Fiction Activity

Competition
[PWG Week 2] - I Have the High Ground
Textual submission

Blaster fire rained down on TuQ’uan and his squad as they squatted behind the remains of a short, duracrete wall at the bottom of the hill. They grey gloomy sky threatened a storm. This was the first time the Kel Dor had held any military positions so he was just making it up as he went along.

“Listen, we have been tasked with an impossible mission, and I'm not going to waste my time lying to you, I have no idea what I'm doing right now,” TuQ’uan exclaimed to the soldiers placed under his command. “I'm also not going to waste my time learning any names.”

He pointed at a human soldier at the end of the wall, “hey ugly!”

The soldier looked around confused and pointed at himself.

“Yes, you!” he screamed, “I need a report on the situation, take a peek and see if you can find us an opening!”

The human cautiously poked his head around the corner. The soldier had his head a mere inch past the wall when he suddenly fell back unconscious.

“Well, now we know they have a sniper, at least he was useful. Now what about the rest of you,” he scanned the group in front of him. Starting at the end closest to the unconscious soldier TuQ’uan started grouping them together. “Alright, you five, run as fast and as you can and as far as you can down the left side of the hill. Try weaving while you run if you have to in order avoid their blaster fire. Once you are out of firing range I want you to climb the hill and flank them, make sure you stay low on approach to avoid being seen.” He turned to the group closest to the right hand side of the wall. “Alright, I want you five to do the same thing, except, you know, in the opposite direction.” Finally he turned to the group in the middle, “I want you three are going to lay down suppressing fire, make sure you keep our opponents occupied, don't let them get a chance to hit any more of our soldiers.”

“What about me sir?” a lone Rodian spoke up, the only soldier who hadn't been given an assignment, or unconscious.

The mercenary leader simple chuckled, “oh, you're coming with me, I have a very special assignment for you. Alright I'm going to countdown from thirty… no, that's too high, ten. I'm going to countdown from ten, when I reach zero everyone goes where I told them.”

TuQ’uan let the soldiers ready themselves before beginning the countdown. When he finished chaos ensued as the soldiers ran in the various directions zig zagging to avoid fire. Immediately three soldiers on the right were down, two on the left and the blasters providing cover fire were already getting close to overheating. TuQ’uan and his Rodian compatriot were walking down the hill in the complete opposite direction of the location they were tasked with capturing. *They look ridiculous*, the Kel Dor shook his head as he walked away from the engagement.

Two Hours Later.
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The cantina was packed and laughter filtered through the air as the front door slammed open. Fourteen mud covered soldiers walked through door with scowls on their faces. An ugly looking human lead the group, scanning the faces in the room as he pushed the patrons out of the way. As he approached the bar he spotted his target.

“I'm guessing we lost?” TuQ’uan quipped. Unamused with the Kel Dor’s sense of humour the ugly human soldier swung a wide haymaker aimed directly at the mercenary's skull. Connecting with a crack, TuQ’uan fell backwards from the stool he was sitting on, the Rodian watched with a nervous amazement.