To The Victor Goes The Spoils

Mimban: surface

Our assault craft came out of hyperspace right over Mimban, and all of us were ready to go.  Our three Y-wings were waiting topside just in case we ran into something meaner than we could reliably deal with. 

Our destination was right by the equator.  The second the assault craft broke atmo, the LAAT/c were out with their payloads.  They spread out making a triangle and my command gunship landed dead center. 

The AT-TEs remained out at their posts with their squadrons of jet troopers while the assorted infantry made their way towards the center.  We began digging a trench system and made fair work of it before the AT-TEs finally saw a few droid scouts probing. 

Among the jet troopers were a few marksman teams.  The first few which came into range got hit hard.  This bought us some time before a second patrol came through.  Needless to say that this patrol too was dismantled with efficiency. 

By now I was certain that the third patrol would be an assault team, not a piddly patrol.  I recalled the AT-TEs to our main position and had the jet troopers find cover in the surrounding foliage to act as early warning. 

I pulled the ARF troopers out of trench duty and had them mount up on their AT-RTs.  With our scouts out and about, the AT-RTs would be able to quickly respond to arriving threats.  This would buy us time to get the AT-TEs and Y-wings in position. 

Fortunately, the clankers had neglected to include any space presence in the system so hopefully, we could wipe out the ground forces before separatist command got their wits about them.  Holding this planet would be easier without remaining droid forces surface side. 

We weren't kept waiting long.  Three AATs were coming southside with two supporting columns of B1 infantry.  From the Northeast, there was a column of B2 supers and about a dozen crab droids.  Great.  I dispatched the AT-TEs to deal with the B2s and crabs. 

I was going to personally deal with the AT-TEs.  I configured my Deece to the anti-armor and got my squad geared behind me.  Every other trooper had a launcher and every trooper had numerous grenades.  We set out, guided by reports from the scouts. 

I found a spot through which they would almost certainly pass and I had my boys hold.  The clankers didn't keep us waiting long, and we heard them well before we saw them.  I had everyone mark their targets on their HUD and waited until we had perfect shots. 

Our opening volley was devastating.  Three tank buster rockets sailed through the AATs and numerous grenades scattered the infantry.  The rest of us cleaned up the remnants of the droid assault unit. 

From what I heard, the AT-TEs fared similarly well, but our position was now compromised and it would only be a matter of time before we were reinforced or were overrun.  Our trench works were mostly complete, and the attack fleet was enroute. 

I left the AT-TEs and Y-wings under the command of Dodger, and I took the LAAT/i and the AT-RTs to hit the nearest droid garrison to draw enemy fire away from the emplacement.  I intended to make our force look substantially larger, and to make it look like it was on the move. 

We made good time.  The droid garrison was in the middle of preparations to mobilize against us when we arrived.  Our onslaught was thorough and there were no droid forces left.  I looked around and realized that this was a fully equipped military base. 

It would serve far better as a foothold on Mimban than any trenchworks.  "Dodger, come in, I've found a better foothold than the trenchworks.  Sorry.  Bring everyone here.  We're fortifying this position."

We weren't waiting long before the LAAT/c arrived with their cargo.  With my troops being gathered, I had two of the ARF troopers go to watch our former intended base.  While we waited for the 224th to arrive, the droids massed and attacked our former position.