Arriving at your target

You sit in the shuttle, noting that while none of your Raiders seem nervous, there's definitely a little tension in the air. You're feeling it too, given this is your first deployment as a Raid Leader -- how you do here is going to have a major effect on your ability to recruit more people, and of course you're the one responsible for everybody who chose to trust their bodies and their freedom to you. Still, if you didn't think you could handle it, you wouldn't have spent so much getting this crew set up; when it comes down to it what you're feeling is more anticipation than anything.

You watch the station grow closer and closer on the overhead display, and just as you're nearly there the pilot calls back, "Looks like they've spotted us! We're too close for them to be able to take us out in time, but they're going to be ready for you." You grimace slightly -- you were hoping for the element of surprise, given that a standup fight really isn't the strong suit of light infantry like you and your girls and there's no way to storm an airlock without one -- but all things considered, you did about as well as you could reasonably hope to.

Standing up and moving to the hatch at the rear as the shuttle swings around to lock to the entrance, you remind your girls, "Stay as mobile as you can, but this model of station has some tight corridors -- we won't have much room to maneuver until we get to the cargo bay."

There are several assorted noises of acknowledgement, then Karla replies, "I'm hoping that those ESF rookies have some tight corridors themselves!" A wave of laughter runs through the bay, and you smirk and shake your head before growing serious as the airlock starts to open. Crouching slightly, you ready yourself, and as soon as there's enough room you dart forward, bringing your rifle up as you scan for targets.

You find them easily enough, but there's not exactly anywhere to hide in here, and they spot you too; both sides start shooting simultaneously. Several of you shoot one of the fireteam waiting for you at once, sending her to the ground ****, but you hear a thump from one of your Vikings going down behind you; you don't have time to check though, not when you're busy dodging incoming fire like this.

You take down another enemy quickly enough, but that's when things start going wrong, shots going wide and leaving the remaining two entirely unscathed. Thankfully, they're equally inaccurate, and you quickly compensate, stripping one of all her armor in seconds. She flinches slightly at her sudden state of undress, throwing off her aim for a moment before one last shot sends her to the floor to join her friends.

The last one proves to be more of a challenge, and you can't help but wonder in frustration if she has some sort of wacky luck field or something as you spend a solid thirty seconds blasting at her without scoring more than a glancing blow while her return shots come close enough that if you were any less experienced you likely wouldn't have been able to avoid them. Still, her luck can't hold out forever, and shortly after she crumples as you finally manage to nail her.

You definitely need to either have a strict word with your armorer or hold remedial marksmanship drills, but that'll have to wait given that you're quite certain there's more waiting for you. Thankfully, you prepared for this, and you slap some "breaching charges" onto the door on the other side of the airlock before retreating clear of it. Obviously, you're not using real explosives, but they have a similar enough effect, the door flying open and letting your team rush through.

Unfortunately, while it looks like one was close enough to get hit in the "blast", the others are much more prepared, and the Raiders on either side of you go down even as you return the favor and drop a second ESF soldier. You have to admit that whoever trained these girls did a damn good job as another of your friends falls, and you hope that they're on this station so you can... show your appreciation, as unlikely as that might be. Still, well trained or not, it's no match for experience, and less than a minute later you've got the corridor to yourselves.

Of course, you're also down a third of your numbers, but barring any unpleasant surprises they've lost half of theirs, so you'll take that trade -- you can wait for them to wake up after the fight's done. For now, you quickly consolidate your numbers into two fireteams, double timing it towards the large doors that lead to the cargo bay. You'd be willing to bet that the second enemy squad is waiting for you there, but even if they have a numbers advantage this time, the more open area will work to your strengths.

Repeating what you did to the airlock, you see that sure enough there's what looks like a full dozen hostiles waiting as you roll through the open door, your people taking advantage of the distraction you've caused to nail a couple targets before they refocus and reaim, the weight of it meaning that they manage to blast another Viking into unconsciousness. Trading fire for a bit, you lose another pair in exchange for three of theirs before a pair of them make the mistake of trying to relocate to another piece of cover, the way they run through open space a sign of their inexperience.

Of course, you take advantage of that and send both of them off into dreamland, but your focused targeting means that the remaining Federation soldiers are able to pick off yet another Raider before the one responsible catches a retaliatory shot that puts her on the floor. Taking a moment to glance around, you note that you're down to four of yours against four of theirs, and make the snap decision to press the attack.

Your sudden charge clearly catches them off guard, their shots sailing past you to impact on the cargo bay's walls, and you're able to finish another one off before they can adjust. The last few do their best, but they're clearly outmatched, and half a minute or so later they've been taken down, leaving you victorious. Glancing around, you see that you managed to lose another full fireteam, but given that you were light infantry charging a prepared position, you'll take a three to one "kill" ratio. It does leave you a bit shorthanded to deal with the business of looting, but then you're sure that the ship's crew can spare a few people.

You don't have nearly enough cargo capacity to take everything with you, and given how long the fight lasted you're sure they sent out a distress call, but you should have time to grab the best bits at least. Turning to Ulla, you call out, "Hey, check the manifest and get the loaders working!" She waves a hand in acknowledgement, already hurrying to do her job, and you return your focus to the fun part: checking out your new slaves.