Chapter 10
*One day after receiving the message*
"Captain, we've discovered something I think you should see!" a lieutenant called out from his station.
Lasky walked over to the lieutenant's station and looked at his monitor. "What am I looking at?"
"I don't know, sir. But it's some sort of fighter."
"It's too risky to send any of our intelligence officers to investigate," Lasky said.
"Maybe the Rebels would know something?" Lasky's XO said.
Lasky thought for a moment. "Is Commander Bridger here today?"
"Yes sir. He's in the ODST training deck with Rebel Commander Wren and Spartan Buck," an ensign reported.
"Good. Tell Buck I need them to meet me in my quarters," Lasky said. "XO, you have the Con."
"Yes sir!"
...
BLAM! BLAM!
"Great shooting you two!" Buck said with a grin.
Sabine and Ezra both stood up, also grinning.
"I like this gun," Sabine said, holding her BR55 battle rifle. "It's got a kick to it."
"I like the Magnum better," Ezra said, patting his holstered M6G Magnum. He slung his own BR55 around his shoulders.
"Of course you do," Sabine smiled. "You've never been one to use rifles. Just a blade and occasionally a blaster pistol."
"They're both incredible weapons. If anything the BR55 and the M6G are about equal in strength if operated properly," Buck said. "But at least that's my opinion."
"Spartan Buck! Captain Lasky would like to see Commanders Bridger and Wren in his quarters immediately!"
Ezra and Sabine looked at each other, then to Buck.
"I'm guessing we're done for now. Unload your weapons," Buck said.
Sabine and Ezra both unloaded their BR55s and M6Gs, racking the slide to discharge the chambered bullets and set them back on their designated racks. Then they followed Buck out of the training deck and to Lasky's quarters.
"Are we in trouble for something?" Ezra asked.
"I don't think so. I've been supervising your every move and as far as I know you haven't broken regulation. Either of you for that matter," Buck said, sounding equally confused.
They made it to Lasky's quarters and they walked in to be greeted by a seemingly concerned Lasky.
"Captain! Rebel Commanders Bridger and Wren as requested, sir!" Buck said, saluting the Captain.
"At ease, all three of you. Buck, if you don't mind I'd like to have a word with these two in private," Lasky said.
"Yes sir," Buck said. He shot Ezra and Sabine a quick glance and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Please, sit," Lasky said gesturing to a couple chairs.
Ezra and Sabine took their seats.
"Would any of you like a drink?"
"I'm good, thanks," Sabine said.
"Can I have a water?" Ezra asked.
"Of course," Lasky said as he grabbed a couple glasses out of the cupboard.
"Make that two then," Sabine said.
Lasky smiled as he grabbed a third glass and filled all three with water. He then handed one to each of the teens and sat down himself.
"If I may ask, sir," Sabine began, "what's this about? Are we in any kind of trouble?"
"No, you're not in trouble. I just wanted to ask you a few questions about something we discovered."
Ezra and Sabine looked at each other, then back at Lasky.
"Do you know anything about this ship?" Lasky asked as he held up a datapad with a picture of the TIE fighter.
"You mean the TIE Defender? Yeah we know a few things," Ezra said.
"The TIE Defender is heavily armed and shielded, able to wipe out a squadron of our A-wings by itself. So far the only thing able to rival that are our X-wings, but only barely," Sabine said.
"There's a Defender factory on my home world," Ezra spoke sadly.
"Really?" Lasky asked.
"We've been planning on attacking Lothal for a while, to destroy the factory and liberate his homeworld," Sabine said. "He helped me liberate my family from the Empire, thus also liberating my home planet of Krownest. I've been wanting to help him do the same for his world."
"And the reason you haven't done anything is because of the Empire?"
Ezra nodded. "Last I've heard it's under a heavy Imperial blockade. We can't get through it."
"So you want to liberate your homeworld, and there's also a high value target on it..." Lasky said.
"What are you thinking?" Sabine asked.
"I'm thinking I need all the data you have about that blockade, Lothal, that factory and the fighters they produce," Lasky replied.
... *Two hours later*
"General Syndulla," a rebel captain (army) began. "The Infinity is hailing us."
"Put it through," Hera replied.
A blue hologram of Lasky appeared before Hera.
"Captain, is there something I can help you with?"
"Yes, there is. It's come to our attention there's a major threat in the Lothal system," Lasky said.
"Indeed. Imperial factory that produces a highly advanced TIE fighter called the..."
"TIE Defender. I asked Ezra and Sabine about all they know about it and I had data transferred to our system," Lasky said.
"What are you planning?" Hera asked. "I'm not sure the Rebellion can pull off any sort of attack if that's what you're getting at."
"Not alone you can't," Lasky hinted.
"You can't be serious! We have a pretty large fleet, I'll admit, but the Imperial blockade is a full armada of warships! Would the Covenant be helping?"
"No, I contacted them and they agreed to stand guard here and defend the base if anything happens."
"So how is this going to go down, then?" Hera said, her full attention on Lasky.
"Since they have the factory on the surface, it's entirely likely there would be a few Defenders mixed with the normal TIEs. We'll first have to take them out or distract them. As for the blockade itself, we would have to clear some ships before deploying the drop pods."
"Drop pods? You mean escape pods?"
"Not exactly, no. Our ODST units are called helljumpers for a reason. Commander Bridger, would you care to explain?"
Ezra appeared on the holotable as did a schematic for the Infinity.
"You see, whenever the word is given, multiple pods, each holding one ODST soldier, are launched from these launch tubes."
Bright blue pods appear from Infinity's underside, a dotted line leaving a trail. "These pods are meant to be launch from low orbit and once they finish the re-entry and just free falling towards the surface, the air brakes deploy automatically, slowing the pod enough so when they land, the soldiers inside don't die. I've seen these pods before and they hit the ground hard," Ezra said.
"The pods have inertial dampeners and shock absorbers so while they hit hard, the man inside only feels a heavy jolt. The pods are also equipped with a control surface so the man inside can maneuver the pod to a certain course. We could land right on their front door if we wanted," Lasky said then.
A simulation appeared as Lasky spoke, "However that would endanger the civilians. While we would be inside their lines, they have a clear path to the civies, allowing them to hold them hostage. We'd be powerless."
"So where would you drop the pods?" Hera asked.
"Roland," Lasky said and the AI appeared on the holoterminal, the simulation shifting.
"We intend to drop the pods just outside the city, and if there are open areas within, we would deploy saboteurs behind their lines. They're mission would be to disable as many anti infantry defenses the Empire may have."
"They have a lot of AT-DP walkers inside the city," Hera said. "I believe they would also have a few tanks and definitely some transports."
"The walkers and tanks would be priority. The transports should be relatively easy for our forces," Lasky said.
Hera agreed, "They usually pose not much of a threat, unless we're caught unprepared. But since they're transports, they would be carrying Imperial reinforcements."
"Is there anything else I should know about their defenses?" Lasky asked.
"Their transports are usually escorted by speeders, which are relatively easy to take out most of the time," Hera replied.
"We can't take any chances," Lasky said. "I'm going to need more information about their defenses. Going to need pinpoint locations, schedules, troop movements, everything."
"That's what we do best," Hera said. She looked at Sabine through the communication, "Sabine will help you with that. She used to be a cadet at the Imperial Academy on her homeworld of Mandalore. She knows their protocols and radio frequencies."
"I thought your homeworld was Krownest," Lasky said.
"It is... I was born on Krownest, but my heritage belongs to Mandalore," Sabine said.
"Her ancestors," Ezra whispered to the UNSC Captain, who nodded.
"Alright, Sabine do your thing," Hera said.
"Captain?" Sabine asked for permission.
"Granted."
Sabine walked over to a separate communications console and began reworking the comms. She was able to hack into the Imperial frequency on Lothal, but there was a problem.
"I got their signal, but it's very spotty I can't understand what they're saying. We either need to get closer, or send a relay probe to strengthen the signal," she said.
"Our ships would be detected too easily. We'll use the probes," Lasky said as he turned to an officer. "Deploy the probes."
The Infinity deployed multiple relay probes to several key locations around Lothal, some being set deep into the Lothal solar system, while others were close enough to provide distinct details of the surface. The closer probes were equipped with cloaks to prevent detection and their slipspace modules would open and close a slipspace rupture so fast it would only seem like a small flash of light from a distant star.
"Captain, I'm getting a signal from our probes," the officer reported.
"May I check the position of those probes?" Hera requested.
"Of course. Send it through," Lasky ordered.
A live simulation of the probes appeared on Hera's side of the communication. She studied the position and frowned.
"Captain, two of your closest probes to the planet are in front of a hyperspace lane. You need to move them to a different spot. If a ship flew through there, they would hit the probes," she said.
"It would take a couple minutes, but we'll get right on that," Lasky said, signalling his officer to maneuver the two probes.
"Captain, one of our farther probes is picking up a hyperspace signature. It's heading towards Lothal!"
"Get those probes moved, now!"
The probes maneuvering thrusters were working fine, but the active cloak uses up so much power the thrusters are unable to function at full efficiency.
"First probe is clear of the Hyperspace lane!" the officer reported, as he continued focusing all his attention to the second probe.
The probe was right at the edge of the lane, and the incoming starship was getting closer. Nobody could tell if the probe was going to make it or not.
"Border of the hyperspace lane crossed in 3..."
The ship in hyperspace looked like it was right on top of the cloaked probe.
"2..."
Tension filled the room. If that ship hits the probe, the entire mission could be a bust.
"1..."
Everybody is now very tense and anxious.
With the probe, the ship drops out of hyperspace right next to it. The Imperial I-class Star Destroyer begins an orbital burn to join it's comrades in the blockade's formation at the front and center, narrowly missing the probe by mere inches.
Everybody lets out a sigh of relief, the tension now released into the atmosphere.
"That was close," Ezra said.
"Perhaps too close. Looks like we need the maps. It will help ups navigate where the hyperspace lanes are. Especially the busy ones," Lasky said.
"Well I think you also have some advantages when jumping," Hera began. "We can't detect an incoming ship until the ruptures appear. How fast can you guys leave the slipspace rupture?"
"It depends on how urgent the situation is. If it's a combat scenario, we can leave the slipstream very fast. However, we usually take it slower if things are calm," Lasky said.
"So basically we wouldn't know you are coming until it's too late?"
"Exactly. With that we also have the element of surprise. If we are to catch the Imperials off guard, I suggest my fleet jump in first, then after we're clear of slipspace, we'll signal you."
"We have some coordinates in deep space, just outside the Imperials scanners. It should take us no more than about 5 seconds for us to arrive at max speed," Hera said.
"When you get to the staging grounds, it be best to double check your fighter and bomber wings for full charges, bombs, torpedoes, fuel, everything," Lasky said.
"All part of protocol," Rex said with a grin.
"Captain Rex, it's a pleasure to see you again. Will you be taking part in this battle?"
"If only I could, Captain, but I have to stay here and keep an eye on this place," Rex replied.
"Understood."
...
Meanwhile at the Lothal system...
"Saxon, do you know the location of the Rebel base?" Thrawn asked the Mandalorian.
"Not exactly, though while I was searching a system, the UNSC ship appeared in front of us, declaring that was part of UNSC Restricted Space. As per orders I... played along with it," the Mandalorian replied.
"Which system were you in?"
Saxon pointed to the system and Thrawn began studying the map.
"If they have a restricted area around that system, then their base is not too far after all," Thrawn said as he pushed a button and most of the planets faded, but a few systems surrounding the one Saxon patrolled were lit up red. Yavin 4 being one of them.
"Send some probes to these planets," Thrawn ordered. "But if we find the Rebels, let them think they're still safe."
"You want me to leave them alone?"
"For now. I'd like to see where their fleet is, and if it's all there, then we can attack."
"What about this... UNSC?"
"They are not of my concern now."
"But I hear one of their ships destroyed an Executor-class super star destroyer!" Saxon pointed out.
"Yes but that was a foolish move on that Admiral's part. Most of his crew were lost due to his arrogance," Thrawn said coldly. "I will not make the same mistake."
"Very well, Grand Admiral," the Mandalorian said as he left to deploy the probes.
After the probes were launched, the mandalorian left in his own Kom'rk ship, leaving the 7th fleet back in the hands of Thrawn. Everything was looking good for the Grand Admiral, but he didn't anticipate what happened next.
"Grand Admiral, I'm picking something up on our scanners... a reading I don't understand," an officer reported.
Thrawn turned and stared coldly at the officer, "What do you mean?"
"Some sort of anomaly I've never seen before," the officer added.
Thrawn looked out the Chimera's viewscreen and watched as a slipspace rupture appeared, then just a second later, the UNSC Infinity was barrelling down on the Imperial blockade. The blockade was caught unprepared as wave after wave of missiles from Infinity crashed into other Imperial star cruisers, their shields not even active to save power.
Two Star Destroyers were destroyed easily while a third was severely crippled.
"All ships, raise shields!" Thrawn ordered through the fleet comms.
...
"Captain, they're finally raising their shields," Roland said, noticing the missiles were doing less damage to the Star Destroyers.
"Good. Launch all frigates," Lasky ordered. The ship shuttered slightly as the massive hangar doors opened and the docking clamps unlocked, the magnetic launch mechanism throwing the ships into space.
Immediately after they were cleared from the Infinity, the commanders of the Strident-class heavy frigates got into formation with Infinity.
Lasky nodded to Roland who opened a comm channel to the Rebel fleet.
...
"Copy that, Captain," Hera said. "Entering hyperspace." She pushed the throttle up to max and the entire fleet followed her into hyperspace, straight towards Lothal.
"Arriving in 5...4...3...2...1!"
...
"Captain, several HP signatures behind us. They're here," a lieutenant reported.
"Good, our message got through," Lasky said. Under normal circumstances he would grin, but in the middle of a battle he couldn't afford that much.
"This is Captain Thomas Lasky of the UNSC Infinity! All ships focus fire on the closest Imperial ship, we need to cut a path for our ground teams!"
All the ships began to target and fire upon the closest Star Destroyer to Infinity. They were going to set up a perimeter around Infinity to keep fighters and cannon fire off the 5 kilometer warship. Eventually, 5 Imperial star destroyers were destroyed, allowing Infinity to realign to the planet's surface. As soon as the Infinity was aligned, Lasky gave the order to drop the pods. All ODST units inside the pods were launched at the same time, speeding through space towards Lothal. The Star Destroyers tried to shoot them out, but they were so small and moving so fast they couldn't hit them, much less get a lock.
However, Lasky began thinking deeply about the battle.
"Two powerful fleets... one of which have a tactical genius... this can't be right, it's all happening too easily," he thought aloud, muttering under his breath. He pressed a button on the console, "All drop units, this is Captain Lasky. As soon as you land you need to get to cover. This is all too easy. Something's definitely wrong." He began typing on the control panel. "Maneuver your pods to these grid coordinates."
Hera, having heard the transmission, began to speak. "You're completely right, Captain. Something's definitely not right."
...
"You may engage when ready, commander," Thrawn said as the holo communications closed.
He then looked out at the battle occurring before him as a massive Imperial-Mandalorian fleet appeared from Hyperspace behind the enemy fleet.
"You may have had the element of surprise, Captain Lasky, but I've dealt with situations like this before. You cannot win this," Thrawn said, a thin smile forming on his face.
...
"Captain, multiple HP signatures behind our fleet! We've been outflanked!" Roland reported. The ship shook as a barrage of laser fire connected with their shields and the shields of the rebel ships.
Two more loud, but also muffled, booms were heard and Lasky stared at the two Executor-class super star destroyers towering over the battlefield.
"Mother of God..." the XO said.
"We're in trouble," Lasky agreed.
...
"Ground teams! Orbital contact 3...2...1... CONTACT!"
Several drop pods collided with the grass-covered ground with incredible force, effectively startling the waiting Imperial forces barricaded within the city perimeter.
"Is that some sort of orbital strike?" one stormtrooper asked.
"Don't ask me, I don't even know who these people are," another said.
They all charged and focused their blasters on the pods, holding their fire in case the pods were explosive.
"Sir, I'm reading life signs within the pods," a third trooper reported to his officer.
"It's the attackers. Do not shoot until you see them!"
"Yes sir!" All the troopers said in unison.
Inside the pods, the leading ODST commander heard the whole thing and sighed. "Great. Just great. We don't really have personal shields..."
"What do you suggest we do, sir?" his lieutenant asked.
"When I give the signal, open the doors. Use M6G Magnums or SMGs to cover you. Save the BR55s and MA5s for after you get to cover. If you have to use the pods as just that. Everybody copy?"
All squad leaders and soldiers reported ready.
"Alright. On my mark... Load your weapons," the commander ordered as he began double checking his own equipment.
Magnum's loaded, BR55 is loaded, just need to chamber the rounds... Frags are strapped to my belt and a few plasma grenades from our Covenant buddies...
Clicks, pops, and pings were heard through the comm panel as everybody checked their equipment. Not long after they all checked in ready.
"Here we go boys. Open the pods, let's go go go!"
All the pods opened one by one and immediately afterwards, the HUD display on the ODSTs helmets tagged the Imperial position allowing the UNSC forces to pin them down enough to get to cover. However not all the ODSTs made it to cover in time. Some were killed instantly, others wounded, but they still had plenty of soldiers on the ground to continue the fight.
The ODST commander looked around his pod and a blaster bolt smacked the edge of the pod, forcing the commander to pull his head back.
"Alright, the only way we can get out of this is to execute the Madman Maneuver," the commander said to his squad.
"Seriously?" one asked.
"I thought we agreed that was bad!" another exclaimed.
"Do you have a better idea?" the commander asked.
"No sir! Madman maneuver it is."
A/N: The Madman Maneuver is something I came up with while playing Battlefront II (2005) with my friend one day. The entire Imperial army was in front of us and my friend just started chucking grenades at them and eventually I joined in on it, too. I called it the Madman Maneuver.
"Prime your frags NOW!"
Every soldier in his squad began throwing grenades at the enemy forces, some of the charges falling within their perimeter, killing or wounding the stormtroopers instantly, while other landed just outside the perimeter. At first the maneuver was throwing the grenades randomly towards the enemy position, but with a great deal of training, and rule bending, they decided it be best used with precise throws to avoid friendly fire. Which was common in my Battlefront II games
Pretty soon, the Imperials were forced to keep their heads down as the grenades provided time for the UNSC riflemen to lay suppressive fire, which allowed the sniper units to organize themselves. Not long afterwards, the landing zone was secured, with the Imperial defenses holding fire.
"Loth-cat to Infinity, we have secured the landing zone. Spartan drop is a go," the ODST commander said.
"Copy that Loth-cat. We're getting hammered up here, sending Blue," a combat observer said through the comms. "Touchdown T-2 minutes. Stand by."
"Copy Infinity. Loth-cat out," the squad leader said.
A/N: The ODST unit is codenamed Loth-cat... I think the reason is self explanatory due to where they're fighting.
"Where's the Spartan unit?" the lieutenant asked.
"They'll be here ETA 2 minutes. Think we can hold the Imps back until then?"
"Yes sir."
"How many wounded?"
"6 wounded, 8 dead sir," the lieutenant reported sadly.
"We'll have to mourn later. We need to get to that perimeter. We barely have any cover out here," the squad leader said.
"Well, sir, it's starting to get dark. That battle up top would probably be visible from down here soon," LT said.
"We need to stay sharp."
"Yes sir."
As they checked up with their troops, they heard something like a bunch of metal... walking?
"Oh S**T that's a walker!" a private cried out.
"Let me see!" SL (Squad Leader) said.
He looked through his ocular zoom in his helmet (I think they have those, right?) and identified the walker.
"That's an AT-DP. Resistant to blasters, but not rockets. We have any M57s or M41s with us?"
"We have the M57s sir," LT replied.
"We need to take out that walker!"
"Don't have to tell us twice cap. Alright you boys heard him, light it up!"
An ODST demolitions expert ran up with the M57 Pilum rocket launcher and took careful aim at the walker's head before blowing the walker's head off with one rocket.
"Nice shot, the walker's down!" an ODST sentry said.
Suddenly the ground blew up around the UNSC forces and they all looked behind the destroyed walker only to see 3 more walkers just like the first through the flames.
"We are going to need some more rockets," LT said.
"Commander, look!" a corporal shouted, pointing to the sky. As the sun was setting, they could easily spot out several orange dots in the sky.
"The Spartans are here!" SL exclaimed. He never thought the ODSTs would be so happy to see the Spartans finally joining the fun.
