Chapter 55

The following day...

"All of our forces are in position, sir. What are your orders?"

I look out towards the empty streets ahead of my lines as the sergeant of my Chancellor's Guard unit reports. Currently, we have our two TX-130s just behind our lines, ready to advance, and further behind our line stands our AT-AV walker, guarded by more rebel infantry that were assigned as the walker's crew. A series of speeder bikes and a battalion of battle ready rebel troopers also stand ready.

"What's the position of the Imperials?" Sabine asks the sergeant.

"Scouts report they're holding their perimeter near the palace. It's mostly infantry, but there are pockets of artillery in strategic areas among them and within the palace gates."

"It's strange that they haven't been using it so much," Sabine says. "I'd have to assume they're either low on munitions if not out entirely."

"They have used a lot of artillery, especially after we arrived," I say, lifting my hand to my chin. "Much of that was destroyed thanks to our air strikes. All planetside Imperial reinforcements have either been destroyed or pushed back and our blockade in orbit is holding strong."

"The admiral reported last night that the system is quiet," Sabine adds. "I don't think that would last long."

"No, the Empire's already thrown a lot of resources into this campaign," I say. "They've lost a lot of ships trying to break us."

"That's true, but this is also one of the Empire's most important worlds," Sabine replies. "I don't think they'd give up that easy. The Emperor won't let them."

"I agree with the Commander, sir," the sergeant says. "If it was Epsilon under attack, we'd stop at nothing to defend it, right?"

"Point taken," I say. "Sergeant, see to your squad. We're going to advance." I turn to Sabine. "Send word to the other lines that we're moving and I expect them to be able to keep up."

"And if they can't?" she asks, though I can sense she isn't arguing my order.

"If they can't keep up I'll go over there myself to reinforce them."

"Of course your Chancellor's Guard will follow you," Sabine says then.

"I can order them to stay if you'd prefer," I offer.

"No offense, Ezra, but I'd prefer you stay as protected as you can get," she says. Her tone shifts as she speaks. Almost teasing. "For selfish reasons."

"It's because I'm always getting hurt, isn't it?"

She doesn't answer my question, instead opting to shrug her shoulders. "I'll relay your orders to the other fronts."

"Good. We move immediately."

...

KABOOOM!

I dive for cover as our leading TX-130 explodes, sending shrapnel flying in every direction. An entire squad of my troopers are killed instantly and several others are wounded. We're not given any time to recover as Imperial stormtroopers fire from down the street. I sit up and press my back to the wall I'm using as cover and look over my left shoulder. Most of my surviving troopers have taken defensive positions and are returning fire while the rest are scrambling to get the wounded to safety, though with the onslaught of red blaster bolts flying over their heads they are unable to reach them. I reach for my lightsaber but instead of the familiar metal cylinder my hand connects with my belt. I look around for it but it's not in sight and I don't have time to look for it.

I remember the blaster still secured to my leg holster and draw it. Up until now I completely forgot about it, but I silently thank Sabine for ordering someone to pack it with my uniform back when I was recovering from my fight with that Inquisitor. Taking careful aim down the street, I fire a few shots and drop a couple stormtroopers.

"General!"

I turn to see one of the Guard troopers stopping behind me. "Are you hurt, sir?"

"I'm fine. Take care of the wounded. Get them out of the line of fire. The rest of you, provide cover fire!" I order.

Wordlessly, my unit lines up behind their cover and send volley after rapid volley down the street, making it difficult for the Imperials to get any good shots out and allowing a few rebel troopers to drag the wounded to cover. Our one remaining TX-130 sets up just behind the firing line and assists in the cover.

"Form a hole! Let the tank through!" one of my soldiers calls out and the line splits apart. The tank passes harmlessly through and once it's clear of the line the troopers close it off, some of them forming up behind it as cover for their advance.

The stormtroopers ahead of us keep firing at our lines and I spot one of them lifting a rocket launcher over his shoulder. I'm about to take my aim at him when the crack of a slugthrower fells the trooper, though as he fell, the rocket is launched and narrowly misses the tank. The warhead buries itself into a building next to my right flank, the ensuing explosion completely destroys it, the debris crushing a few rebel troopers as the building collapsed.

Moments later, the entire Imperial line starts blasting the buildings between us, throwing more rubble in our way.

"What the hell? They've gone mad!" a rebel trooper exclaims after nearly getting crushed by a chunk of what used to be some kind of business.

"Just keep blasting and push up!" a lieutenant shouts.

I look ahead and inspect the enemy line as well as the buildings around us. I found it a bit strange that they've suddenly started shooting at the buildings instead of us, but when I look a little closer at the path ahead of us, it starts to make a little more sense.

"Hold your positions! Halt the advance!" I shout into my commlink. The lieutenant looks at me with a puzzled look.

"But sir, we nearly have them on the run!"

"Maybe so, but they're starting to block our path. We need to pull back to avoid getting buried!" I explain as another building in front of us explodes, wiping out four more rebels and injuring another two. "Get that tank back here! Lieutenant, lay down cover fire! Get our wounded out of here!"

"Yes sir!" the lieutenant replies, relaying my orders to the rest of the troops. His platoon forms a new line and starts covering the medics as they pull the wounded to safety, even bringing a few deceased with them, possibly in hopes of reviving them.

I join them on the line and start blasting. There's so much dust and smoke in the air, I can't see where the stormtroopers are shooting from. All we can do is keep their heads down enough to keep our wounded safe. It felt like an eternity, but a corporal calls out that the last of the wounded had been recovered. I ordered our lines to fall back a couple blocks to get some distance from Imperial explosives. Our withdrawal was covered by our TX-130 and AT-AV walker providing artillery fire and a few minutes later, all firing on both sides had ceased.

"Sabine! Do you read?"

"Loud and clear, Ez. Sounds like hell over at your flank."

"We were getting cut off from our route. The Imperials were blowing up the buildings and blocking the roads. We just pulled back a couple blocks due to heavy casualties."

"Do you need reinforcements?"

"I can't ask you to thin out your line. Do we have anything in reserve?"

"We have four extra battalions and a few tanks. What do you need?"

"A fresh battalion and a new TX-130. I'd like an AT-BW on standby behind our lines. They have some anti tank weapons over here, but if we can keep them pinned down, we could use it to push through the rubble."

"Understood. Expect them to arrive within the hour."

"Sir, our field hospitals are overrun with wounded. What should we do with them? If the Imperials advance, we won't be able to fall back."

"We shouldn't fall back any more than we already have, lieutenant. If they advance, we hold our ground. Reinforcements are on the way."

"And what about the wounded?"

"Send our most critical further behind our lines and call for medevac. Anyone with less serious wounds can be treated here."

"Understood, sir."

As the lieutenant leaves, I turn to my right and spot a few of my Chancellor's Guard troopers. "Sergeant, I want a status report!"

"Yes, sir! Right away!"

"General!"

I turn around and find another Guard trooper behind me. His hand is held out towards me and my lightsaber is resting on his palm. "I think you dropped this earlier. I found it underneath some rubble while searching for survivors."

"Thank you," I say, taking my lightsaber and securing it to my belt once again. "You look tired, trooper."

"I can still perform my duties, sir. But admittedly, it's been a long day."

"That it has," I agree. "Get some rest while you can. There's no telling if or when the Empire will counterattack."

"The street is blocked, sir. With all the debris the Imperial's flank here is covered."

I look down the street at the wall of collapsed buildings that are blocking our path. "That's why we're going to play their game for just a little longer. It buys us time to receive reinforcements and once they arrive we can break through their flank."

...

"You want to do what?"

I look at the faces of my officers, each one of them showing conflict on my plan.

"I want part of the left flank to collapse in towards the center and move around the rubble. It's too high to have everyone climb it so I'll be selecting volunteers to come with me. The unit splitting from the main flank will notify me when they're in position and from there they will wait for my order to attack." A simulation of my plan plays out on the holotable as I talk; the massive pile of rubble blocking our flank is dotted with gold marks showing where my chosen force will be positioned. A green line swings around the rubble, forming with the center force marked with blue, until they face the Imperials on the left flank in red. A second green line remains behind the rubble to maintain the left flank.

"My team is Squad 1. The force merging with the center line is Squad 2. The rest of our forces here will remain until our walkers are in position. Assuming all goes well, we'll have the stormtroopers on this flank fighting on two fronts, with Squad 2 cutting them off from their main line," I continue. The sergeant of my Guard speaks up then.

"Sir, wouldn't it be better for the center force to do this instead of splitting our flank into two groups?"

"The center force will be concentrating on the enemy line in front of them. They can't divide their attention like that without risking collapse," I reply. "Besides, with any luck the Imperials won't expect us to be shooting from the rubble. They wanted to block our advance, which means they're getting desperate. Doing this also prevents them from pushing us back. It's meant to keep us away."

"Then we should scout ahead first and locate the enemy positions. They could be fortifying their position as we speak," the sergeant says. He then looks to one of his subordinates. "Do we have any mortar teams here?"

"No, sir, but one of our walkers is on standby for artillery support if needed," a corporal replies.

"That will do. So who's going up with you, sir?" the sergeant asks.

"I'll take anyone who volunteers," I reply.

"Then you can count me in, sir. With your permission, I will begin calling for more men."

"Very well. We'll gather at the base of the rubble and advance on my order."

"Yes sir!" The sergeant leaves the room and I turn to the other officers.

"Corporal, call up whatever air support we have. I want them to give me a detailed scan of enemy positions behind the rubble," I say.

"Can't we do that with a droid, sir?" the corporal asks.

"Technically yes, but I don't want any more attention drawn to the top of that pile," I reply.

"They'll likely be watching it," another officer states. "We should take snipers into account."

"We can use the walker artillery to take them out once they reveal their location," I say. "I want the entire line to advance once we've engaged the Imperials. Keep the pressure up and they'll break. We need to reach the palace and secure it. I don't know how many more resources Central Command can spare on this operation."

"Understood sir!"

…

"General, we're ready and awaiting your orders," the sergeant of the Guard reports. A total of one hundred and fifty rebel troopers, most of which are from my Guard unit, are standing and preparing for the climb ahead of them.

"What do we know, sergeant?"

"Nearby U-wings were able to provide a sector scan," he begins, activating his holo disc to show the battleground. "The Imps are fortifying their position a few blocks behind the rubble in a sort of hook. Their center line is holding their position, but directly behind them is the palace. The line ahead of us is the most concerning to me."

"If they hold that position, we can't take the palace without being outflanked," I agree. "Are there signs of snipers?"

"We have a handful of possible locations here, here, here, and here," he points them out as the map pans out slightly. "I have ordered a handful of our own snipers to watch those positions. We should also be receiving a couple U-wings to watch for any concerning movements."

I study the positions on the holomap and glance at the walkers behind our lines. "What's the status of our walkers' ammo supply?"

"They have plenty of shells to spare if they're needed, sir," the sergeant replies.

"Very well," I say as the hologram dissipates. I look at the troops selected for the climb for a moment, their faces concealed behind polarized faceplates. To my right is the rest of our front line and they stand ready to charge towards the palace.

"On your order, sir," the sergeant urges. "The boys are itching to finish this fight."

"Right." I ensure my lightsaber is secured to my belt and approach the base of the debris wall. "Let's move out!"

I jump several meters up the wall and grab a ledge to pull myself up again. Below me, all 150 rebel troopers fire ascension cables and begin their own climb. One of the cables didn't get a solid grip on a rock and breaks loose, but I was close enough to grab the cable and keep the trooper from falling too far. Once I see he's grabbed onto the wall, I let go of the cable and continue my climb, quickly reaching the top. Thankfully, there's enough room here to hold everyone on this ledge and there's plenty of cover to hide behind. I don't look over the top of the debris and instead use the Force to search for potential threats. I sense a single lifeform roughly 400 meters to my 11 o'clock and judging from his altitude I figure it's most likely a sniper. I bring up my commlink and call up to the U-wings orbiting the battlefield.

"This is Bridger. I need eyes on the northwest, approximately 400 meters."

"Acknowledged, scanning the area now."

Next to me, the sergeant of the Guard, along with the rest of the unit, reaches the top and get posted behind cover. "What's next, sir?"

"I called for a sector scan, 400 meters that way," I reply, pointing my hand in the direction of where I sensed the possible sniper.

"You think it's a sniper?"

"Most likely."

"U-wing Alpha 1-3 to General Bridger, we see a single contact in a tower-like structure. There's a rifle barrel in the window."

"Thanks for the spot. Relay the coordinates to the artillery walkers. Tell them to fire at will."

"Understood. Stand by."

"Keep your heads down!" I call to my unit. "Friendly artillery incoming. Once it hits its target, we'll breach and fire on the Imperial line below."

"Yes sir!"

I activate my commlink. "Sabine, is everyone ready?"

"Ready and waiting for your order, Ezra. What's the hold up?"

"Sniper watching the rubble. Called in artillery to take him out."

"Bit overkill, don't you think?"

"It guarantees that position can't be reused," I reply, though I understand what she means. We aren't supposed to be causing so much destruction, but the city is practically destroyed as it is. "Start your advance. We'll join the fight momentarily."

"Understood. See you in the palace."

The sound of an artillery cannon shatters the relatively calm air and my eyes shoot towards the sky to watch the blue shell arc over our heads and connect with its target, completely destroying the tower. A spotter for the artillery calls in a direct hit and that other potential sniper positions are being monitored closely. Thirty seconds later, the sound of blaster fire erupts from the right, meaning Sabine's forces have engaged the stormtroopers.

I draw my blaster pistol and wave my troops over the rubble to join the fight. Down below on the other side, the entire Imperial line is holding strong against Sabine's forces, yet their attention is drawn solely on her instead of the rubble, enabling my own forces to fire down on them with no immediate counter fire. A wall of rapid blaster fire catches the preoccupied stormtroopers off guard and forces them to divert their attention from Sabine's advance and try to deal with mine. Slowly, the Imperials start to fall back again and I order my troops to keep up their fire from their positions atop the rubble pile while I jump down to close in on the enemy.

I holster my pistol and draw my lightsaber, deflecting bolt after bolt from the retreating stormtroopers. The only thing behind the stormtroopers are the palace gates, which start to close in the face of our advance. A stormtrooper attempts to swing his blaster at me from my right, but before I could counter him, he suddenly screams and collapses on his face, the smoldering mark of a blaster bolt tainting his otherwise shiny armor. Further behind the fallen trooper is the rest of my troopers charging ahead to continue the fight, among them is Sabine. She runs up to me and checks on the fallen stormtrooper.

"Lucky bastard is still alive," she says as she gets to her feet.

"We'll treat him," I tell her, wanting to remind her that we're not going to stoop to the Empire's level.

"I knew you were going to say that," she says, the disdain evident in her tone. Aside from that, there's no telling what she's feeling since she's wearing her helmet. "Obviously, we broke their lines again. What should we do now?"

"You catch up to your forces. Do what you can to keep the palace gates open. I should wait here for my unit to get down from the rubble, but we'll catch up to you shortly."

"Got it. I'll try to leave a few Imperials for your guys."

I smile and nod before she runs off to catch up with the rest of the rebel troopers. I turn around and activate my commlink as I look to the top of the rubble pile. "Sergeant, post snipers and spotters along that wall. The rest of the boys can start climbing down. Move as quickly as you can."

"Understood, sir. We're on our way."

It's been too long since I've updated any of my stories. Life has gotten more hectic lately with college graduation this past May, two new jobs, one just this week, a new apartment, and overall a severe lack of imagination. I've said this before in private messages and probably a few times in post chapter notes like this, but I seriously have not forgotten about any of my stories. I truly enjoy writing and intend to continue, though clearly it's all happening very slowly. Maybe a little too slow. Nevertheless, I am forever grateful for your patience and you all have every right to be upset. I think my problem is that I think so far ahead from where the story is at that I struggle to figure out a way to lead the story to where I imagine it.

I have also set up an account on the FictionPress site the past couple years and fairly recently posted a story there, and admittedly a lot of my brainstorming has been directed there with over 40 chapters of this newer story being prewritten as an attempt to keep things in line and relevant, though I came to realize that didn't exactly work as thoroughly as I'd hoped. I'm still happy with that story and it often reminds me of writing here. For those that are interested, my profile name on FictionPress is FR0ST18 (don't forget the 0 (zero) in FR0ST). It was a sort of experiment with a slightly different writing style with the aim of providing better details to the story, one that I'm working on implementing here.

As of posting this chapter, as usual, I have started writing the next chapter and, in spite of starting a new job, hopefully will get that done much sooner.