Battle for Phoenix

[Desertfox]

January 19th

As the day dawns the 501st catches sight of the city for the first time. The city has been quiet for the last 5 days, both sides too tired to fight. That is about to end with both the 501st and the 6th ready to attack. The 501st makes the first move, the stormtroopers finally given a chance to show what they have been trained to do, assault a prepared defensive position.

The 501st is a part of the 1st Heavy Infantry Division of the New Switzerland Expeditionary Force (NSEF), one of the few units trained specifically to assault prepared positions.  They are also among the few units to use the Swiss-Mondragon semi-automatic rifle. This day would be the first true test of both the tactics and the rifle.

The 501st makes no move during the early hours of the day. But as the sun rises high in the sky the 501st makes its move. Facing them is a reinforced battalion of mixed 6th and 18th troops. The 501st attacks with two battalions, with a third in reserve. The fourth battalion on the Lancers moves around the flank, their target is the Loyalist controlled airfield to the northwest of the city. Despite not expecting an attack at noon, the Loyalist forces recover from the initial shock and put up a spirited fight. However, the new rifle and the new tactics prove too much, and the battalion is overrun. Veers is forced to pull three battalions from the city and send them to cover his rear. The 501st's attack is stopped but it has done its job.

One of the battalions pulled was covering the airfield. The remaining defenders are easily overrun and the airfield captured as the 1st Lancers charge across the runway and capture all the planes present before they can take off. The Loyalist forces to the west of the city retreat east to avoid being outflanked, and as the day closes, units of the 501st enter the city for the first time. 

[Desertfox]

February 1st

Several ships enter Phoenix Harbor among them is the liner SS New Switzerland. They carry the rest of the 1st Heavy Infantry, NSEF. Face with reinforcements to the rebels and a broken siege, Veers lifts the siege of Phoenix and retreats with what is left of his army. Twelve days later he surrenders to the rebel forces. After a month and a half of bloody fighting, the war ends in a triumph for the rebels. Against all expectations, there are no executions.

The fate of Lord Henry is finally revealed as he has been a captive of the 501st for the duration of the war. He is now exiled, penniless, together with all those government officials that supported the loyalists. Italy will become their new home. As for the military forces that fought on the loyalist side, they receive a full pardon. 



Original pic by CanisD