Dense, white fog was floating over the many rivers, creeks and other waterways of Rodia. The early morning air was usually filled with the croaking and chirping of various creatures but this time It was different. There was instead rumbling, humming and screeching as the Imperial army was on the move after the password sounded to commence Operation Hailstorm.

AT-ATs and AT-STs were marching side by side like many fearsome, moving fortresses. Tank columns that accompanied them and others that were waiting outside the settlements after maneuvering into position through hidden countryside roads were gliding toward their targets like gigantic steel snakes, followed by transports and shadowed by infantry.

Lena kept staring forward as they were getting closer and closer to Iskaayuma. Unlike the insurgents, they had proper reconnaissance and so they had exact data about the Rodian forces. She knew the potential amount of resistance, the actual however was a different story. Without their high command it was basically up for each individual commander what they decide to do. Even if Manilawa took command, without his general staff he'll not be able to lead with full efficiency.

There was one certainty between the uncertainties though. The Empire outnumbered and outgunned Rodia by far.

X

At 04:45 a.m. Major Loni Feylo, a human officer of the Rodian Military ordered alarm at his battle station. His battery of eight cannons was positioned in a southern, industrial district of Iskaayuma called Chipela, guarding the road that led into the capital. In the earlier days, learning about the Imperial troop movements the Rodian leadership had the city's entrances closed down by artillery units in the suburbs and the outskirts of Iskaayuma.

A bit more than a half an hour earlier they noticed that something serious was happening and a straight up invasion was imminent. Feylo kept his radio at arm's length, waiting for the order that will certainly come in minutes. It must come... But the minutes kept passing and no order came. Instead, the batteries reported one after another that the Imperial tanks that were surrounding them and were behaving threateningly entered their firing positions, chased them away and disabled their cannons. At Battery 4 where the Great Canal met the city they rained blastersfire upon the personnel's quarters, killing five militia members and wounding many others.

The sun didn't even rise, but the Imperials occupied all Rodian stations except for Feylo's Battery 6 and neighboring Battery 5. It was 05:20 a.m. when a broadcast sounded on a civilian frequency. Barely audibly they heard the voice of their Grand Protector. „Fellow Rodians, here's Oreno Manilawa speaking! Today at daybreak Imperial forces attacked our capital and home planet with the obvious intention of throwing it into complete subjugation. Our Militia is fighting heroically, and I call you all for defending our world!"

Being a soldier, the announcement shook Feylo greatly but he was also confused. What fighting is he talking about? Manilawa didn't order anyone to resist. Or did his command simpy not reach them? Not a single word came from the Ministry of Defense either.

As such, Feylo decided to take the matters of the district into his own hands at his own risk. He ordered his units – completed by members of the Planetary Guard - that if any Imperial military vehicle enters their position, they shall open fire without hesitation. Many from the regiment wanted to fight and they absolutely agreed with his decision.

All the cannons were manned as they were waiting anxiously for the enemy to show up. But no one came. Unbeknownst to them, the Empire's forces focused their attention on the inner districts and so Chipela was left out of the first phase of Operation Hailstorm.

But they heard something. Loud buzzing and thumping was coming from the direction of Rodia Boulevard. It was the sound of the repulsors of dozens – perhaps hundreds – of tanks and the feet of walkers as they were moving along the avenue toward the city center.

X

„I can not leave gentlemen. I can not leave my people..." declared Manilawa desperately to his cabinet, gathered in his office. An hour earlier he was sleeping in his bed in the Protector's Palace when he woke up to a mild tremor that was running through the building, and a distant, thundering sound. He immediately jumped out of his bed to figure out what was going on. Ten minutes later he finally recieved reports that the outskirts of Iskaayuma were being bombarded by heavy artillery...

Though he was talking about fight in his radio announcement, he didn't order either the Planetary Guard or the Militia to resist. He wanted to boost moral, but he also knew that a full out war would bring nothing but terrible suffering to the populace.

„The Palace and the governmental buildings are going to be the first places to be besieged." said Geem Nero, the finance minister. „They are going to shoot you dead on site Sir. Or worse..."

„My duty is to stay here. And fight if I have to."

„Sir, sometimes one have to give up to be able to fight another day. As long as you live, hope will live on Rodia too. That's the only chance we can avoid the people losing all their spirit."

„Well, I don't know..."

„I agree with the minister Grand Protector." said Captain Jami of the Protector's Guard. He was the immediate subordinate of Jenari Mecharo but with him in captivity, he was in charge now of the armed body. „I am sorry to say this, but with respect I order you to leave with the escort I give you. When it's about your safety I decide what to do."

Manilawa let out a deep, heavy breath of acceptance. „Let it be. What are you planning to do Captain?"

„I am staying here to fight Sir with the rest of the Guard. A smaller unit is waiting out there for you and your government."

„All I can hope is that the future will rehabilitate me from this." said Manilawa as he stood up.

„And all I know is that the Empire will surely not rehabilitate you Sir. This way, quick!"

X

It didn't take long before General Polson woke up from his slumber as well. The Empire wasn't messing around with the three Rebel camps, in the very first minutes of the attack TIE-fighters descended upon them, blasting everything and everyone inside with their cannons.

The Rebel general rushed out of his tent, only to find half of his vast camp already in flames. Alliance soldiers were running up and down terrified, firing their rifles at the attacking starfighters. One or two of them got access to the man-portable surface-to-air missiles and managed to shoot down some fighters but they just kept coming and coming.

„We evacuate!" bellowed Polson. „Emergency plan, head for the jungle!"

The Rebels deactivated the energy fence that surrounded their encampment and thousands of various species made their way toward the dense, tropical woods, some on speeders, some on foot. Of course, the Empire was not willing to let them go so easily.

Over their heads the Sovereign was waiting like a dreadful predator, lurking for its prey.

„Coordinates recieved Captain." reported Dargan.

„Give them hell gunnery officer." gave Marcus the command and the Destroyer's deadly rays ripped up the ground, tearing apart and evaporating the fleeing Rebel soldiers. Still, many others reached the jungle successfully, intended to continue the fight.

X

For a while there was only scattered shooting, but as they were getting closer to the city center, resistance kept becoming fiercer and fiercer. Together with two other AT-ATs and three AT-STs, Lena's walker was proceeding on the Rodia Boulevard, heading right toward the governmental district, which – according to reconnaissance – was one of the most well defended parts of Iskaayuma. She was leading the line as commander of the regiment, given sole responsibility for that quarter of the capital.

Entering the capital, they first encountered a battery of six, middle calibered cannons. They got over with it quickly, its crew surrendered without a single shot. Two of those cannons were crushed by the feet of Lena's AT-AT, the rest were incapacitated by the tanks and the infantry.

The first real point of resistance popped up at the first crossroad. It was barricaded with debris and wrecks of burned out speeders and other vehicles and strengthened with smaller guns. The size and strength of the enemy personnel was unclear but it was sure that most of the resistants were Planetary Guard members, policemen and ordinary civilians. At most places, they couldn't count on the regular Rodian Military. In the previous days, all of their military and airbases were surrounded and at dawn the rings were tightened around them. Where they didn't surrender after the first warning, the Empire responded with an immediate barrage, pounding them with mortars, howitzers, cannons and almost everything else they had.

A Rodian cannon was fired and a tank went up in flames. Facing the overwhelming enemy force, they chose a hit and run tactic at most places, striking down then disappearing to find another position. To compensate this, the Imperials weren't choosy when it came to countermeasures, they just outright blasted everything that showed the smallest sign of hostile activity.

That was when Lena's walker shook violently and stumbled after a loud bang. „Damage report!"

„Vehicle is fully operational ma'am." said the pilot. „Only minor damage on the frontal right leg, including the pressure sensors."

Right after this, another tank was blown up, and not by a firearm. „Unit halt! The road is mined. Standing barrage against the crossroad for fifteen minutes, we have to make way for the sappers." radioed Lena and the Imperial column stopped, firing at the road junction with everything they had, soon ruining the area. Once that quarter of an hour passed, the infantry began its charge and the stormtroopers soon cleared that section of the street, pushing the remaining Rodians back into the surrounding buildings.

Coming after them, the sappers and the bomb disposal team searched, deactivated and removed the mines and housemade explosives. The armored vehicles continued their advance, while scattered blaster fire was still coming from the windows and roofs.

As Lena's AT-AT passed by one of the tall buildings, she saw a flash from the right, then a trail of smoke, racing right toward them. A hiding Militia soldier appeared in the window and fired a rocket from only a few meters, which hit the walker on the side of its head, making it to turn away for a few seconds. But before he could celebrate, it turned back with a mechanic sound, facing him. It was so close that he could see the pilot and gunner with their covered faces and their commander standing behind them. A woman with a sadistic grin on her face. And those eyes, that look... It was almost not human. It was like the look of a vicious, ruthless monster, a beast that's about to rip its victim apart. The walker's main guns fired and the entire floor was evaporated, with everyone there.

The other buildings along the road mostly recieved the same treatment, being fired at from groundfloor to roof with machine guns and anti-personnel cannons whether they showed signs of harboring resistants or not.

The next major obstacle was Iskaayuma's main police station, a rhombus shaped, multi-storey building. Although cohesion was lost among the Rodian armed forces, the department's personnel decided to fight back as one, feeling that their oath was to the planet's people above all. The road here split into two, with the station forming an island between the end of the Rodia Boulevard and the square in front of the Protector's Palace.

Because of this, the Imperials couldn't solve the problem by simply demolishing it by gunfire, as the ruins would have blocked their way.

„All troops, disembark! We are going in!" radioed Lena to her regiment and the platoons of stormtroopers began exiting the AT-ATs and transports. „I will lead the charge. The vehicle is yours pilot, support us upon request." she said, checking her service pistol.

„Understood Ma'am. But if I may: shouldn't you stay here as regiment commander?"

„I didn't become a soldier of the Empire to just sit idly behind armor all the time. I'm thirsty for rebell blood. I'm going to quench my desire." That was all she said before leaving the cockpit, following the soldiers clad in white armor.

Down on the street blastersfire was raining from everywhere. Stepping onto the cobblestone, Lena hurried behind one of the tanks, which – together with the AT-STs kept the station's windows under fire to cover the infantry.

She banged on its side, making its commander to pop out his head. „Head to the southeastern gate! We're following you!"

„Yes Colonel!" acknowledged the tanker and the ironclad headed toward the southeastern side of the rhombus, followed by the soldiers. As soon as they entered the right branch of the junction, the Rodian fire intensified, coming from a barricade that closed the entrance of the square and from two sides from the windows above.

The tank fired its main cannon, sweeping away half of the obstacle, killing multiple defenders. Another shot hit a cargo speeder behind causing a huge explosion. Apparently, it was filled with ammunition.

The foot soldiers returned fire too, firing their blasters upward. Inevitably however, some of them fell during the advance, some shots avoided Lena herself by only a few centimeters. Reaching the vaulted gateway, they found it blocked as well by police speeders, from behind which the law enforcement officers were firing at them, forcing the Imperials to hide behind the gateposts. Once again, the tank came to their aid, eliminating the barrier within moments. The smoke didn't even clear up when parts of Lena's regiment, the 52nd stormed in. The inner courtyard was quickly secured, the hard part came after that: taking the building itself.

„C Company, after me!" yelled Lena the command, leading the troopers up the first steps they found. It was so narrow that only two persons could stand next to each other on it. As soon as they reached the first flight they encountered the policemen again. Though a shot hit Lena on her chest, it was luckily only some weaker, small caliber weapon and the breastplate withstood the ray.

After a short duel they made their way upstairs and the real cleaning could begin. „Sergeant, grenade!" said Lena whey they got to the first door. The trooper handed her the explosive and without hesitation she kicked the door in, throwing it inside. The detonation rocked the room, wrecking almost everything in there. Right after that the platoon stormed in guns blazing, taking down any survivor, of whom there were not many. A Rodian policeman was still breathing, lying rattling on his back, covered with bleeding wounds. With a slight, nearly careless movement Lena stepped over him, raised her pistol and shot him right in the face.

It would be impossible to describe all the calamity that ensued, the 52nd Regiment had to go through this exact same scene in every room, staircase and corridor of the three-storey police station, suffering losses in the process.

By the end of it, everything was covered with blastershot and shrapnel marks and small fires were burning here and there. From the uppermost floor Lena peeked out at the square down there. It was blocked from every direction and its defenders were already fighting with the approaching tanks and soldiers. For the next few hours, Lena was commmanding from the occupied department but she saw no progress, the Rodians were holding their line firmly.

Looking into the distance then, she saw another one of their targets: the Golwera Hill, with Iskaayuma's radio station on top of it, about a kilometer away. The building with the tall antennas was visibly smoking. „Contact me with E Company." said Lena and a radioman came to her. „52nd Regiment E Company, this is Colonel Barani. Do you copy?"

„E Company is here Ma'am." came the reply.

„Who am I talking to?"

„Captain Mladrok."

„Set up the mine-throwers on the hilltop and shell Protector's Square. Shoot at fast intervals until I order you to stop."

„Roger Colonel."

Not long after this, a whistling sound filled the air and explosions rocked the square, ripping up the paving and razing the Rodian positions.

The bombardment had its effect, the Protector's Guard soldiers down there had to deem the square indefensible and the survivors retreated into the Palace.

„Alright. Let the purge continue." said Lena mentally and she went to organize the charge.

Hello everyone, I hope you liked the chapter. It turned out to be a bit shorter than I originally planned, but I wanted to avoid it being too complex. Stay tuned for more action!