Full Frontal Assault.

Headquarters of the 1st Armoured Regiment
Twenty Miles South of the Temple of Fire
Sepros

The temporary headquarters was an impressive building, well equipped and able to be dropped, assembled, and if necessary dissembled with an efficiency that was practised time and time again on drops on multiple worlds and in multiple environments. This time it was the Orian Warhosts home and capital planet, not some foreign system light years away. This was no drill however. What satellite imagery they had that the assaulting forces over the planet had no destroyed indicated that the enemy had landed and was advancing through the dense jungle at the best possible speed. With the other regiments holding the other side of the planet or other locations in the system the 1st Armoured was all that stood between them and the heart of the clan. In his quarters Colonel Sarto 'Eloth' Kousir stood over the display watching the lights flicker on and off as the estimated pace of the enemy made its way inevitably closer. Based on the assessment of the opposing force, his four battalions would have a hard job holding them for the required time until the alleged reinforcements from Taldryan would arrive, if there was any truth in that.

He turned as the door slid open and his adjutant entered and snapped a salute. Colonel sir, you have a visitor.”
“Who?” Eloth demanded.
“A colonel from intelligence sir.”
The Chiss face darkened. What did intel want now? So far they had not exactly covered themselves with glory, this invasion having slipped right past them. “Show him in Lieutenant.”
He was surprised when a plain looking young man appeared, not dressed as an officer but wearing a suit of plain black arc trooper armour and carrying his helmet under one arm. He also had a grenade launcher strapped to his back and a sword hanging from his belt. “Who are you?”
The man gave a quick salute. “I am Colonel Senth, of Warhost Intelligence.”
Eloth studied him. “I have heard of you. The clone. You were the one doing those propaganda broadcasts last year during that business at Arx.”
The clone officer did not react to the slight slur. “Indeed.”
“So what are you doing in my headquarters Colonel. Can I assume you have good news for us on our reinforcements.”
“Not so far,” Senth replied, “though we are assured they are en route. In the time being I have come to make a formal request for assistance.”
The Chiss colonel wrinkled his brow. He had an invading army hours away and they had a request? “What request exactly?”
“You have a special missions company attached to your 3rd Battalion Colonel. I am here to requisition it.”
“For what purpose?”
“That is classified Colonel.” the clone replied.
“Then the answer is no, Colonel.” Eloth replied. “You are no doubt aware of my situation. I am not releasing one single trooper without a good reason.”
Senth met his gaze. “I have the authority to request assistance from any serving officer Colonel.”
Eloth shrugged. “The important phrase in that sentence is 'request'. If you have a problem you can take it up with General Cargas. I will answer later assuming we survive the next few days.”
The clone studied him. “Very well. Is this room secure.”
“As secure as anywhere,” the Chiss replied.
“Very well.”

Senth stood next Eloth by the display map. He pointed to their current position, and then his finger trailed down. “According to our latest intelligence there are four regiments of enemy forces approaching from this direction, three infantry and one armoured. Their estimated arrival is in five hours at their current pace, and they have ample air support. Our current assessment is your regiment can hold them for a maximum of eight hours without your own air support.”
Colonel Eloth nodded somberly. “That is my assessment as well.”
“We have calculated their route, as no doubt have you,” the clone continued, “their is no practicable landing site near here, so they will have to traverse along this path, and pass through this ravine ten miles to the south at this point.”
“So what is your plan?” the Chiss asked.
“With your company I can plant explosives along the ravine shelf, and bring it down. If we time it right we may be able to do it when they are passing through, or at least block them entering it. We estimate if we can bring enough of the shelf down it will block it sufficiently to delay them for some considerable time, possibly enough for reinforcements to support your position.”

Colonel Eloth studied the map thoughtfully. “It is a serious risk Colonel,” he replied, “it is possible their scouts are already in the area. If they are then you could be leading my company into an ambush.”
“I am aware of that,” Senth admitted, “but if we do not proceed Idoubt you will be able to hold them anywhere long enough for to be reinforced, and the temple will fall by tomorrow.”
Eloth looked back at the map, then at the clone officer again. “Who are you exactly Colonel? I have heard stories about the clone in intel, especially after that assault on Inos 13. You apparently have no official command status, and your rank exists only on the rosters. I am not trusting you with my girls and boys until I know more about you.”
Senth nodded. “Very well. My official designation is Delta 19, and I was one thirty two advanced commandos created and trained by Admiral Simonetti under the Dlarit Special Operations Group. I was given a rank in the Warhost following its creation but informally I serve the Overlord in whatever capacity he sees fit.”
The Chiss raised an eyebrow. “A DAC? I thought you boys were all dead or insane.”
“As far as I know I am the last, yes.”
“Very well,” Eloth replied, “I was D:SOG. Before that I fought on Antei as a lieutenant in Nineteen, ironically against the same people we're hoping are coming to support us now.”
Senth shrugged. “I do not understand politics but we are assured they are on our side this time.”
“We can hope,” Eloth replied. “I will order Captain Enis to prepare her company and meet you in the compound in ten minutes. Good luck Colonel.”

The transports moved quickly over the forest, with bikes escorting them either side and in the front. Senth sat in the lead one with Captain Enis. She had turned out to be a grizzed veteran, though brought into the Warhost as a mercenary rather than having come from the former Dlarit military like himself and Eloth. She seemed content to trust the intelligence officer though and appeared to prefer action instead of waiting around. Senth was looking at his datapad, the map indicating their present position and the target location. The captain was talking to the transport's pilot on her communicator. Then she raised her head. “ETA ten minutes Colonel.”
He nodded. “We will need to split into two groups,” he replied, “and take either side of the ravine.”
“We have the target locations sir,” she replied calmly, “our engineers know what they're doing.”
They waited until the transport came to a stop, landing smoothly on the ravine floor and the hatches at the side lowered down, as the company disembarked and quickly formed up, while scouts made their way quickly to survey the surrounding area on their bikes. As Senth jumped down to join her, Captain Enis began to quickly give orders. “1st Platoon will secure this location. Second Platoon take the east side of the ravine, 3rd platoon the west. We do not know the current location of the enemy so keep them peeled and be careful.”

As the 1st Platoon moved out around the transports and made a defensive position, Senth followed the 2nd up the ravine wall as they expertly climbed up the steep surface, planting pins in the rock securing the ropes making it easier for those following. Senth was pleased with their effficency and progress, though to the clone commando this was easy going. He was content to follow though as the lieutenant and sergeant lead them to the top. The six demolitions specialists with them made slightly slower progress but they too were fit and trained and did well. Quicker than he expected the platoon reached the top. Senth could make out 3rd Platoon had done likewise and were now moving dispersing swiftly along the opposite shelf. The 2nd Platoons Sergeant, a gruff older NCO was barking orders at his troopers who were moving quickly south in fire teams, each escorting a specialist who remained in the middle. Sharpshooters moved out to pick defensive locations and screen the dense forest for signs of enemy forces.

Senth watched them alongside the lieutenant and the senior NCO as each specialist took drilling lasers from their backpacks and began to work on the rock below them. He felt a bit redundant being here, the troopers clearly knew their business and worked well as a unit. To even be considered for one of the special missions companies the Warhost or the House forces had you had to be the best in your speciality and have a high level of ability in others. They were proud men, women and others who had a healthy respect for each other and also a rivalry to outperform.
He turned and looked into the dense jungle. The scouts had reported nothing, and somewhere beyond them the bikers were out screening them. It was entirely possible the enemy's own scouts had not reached this location yet, however it was also possible they had.
“Any news sergeant?” the young lieutenant asked.
“Aye sir,” the NCO replied, “they're making good progress but the rock is denser than they anticipated. Its taking some cutting.”
“They must reach the correct depth,” Senth added, “we don't want to just blow up this area we need to bring the sides down.”
“They know that sir,” the sergeant replied calmly.
Senth continued to watch, occasionally looking over across the ravine where the 3rd Platoon were also working. He had confidence in the troops he had brought, but this was still a risk. His estimation of the enemy force had not been over estimated. Without a delay they would overrun the 1st Armoured and take the heart of the Clan before the rest of the Warhost and their Taldryan allies could do anything to help. This had to succeed.

The sergeant suddenly put his hand to his helmet, adjusting the frequency, and listened. “Sirs, the scouts have detected enemy in the jungle to the east, moving this way.”
The lieutenant looked quickly at the NCO. “How many and how far.”
“They can't tell sir with the visibility out there,” the sergeant replied, “they don't want to get too close and alert them. Maybe about a company size and a few minutes away. A second force is moving on the west side.”
“They must just be scouts,” Senth replied, “they could not possibly have brought a large force up here in this time.”
He heard a voice in your communicator. “This is Captain Enis, have you heard the report?”
“We have,” Senth confirmed, “we have to defend this position. If we withdraw this entire thing becomes redundant.”
“Good luck then. We will make sure you have safe exit when you need it.”
The sergeant glanced at the lieutenant then began to speak to the platoon. “Alright everyone, enemies coming in from the jungle. Assigned troopers continue to shield the engineers, the rest of you take defensive positions.”
As the troopers began to move the lieutenant glanced at Senth. “You may want to retire to a safer location sir.”
Senth looked at him, and then reached up and then reached back and pulled his Relby V-10 from his back, checking it was loaded and then gripped it. “I will be fine lieutenant, we need every one we have.” He headed for the trees.

Senth crouched on a tree branch high above the jungle floor. He trusted the platoon to perform in the coordinated way they were trained for and had no wish to interfere. He would merely add support where needed. He gripped his weapon and let his gaze drift over the floor below, watching as the blips of moving objects. He could see the 2nd Platoon were taking cover behind whatever they could find, with the sharpshooters further out and some in higher places like the tree he perched on. The specialists would be hard at work laser drilling down to the charge depth he had agreed with them, and some of the toughest troopers crouched round them, ready to defend despite their lack of cover. The clone admired their determination. His gaze drifted to the east where the moving blips of the enemy could be seen, some densely packed but around them more spread out scouts. They were approaching firing range. Did they know the Sadow troops were here, or were they just securing the area before their army moved through? It was impossible to say. Somewhere to the west the other platoon would be facing the same quandary.

He listened patiently to the quiet orders on the scrambled channel from the lieutenant, as he watched the enemy draw closer. They at a louder order the Sadows began to fire into the trees, from behind their cover or from their perch. The enemy forces scattered for their own cover, returning fire, and below the air scorched with the sound of blasters and shouts. Senth waited, looking down at the dense floor through the trees. Then he saw a shot from ahead, a rocket flaming down from the trees to explode amongst the defenders. Senth quickly followed the line and saw an enemy trooper crouched in a tree a fifty metres ahead. The trooper was preparing for another shot and Senth brought his rifle around and targeted smoothly from years of practice, and sent a shot from the launchers blaster. The rocket trooper did not even see the shot coming, and as he fell the rocket scorched upwards to explode amongst the trees. Senth nodded in satisfaction then sought out another target.

From below he heard the sound of an engine and followed the sound. From the trees to the south a Gian speeder left the trees, manoeuvring round to fire on the defenders on the ridge. Senth watched it moving forward, the pilot and gunner controlling the vehicle and weapons in practised efficiency. Behind them an officer sat watching the display. Senth touched a control on his back and his jetpack ignited, carrying him smoothly through the trees. He fumbled for a high explosive round into the grenade launcher and as he soared closer to the speeder he fired a round in it's path. As the explosion burst from the ground in front of it the speeder was knocked up and rolled, the officer jumping clear as it hit the ground upside down. With a nod of satisfaction the clone fired again, hitting the speeders underbelly and the vehicle exploded. Senth landed on another tree branch, and as the officer got to his or her feet Senth sighted his blaster and fired, pitching them to the ground.

The Sadow defenders were making headway now, the attackers numbers winnowing and it did seem they had only been an exploratory force. Then he saw movement to the North, and a small group of enemy troopers emerged, surrounding a figure in a black robe. The apparent force user stood behind a rock as his defenders shot at anyone coming near, as the enemy used seemed to concentrate. Senth had seen this enough in his fellow Sadowans to recognise the meditation, and below the attackers began to move forward with more purpose, timing their shots better at the defenders, including those remaining guards of the specialists. Senth admitted an uncharacteristic curse and fired his jetpack once more. He sped across the open area towards the little enemy group until he was nearly overhead . He fired a grenade which exploded near the group, but its energy was dissipated by a sudden barrier. Senth considered a second shot to test the force user, but changed his mind. Reaching to his belt he produced a sonic grenade, and then tossed it at the force user and their defenders.

As the deafening and disorientating blast rocked the four troopers, Senth landed amongst them, the Sith sword he had borrowed from the Dakhan Quaestor in his hand. This was not his preferred method of confrontation but he could manage when necessary. As the disorientated troopers struggled to recover the sword slashed amongst them, hacking down one, and then two in quick succession. As a third prepared to fire directly at the clone with his rifle, a lucky or helpful shot from nearby hit him in the back. Senth ignored him and as the fourth aimed at him he thrust, knocking the weapon aside and driving the sword into the chest of the trooper, the alchemically sharpened blade passing through the armour and finding the heart. Then Senth felt a surge of pain and disorientation as flashes of lightning hit him, arcing around his armour. By training alone he leapt aside, leaving its path and landing, gripping his saber. He saw the force user looking at him, her face angry beneath her hood as she pointed her left hand at him, the right gripping a red saber.

“You will die!” she shouted, as she unleashed another blast. Senth fired the jetpack and soared above the lightning, landing directly in front of her, thrusting his sword at her. She was quick, bringing her saber around to knock it aside, and then with steely determination in her blue eyes she slashed at him. Senth moved back, angling his body away from her, blocking the strike. She had been startlingly quick, and it was all he could do to block. He continued to back off dodging or parrying her strikes as she advanced on him. Around him her forces continued to fight, but were loosing ground again against the Sadow forces with the meditation gone. Senth was oblivious to this, focusing on the force user. He was incredibly proficient with a sword, he had practised for years and against most non force users he was lethal. He had also sparred against some of the best saberists in the Clan, and could usually hold his own and had learnt each time, sometimes after a very painful lesson. His opponent however had the force and that advantage was testing him, her movements quick and her defences almost seeming to anticipate his attacks before he had even made them. Additionally his armour was slowly him despite years of working in it.

Inevitably one of her strikes hit home, slicing into the left of his armour and searing along his side. He gritted his teeth as he saw a flash of triumph in her blue eyes. With a two handed blow she hacked at him and he desperately parried, and he felt his hand shake as the lightsaber and the Sith sword met. She snarled and brought her saber back for another blow, and he hacked at her. Then he realised his mistake. She twisted her grip saber flicked down scoring along his right arm, cutting into the flesh and his fingers opened in spasm dropping the Sith sword. He dropped, reaching for it with his left and then looked up at her, as she stood over him in triumph. She raised her blade for the fatal blow, and quickly Senth's left hand moved instinctively, not for the Sith sword but for the little cylinder on his belt. Thrusting his arm up he pressed the little button and the almost invisible blade burst forth, and he drove it up and into her chest, putting all his remaining strength into that one strike. She gasped in pain and her face blanched, before she dropped her own raised weapon and collapsed backwards, landing on the forest floor.

Senth slowly pushed himself up with his one good arm and looked around. The few remaining attackers were backing off into the tree cover as the Warhost forces fired at them. Then he heard a voice over his communicator. “This is Captain Enis. All charges are planted. Withdraw to my location in good order.” Senth reached down and retreived his sword from near the force users corpse, and slid it into his belt. Then drawing his blaster pistol in his left hand he backed off towards the edge of the ridge, as Warhost troopers formed around him. As the began to scramble back down, he fired a burst from his backpack and allowed himself to travel down smoothly. As he landed Captain Enis approached him, her eyes passing over his torn side and arm. “Looks like you've been in the wars Colonel. Get in a transport and I'll have a medic look at you.”
“Thank you Captain.”
A brief smile touched her lips. “Well done with that force user, the sergeant of the 2nd says they are lucky you were along. Now hurry the enemy column is getting nearer. We're bugging out.”

Senth watched from a safe position on a rocky hilltop. His arm and side were bandaged and he was wearing a simple flight suit he had found in the transport, but he had refused to return to the 1st Armoured Regiments's HQ with most of the company, and now waited with Captain Enis and a small group of troopers and specialists. He watched the ravine through borrowed quadnoculars as the first of the column entered it, heavy APCs moved forward, accompanied by AT-STs whose turrets rotated back and forth along the ravines top, and behind them he could make out 2-M hover tanks and more APCs. The column was an impressive sight, four regiments of death moving to knock aside Colonel Eloth's defenders and take and hold the heart of Sepros and Orian. Or so they thought. Senth and the captain watched as the column rumbled across the ravine floor, and above they could make out bikers and troops on the top guarding them where Senth and the 2nd and 3rd Platoons had been earlier.
Captain Enis was watching as the column reached the half way mark, and began to climb to the easier terrain beyond. “Now Colonel?”
Senth nodded. “Now.”
She looked at her specialists. “Light them up.”

The scouts on top of the ravine walls heard it first, as the ground shook beneath them as the line of high explosive charges buried in either side detonated, knocking them from their feet. Then a tremendous tearing noise of rock sounded in the ravine, as cracks began to appear in the sides. The enemy forces in the ravine looked up in horror as small rocks began to roll down towards them, and then larger ones as the walls continued to crack. Above as the scouts ran for safety the ground beneath them split, falling off from the wall and sending them tumbling down with it. The APCs and walkers tried to stop and reverse as larger rocks and then entire pieces of the wall hit them, but the ravine was a bottleneck as pieces of rock larger than the vehicles themselves crashed down into the ravine, causing explosions as the hit and crushed the walkers squashing them down, or hit the APCs driving them to the floor to be buried under immense chunks of the scenery. As the ravine wall continued to collapse section by section, the vehicles closer to the rear of the ravine began to back off quickly for safety, before snarling up with the confused ones behind still moving forward. A few of the unlucky ones were hit by boulders that were thrown further than most of the collapse.

Senth watched in surprise alongside the Captain, who was cheering with her troopers. When he had planned this he had not expected it to be so devastating. The noise was still deafening as more of the ravine walls collapsed, shook down by the vibrations of the earlier devastation. Finally there was a deathly silence, and around him the troopers were silent. The sound of a few smaller rocks falling was the only sound, as an immense dust cloud rose over the ravine. All that could be seen were building sized rocks filling the now wider crevice, and the odd fire of partially buried vehicles. In the distance he could still hear the remainder of the column trying to reverse and turn in the narrow path leading to it.
“Well done Colonel,” Captain Enis commented, “it will take them a day to clear that at best. They might get some smaller speeders over it but nothing big. With luck when our reinforcements arrive them might catch them there still.”
If they were coming, Senth thought to himself. He would not know what was going on with the rest of the battle for Orian until he got back to the HQ, or even then. Still he had done what they had set out to do.
Captain Enis was climbing onto a bike. “Behind me Colonel you're not riding anywhere with that arm. When we get back to HQ I'll stand you a drink.”
He turned and nodded. “I do not drink but I appreciate the assistance. Your company performed admirably, no one could of asked for more.” He climbed behind her as the bikes began the journey back to the 1st Armoured Regiment's Headquarters and the rest of the war.