The C-9799s were landing on the planet's surface, in a large field with a vast forest on one side. Far off in the distance the PDF were mustering to halt the invaders. MTT were disembarking from the C-9799 and followed by AAT.
Fredrick watched from orbit as more of the transports landed, the battle in the orbital docks had been fierce. He had to devote several hundred battle droids to taking them. Thankfully, due to their numerous fighters in the space around the docks striking at any large concentrations of the enemy it had been easier than it could have been.
Tri-Fighters mopped up the few fighters who managed to scramble, and while they vastly outgunned his fighters, as several dwarfed his bombers, they were nowhere near as maneuverable, and as a result were outflanked and ganged up on.
Fredrick wanted to set foot on the planet itself, it was to be the basis of the a Seperatist hold out and potential resurgence, hence many of the extra features that had been given to him with the new Command Ship: the Star Hammer. It was a potent warship, built to altered specifications for the purposes of war. She was larger than her kin, armored with thicker plates, and most importantly, she carried with her the seeds for a new Foundry World.
The transit was shorter than he expected, it always was.
He walked out of the Sheathipede transport. Two vulture droids that had escorted his transport to the planetary surface now stood next to it in walker configuration. He walked towards one of the battle droids, differentiated from the others by yellow markings on its shoulders and head as a commander.
Two Manga Guards flanked him, both wielding their electro staffs,
"Give me a situation report."
The droid took a moment to turn towards him, it was one of OOM series. "We have roughly 12,000 battle droids and 3,000 Super battle droids on the ground, alongside roughly 500 Armored assault tanks, and 40 Multiple Troop Transports. Dwarf Spider droids and NR-N99 Persuader-class droid enforcers are en-route from orbital reserves, as are other reinforcements."
Typically of the type they would provide overly specific data, a Tactical droid was much better at appraising non droids of the situation.
"Thank you, continue with your work."
"Roger roger." He walked past hundreds of droids working on preparing defensive works, this was to be their campaign base on the planet, and be their primary point of AAT overlooked a massive field. Fredrick pulled up a pair of binoculars, and scanned it, looking for the enemy. He switched to thermals and scanned for body heat, finding nothing larger than a few small animals. Satisfied that nothing was amiss, he turned and walked back over to where the Battle droid was stationed, and issuing orders to a large group of droids.
"What have you observed from the defenders?"
"A full report will be difficult to make commander but they have been seen to make extensive use of heavy armor, and laser weaponry alongside projectile weapons. They general employ anti-armor laser cannons in static mounts and their infantry generally use some type of slug thrower and an energy weapon in large quantities. Our Super Battle Droid has proved to be resilient to many of their infantry weapons."
Fredrick pondered this, they did have a large number of droids of varying types alongside heavy armor, so an assault on the enemy lines could work, however he didn't want to lose a major amount of troops to enemy fire. Maybe Halifire tanks could sort out the enemy?
. "Sir enemy armor has turned up on our sensors, alongside some kind of heavy artillery. What will our course of action be?"
"Meet them on the field of battle with our AATs have troop carries following behind them, and our gunships!" The message went out quickly and soon, the tanks from the reserve, and those who were guarding the perimeter left to engage their enemy in battle. Platoon Attack Craft began bringing more droids to this outpost as a staging point and looking up, he saw more C-9799s landing and disgorging more troops for his conquest. Several hours past, and he started seeing signs of the dwarf spider droids and Persuaders in his ranks. The sounds of cannon fire in the distance alerted him that battle had commenced.
"This is commander Fredrick to OOM-14 what is the status of your battle group?"
A brief burst of static went over the comm-link then the response came, truncated by the sounds of cannon fire. "We are being engaged by heavy enemy fire, they have significant artillery assets Our gunships have proved to be extremely effective, send more immediately."
He paused, and pressed several keys on the computer screen, and heard engines roaring to life, in the background, punching through the noise of marching feet. Turning back to the comm-link, he said, "Take prisoners, preferable high ranking so we can gather intelligence on this world. Avoid the use of chemical weapons, we are conquering this planet after all."
"Roger." Gazing out he watched as several thousand troops marched in lock step down the fields, other riding in Platoon Attack Craft, and many more in the massive MTTs. The column was headed by a company of Persuader tanks and Super Battle Droids.
"This is the Captain Roidic, Commander we have secured the system and have scanned it thoroughly, this is the only planet with life on it, though we haven't detected any ships entering the system."
"Thank you Roidic, after I have secured the surface, I would like your fortification expertise to prepare the planet for a counter attack. We have roughly three to four weeks to make sufficient headway before a Republic response arrives, we must prevent the signal from going out for as long as possible."
"Yes commander, though I would like to inform you, we have total space superiority if you need an orbital bombardment, we are available to level any target you designate."
"Duly noted." Fredrick turned to consider it, they had superior artillery assets, but he had orbital superiority. The two Magna Guards scanned the surroundings for threats to him constantly, on watch for some sniper or enemy raiding group.
"Get in that tank over there, we are moving forward." He gestured to a AAT, it was his personal tank, fitted with a modified hull, which incorporated a shield and heavier armor. The crew were not normal and were entirely composed of OOM series battle droids, instead of the normal B1 crew. It had been transported in a lander which carried the bulk of his personal guard unit.
He sat in the commander's seat and opened the hatch, preferring to use his eyes to look about. It took them roughly two hours but they had finally reached the front lines, artillery shells were landing around them, the ground, however wasn't yet so scarred that it would form a reliable form of shelter from the shells. He pulled up his binoculars and switched to thermals. Ahead he counted a massive army, tanks and other vehicles. Fredrick knew he outnumbered them, and looked at his forces, a major column of the slower moving CIS war gear was coming up. He gave a rare smile, as hundreds of droids moved in positioned, their thousands of brothers following behind them.
"Sir," A voice sounded over his comm-link, " We have a problem, they have broken through our lines, and we are requesting reinforcements, they are engaging in close combat in the cities and several dozen armored units have made a concerted effort to break through, with mechanized infantry alongside them"
"I will divert two thousand droids to your position and send in several AAT companies, expect them within fifteen minutes." To the droid who sat by the communication gear, he said, "contact two tank companies and send in two thousand droids to the developed area."
"Roger, sir." The positions ahead of him would have no mobile reserve to counterattack with, or at least a highly diminished one, given the fact that it had been devoted to a fairly large counter offensive
. "We have hailfires nearby, am I correct?"
"Yes sir," responded the magna guard in a dull monotone.
"When the main column of troops arrive, we shall march forward and engage the enemy. How long until they arrive?"
"Roughly 30 minutes sir." He nodded in acknowledgement and looked forward at the enemy defenses, they were out of range of all but the their largest guns, and lacking any of the heavier weapons they would have to use brute force of numbers to overcome the PDF. Battle droids were moving forward towards the front and occupying trenches as shelter from the artillery raining down on them. He pulled back his tank from the area of fire a stray shell landing a bit too close for comfort. He wanted more troops for the attack, but unless they struck very hard, quickly, they would have to deal with whatever reinforcements showed up to defend the planet.
"Sir the column of troops you requested have arrived. They have the hailfires and several thousand droids." He smiled, and pictured it for a moment, now he could show the defenders a true assault.
"Deploy infantry in the PACs and have the MTTs and ATTs lead the charge, flanked by hailfires and persuaders, when we reach their battle lines, deploy the troops from the MTT's and have the tanks destroy hard points, bunkers, and other places that would slow the advance of our infantry."
The Battle droid gave a signal with its arm, in a sharp downward motion and the roar of engines resounded throughout the area, forming a rough harmony with the sound of explosions from the artillery.
The attack began at once, several hundred AATs leading the charge, with MTTs and Persuaders following behind, missiles from the Hailfires sending streaks into the air as the droid tanks thundered forward. Blasts from the artillery landing all around the advancing army, blowing up tanks and putting holes in the infantry lines. They could now see the enemy lines, and OOM-14 looked out through the optics of his tank. Several tanks were in his sights, each appeared heavily armed, though archaic in design, utilizing large sponsors, however the large main gun looked very potent, so he decided that it was a significant threat to his tank.
"Fire!" An armor piercing shell impacted it frontally, heavily damaging the tank and rocking it on its chassis. Several others of its type appeared, and the tanks around him engaged them. Missile's from the Hailfires streaked through the air, destroying the tanks when they struck and scattering into the various bunkers and defensive walls that the fortress was comprised of.
Laser fire responded, along with large caliber projectile weapons, most of which glanced harmlessly off the well armor frontal plates of the AATs, however some of the large weapons tore through the plating and destroyed them. They were approaching pointblank range with the enemy fortifications, and the defending fire, became increasing intense, large caliber auto weapons blazing.
Only the massive MTT's seemed to be impervious to the defending fire, but could return only a fraction from their ball mounts. Droid gunships streaked above the onslaught and infantry swarmed past the slowing tanks, battle droids and super battle droids rushing forward heedless of their losses, as droideka wheeled by, attempting to close with the gun crews.
OOM-14 watched as a large caliber cannon destroyed the tank next to his, and quickly gave the order to continue moving forward. At least three of the gunships had stopped to drop Super Battle Droids onto the ground, which promptly proceeded to engage the PDF in close combat, having been landed on top of the trenches.
It was the way that the Sepratist Army had always conducted its wars, heedless of losses, expending troops at economical rates to achieve objectives.
Fredrick watched as several of his gunships flew overhead, having ordered the bulk of the gunship support for this offensive, heavy fire power would be needed to defeat the planet's defenses, which despite using projectile weapons in bulk, were surprisingly effective. His tank was moving forward, just behind the fighting, which if he could, he would avoid.
He was no General Grievous, and lacked much of his combat skills, relying on his tactical expertise and magna guards to defend him. The main gun fired, and he felt the vibration through the tank, and wondered if wearing his powered armor, would have been a better idea. It also reflected in how he conducted invasions, the use of Capital weaponry had been restrained. He had no taste for simply cleansing planets wholesale and calling the ashes pacified. That was more Republican doctrine, afterall a liberation army shouldn't kill or terrorize the people it aimed to liberate.
His armor been custom made for him for situations just like this, resembling Cortosis droids, but with a bulkier body and limbs to fit him and the various weapons he could put on it. He pulled out his binoculars, the masses of droids were pushing against the various defenses of the planet's defenders, who used an odd combination of energy and projectile weapons, which were surprising effective against the droids. Several AATs past him, on their way to reinforce the front lines, and he ordered an outpost set up here. It was an unusually personal approach, particularly given his rank, but he wanted to get a feel of this new world. Something about it was different from every other battlefield he had known.
In addition, he knew he wasn't facing the Republic. No mention of clone troopers had reached him, and interrogations of POWs had revealed no knowledge of the Galactic Government he fought to secede from.
Several minutes past and they arrived, accompanied by a tactical droid. Fredrick watched as worker droids started setting up remote communication nodes, and rudimentary armoring, in the form of small durasteel walls.
"Set up a tactical display, I want to know when my units make contact, and when the enemy reacts to us, I also want to know the nature of our enemy, his disposition, his numbers and capabilities." The tactical droid nodded, but interjected saying
"You sir need to consider the nature of our enemy, they use highly effective weapons in all areas, and while their fighter craft are inferior to ours in speed and maneuverability, they are extremely sturdy, their tanks carry immense amounts of firepower, and their infantry are fanatical in nature, we need to consider these variables, and while I project the odds of our success as 80 percent, I calculate that we will take 60-70 percent casualties in the following weeks."
"I see, but you are certain that these are accurate figures, we possess aerial superiority, along with orbital supremacy, so we can bombard the enemy to submission if necessary."
"These soldiers are not like clones, while inferior shots, and general not their physical equal, they fight with ferocity. Earlier this week, when I was commanding the assault on their lines, they fought to the last man so half their number could escape, including a notable individual who appears to have been leading the defenders with an odd type of sword and some type of pistol. Based on my observations it is female."
"So you have found an officer of some importance"
"Yes commander, she dress differently than the other officers we have captured, she also inspires her troops to a greater degree than the others, if not for my numerical superiority I would have ruled that the battle favored her, she commands her soldiers with great clarity and I think could prove a mighty combatant if you would encounter her on the battlefield, I personally witnessed her by herself defeat twelve Super Battle Droids in close combat, and bested 63 Battle Droids alongside them."
"So I will get to break out my power armor in this campaign after all. This will be interesting."
"That would be inadvisable commander Fredrick, as Supreme commander of this campaign risking yourself in combat is unwise, and could well result in confusion if you were to be injuried or otherwise damaged."
The tactical droid had more to say, but dived out of the way as the sound of artillery impacts spread throughout the camp. Several Battle Droids were obliterated by them as they scrambled for cover and a few large rockets impacted around them, fortunately missing Fredrick but instead severely threatened this position.
"I think that we need to strike a bit harder on their defenses next time, when is the next large deployment happening?"
"In roughly fifteen hours we will have sufficient forces to breakthrough their lines."
"Excellent, now let's see this commander."
