{Ryloth / 0800 / Grim Covenant base}
Everything seemed like a quiet morning, with no action except for the usual routines of instructors with new recruits or transactions between the local Twi'leks and logistics personnel. Suddenly, the base alarms started blaring like never before. Upon hearing them, the soldiers stationed at the base immediately abandoned their exercises, routines, and those still asleep jumped up and quickly put on their uniforms. As the troops geared up and took positions, the locals disappeared back to their cities and villages as advised by the soldiers.
Anti-aircraft fire began shortly after the first fighter approached the base. Several 88mm gun batteries fired continuously in sectors around the base according to instructions relayed by the base's sensors over the radio. While the heavy fire targeted various aircraft, several 2 cm Flakvierling 38 batteries fired at fighters and transports near the base. Despite the concentration of anti-aircraft fire, several transports managed to land near the base. Situated in a clearing within a canyon, the base only had two access points through gorges protected by heavily fortified emplacements and checkpoints placed at intervals.
Although being a secondary base on the Outer Rim meant that the equipment of the planet's forces did not meet the standards of worlds under full sovereignty, this did not mean it was less fortified or under-equipped. The gorge access points were protected by two bunkers dug into the rock, accessible via a tunnel and a Duralumin wall which, while less resistant than Durasteel, could withstand blaster and bullet impacts and even small-caliber explosives.
Inside the base, the now fully equipped and uniformed soldiers marched under their commanders' orders to reinforce key positions and bring gear and ammunition to the entrances and bunkers. Among them were Private First Class Annika Cross and her fellow recruit from training camp, Mason Austin. Their usual routine had been training, patrolling, or resting—but now they would finally prove their worth in combat.
Like them, many other soldiers were just cadets fresh from training, although the officers and specialists were already veterans within the Schutztruppe or colonial troops—a subdivision of the Wehrmacht responsible for guarding planets where commercial traffic, both civilian and military, was high.
Due to the harsh conditions of these planets, the Schutztruppe were primarily equipped with SKS and RPD rifles, along with .50 caliber M2 Browning heavy machine guns in fixed positions like bunkers or walls, and 82mm and 120mm mortars. They also used rifles like the Mosin-Nagant, the SVT-40, and the PPSh 41 and 43.
In one of the bunkers, two soldiers were preparing the M2 for the impending assault while more boxes of ammo arrived.
"Do you think they'll get tired after this assault and stop trying?"
"I doubt it. This is the fifth assault in three months on this planet. Who knows how the rest of the garrisons are doing."
"I just hope they get tired soon... or that my rotation comes. I only need 12 more points and I'm out."
"Then you're lucky. After this battle, you might only need 3 more points depending on your actions. You might even get all of them."
"HAHAHA, let's hope so. By the way, who do you think it is this time? Black Sun, the Pykes, or maybe even the Hutts?"
"Could be any of them. Our Outer Rim bases are a thorn in many sides—especially slavery. Since we settled here, slavery and slavers have been banned in our zones of influence, and the Twi'lek movement has grown considerably thanks to our arms sales and the leadership of Syndulla. Slavery on this planet is weaker every day—but not gone."
Just then, a soldier carrying ammunition brought new information.
"The commander orders all posts to prepare for combat. Transport ships have been sighted and the numbers keep growing. ETA in 15. A heavy assault is expected with large enemy numbers—possibly armor too."
"Tanks? They're definitely not holding back this time."
As time passed, the nerves of the soldiers manning the defenses grew until a loud metallic clatter echoed toward the outer wall and the first trench line outside the base, where several Maxim M1910s and their crews awaited the assault. The commanding officer was Sergeant Alexei Rolles, a veteran of the Arkonis campaigns and the landing on Ord Vrakis. He was in one of the bunkers near the outer wall, from where he would direct this first line of defense.
"Inform the captain that the enemy assault will begin from the north cliff. Also, keep the runners (people responsible for delivering ammo to the front) on standby, and ready the mortars to provide immediate barrages. Report the high likelihood of enemy armor involved in the assault."
Meanwhile, in the trenches, soldiers waited for the first signs of the enemy, smoking and resting—until a shout broke the silence, followed by gunfire as a horde of B1 battle droids emerged over the horizon.
"Weren't we supposed to be fighting crime syndicates? So what are battle droids doing here?"
"Shut up and shoot!"
The first waves of droids—definitely not on the scale of the Naboo invasion or the future CIS invasion of Ryloth—began to put pressure on the first defense line, which was already taking casualties due to the E-5 blasters of the droids. After half an hour of combat, a flare lit up the horizon signaling mortar fire. Shells rained down on the ground, creating craters and destroying large numbers of droids, easing the pressure on the trench troops. Not long after, the last droid lay on the ground, riddled with 7.62mm or 7.62x54R bullets.
"Finally, the last one's down. Think they're done for today?"
"I doubt it. If I were them, I'd just keep sending wave after wave. But based on the ships that made it through the AA fire, I don't think they have many more droid hordes. What's left is probably armored assaults."
Another soldier chimed in while reloading his Nagant with another clip. "Doesn't matter. The next assault will be even more brutal. They've got time—we don't know when our fleet can return, and our ammunition isn't unlimited."
A nearby corporal barked an order. "You two, help move your comrades' bodies back to the base."
"Yes, sir."