Time for the battle to begin. Will it turn out the same way the battle of Hoth ended with a republic retreat or a republic victory. The answers you seek await you in this chapter.
Disclaimers are the same as before, enjoy.
Chapter 30: MechAssault
March 24th 2019 20BBY
0745 hours
Shili
Normal point of view
Training the Togruta's in the use of weapons like the AK47, M16 and Browning machine guns was thought to have been a challenge. But to the surprise of the Expendables, they learned how to use them very well. One of the soldiers said that during the earlier days of their colonization of other worlds, they learned to adapt and use any weapon they could find and adapt accordingly.
But what came as a surprise to Barriss and Erik was that many of the people that were building the trenches were civilians, men, women and children those who were starving and injured. It turns out that the former advisor ordered civilians to help build those fortifications when all they wanted was to stay safe.
Many of those civilians passed out from starvation, thirst and injuries slowing the completion of the trenches to a snail's pace and having them even less prepared for the invasion. Vaer and his companions were sick to their stomachs at what the advisor forced these people to do. It was only thanks to the arrival of Nym and his forces along with the republic that the civilians were able to get the much-needed medical attention and rest they needed in the base and on the prototype frigates. Even the princess helped in putting up one of the pillboxes.
The tanks and VTOL's were fixed up and it was decided that Melissa, Dustin and Billy would operate three of the VTOL's and provide close air support with the Nym and his forces on the enemy forces. The Rhommel's would be divided into two groups and would positioned on the ridges on the left and right flanks of the canyon where the base was set up and provide a mobile sniping position. AV-7's, AT-PT's, SPHA's and Revenant captured J1 Proton Cannons would be set up behind the base to provide artillery support and all available pilots of the Togruta air-force and Republic forces would deal with enemy fighters and bombers.
The only mechs that were operational were the light, medium and heavy class mech's, the assault class mechs were in need of more repairs but the only ones that were almost complete were the Star Adder and Blood Asp.
While the forces prepared for battle, Barriss and Erik after finishing tending to the wounded had finally gotten a chance to catch their breath and once again shared a short passionate kiss before they fell asleep the night before. It was clear that the love they had for each other was strong and somehow, Barriss had a feeling that if she wanted to be happy she would have to leave the order. Something that would be hard for her to do.
Meanwhile, Koylar was in the armory of the Retribution looking at all the weapons from earth. He smiled impressively as he picked up and gazed at a Kel-Tec RFB rifle. "These weapons are primitive, yet despite that fact these people use them to great efficiency." The Zabrak said impressively. "To think that the people of earth, while plagued by conflict, corruption and greed are skilled in the art of battle."
"Guns may be the main weapons of armies back home." Max said as he walked up behind him, his PT92s in his holsters, MT-40 across his back and a Bushmaster Carbon 15 LE carbine in his hands. "Long before gunpowder, people fought with blades, bows, arrows and their hands. Earlier firearms weren't as effective as what we have today, but in some parts of history people have used older methods to fight." Max stated.
"During my days as a slave and gladiator, I was forced to use fight for the entertainment of my master. I don't remember much about my life before I became a slave or the name I had. But I do remember that I was awed by the ways of the Mandalorian people and when I escaped my prison, I dedicated myself to eradicate all slave empires in the same way I fought as a gladiator: with honor." Koylar stated.
"Sounds like you really have a goal you want to accomplish. Most people don't have a sense of honor like you do, but the kid he has a good sense honor. He never kills the innocent or the ones who surrendered." Max added. "He is a warrior at heart and yet I feel like he has something else he wants to fight for." Koylar said, just as the alarm blared across the base.
The reason for the alarm was simple. The gunship that took the squad in for recon had just returned. "Heads up people. We got company on the way. The droids are heading this way, get all civilians into the base and get are forces into position. Warm up those EWBHs and cock those MG's, we got a lot of fight coming our way." Robert shouted as he exited the gunship and rushed into the hanger as the ATTE's, TX-130s and HAVw A6 Juggernauts took up position while clones, Togruta's and Revenant forces took up position in the trenches their weapons trained on the forest.
Faye, with her Galil ACE 22 in hand and her Blaster R93 over her back kept her sights trained on the forest while Vaer, Lucia and Garrod trained their C7s on the forest as well.
At the same time Robert had rushed into the base and after grabbing his Morita, Hand-Cannon which he had now renamed the 'Punisher' and the BFG stood in front of the Thor and was about to climb the ladder when Ahsoka came up behind him. "Its going to take a while to get the Blood Asp and Star Adder fully functional, so let's get the Mad Dog and Thor ready for action." Ahsoka exclaimed as she rushed towards the Mad Dog's ladder.
"You know how to operate that thing? Its not like a walker." Robert asked. "General Mustha showed me the cockpit while you were chasing that sellout. I know what I am doing." Ahsoka said in response. "Well you should at least change into something that isn't so wet. You might catch a cold." Robert stated. "Can't argue with that, you better get out there and be ready for them." his friend stated as she ran towards one of the rooms to change as Gunner and Lincoln came over.
"The Blood Asp and Star Adder should be ready soon. We're still working on outfitting the Star Adder with laser cannons so it's going to take a little longer. But we're more worried about the Ragnorok and Ymir. Those 'lava guns' of theirs are powerful. We ran simulations and anything that gun hits destroys it completely. If the seppies get their hands on them a lot of troopers will die." Gunner explained as Robert climbed into the Thor's cockpit. "Then we can't let them get these things. M3's on this one loaded up?" Robert asked as the cockpit closed and the Mech came online. "Yep, twenty-four hundred .50BMG rounds. We also gave the ones with machine guns laser cannons. Those are for when you run out of ammo." Lincoln answered as Ahsoka ran back in towards the Mad Dog in a fresh set of her standard clothes.
"Let's not keep the Tinnies waiting. Open the doors!" Ahsoka shouted powering up the Mad Dog as the doors began to open.
Back in the capital, Gunray was sitting on the throne in the palace as a tactical droid approached him. "Viceroy, our forces are nearing the enemy base. It won't be long before they fall." The droid stated. "Good, Good. Make sure our troops know to capture the Princess and eliminate any forces that stand in their way." Gunray snickered as Dark Star approached him.
"It is possible that the Republic has activated the weapons we were sent to acquire. They could be destroyed." She reminded the Viceroy. "As long as the ones with the powerful cannons are secured the rest can be destroyed. Finally, the separatists will win the war." Gunray said confidently.
While Gunray had begun to plan his victory, Princess Zaa was preparing to board one of the other VTOL's when Ranas stopped her. "I know you want to help our people, but you could get killed." Ranas said to his girlfriend. "I can't just stand aside and watch my people fight for our world. You forget, I am a trained pilot and I know how to defend myself." The Princess said pulling her lover in for a quick kiss. "Ok, you've convinced me. But you're staying close by me at all time. I won't be able to live with myself if my girlfriend was killed because of me." Ranas said finally giving in. The two lovers than boarded another pair of VTOL's and took off, just as the enemy began their attack.
A pair of enemy tanks were about to fire on one of the pillboxes, but a stream of missiles quickly destroyed the tanks before the defenders looked back and saw the blue and yellow Thor and the Red and Gray Mad Dog Mechs exiting the base. "Let's kick some ass." Robert said taking out his I-Pod and pressed play.
(Getting Away with Murder begins)
Both heavy class Mechs had a top speed of 30mph but that didn't bother them one bit. As they walked over the trench line Robert fired his four .50 caliber machine guns at a platoon of battle droids as he crushed one of the AAT's with the Thor's feet.
"Brutal but effective." Ahsoka commented as she fired six rockets at another pair of enemy tanks destroying them. The defenders watched in awe before Cassie finally snapped them out of their trance. "LIGHTEM UP!" She shouted firing her RPG at one of the approaching GAT's destroying it. "You heard her boys. GIVE IT TO EM!" Rex shouted in agreement and soon a torrent or bullets and blaster bolts rained down on the droids.
The Rhommel Tank's from their positions on the left flank under Lee's command fired their cannons at a group of MTT's destroying them before moving to a newer location before they were spotted by the enemy. Melissa, Dustin, Billy, Ranas and Zaa dived in from 6o'clock high raining missiles down destroying more tanks. As he pulled up, Billy noticed the new enemy units crashing through the tree line. "These bastards have the stolen walkers with them." He shouted, firing his 30mm cannon at one of the walkers destroying and pulling away just as the other walkers turned their attention on him.
In the trenches rifles and machine guns were being reloaded, blasters were cooling down and soldiers were dying as the droids pressed their assault. A squad of droids had managed to get into the trenches and had finished dealing with a squad of clones when Koylar rocketed in with his Jetback and sliced the droids into pieces with his Vibrosword before sheathing it and fired his DC15 at the remaining droids and lobbing a grenade at the droids as Vaer and the others downed the rest of them with their C7's. "It would appear that the new equipment the droids have is the same one matching in our intel. Clearly someone had allowed the separatists to steal these killing machines." The Zabrak stated as he fired his rifle at more of the approaching droids.
"No kidding. It makes you wonder who in their right mind would betray the republic just to make a bit of money." Lucia said, reloading her C7 with a fresh drum magazine as an artillery strike rained down on the droids.
"All I know is that we're doing the right thing helping these guys. But I wonder where the bigger walkers are?" Garrod asked. Just then the ground shock and emerging from the tree line were the bigger walkers. "You just had to jinx us, didn't you?" Nym said over the commlink as he, Jinkins, Kol and Sol Sixa downed a squad of Hyena bombers.
"Looks like they brought in the big guns." Ahsoka said firing her twin 120mm autocannons at two of the approaching larger walkers. The rounds hit the walkers but did nothing. "Their armor is too strong for weapons. Target the area between their cockpit and torso, that will take them down." Robert called over the commlink firing his Thor's twin medium lasers at a pair of the smaller walkers, strafing from left to right trying to get one of the larger walkers to focus on him and get someone with a Rocket Launcher take out the walker.
"Fox company, target the necks of the big rigs. Artillery, target marked at blue forty-two alpha seventeen. Add three through five, fire for effect." Robert called to the artillery and one of the tank squads.
"Any one that has a rocket launcher take a shot at the big guys when you see an opening." He added firing the last of his Thor's missiles at an oncoming group of approaching dwarf spider droids, before switching back to his machine guns and fired at a GAT tank. Normally machine gun rounds wouldn't be able to destroy a standard tank, but light tanks were easier to take out with the guns. He destroyed the tank just as the artillery strike rained down on the enemy units.
One of the new walkers fell over after a shot hit the neck of the unit, its head falling down fast before its body fell to the right, knocking the walker next to it down to the ground and leaving it vulnerable to fire from the walkers, TX-130's, Rhommels and Juggernauts, destroying the first two before the other two were destroyed the same way. "These were the weapons that were stolen from the republic? These things may be heavily armored and armed, but once you know the weak spots, they aren't anything to worry about." Robert chuckled as he and Ahsoka doubled back to the base. "Mech support will be unavailable for a while, we need to re-arm." Robert called out as the Thor and Mad Dog entered the base.
(Song ends)
From the left flank, Ray's tanks were being targeted by enemy fighters and were almost killed had Red Squad not come to their aide and gunned down the attacking Vulture droids before pulling up from their attack run and pulling a sharp 180 degree turn quickly sped to intercept a squadron of Hyena Bombers targeting the trench lines. "Red Two, I am picking up some unusual readings coming towards us. It matches the readings given off by a Geonosian fighter, but its moving much faster and its coming from the ground." Wing-Saber called to Maverick.
"I'm getting the same reading. But I am not seeing anything…wait, CONTACT!" Maverick said as emerging from the forest was a spider droid twice the size of a Protodeka and its legs curled up. Soon its legs uncurled and the ground shock as the legs it the ground hard. "What the hell is that thing?" Sky-Fire shouted as he pulled up from attacking the neck of one of the newer enemy walkers.
"It's not good, I can tell you that much." Barney said over the commlink before firing a Javelin rocket launcher at the new enemy unit. The rocket hit its target, but had no effect on the walker. "I need an artillery strike. Location, Grid 317241, elevation sixty." Barney shouted over the commlink to the gunners. "Coordinates confirmed. Be advise, this will be a danger close fire mission. recommend clearing the area before the rain comes down." One of the gunners suggested.
"Copy that. EVERYBODY OUT OF THE TRENCH, FALLBACK! FALLBACK!" Barney shouted as he downed an approaching squad of B1 droids with his KTR-08 before scrambling over the wall of the trench and ran like hell. He stopped when a clone trooper tripped and fell on to the ground dropping his blaster in the process. "COME ON! WE GOT TO MOVE!" Barney shouted as he helped the trooper back to his feet and took cover in the second trench along with the others that weren't shot in the back.
Soon a barrage of artillery fire hit the enemy machine and large cloud of dust was kicked up. When the dust settled, the walker was still standing. "Not even a scratch on that thing." Barney said surprisingly as he watched the walker send a torrent of missiles towards several of the republic armor that was firing on it, destroying them. "We need Mech support now!" Barney shouted into the commlink.
Inside the base, Robert heard his uncle and responded. "No can do. The Thor and Mad Dog are more damaged then we thought, their shield generators are wrecked and we don't have the time to fix them!" he exclaimed to his uncle as mechanics and technicians scrambled to get the damaged walkers and tanks back out in the battle. "Sergeant, Fixer just scanned that walker. Its equipped with ray shields and three fusion reactors. If its destroyed the explosion will take anyone caught in the blast radius." Shaak Ti said over the commlink.
"Damn. That thing must have been the prototype for the mech's." Robert cursed but then turned his attention towards the Ragnarok and Ymir. "Gunner, Lincoln! Tell me you haven't removed the 'Lava Gun' on these two?" Robert asked his uncles. "No, but we were able to equip four pulse lasers to the Ragnarok and four Mk 12 cannons for the Ymir replacing the autocannons and gave it the same missiles as the Ragnarok, why?" Lincoln asked.
"If that thing has ray shields, then it can't stop slow moving projectiles and their lava guns rate of fire is ten-to-fifteen shots per minute. That should be enough to get through the shields. Have all infantry and armor fall back to the last trench line and reinforce them and get those turrets online." Robert said before turning to Admiral Halberton who was preparing the Angel for battle. "Have all fighter pilots focus on the enemy fighters and bombers and tell our bombers to drop their payloads on the incoming enemy armor. Leave the ones out there for the Norse mythology named mechs." He said to the admiral who nodded and powered up the fighter. "Ahsoka, get that tight ass of yours in the Ymir we got a spider to squash." He said to his friend.
"Tight ass, what the hell?" she asked. "Forget it, just get that mech ready for battle." He corrected himself before climbing into the mech's cockpit.
Ahsoka then powered up her own mech and found the controls similar to the Mad Dog, but saw that the mech was slower than the others. "Well engage at long-range with the lava guns, we can't get close to that thing or else we'll be pushing up daisy's," Robert said over the commlink to his friend. "Copy that." Ahsoka responded as the two piloted their mechs out of the base.
Roberts point of view
From the cockpit of this powerful machine I watched as clone, Togruta and Revenant forces began to fall back to the final trench line, some of them pulling back the wounded as they did. It amazed me that despite all of the lives that had been lost so far, they were fighting with the fury of the Harlem Hellfighters.
More tanks and walkers were being destroyed as Ahsoka and I maneuvered our mechs carefully over the infantry units, I didn't want to be responsible for friendly casualties, I had enough of that after Umbara.
"Ok, so we target them with the lava guns?" Ahsoka asked me over the commlink. "No first thing we need to do is eliminate some of the enemy armor. They may have lost the new toys they stole from us, but we need to eliminate more of them to give our boys some breathing room." I corrected her as I fired my mech's lasers at the incoming tanks destroying them in about four seconds. "That's a good plan. Let's give it to these clankers." Ahsoka responded and fired her four cannons at a group of Hailfire's followed by six missiles at two AAT's as we moved up.
Move and shoot, normally a tactic not used by soldiers unless they needed to but with these mech's it was easier than with a tank or gun. The closer we got, the more fire from the spider walker came towards our way. Most of the shots missed and hit our tanks, but soon it fired a powerful beam into the air from its mouth and shot down a full squad of Y-Wings that were returning from their bombing run. "You bastards. Attacking an enemy from behind, you have no honor." I roared and fired six of my own rockets at the walker, only for the rockets to hit the shield and flicker. "That got its attention. Lava gun primed and ready. Let's see how you metal heads like the wrath of Krakatoa." I spat and pulled the trigger six times. Six hot flaming projectiles exited the cannon and slammed right through the walker's ray shields and hit their armor. The shots began to melt away the armor like actual lave would on a metal object.
"Guns work, their shields can't stop them. Take your shots girl." I shouted to Ahsoka. She did so and fired five projectiles from her mech's gun. Each of her shots hit the legs of the enemy unit and the heat from the projectiles began to eat away at the armor until two of the legs were destroyed and the walker began to crawl and fire its weapons. "Bastard isn't getting up. Let's finish this. Fire your cannons and fall back to the base, that things in critical condition and it could go at any time." I shouted to Ahsoka who followed me and fired her cannons while I fired my lasers.
The mech's Hud showed that the walker was about to blow in a few seconds. We barely made it as the walker exploded taking any nearby droid force on the ground and in the air with it. "Hostile unit destroyed." I called over the commlink. Ray then informed us that the droids were in full retreat and asked if they should pursue. I told them not to purse and ordered them to get the tanks back for repair and rearming and assist in gathering the wounded.
Once inside the base, Ahsoka and I exited our mechs and we were greeted by the cheers of the Togruta army, Keeper company and the Lok Revenants. They were shouting things like 'way to go' and 'way to kick ass' for our efforts. I could understand they were grateful to be alive, but this was only round one and the battle was far from over. I only hoped that Anakin and the others would get here soon.
Part three completed.
Tell me you guys liked the battle I gave you all. I worked hard on it and hope you all appreciated it. The song 'Getting away With Murder' is by Papa Roach and was used in Mechassault 2 Lone Wolf and is my all-time favorite Papa Roach song. It really gets my blood flowing when I am either working out or listen to music videos when playing a game.
Next time, some Battle Armor action and the confrontation between Tarkin and Robert. Until Next time please read and review.
