SF-9301 stood inside the bridge of a massive vehicle, the famously known Juggernaut Tank—its full designation: HAVw A6 Juggernaut. And it truly lived up to its name. SF-9301 thought to himself.
The tank measured fifty meters in length, twenty meters in width, and thirty meters in height. It required a crew of twelve to operate and could carry a cargo load of 200 tons. But that was not all—it was surprisingly fast, reaching speeds close to 150 kilometers per hour. It could transport up to 300 soldiers and was heavily fortified.
Equipped with both anti-infantry and anti-tank weaponry, the Juggernaut was a force to be reckoned with. However, SF-9301 had never once read a report about the Shadows of Vireen using tanks in their insurgencies. Consequently, most of the Juggernaut's equipment had been redesigned and optimized primarily for anti-infantry use.
SF-9301, who was nicknamed Lancer, stood clad in his black Wraith uniform, clutching a TL-50 Heavy Blaster rifle in his arms.
Lieutenant Colonel Lux Daniul had just dispersed the members of the Onyx Corps across the planet. Most of the Onyx agents had been assigned to defensive positions—guarding checkpoints, factories, or boarding ships.
Meanwhile, two Wraith Trooper squads and every Spectre Trooper team were deployed in the field. For the eight Wraith Troopers under Lancer's command, this meant overseeing jungle transports, which carried both resources and produce between factories and the so-called "opening," where the goods would be brought to the surface.
The Spectres, however, had a more limited role. Luckily, Lancer had a friend specializing in their operations who had been deployed to CITY-012. That meant most Spectre Troopers were probably stationed to monitor the settlements.
Lancer's attention shifted to the blinking computer screen.
The sensors were rendered useless by the ongoing storms, but the AI recognition software had quickly detected movement in the bushes—too small to be dangerous beasts, but too large to be harmless wildlife.
Humans.
"Divert all power to the shields and transmit our coordinates to command," Lancer ordered sharply. The movements in the bushes ceased, but he dared not relax.
This convoy consisted of four Juggernauts, all filled to the brim with refined doonium—an extremely rare and valuable material, difficult both to mine and refine. Losing this cargo was not an option Lancer was willing to consider.
Suddenly, he spotted a massive landslide tumbling down from the forest directly in front of the road. He grumbled softly—not shocked. He had anticipated such a move but could do little to predict its exact timing.
"Halt the convoy. Release the spotter pod. Tell the spotter to take cover until further orders," Lancer commanded, his gaze fixed on the forest's edge, waiting for the slightest sign of movement.
And it came. Multiple rockets slammed into the armored hull of the vehicle, mostly absorbed by the deflector shields. The barrage was relentless, slowly straining the shields but also creating an opportunity.
Lancer observed as the targeting systems logged the rocket launch sites, alongside auxiliary movements deep in the forest.
"Fire."
The anti-personnel ordnance launchers on both the starboard and port sides activated, sliding out from the hull. Thirty cluster missiles launched from each side, guided by advanced targeting systems to predetermined positions. Multiple explosions erupted across the forest.
"Status report on reinforcements?" Lancer asked.
"Zero point four three clicks, sir. Commodore Rysell has deployed an Aurek-323 Counter-Insurgency Squadron," one of the crewmen replied. Lancer nodded just as the insurgents opened fire again.
"Hold position rather than crossing the dangerous landslide," Lancer ordered. "Focus all energy on the shield emitters, and deploy the Stormtroopers onto the roof. We'll return fire."
The crewmen moved swiftly to execute the orders.
Unlike most vehicles, the Juggernaut had few weaknesses aside from limited mobility. Its reinforced wheels were far less likely to fail than its shields, and the shields themselves were exceptional.
Lancer made the relatively safe decision to hold position until the Empire's reinforcements arrived. The four Juggernauts carried significant firepower, making a headlong retreat unnecessary.
And he was right. The insurgents desperately attempted to breach these massive machines of war and security but failed repeatedly. It was simple: they lacked the firepower necessary to bring down the Juggernauts.
The insurgents relied heavily on ex-Separatist weaponry to fight the Imperial forces. However, all the heavy ordnance from the Separatist Army was mounted on their vehicles—machines either controlled by droid AI or incapable of maneuvering in the dense forest.
The AAT tanks of the Separatists required roads to move, making them easy to spot if they attempted an ambush. Instead, the insurgents were limited to lighter heavy weaponry or simple blasters, none of which could penetrate the Juggernauts' shields.
Lancer suspected that such an assault might have worked on some inexperienced Imperial vehicle commanders, who might panic at the overwhelming volume of laser fire and rocket launches and rush into the forest, only to become easy targets for boarding parties.
But Lancer knew the shields would hold, and with 75 Stormtroopers posted on the roof, any insurgents attempting to directly breach the hull were swiftly neutralized.
Still, Lancer found himself impressed by the sheer willpower of the rebels. Thousands of civilians armed only with lower-powered blasters, their red laser bolts streaking through the undergrowth, rushed out of the forest as if intending to climb onto the Juggernauts.
Lancer smiled faintly. An efficient but desperate strategy—and unfortunately, too late.
Suddenly, a massive explosion detonated in the middle of the charging crowd, originating directly ahead. Almost in unison, the insurgents turned to face the source.
What they saw was an unfamiliar tank—or walker—with strong similarities to the AT-ST, but not quite the same.
Lancer chuckled softly. This was an AT-AR: Advanced Terrain Advanced Raider, a modified version of the AT-ST with a different 'head' and stronger, more flexible legs.
The AT-AR was designed specifically for counter-insurgency operations, especially in urban environments. Its enhanced legs provided greater flexibility, speed, and maneuverability—and it quickly demonstrated those capabilities.
Two dozen of these walkers surged out of the forest from all directions, the twelve-meter-tall anti-infantry behemoths unleashing devastating fire across the rebels, who found themselves caught between the Juggernaut's anti-infantry weapons and the AT-ARs.
But that was not all. Lancer's eyes shifted to the road, where four vehicles were speeding toward them—TAV Enforcers, he thought. These vehicles were designed by recycling parts from decommissioned AT-TEs.
Lancer knew the rear Juggernaut faced the same situation. The Aurek-323 Counter-Insurgency formation, designed by Commodore Rysell, included two dozen AT-ARs and eight TAV Enforcers—a formation built for speed and efficiency.
"Re-engage the engines. Let's get out of here, boys," Lancer commanded. The Juggernaut unleashed continuous fire as it began moving forward, leaving the insurgents behind to be hunted down by the reinforcements.
______________________
Moff Roran sat in his office on Desevo, the new capital world of the Tion Cluster. Desevo was a planet closely tied to the Empire, having flourished under its rule. This was due in part to the effective demonetarization of the corporations that had once controlled the cluster's capital.
As such, Roran considered it the optimal choice for his sector capital—especially given its strong loyalty to the Empire, a loyalty growing increasingly rare among member worlds.
On Roran's datapad were the latest reports from Vireen Prime, a challenging assignment entrusted to his friend's protégé. The matter had sparked serious discussion among the Moffs, with Moff Thrann frequently requesting support or advice on how best to handle the situation.
The systematic extermination of an entire planet without planetary bombardment was difficult. It could take millennia of constant effort and resources to accomplish manually.
Once the inhabitants learned that such an extermination project was underway, they went into deep hiding. They fractured into small groups and caused problems wherever possible. Knowing their chances of survival were slim, they often sought to exact as much revenge as possible.
It was a problem so taxing that few had even bothered to apply their intellect to it. Those with the sharpest minds generally avoided involvement in exterminating 19 million sentient beings—especially when it had to be done by hand.
The planet could not endure much more orbital bombardment, as it risked damaging or destroying vital factories.
Now, Commodore Rysell had been assigned the task, and the anticipation in Imperial tactical command was palpable.
Even many Grand Admirals were interested in the outcome. It would be a true showcase of Rysell's competence. The task demanded more than luck or brute force; it required precise tactical planning and genuine genius.
Most importantly, it required a mind capable of thinking outside the box—manipulating both the mission parameters and the people involved.
Roran did not know the young Commodore well, but his conversation with Corr on the topic had left a lasting impression.
Whatever that brat does, it'll be something none of us expect. He's walking a dangerous line with the mission mandate. He'll either pull off a masterpiece or fail spectacularly. The kid knows he needs one majestic feat to break through the barriers and reach Admiralty.
Corr had said that, and Roran agreed—at least based on what little he knew of the man.
I suppose calling him a 'kid' no longer fits, huh?
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