My sincere apologies about the lack of updates that I had on. My Semester 1 exams were on and I had to study for them over the last three weeks. Anyway, as promised here is the next chapter. Enjoy.
The hold up was driving some of the officers mad.
"Come on people let's move!" One of the GA colonels was more than impatient. His tanks had been sitting there for some time and his artillery needed to be brought to bear.
"Sir." It was one of the lieutenants, "We are pinned in a chokepoint."
"Has anyone tried flanking yet?"
"Yes sir, but they just expanded their defences to handle the flanking. They'd set up ambushes sir."
The colonel snorted to himself. These invaders were smart, it would be best not to underestimate them too much, that could only lead to one end and it was an end he was not willing to consider. "Prepare to break ranks and move into the nearby streets. If we can't break it," he turned his attention to the head of the column, lost somewhere in the mass of buildings, "Then we go around it."
Unfortunately for this officer, the news had been a little late. No sooner had the troops begun to break their lines and move towards the side streets then there was a cry of "Incoming!"
-------------------------------------
Plasma mortar shells smashed into the tanks and the general centre of the mass of infantry and armour. In the midst of it all, a single beam rifle shot left the troops commander less. With grim satisfaction the Zealot lowered the zoom on his lenses. If that order had come through just a short while ago, then they could have been fighting a much harder battle. Leaderless troops are easier to beat, than well led units. Turning to the Grunt Sergeant he nodded. With a short sharp bark into his radio the Grunt gave the order.
"Fire rockets!"
With a hiss of escaping radioactive gas the Fuel Rod Cannons spat out their deadly projectiles. At this close short range they couldn't miss. Explosions and lethal radiation rocked the column and more than a few lost their lives as a result of the explosive energy ripping through their cover. Deadly plasma rifle shots tore through the air, lacing it with lethal fire.
------------------------------------
In orbit the Elites kept a tight formation, their Battlecruisers and Assault Carriers using overlapping layers of defense to increase their firepower and double up their shields. Dozens of fighters nipped in and around them, keeping the pressure up on the fighter bombers of the GA and making them suffer for every shot they managed to get off. Onboard the flagship of the fleet the Supreme Commander was watching two separate screens very carefully. One showed the tactical layout of his fleet in orbit and the other showed the stats of his army on the ground. Both displays were giving him cause for concern. The ground offensive was going well, that much he had to admit, but it remained to be seen if the GA did not try to perform some sort of rearguard action where they would sneak past his defences and attack from the rear. Doubtless they would, but he was more concerned as to when it would happen. His lack of intelligence as to this was a cause for concern. What made other things difficult was that he had to keep this formation or risk having their ranks broken. As it was they had to remain stationary. Movement would leave stragglers and they would be picked off like animals by carrion. The Supreme Commander was a strong willed individual, all could say that, so it did not appeal to him to see his opponent winning the battle so completely. It rather infuriated him. He turned and stalked over to where his display listed the resources he had left. Out of the one hundred and twenty ships he had taken into this battle, ninety six remained. Still a formidable fleet, but he was missing several vital pieces. By his estimate, that's all it was, his opponents had lost a significant number of ships, at least three time as many, mostly by throwing themselves at the well defended ships. He needed a breach point.
----------------------------------
"Ship Master."
"Yes Supreme Commander?"
"What's the status of the fleet sending down transports to the surface?"
"They are largely intact sir. Mostly they are cycling ships in to reinforce the ranks of the attacking fleet."
The Carrier shook suddenly. The Supreme Commander took a moment to examine his scopes.
"Number four flight, keep a tighter watch on those fighter bombers."
"Acknowledged Supreme Commander."
With a sublime hiss three more plasma torpedoes launched from the forward tubes of the Carrier. They splattered on the shields of a cruise that had gotten too close for comfort. Shields dropped to a staggering twenty per cent and the cruiser backed out of the danger zone quickly. The Supreme Commander sighed slightly to himself. This defensive strategy could not continue if he was to have a victory in this long drawn out battle. With a roar he noted something disturbing. The assault fleet was sending own more transports. While it meant that the surface snakehead strategy was succeeding, they would eventually be overwhelmed. He had to intervene now.
---------------------------------
"All ships this is the Supreme Commander. All ships prepare to attack on my mark. Also, prepare boarding parties."
From the bowels of his own ship he could hear the cheers. A winking light on his arm rests drew his attention. With a deft claw touch he activated it. "Supreme Commander."
"Sir, it is I." The Fleet Master from Naboo spoke quickly. "Is this wise, we have little troops aboard in case of an emergency."
"We must use the element of surprise that we still retain Fleet Master."
"I know sir, but our formation can be broken if we move."
"Such a fact has already come to my attention."
"I just want to know what your strategy is for our mass movement."
The Supreme Commander turned his head slightly away from the microphone for a brief few seconds as he thought about his answer. Then he replied.
"We will move our fleet in synch at the same speed until I give the word and we will then stagger to cover our boarding ships, at that point we will retreat as they do their work."
"What of the enemy admiral?"
The Supreme Commander turned his gaze to the screen displaying his opponents ship. It had not entered the fray as his had done, choosing instead to hold back and observe the battle. The image of a puppet master sprang to mind. Reaching out into his mind the Supreme Commander racked is brains as he attempted to guess his counter orders.
"His ships are spread out, they will attempt to return to cohesion before we strike as they will believe us to be attacking them. We will go for the largest straggler and from there we will launch our boarding parties."
"I see."
"Yes you will."
This battle will be ending soon enough and it's plain sailing form then til the end.