Carpe Noctem, for here layeth a sleeping giant.

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | OS-FPS-FS
Rough Terrain Use.

By the hurdling effect of the movement, kylath was strapped in a heavy walker assault transport, walking across a particularly difficult hilly range on Tython. Kylath had by his nature taken a front row seat at the controls, getting a crash course with the 772nd’s best co-pilot next to him doing the heaviest lifting, the acolyte doing his best to outshine the man where he could as always.

Legs gave walkers a lot more stability than most other vehicle types, as they could adjust for balance, but something this huge was going to struggle on soft ground. They designed the knee joints to have plenty of give to take the force of not only small falls, but also mushy or muddy terrain use in case it sank, the ability to retract a leg quite high was a bonus.

Being inside the machine, as these joints were put through their paces was an entirely different experience to how it looked outside! Their shield taking a hit or two as large soft rock was thrown up as the legs moved. Impacts cause the FPS to handle smaller faster projectiles but by its nature it let in the larger falling earth that moved with less kinetic force. So slow, but moving gigantic distances as with any AT-AT, only slower and a bit further.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | OS-FPS-FS
Beginning Submersion
HAT-AT, all terrain transport. Were they really all terrain?

What was the one thing you didn't expect from a walker, trips across lakes or minor channels, a watertight finish. True many worlds would simply rule this out from pressure, but the shield, the heavy armor, and design of evening of the pressure meant minor channels could be crossed with little bother to the vehicle, such as lakes for example. Oceans were obviously out, unless the gravity of the world or the pressure was very low for some reason.

So into the breach or rather along the beach they went, stomping heavy metal footsteps, Kylath as usual volunteering to be at the forefront, putting his walker first of the three going in. Small lake, but if this thing didn't hold like the tests had predicted, it was going to be a hairy trip. Nodding firmly, "take us in." The co-pilot looked at the officer standing with them, "in." Kylath repeated firmly, narrowing his eyes forward.

Three walkers one after the other descended onto the lakebed, liquid causing the slow vehicles to slow further, they'd picked a steady cross current, not working much against them or for them, to give a balanced test. Later they do the difficult against the current and possibly the even more difficult with the currents, the addition of the extra speed was still up for debate what it would do to the rear trans distributors moving the legs, i.e could they keep up with an additional strong current without ripping them off.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | OS-FPS-FS vs Lakewalking

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrZFMxkgQfE​

Onward our walkers went, brave or stupid, you decide, fate would surely enough.

Creaking of metal, pressure was evened enough, no grand extra strain from this shallow dip across the lake floor. What was evident was the speed, because each limb moved at a very steady pace, pushing its way through the liquid. Slow, slow, slow. Shield holding, draining the reserved battery but it assisted the hull tremendously. With a dulled thud given the water, the right walker's foot hit and went through some underwater sedimentary rock.

"Shield on walker 3 at 75%" The Officer read off.

"Have walker 3 drop back behind." Amadis ordered, dim light down here being disturbed by a large shoal of fish running by their viewport. "How are the others holding up?"

"Within operational safety limits."

Not having much patience for vague answers at a time like this, the captain stared at the man until he fumbled the right answer.

"That is, ah, 95% and 93% Sir, shields stable." Whether he was senior in the military or not, Kylath's look got a sir today.

Amadis exhaled, his time fighting the alliance recently, the death of his Master and the loss of much of feeling in his hands, had seen a darker cloud over his mood than usual, nobody aboard wished to test it currently. He remained professional, but you could tell his tolerance for failure was reducing. "Keep the current balanced on our side and watch the cross drift."

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT - OS-PDS - Underwater

“This PDS system work underwater?” The so far silent co-pilot a man named Avilan asked. Surprising for Kylath, as it was the first time he’d heard the crack pilot speak, the change of pace underwater giving the co-pilot more time.

“Depending on range. Doubtful that our turrets will be effective at tracking smoothly.” A system engineer from the corner of the room answered. It was a cramped command area in an HAT-AT, consoles, seats and bodies packed in amongst emergency gear, thick armor plating, reinforcing insertions and ion buffers taking up the majority of the space.

There was more groaning from the leg joints, and a leak reported on walker 2, but nothing that couldn’t be patched, another successful test, showing the progress and work that had been undertaken since the early failures! Because there was uncertainty about the point defense system, they tested the theory! Fighters swooping in close, PDS down to 1/10th power. Further out they were fine, scoring some obvious hits, when the starfighters closed the PDS just couldn’t turn in the liquid fast enough to be accurate.

With one final giant step they reached the end of the lakebed.

"Shield readings?" Kylath called, looking through a viewfinder at the terrain.

"Steady, 90%, 89% and 74%"

 

[Sere Reene]

Eros Medium | Eros Large

2 Weeks Later

On Coruscant, Central Centrax C&C The Memorial Wall
Turret Mounted Tests.

“Preparations’ssss are complete.” Sere’s tailed form slithered up to the duty officer, who looked her over somewhat unsure how to take her, Sere could almost enjoy that predictable reaction, but really she just never cared about much, as per most sluissi's attitudes, guns being the exception!

Prepare for high velocity mass driver demonstration!

The first logical place to put these new turrets was defending the command and control center of the 769th, and 770th stormtrooper corps, central centrax. Not only had the OS-FPS finished being installed, but the Eros had been turret mounted to defend the facility, both the larger and smaller variations having their targeting calibrations brought online. The nice thing with the medium variation was its accuracy, it didn’t have near the raw impact or explosive potential of the large cannon by any stretch, it did have the ability to pick exactly where you were shooting with a high degree of accuracy, for penetrating thick armor at its weakest point, or hitting tracks or other propulsion.

Two walls, tank size outer wall and a walker sized inner wall. Atop them, white turrets coming online for the first time, some along the upper levels, some along the lower levels of the facility, all with near 360 degree firing arcs as best as was able in an urban environment! They had cleared almost all of the rubble surrounding the C&C location, giving anything approaching it from the ground no cover whatsoever for about 800 meters, only their own hardened bunkers and other locations of note, some had suggested a tunnel system to allow easy access for troop movements around the walls, but that was still being debated.

Clever part was, above them the civilian sections were still firmly intact! Nestled down here among the city scrapers and all their lives above.

 

[Sere Reene]

Eros Weapon System, Turret Test

Targeting Online, Firing in 5, 4, 3, 2 and a go.

The Wooooshing sound mass drivers made was unmistakable, quick build up, followed by powerful discharge to accelerate projectiles far beyond conventional slug throwers.
The fire rate was obviously slower, but then you weren't looking for fire rate, but killing, crippling blows to penetrate armor, buildings or ships.​

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVmeaVRPork​

​

​

Sere's casual nature, paid only passing interest to the result as moving targets were punctured in vital areas, or had their internal structures blown from the inside out with shrapnel. The larger Eros model was going to be useful up to frigate size in space, given just how much of a punch it packed, while the smaller might do for starfighters as well as tanks. Simple enough design, but top of the line in execution.

While Thracken and Thraus had once again taken the now floating command podium above the headquarters, Thracken quietly showing his approval but the Major General of the 769th was hard to read on the best of days, made him a clever commander, while Thraus was busy picking fault as always, strict disciplinarian that he was. Taking plenty of credit for how things had progressed on Coruscant, had seen the major make high colonel of the 770th, much to everyone here's displeasure, even the clones he commanded couldn't stand him.

"What's next on the agenda Colonel?" Thracken patiently awaited progress reports as they came in, two dozen command staff dealing with reports and giving him the summaries.

"The 770th would like a rematch." Thraus replied, with bitterness in his voice.

 

[Sera Inkari]

OS-PDS – Simulating Rogue Squadron

“That will have to wait Colonel” Thracken said with careful consideration, somewhat personally invested. Thracken was keen to watch how their new techs would sway the balance in the wargames when the clones of the 770th met the 769th individualists a second time. However Major General Thracken was far too steady a general to rush their meeting. “We have yet to establish how effective these weapons are from the air.”

22nd System Force, Rendil assignment, in Orbit of Tython:

Footage had been passed from the engagements with rogue squadron, modeled into the combat simulation and the OS-PDS design, modelling their pilots movements from combat footage. Certainly crack squadrons were hard to simulate, but certain tactics could be gleaned from any engagement.

Commodore Onaris Lanooine stood by Sera’s side, the two of them were not friends, yet her Commodore had begun to realise having a seer aboard had its own uses. Sera had little need of friends, her force demanded servants not friends, and her commodore was just that to its will. Her gentle gaze resting across streams of starfighters echoing across their black canvass of expressionist art. Engine flares set to approach speed to break atmosphere, some thirty of them soared downward.

Tython’s Garrisons had been fitted with their new OS-FPS shielding, as well OS-PDS countermeasures. Starfighters started an approach vector toward their targets to be, and were met with automated laser fire streaking out around them, rapid and overwhelming. Set to lower power so not to damage, still it was breathtaking display for Kintan's seer who found herself holding her breath. FPS gave them defense from orbital fire, and PDS defense from regular star fighters, by sheer volume of rapid counter fire.

Sera standing watching this unfold, like painter to canvas allowed herself momentary satisfied smile, resting her hands against her nearest choice of momentary pawn, her young blonde female officer allowing some comfort on her longer journeys.

 

[Kelon Amadis]

Eros Medium | Eros Large.

772nd DuraDogs, On Tython's Ruined Ground

Kelon was on about his third Cigarra as his tanks rolled up, well not him, as he was back watching the show again from above in his metal girl, no frakking way he was sitting there while they shot mass drivers at him. This time they’d picked fresh clones to command, droids inside the machines for the most part, clones standing at the hatches commanding them.

Sith weren’t squeamish about using men when it came time to really test the gear. You didn’t throw away good manpower, but cheap mass produced clones were clones, few broken eggs. All to be sure this mass driver tech worked on things other than droids. The clones had a job, reach the end of the pass, if they did, they made good, if the fighters thundering in at them took out their armor along their tracks first, then they took their chances with ricochets or internal damage, because no explosive rounds were used.

Crossing his arms, now this was his kinda party. Feeling building anticipation, thrill of war once again, or just the fireworks about to happen. Fighters coming in fast and low, too low for one which clipped its wing and made a rough landing. Rookies, he puffed smoke. In this case cheap clones and droid rookies

 

[Kelon Amadis]

Eros Medium | Eros Large vs Tanks

772nd DuraDogs, On Tython's Ruined Ground

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWtOIZgWSDs

Like Gladiators they fought to get to the end of that pass, starfighters moving for high velocity angled approach in attack runs. Their mass drivers needing clear sight but not continued fire, weaving in and out the fighter’s came, executing in some cases dangerous turns, threatening to rip their wings off if their inexperienced pilots or droids didn't watch it.

First of the tanks met the Eros Medium, lanced through the side of its tracks, bringing it to a sudden halt, Kelon looked on amused. Second tank to follow it wasn’t so lucky, with the mass drivers momentum puncturing it through the side of the armor, and the round bouncing around inside, several droids went up in flames, smoke rising from the top, one less on the payroll. The third tank in the forward squadron, slammed itself in reverse as fast as was possible, which wasn’t all that fast for a tank. What it did do is mean three shots missed it, they weren’t guided shots, just line of sight high velocity projectiles, aimed at where you thought the target was going to be. Kelon nodded puffing away, mangling the end of his cigarra as he chewed down.

This cat and mouse would continue, the tanks getting the better of the starfighters even though they lost a few more of the formation. Clones naturally copied what worked, their nature allowed them to do this quite quickly! The 22nd's wingleader ordered the attacking starfighters in lower to the ground, increasing the risk of collisions or being struck by return fire, which was now cleared for half power use to deter them from taking too much risk.

 

[Kelon Amadis]

Eros Large
772nd DuraDogs, On Tython's Ruined Ground

Reach the end of the pass they did, though their tanks now numbered about half, thankfully the blastail design was a cheap mass produced model which cost the sith little to put together. Two starfighters having been lost too sadly, following an unlucky collision between two craft, so they'd been recalled. Kelon couldn't care less, but others did bean count. There was some mild celebration from the young clones at having made it, not much because they were inexperienced clones waiting for their next order, but it was there.

How will they handle the frigate sized guns?

Was the question some wanted answering above, no doubt at Sera Inkari’s behest, watching callously from orbit. Chiefs above had deemed these new weapons that valuable, they were willing to use up the remaining dozen or so tanks as target practice. Could they hit a medium tank this small? Kelon liked a good war same as the next Sith, seemed like overkill, but these expendables were only here for one reason. Shrug of his hefty shoulders given. “Order them back around.” Kelon told the underlings, flipping a coin as to whether any would make it back the other way.

Surviving clone commanders and their droids got back in their tanks to run the gauntlet one more time. This time contending with not only wrecked tanks, but two frigates moving overhead, mounting the Eros Large weapon to face them. Once more into the breach…, and don't frelling keep me waiting, as kelon put it.

 

[Kelon Amadis]

Eros Large
772nd DuraDogs, On Tython's Ruined Ground

Not well it turned out. Huge mammoth mass drivers atop the two frigates sending mighty shockwaves through the air, caused Kelon to hold his ears. Mass drivers thundered toward the tanks and their clones, much to some of the onlookers amusement or pained expressions, they not only hit the tanks but exploded outward taking most of the valley with them. “Bad day to be a clone.” Kelon remarked casually, watching the gladiators run the gauntlet, tanks swerve and weave to reach the end of the pass. One tank did, one out of the 24 starters, some would be salvaged, not that it concerned Kelon, and as the young commander of that lone tank turned to look over the ruined battlefield, Kelon aimed a rifle at his head and fired. No witnesses or substandard clones walking away from this one.

Always more clones, droids and cheap blastail tanks where they came from. Looking down at his driver, “take us out of here,” Kelon said with a half kick to the man's shoulder. A few of his underlings had taken to wearing strong upper back and neck armor, to avoid his all too common boot. This very real live fire execution might see the LT make captain or major. Not well liked, Kelon was ruthless in execution when it suited him, a quality that Sith admired on occasion for brutal acts such as what he’d just overseen.

Pulling his tank up, they were getting orders that the wider wargames were about to recommence, back to using non lethal rounds, meh, half the fun.

 

[Darth Centax]

Tythons Ruined Ground
4 Weeks Later.
5th Army Wargames Involving:

770th Loyal Sons vs 769th Coruscant’s Own on Tython
772nd DuraDogs, one armored division each supporting both.
771st Faceless First, acting as forward Scouts for both.
Coruscant, Tython and Byss: Sithwatch Militia Groups Taking Part.
22nd System Force, Rendil Assignment providing organized, simulated fighter cover.

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

Time to bring it all together, sacrifice, blood, sweat and tears. Tens of thousands of men, machine, ships and starfighters, tanks, HAT-AT, the 5th armies full force here on mass, this was not a small organization or mobilization now to bring these isolated testing zones together, in one demonstration of OS strength. The Majority of corps taking place here were clones, well ordered disciplined, their nature to follow in line. The 769th were individualists, proud of where they came from but each had more will to survive as an individual, whereas the clones more readily sacrificed themselves for their missions.

What all these growing units gave the OS was A LOT of flexibility.

Non lethal ammunition was being used, the generals quite certain there would be a few casualties, but strict discipline was the order of the day and any officer caught breaking that would suffer consequences. Hardware arriving ahead, the legions lining up, it was time.

Stepping up at the command center on Tython, a Chiss by the name of General Zerde'doal'caitho commander of the 5th Army stood disciplined and tall, as he was, his blue face and spotless uniform addressing several thousand of the men and clones before him. Zerde's communicator turned on to begin, his voice would reach all of Tython, not that any could miss this huge movement of manpower across its surface.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWJmFr-y1OQ

For the wargames,

Known only as sides red and blue, so not to name adversaries, because adversaries named themselves in the galaxy.

“Legions of the 5th Army!” 70,000 boots stomped down more or less together, from the four Stormtrooper Corps and their support staff, stretching out far across the ruined planes of the twisted black Tython. All the technology they had worked on to their sides, lined up across great distances as far as the eye could see.

Thracken this time took sidestep to the 5th Armies General Zerde, showing the growing cohesion and readiness of the 5th Army, as the command structure was finished to round off. High colonel Thraus the other side of him, the many other senior officers that had contributed behind them both.

“Today you own your place among the stars! Let those who challenge the One Sith look down and fear your readiness!”

A loud call to raise arms into the air came from the rear officers across the individual units. Kylath somewhere with those officers felt his own pride growing, just how many men, clones and armor they saw before them, this was the one sith’s answer to the alliance, their war machine built to face them. Left turn ordered, weapons raised. "FIRE," and so three shots were fired to salute. Now they were the real deal.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

Ready, alive, and now ordered to "BEGIN!"

Thraus headed down to see to the 770th Loyal Sons preparations, Thracken the 769th Coruscant's own. Tython's staging area held vast sways of ruined open ground, rugged unforgiving rocky mountains, sith carved structures, everything you could imagine done to the Jedi’s once former heartland on the fateful day they invaded and claimed it.

The Jedi's homeworld having been full twisted to the One Sith's use, now under iron boot and heel of the 5th Army as they began to move to their opposing camps. Order reigned supreme here as the men marched out. Flattened as the walkers crushed anything in the way, tanks rolling along behind them, disciplined steady marching speed for the clones and men both. Kylath one among the numbers of 769th, the metal and twisted alchemy supporting his fractured hands, all too familiar in that of his former Master Raien Keth’s descent into the ways of the darkside.

Fighters began to soar in formation over head, a tide of bodies and metal separating in front of the generals, the last to leave to find safer position. "Better be a good show." Someone quipped.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

The organization of the Sith military showed itself more than the sporadic and less centralised previous tests. It had been gradual evolution of these separate pieces, to become the now armored and armed juggernauts facing off against each other, all the way from tech to command and control facilities. When the smoke and the reverberating sound of 70,000 men had dispersed, several hours went by to bring them into the afternoon and for the military exercise to commence. The goal to capture the other sides command and control facility, but with 70,000 men, armor and air cover, that wasn't ever as simple as it sounded.

To begin, 770th Clone forces were the most steady in their approach, their commanders opting to take most of the heavier walkers along with them, manned by the 772nd. While the 769th by tradition were lighter and faster units, taking most of the blastails with them, along with their own light walkers and tanks.

What transpired to begin with was predictable. A steady, slow heavy marching fire by the 770th and their huge walkers, vs the hit and run flanking of the 769th and their lighter armor. Anyone tagged withdrew from the games, their training armor or vehicles often giving them a subtle shock to indicate they were out of play. Officers watched within the ranks, though few had to be told to move once they were rendered dead or KIA for the purposes of the exercise. Vehicles didn't actually shell each other here, but training software registered damage and kill shots.

The commanders brooked no ill discipline, harshly dealing with any disorganization, and the previous work showed in how everything moved together like a well oiled machine.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

769th's Forward Lines

In Kylath’s unit, the energy signature ahead spiked off the radar to white noise. Jamming by the 771st across multiple frequencies for both sides, they had begun to develop tech to counter jamming but they were a distance away from completing it. Under the cover of netting, walker stomping its heavy feet not far from their position, Kylath's 16 men were waiting in surprise for the armored behemoth. Sadly it didn’t have what you’d call weakspots, it just moved like bantha and made more noise than an earthquake with its weight, shaking the ground as it drew near.

“Grappling hooks ready, on five,” giving them the count, his squad pulled the netting and fired up to attach themselves to its huge underbelly, pulled along as it stepped, one man almost detached but Kylath grabbed him in the force. Perhaps not the best plan! They were trying whatever tactics the 769th had to slow these walking giants, from simple rolling right up to their command center and winning the wargames by steady approach.

22nd fighters duelled it out above with mock non lethal energy blasts, 5% power at best, giving their fresh pilots much needed experience. Starfighters were all were mounting the eros too, but the fragile round fired here was designed to just crumple on impact, indicating a kill shot more often than not if it made contact. They were still damned hard to dodge when a mass driver had you in its sights, the sniper rifle of dogfighting.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

Elsewhere 769th assault units saw their first action, meeting the regular infantry, not breaching a company. Assault companies were heavier, pure melee close combat specialists, jetpacks, capable blunt weapons to puncture and flamethrowers, when they came it wasn't for quick retreat it was to hammer the enemy. None of their weapons were the real thing today, the smoke jetting out of their wrists left clever simulated kill stains across the troops they hit, stunning hammers making jolts rather than blunt trauma against their opponents.

Sonic weapons and ion discharge erupting nearby. To counter them, the 771st Faceless First had cloaked, so that when they passed over their lines, they uncloaked up from their man traps behind them. This caught the assault units off guard, setting off mines and other laser tripped devices to surround the assault company.

Back and forth moves of pieces, in what would usually mean thousands of lives across another battleground. Here it meant experience, training and demonstration of the shields, or point defense weapons. PDS was covering infantry with sheet fire, stun bolts all, to knock them unconscious as tanks and walkers dueled it out. The rapidly firing PDS system cleared infantry and air, to leave the armor free to play its own games of cat and mouse beneath or around the walkers legs.

 

[Darth Centax]

HAT-AT | Eros | OS-FPS | OS-PDS

Nearing the underbelly of the HAT-AT

That PDS system was something Kylath hadn't counted on being so good, most of the men with him were tagged and had to drop down out of the battle! Much like turbolaser fire erupting around him, it reminded him of a space battle, only on the ground! Saving grace was, the art of movement was Kylath's strong suit, weaving and climbing, moving as he did, and with his new rebuilt hands, he made good time up the rope toward the top of the walker. Infuriatingly there was no sensation from his grip, nothing where feeling should be, all that Kylath had was memory of that feeling, and bitterness at having lost his hands.

Gripping that rope he endured those sacrifices given to him by the alliance troopers, rage and malice flowing through his veins. Propelling him upward straight onto the belly of the heavy walker, the Acolyte strapped a mock explosive device to a leg joint, primed it and made his way back down the rope. Seconds later the heavy craft would register crippling damage along its underbelly, four or five individuals had done the same. It did not put the HAT-AT out of the fight, as these were heavier craft than AT-AT’s but badly slowed its advance, giving the 769th time to hit it repeatedly with fighter craft till it was simulated to be out of action.

One down.

 

[Kelon Amadis]

Eros Large | Eros Medium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYzc5A0oIb0

Kelon found himself in a valley, under the orders of a colonel, which was about as much use to the bruising acolyte as being asked to serve drinks at an officer’s ball. He’d have drunk the drinks and punched the officer’s out, good thing the colonel was about 1km to his left about now.

Least the man was smart enough to keep his own tanks back and just present a firing line for anything passing, giving them the edge in what was a shooting galley under cover of a cliff. Shooting fish in a barrel Kelon could do, standing atop the tank, slamming the side with his metal fist for them cease fire. Had to behave today or it was his ass they'd said, and hitting the tank worked about as well kicking the underlings in the chin for motivation, half as much fun though.

“Call that shooting?” Kelon took a sip of the familiar flask by his side, “give me a run with that gun.” Hopping down and taking aim himself.

 

[Kelon Amadis]

Eros Large | Eros Medium

The big lug getting an education in how to hit, and missing passing targets well enough, much to the amusement of his tank crew, he was even beginning to like one or two. When he was done, the Zeltrix still gave the loudest one an uppercut off his feet, had to keep up appearances. “Back to work.”

Kelon’s tank wasn’t exactly a safe working environment. Whoever did the reports, better not be putting that in. Frell it. The grin of satisfaction he got from laying down his own brand of discipline was reward enough.

Then they got orders to move, fast, the sound of whistling cluster bombs were dropping overhead. Not the real thing, but the tank line was soon being lit up by simulated weapons fire. They had interspaced the tanks well enough and separated them before being hit, but inexperience among the 772nd still reared its ugly head, never should have had that many together in the first place.

Lessons well learned for later.