Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Changing Tides: Volume 10
“Regard your soldiers as your children,
and they will follow you into the deepest valleys;
look on them as your own beloved sons,
and they will stand by you even unto death.”
The squad of Saber Tanks raced towards the improvised Republic base of operations. Engines hummed as the tanks began to deliberately slow their momentum. Approaching the gate, the troopers who manned their posts on the front lines saluted as the battalion commander rode passed.
Atar was an urbanized planet much like Coruscant, the capital of the Republic. Unlike the capital, its surface was graced with vast courtyards and plazas which usually extended for several hectares. Major Vallen had plotted to utilize this particular plot of land for its natural rolling hills and plateaus, which formed an ideal staging ground, easily defendable. The core of the base was centered on a hill where heavy artillery units were positioned in conjunction with a landing zone for LAAT’s. The next ring bristled with medium range gun emplacements, improvised trenches/ barricades, ATTE’s, and platoons of troopers. The field once green, decorated with statues, dazzling with fountains, and memorial buildings had been reduced to a war torn no-man’s-land.
Troopers had been engaged within moments after their initial arrival. Fighting in pitched battle with a faceless, nearly bodiless enemy, enduring heavy bombardments of concussion missiles combined with laser fire. A few times battle droids composed enough force to break the line, only to be pushed back by the heroism of the 501st’s troopers. Sniper shots in conjunction with heavy volumes of laser fire often rained down from the skyscrapers of the numerous buildings surrounding the base; that is until a squad of gunships were called in to suppress the designated floor using their rapidly firing chin guns. The enemy commonly followed by escalating their attack; the next move often utilized rockets and missiles to directly shell the base. Some models caused tremendous explosions tearing through tanks while others only caused concussive blasts which knocked hapless troopers from their feet, disorienting others nearby.
Upon arrival, Halifax immediately scanned the lines as he passed, searching for weak points that needed to be rebuffed.
The officer of the Saber tank Halifax was rode opened his hatch, raised himself until he was in a standing position, his torso exposed. “Almost to HQ Commander” he spoke with an assertive gesture towards the hilltop.
A brief “Hmm” is all Halifax deemed worthy for a response. As the tank came to a halt, clone medics ran from their positions at the side of a large faceless building on the crest of the hill. Bearing stretchers, they hoisted Flak from where he laid on the tank’s left wing.
“Ah, come on! Friggin..GRR!” Flak whined.
“Careful lads, he has become a tad fragile these days! Ha ha” Spitfire spoke in jest.
“Just keep him in one piece and get him back in condition stat guys.” Spoke Valkier, his voice low and slower than usual; the loss of his gunnery crew continuing to weigh heavily on his mind.
“Lads, with me!” Halifax ordered as he stepped down from the tank. Every step he took sank into the ground with purpose. The medics began hurrying the wounded co-pilot towards the medbay shelter in the opposite direction. Valkier and Spitfire followed until they heard the commander’s coarse voice catch up to them from behind. “Where are you two going?”
“We were just goi..” Spitfire was mid sentence before he was cut off.
“You’re lead pilots of the 501st” Halifax stated sharply.
“Well actually I’m..” Spitfire began before realizing who he was interrupting. Halifax’s helmet barely shifted towards his direction, which was more than enough to put a stop to any remark Spitfire had to offer.
Halifax continued, “There is a reason we outfit you lads in armor. Because you have pilot status, this does NOT make you any less capable a soldier. If anything, the crash has reinforced that point. Now, ready up and come with me.” His kama caught a gust of wind as he turned and hiked towards the command tank. He climbed into the cabin, Sergeant Appo stopped his briefing, turned and saluted the arriving officer.
Removing his helmet, his scarred countenance became eerily visible due to the glow from various monitor screens surrounding the room. Appo carried great respect for his commander as did every clone within the 501. He was renowned for completing the task at hand, weighing the balance of life with his objective. Halifax’s scars were a testament to his array of field experience, having fought prior to Geonosis. He rejected a promotion to ARC training in order to maintain a position where he could have an impact on what he thought most important, the training of rookies.
Approaching the table, the figures of Vallon, Rex, Hett, and Sakiko were visible in hologram form. Rex spoke, relieved at the sight of his comrade, “Hal, it’s good to see you.” Halifax nodded in return providing the captain a two fingered salute.
Appo turned to his commanding officer, “We’re being debriefed. Rex has compiled most of the data gathered from our engagements.”
Rex continued, “The most effective weapon however, is the use of a modified commando droid model. These droids have upgraded agility making it incredibly difficult to hit them as a target..in case anyone hasn’t noticed. In addition, they are 100% focused on taking out their assigned target often leaving a wake of mortalities. From action reports provided by myself and Battalion Comm. Halifax, we’ve developed the assertion the commando droids of a Atar are running on a different Battle Management System. Their deadly payload is an armored case filled with heavy explosives capable of tearing apart tanks or the interior of a building if provided the opportunity.”
“Damn dangerous.” Halifax added.
Knight Sakiko picked up, “Their explosives nullify wielding a light saber. The only way to take them down is rapid fire..which in a city is a nightmare in terms of collateral damage.”
Major Vallen’s arms were crossed in front of him, his hand rubbing his chin as he thought. “This seems to be their field test. If we can knock out their BMS, we will show Dooku his efforts have been futile.”
Rex turned, nodding in agreement. “We MUST do it quickly though! That is the key! I should spearhead the effort.” Vallen pivoted his head toward Rex, his head lowering with disappointment, “High command has ordered you and the Jedi recalled off this rock.” Surprised, Rex’s face showed a hint of dismay, but his loyalty remained unwavering. Orders… were orders.
“Halifax, we are close to our rendezvous with the Reproach; after that, you and I will focus on eliminating the BMS threat.”
“Yes sir. I’ll look forward to it Major” the commander spoke; he clicked a red button on the side of the table terminating the transmission. The holograms dissipated.
Appo with a handful of officers present looked toward Halifax for their next move. “Your orders?” the sergeant inquired.
“We hold the line until after the rendezvous. Start working on scans to isolate signals for these commando seps. See what your R2 units can track” the commander stated as he reached for a data pad displaying various positions of the troops with their designations. Unbolting the hatch, he tossed the data pad down to Tank. His command squad waited near the bottom of the ladder, standing at the ready.
Bowing his head, Halifax pulled his helmet over his charcoal grey hair. The blue jaig eye tattoo over his eye disappeared behind the faceless helmet. Carrying his DC-15s in one hand, Tank passed the data pad to his other. Commander Halifax began to pace down toward the battle lines. Sloga and Valkier followed close on his flanks while Tank and Spitfire followed carrying rotary cannons upon their shoulders. Halifax walked down the primary slope and up the nearest foothill that overlooked 184 degrees of the battle line.
“Take a knee gentlemen.”
The squad stopped and watched the commander curiously. Halifax sat down on the grass, putting his carbine down by his side before reaching up to remove the helmet. Tank and Valkier walked up before following suit while the other two knelt behind them.
“Alright lads, any improvements to the line?” commander Halifax solicited from his unorthodox command squad. The troops looked across the trench-work. Spitfire and Sloga remarked to one another; remarks which carried no weight worthy of response by the veteran officer. Silently Valkier and Tank starred, silently thinking deeply.
“Sir, wouldn’t it be a good idea to bring the AT-TE’s back toward the HQ? They can’t provide a broad field of fire from the position where they’re standing. Moving them back will afford them better defense from those berserker clankers for sure.” Tank suggested, squinting his eyes, uncertain of the reaction he might receive.
“What do you think Valkier?” Halifax posed.
Valkier replied, “I’d agree with Tank commander. Shouldn’t we keep the sabers on the front so we can maintain a number of heavy weapons on the field? Prevent the enemy from closing too quickly.”
Tank respectfully began to answer the questions. The commander sat between the two clones, listening to the evolving tactical discussion. Valkier using his tactics as a trained pilot while Tank utilized the military logic he had learned from Kamino as well as the experience gained from shadowing Halifax. Strategic and tactical theory bounced to and fro as the two used their hands to point out where troops, weapons, and tanks would be effectively placed.
Over the course of 20 minutes, tanks and armaments shifted as the conversation evolved. Tank noticed several AT-TE’s marching backwards to a position on a slope providing them maximum range whilst also a prime position out of the quick reaches of any fast moving droids. Shocked, he glanced toward the commander whose acute smile was barely noticeable. Halifax’s hand was subtly tapping the data pad, reallocating forces to the defenses’ perimeter.
“Rank.. Never assume it indicates intelligence. It’s a calling for you two. Keep it trained; keep it honed.” Halifax’s jagged voice commending the two. Sloga and Spitfire’s witty background banter became hushed as they realized the commander’s shifting of the platoons was solely based off a conversation between their brothers.
“Wow, well done Field Marshall Tank! Ha ha ha!” Sloga jealously joked.
“It’s reassuring those Kaminoans are still managing to create tacticians. Good job Tank and Captain Valkier.” Spitfire wore a genuine smile as he nodded to those in front of him.
Halifax leaned back on his arms; the sun setting in the distance warmed his face. “I wonder if I’ll miss this when it’s all over.” His squad looked at him wondering what, if any, new lesson was about to be delivered. “Seeing these different planets.. Eh, no worries lads.”
A panel on the side of the HQ AT- TE opened up, Sgt Appo leaned from the side. His mouth moved, but no sound was reaching the hill where they sat.
“Come on troops.” Halifax spoke, using his carbine to help push himself up to stand; several blades of grass falling from his kama. Jogging towards the tank, the squad carried their helmets beneath their arms. Tank sprinted to the reach the side of the AT-TE.
“Yes sergeant?” he asked looking up to Appo.
“We’ve got a high surge of signals. Larger than we’ve seen in the past few waves. This may be their push!”
Tank’s eyes looked towards the twilight sky. A low rumbling filled the distant air. Soon after, clouds of black specs dotted the sky as small dart shapes crested the towering buildings. Tank hurriedly threw on his helmet and ran toward the commander. Halifax still approaching up the inclined slope watched as Tank pointed past the commander shouting as loud as his lungs were capable, “INCOMMING!! BONNETS ON!”
Instantly they scrambled to throw on their helmets and bolted the remaining distance to the tank. Appo leaned out again, “Heavy barrage and frontal assault from what I see on short-range scanners sir!”
“With me lads!” Halifax barked as he began to charge down the hill, the sound of whistling rockets heightening. Without a doubt, Tank and the others followed suit!
Appo called out, “Where are you going?”
“You can’t lead from behind!” Tank shouted, running backwards to reply.
“Well…technically you can, you just have to scream really loud. Ha ha ha!” Spitfire remarked, chuckling at his own response.
The squad passed the AT- TE’s, continuing down towards the trench line and defense wall. Sliding down into the trench, Halifax tapped his green comlink button, “Buckle down 501! Fire at anything hostile. Hold fast! HERE THEY COOOME!”
Whistling of falling missiles was deafening to uncovered ears. Their impacts make brief thuds before creating whirlwinds from the combined force of concussive blasts. Troops caught outside the trench were thrown from their feet. Mud slung into the air. One trooper ran to reach the trench when his momentum was suddenly interrupted by a blast, audibly shattering his back, propelling him over the trench. His whaling silenced when his helmet impacted the soft soil.
The barrage worsened as explosions tore through soil and armor without prejudice. Grass smoldered, smoking near the crater which had recently erupted. The streets in front of the gates became cluttered with B1, B2, and droideka battle droids.
“Fire at will!” was heard across the line as troops and tanks alike unleashed their payloads. The AT TE’s were capable of using their large cannons to cut vast swathes through the separatist advance. Streams of blue lasers cut loose by the clones, tearing into the battle droids. The exchange became just as deadly as the droids approached. Short range anti personnel rockets fired from super battle droids blew apart chunks of wall tossing clones backwards. Cries of enthusiasm became as prevalent as those from wounded brothers felled to the frayed ground. Medics hurried to stabilize their injured brothers, carrying or dragging them to the places of relative safety.
Halifax held his weapon firmly to his shoulder quickly dispatching anything on the opposing sides of his sites. Valkier constantly relayed line updates to the commander between explosions. The rotary cannons constantly spun, spitting relentless rounds of blue destruction. Halifax paced down the line correcting fields of fire, improving efficiency with morale. Troopers often ducked their heads beneath the precipice of the trench avoiding red blasts that flew at them. The clone’s armor deflected most glancing laser shots with unlucky other troopers suddenly dropping when struck directly. Lasers that directly impacted the white plating instantly turned the surrounding area black from the plasmic flash; in the middle of which an orange circle was the indication of a piercing shot.
“Keep up the masking fire boys!” Halifax’s voice capable of being heard over all the commotion bolstering his men to focus, to fight harder.
Tank’s cannon stopped firing, but continued to spin only making clicks as a Destroyer Droid rolled through a smoking gap in the wall. Raising its shield the droid created a beachhead for more battle droids to approach safely behind it, opening fire on the exposed trench. The shinie clone trooper remembered a trick General Skywalker had demonstrated on a visit to Kamino.
He pulled himself over the ledge of the cliff, rolling to the side, pulling his thermal detonator from his back before lightly tossing it. The small white cylinder bounced once, then twice before it delicately rolled through the shield and exploded! The bubble shield of death burst as countless pieces were propelled outward. Valkier lifted his carbine shouting, “Tank, here!” before throwing it to the unarmed clone. Rearmed, Tank rapidly dispatched the large B2 lumbering towards the trench. Quickly regaining his footing, he hopped back into the trench.
For what seemed like hours the clone bastion fought on.
With no end in sight, troopers carried crates of cartridges and grenades from the rear lines to supply the battle weary front line soldiers. The haze of battle lingered as the signature black smoke thickened, caused by the smoldering of the ground itself. A handful of ARF troopers dodged into nearby buildings. Climbing the heights, they were able to evaluate enemy strength and redirected fire orders to squads below. In addition to being unable to have a clear visual of the enemy, the smoke worsened the long standing fatigue. Many troops paused their continuous fire to gain control of their coughing, lowering themselves in the trenches seeking fresher air.
Halifax’s upright stride demonstrated his undaunted nature, defying his emotionless enemy with every fiber. Unflinching, shrapnel darted in every direction, scratching the additional plating lying across his chest. The silent, determined presence inspired the officers and troopers holding their ground.
“Now is the time! Forward to the wall!!” The rugged voice carried through all communications on the grassy knoll. AT- TE’s began thunderously walking forward, rocking from their main gun unleashing its heavy blast. The four chin guns of each AT- TE loosed their green lasers, matched by the low hovering Saber tanks whose contribution allowed enough cover fire for the platoons to ascend the dirt wall of their trench charging onward. Some on the line were pierced by red bolts through their helmets and chests causing their bodies to crumble.
Clone troopers surged forward in a thin line of white and blue, laser blasts hurling over their heads. Charging, they’re shots became far more deadly. Often troopers would run firing from the hip until through the smoke a droid became visible. The metal of the machine was quickly torn from piece to limb, collapsing. If close enough, troopers used their weapons in close quarter fighting, dislodging the head of B1’s with a swift smash to the neck. Unfortunately for clone speckled across the advance, some ran headlong into super battle droids whose armor was much thicker. At times B2’s grabbed unknowing clones by the arm, lifting them from the ground, fired a laser into the chest then cast the body aside.
Plowing down the separatist machines was the quickest way to reach the marble wall, a task nearly completed. Cheers from the republic lines filled the air! Troopers unable to completely see one another continued their celebration in the smoke, pounding their fists into the air and wall definitely. A breeze minimally pushed the murky haze off of the clone army. The white armor of the soldiers becoming more visible as the fog drifted away with the retreating droid army…
(To be continued in Volume 10.5)
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Check out MelHell84's awesome vision of Halifax : [link]
As well as ThomasBlack1's variation of the commander: [link]
Hope ya'll enjoyed the first part! Your comments and support mean the world to me and help push me forward. Thank you tremendously for your feedback!
Wraith, Kualan, Tamer, and Sprywalker --- Ya'll just kick ass! nough said!
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