Zonju V, Outer Rim Territories
Six years ago
Tesla leaned back against the wall of the trench, barely flinching when an explosion showered his beskar'gam in rubble and dirt. A few soldiers ran past him towards their own destination somewhere along the trench system. Nearby, a Zabrak mercenary named Cull sat with a sniper rifle, and farther down the trench, a human man and a twi'lek woman were keeping an eye out over the edge of the trench using periscopes designed to protect them from sniper rounds.
Together, the four made up a mercenary group that had been formed and forged in battle. Gradually, as their own original units had been decimated in the war, they had lumped together to form their own, albeit small, mercenary unit of roughly thirty men. Tesla, as the only Mandalorian there, had become the natural leader, a role he did not enjoy as much as one would think. Together they had survived many of the battles in the mercenary forces of the Kingdom of Ramstahl, in its war against the Republic of Zaftra. Both were countries fighting for domination of the land on Zonju V.
Neither necessarily had the moral high ground in the war, but Ramstahl paid its mercenary forces exceptionally well, and while Tesla was not there for the money specifically, if he were to risk his life, why not do it where he got paid the best?
"The Major will see you now." One of the Ramstahl Territorial Army lieutenants said as he stepped out of the bunker integrated into the massive trench system.
Tesla stood up, some dirt falling off his armor, and his three comrades followed him through the slightly low, dark doorway into the bunker.
The bunker was quite large for an artificial structure integrated into a massive trench system, approximately fifty by forty feet. It was the TOC - Tactical Operations Center - of that sector, and looked like it, with massive screens of battlefield data lining the walls, and radio equipment placed in the center of the room. On one end was a briefing area with a floor to wall map of the sector, and three dozen wooden chairs lined up on four rows. In an attached side room, Tesla knew from experience that the Major had his own private quarters, and on the opposite end on a similarly attached bunker was barracks for the personnel.
The Major - Major Erich von Grafen as his full name was - was standing over a series of maps at a wooden table with several non-commissioned officers, talking in low voices. They looked up when the Mandalorian and his three officers entered, and von Grafen dismissed his NCOs with a wave of his hand as he approached them. He was the spitting image of a Ramstahl officer, in his olive green uniform, his buzzcut head, clean shaven face and monocle that adorned his left eye. The medals on his chest were earned in battle - on of the reasons that even Tesla, ever the cynic - respected him.
"Sergeant. Follow me." Von Grafen said as he walked over to the map on the wall. "Sit." He gestured. The quartet sat down on the front row.
"I have your next mission. This one comes down from High Command in Bresenburg themselves. It is extremely important that the mission is a success, which is why you were chosen for the mission." A wooden pointer stick hit the map right where a big, red square was located. It was roughly thirty miles farther down the trenches, and right on the enemy lines, where those intersected with a river.
"This is the Fortress Zerograd." Major von Grafen said. "It was built a thousand years ago by one of Zonju's many past civilizations. The fortress is, by any accounts, impenetrable. Its walls are high, and it is well staffed by Zaftra soldiers. We've made attempts in the past to breach the fortress and take it, but they have been bloody and failed attempts. As it stands, Zerograd is key in Zaftra's blocking of our advancement efforts. It needs to go." Von Grafen frowned. "In ten days we are launching a major offensive all along the front. It will be a serious undertaking even without factoring in Zerograd. Your mission is to take the fortress before then, with any means necessary."
"Failure is not an option. But if you succeed, the rewards will be considerable."
The four mercenaries remained silent for a moment. Then, Tesla spoke:
"It will be done."
"I have your transfer orders here. Report to a Major Kohl in Sector B34 when you get there. He will give you any and all help you need, other than troops. We cannot spare anyone other than your unit for this mission." Major von Grafen handed over a leather bound depeche case to Tesla, who passed it over to one of his officers. As he stood up, they walked out without any more words being exchanged.
Six years ago
Tesla leaned back against the wall of the trench, barely flinching when an explosion showered his beskar'gam in rubble and dirt. A few soldiers ran past him towards their own destination somewhere along the trench system. Nearby, a Zabrak mercenary named Cull sat with a sniper rifle, and farther down the trench, a human man and a twi'lek woman were keeping an eye out over the edge of the trench using periscopes designed to protect them from sniper rounds.
Together, the four made up a mercenary group that had been formed and forged in battle. Gradually, as their own original units had been decimated in the war, they had lumped together to form their own, albeit small, mercenary unit of roughly thirty men. Tesla, as the only Mandalorian there, had become the natural leader, a role he did not enjoy as much as one would think. Together they had survived many of the battles in the mercenary forces of the Kingdom of Ramstahl, in its war against the Republic of Zaftra. Both were countries fighting for domination of the land on Zonju V.
Neither necessarily had the moral high ground in the war, but Ramstahl paid its mercenary forces exceptionally well, and while Tesla was not there for the money specifically, if he were to risk his life, why not do it where he got paid the best?
"The Major will see you now." One of the Ramstahl Territorial Army lieutenants said as he stepped out of the bunker integrated into the massive trench system.
Tesla stood up, some dirt falling off his armor, and his three comrades followed him through the slightly low, dark doorway into the bunker.
The bunker was quite large for an artificial structure integrated into a massive trench system, approximately fifty by forty feet. It was the TOC - Tactical Operations Center - of that sector, and looked like it, with massive screens of battlefield data lining the walls, and radio equipment placed in the center of the room. On one end was a briefing area with a floor to wall map of the sector, and three dozen wooden chairs lined up on four rows. In an attached side room, Tesla knew from experience that the Major had his own private quarters, and on the opposite end on a similarly attached bunker was barracks for the personnel.
The Major - Major Erich von Grafen as his full name was - was standing over a series of maps at a wooden table with several non-commissioned officers, talking in low voices. They looked up when the Mandalorian and his three officers entered, and von Grafen dismissed his NCOs with a wave of his hand as he approached them. He was the spitting image of a Ramstahl officer, in his olive green uniform, his buzzcut head, clean shaven face and monocle that adorned his left eye. The medals on his chest were earned in battle - on of the reasons that even Tesla, ever the cynic - respected him.
"Sergeant. Follow me." Von Grafen said as he walked over to the map on the wall. "Sit." He gestured. The quartet sat down on the front row.
"I have your next mission. This one comes down from High Command in Bresenburg themselves. It is extremely important that the mission is a success, which is why you were chosen for the mission." A wooden pointer stick hit the map right where a big, red square was located. It was roughly thirty miles farther down the trenches, and right on the enemy lines, where those intersected with a river.
"This is the Fortress Zerograd." Major von Grafen said. "It was built a thousand years ago by one of Zonju's many past civilizations. The fortress is, by any accounts, impenetrable. Its walls are high, and it is well staffed by Zaftra soldiers. We've made attempts in the past to breach the fortress and take it, but they have been bloody and failed attempts. As it stands, Zerograd is key in Zaftra's blocking of our advancement efforts. It needs to go." Von Grafen frowned. "In ten days we are launching a major offensive all along the front. It will be a serious undertaking even without factoring in Zerograd. Your mission is to take the fortress before then, with any means necessary."
"Failure is not an option. But if you succeed, the rewards will be considerable."
The four mercenaries remained silent for a moment. Then, Tesla spoke:
"It will be done."
"I have your transfer orders here. Report to a Major Kohl in Sector B34 when you get there. He will give you any and all help you need, other than troops. We cannot spare anyone other than your unit for this mission." Major von Grafen handed over a leather bound depeche case to Tesla, who passed it over to one of his officers. As he stood up, they walked out without any more words being exchanged.