth of trouble but even then there was no technology beyond his scope. At least in regards to fixing them up or doing exactly Thumper did, coding and reprogramming. Being on a time restraint, infiltration,  and he'll call it what it was, reconnaissance, it made things a bit difficult, but nonetheless the Clone did his best and that's all he could give. After finishing up a batch of Vultur droids, at least four of them, he signed just slightly while atop of one from a ladder. 

 

Thumper looked about until spotting something bulky in the distance. He pulled a binoculars from his back and looked through them, trying to focus around the darkness and lenses and see exactly what he was looking at. A pair of maintenence Umbarans were playing with a terminal, a half built thing but judging by their operation it was functional. He'd watch as the pair turned on several Battle Droids from a distance but immediately turn them off. They would discuss something but otherwise strolled off elsewhere. 

 

"Captain,  I'm looking at a control center for droids. Looks like it's functional at least." Thumper reports into a comm-link between his squad. 

 

"Is it worth the risk? We're swimming in deep water as it is." Tilt replies quietly, still looking for any trouble. 

 

Thumper responds a bit more aggravated, [C2]"It can be, if I can get a hold of that thing I can an hours work done in the soan of a minute. Remember,  we've done things like this." 

 

Without even waiting Thumper moves from the Vulture and starts his way through the series of droids. Cursing to himself, Tilt motioned for Riggs to move up, seeing no time to argue he instead opted to staying silent unless necessary to tall. He wasn't too happy with his soldiers decision but had no choice but to move along given Thumper quickly closing in on his target. They moved quickly and aggressively, Tilt thankingthr higher powers they hadn't been seen just yet. 

 

As soon as Thumper was close to the large computer system he only had seconds to stop and quickly duck behind a downed Vulture. The two engineers from before had returned, they were speaking about something that the Clone couldn't understand but what he understood was that he was too eager. He realized the fault of the situation,  perhaps he shouldn't have gone for the control station? Instead he lied and wait not wanting to risk getting caught going forward or moving back. 

 

Tilt didn't wait however. He saw the engineers coming toward Thumpers location, he bumped Riggs and gave a motion with his hand with two fingers up. The Sargeant understood and picked up the smallest but heaviest object he could find. He chucked the thing far behind the engineers toward a large junk pile that sat next to an Umbaran light freighter. The pile was carefully hoisted by a makeshift platform and wires that bately contained it. And as soon as the piece of junk hit the pile, the wires snapped and the several tons of parts and trash fell atop the freighter, with the platform swinging from momentum and slamming hard into the windows of the cockpit shattering them. All three Clones seemed to have stopped in unison, cringing at the loud noise, but it seemed to have gotten the attention of slavers and engineers alike. 

 

Tilt and Riggs quickly hid amongst tool towers and droids while Thumper maxe use of the distracted engineers and quickly hid himself in an old fighter cockpit which had been covered in tarp. Riggs and Tilt watched several engineers,  slavers, and whoever else rush toward the noise,  Thumper waited for everyone to clear up and heard shouting of anger in the distance. Taking advantage of that situation,  he moved toward the terminal and immediately started to get to work with the system. Meanwhile his other two comrades had pushed in and took positions,  Tilt on the ground floor blending in amongst ruined droids while Riggs stayed atop an upper platform after taking a ladder. 

 

[C2]"Oh man, looks like that's one of the head honchos," Riggs whispers over his comm link, "Chewin' all of 'em, he looks pissed!" 

 

[C2]"Focus Sargeant. Thumper, how long?"

 

Thumper makes a few hand signs between hacking the terminal. After a good minute Riggs gave a "red light" to Tilt, letting him know that the individuals were getting back to work stations. The Clone Captain was about to cuss his subordinate until Thumper starts to make his way back. As soon as he returns the three quickly made their own path between all the droids and junk using the chance to cross the way deeper into the ship. Once they were cleared of units, Tilt ordered his squad to stay in tight formation for better security. And to avoid anymore runoffs. He was going to have a long talk with Thumper. 

[Tilt07]

“I hope your men don’t overextend yourself again like that. Still, good plan captain.”

 

“Fair warning. Not sure what this os about to do. Probably going to get some attention.”

 

"Ahh sh*t!" Tilt mutters to himself as he felt the soft vibration of the ships engines combined with the lights turning on. It indeed was going to get interesting. Tilt quickly motioned for the group to start moving forward, preferably closer to the control room as much as they could without getting caught. But of course, Thumper taps Tilt and point to an HMP Droid Gunship and another more complete control terminal unguarded. The group looked about, careful of their now cramped surroundings. 

 

With a silent breath, Tilt signaled for his tech expert to handle the situation. The Captain and Sargeant covered the other Clone assuring his safety and their security,  it'd be a shame to lose an upperhand and a soldier. Tilt said into the Conns quietly, ["In case all hell breaks loose we'll have an edge. We're getting closer to the control room, just taking a detour however."]

 

Once Thumper finished his work he rejoined the other two soldiers and silently pressed forward, using whatever cover they had between junk towers and droids. Already theyvwere ready for anything. 

Edited October 7, 2022 by Tilt07

[Tilt07]

After helping a pair of slavers suicide themselves and stuffing their bodies into a broken pod, the Clones moved forward, seeing the hangar slowly transform into more built and recognizable area of operation. And it seemed to be congested of every guards. Tilt gave a hand signal to fan out but keep it tight, using the droids and towers of junk, including broken pieces of Fighters and Vulture droids for cover. Tilt stopped, giving a yellow light for his team to halt on the HUD, he pulls a knife as a duo of engineers passed by, both with rifles and simply scanning the area. 

 

The Captain waited, and when the two passed him, he gave the green light and pushed forward. The guards were constantly moving from route to route, getting that timing down however was cakewalk. One by one, the Clones pushed forward and passed the guards as they periodically changed positions. Tilt of course was the last to pass them, and as he snuck by with little effort, he could have swore he heard an Umbaran speak rapidly, the six guards swapping places abd routes constantly taking up arms and holding their weapons aiming for something. 

 

Tilt had passed through the doorway quickly, regrouping with his comrades and patching into his comms quietly, [C]"En route to the command center, so far sk good, Vangar we're just a minute or two from your position."

[Tilt07]

"That wasn't too bad," Riggs states as him and Tilt start looking for their opening, Thumper just a few feet behind covering their six', "So we managed to damage a light freighter, unalived a few people, and hacked into a buncha clankahs. If anything this has gone pretty swell!" 

 

The group continued their search until coming upon the door to the deck. And then further down was an opening.. A small opening of wires that one would have to belly crawl. Tilt was the first to go, holstering all but a pistol and had his energy parma ready for use, Thumper would be last if Riggs wasn't so fidgety. The Clone Sargeant got down as well albeit slower than usual, a lot more cautiously than usual. It drew questions, but none were asked until the trio were in the ventilation shaft which was hot enough as it was. 

 

"G- Guys?!" Riggs almost shouted, nearing the exit was no enough apparently, and the Clones could most likely be heard from the control room, "I'm not feeling too good!" 

 

"Shut up, Riggs!" Thumper hissed, "We're almost there... I think- Wait what's wrong?" 

 

The Sargeant was breathing heavily halting his trek forward, almost seeming like he was trying to take his helmet off, "I uhh- I can't breath, and there's a lotvof cords and you can't see very-" 

 

"You've been blown out of three transports, punched a variety of droids, was too close to explosions because you "liked" the sight, and have a bad habit of screwing anything that walks. And out of all of that, you're scared of tight spaces?" 

 

"Both of you, cut it out," Tilt said firmly, "Riggs, be a man, push forward."

 

After a solid minute of crawling and the Sargeant muttering a few things trying to calm himself down, Tilt saw the light from the other room. As soon as he came to the exit, he dropped down with both blasters raised, Riggs dropped in to the floor apparently not ready for the sudden loss of grip, and Thumper carefully crawled out then dropped with his blaster rifle ready as well. Tilt seeing that Vangar had the situation under control, spoke to him, "Sir, took us a moment but we're here. Sorry for the delay."

[Tilt07]

"That didn't last long..." Riggs said wiping the sweat from his forehead, hearing the comms clear as day from his helmet even when it was off, "So uhh... Thumper, ya gonna do the thing?" 

 

Thumper smirked as he took off his own helmet, messing with a small data pad connected to his left wrist. He tapped a few things since he was wired and rigged into the control stations, and of course the various droids he individually hacked. Thumper then said, "General- Errr uhh, Mr. Vangar, sir, we have control of a lot of droids. All this time we spent hacking into the systems of the CIS army remnant, standard Battle Droids, Super Battle Droids, Vultures, Crab, HMP's... Whatever we came across, we hacked most of 'em. Right now, I'm activating al of them, they were "reworked" to protect the slaves, us, and fire upon any slavers. If the enemy surrenders or flee off ship, we take prisoners and let the runners run." 

 

"Well... Hop me up on Deathsticks," Riggs replies after a moment pf hard thinking, "We started near the far end of a hangar... I aint the sharpest knife in the crayon box, but you did all of that in that short amount of time?" 

 

"Thumper, are all of them active?" Tilt asked, keeping his sights on the Captain of the Lukrehulk.

 

"Just about... There! With how big the hangar is, we have plenty of reinforcements between here abd out starting point. Our allies across the way will have backup soon." 

--------------------------------------------------

With the new firefight starting between the other teams and the slavers, anyone would have easily been unaware of the activating droids. Everything that was hacked up by the Bad Company had been indeed reintegrated to follow the specific commands of the Clones, recoding out the old CIS hardware and programming, in with the new data. One of the engineers at the station started to see the droids come to life, they attempted to shut them down but to no avail. At first, they were curious and were trying to give vocal commands to the machines, but as the squad of engineers gathered around they realized that realized the droids were starting to shout, and what they shouted made them think on not running when they had the chance, followed by being gunned down soon after.  

 

"For The Republic!" The Droids shouted out loud, loud enough for all to hear throughout the hangar bay to the control room. All hell was breaking loose. There were scattered fights breaking out, slavers who weren't gunned downed and surrendered captured, while slaves were being secured by the CIS automata. 

 

Quessax and the Knights too would hear the screams of Droids shouting profanities and orders that only Republic Clones should know...

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[Tilt07]

"Understood,  sir," Tilt states as he catches the device, immediately walking to.the main control panel and stabbing the drive into the port, "Thumper, I want this ship out of here, you have the controls and the coordination. Riggs, I want you to help Thumper with whatever he needs." 

 

In the following minute that the ships engines kicked on, more of the droids had come to life with the new programming, purged of any of the previous CIS. Thumper in the meantime had helped guide the ship carefully and around, turning it to its proper destination and lurching the vessel forward. Riggs in the meantime was helping by setting up the ships defenses from outside intruders, at least the best he could. The Captain meanwhile was overlooking everywhere else, ship diagnostics, droids that didn't fall in battle, and generally security footage of everywhere important. Tilt then said to Vangar, "General, we have several units en route to our location. Several Destroyers and Standers. They'll be able to escort these individuals to the nearest holding cells... Unless you have plans for 'em? Could always interrogate the tech and the capt'n." 

 

Tilt gave a visored glance to the scared technician.  It was both said jokingly and seriously, a suggestion that is normally used by the Clone Captain himself on occasion.  Things seemed to be more under control and the situation in their favor,  however beneath the personality was the boiling hatred he felt for the ship as a whole. If it were up to him, he'd burn it all to the ground.