Protector Square was now abandoned and the B and C Companies of the 52nd Regiment were preparing to charge the Palace. To be honest, Lena would have prefered to have it shelled by the mine-throwers as well, but there was no choice, the order was to take it with the least possible damage, so the reinstated pro-imperialist leadership can move back in without any major disruption. Of course it didn't mean that the machine guns from the police station's windows couldn't cover them from behind.
The Square was a vast, open death zone without hiding spots, but the leveled ruins of the Rodian barricades. According to intelligence, there were no Militia or Planetary Guard members, or armed civilians in the Palace, it was defended only by the already decimated Protector's Guard which even at its strongest counted only 150-200 men. This was encouraging, though of course the Imperials had to cross the empty space quickly.
„Keep all openings under fire, stop only when we reach the wall." ordered Lena after she had the said machine guns installed into the windows. „Commence firing in five minutes from now."
„Yes Colonel." acknowledged the operators. By the time their weapons unleashed their fury, the troopers already gathered down on the street, in the cover of the department's corners.
„Charge!" The well coordinated attack was launched from every direction simultaneously to prevent any escape of the Rodians inside. The machine gun fire was effective, the counterbarrage was limited, as they were running in a haste across the Square, leaving only a few wounded.
Reaching the claret, ornate building the Imperials leaned tightly against its walls. „Pass on the order Lieutenant!" turned Lena to her subordinate. „I want smoke grenades thrown into every single room on the ground floor. That will chase them out to the corridors."
„Understood Ma'am!" The order was carried out precisely, the premises of the lowest level were cleared within minutes and the attackers began climbing in through the windows, while the main force, led by Lena was besieging the main gate. Finding it blocked, they fixed explosives on it, to which the entrance surrendered.
She didn't hesitate for a moment and rushed inside with her forces following her. As soon as they entered the grand, marble staircase, they were fired upon which they returned. The ground floor was taken quite easily, the Guard members, chased out of the rooms by the smoke and amassed in the corridors were gunned down one after another.
The real struggle came when the fighting shifted to the carved stairs. Unlike the Imperials, the defenders weren't restricted by order and Lena's troops were greeted with handgrenades; over and over again, she heard and felt shrapnel and debris drumming on her helmet. Some of the Rodians were even hurling furnishing and pieces of decoration at them in their desperation. It took half an hour to get up to the first floor, firing aimed shots.
Up there however, it seemed that the most dedicated ones of the Guard, who were willing to give their lives already fell in the previous shootings and now there were some who laid down their arms and surrendered themselves.
As time went on, the noises of battle subsided more and more until eventually it stopped and the residence of Oreno Manilawa, the reformist Grand Protector of Rodia fell into Imperial hands.
Lena was standing at the top of the stairs, giving orders here and there, still breathing deaply due to the adrenaline rush.
„Object is secured Colonel." approached her a lieutenant with two privates behind, escorting a Guard member with his hands behind his head. „All resistance ceased."
„Good work Lieutenant. Report to General Derdan."
„What should we do with the prisoners?"
With slow, measured steps Lena stepped close to the captured rodian, with her dark, narrow eyes fixed on him, standing just a few centimeters apart. „What prisoners?" she said simply. A muffled shot sounded with a dim flash. The green creature's body tensed and his pupilless eyes grew wide. Looking down, he saw Lena's pistol pressed against his stomach. He staggered, leaning forward against the woman who wrapped an arm around his neck. „Enjoy the kiss of the Empire." she whispered into his ear creepyly then released him, letting the dead body fall to the ground.
„Was this answer clear enough to you Lieutenant?"
„Absolutely Ma'am."
„The only exception is their commander. If he's still alive, bring him before me." With that being said, Lena went downstairs back to the Square to get information about the situation.
Over the hours, the rodians were pushed back everywhere, with the points of resistance being annihilated systematically. By the late afternoon only three strongholds remained in Iskaayuma: the Opera House in Lena's area of operation, the University on the other side of the city, where a bigger group of armed students were still fighting without showing any signs of giving up, and Chipela, the southern industrial district.
Operation Hailstorm lived up to its name, coming upon the planet like a merciless hurricane. Its effectiveness was much satisfying, at most places the sheer demonstration of force was enough to end the insurgence. Seeing the masses of tanks, walkers and soldiers, the Planetary Guard commanders and civilians put down their weapons, only a handful of cities decided to fight back, including Iskaayuma and Equator City. Rodia's local army was successfully prevented from standing up against the Empire, the surrounded bases either surrendered or were occupied swiftly. With its military leadership in captivity all cohesion was lost, and basically every unit acted at its own discretion.
Troublesome was though that some of the Rebels of General Polson managed to escape into the jungle, making it harder for order to return. Now they had to be hunted down.
A few minutes later the stormtroopers escorted a Protector's Guard officer with bleeding head to Lena, pushing him to the ground.
„Captain Jami." said Lena stepping before the kneeling rodian, with her hands behind her back. „Let's talk openly without further ado. Where is Oreno Manilawa?"
„He is on his way to safety." hissed the alien officer.
„How unfortunate. There is no safety on this planet for traitors. Let me present you with the details." leaned Lena forward with that sinister smile of her. „Every city. Every town. Every spaceport is under our control. Our forces are on their way toward even the most remote, hidden villages. Your army and police is disarmed. If a miracle happens and a spacecraft manages to leave the surface, our fleet is waiting for it with open arms. There is no point in continuing this pitiful little defiance. For your own sake, I highly suggest you to tell me what I want to know."
„First of all. Turning against my own home planet would have been a real treason. Secondly: I am not afraid of getting shot!"
„First of all Captain. You lost sight of the greater picture. By bringing every planet under one rule, all the suffering and bloodshed that happened here can be avoided. None of this would have happened without you and the rebels. And secondly: we have far more unpleasant methods than a shot into your rugged green head." threatened Lena. It barely happened to Jami in his life but he felt a shiver now. This woman's voice wasn't violent or aggressive at all. Yet it was so cold and senseless that it was terrifying. It even sounded that she was enjoying this whole thing.
Before Jami could say anything, he noticed all the remaining members of his Guard being dragged out of the Palace, pushed to the wall and literally executed.
„Consider them lucky." commented Lena. „Find an intact cell at the police station and lock him up."
Leaving behind a garrison, the 52nd wasted no time to move to the still resisting Opera House. The problem however was that its location was strategically almost perfect. The round, domed building was standing at a tight, round space, accessible only through four narrow alleyways, hugged by four irregular rectangular buildings, an office building, a technical vocational school, the Ministry of Traffic and the tax office.
Almost everywhere else the Rodians used a hit and run tactic but here static defense was possible. Moreover it was standing at an important road junction and so able to hinder the movements of Imperial troops. A cannon was standing in each of the alleys, blasting every tank that tried to approach the entrances. During the earlier hours, multiple units attempted multiple charges against the complex, but each was repelled.
Meanwhile dusk came and soon after that night fell. During the time of darkness the shooting subsided in the city. Shortly before midnight General Derdan sent his report to Coruscant: „Within the city center practically two points of resistance remained; the Opera House and the Iskaayuma University in the western side of the Capital. Some of the illegitimate government are in custody. Oreno Manilawa is missing, the search after him is underway."
During the night, Lena had her target surrounded but stopped the assault, waiting for daylight. When the System's sun rose, the fighting intensified again. As a start, the army had a short breakfast. On the second day, the skies cleared and so looking up, Lena could see a dim, white triangle high above them, which was the Sovereign. She grew a little smile, thinking that her driver must be recieved now that the fleet could actually see them.
Right after eating the attack continued, but this time the Empire resorted to more serious means. Lena contacted the artillery batteries positioned on Rodia Boulevard and in the suburbs and a relentless bombardment began, against which the locals stood no chance.
In the afternoon it was Derdan who recieved her report: „At 10:00 a.m., after a two hours long artillery attack we began charging the Iskaayuma Opera House. Finding that the rebels are still capable of a considerable resistance we pulled back our infantry. Shelling the target for two more hours we launched another charge at 14:00 p.m. The Opera House is on fire. Resistance in the district is essentially liquidated. The fighting continues, with the aim of eliminating the remaining groups, hiding in the basements."
In the end, the Opera House with the surrounding blocks were fully taken the next day after ruthless close quarters combat. The HQ allowed the soldiers a short rest after the past three days. They kept fighting endlessly and took more casualties than they expected.
Lena was still busy, organizing the transportation of the wounded, the supplies, etc. That was when out of nowhere she heard intense gunfire from a distance. But it weren't the rifles, cannons or howitzers. It were definitely the anti-aircraft guns behind the lines. What could it be?
X
„Captain! The ground forces report enemy aircrafts speeding toward space!" said Mersalli.
„Activate the shields! Sound general quarters!" gave Marcus the order quickly and once again the sirens sounded all over the Destroyer. „What is happening?"
„Apparently the Rebels still had a covered, underground airbase in a cave near the town of Eymava. They appeared near our forces there and attacked them."
„Captain, several Y-Wing bombers approaching!" shouted a lieutenant.
„All batteries fire as they bear!"
It took only minutes and the squadron became visible, attempting to break out from the planet. They were immediately greeted by the Sovereign's brutal salvo, but it seemed that the Y-Wings in question were manned by exceptionally skilled pilots and although many were shot down, some kept racing toward the Imperial ship.
„Increase firepower to maximum!"
Six bombers were now ower the Sovereign's deck, evading the rain of green rays. In the moment they reached the frontal part of the superstructure they released their glowing purple projectiles that created electric discharges and sparkles upon impact.
Marcus immediately felt that something was wrong, his ship suddenly became unstable. „Damage report!"
„Engine power, deflector shield and energy of the weaponry lost Sir!"
„Ion torpedoes..." cursed the young captain mentally. „Who knows how long we fall out of action now."
„They turn back for another pass!" yelled Karro, the second officer. Of the six remaining Y-Wings two turned back to gain more time for their comrades by attacking the disabled Star Destroyer. Their blaster cannons ripped up the sheeting here and there but luckily the ship's mere size gave some protection. But then however one of them headed straight toward the bridge.
Marcus had only a second to realize what is going to happen. „Get down and hold on to something!"
The Rebel bomber fired and the bridge's windshield – no matter how strengthened it was – cracked and imploded, opening up the compartment to the was like a hurricane bursting into the bridge, the air inside getting sucked out into space. Marcus, with his back pressed against a control stand watched in horror as two NCOs and four sailors flew out into the ice cold vacuum screaming. Their screams lasted for only a couple of seconds before they died in agony, twitching.
„Close the emergency shields!" tried Marcus to shout down the roar of the escaping air. He was grabbing the column shaped stand with every last ounce of his strength , his muscles aching while doing so.
„Captain!" he then heard a desperate female scream from his left. Looking aside he saw Dargan holding onto a control panel at the mouth of the breach, with her booted feet almost already out in space. „Captain please! Help me! My God!" she screamed helplessly.
For a bit Marcus was overwhelmed by his own fear, hesitating to leave his hiding place. But then with careful movements he threw himself on the ground, crawling to her slowly, grabbing structural elements to secure himself. „Give me your hand!" he reached out, getting there finally.
The dead pale gunnery officer shook her head in fear, not wanting to give up clinging.
„Give me your hand Dargan! I promise i'll hold you!"
In the end, she hesitantly let the panel go with one hand, grabbin Marcus' wrist tightly who started pulling her back inside, fighting the powerful airflow, setting his feet against the panel. After a while she was close enough for him to hold her by her waistbelt, while she was hugging his neck tightly. „I said close it damn it!"
Since the impact, Mersalli was trying to get to the switch. Fighting his way there he finally reached it, pushing the button and a metal plate run across the damaged windshield, isolating it once again.
The wind stopped and Marcus fell back to the ground and Dargan landing next to him. No one on the bridge could say or do anything, being under the effects of their near death experience. Dargan was still lying on her stomach, supporting herself with her trembling arms, her eyes filled with tears.
„Are you alright?" Marcus asked after a while, placing a hand on her shoulder.
„Y-yes. Yes Captain. I think I owe you my life." she said panting.
„Anyone here would have done it. We are a crew. We take care of each other." he replied, helping her up.
One after another the other crewmembers were standing up too getting back to their senses.
„Send out a search group. Collect the dead." ordered Marcus, still breathing heavily. He stepped to one of the still intact windows. That was when he noticed something strange down on Rodia. In the northern hemisphere it was like a volcano just erupted. He grabbed one of the high performance binoculars to observe the phenomenon. It wasn't a volcano or any other natural phenomena. It was the flaming, utterly devastated Eymava with the Decapitator over it. Admiral Trajar just wiped off the entire town of the face of the planet with all of its inhabitants after he had the Imperial troops pulled out from there.
Whatever. As he heard, that town was not so divided as others, but strongly supported the uprising. It's even possible that the residents knew about the rebel airbase. There's nothing to be done if they look for trouble.
„Decapitator, Sovereign." radioed Marcus.
„Sovereign, Decapitator." answered Trajar's voice.
„Requesting permission to be towed down to the planet. The ship is disabled."
„Granted Rienar."
Marcus contacted the Resilience. The light cruiser let out its tractor beam and began pulling the Star Destroyer after her down to the surface.