Last Stand of the Anselmi

[Komo]

The night before the main battle, a smaller attack was about to take place. Devised and thought out by the Sith Acolyte Greta Kohler, she had planned for the incursion of the enemy camp to be more than just an attack on the Anselmi. Her aim was to affect the morale of the enemy forces, to drive them further into a state of despair, dealing a devastating blow to their already dwindling morale among the Anselmi forces.

A night attack would not only be essential to the plan, but it was critical as well, as under the cover of night, she would have the darkness as her ally, and the acolyte would harness it as a vital strategy in her attack. Greta had heard that the Sith Knight, [member="Darth Ophidia"] would also be participating in the attack as well. That was a good thing, a boon to the plan, if any. She knew of the Rattataki's talent and skill in stealth and discretion, and those skills would no doubt come in handy.

As soon as night fell, Greta gave the order to move out, and all the forces dedicated to this splinter attack would move out in the cover of the night, riding on whatever speeders they have allocated to them. The Anselmi camp wasn't too far away, they would be there soon enough. Word had been spread to the enemy forces that there would be attack tonight, but no time had been given. That was the plan. A devious one at that. Now the Anselmi would be kept up all night, their forces on standby for any attack that may come. If no attack came, they might just write it off as a false alarm, and they would probably go back to sleep. She can't have that.

Spotlights frantically sweeping through the perimeter of the enemy camp was what Greta saw as began to reach the location of the camp. That was good. The defenders seemed to be on the lookout for something. Looks like everything was going according to plan, so far. They could now began the harassment raids that they had agreed upon. Greta would give her fellow comrade, [member="Darth Ophidia"], the honours if she wanted to. After all, she was the one skilled in such affairs.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"] | [member="Darth Tauros"] | [member="Darth Ferus"] | [member="Darth Timoris"]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Acolyte Greta Kohler had not disappointed. The Anselmi appeared quite roused; their fear was nearly tangible in the air as they anticipated the attack. Sure, the guards would be far more armed, but what were blasters and pointy things against the full power of the Force? Of course, the fact that they had a hand picked force of their own was just as well. Ophidia would take a substantial role, utilising her expertise in the art of stealth and the silent kill, but the official leadership of this strike would belong to Kohler through and throughout. When offered to begin the bloodletting, she did not say no. Rather, she simply vanished. Ophidia dissolved from sight and her presence became nothing, all that was left of her was a whisper through the grass. At first there were no screams, only a spreading silence as she picked out a number of strategic targets and turned them into gruesome displays. This would hopefully ease the troops attack and create a creeping panic throughout the Anselmi camp.

The shipment Ophidia had mentioned in their briefing would soon be floating down the river, guarded by a handful of anselmi, possibly some non-natives as well. They would be on guard and well armed. Whether they claimed the cargo or dumped it to the bottom of the river was up to chance. Of course, blasting the shipment out of the water would be the easiest solution and have the same effect on the enemy's morale. Perhaps a single, well aimed rocket propelled explosive would do the trick. Personally. This was up to Kohler to decide, she had been given leadership after all. Ophidia was simply there to lend her expertise.

[member="Greta Kohler"] [member="Darth Pyrrhus"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darth Tauros"] [member="Darth Timoris"] [member="Vengeance"] . (What a tongue twister)

 

[Darth Pyrrhus]

A few birds flew above the battleground. They were not concerned with the battle below. To them, it was nothing more than a curiosity. Up there, there was peace and quiet. On the ground below, there was only death and chaos. And so it had been made, on Tanek's order. Easily, the Anselmi so-called threat could've been squashed from above, with aerial support and heavy bombing. The Sith had the resources, yet Tanek had specifically ordered that no such attack was made. This was about more than a mere military victory. He was breeding soldiers on Glee Anselm. Soldiers needed to be bloodied. He would see the weak purged from their ranks, while the survivors became experienced veterans of war.

Darth Callidus reported in on Tanek's comm. "Excellent. Proceed without restraint." This day belonged to the Sith. The report given to him contained valuable information, as Tanek saw little of the battle from underneath the sea. Callidus was proceeding on his flank according to plan, and Darth Timoris, along with Vengeance, were already on their way. They would become the hammer upon the anvil, presented to them by their main line of infantry.

Finally, the final Nautolan transports hit the shores, and even more troops disembarked. Their arrival was much less contested. The battle had been pushed further ahead, away from the beach. This was good. Their lines were advancing. While their moment of attack might have surprised them, the Anselmi knew an attack was imminent. The beach was littered with Nautolan corpses, yet one Togruta casually stepped over them. Beach landings were always rough, losses were to be expected. But he had a feeling that for every Nautolan dropped, he/she had been avenged by ten Anselmi corpses.

Because of the nature of the terrain, Tanek had no clear visual over the battlefield, as he might've liked. There was no hill for him to take up a position on. Instead, he would have to rely on other methods. "Lieutenant Rhea. Establish a line of communications with our front lines. I want to know what happens everywhere, at all times." She was one of those Nautolans who truly had caught his attention. To this date, he had never heard her complain or question an order. She had always completed it, and to the letter as well. Her leadership skills, as well as ability in battle, had earned her a strain of quick promotions during this campaign. Just before this battle, she had been made lieutenant. His order to her was simple, and not too hard to carry out. They had their own communications personnel that could communicate with the main body and its flanks, and report back to him if necessary. As commander of the reserve forces, his task was to apply pressure where needed.

Tanek turned to his left, where a Nautolan male of the more bulky sort stood. "I want everyone off this beach now. Tell all lines to advance." He nodded, and gave an affirmative grunt, before he took his leave. The last lines of the army marched forwards, leaving the beach and its fallen behind. Time to choke the last life out of the Anselmi. Glee belonged to the sea.

[member=Darth Ophidia] | [member=Greta Kohler] | [member=Darth Ferus] | [member=Darth Timoris] | [member=Vengeance] | [member=Darth Callidus]

 

[Darth Ophidia]

Her opportunity presented itself, and Darth Ophidia reached out through the Force to grasp a hold of the minds aboard the shipment's transportation. Four guards stiffened then turned and presented arms on their fellows before opening fire. Most of the crew and their fellow guardians were shot down by the sudden attack, but inadvertently the four traitors were taken out. That was when they truly struck. As they were busy fighting themselves, the handpicked troops emerged from the water and jumped down from the surrounding trees to take the shipment, or destroy it.
What was once dark was now lit with blasters, and the stillness of night was torn asunder by the cries of battle. Then, once more, it was silence. The troops planted explosives within the medicinal shipment and impaled the corpses of the guards on spits to give the appearance of them still standing. With the darkness covering them, it would appear they had fought off the Sith strike team.

As the shipment flowed downriver, guided by a pre-set course, the Sith watched from a safe distance. There were no watchmen left to warn that the shipment was coming in. It floated through the open barricade and beached itself as it had been programmed to do. Gingerly the Anselmi congregated around the shipment, only to realise the true fault and horror of the situation

3.. 2... 1... BOOM

The explosives rigged on the raft were detonated in the dead of night, in the presence of the Anselmi people. Even if the blast and debris thrown into the sickened crowd did not cause tremendous injury, then the sight of their last hope burning before their very eyes would certainly break their spirits. The troops of the morning's battle would be sickened and broken. They would rout, break, and be eradicated.

This was how Saiah broke armies. She hoped Acolyte Kohler had learned something from the experience.

[member="Darth Pyrrhus"], [member="Darth Invidia"] [member="Darth Ferus"] [member="Darth Callidus"] [member="Darth Timoris"] [member="Vengeance"] (Figured I'd round off my part in this thread.)