We reached the outskirts of the starport without incident and spread our forces for an all-out attack when an enemy AG scout tank stumbled upon our left flank. It whipped around without firing a shot and tried to escape but was soon destroyed by the militia AG tanks. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon as Commander Jacobs ordered the charge, we just hoped the enemy scout had not been able to punch through our jamming and warn its comrades. AG craft and jump capable machines soared over the wall, while concentrated laser fire punched holes big enough for the rest of our TAC armor to advance. The enemy had a picket line of AG tanks and missile carriers between us and their transport but their forces were relatively thin, being spread out around the starport and the rest of the city. The enemy had indeed been caught off guard and offered only a token resistance before being driven back or destroyed. They tried to rally the other starport defenders but we were already inside the starport’s perimeter. The transport’s weapons couldn’t fire at such a close range and we used it as cover while we traded shots with the remaining enemy forces. It would only be a matter of time before the rest of the enemy showed up, including their TAC armor. Neither of our recon drones had located the enemy’s command vehicle so we assumed it was still aboard their transport vessel. If we could destroy or capture it, they wouldn’t stand a chance. The heavy transport’s doors were armored so it would take a while for us to force our way in. In the meantime Nate and I were tasked with holding off the enemy. Our TAC armor had taken a few hits in the initial battle but nothing too serious. The militia’s AG craft would help us while the rest of our forces would handle the transport, command vehicle, and any potential guard units inside the transport.

We moved our machines around the transport and took aim at the nearest AG tanks that were threatening our position. The militia’s AG tanks ranged ahead of us and traded fire with the enemy. I concentrated Delta 1 and Delta 2’s fire on first one tank then another, quickly destroying the opposition. Nate used Charlie 1’s gatling guns and missiles to pin down the faster units. The enemy must have had enough and pulled back, finding cover behind some hangars on the south side of the starport. The militia wanted to pursue but Commander Jacobs ordered them to hold position by the transport. Five minutes later the enemy charged back around the hangars, reinforced by their TAC armor and more AG vehicles. I recognized several of the units that had attacked the militia’s base, most of which had not been repaired from the previous engagement. The militia courageously met the enemy’s charge, firing as fast as their weapons would cycle. I sent flight after flight of missiles at the charging enemy and emptied my cannons. Soon both my units were dangerously low on ammunition and Delta 2’s lasers were overheating. Delta 2 took concentrated fire from the attacking TAC armor and was cut to pieces. One of the lasers pierced the reactor shielding and I lost the feed as it exploded, sending a fireball into the morning sky. Delta 1’s armor was thicker and I was able to duck behind a stack of large shipping crates before taking critical damage. Nate likewise rolled his unit backward towards cover, emptying his guns. A missile strike severed Charlie 1’s right arm at the shoulder. The arm dangled from the still attached ammunition feed and sent sparks across the ground. He ejected the remaining ammunition for the damaged guns so they wouldn’t explode from a stray shot. I checked the militia’s progress and wasn’t surprised to find almost half had been destroyed. The rest doggedly continued the fight. I checked my damage schematic and noticed I had less than 20% of my frontal armor remaining and one of my missile racks had been blown off my shoulder. Both my cannons were out of ammunition and I only had a couple flights of missiles left from my undamaged missile rack. Luckily the enemy wasn’t looking too good either. Their previous battle damage was beginning to show as units began falling back or being destroyed outright. Our units on the other hand had been recently repaired.

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Nate and I popped out from behind cover and I used up the last of my missiles while Nate used his lasers. Suddenly the remaining enemy TAC armor froze in place. “The command vehicle has been taken.” Commander Jacobs called out. “Concentrate on the AG vehicles.” There was cheering over the comms and all remaining guns turned on the enemy AG craft. Almost at the same time the militia’s own TAC armor came charging towards the battle after finally being repaired. The force that had stormed the transport also turned their guns on the enemy AG craft. It was too much for the enemy and they soon surrendered. A few tried to run but were chased down and destroyed. I found out later that the enemy’s command vehicle had a small AG force guarding it inside the transport’s hold, but Iella and Lone Wolf AG tanks quickly destroyed them. The command vehicle immediately surrendered when their guard detachment had been smashed.

The command vehicle, enemy TAC armor, and captured AG craft were seized and turned over to the militia along with their two remaining TAC units. It would be enough for them to start over. Through interrogations we found the enemy was a mixture of mercs hired by Providence’s sister planet Prosperity and Prosperity military personnel. Apparently Prosperity had grown tired of Providence’s good fortune and had carefully planned the attack to wipe out or steal the militia’s TAC and AG armor and steal information and equipment from the R&D base to sell on the black market. With Providence’s militia destroyed, they would be able to take what they wanted and would leave Providence wide open to pirate and bandit attacks. They had planted agents inside the starport, military school, and satellite control center to gather information and to perform sabotage. They apparently didn’t have enough warning to cancel the mission when the Lone Wolf arrived. The Red Fang would take possession of the heavy transport and return it to Prosperity along with a full contingent of Red Fang forces who would make Prosperity think twice before ever attacking Providence or the Red Fang again. The militia received a lot of praise for the sacrifices made to defend their world. For us it was just another day in the life of a TAC armor controller in the Red Fang military company.