[Foothold]
Alarms blared in increasing volume with Vreva's return to consciousness. She felt hot blood drip down the back of her neck and clutched at a sharp pain hidden among her dark braids. Though a sharp whine of tinnitus drowned out most else, she vaguely heard Paumgon's low tone urging her to move. Move.
Move!
The Zabrak jolted upright and fumbled for the harness keeping her strapped to the pilot's seat of the Revenant. The Ghtroc Light Freighter was on fire. Smoke stung her eyes, and the scent of something particularly electric caught her nostrils. "Where are-?" she managed, before the Herglic's heavy hand brought her head down.
Slugs pierced the windshield and tore apart the seat where her head had rested moments before. Vreva ducked low and allowed Paumgon to drag her from the chair to the floor. Her rifle was thrust into her hands once she managed to pull herself up into a low crouch, and she slung the weapon over her shoulder. Instinct and adrenaline compelled her limbs to propel her forward after her companion.
The others - Luka, Diyrian, Alex, Sprocket - were nowhere in the cockpit. Whether they had gone on to continue the mission or were laying in the cargo hold dead, she did not know. She would ask Paumgon later. For now, she had to keep her own hide.
Most of the hull was still intact, and none of the Collective soldiers had yet to board the ship. Though she knew it was only a matter of time before they flooded the crash site. The sound of their footfalls surrounded the wreckage of the Ghtroc.
"How many outside?" She shouted over the sound of the alarm.
Paumgon gave her a stoic look that told her all she needed to know. Vreva loaded her rifle.
"Hold 'em here or rush 'em?"
"After you." The Herglic tossed out his Portable Wall. Hopefully the energy field would disperse any blaster fire from the Collective's droids, but it would be useless against the slugs.
"Ladies first, right?" Vreva gave a crooked smile before drawing her blade.
A *harumph* of mirth from him. "Ladies first."
Collective soldiers, connected through their wireless network, stopped in unison at their company leader's order. Their weapons were trained on the hull of the ship as each watched for movement within the smoke. A shout near the landing bridge brought their attention, each turning to witness a splash of blood and black ichor spray from a fatal wound as Vreva cut the first soldier's throat. As he fell, she moved to the next in a wild frenzy. She was not alone. Soldiers scattered as blaster fire from an MWC-35c Repeating Cannon covered her charge.
"Focus the gunner!" shouted the Collective company leader, pointing at the Herglic. Vreva turned her ire upon him. Red encircled her golden irises as she roared her challenge, rushing him with little care for the few blaster bolts that singed her skin. She launched herself at the man, her first thrust jarring against his armor, though the second found space between plates. Though she was too far gone into her rage to hear him, the blood he coughed up that splattered the inside of his helmet was enough for her to move on to the next opponent.