Prologue: Hero in Prison

15 AGrS, Coruscant, Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center

The Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center, was well known to hold a variety of prisoners such as Ziro the Hutt and bounty hunter Cad Bane. However, a new prisoner is added into the bunch. He sat in his cell depressed, crossing his fingers, and crying. His tears drop to the floor one by one, as he knows his time will come soon. He was tried and sent to the Central Detention Centre to await his coming execution by firing squad. He wears a grey trench coat with the insignia of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, over his green uniform. His pants were also green but with a long red streak going along the side of his pants, which were neatly tucked into his black boots that reach his knees. He is a young man with short ebony hair, a sharp face with a small yet sharp nose. His most noticeable feature was his face where his left cheek has been scared. Underneath his right forearm was the numbers 4859, tattooed onto his skin. This man is Field Marshal Mason Rommel, and this is his story of the Clone Wars.

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

13AGrS, Ryloth space

Commander Rommel stood on the bridge of the Separatist Destroyer, A Necessary Evil, knowing full well the situation of what will happen. He was just promoted to commander by Count Dooku due to his brilliant commanding and his ability to adapt to any situation. His orders are to invade Ryloth due its strategic placement on the Corellian Run will prove beneficial to the Confederacy. The remains of many Republic ships can be scene because of his last minute arrival.

Rommel's POV

Ryloth. My first mission to prove that I can control an army. It's been a few months after the beginning of the Clone Wars as the Holonet call it. To think that the Confederacy would be well prepared to fight such a war. Unfortunately, the Confederacy just lacks competent commanders. Many of these "generals" are just businessmen from the Trade Federation, Techno Union and all these big business that lack any knowledge of war while I have studied it. As I was looking at the Twi'lek homeworld, I got an incoming transmission.

The transmission came through and Emir Wat Tambor appears before the bridge. He is a 1.93 meter tall Skakoran male. He is the foreman for the Techno Union as well as an Executive for the Baktoid armor workshop. He is the man in charge of the Ryloth operation because of his reputation as a brilliant strategist as well as a master of fighting machines and defensive technology.

"Emir Wat Tambor, what a pleasure to talk with you". Tambor replied, "Enough of the pleasantries, I want your assurance that you can take the rest of the planet".

"I assure you, Ryloth will be taken and I promise you that nothing will stop the advance. Just make sure I have naval support and a blockade around Ryloth and everything will be just fine."

"I expect nothing less" said Wat Tambor angrily.

Another day as a commander..."Droid, how is our invasion force doing?"

"All troops are in the transports, and they are awaiting orders."

"What is your operating number?"

"OM-6". It stiffly stood up, like that of a tall statue, proud, confident, and unafraid.

"Well OM-6, I believe I shall call you a name"

OM-6 looked surprised, he twisted his head before saying," Why? Many of the commanders before just call us droids"? I cringed at the title commander

"Are you questioning my orders?" giving a slight smirk while mock anger.

"No, no sir, I wasn't" hesitated OM-6 fearing for his non existent life.

I laughed, "calm down Roger, I ain't going to hurt you, it would be a waste to end your nonexistent life now".

"Roger Roger" replied the newly christened droid.

I swear, these droids always say those two annoying words. Worse than that, the droids combat capabilities are worse than a Tusken Raiders'. The only effective way to use these droids is through sheer numbers and closely coordinated air strikes. This way, the strikes would hit the defences while the sheer numbers will just overwhelm the defenders. However, I fear I might get caught into a quagmire. I have 10,000 battle droids of various models, 85 Armored Assault Tanks, 1,500 vulture droid fighters, 3 C-9979 landing crafts, 6 Multi-Troop Transport, 3 Platoon Assault Crafts, and 750 hyena bombers for the invasion. What's worse is the presences of Republic clone troops on the surface. The Republic clone troopers are well known for their undying loyalty to their commander as well as their combat abilities being second to none.

Despite the initial supremacy of Ryloth's space, the Republic and Twi'lek fighters are still holding out. From my knowledge, there are six cities, yet to be taken. The first is the second capital city, Lessu; the second is Nabat; the third is the first capital city, Kala'unn; the fourth is Kala'din, the fifth is Leb'reen; and the last city is Sal'Kaasa. Emir Wat Tabor claims he needs another battalion to take the planet. Unfortunately, I was assigned my own personal division. The 7th Armoured Division. I am responsible for the taking of Nabat and Lessu. Apparently, the other commanders will take the other cities.

"Roger, bring up the holo maps of the planet below" I said to Roger. "Roger, Roger" he replied and on the holodesk was the holomap of the planet below with the two cities highlighted. I see multiple blue units which represent the Republic, while there is almost thrice as many red units which represent the Confederacy. The first city, Nabat, is heavily defended despite the constant bombardment of our bombers. What's worse is the rubble is used as barriers and refitted to create bunkers making any presence of an armoured assault impossible. Reports from the Emir read 'droid casualties rising around the Nabat area due continuous reinforcements and ambushes from the buildings, becoming more challenging due to the presence of a Anti Air Artillery platform'. The capital city of Lessu, was reported as a fortress city, with multiple Artillery platforms, Republic All Terrain Tactical Enforcers, Republic Self Propelled Artillery, and many Republic troopers and Twi'lek fighters. What's worse is the canyon. It surrounds the entire city making any attempt by air futile.

"Roger, tell me your input on how to attack"? I already had an idea, but I would like to hear what the droid would say. "I don't know sir, I am not a commander droid" replied Roger. Probably should have expected that. Oh well, time to reveal the plan. "Alright, Roger, we have two cities to conquer before the we take the planet. How this is going to work is, we land the transport near Nabat, and we rush our tanks past any defenses and strike at the anti air artillery platform and they will continue to move inland, destroying key strategic targets and capturing the Republic's Low Altitude Assault Transport/Infantry and repainting them black" Roger asked "How are we going to decide what are strategic targets or not?" I replied, "Simple, I'll be leading the charge inside the Armored Assault Tanks". "But sir, why?" shrieked Roger, in an higher pitch than the regular droids. "Three reasons, one, Emir Wat Tambor, would most likely annoy me with his constant 'Updates'; two I prefer to lead in the front in order to make battlefield corrections; three, I want you to command the troops following behind the tanks to take the city." "Sir, are you giving me a promotion?" he said hopefully. I swear, if he was human, it would look cute. "Yes, I am giving you command of the infantry and once you hear me take out anti air, you will have the bombers, fighters, and infantry to take the city." he cheerfully exclaimed "Thank you sir, thank you, I won't let you down." "Now, that's settled, we have an operation to commence in 4 hours, tell the troops to double check their equipment and I want them to make sure they follow the rules of war. Am I understood, because if I hear that one of my droids commit a war crime, I will shoot it myself." I replied stern fully, because what I hate more are generals with no regard for the rules of war. Roger replied "Roger, Roger".