Strike of Fire (open)

[Sir Lord Ash]

<sub>The Mandalorian Strike Force exited hyperspace well within the the Alderaan system, but far enough that sensors around Alderaan wouldn't see the fleet. Ash stood on the bridge of the command ship, a Kandosii cruiser, and was stretching his arms, which were still very tight even now, but were finally starting to loosen up. During the ride over here, Ash spent much of his time thinking of a plan, and all he could do now was rely on his troops to do what they were told, and do it like their lives depended on it.

Roland would take a portion of ground troops and fighters, and all but 4 basalisk war droids, and assault the largest Imperial bases. Ash and Mandalore will take the rest of the ground forces and droids and assault Alderaan's capital city, where some of the greatest Imperial minds were to meet. Even now, Ash felt them in the force. The Warbard would also assault the city, mainly to cause hell. A flight of fighters ended that side of the plan.

The rest of the ships and fighters in the fleet would wait in space for orders, and take out any Imperial ships that were there, or came there. Ash would wait on the bridge for a few minutes after the assault begins, then take one of CAS units, modified with break off wings with solid fuel, break off boosters around the body, and join in with Mandalore. Smiling lightly to himself, he activaded the fleetwide communication channel.

Alright, men and women. Our assault against the Empire starts here, at Alderaan. We will show them what its like to have a true threat. Some of you will die, but before you do, be sure to take out as many as the little bastards as you can. Once we complete our final jump... Well, you all dont need me to baby sit you. Lets show them our Mandalorian might!

Ash was never one for speeches, but he hoped me made his point. He shut down the suite, and nodded to navigation. Fleetwide, a 10 second timer counted down, then, once over, the fleet jumped into hyperspace for a fraction of a second before coming out of hyperspace. Instantly, all flightworthy crafts, be it droids, fighters, shuttles, or the trash, launched. A small smile carrested Ash's face again.</sub>

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[Elifain]

Roland sat in the saddle of his besuliik war droid. The beast stood before a flight of 6 other besuliiks, and all were primed for close to medium ranged combat. He looked around, the flight deck of the venator was packed and ready to go. the 5 besuliiks droids, and the 20 besuliik starfighters, were all ready for battle, and set to launch. There were 2 meteors that were set to transport them as soon as they made their final approach, but for the actual landing, they would be going in style. Roland half wished that he could join the 100 soldiers that had been equiped with heavy artillery, and placed into the Picards drop pods. While the rest of the fleet dropped out, the picard would be moving ahead, and putting its belly in line with the planet.
Roland watched as the countdown began, and time began to slow down. He could hear his heart beating, and was ready for the charge. As the 0 second clocked out, and the fleet made the microjump, to move closer to the planet, Roland shouted, FOR MANDALORE! a cry that was echoed amongst the pilots in the hanger, as the 7 besuliik launched forward. The timing just right for the known time of the jump that as the fleet exited hyperspace, the besuliik were at the force field that held off the atmosphere, and a second later, before most ships would move, they were falling towards the atmosphere. their 20 starfighter cousins were right behind them, and they took up the leading tip of the spear, asa the picard followed a distance, before putting its belly towards the planet, and launching the 200 pods, 20 loaded with speeder bikes, 30 with extra weaponry, 50 prefired, and empty, and 100 packed with mandalorian warriors, all primed and ready for combat. in a side com, roland said to ash, Sorry, couldn't let you guys have the fun of the first through the atmosphere... Before he could enter the atmosphere, a familiar lysander, among with its support fleet dropped by, and started releasing ships towards the atmosphere as well.
Sorry for the delay... we hit traffic that didn't want to move aside... Came the voice of telos, The captain of the Hellbound, as one could hear rapid orders being given by the ai, devildancer.2 action IV's, 8 CR-25's, and 20 LAAT's joined the drop force, loaded with 10 AAT's, 8 mobile artilleries, 8 Juggernaughts, 10 hawks, and 10 scarabs.
2 customized LAAT's split from the group, holding up 2 CAS in its gutted underbelly, to deploy them on the surface, fully charged, before throwing them on their own power.
The ships personal escort of fighters started spreading out as soon as the confusion was over, the 120 fighters hanging around the hellbound like a wall of flies.
The groups first target would be an imperial garrison a short distance from the city, Aldera, the capitol. The brunt of the landing forces armor would land between the city and the garison, cutting off the troopers from reinforcements, while the pods would land around the perimiter, scattered formations.
On the drop, 30 of the 50 decoy pods were hit, 5 of the speeders were downed, and the resuply ammo was dashed on the rocks for the most part, but the 100 troopers made it down safe and sound, and while the armor deployers took heavy fire, they too made it down with a few scractches. The CT-25's deployed their loadsd of Hawks, and Scarabs from a higher altitube, to take air superiority, before launching towards the surface, to drop off its selection of BARC speeders, and the 100 riders that would become the mounted cavelry.
As soon as landfall had been made, The artillery deployed, and took aim, firing straight on, for test shots, on the imperial garrison, while the anti armor troopers started digging fox holes around the artillery, and an infantry force of 100 strong moved to dig in before them. The hawks and scarabs flew strafing runs over the complex, to both weaken it up, and force the defenders to take cover, and the AAT's moved towards the city, to support the mandalorian drops there.

[Zilfer]

Bermfad had brought his CAS onto a Q class carrier for dropping into low orbit. Two other Q-Carriers were bringing down other troops and Flare S Swoop bikes that would allow them to skirt into the city easily assaulting Alderaan's capital cities defenses. An escort of fighters brought them down to the surface safely where the Q Carriers flew perpendicular with the ground and swoop bikes each unlatched one by one dropping out the back of the carrier and upon landing on the ground they zoomed off. Bermfad was the last one to unlatch the holding on his CAS and as they did the metal of his CAS' claws against the hull screeched until at last they fell the last two hundred feet to the ground. The CAS landed in a mid sprint taking off towards the defenses of the city. While the fighters accompanying the Q Carriers send a barrage of missiles at the cities defense turrets.

[Sir Lord Ash]

<sub>With the exception of a Venator-class star destroyer, a Victory 1-class star destroyer, two Acclamator-class assault ships, 6 CR-90 corvettes, and a few dozen fighters of various types, the space was clear. Needless to say, there could always be more ships that could jump in and ruin the fun. For now, this flotilla was going to be of little effort.

The Kandosii began assaulting the Enemy Venator moments after jumping out of hyperspace. The mandalorian Venator and Picard went after the victory, and the Jehavey'ir's went after the acclamators. There were plenty of fighters to take out the enemy fighters and harrass the corvettes. Ash smiled at the action, and deemed that they were able to handle themselves in a fight, and left the bridge of the Kandosii, heading for the hanger where his CAS was waiting.

It did look funny with break-away rockets and ceramic armor, but it was going in hot and hard. During the hyperspace jump, Ash looked over this CAS and made sure that it was strong enough to survive reentery, slapped on some armor and rockets, and now it was ready to go. The CAS lowered its large head, and Ash climed into the cockpit, and took a moment to get situated, like he did with anything he piloted.

The controls were very similar to that of the a fighter, and wasn't hard for him to get the placement of them all. Moments later, Ash brought the CAS up on all legs, and ran out the hanger door. With a mighty roar, the CAS was falling towards the planet. It wouldn't take too long to reach the ground, so he brought up the battlenet and watched the ground battle unfold.</sub>

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[Zilfer]

Tanks began to form up and shoot their heavy cannons at the speeding swoopbikes who were swerving in and out of enemy fire like bees. Bermfad knew that most of them were trying to take fire to keep the main fire off him but that was stupid.

"Fly higher, let them try and hit me. Sorry will show them they couldn't hit the broad side of a barn! Four of you form up on me the rest charge the main building. I want to see the whites of their panties when they see how fast we strike." said Bermfad as he began a strafing run firing his arsenal into the tanks. Most of his fire coming close and his missiles blowing into a few tanks. Enemy fire erupted from the roofs at the swoop bikes. They only speed up faster, and blasted their own shots right back at them before speeding fast going 600 Kilometers per hour.

Bermfad was beginning to draw more and more fire for the lack of targets and the swoopbikes were flying half speed to slow down for his CAS. It was getting pretty hot and Bermfad saw that Ash had joined the fray.

"Alright, most of us have pushed right through like water over a dam, now it's time to punch a hole straight through it. Watch my flanks." Bermfad said over his open com.

Bermfad's lash strafing run fired a few more missiles and began a charge straight towards the Tanks, they fired hitting his CAS straight on but Sorry only shook it off taking the hit and roaring loudly into the sky. Bermfad joined his AI's battlecry with a roar of his own, right as they jumped and tore through the tank. As Bermfad split the tank in half his CAS side jumped and he held on magnetized to the CAS as they crushed yet another tank and fell into a dead sprint towards the main building.

"Are you sure this is a good idea...?" said Bermfad to his old Basilisk AI that was in the CAS. It gave a loud roar in response. "Alright then, let's plow straight through!"

[Sir Lord Ash]

The flight down to the planet, Ash thought, was quite uneventful. At the correct times, the extrenal rockets fired, slowing doen Ash's CAS, then breaking off. The last of the rockets were spent a few thousand feet from the surface of Alderaan. For that time, all Ash could do was trust that the CAS could handle the fall.

Ash should have known better. The CAS landed lightly, limbs absorbing the impact. The CAS charged its pulse cannon before landing, and the light emminating from its chest showed it ready to fired. Ash spun the CAS around, both roaring with challenge, and the cannon fired, taking out a row of tanks that were taking aim at Bermfad and his escort.

Ash laughed loudly, and began to make his way to teh capital building from the rear. He would need to wrap his way around to the other side of the building, but his CAS was at about that of the recon variant, so it was lightly armed, and fast.

Ash activated the boosters, juping into the air. The joints in the boosters allowed the CAS to move in the air, and it was, as well as flying, bounding from rooffop to rooftop.

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All around the city, the Mandalorian forces took care of the imperial forces. The forces that joined in late joined in the fray. Ash let the CAS pilot itself as he started assigning orders and targets.

There were a 300 hundred men and 30 odd tanks when the mandalorians attacked. Now, the men were halfed and tanks were far and in between. The surviving tanks hid behind walls of building, popping out to fire at the mandalorians, then to hide again. 100 soldiers inside the city retreated inside the main building to attemp to keep the higher ups safe. The forces fighting outside were caught with their pants down, redusing their numbers to 70 men, for a grand total of 170 men and 12 tanks to protect the city, unless they gained reinforcements, which were being or already were, cut off.

[Elifain]

The infantry "diggers" had their positions up, surrounding the artillery, before the imps could launch an attack, the Artillery volling fire into the base. The tanks had began rolling towards the city, while the cavelry unit had laid up in the surrounding hillside, away from the base, with what would be the perfect vantage point to start an attack on any imps that passed that way. They didn't have to wait long, as a force of 200 infantry units started pooring out of the facilities, a number of ties launching to provide aerial cover.
Before they could go very far, the Hawks, broke cover, pulling quick hit and runs, to damage and destroy the primarily space bourne fighters, while the supply of scarabs slipped by, and bombarded the base itself.
The bases defenses cut in, but the bombers were too well versed in their job to get scathed.
The 200 had made it beyond the point that their retreat could be assured, before the mandalorian cavelry fell upon them. 100 Barc speeders, with the infantry to pilot and gun them, swup out of almost everywhere, rushing the infantry, battle hoots sounding all around the beliegered soldiers.
On the first pass, the speeders gunned down, or ran down about 45% of the forces, the remaining trying to fall back, away from the violent attackers, but they weren't about to let the imperials get back to cover. They pulled a second pass, which took out another 50% of the remaining forces, before the Hawks dropped into the fight, and cleaned up the rest, the speeders moving for cover again.
Roland was not surprised at the efficiency of his soldiers, in the midst of battle, as the imperial base was quickly being devoured by the anxious artillery.

[Zilfer]

Bermfad's approach on the main building came soon, and he could see most of the windows had been broken from Swoop bikes smashing into the many different floors of the main building where the meeting was being held. The problem the enemy was now facing in the building while they were preparing to defend it from the inside, there was now flanking positions all throughout the building. Since every floor had Mandalorian troops retreating to a lower or higher floor would most likely just result in cross fire.

The CAS Sorry came flying over the heads of some Imperial's trying to hold a trench. They turned to look as the CAS burst through the wall of the building and landed in the bottom floor lobby scratching it's nails to a stop. Bermfad came rolling to a stop on his feet for he had deactivated the strong magnet that had been holding him to the CAS' hull. They had popped in between a firefight across a wide open space. The CAS roared and fired it's armament into the enemies as Bermfad picked off the others with an almost shooting range accuracy. As the room was cleared the Mandalorian forces moved on, they had already lost five men here, three were wounded and two had been blown away. Bermfad frowned before reaching two fingers up to the side of his helmet and turning on his communicator.

"Ash, how goes things, I'm in the main building. Heavy resistance but we have them out flanked. What's your stasis?" asked Bermfad knowing coordination would be key for taking these guys and not allowing them to make a speedy get away.

[Sir Lord Ash]

Ash had his CAS unit literally flying over the roofs of buildings, halting only when he reached the end of the building. The small map just within his vision showed him how the fighting went.

Things were going to plan, and the Imperial forces were being whiped out. 60% of the enemy forces around the city were taken out, with minimal losses to Mandalorian forces. Most tanks were taken out, which was good. Ash prepared for his next attack when Mandalore contacted him.

Getting ready for my next attack. Im being the main building. Forces are consentrated from the front. Have the forces gather the imps and bring them to the roof. We main gain knowledge about deep inside Imperial data. I'll handle the outside Imps.

[/color]

When Ash spoke again, it was to all Mandalorian forces.

All Mandalorians forces outside the city, finish off your targets and head inside the city. Lay waste to the armed Imperials, but dont harm the civilians, or the Imperials that surender. We aren't savages, and I dont want the blood of the innocent spilled anymore than it needs to be. Take captured Imperials to the designated extraction zones that will be marked on your HUD's.[/color]

For someone who use to be a Sith, before he linked up with the Mandalorians, Ash seemed pretty honorable, but life was viewed differently by him, even if it was slightly. Death caused untold of wakes of dread and depression that was hard for anyone to cope with.

Back to the fighting, Ash marked several points on his map, which were extraction points, including the landing pad on the roof of the main building. The marks were a red arrow right a distance measured in meters. After that, he launched his CAS onto the roof of the capital building, where it latched onto its highest point. It let loosed a mighty roar that could be heard all around the city. For Mandalorian forces, it was a war cry ment to make them fight harder. For the remaining Imperials, it ment they were loosing, and it was ment to strike fear into their hearts. Over the CAS's vocational speaker, Ash spoke for all to hear.

Imperial forces! Your time is up! lay down your weapons and be spaired or die fighting for the Empire that hates you! The Mandalorians have taken this battle, and its just the start against the Empire![/color][/center]

[Elifain]

Roland sighed, as his besuliik stood by, at the command post for the outside assult squads. He knew ash was in charge of this mission, but epxecting them to finish off forces that were stuborn in their defenses wouldn't be a 10 minute job. 200 out of, what appeared to be, 1000 soldiers was a sweep, but it wasn't going as well since then. The swoops had been forced to retreat after the second round, when the enemies started employing rockets, and a few anti-aircraft guns, which were keeping the hawks and scarabs out of the battlefield.
It had come down to whatever the imps outside their base could use as cover, as well as, the mandalorian trenches, and the entrenched soldiers had taken the lead, heavy weapons, and Rotating blasters begining to tear apart the men on the fields, once again pushing them back, mobs of soldiers dragging companions, both dead and wounded, into compounds that were being hit by constant fire.
Roland looked to his left, the 6 besuliiks that had accompanied him, and the 2 CAS armors that Elifains group had dropped off still stood back in reserve, but to his trained eyes, were brimming with anticipation.
Both CAS had been outfitted with long range weaponry, and so would prove useful, but they had been unwilling to put the machines into use. Now with orders trickling down from the "commander" They had a reason.
Trampling heard, and Wolf pack, prepare to move out. Your targets are the base itself... He said, climbing into the "saddle" of his own besuliik, with a smirk at the name he had given the two CAS, and their brother whom was off world.
As he finished with the thought, he launched his Besuliik into a forward sprint, the suit being trailed by the other 6 besuliiks, and the 2 CAS in a charge that would take but a minute.
At 30 seconds till contact, the suits launched missiles at the facilities, the concussion missiles slamming into the base and bringing in walls weakened by artillery, while the 2 CAS broke off for the cover of hllls, and began firing their main weaponry.
At 10 seconds, the artillery held off their fire, and the forces there packed into the Juggernauts in the area, before setting off to the city.
As the besuliiks hit the remains of the compound, there wasn't much left, the missiles shattering most of the weakened structures, not much survived the giant battle droids onslaught, their claws ripping through and the gunning systems spraying into the buildings. more than one explosion lit, as halfway through the facility, Roland, and his 6 elites hopped off their suits, letting the besuliik go on their war rush, as they broke off towards the command center, bags loaded with bombs strapped to 3 of their backs, while 3 others held extra weaponry.
Roland himself had a Vibro'blade strapped to his back, as well as a 2 shot rocket launcher as well.
They stormed the bottom floor of the building, no sweat, the defenders having either pulled back to the bomb shelters at the bottom of the base, or having moved to other parts of the complex. It was these bomb shelters that the mandalorians were interested in, though.
Roland leading the way with an E-web cannon strapped to him, those behind him with varrious other assult rifles and whatnot, all moved to one emergency turbolift, and dropped into the core of the base.

[Allen]

Allens transport ship had just landed as the fighting had begun. he and stepped out and some imperials aimed there guns at him. Allen tilted his head side ways and placed his hands in front of himself. he then used the force and made the imperials guns come into this hands. He looked around there were multiple imperials but it seemed like they were headed towards some were else. He aimed the blasters and shot the two imperials and continued on into the city. He took a large inhalation and smelt the air "Ahh there's nothing more lovely than the smell of battle." he looked around and saw death everywere. "Aww i missed all the fun oh well." He walked throughthe city and saw that there were still a few fleets of ships there. He ran toward the center of town and saw a CAS assault platform He jumed to the building top and ran towards the cas platform but not to close he went within voice range and threw down his blasters he took from the troopers. He shouted so his voice would cath the attention of the nearest mandalorian. "Hey mandalorian great work on the invasion Bravo. Anyways I come in peace and id like to have a audience with mandalore please i have a offer that would benefit you and your warriors."

[Sir Lord Ash]

Ash's CAS landed on the ground amiss a group of Imperials, squishing those which landed under its mighty paws. Survivors scattered, or dropped their weapons and surrendered to the Mandalorians. Someone yelling caught Ash's attention amongst the screaming. Ash let himself open to the force, and turned the CAS towards the Sith who decided to call out to him.

If anything happens, smoke this guy.

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The CAS gave a short growl in acknowledgment to Ash's command. The Mandalorian opened the hatch and jumped out, landing nearly 10 meters and wasn't phased by the drop. To him, it was nothing. Ash began to walk towards the Sith, fallowed by his CAS. He didn't regret not wearing armor, but he could handle what this guy could dish out.

Your pretty rash for a Sith, aren't ya? You come to a Mandalorian attack like there's nothing to it. That's like assaulting a Jedi temple all alone. You better have a good reason to come here besides some petty offering. If not, your gonna be gutted or worse.[/color]

When Ash was about 5 meters away, he stopped walking. The CAS's main weapon was fully charged and ready to fire, as well as a few of its laser turrets.[/center]

[Zilfer]

"Negative we are all throughout the building, it would take too long to form a push, it's chaos in here." said Bermfad over the comlink as he unleashed a barrage of fire into men coming from an open door. His CAS was in the main room defending the front entrance from any retreating imperials. Some of the dislocated troops where surrendering out in the city while others were fighting to the death. Bermfad felt pity for them knowing they were doing what they thought was right. He would honor them after this was through. Bermfad had joined up with two other Mandalorians carrying heavy repeaters and they had begun a push towards the elevator. As they reached it the light came on, and they prepared their weapons to smoke the men inside out.

Instead Bermfad motioned for them to take flanking positions as he pulled out a frag grenade and primed it. As the door opened he chucked it in and leap to the side as fire erupted from inside at him. His armor took some hits but most of it just bounced off, and absorbed some of the heat. After the explosion they checked the elevator to see if it was still functional and then entered. They began to take the turbolift down towards the basement, where no doubt the military leaders had been evacuated too.

"Rang, this is Bermfad heading down to the deeper levels. Take care of things top side." said Bermfad as he watched the lights travel by quickly as they went deeper and deeper. He knew he was taking a risk by jumping into the heart of things, but that is exactly what he was known for. He switched the frequency to long range as it continued to travel down. It wouldn't be long before he lost radio contact he reasoned. "Roland what's your status? I'm going to go greet the tacticians, I'm almost at their front door."

[Allen]

Allen shook his head and lowered his darkside aura. "i missed most of the assault but i came to help if need be but i have a proposal for mandalore a business proposal." Allenm sensed that this guy was a force user and smiled. "I may be a Sith but i have no love for the empire in fact i want it dismantled and returned back to the the days of the republic will speak more but only if mandalore is present all I will say now is that it will greatly benefit the mandalorians."

[Sir Lord Ash]

A sith who has no love for the Empire? Man, you must be one sad creature. I'm not even goint to waste the time in killing you. If you want to talk to Mandalore, do it after the battle on our planet, and pray that I dont get permission to gut you. I'm one person who you dont want to see angered. Get off this planet before I decide to have you killed. Im the one running the show right now, and no one will give a second thought about killing you.

Ash had just turned around to head back to his CAS when Mandalore's voice peeped inside his hear. Ash touched his ear to activate the comlink bead there.

Roger that, Mandalore. Some di'kut here seems to have a business proposition for you, but I will leave the choice to waste him up to you. I will have topside cleared for you. Troops are being called in right now, and the imperial numbers are dropping drasticly. Our battle here will be won shortly.

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Ash turned his head to Allen to see if the sith would leave or keep trying to talk to him.[/center]