OBJECTIVE: Secure the Retreat
LOCATION: Aboard the Bastion
The fighting had started.
The holotable on the Bastion kept track of the movements of tagged Imperial forces as they crisscrossed the battlefield, taking up firing positions, shooting down enemies, destroying weapons emplacements and turrets. Selrik was not a typical ground commander as it were, feeling far more at home aboard his ship in space, but he was well-enough versed in command to understand how to lead a proper campaign. This one was relatively easy, as things went. Cholganna didn't have a large populace to begin with, and what it did have was not armed in a fashion capable of fighting back against Imperial firepower.
What he also knew was that even when they took the Retreat, they would end up dealing with holdouts hiding within the vast jungles for some time. They'd need to send in ISS agents to hunt them down and capture them once their FOB was established and a garrison was under construction.
"In sight of the Retreat now," the Lieutenant said.
Selrik looked away from the holo display and made his way to the transparisteel viewport. The Bastion had shields, so there was little worry for his own safety as he stood, looking out at the place the few people who lived on Cholganna called home. They were fighting. They were losing. It was a waste. At least his forces were being smart about it and not blowing everything up in their path. Precision was the key. Plus he'd issued orders only to attack those with weapons. Anyone else would be rounded up and interrogated, but they wouldn't be harmed. This was a capture mission, not a slaughter. If he wanted a slaughter he'd go hunting.
"Continue forward. Have the forward walkers use their big guns on any large positions that might pose a problem to the ground units, but otherwise refrain from firing. It seems our ground forces have this well in hand."
Meanwhile, the operative of Uncordis that was assigned to watch Sieliel Dimegor was disguised as a lowly scout trooper, operating on the edges of those who marched forward, seemingly keeping an eye out for lethal fauna that might decide an Imperial officer was a tasty, less than armored snack. He was accustomed to such assignments and didn't bat an eye at being asked to risk himself for the sake of bettering the Empire. What the Executor Primaris wanted he got. So far it had been less than eventful, anyway.
What few beasts he had seen had left them be after having been fired upon. He wasn't inclined to kill them if he didn't have to, so he left it largely at warning shots. They could be useful assets in the future, so unless they needed to die, why waste them? The woman didn't seem inclined to cause any trouble, focused on her mission. Though the people around her seemed to regard her with a level of disdain that was fitting given her attachments, even if they didn't know them. He assumed their dislike for her was focused more on her demotion, something almost equal to political death amongst the Empire. If they knew the truth they'd probably kill her regardless of the decisions of the ruling council.
<Ship ahead. Friendlies already on site.>
The merciful call came in across their comms frequencies from one of the forward scout troopers. Even though there were already friendlies on site, it didn't make this any less worthwhile. He'd gotten to watch her, see her focus, gauge her character. What she thought of the assignment that was given to her didn't seem to be expressed in a visual manner. Cruel as it might seem, it wasn't without purpose. He understood it. It wasn't that long ago he'd done similar tasks before he'd been chosen. Her time was coming. Soon.