That's Just the way it is

[Havock]

"What do you mean...broken?"

Havock leaned over the vacant co-pilots chair in the RAIDERS transport. Everyone looked like hell having only just returned from a dark, damp, and very annoying jungle. She wanted a shower and a bed, but the fates seemed to want her to continue to smell like stagnant swamp water.

"Ma'am, somethings wrong with the connection we can't land like this."

She was getting irritated now. "You have eyes pilot, land in the damn grasslands and we will walk to the kriffin barracks. Just get it done." She turned to leave and was stopped in her tracks by the pilot clearing his throat. She rolled her eyes and tried not to just punch the young man. "What now?"

"Its against protocol to land without clearance, I can't break atmo without word from the hanger. Could be a situation down there ma'am."

"Yanno I can fly this bird too, right?" She sighed. He had a point, unfortunately.

"Ma'am, contact from some other transports in holding patterns. They are heading to zero-seven-seven-niner...ah its a space station, VE controlled. Its not far, we can hole up there and wait for word."

Havock folded her arms and stared out the viewport. This wasn't going to be fun for anyone. A space station for squints doing research was about to get overrun by jarheads, that never ended well. She glanced at the control panel and knew they had little in the way of options. "Fine, get us there and comm the other squads on our way. Let them know that we need to work together to get this crap fixed. We should be able to determine the issue with the server from our end, it all comes down to if we can fix it or not." She chewed on her lower lip as her brain continued to run through all the things they would be dealing with that continued to keep her from a warm bed.

"Oh and make sure that place has a fresher, every member of this squad needs shower."

The pilot muttered to himself as he got the transport ready for landing. "You ain't kiddin'"


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ALLLLLLLLRIGHTY everybody get on the spacestation!! Partaaaayy, well not really. Its gonna be cramped and we are going to make some tech's and engineers very unhappy, but what can you do? Once you get there decide how you want to tackle our current conundrum and go with it. Questions? IRC still works like a dream - The Havock

[luckystar]

Lucky and the rest of the Iron Horse squad were on their way back to Tadath after a rather grueling mission when she heard a different sound coming from the engines, they seemed to be slowing down a little. Wondering what was going on, she and Starfruit went to go pay a visit to the cockpit.

As she entered, the pilot spoke without bothering to look over his shoulder. "We were being put into a holding pattern and we've had to make a course change, something's wrong down there, I can't get clearance to land. We're being re-directed to a space station not far from here"

"Get us there then, we'll deal with things once we land" she replied curtly before turning around and finding herself face-to-face with Jaenna.

"C'mon, I'll explain everything to you and the squad once we get back into the passenger bay"

A few minutes later, she was standing in front of everyone's gaze. As she looked back at each of them, she wondered whether they had x-ray vision or something as their stare was so intently upon her.

"Listen up guys, there's been a slight change of plans. We're not headed back home, something's not right and as such we've been re-directed to a space station nearby. Once we're there we'll figure out what the issue or issues are and attempt to solve them as quickly as possible as I'm sure I'm not the only one here who would like a nice, long shower and a comfy bed after what we've been through"

When she had mentioned that they weren't headed back to base groans could be heard throughout the passenger bay and a few Troopers slumped a little in their jumpseats, looking defeated.

"Cheer up guys, I'm sure we could at least get a shower and some hot food before we really have to get down to business, the sooner we solve whatever issue is on Tadath the sooner we can get back there."

With that, she took her respective seat and waited patiently for the short ride to the space station to be over, as she unstrapped herself from her seat she could hear the ramp lower and a deep sounding clank as it hit hard surface. slowly, people started to file out of the ship and into the space station, a few of them had their helmets off and a slight look of relief on their faces.

As they started walking, Lucky detected whiffs of unpleasant smells coming from a nearby transport and saw RAIDERS squad exiting the ship and steadily headed their way.

"You guys stink, get some shit dumped on you?" Madman asked as he crinkled his nose in disgust.

This caused Lucky to glare at him before starting to apologize for the unnecessary remark.

"No, we just wadded through swampy stuff, now if you'll excuse us, we need a shower more than you lot do"

[Rizzit]

OOC: Little bit of humor to keep the story going (and hopefully get you guys laughing)

"SERIOUSLY?! What do you mean we can't allow our own troopers to land?" General Rizzit boomed at a protocol droid. "And furthermore you won't allow ME off planet?"

"I am sorry sir, but I am just the messenger. Kindly take your concern to Lieutenant Zasalky in the Hangar Bay.

"You can be damned straight I will." Rizzit said as he stormed off.

Of all the things to happen, their equipment in the hangar bay had somehow malfunctioned. The droid did not seem to know which equipment but it did seem to know enough about things that would surely send the General over the edge. This was the worst case of something and nothing that he'd ever seen. On one hand, Rizzit knew what he could not do; but on the other hand he had no idea why.

"You seem irritated." Zach observed.

"Your powers of observation are exceedingly high today. Tell me, can you tell I'm wearing clothes too?"

"I see someone has an acklay up their ass today, question is why? You of all people know procedure is procedure."

"Right, but procedure also tells me WHY I can't do things. And generally provides me with an alternative method to do things."

Zach sighed. He knew he wasn't going to get anywhere negotiating with his boss on reason at the moment. He was just going to be miserable until either the crisis evaded or until he got answers that he wanted to hear. For now, he decided to do his usual bit of following Rizzit while trying to avoid notice.

Later at the hangar bay, Rizzit ran into Denethor, the Commander in Chief for the Imperial Navy. "Denethor!" Rizzit beamed. (He was in a foul mood, but the two got along fairly well and it was no need to take it out on him...yet) "I don't suppose you can tell me why I can't receive my troops here or even leave on my own to go rendezvous with them?"

"Well, I was just told that we were having problems with the Hangar Bay and came down here to check on it myself. Some Lieutenant named Zasalky made the call." Denethor replied.

"Looks like we all know a whole lot of nothing. I don't suppose you can point me to which one of these imbecils is Zasalky?" Rizzit asked.

Denethor did not take kindly to Rizzit's comment."HEY! Watch it Rizz! Those 'imbecils' are MY men! You don't see me going around taking shots at your troopers!"

Rizzit dispensed with his previous good intentions. He was now officially going to take his bad mood out on Denethor. "No, cause MY troopers are not HERE to take a shot at. They're busy being told they can't land cause we don't trust our own soldiers! When my troopers prevent you guys from taking off feel free to take all the shots you want, but right now your imbecils are causing one big headache for all of us so maybe you wanna do something about it?!"

Denethor was getting pretty heated. He did not like being told what to do as is, let alone by someone with no authority to tell him what to do. "Ya know, just because you are USED to talking down to people as Prefect, does NOT mean you can do the same with me! I am the same status as you in the Navy so how about a little respect."

Rizzit smirked. "Sure, okay. Get my troopers clearance to land and we'll call it me running my mouth. Deal?"

[Brightstar]

Bright had been the first to notice when Havock returned to the rest of the squad. She had noted the angry set of the woman's jaw and knew instantly that there was a problem none of them were going to like.

"Let me guess," The red head said as she wiped at her forehead. The action only served to smear the mud that was there. "We can't land, something is broken and we have to find out what it is and fix it before we all end up killing each other." Bright didn't really phrase her statement as a question, the look on Havock's face confirmed Bright's suspicions.

"How did you know?" The squad leader asked momentarily taken aback.

Bright only shrugged and rolled her shoulders to loosen the knot that was beginning to form. "I didn't, but it's always the story. Well that and our luck may have something to do with it. We are RAIDERS after all."

The rest of the squad groaned or aquiessed according to their natures. Bright just closed her eyes and shook her head. Havock did the rest of the explaining.

When they landed it was just in time to greet Iron Horse squad as they landed. RAIDERS being RAIDERS, they all merely smiled when they were told that they stunk. A few of the more humorous ones were brave enough to offer hugs to their platoon mates. Bright had to hide a smile behind her hand and cover up a chuckle with a well timed cough. Ah! The antics of a RAIDER.

"All right you lot, to the showers!" Havock called, "Wherever they may be."

Bright looked around for the nearest engineer and asked for directions to the nearest refresher units. She deliberately stood too close to the poor man till he told her where they were. The man then fled holding his nose. Bright smiled and took the information back to the rest of her squad.

"Nice, Bright. But truly you didn't have to do that, he'd have probably told you without all the......." Hav stopped mid sentence and let out a breath. "You can't be serious, you did that on purpose?"

Bright laughed and clapped the woman on the back. "See you when I'm clean, my fearless leader." The red head gave a wave to some Iron Horse squadies, turned on her heal and hurried in the direction the other RAIDERS had gone.

[skarr]

Skarr began to hobble off to the refreshers. He had a new dose of painkillers in his leg, which was still bothering him. But now that the mission was over, he didn't worry about it. Now it was time to get to the refreshers and then to a doctor to check out his leg. The halls were already becoming cluttered with people, both soldiers and scientists alike.

He had been ready to land as Havock had ordered him to, but of course, his day would be much worse if he was burned up in the wreckage of the ship. He finally reached the refreshers and muscled his way into an empty one. I can't believe how many people are here!

Skarr peeled off the armor he wore and was glad to see there were already outfits stashed in the refresher. Too bad none of them were Skarr's size. He didn't care. He just wanted a shower.

He stood in the shower for nearly an hour while people banged on the door. He knew he was going to be in trouble for this, but it didn't matter to him. After the mission Skarr had been through, he just wanted to be in the shower for weeks. And then a bed.

Skarr pulled on a pair of pants which were too tight and he wasn't able to zip them up. He gave up on the shirt and left the refresher shirtless. Several of the soldiers hooted and whistled, which made Skarr sigh in return. It wasn't his fault the scientists were puny little nerfherders. Next stop, the medical bay. He shuddered at the thought of how crowded it just may be and decided against a trip to the medic's bay. Skarr decided he'd find his squad. Wherever they might be.

[amacuse]

Alrighty, looks like I'm the first of the Navy people to join in on this primarily Army-controlled story! Sweet!

---

The Etere Videum flew through the hyperspace tunnel, the hyperspace vortex hurtling around the Gozanti Cruiser as it flew towards it's next destination: Abrae.

Cayden walked onto the bridge and looked around, smiling. I guess we'll be arriving ahead of schedule... excellent. I just hope Shaka didn't have any other plans... he thought as he sat down in the Captain's chair. "Status report, Shaka?" he asked.

A blue-ish grey HK-series assassin droid, named Shaka, responded to the question. "Observation: the ship will be arriving approximately 2 hours ahead of schedule. We are just now entering Vast Empire space, Master," Shaka observed.

"Excellent... oh, and use the word 'sir' instead of 'master' in the future, Shaka," he quickly added, leaning on his left.

"Wearied Resolution: As you command, sir," Shaka replied.

Several Hours Later

"Irritated Exclamatory Question: What do you mean the weapons systems are malfunctioning? I just calibrated them before we left! There should be no problem with their primary operation!" Shaka said, irritated at the R-3 Astromech Droid, R3-O17.

Cayden walked into the room, hearing the argument doing on outside. "What seems to be the problem here, Shaka?"

"Irritated Explanation: This R3 unit is convinced that the weapon systems have been sabotaged by someone... or something... onboard this ship," Shaka explained, obviously irritated.

"Oh, well... hmmm... I shut them off, Shaka," Cayden replied, smiling. "We won't be needing the weapons at Abrae."

"Weary Resignation: Very well, sir. Just give me a call when you want me to vaporize something... something preferably of meatbag status," Shaka resigned wearily, apparently, and left the room.

Cayden left the room as well and walked up to the bridge and was approached by one of his B-1 Battledroids.

"Sir, we're receiving a distress signal from the nearby planet of Tadath," it said.

Cayden sighed and said "Very well... take us out of hyperspace, Shaka."

The ship shuddered as it exited hyperspace. It moved into orbit of the planet, Tadath.

"Sir, many ships detected in orbit. Scans show that they're VE Army transport ships. Also, one space station detected in orbit," the B-1 said.

"Contact the planet surface and tell them-" he said before he was cut off.

"I've already tried that, sir. No response from the surface has been made on any frequency," the droid responded.

"Alright, get is in range of the space station and open a channel," Cayden said, walking over to his chair.

"Yes sir," the B-1 said, pressing several keys on his console.

He sat down in the chair and said "VE Space Station, this is Master Chief Petty Officer Cayden Tavers of the Vast Empire Navy, on board personal transport Etere Videum. We are responding to your distress signal. Please respond."

An engineer appeared on the screen before him and said "Master Chief? This is Senior Sergeant Alanna Hansol. I am the lead engineer here on this station. I don't know who sent a distress signal, but we're glad you came when you did."

"Why's that, Doctor?" he asked.

"The Army transport shuttles have been unable to contact the Tadath Landing Facility on the planet surface. The station has only limited food, water, oxygen, and space for so many people. If you could link up to the station on an umbilical, you would be able to act as a temporary station until we can figure out how to resolve this issue," Alanna said.

Army personnel, on my ship? I'll never hear the end of it... he thought as he said "Very well, moving into position now."

"Thank you, Master Chief Tavers," she said before the transmission ended.

"Well, it could be worse... I could have to descend into the lower atmosphere of the planet to deploy a small team to infiltrate the landing facility to repair the problem," Cayden said.

"Observation: Sir, now that you have said that, it will happen," Shaka said in response to Cayden's out burst.

"Just get us next to that station so we can start bringing Army troop on board," he said, standing up. "You two, come with me!" Cayden pointed to two B-1 droids, and motioned them to follow him as he walked to the port airlock.

The ship shuddered as the umbilical from the station secured itself onto the airlock. The light turned green, indicating the umbilical was traversable.

---

Just because some Navy people hold contempt over the Army doesn't mean I do. Here is MCPO Cayden Tavers, ready to lend a hand for the Army personnel of the Vast Empire.