Here it is, the full version of my original masterpiece Enjoy!

Zaphod looked up from the Disrupter rifle’s sniper scope, thankful that the tower he now found himself in offered some shade from Tatooine’s blazing twin suns. He’d joined the Rebel Alliance a number of years ago and was regarded as one of its top marksmen. He reached for the comlink at his side as he settled back behind the familiar rifle’s sights.

“Imperial troops massing near the Cliff Trail outpost, no sign of them at the crash site yet.”

“Understood,” replied Athlon Jeyor, “maintain position, we’re moving up in the Freerunner now. Any sign of survivors?”

“Can’t see any movement,” answered Zaphod, as he shifted his gaze to the smoking ruins in the city, “The ship’s on fire and it’s carved a trench through whatever used to be there.”

The Alliance had just completed a rescue mission from Mos Entha and while attempting to escape, drifted a little too close to the Imperial garrisoned city. Turbo lasers perched on top of the overlooking cliffs had managed to hit The Dawning Star and Athlon had ordered the remaining transports to set down on the city edge. Rebel ground troops were unloading as quickly as possible in order to find any survivors before taking out the Imperial guns. Unless they did that there was no way they would be able to get off the planet.

“We’re on our way, just keep us covered.” Athlon signed off and turned as an APC Freerunner slowly came to a stop beside him. Darac Tuhl appeared from the vehicles access hatch and looked over to his squad leader.

“She’s up and running, sensors are online and it looks like the Imperials haven’t started their move towards the ship yet.”

“Yeah Zaphod confirmed the same, he’s dug in somewhere.”

Athlon entered the Freerunners cramped compartment and secured the hatch as the vehicle picked up speed and moved forward. The problem with Bestine was that while it had a couple of wide main roads, much of the city was enclosed by narrow alleyways, walls and entrance archways. Getting directly to the crash site would be difficult and so Athlon had ordered the crew to a point between it and the Imperials local outpost. From there he planned to use the APC’s rear gun to pin down any Storm Troopers while the Rebels secured The Dawning Star and treated any survivors.

Zaphod watched silently as the tank moved through the city road. Below him Rebel troops fanned through the back streets, grim determination showing on their faces as the weight of the task before them set in. The disrupter in his arms felt hot and heavy, and a bead of sweat made its way down his face. He blinked twice to remove some of the dust and glare from his eyes then took careful aim through the weapons scope. The Imperial outpost watchtower filled the view, two Stormtroopers clearly visible. One held a DLT-20 sniper rifle, not as powerful as Zaphods illegal disrupter, but just as accurate, the other carrying an E11.

He steadied his breathing, the sights coming to a stop over the target, and gently squeezed the trigger. A deadly yellow beam emanated from the muzzle and the medic fell from his sights. Before the Imperial sniper had time to react Zaphod had already taken aim and fired again.

On the other side of the city Gwynzer looked up at the sound of a scream as the medic high above died, swiftly followed by the sniper. He cursed to himself, he’d told them they were too exposed. There was no point heading for the crash site now, the rebels were obviously already making their way through the city. Better to setup a defensive perimeter and prevent them making any more progress. If they could keep them there till nightfall then reinforcements would be able to help mop up the remaining troops.

“Defend this position,” he ordered, “I have an Eweb covering the area, I need a power generator and personnel shield around it.” His troops grunted their affirmatives and set about their orders, finding cover around the posts courtyard.

“Rebel tank spotted!” cried Samzi, jumping down from a wall just in time to avoid a streak of yellow disrupter fire. He was the squad medic and Gwynzers second in command, having saved the Captains life more times than anyone could remember.

“We got two fatalities in the watchtower,” Gwynzer said, looking up as Samzi approached, “can you do anything?”

“Nothing,” he replied wryly, “a hole in the head is a little difficult to patch.”

“Ok, stay in this area, see what you can do to keep people moving, patch them up and get them firing, I’ve ordered heavy troopers to concentrate on that tank out there. Any more clues as to what it is?”

“Looks like an APC Freerunner,” answered the medic, ducking as another bolt of disrupter fire echoed through the courtyard and struck a trooper in the chest. He ran towards the unlucky victim who had managed to crawl to safety behind a set of crates. Samzi reached in to his medic pouch pulling out bacta dressings and painkillers.

“You’ll live,” he said, “Just try to keep your head down.”

“Guess I zagged when I should have zigged.” Gasped Blind as the cooling bacta patch began to do its job and the pain killers soothed the burning sensation in his chest. Trooper number 3001, he’d earned his name because of his somewhat oversized helmet which often slipped and obscured his view.

Gwynzer activated his sensor ping, checking that none of the enemy had breached his defensive perimeter.  All around him Stormtroopers stopped as they analysed the data readings that began to fill their helmets. A large sensor echo appeared as the scan located the rebels Freerunner, along with smaller echoes that indicated the emerging ground troops.

“Attack this position” he ordered.

Athlon checked the Freerunner’s wide area sensor readings as his squad exited the vehicle. The Imperials were still massing at the Cliff Trail outpost and had made no effort to claim the crash site. The small squad began moving towards the area, analysing the data carefully for any sign of ambush and trying to keep out of sight of enemy snipers.

“What do you see Zaphy?” he asked over the com, jumping a small sand coloured wall, the heat searing his hand as he touched it.

“Two stormies down,” came the reply, “Eweb emplacement in the main courtyard and a lot of activity, looks like they’re getting ready for a little reception party.”

“Not what I wanted to hear.” said the squad leader, pausing to consider his options.

Darac Tuhl ran towards Athlon, breathing heavily as he came to a stop, “Just got word that the crash site is secure. No survivors and detpacks have been placed on the remains of the ship, Imps won’t get anything from it now.”

Athlon nodded in acknowledgement as a loud explosion rocked the area, swiftly followed by a series of smaller bangs. The ground vibrated as The Dawning Star sent a cloud of flames and smoke skywards over the city.

“Head back to the Freerunner,” he ordered the squad, “maybe we can manoeuvre it closer to the outpost and get some covering fire.”

The squad regrouped and made their way back through the narrow alleyways, dust and sand collecting around their feet and kicking up around them in clouds as they ran. Darac coughed as the powder entered his lungs, his eye’s streamed with tears and left thin tracks over his face as they washed away the grime. The idling rumble of the Freerunners engines reached their ears as they rounded the final corner, just in time to catch sight of a stream of mortar bolts hit the tank.

“Down!” screamed Athlon, dropping to the floor as the inaccurate fire struck the tank and the surrounding ground. More dust kicked up around them as each member dropped to the floor and the deadly splashes of high impact energy thudded around them. One of the bolts struck an unwilling target, he didn’t even have time to call for help as his body was torn apart by it’s force.

Arjay Sativa waved his hand in front of his face, hoping to clear the thick cloud away from it. He could barely make out the shape of the Freerunner, yet he knew it was only a short distance away. “We’ve got to move it!” He shouted, struggling to be heard as more mortar bolts began to rain down around them.

“GO! GO! GO!” Shouted back Athlon, rising from the floor and running forward. He reached the tank in time to see Arjay jump in to the cockpit and rev up the engines, glancing back to make sure everyone was onboard. Athlon nodded at him and Arjay gunned it, the vehicle surging forwards away from danger, to add to the confusion Arjay popped smoke flares from the vehicle, hoping to hide the escaping Rebels.

The Imperial space dock was located on the cliffs that towered over the city, Trooper 815 made his way towards it. He planned to obtain the ATST Walker that had just arrived at the city and add it to the Imperial’s arsenal ready for the inevitable battle. He could feel the effects of the sun on the walker’s metal exterior even through his suit, the heat easily penetrating as he made his way in to the cockpit.

He wasn’t a trained ATST driver, nor did he have orders to bring the fearsome weapons platform down but that wasn’t going to stop him. This was going to be his chance to show that he was worthy of something. Born in the Hapes Cluster, he was a hereditary Dukat, but an attempt to assassinate the ruling Queen Mother had led to the execution of many of his family members. He had barely escaped the sector alive, seeking out an opportunity to join the Imperial forces and make his way through the ranks to a position of power.

The walkers systems powered up and the pilot tentatively reached for the controls, feeling each one out as it responded and reacted before moving forward in to the streets. It’s distinctive clanging footfall echoing off the buildings on either side as it made its way towards the escalating fire fight.

Gwynzer activated the sensor ping again, locating the Freerunner was critical to prevent the Rebels breaking through. It had to be destroyed. Heavy troopers armed with Proton Torpedo Launchers and Packard Mortar Guns rushed to new firing positions as its sensor echo appeared. Blaster fire could be heard in the distance, getting louder as the Rebel ground forces made their way forwards. Already they had breached through two other squads of Imperial troops, Gwynzer was determined his would not fall as well.

“Take out that Freerunner!” He ordered, “Infantry deploy homing beacons and stay alert!” He took up position behind his Eweb emplacement as the Stormtroopers around him obeyed orders, throwing out the short range scanners in all directions. A rebel appeared from around a corner, jumping up to throw a fragmentation grenade in to the midst of the Troopers in the courtyard. Gwynzer pulled the trigger on the heavy Eweb blaster cannon, unleashing a stream of energy towards the Rebel who died instantly as the shots tore through him.

On board the Freerunner Athlon looked nervously at the sensor readout as the ATST appeared. The rest of his squad glanced at one another as Arjay brought the vehicle to a stop on the hillside road.

“Arjay, man the gun, try to inflict as much damage as possible on that walker. Darac, grab the launcher and help him out, we’ll move in on the Imperial outpost.”

Arjay had already moved to the rear, opening up with volleys of red flashes, each one striking home on the walker as the rest of the team filed out. Darac found a low wall and took aim, sending a powerful rocket from the HH-15 flying towards the walker, impacting at the fragile neck joint.

Trooper 815 jumped as the explosion rocked the walker, he could barely make out the rebel tank through the sparks and smoke that were filling the view port. Another impact from the HH-15 caused a number of system failures and he began sending out retorts from the ATST’s chin mounted twin blasters. Another rocket seemed to slow down in flight, perhaps it was fear, the Troopers mind playing tricks on him as it struggled to decide which target presented more of a threat. Warnings echoed all around him as more and more of the walkers systems began to shut down. His mind made up, he ignored the source of the rockets and concentrated on taking out the Rebels tank.

Arjay was taking his time, sending short sharp volleys towards the looming threat to prevent overheating the Freerunners only form of offensive weaponry. In the heat of Tatooine it would be all too easy to be left with no way of returning fire. He wouldn’t be able to stay much longer though, the internal compartment was already filling with smoke as the Walkers fire began penetrating through the armour. He fired one last volley then jumped out, waving to Darac to show that he could do no more. Dropping smoke grenades to cover his retreat he made his way to Athlon and the rest of the squad down below.

Trooper 815 grinned as the Freerunner exploded, the Walker wasn’t in great shape, but now at least he could concentrate on the source of the rockets. Once that was dealt with he could make his way towards the rest of his battalion, get repairs and perhaps even some praise for downing the rebel tank.

Darac, had two more rockets left and the walker had now turned its attention to him, the head swivelling round as it searched for him. He reloaded, and took a chance, poking his head above the small wall he took aim and fired.

Trooper 815 sent a blast of fire towards Darac at the instant the rocket left the launcher, then tried to move out of its way but wasn’t quick enough, the blast echoing through the cockpit as a fire ignited inside. A piece of shrapnel struck his helmet, tearing a chunk from it and rendering it useless. The noxious fumes now began penetrating through, the flames licking around him allowing their fearsome heat to burn around his exposed head. He removed the helmet and reached up, frantically trying to open the access hatch as the Walkers systems screeched in protest. He hauled himself out, crying out in agony and dropping to the floor as Darac’s final rocket struck home. The ATST towering over the Stormtrooper exploded, raining burning hot metal around him. As he lost consciousness, one piece brushed past his cheek, leaving a permanent reminder of his folly in his once handsome features.

Darac threw the now useless launcher to the floor and made contact with Athlon, “Walker is down, but we’ve lost the Freerunner.”

“Thanks,” he answered, as Arjay skidded to a stop beside him and nodded a greeting, “Zaphod, get back to the ship, see if you can get the other Freerunner unloaded.”

“Yes sir.” Replied the sniper, he chanced one last look through the Disrupter scope and sent a final shot towards an exposed Trooper, sending him tumbling backwards before making his way from the tower.

Samzi shook his head as he towered over the last recipient of Zaphods sniper fire. “I can’t do anything for this one,” he shouted over to Gwynzer, who was sending bursts of fire from the Eweb as more and more Rebels began pouring towards the outpost’s courtyard. Fragmentation grenades were sending shards of metal in all directions as both sides attempted to control the area.

“We’re outnumbered!” called back Gwynzer as he relinquished control of the weapon, its supporting power generator dying under the heat and dust of its environment. “Pull back to the City Steppes!”

“We can still keep this!” cried back Samzi, pressing his defibrillator to the chest of a downed Trooper, bringing the corpse back to life, the man’s lungs gasping as they once again filled with air.

“GO!” shouted Gwynzer, firing his DL-44 sidearm as he made good his escape, “I need everyone I can get up there before we all die down here!”

The small remaining group of Imperial troops followed him, sending harmless fire towards the rebel troops who were now swarming over the area. They weren’t aiming to kill, just hoping to keep them ducking for cover long enough to get to safety.

Athlon and Arjay rounded a corner just as the last of the Imperial troops disappeared from view. The dead and injured littered the area, some called out in agony, and Athlon surveyed the situation. “Medics, get in here and help those men! Set up a perimeter and let me know what’s going on out there.”

Arjay climbed the outpost’s watchtower and took out his macro binoculars, scanning the surrounding city. “Looks like the only way to those Turbo lasers is using that man road, I got the Boys in White setting up another defensive position on top of the hill….what the…..” He watched in horror at the scene unfolding before him…

Samzi reached him first, pulling bacta and dressings from his pouches he held the man’s face and began tending to the wounds. Trooper 815 began murmuring as he regained consciousness, the cooling bacta a stark contrast to the searing heat all around them.

“What happened here?” demanded Gwynzer as he approached, surveying the still smoking walker wreckage that towered above them.

“I…I brought it down to help,” began the Trooper, wincing as Samzi dressed the wounds, “I destroyed the Freerunner…but rockets…”

“You are responsible for bringing our only ATST here, with no support?” Gwynzer asked, anger rising as the loss of his only heavy machinery struck home.

“Yes..well..no, I thought it would help, I didn’t know they were there..” stammered the Trooper, fear rising in his belly as the officer standing over him began to reach for his sidearm.

“The Emperor will be most displeased.” growled Gwynzer, taking aim and sending a beam of light to the soldier’s chest. “Leave him!” He snapped at Samzi as he returned the weapon to its holster. “We have bigger problems.”
In the distance, the whine of another Freerunners engines pierced the air, the pitch increasing as it made its way ominously towards the Imperial troops. The intrepid Squad Leader glanced at his number two then gazed up at the area known as City Steppes.

“Defend this position!”

Bite my shiny metal Tie Fighter!