Nihl and Shadow Intro Thread

[Wisconsin Wookie]

In many ways it has been a good couple of days off back at Kamino. The rest never hurts and seeing where it all started brings with it a certain nostalgia. Being veterans, Nihl and Shadow have received a lot of respect from the newly minted versions of the original. On the flip-side, they have also fielded a lot of questions about combat and what it is like to be out on the battle field.

All things considered, both are happy to be back in action. Granted, it was a drill, but it just felt right to be gearing up for battle. The two troopers are both crouching in the doorway, lost in their thoughts, when suddenly the countdown sequence begins, "10, 9,..."

[dadofett]

...8, 7, 6 ...

Nihl's thoughts return to where they always do...the men that he has lost under his command. He knows they were just clones, but they were men nonetheless.

...5, 4, 3 ...

He looks around and the new fresh "faces" around him. This is as real as it has ever been for them. Little do they know that even this high tech drill doesn't even approach the horror of real battle.

...2, 1 ....

He pushes his thoughts down low. Auto pilot kicks in now. Muscles tense, pupils dilate, Nihl's always ready for the fight.

... BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ .....

Nihl turns the corner, ready for whatever comes at him.

[Flyboy2002]

As the soft female voice calmly counts down, Shadow remembers how excited he was the first time he had a drill like this in training. Even through the armor he can see the anxiety of the newer clone troopers, not really sure what they are getting into but excited none the less. Shadow has seen this thing before and the artificiality of it is angering at times but it does have its benefits, however, unrealistic it is compared to the fog of war that is really experienced.

He energizes his blaster rifle and prepares to enter. Shadow is happy to be working under the command of Nihl again and he has the utmost respect for his word and commands. He has been the scout for many operations and is always the point man for the team. He readies as the countdown passes 2. And at 1, he rounds the corner early knowing that Nihl is never late, and that he is the point man. First in, last out.

[Wisconsin Wookie]

Just before turning the corner, the two war vets notice this drill is a bit different than the ones they used to run. They are about to enter a maze. Their mission is simple: eliminate all unfriendlies and do it as quickly as possible, without losing a man.

All the new troopers gathered around Nihl and Shadow are anxious to be sure, but they will have to wait for the moment. The drill today will be done by twos, and they are all nervous at just how high these two ARC Troopers will set the bar. As the countdown ends, a cheer goes up from the other troopers and the two vets are off.

Shadow
Shadow enters the maze just ahead of Nihl, but he can feel the Captain right on his left hip. Staring down the sight of his blaster rifle, he sees no enemies present themselves. But, he does notice that in about 10 feet, there will be a corridor that branches off to the left while the current one continues straight for the whole length of the maze.

Nihl
Nihl notices that Shadow jumped the gun just a hair to get out front, but then again that is his job. Nihl is thankful for a second-in-command who doesn't have to be told what to do. Moving just to the left of Shadow, Nihl notices no immediate threats, but can hear the faint clanking of metal on floor moving in your direction from the left.

(ooc - I will try to figure out how to paste a map on the post, in the meantime, list any clarification needed in paranthesis just like this one)

[Wisconsin Wookie]

(ooc - both Nihl and Shadow are carrying their blasters, comlinks and one ion grenade for the drill)

[dadofett]

"Heartless, gutless, droids.... they're all the same", Nihl allows himself the indulgence of a running commentary...after all, it's only a drill.

Glad to have Shadow as his right hand man and scout, Nihl stays at his left as they advance in a crouched, ready position down the straight corridor. He trains his blaster just in front of the corridor to the left.

"If this droid is like all the others, he'll round that corner without a care in the world..."

Nihl feels his internal clock ticking..."need to set the bar for these new boys."

[Flyboy2002]

Understanding that the purpose is to clear the area quickly, Shadow abandons his normally stealthy approach for a surprise strategy, figuring those droids aren't expecting shots so early and with no notice. As he approaches the corridor to the left he listens to see how close the droid probably is down the hall. Not sure if there are any non combatants in this drill he is slightly cautious. "Sir, I will assess the situation and get to the far side of the hall," he says in a whisper. As they near the corridor to the left he speeds up to a run for a few steps, enough to get some speed and he slides his legs out in front of him and lets his armor slide him on his side across the floor to the other side of the corridor opening, while facing down the hall with his blaster ready. He looks down the hall to assess the force and is he sees only droids he will take a pop shot (at a severely hindered roll I am sure) before taking cover on the ground on the far side. He raises his hand with fingers raises to indicate the number if any he sees to Nihl.

[Wisconsin Wookie]

Shadow
Thankfully the worker droids on Kamino keep the floors shiny and well-waxed, and Shadows slide goes quickly, and almost too well. As he zooms across the floor, he notices a squad of four battle droids walking down the center hallway. Preparing to take a shot, his momentum actually rotates him off kilter. He comes to a stop where he intended, but with his back to the wall. He quickly rights himself and holds up four fingers, signaling to Nihl.

Nihl
He watches as Shadow quickly gets across the opening and holds up four fingers. Nodding an affirmative, Nihl sets himself up at the corner of the intersection, across from Shadow and ready for action. He hears one metallic voice say, "What was that?" Another droid answers in reply, "I didn't see anything."

[Flyboy2002]

Shadow looks at Nihl and holds up a figure to indicate to wait a second, and he pulls out the ion grenade. Not wanting to expend it this early in the exercise, he ensures the safety is still on and that the activation button is still covered and not pressed.

He keeps kneeling behind the cover of the wall and wings the grenade down the hall attempting to bounce it past the droids so they hear it behind them.

He waits patiently for a reaction from the droids (hopefully they turn around) and looks at Nihl to coordinate their attack. He waits with blaster rifle ready to turn the corner.

(OOC - Planning to turn and take two shots on the droids, sorting right to left to deconflict from Nihl)

[Wisconsin Wookie]

Nihl
Nihl watches as Shadow hurls the grenade down the hallway, surprised that he would burn it so early. After moment he hears the grenade clank down the hallway and gets ready to give the order.

Shadow
While Shadow does not see it, the toss is near perfect, as the grenade lands among the droids and bounces around beneath their feet. One voice is heard to say: "Uh-oh." Shadow looks to Nihl, waiting for an order.

[dadofett]

Nihl takes a breath and responds in the comm link with "HIT IT!" as he nods his head.

He times it so he turns the corner at just the right moment and coordinates his two shots with Shadow, just like they've done so many times before.

[Flyboy2002]

On Nihl's command, Shadow cracks just enough of his body around the corner to be able to target the right two droids and take 2 shots (hopefully while they are still oblivious to what is going on.)

[Wisconsin Wookie]

Shadow
Shadow peeks around the corner and smiles underneath his helmet, 'All too easy.'  His two shots at near point blank range eliminate the two battle droids; one through the head and the other through the chest.  Out of the corner of his eye, Shadow sees Nihl come around the corner, blasting away.

Nihl
As soon as he gives the command, Nihl comes quickly around the corner, blaster at the ready.  Two shots pass him down the right side of the hallway and two battle droids go down.  Nihl notices the droids staring down at the ion grenade that inexplicably did not go off.His first shot takes the head off of the lead battle droid and his second shot hits the lone remaing droid and sends him flailing back against the wall, but not quite out of the action.

(ooc - The maze has the dimensions of a football field.  You are in a hallway running down the middle, or the 50 yard line. This hallway runs all the way across to the far wall where it hits a 'T' intersection.  About halfway down, i.e. midfield, there is a four-way intersection.  Make sense?)

[Flyboy2002]

(ooc - not at all, I am confused as to where we are in the maze. Is it the shape of a rectangle with a cross hallway through the middle? Also how high are the walls and what are they made of??)

Regardless . . .

Shadow sees the droids go down and storms around the corner blasting the last fallen droid to destruction. Once he is sure these guys are destroyed he grabs up his ion grenade and searches the droid debris. He grabs the dismembered head of the least lucky droid and clips the dangling wires from the neck to his utility belt for later use and grabs up two of their blasters as well. As he quickly finishes his collections and picks up the unused grenade he looks at Nihl and says, "you would have thought they would have programmed them to not be so gullible by now. Anyway the other droids had to have heard those shots we should keep moving." He takes a knee, raises his blaster. and watches the hallway away from Nihl awaiting his direction.

[Wisconsin Wookie]

(ooc - I will hopefully have a map posted this afternoon.)