44 Chapter 39

Explosions here

Explosions there

Explosions everywhere.

The night sky was lit up by the countless barrage of the artillery from the Imperium. The time of operations has came and the soldiers redied their bayonets. They stuck their heads out to observe the enemy position, only to be picked off by the snipers of the Empire.

All sectors of the massive trench system on Naboo was on full alert and ready to move out anytime. The tanks was also checked one last time with their crew conditioned for the battle that's about to come.

The commissars ordered the attachment of their bayonets to their lasguns as each of them waited for the signal to charge.

A commissar touched his earpiece for communication and attentively waited for the orders.

Another commissar stucked his head out to clearly observe the enemy position with his enhanced eyesight.

Every commissar was only waiting for the signal to finally charge. The guardsmen on the other hand was tensed. So tensed that they're shivering due to fear. This will be the first time they'll do such a thing with live weaponry.

They've trained on how to effectively perform a trench charge on the enemy. But tgat training days they've only used rubber balls so it's not fatal for anyone who gets hit by it. But now, they'll charge on the enemy and this is no longer an exercise or training, this is the real deal.

A random guardsman prayed silently ahile shivering as the sounds of explosions rang on the distance. A nearby guardsman saw this and tapped his shoulder to try and calm him. down.

"Are you okay?" asked the guardsman as he lit up a cigarette and smoked it. Fluffs of smole. exited his nose aa the smell of tobacco entered the air.

"Y-yes, just praying." nodded the shivering guardsman as he slumped to the ground doing everything to become calm and rise his cold body. The smoking guardsman saw this and just chuckled as he offered the shivering guardsman a pack of cigarette and a lighter.

The shivering guardsman just looked at his comrade who's smoking with a questioning look.

"Take it, it will surely calm you down." said the smoking guardsman which made the shivering guardsman just nod and take the pack and lighter evem though he's clearly not the type of man who smokes.

The shivering on the palm of the guardsman was really evident as he struggled to ignite the cigarette he put into his lips. But eventually, he managed to ignite it and he started to smoke quickly.

At this moment, they heard on their earpieces orders from their commissar to fix their bayonets on their lasguns and be ready for the charge as the time is slowly approaching.

As the guardsman readied themselves and climbed up on their trenches. But in the horizon, they saw lights coming from large transport ships. The transport ships are slowly landing on the enemy stronghold, probably intending to evacuate them.

On the central command room...

The command room was on uproar at the appearance of the transport ships of the enemy. The inquisitor and the ecclesiarch was also discussing between themselves on what to do. The viceroy was currently nowhere to be seen because of circumstances.

"It will take at least an hour or a bit less of evacuation time even if they're ready. We can use this timeframe to deal heavy blows against the enemy." said the witch hunter as she looked at the 3d planetary map showing the real time happening on the whole battlefield.

"How about we send our planes and have them crash on the enemy? This may buy us more time or if lucky, we may bring down a transport ship." suggested the ecclesiarch to the witch hunter who just fell into deep thought.

"That's a good plan, but will the people be willing to do such a thing, crashing your broken plane out of necessity and not orders is two different things? I'm in doubt if they'll follow our orders." said the witch hunter to the ecclesiarch who just smiled and drank a glass of water.

"Inquisitor, your mindset is really logical, but that's where an ecclesiarch like me enters. I'll tell them it's the Emperor's will that they do such a thing. Nobody will refuse such an order from the Emperor." said the the ecclesiarch who stood up and brushed off the dirt from his robe.

Naboo, on a random airport...

The pilots was getting ready as to board their planes to fight the enemy once more. This might be their last battle as they may or may not see the light of day tomorrow.

But just as they're equipping the stuff to their bodies, the television on their rooms lighted up, showing the figure of the ecclesiarch on a holy looking robe.

"Greetings, great and glorious pilots of the Imperium." greeted the ecclesiarch with a great smile on his face that took the attention of everyone.

"The enemy as of a couple of minutes ago has

managed to land transportation vessels. They intented to escape and runaway." the speech of the ecclesiarch continued as the pilots gathered around the television.

"Now, as the pilots of the great planes blessed by the Emperor himself! You must do everything to stop them from escaping this planet in one piece!" the ecclesiarch had a passionate voice behind this speech of his which filled the fanaticism of the tank of the pilots to the extreme.

"The Emperor demands you to die! Bring the. enemy with your grave!" the question boomed on everyone's ears as their eyes turned bloodshot due to fanaticism and shouted.

"Hai!"

...

The airports was at the highest level of functioning right now as personnel both on the support and technical side was doing everything, rigging the planes with bombs that will have a timer that will start to tick once the plane was damaged greatly.

The pilots created a bandana with the Imperial aquila painted on it as they wrapped it around their foreheads. Their eyes was one of determined to die and bring their enemy with them.

At this moment, alarms blared and sounded all over the airport as the pilots started to climb up their cockpits and gave their farewells to the staff and last messages.

They knew in themselves they'll die, but the Emperor's enemies shall be brought together with them on their graves.

Propellers strated to spin as planes redied for their take-off. At the control tower, the staff gave their farewells to the pilots as they're informed of their mission.

"Farewell soldiers of the Emperor! Godspeed! May the Emperor protect you on your last mission." the sound of a female control officer sounded as she gave the green light for take-off.

Planes started to take-off on the direction of the Empire stronghold. Each pilot ready to die and filled with fanaticism due to faith.

Their bandanas fluttered on the wind as each one of them looked at their comrades on their sides.

They can't see each other's eyes as it's covered with goggles but they can see the smile clearly. The smile that screams thankfulness.

They're thankful for the Emperor for protecting them. Now, it's their time to protect a planet under the Emperor and destroy their enemies one way or another.

Their planes soared through the night sky as they engaged the enemy starfighters on a dogfight.

Guardsmen of the Imperium charged on the ground as a bloody fight occurred. The Empire tried their best to escape but the heavily damaged fighters of the Imperium crashed themselves on the Imperial transport ships, paralyzing them.

Everything was bloody, but as the sun was slowly rising, the outcome was already clear for everyone.

The Empire forces was almost wiped out to the very last men with only a handful lucky survivors managing to escape.

Destroyed planes from both sides littered the grounds. Bodies of men and women was seen lying on the wet ground that's colored maroon due to blood.

The battle may be hard fought but the rewards was fruitful.

The Empire was finally kicked out of the planet of Naboo in the expense of millions.

And Palpatine was pissed beyond description.