Faction Chapter One | Mandate of Iron

[OPCOM]

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The recall travelled through frequencies long believed dead, carrying the same command to scattered fleets, abandoned garrisons, and dark servants who had concealed their allegiance beneath another banner. The message was clear: Come home, the Emperor commands it. A directive that shook loyalists to their core, word from the Emperor himself, not seen since the Galaxy itself united against the Death Star III. Locked in combat with Jedi Master Romi Jade, the Emperor was thought lost when the superweapon was destroyed. Recognized chain codes passed between warships assembling in secret. Veterans returned to their stations, bringing fellow soldiers, their grievances, and their ambitions with them. The crimson imperial crest soon flew openly again, with transmissions carrying the Sith’ari’s will spreading across the Old Empire like wildfire.

Above Ord Mantell, Imperial Star Destroyers emerged in battle formation, their guns turning toward the defenses protecting the deepdock and Mantell City. On Ghorman, months of COMPNOR agitation reached their culmination as agents and armed proxies moved to overthrow the government and secure the resources needed to sustain the returning fleets. At Yinchorr, the Sepulchre carried the Dark Side Elite toward a sealed vault, an ancient relic, and unfinished business with those who had betrayed their oaths. Each operation would lay a foundation for the campaigns to come. The officers on the bridges, the soldiers in the landing craft, and the operatives awaiting their signal had answered the same summons. Together, they would give the galaxy reason to fear the Empire once more.

ORD MANTELL | FLEET COMBAT · STARFIGHTERS · GROUND ASSAULT



The Short-Range Hyperspace Radar systems were too slow to register the sudden arrival of the Empire. At the break of dawn, the first thing Ord Mantell’s provisional government over their skies was the shadow of an Imperial Star Destroyer crossing the Deepdock. More followed, Imperial III-class Star Destroyers emerging from hyperspace in formation, converging on Ord Mantell. Their batteries turned toward the planet before the local authorities could finish demanding identification. The answer soon came in coordinated volleys, defense emplacements systematically coming offline from their tactical displays as turbolasers opened fire. Emergency channels immediately began to fill intercepted comms with overlapping reports as Ord Mantell's defenders scrambled to meet what-seemed-to-be an invasion already underway.

The Empire had returned for its shipyards.

The orbital deepdock deemed essential to the repair and rebuilding of the Imperial Navy. Its repair facilities must survive the assault, along with the machinery and personnel needed to operate them. Boarding forces are ordered to seize its control centers while the fleet shatters defending warships.

Over Mantell City, TIE fighters descend through the clouds in a blitzkrieg. Utilizing lightning-fast swarm tactics, the Empire moves to quickly assume air superiority. Below, troop transports approach Mantell City under fighter escort. The skyhook rises above the city centre, its immense structure disappearing into the smoke gathering overhead. Around its foundations, local defense forces establish barricades and bring their weapons to bear on the approaching landing craft. The opening bombardment has fractured the planetary defenses, but it has not broken the soldiers holding the streets.

Secure the deepdock. Establish air superiority over Mantell City. Drive through the defenders and capture the skyhook intact. The Empire needs a port from which its campaign can sail.

The assault has begun. Man your stations.

 

[Sarsius Sol-Kress]

The map flickered on the portable console, casting a dull glow over the dust in the abandoned office. Outside, the low rumble of turbolasers higher in the atmosphere rattled the loose glass in the window frames. Fifty-eight minutes since the first boots touched ground and they were already racking up a considerable casualty count.

Though what mattered was the red line representing the city's central power grid, as he wanted to avoid entering into a slog for each city block. Once the power generators were out of the picture, the heavy defense turrets around the skyhook would be offline followed quickly behind by the garrison surrendering due to the possibility of the Imperial Fleet bombarding the mostly innocent populace.

"The local militia is reinforcing the main avenue," a Sun Guard sub-commander said, stepping away from the doorway where he had been watching the street. "The Imperial army units are taking heavy fire near the plaza."

"Let them," Sarsius said without raising his voice or looking up from the tactical screen. "They draw attention. That is their function today." He tapped a sequence on the console, highlighting the subterranean routing station three blocks south. The conscripts and standard line troops were useful for noise and mass, but they lacked the necessary experience to execute his plan.

"Your squad moves through the drainage conduits," Sarsius continued, pointing a gloved finger at the primary junction on the wireframe. "Do not engage the street barricades. Secure the primary breakers, sever the feed to the skyhook's defensive perimeter, and lock the blast doors behind you. I expect the grid dark within ten minutes."

"And if the local guards attempt to bargain for the generators?" Sarsius finally looked up, his face impassive in the dim green light. "We are not negotiating for infrastructure. If they stand between you and the switch, eliminate them and secure the console. Bring the squad into position." The sub-commander nodded and went to give the orders. Sarsius fixed his sash, moved near the broken window, and stared out at the skyhook reaching up into the thick grey clouds.​