The city shook. Buildings crumbled. Flaming streaks fell from the sky and tore into the permacrete streets.
Yet all through the bombardment, the citizens of Nordic hunkered down in basements, lobbies and even in the wharf, keeping hope alive. They huddled together, hundreds of thousands packed shoulder to shoulder in order to make the most of the few safe areas that the city had to spare.
"We're still within acceptable parameters," Mavis said. She and Ahor both stared at the battlefield display, which shook and went fuzzy every time the city was struck. "Losses are minimal, for now."
"Most of the impacts are on the outskirts," Ahor said, pointing to the pattern of impacts that traced the outline of the city.
"We're still losing buildings and people."
"I know."
Mavis opened her mouth to reiterate her point, but she quickly realized that, despite his curt reply, the deaths were weighing on the leader of the Rabble. His eyes looked even more sunken that usual, with dark lines settling under his eyelids.
The display shook once more and a fourteen story tower was shattered. It crumbled on the display and was suddenly gone, along with every person taking refuge inside.
"One more from the city center."
Ahor didn't reply this time. He just stayed quiet.
However, just as suddenly as it began, the bombardment ended. The shreds of black metal stopped falling from the atmosphere, though it would be several minutes before the last round actually hit the ground and the Rabble could breathe a sigh of relief.
"Sir-"
"Do it."
'Fire and rescue teams, you are clear to deploy. The priority is the old Czerka headquarters. They just fell," Mavis said, her comlink broadcasting across the city. "Hard contact, assist with digging. We will alert you when to get into position."
"Belay that."
Just as Mavis turned back to the display, a massive force appeared on the outskirts of the city. Hundreds, if not thousands of Blood Battalion troopers followed behind a line of heavy speeders, with equipment transports taking the rear. They approached from every direction at once, like a horde.
"Scratch that," she said over the comlink. "Hard contact teams, get into position now."
"They aren't going to give us a second to recover."
As Ahor said that, two heavy speeders simultaneously stepped foot on the few bridges leading into the city. A line of infantry followed behind them and behind the infantry came two more speeders.
That pattern continued as more and more of them started to boldly enter the city. They dispersed as soon as they had the space, content to slowly move through the rubble-strewn streets that had bustled with activity only days earlier.
A report on their datapads showed captured images of engineers with silver bands on their arms sweeping the narrow bridges for explosives and traps.
"I assume that means the nests are in place?"
Mavis waited a moment to scroll through the reports flooding in from across the city. "All but a few are ready. The razor lines are also done being deployed."
"That's incredible." Ahor smiled for the first time since the attack had started.
"They're still inside the city. You're being a bit cavalier."
"I don't think so." He turned to her with the utmost confidence in his eyes. "The fight may be just beginning, but we have the Bloods right where we want them."
