+++
The Imperial Fleet poured out of hyperspace in a high orbit above the Planet Garqi. Scout vehicles and Tie craft dropped from the bays of carriers and Star Destroyers in still formidable numbers. Corvettes and Light cruisers surged ahead, moving into lower orbits to scan the surface of the planet.
"Enemy forces coming up from the planet. Two squadrons and three Corvette analogs." Reported sensors. "The Corvette's are angling to slip around the planet and escape."
"Deploy sufficient numbers to deal with their fighters. Can we catch those Corvettes?" Asked Burgan.
"No Admiral. They'll be away before any of our ships can transit to the other side of the planet."
"Don't bother with them then, just have a ship record their jump vector. As soon as the enemy fighters are destroyed begin a full orbital survey. I want escorted landing craft on their way to ground in thirty minutes."
The High Admiral waved over Dorja.
"Yes sir?" Inquired the older man.
"I'd like you to send four of your best pilots along to help escort the landing barges. Your people still have more experience fighting these aliens... er Vong than my people do. They may adapt faster to tactics they use for fighting on the ground or in atmosphere."
"Understood."
+++
Jag lead his flight in a long sweeping arc around a group of AT-AT barges as they descended through the Atmosphere. Air friction reduced the speed and maneuverability of Tie's in atmosphere considerably but there were positives as well. Any pilot that ejected had no need to worry about freezing to death or running out of air like in the depths of space.
Reports were starting to come in from the ships in orbit about odd star shaped structures in or near the planet's cities. Columns of what looked like prisoners had also been seen along with large shambling things that could have been ground vehicles or large creatures.
Because Garqi was a farming world there were no shortage of landing sites. Transports and landing craft chose to set down in a series of fields ten kilometres south of the main population center. There were raised roads, tree lines, and a few small bridges that stood between the landing zone and the city. Though any of them could be used to slow the Imperial advance, this was the most defensible landing zone this close to the city.
Two Squadrons of Assault Gunboats and one squadron of Skiprays hung in the air suspended by repulsors. They formed a loose circle surrounding the landing zone facing outward. Anything approaching the transports would have to deal with the powerful vehicle's cannon and missiles. Just inside the ring formed by the fighters landed the Sentinel class Landing craft, deploying Troops to better form a perimeter. Inside that ring the large transport barges finally were disgorging walkers.
One squadron of Defenders one of Gauntlets and six Interceptor Squadrons patrolled the surrounding airspace, careful not to get in the way of the transport craft. Once their walkers had been deployed the barges lifted off and headed back into orbit. Half of the Sentinels went back into orbit as well but the other half stayed and joined the Gunboats as low hovering fire support vehicles. A wave of Assault Shuttles came down and began securing bridges and roads that would be needed to advance to the city. Heavily armed troopers, some in power armour, began taking up stations at these strategic points.
AT-ST's and Stormtroopers began advancing outward from the landing zone, moving quickly to reach the points secured by the heavy troops. AT-AT formations began to lumber across the fields, taking their time and letting the AT-ST's do their job. Things continued without incident and the AT-ST's soon reached the first bridge. The bridges on Garqi were strongly built, intended to allow the heavy droid operated farming equipment to easily pass the large waterways scattered around. The waterways themselves were shallow enough that the walkers could have waded across but that would have slowed things down.
Then combat reports started to come in. A unit that had taken a crossroads near the main waterway separating them from the city was under attack. They were being hit with what appeared to be large bugs. The veteran Sergeant on the com was calmly describing the alien weapon creatures.
"Approximately hand size give or take. They have a razor sharp front and wings that they use to fly and steer themselves. They can be taken out with blasters but they're fast. They can cut through trooper armour when they build up enough speed."
The com cut off for a second then resumed.
"Enemy forces are located in a forested area just east of our position. Requesting fire support."
Right away a wing pair of Defenders and a squadron of Interceptors pealed of from their patrol and opened fire on the kilometre long triangle of forest. Fighters dropped down to hover over the Stormtrooper positions, firing laser cannon wherever the troopers directed their fire. Razor bugs pinged off of Starfighter armour or shields having no effect. Some small explosive bugs also joined in the mix but had no effect. AT-ST's were just starting to reach the crossroads when the hail of alien bugs stopped. The Interceptors ceased their strafing runs as more troops and vehicles approached along the road.
A heavy landing barge carrying a groundside shield generator touched down at the main landing zone. Though the defensive ring of fighters around the LZ had spread out there was still more than enough to fast counter any threat. Seeing this Jag pulled his flight farther away from the LZ, about half the distance to the city. From here they could more easily see the Crossroads and parts of the city opposite the waterway.
"Incoming Artillery fire! Evacuate the crossroads!" Yelled an Interceptor pilot on high flight.
Jag looked and sure enough a golden ball of plasma arced across the water from the city and hit the crossroad. The Scout Walkers and two Tie's hovering there were blasted away in different directions. The boxy walkers ripping apart like flimsiplast crates and the fighters exploding as their engines were melted through. White encased bodies and parts thereof flew in all directions.
More plasma blasts arced in from three other points inside the city, pounding the surrounding roads. Surviving troopers began an orderly charge into the forested area off of the road as they waited for the AT-AT's to reach them. The enemy plasma artillery fire did not stray south of the main road except for on the approaches from the bridge. Before long the AT-AT's and escorts were forced farther south to avoid the barrage. Instead they began to cut across the open field to reach the road coming up to the crossroads from the south east.
+++
General Richardson, who had come down to the surface on the heavy shield carrying barge, wasn't happy with what he was seeing. He had been hoping to capture the city with as little collateral damage as possible. The ships in orbit were able to locate pockets of life forms on the planet but it was hard to tell what were civilians. Killing civilians and non-combatants, even accidentally, was one way to get the big General angry. If there was a good enough reason he would allow it but he had executed soldiers before for the unneeded slaughter of civilians.
Garqi Agricultural University sprawled across one side of the city and was the source of most of the life form readings. One artillery piece was firing from the University Campus with three more scattered in the cover of the city just in from the small river. In adjacent or blocking buildings were human life signs. He cursed the alien's attempt at spiting him. The roads and open fields leading to the river would be a killing ground for any forces that tried to cross them. AT-AT's with their direct fire cannons couldn't hope to reach the enemy vehicles. XR-85 Tank droid's would have been handy now but it would take too long for some to arrive.
He picked up his com and looked up the starfighter Commanders in the air. "Colonel Fel, this is General Richardson. I want you to take a high flight over the enemy positions. I'm having the 420th wing's Squadron Two accompany you up. If you think you can hit a target do so. If you cant crack those Artillery from up top let me know, I can divert some Gunboats."
"Order Acknowledged." Responded Fel.
Richardson turned to an aid. "Get me some Tie Bombers down here with precision munitions. And bring in a Corvette or two, it'll be faster than trying to deploy a self-propelled Turbolaser."
The aid ran off to carry out the task as another began to report in. "Sir our infantry that's pulled back to the forest to avoid the artillery is under heavy attack."
"Let me see."
The holo display lit up showing the transponder locations of all ground troops and forces in that area. The Soldiers had fought their way into the trees pushing back the enemies that had occupied the area in minutes. Now the aliens appeared to have organised a counter attack and positions were crumbling.
"Enemy forces are reported to be using close combat tactics. They... I believe they're armed with some kind of vibroblade sir. Troopers report that their armour is being cut through with single hits. Enemy armour is taking two or three solid hits from standard blaster rifles."
"Can you get me visual?"
The aid hit a few buttons and a side display switched to showing the image from a Stormtrooper's small mission recorder holocam. They were being steadily pushed back by a swarm of short creatures armed with small curving weapons. Their numbers alone were causing problems. Behind and sometimes among them were tall thin looking humanoids armed with long coiling whip like weapons.
"Emperor's black bones."
The Trooper, using his carbine in one hand and a sidearm in another, was firing as fast as he could to keep aliens back. Then when a hole opened in the line one of the tall ones from the back rushed forward, swinging its weapon around like a sling thrower. It sidestepped a blaster bolt, took another to its chitinous looking armour then swung its weapon across decapitating the trooper.
At least Richardson assumed the man had been decapitated, since the camera view spun showing alternating ground and sky before landing next to a headless body.
"Pull them back. Pull them back to the south east! Have them meet up with the Walkers coming up that road. When the majority of the troops are clear of the forest have the AT-AT's and Interceptors burn what's left of it."
036