Baby Its Cold Outside (The Imperium Assault on Hoth)

[Gulliver Foyle]

What the hell? When did they pick up a Shadow Trooper? Gulliver wasn't even aware that the Imperium had any. Oh well. If they did, so much the better.

::[member="ST-2387 'Patriot'"], you are to escort [member="[/COLOR]Ron Hellsing"] and the men he assigns to the third objective to the correct location, where you will provide whatever support the Marines onsite require.::

Once that was out of the way, Gulliver switched channels to have a word with Captain Hellsing.

::Captain, glad you could join us. Send your heavy weapons platoon to join the Marines at the third objective and have another ready to start carrying wounded back to the dropships. The rest of your troops will fall in with the first wave where needed and help the soldiers on the ground establish a defensive perimeter around the hangar. It is imperative that we hold it until they can complete the mission, otherwise this whole landing will be for nothing. I expect the Supreme Commander to have little trouble mopping up what's left of the resistance, but keep your eyes peeled. They'll be at their most dangerous with their backs against the wall, and I don't want any surprises.::

This was, historically speaking, the most dangerous part of the battle. The enemy had been defeated already, and they knew it. Any competent commander would surrender in hopes of sparing as many men as possible, even if that mean they spent the next few years languishing in prison camps. Unfortunately, the Supreme Commander had ordered that no quarter was to be given. That, in Gulliver's eyes, was a mistake. He had no moral problem with it, but tactically, it was almost always a bad idea. If the enemy knew they were going to die one way or another, they would fight that much harder, hoping to at least inflict extra casualties on their killers before going out themselves.

It was classic Imperial thinking that almost always backfired in the long run. Gulliver was just a general; he wasn't in a position to argue with the Supreme Commander, especially not after the order had been given. For a fledgling military such as theirs, it was imperative that the troops think the command team was a united front. Even a hint of disagreement could shatter morale, and that was something no commander was willing to do on the eve of a battle unless absolutely necessary. And given the weight of iron they were prepared to throw at the enemy today, the old soldier knew better than to risk it. But there would be an AAR afterwards, and he would raise the issue there. If he was shot down, so be it. There would likely be countless opportunities to prove his point in the future.

In the mean time, it was high time he contacted the Supreme Commander to deliver his sitrep.

::Command, this is Drop 6. Objective 1 is secured. Shatter Company is moving to Objective 3 with the support of a heavy weapons platoon. Establishing defensive perimeter around the hangar. How copy?::

[member="Decimus Meridius"]
[member="TK-781"]
[member="Galven Solomon"]
[member="Veris Tagge"]
[member="Joran Greth"]

 

[Ricochet]

Ignore. Post removed.

 

[Veris Tagge]

[member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="Ron Hellsing"] [member="ST-2387 'Patriot'" ] [member="Gulliver Foyle"] [member="TK-781"] [member="Galven Solomon"] [member="Adalric Vastor" ] [member="Vinca Jaffe"]

Veris watched as the troopers rushed the hanger. They had stormed the remaining enemy combatants in the hanger and made short work of what was left HE let a grin crack the edge of his lip, He really loved killing things and in such mass boosted his mood. Tagge looked at the hanger in the distance and then punched in a new set of co-ordinates.

"Lets turn her around boys, Time to move to our next objective." Tagge said as he began the target coding for the ice basin. The Pilots turned the massive beast around towards the Ice basin and began moving the behemoth away from the hanger and into the lower valley. IN the distance Veris could see the massive form of the Evakmar landing and deploying troops and vehicles. It was hard to miss something the size of a mountain sitting on the flat ice fields below. Between them the motley forces of the pirate rebels sat gearing up for battle. A large Freighter sat in the distance being loaded with something Tagge could not make out. Who knew what these pirates held in such regard to try to save it. That would not happen.

"Target the large freighter. Fire for effect." was the order Tagge gave his men in the dorsal cannon turret. The massive weapon moved into position and let off a volly of seven shots. The other two walkers did the same sending a torrent of super heated death down at the ship now attempting to finish loading and take off. The blasts struck the ship ripping into its hull and tearing the upper command spur from its hull. Fire spewed out of open hatchways and loading bays like thrusters from a rocket. The jets of fire stopped instantly then a moment later the ship went up in a fireball sending shrapnel out across the makeshift landing pad.

"Inform the supreme commander we are moving into catch the scum on the basin in a cross fire." Tagge told one of the pilots sitting below him in the command section of the walker. He saw the fire raging on the pad and smiled with delight. He enjoyed the fight. The kill. It was intoxicating. Now to move on. He looked through the targeting scope at the troops not trying to decide which front the y would fight on now that they were caught between death and the executioner. For a moment he pitied them. but just for a moment, they were not to survive this day. That was his order. It was one he would see carried out.

 

[Mr. OOC]

"Objective One secured."

That's what TK-781 was waiting to hear. He lifted a hand and motioned forward before setting out across the snow towards the hanger. Though he led them, he wasn't worried. The regular grunts had cleared out the majority of the opposition at this point, though he was certain what they'd cleared out were the weakest of the enemy forces. That meant that he and his squad, the single group from Shatter Company assigned to the mission, were going to have to breach the lower chamber.

They entered the hanger and started the quick march down towards the reactor chamber. No enemies rose to meet them, though he was certain that they were present beyond the door ahead. When they reached it, he held up a hand to signal the others to stop. A heavy weapons platoon was following them, and also came to a stop.

He examined the door and then pointed to one of his troopers.

"TK-956, blow the door. Everyone else on the sides." He motioned to one of the heavy weapons group members, one with a heavy repeater, and motioned him forward. "Position here, trooper. When the door blows, there will be many enemies on the other side. Before it clears, I want you to open fire. My troopers will pick off the sides, you clear the front."

"Yes, sir."

He stepped over to the right side and held his rifle up at the ready. The butt was tucked right against his shoulder, the sight prepared for him to look down it and take down the enemies that would soon be visible. 956 placed charges on the door, charged only strong enough to break the door seals, and then moved back. He looked at 781 for the all clear. When he was satisfied that everyone he gave a nod, the charges were blown, and all hell broke loose.

[member="Veris Tagge"] | [member="Gulliver Foyle"] | [member="Joran Greth"] | [member="Decimus Meridius"]

 

[Not Ordo]

DS twelve six angled her fighter as she turned back to hit the rebel scum with another attack run. They were dug in like ticks on a bantha's backside but she could keep them down long enough for troops to move in to burn them off.

The old familiar sound of the ion drives screamed through the sky as ice clung to her viewport. Her hands light on the yoke as she lead her four fighter team. Green bolts spewed like venom from her under cockpit cannons as the strafed the rebels and watched the Supreme Commander's armored units move in to pound at the rebels defenses. It was a good day for the Empire.

[member="Gulliver Foyle"] [member="Veris Tagge"] [member="TK-781"] [member="ST-2387 'Patriot'"] [member="TK-781"] [member="Galven Solomon"] [member="Adalric Vastor"] [member="Vinca Jaffe"]

 

[TK-2387]

[member="TK-781"] [member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="DS-12-6"]

She had overheard his orders to the fellow marine. Of course, it would be unnecessary, for the most part. Support is liked, yes, but Shadow Trooper armor is more efficient at stopping direct shots than the plasteel that is used in Stormtrooper, Scout Trooper, and Imperial Marine armor. Durasteel tends to be like that, even if its only fiberweave. When she decloaks from her recently acquired stealth field, which she had taken from a dead bothan. Turning her matte black skull-like helmet to the trooper, she gives him a respectful nod as she readies her E-11, her DH-17 on her right thigh and her T-21 held onto her back via a magnetic plate.

"Glad to have some support, Marine."

With a soft whine, her E-11 charges to full power as she takes position to the left side of the door. When the door was blown down, even she was surprised at the intensity of incoming fire. Already, and she hadn't even fired a shot yet, she had taken three shots to the torso. Two blasts later, and two targets were down. But, looking behind her, she sees several wounded and dead troopers. With a click, her helmet switches to private comms. She pulls a canister off of her waits, priming it and tossing the grenade in.

"Flash out!"

 

[Jeron Verity]

[member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="Adalric Vastor"] [member="Gulliver Foyle"] [member="Mason Deschart"] [member="Vinca Jaffe"] [member="Veris Tagge"] [member="Joran Greth"]



"Sir, we've retrieved an encoded transmission, it's from the Supreme Commander."
A Comms Officer spoke up.

"Let me see," Galven said, moving to the console. "He wants me to do... what??" Galven coughed before straightening himself up and accepting the order. "Viskis I need you with me. Officer, get the remaining troops in the shuttles. Hold the fort while I'm gone." He said, hand gesturing a grab to Viskis who was guarding the Bridge as he walked to the door to reach the turbolift"

"Sir, may I ask the situation?" Viskis asked.
"The Supreme Commander wants me down there, beside him. As to why, I don't know, maybe it's to prove myself to the man."
"You hate leaving your fort, don't you?"
"You're in uniform Viskis," he said as he went into the turbolift with Viskis, "Act like it."
Viskis nodded and followed Galven as the were going to the hangar.

-----


Galven launched with Viskis, some of his troopers, and a few other shuttles. These shuttles were carrying Galvens personal Stormtroopers, the ones that came with him from the remainder of his original forces. Soon after the shuttles launched, Galven ordered the shuttles to land near the combat one where Meridius was planned to be. "Supreme Commander Meridius, I have received your orders, what is your location? I've dropped with my personal soldiers down in near the front lines." He said as he got off the shuttle, hand gesturing to his men for their positions until they pushed, as the shuttles pulled away

 

[Veris Tagge]

[member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="Ron Hellsing"] [member="ST-2387 'Patriot'"] [member="Gulliver Foyle"] [member="TK-781"] [member="Galven Solomon"] [member="Adalric Vastor"] [member="Vinca Jaffe"]

The three AT-SE walkers of Tagge's force stomped down the incline of the hillside leading down to the makeshift landing area for the large freighter no on fire. The rebel troops formed up around large chunks of the ship and fired on the massive walkers now closing into normal weapons range. Tagge looked through the targeting para-scope of the walked and bracketed a group of troopers taking cover behind what once was an engine. Veris squeezed the right hand grip and crimson bolts shot out of the chin laser cannons at the group. The impact threw the engine up and back smashing the troops behind it and slamming into another group taking refuge behind one of the large freighters landing struts.

"Have the others move around and take up position here. we will close off the back door and let the supreme commander crush these scum under his boot."

 

[Mr. OOC]

Truthfully, TK-781 didn't care for having this other trooper, seemingly an IIB trooper, involved in this operation. Breaching was the role of the Marines, not the dark troopers. That and he felt as if she were stealing their thunder, which he knew was something his troops wouldn't care for. He could practically hear them grinding their teeth, though he didn't acknowledge it as he focused on the door in front of them. He didn't even answer her as he focused on his task.

As soon as the door blew, the heavy trooper opened fire and... the Dark Trooper tossed a flash bang. He switched his visor over to shield at the last second and was spared, but one of his troopers was disoriented and stepped into the line of fire, falling. 781 ignored the fallen trooper as he pushed forward, literally stepping on the dead soldier to move forward.

As he did, he drew two frag grenades, armed them, reached inside of the doors and tossed them to either side. There were a multitude of shouts and then explosions followed by screaming. As soon as the smoke appeared and he knew the blasts were done, he moved forward, pressing into the chamber and opening fire through the haze while the rest of his marines followed suit. These rebel scum were routed in seconds, fleeing for whatever cover they could find, as little good as it would do them.

"Shatter Company to General Foyle," he said as he gunned down a female rebel from behind and then aimed at the rest and opened fire. "Lower level will be secured momentarily. Prepare for next phase."

[member="Gulliver Foyle"] | [member="ST-2387 'Patriot'"] | [member="Decimus Meridius"]

 

[Gulliver Foyle]

::That's a good copy. Let us know when you've extracted the power source. Transports will be waiting.::

Everything was going to plan thus far. That had Gulliver worried. As the old saying went, the longer everything went according to the plan, the greater the impending disaster. Still, it wasn't like he could scrub the mission on the basis of an old superstition. It was rare that a mission go off without a hitch, but not unheard of. That didn't mean he wasn't going to hedge his bets.

The General commed up to the transport waiting in orbit and let it know that it was time for pickup. He also picked out a squadron of starfighters that weren't doing anything at the moment and assigned them to provide cover. A fighter screen would make him feel a lot better about their chances of success.

And if that wasn't enough, he redeployed his troops to cover the transport's LZ, which was as close to the hangar as they could safely get it. Heavy weapons squads were sent to elevated positions to cover the only viable avenue of approach. Mortars were assigned to the mouth of the ice cave that served as the hangar. They'd be able to fire outwards without difficulty, and were protected from behind by the terrain and by a double line of infantry out front. It wasn't likely that they'd be needed, given the ease with which the troops at the other end of the valley were mopping up the last remnants of the enemy force. Thermal scans from probe droids looking down at the battlefield showed no signs of any reserve forces on the way, and on an ice planet like Hoth, FLIR was king. Against the frigid backdrop, even stealthed troops would show up against the snow.

"I hope they hurry the hell up," Gulliver muttered to no one in particular. "Freezing my ass off down here."

[member="TK-781"]

 

[Lash]

[member="DS-12-6"] [member="Decimus Meridius"] [member="Ron Hellsing"] [member="Gulliver Foyle"] @TK-781 @ST-2387 'Patriot' [member="Galven Solomon"] [member="Mason Deschart"] [member="Adalric Vastor"] [member="Vinca Jaffe"]


Lash watched the blue and white distortion of hyperspace collapse into the dark star field of the Hoth system. In the distance he saw the Imperium's 5th fleet standing at guard, engaging an ancient Bulwark battleship. How the Pirates had managed to dig one of those up and crew it was beyond Lash. The could not possibly man the entire complement of guns. The Vindicator Mk X heavy cruiser was under its last trials and Lash had enjoyed every minute of his time aboard the vessel. He had missed cruiser command since he had been promotedto commanding destroyers. Something about the smaller vessels reminded him of home, his real home. A world he could never return to again. The cruiser began to accelerate, and move into the engagement zone with Grand Admiral Descharts force and that of Moff Soloman. Lash knew very little about the moff other than he had requisitioned one of the Gladiator cruisers and two frigates. The ships were moving to engage the much larger Bulwark slowly which would allow Lash to catch up and get in a few volleys with the Vindicator.

"Captain, Time for a weapons test. Target the Pirate battleship. Once we have a solution weapons free on the long range batteries." Lash said leaning back in his command chair. He would relax and watch the show. The last test they needed was of the long range weapons. Now they had an excuse and more importantly a real target to dictate such a test.

 

[Lash]

Lash sat watching the ships in the distance get closer. They had reached long range weapons range, and Captain Konit had just signaled they were ready to fire. The ships in the distance had engaged each other now, slugging it out with normal raged weapons. While the 5th fleet out gunned the Bulwark, it was a fer formidable vessel and could take a lot of punishment. The old CIS ships were well known for their armor and shield strength. They also loaded out a very formidable weapons load. The Grand Admirals ship was enough to deal with it, but Lash knew it would irritate the human if he assisted.

"We are into position to fire. Solution is plotted and we are green for weapon test." said the Chiss captain standing at the tactical targeting console. Lash smiled thinking about the humans dislike for him. Such an inferior creature holding himself above others. Lash thought about what was about to happen. His mind was a never ending puzzle and this piece he was about to put into position was one he would thoroughly enjoy.

 

[Lash]

"COMM, Inform the Grand Admiral the calvary has arrived." Lash almost laughed at the idea. The six hundred meter ship was formidable for its size, but no match for either the Bulwark or the Epicurus. The thought of Deschart imagining the smaller ship saving him, even if it was just for a minute after he heard the transmission, was tantalizing. The COMM officer sent the message to the Grand Admiral then closed the channel not allowing him to respond. Lash had no quarrel with the man now. He was a competent commander. He was just human, and therefore inferior.

"Captain your gunners may fire when ready." Lash said sitting back relaxing in his seat once again. A moment later the red bolts of the long range turbolasers fired out and off towards the Bulwark. A second later they were joined by the blue white bolts of the lone range ion cannons. The bolts traveled out into the distance past the imperial ships engaging the pirate ships then found their home on the forward hull of the Bulwark. Two of the bolts were wide right, but two slammed into the shielding rippling them as the power of the weapons was distributed over the shields. A second later, one of the ion bolts hit sparking white energy around the forward shields of the ship.

"Adjust for gravity and distance and fire again captain" said Lash watching the ships grow larger, as the cruiser got closer. A second volley of long range fire erupted from the cannons of the Vindicator Mk X-class vessel, moving off again striking at the pirate ship in the distance. One went left and two right as the gunners bracketed in the pirate ship. One long range bolt struck the shields again followed by both of the ion bolts. The energy erupting like a volcano of ionic rage spreading out over the shielding.

"Weapons free captain. All guns may engage when in range." Lash watcher the torrent of fire the pirate ship was now under as the weapons of the Epicurus and the Vindicator X licked at its shields slowly chewing at them. Soon the ship would be close enough to bring its normal ranged weapons further adding to the bolts looking to end the vessel and the crew aboard it.

 

[Not Ordo]

The wind blew like a banshee as the first legion pounded at the remaining rebel scum. Decimus looked at the legion's general and nodded. He had seen enough. Their pitiful attempts at resistance had amused him for a few moments but he was finished.

"General," he said, his voice harder than he normally allowed. "Have the tanks we sent to their flanks reached position?"

"Yes, Supreme Commander." General Desh replied.

"Give the order to open fire." he said sitting in his chair, "If they surrender, bring them in for a field trial. Then execute them."

"Aye, sir."

The tanks received orders and began pounding the rebels with blast from main cannons while infantry fired at those wise enough to run. A flare went up after what was likely less than 10 minutes and rebels threw down their weapons as infantry moved in to arrest them. It was a good day and now they understood that resistance was futile.

 

[Veris Tagge]

Tagge smiled as he saw the frightened rebels running away from the Supreme Commanders barrage of death and into his. The scum were caught in a corral of death with no way out. Fighter spread over the rebel mass as the AT-TA walkers moved in with their Immolator cannons. Blaster bolts and super heated flame cannons cut a swith trail through the retreating pirates as they moved into the mass of chaotic retreat. A flare lit up the sky and the enemy knelled down where they stood in surrender.

"You heard the Supreme Commanders order, Give them a trial then execute them."

The battle for the surface was done. Hoth had been cleansed of the villainous filth and the Imperium had its reactor. Veris steered his walker towards the massive mountain in the distance that was the Evakmar assault ship. He had better things to do now then stick around and deal with the left overs. He managed to steer the massive walker into a group of pirates who had now laid down to be processed and landed his walkers pads on their bodies.

"Guilty!"

Tagge said as he looked back at the blood smeared snow behind him. The new walkers had performed better then he had hoped. They would be a formidable force against any foe the Imperium would face in the future. Tagge was ready for the next battle. Ready to take order to the galaxy. The AT-SE walkers were formidable indeed. But now he had to see how the next design fared. He had High Hopes for the AT-HA. HE would soon see how well it preformed.

 

[Lash]

The massive pirate battleship in the distance had relieved its true colors now. It was not the formidable ship it once had been. The ship seemed to have most of its weapons removed and what weapons it had were doing little to match the torrent of bolts being thrown at it. The shields flickered as the combined force the Imperium had brought struck out at it with its full fist. The ship shook violently once the shields had dropped then exploded in a bright red plum of fire as its internal atmosphere ignited and its hull decompressed. Lash turned his attentions to the fighters now trying to escape into the asteroids. Moff Solomons fighters had already moved into the belt to intercept them and his ships own wing was now moving in to sweep the belt and destroyer anything there. They could not let a single ship get away. That was made clear in his orders.

"Open a channel to the Grand Admiral." Lash said as he watched the last of the Bulwark break up in the distance. The Chiss lieutenant informed him the channel was open then went back to his work.

"Grand Admiral Deschart, I have sent my wing to assist the Moffs in the belt. Once we have made sure the belt is clear I must return to Javin. I look forward to the engagment. Lash out."

Lash returned to his quarters for the remainder of the operation planning for the Wargame exercise to come. He wanted to test an idea. He imagined he would lose but he needed to know the limits of the new Procursators and the capabilities of the Victory X. He looked forward to the battle, even if it was not real.

The belt had been cleared and no ship had escaped. The Supreme Commander and Grand Moff had seen to the trials on the surface and executed all the survivors. Lash had not heard about the facility itself. At last count it was secured but there were still hold outs of opposition deep in it's bowels. The army would see to that as it was necessary. His job here was done. It was time to move onto more important things. Time to meet up with his engineers and the Carnifex.