Hey, guys. Back with another chapter. This is going to be hopefully a good chapter, and one of the biggest upsets for the Separatists.
Let's get to it.
Chapter 17- Battle of New York
"Charge!" Obi-Wan shouts. Around him, clones of the 212th and men of the US 3rd Infantry Division charge towards the battle droids, firing their blasters. Behind them, AT-TE walkers and M1A1 tanks fire their main guns into the ranks of the droids, aiming in particular for droid tanks.
The Battle of New York had begun about 16 hours prior with air strikes against New York City. The strikes did cause some damage, but were mostly fended off by F-16s of the New Jersey and Vermont Air National Guards.
Droids had landed in several different spots in New York while American fighters were distracted defending against air attacks on New York City. 300,000 battle droids and 3,200 heavy droid units had been landed on Long Island in order to attack New York City. Another force of 160,000 battle droids and 1,500 heavy droid units had been landed on the shore of Lake Erie in order to attack Buffalo. And a third force of 200,000 battle droids and 2,300 heavy droid units had been landed 50 miles from Albany to attack the city.
Two US divisions and 15,000 clones were protecting Buffalo. A further three US divisions, mainly made of draftees who had had been drafted into the Army following the arrival of the Republic, and a clone legion, are in place to defend Albany. And New York City is defended best of all, with four US divisions, including the 3rd Infantry Division and the prestigious 1st Infantry Division, defending the city, along with the 212th, the 501st, and a third clone legion, the 713th, totaling 25,000 clones.
American air power had been relentless in its efforts to stop the invasion. F-15s flying out of Langley Air Force Base had been patrolling almost non stop over New York, trying to keep droid fighters and bombers out of New York airspace. They had just recently been joined by F-14 Tomcats flying off the aircraft carriers Saratoga and Dwight D. Eisenhower, which were on their way to provide aerial reinforcements. A large strike force of F/A-18s and A-6s is warming up on the decks of the two carriers at this moment.
In the south-eastern part of Queens, Lieutenant Adams of the ASAT team, and Captain Rex of the 501st, look out from their position atop a large apartment building. A large portion of the droid armies have been advancing along the coastline towards Queens. While Obi-Wan, the 212th, the 713th, and the 3rd Division are in the northern part of Queens, defending from the rest of the droid armies, with one of the other US divisions, the 28th Infantry Division, protecting the space between the two groups, and the 101st Airborne Division being held in reserve, the 501st and the 1st Infantry are the only units holding the southern border of Queens. So far, they had taken almost no losses, so they still held a total of about 28,000 men, supported by 122 M1 tanks, 1,000 Humvees, and 120 artillery pieces attached to the 1st Infantry, and 120 AT-TEs.
"I don't know if we can hold on long against that army of clankers," Rex says.
"I agree. We've got 28,000 men and 362 tanks and artillery pieces, plus 1,000 Humvees. And from recon reports, it looks like at least 120,000 droids approaching us, with several hundred of their heavy units. We have the battlefield and air support advantage. But, I'm not sure that will be enough," Adams says.
"Oh, it definitely won't," a chilling voice says behind them.
Adams and Rex freeze. They turn around and see a figure behind them. It's an alien, and from reports from Mace Windu and Anakin, Adams knows exactly who it is.
"Asajj Ventress," he mutters.
Ventress laughs. "You think you can stand against me, human?" she asks.
Adams takes off the jacket of his Navy camouflage, then removes his lightsaber from his belt. He presses the activation button, and the purple blade springs to life. At the same time, Rex, Fives, and two men from the 1st Infantry keep aiming their weapons at Ventress.
"Go. Leave her to me," Adams says.
Rex looks at him, a little concerned, but trusts Adams. He's trained with the man, and knows he wasn't elected leader of the ASAT team for nothing.
"Let's go, men," Rex says, and they make their way off the roof.
Ventress laughs as Adams shifts into a battle stance. She draws her two lightsabers and ignites them. "You think a human from a backwater planet like this can stand against the apprentice of Count Dooku?" she asks arrogantly.
"I was trained by Mace Windu, Anakin Skywalker, and the finest swordsmen on this planet. I feel reasonably confident," Adams replies, spinning his lightsaber once in hand.
Ventress smirks, then leaps at Adams. She slashes at his head, but Adams easily blocks her blow. She then tries to slash at his leg with her other saber, but Adams shifts backwards, bringing his saber around to block hers.
Ventress growls and tries to jump up and kick at him. However, Adams grabs her leg and throws her backwards.
Ventress growls as she skids backwards along the roof. Adams grins a bit and says, "It's not all about the Force or saber technique."
"But you'll still lose," Ventress says angrily before attacking Adams again. He easily parries her blows and counterattacks, forcing Ventress onto the defensive.
Down on the ground, the Separatist attack is really beginning. Battalions of B1 and B2 droids march into the south-eastern part of Queens. Immediately, they come under fierce fire from the men of the 1st Infantry, many of whom are hiding in buildings that have long since been abandoned by their inhabitants. Most of the inhabitants of New York had been evacuated by the Navy, assisted by cruise ships and private boat owners, while more had been evacuated by airliners pressed into service, and the rest had taken shelter in Brooklyn, protected by the 101st Airborne.
The droids find themselves unable to accurately return fire, as they can't tell where many of the shots are coming from. Not only that, but most of the American troops' choice of cover gives them the advantage of being able to fire while avoiding getting hit by return fire.
For almost an hour, and without any artillery support, the leading troops of the 1st Infantry hold off the droid advance, taking few losses while destroying almost 10,000 battle droids.
Then, the tables turn against the Americans when Hyena droids manage to get through patrolling F-14s and F-15s and bomb the buildings where they're hiding out. Almost 1,000 American troops are killed or injured. In the bombings. As they try to recover from the bombings, droid tanks begin to fire on the buildings where they're holed up.
Faced with incredible fire, the American soldiers begin to retreat, with clones of the 501st covering their retreat.
On the roof of the apartment building, Adams is still dueling with Ventress. Ventress has recovered from her shock at Adams' skill, and the two are now about even.
Ventress manages to get under Adams' guard and force him back. Adams growls as he shifts his stance and his grip on his saber.
Ventress smirks at him as she advances on him, the sight of the Atlantic at her back. "You won't win. Look, your forces are retreating. My droids will continue to advance, and this city will burn," she says confidently.
Adams is about to retort when he notices something in the background, on the water just visible over the edge of the roof. He starts to smile and points behind her. "Actually, I think you're going to lose," he says.
Ventress, even though she's cautious of an attack by Adams, turns to see what he's pointing at, and sees a small force of warships approaching the coast.
In the middle of the force are the battleships Iowa and Wisconsin, escorted by the Ticonderoga class cruisers Thomas S Gates and San Jacinto, along with 8 Spruance class destroyers. The Iowa had been decommissioned in October 1990 after the end of the Cold War, and the Wisconsin had been decommissioned at the end of September, 1991, right before the arrival of the Republic. After learning of the threat of the Separatists, they, along with their decommissioned sister New Jersey, had been sent to dry dock and reactivated (the other Iowa class battleship, Missouri, was still in service by the time the Republic arrived, and had been kept in service). The Iowa and Wisconsin were stationed in Norfolk until the invasion. Once word had been received that New York was the site of Separatist landings, they had been prepared and immediately sortied along with their escorts.
Now, the two battleships are nearing the coastline, putting almost the entire droid army within the range of the mighty 16 inch guns.
Aboard the Wisconsin, a US navy Rear Admiral, Gary Roughead, stares out at the coastline ahead. His orders are to target the droids far from the front lines, thereby avoiding hitting the US troops or clones, and destroy as many droids as possible to relieve the pressure on the defending troops.
"Admiral?" the Wisconsin's captain asks.
"Clear to open fire," Roughead answers.
The order is relayed down to the gun plot, and also over to the Iowa. Within seconds, the Wisconsin, turned broadside to the coastline, fires a full broadside, sending nine 1,900 lb high explosive 16 inch shells towards the droid armies. While the Wisconsin's shells are still in the air, the Iowa joins in, firing a full broadside from her guns.
Wisconsin's shells strike first, destroying over 700 battle droids and 16 AATs and Persuaders. Iowa's broadside hits seconds later, destroying an additional 750 battle droids and 13 AATs and Hailfires.
In the depths of the two battleships, young crewmen race to reload the 16 inch guns, a 30 second process. The young sailors are efficient, performing the same task that some of their grandfathers used to perform. As the main guns are reloaded, the two battleships begin firing their 5 inch guns on their port side, sending 55 pound shells at the droids. The escorting cruisers and destroyers join in with their 5 inch guns, which can fire newer, 70 pound shells. The 5 inch guns keep up their fire, averaging one shell every 4 to 5 seconds.
30 seconds after the first broadsides, the Iowa and Wisconsin fire their main guns again, now alternating, firing their guns in rotation, firing one 16 inch gun every 5 seconds, allowing the main guns enough time to reload in the 45 seconds it takes to get through all nine guns.
As Ventress and Adams watch the two battleships unleash their fury on the droid army, Adams laughs, drawing Ventress' attention back to him.
"We may be humans. But we're a warrior race, and we're stubborn as h***. We ain't gonna go down that easily," he says, settling into a new battle stance. Ventress glares at him and lunges at him, their duel resuming.
On the ground, Rex sees the two battleships as they unleash their firepower. Turning to a Major of the 1st Infantry standing just a few feet away, he asks, "What are those?"
The Major smirks. "Those are Iowa class battleships. And those flashes are their 16 inch guns," he says proudly.
Rex looks surprised. He knows by now that Earth militaries measure their guns by the diameter of the bullets or shells they fire. Until now, he had thought that 120 mm howitzers on tanks and 5 inch guns on warships were big for Earth's military. Now, seeing these American battleships in action, he's quietly surprised at the level of firepower that Earth has managed to create given how technologically inferior they seem to be compared to the Republic and Separatists.
A 16 inch shell from the Iowa lands not far away, destroy several hundred battle droids and about 15 AATs. Rex smirks and says, "Well, with those ships helping us, we may yet win this." He then orders a charge. Clones and American troops alike charge down the street, firing their blasters into the ranks of the battle droids, cutting them down one after another.
As the two battleships continue their bombardment, aerial reinforcements arrive from the south in the form of 20 A-10 Warthogs and 48 F-15E Strike Eagles. The pilots, upon arriving over New York City, see the battleships bombarding the droid army attacking in the south, and continue north to support Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan at the moment is leading a charge by clones of the 212th and some Americans from one of the 3rd Divisions' battalions. As he blocks a volley of blaster bolts, he hears the sound of jet engines, and looks up to see A-10s swooping down to attack the battle droids closest to the defending forces, while the Strike Eagles attack the droids further away from the front lines. Obi-Wan smiles as he watches an A-10 swoop down right over his head and shred about 150 battle droids marching towards him and his men using its 30 mm cannon.
As the reinforcements arrive in New York City, further reinforcements arrive at the other two battle sites. A full Canadian division, along with fighters from the Royal Canadian Air Force, arrive to reinforce the defense of Buffalo, while the men of the New York National Guard's 42 Infantry Division arrive to reinforce Albany. At the same time, in New York City, 5,000 men from the 101st Airborne move to reinforce the 1st Infantry and the 501st.
As the reinforcements begin to arrive at the three battle sites, Adams' duel with Ventress continues on the apartment building in Queens. Ventress quickly discovers she's being forced onto the defensive. Adams' skill with a lightsaber is at least equal to hers, he is physically stronger, and due to having been a member of the SEALs for 5 years, and a member of Team 6 for 2, his endurance is far greater than hers. Ventress is starting to realize that she is tiring a little faster than Adams, even with her using the Force to try and rejuvenate herself.
Finally, she strikes separately with her sabers, and Adams block one with his saber while managing to grab her other wrist with his free hand. He then kicks her in the gut, knocking her back.
Ventress skids backwards, almost to the edge of the roof. Recognizing she is not going to beat Adams right now, she discreetly presses a button on her armband.
Adams stalks up to her, his saber held at his side. "I'm going to give you one last chance to surrender," he says. He then points his saber right at her throat, and says, "If you don't, I will have no problem with killing you. I'm not a Jedi, and I'm not as merciful as one either."
Ventress glares at Adams. Then, a Vulture droid swoops down towards the building. Ventress leaps off the roof, landing on the Vulture droid, which quickly flies her to safety.
Adams looks off in the direction Ventress vanished, then looks towards where the battle is raging. The bombardment from the Iowa and Wisconsin and their escorts is shattering the droid army, and it has begun to retreat from the battlefield.
The battleships follow the droids, continuing their bombardment. It doesn't take long before General Grievous, monitoring the Battle of New York, orders a withdrawal of all units surrounding New York City.
C-9979s come to take the droid armies back to the fleet. American fighters converge on the spots where the droid army is being taken aboard its transports. Some manage to destroy some of the C-9979s after they take off, but Vulture droids manage to keep them at bay for the most part.
Soon, the droid armies surrounding New York City have been evacuated. Only 160,000 battle droids and 1,100 heavy droid units remain of an original force of 300,000 battle droids and 3,200 heavy droid units.
Unfortunately for the droid armies attacking Buffalo and Albany, the evacuation of the droid armies attacking New York City had diverted the attention of US air assets defending the city towards them.
Within 2 hours of the retreat from New York City, Grievous orders a withdrawal of all remaining forces in New York. Again, US fighters are able to destroy more of the droid forces as they are evacuating.
Finally, a full day after the Battle of New York began, it is over. New York City, Buffalo, and Albany had suffered some damage, and the defending armies had lost about 10,000 American soldiers, about 4,000 clones, and almost 50 aircraft. However, out of the total Separatist invasion force of 660,000 battle droids and 7,000 heavy droid units, the Separatist lad lost over 335,000 battle droids and almost 5,000 heavy droid units. Not only that, but the battle had seen the first combat between a member of the ASAT team and a Sith apprentice.
The Battle of New York was over, and it was a massive victory for the United States.
And, I'll end there. I hope you liked this.
So, obviously, not all the American units listed are stationed in New York. However, a lot of the US forces were concentrated on the two coasts, and when the droids were spotted coming to New York, units were diverted to New York.
And, of course, the Separatists now know what it's like to be on the other end of the firepower of an Iowa class battleship. Honestly, from videos I've seen, the pure firepower of those big guns is incredible, and I still don't know why the US doesn't have at least one battleship in its fleet. Even with all the advances in technology, sometimes you can't beat big guns like that.
So, the Terran campaign is almost over. The next chapter, covering the last battle of the campaign, will take us back to the Soviet Union, and will be the biggest Separatist loss of all.
Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!