Base One, Yavin IV

Mon Mothma watched as the holoprojector cloaked the room in a deep blue light, as if she were in an dimly lit Mon Cala city. The blue tinting Fulcrum agent Cassian Andor's face was as pale as a freezing sea. He had no choice but to relay the grimness of the situation on Lothal.

"Senator, we've been discovered by the Empire…"

The Senator's face turned to General Dodonna. She had no experience whatsoever in strategy and tactics. Meaning that he created most of the strategies used by Base One.

"Withdraw immediately. We can't risk losing more resources. Those transport ships should be protected by A-Wings, Z-95s, and T-47s."

Dodonna remained calm in light of this news. It would be unwise to act on sheer emotion in battle, unless one was leading it directly. This strategy seemed to be the most logical in both his and Cassian's minds. Therefore, it shall be used.

Cassian nodded, and shut off the transmission… The sound of an approaching starship can be heard in the background, the rumbling of a Kuat Drive Yards ship—likely an Acclamator.

"It seems that our plans for the Lothal attack have been delayed, General…" Mon Mothma said.

Their resources are still slowly dwindling. The Empire had recently shattered their alliance with the Nosaurian Separatists by wiping out the entire species, and it now seemed that other Holdouts are in the crosshairs once again. Ryloth continues to face siege by Imperial forces, and is unable to participate in the attack. Allies are slowly dwindling, like ice during spring thaw.

"Indeed… The Empire must be aware of our attack if they're reacting so efficiently… The Nosaurians are all but extinct—like the Geonosians, but there are other Separatist holdouts and neutral systems willing to help us." The General said to the Senator, showing a list of Rebel sympathizers and Separatists given to Fulcrum by Bothan spies. The list was then relayed to General Draven, who showed it to General Dodonna.

The redheaded Senator's face showed uncertainty. The Rebellion's public opinion has soured in the past few months, especially in the aftermath of the accidental civilian massacre. The Empire had planted military transponders in civilian transports, making them look like Imperial corvettes in Rebel targeting systems. That was a truly dreadful display, and further proved to Mothma of the Empire's treachery.

"I'm not sure if getting support from the Separatists will tarnish our reputation. The Empire will certainly use it against us, but I hope that the people will see the Empire as a greater evil. All that they've done is far more brutal than the Separatists could ever accomplish now that Count Dooku and General Grievous have been dead for 19 years."

"We can only hope…" The General sighed…

Northhills Mountain Range, Lothal

The situation on Lothal had worsened. The Rebel outpost had been discovered by probe droids searching for kyber crystals, sent on the orders of Director Krennic and Thrawn. Thrawn's secondary objective, the locating of the Empire's immediate threat, has been fulfilled. And now a storm begins to descend upon the mountains.

"We have an Acclamator Assault Ship incoming!" A rebel scout looked up at the sky, which was engulfed by a massive carrier frigate.

"Looks like we'll need to speed up our escape. Though some of us will need to keep them distracted."

Cassian stared at the behemoth, watching as it slowly descended about a two miles away from their base. That was likely deemed by the Imperials as the safest place to land.

"Any ideas on how to keep them busy, Captain?"

Kallus shrugged. He had no idea what would be on the Acclamator, but it likely contained at least a pair of AT-ATs if this attack was serious.

"What we should be careful of are All Terrain Armored Transports. If we can't take them out, they'll simply demolish our defenses and storm the base."

The former Fulcrum agent pointed at the legs of an AT-AT's hologram.

"A well-placed rocket should be able to take out one of the legs, disabling them. But I'm not sure if it'll work on the newer versions that were created. The Empire always has a way with improving technology."

Cassian increased the magnification of his binoculars, looking at the contents of that Acclamator.

"This doesn't look good… We may be in trouble…"

A single AT-AT and several TX-225 tanks began to advance from the inside of the Acclamator, followed by troop transports carrying stormtroopers, and a dozen jump troopers flying towards the base on their jetpacks. Two gozanti cruisers hovered nearby, carrying AT-DPs and AT-STs for reinforcement.

"I calculate that we have a 75.77709% chance of failure." The rather annoying enforcer droid, K2-SO, said as the creaking of walkers started to become audible.

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