Lieutenant Robod ‘Oddball’ Falin hefted the heavy T-21 repeating blaster in his arms, the familiar weight comforting after his recent spell working beside the pilots of Hammer squadron. He’d spent two standard months serving as ground liaison officer to the TIE squadron, before managing to secure a posting back to his fellow ground pounders. The icy wind howled around him, whipping snowflakes into clouds of angry white flies and the bitter cold seeped into his fingers as they tightened around the rifle. He paused to listen to the vibrato of a faraway explosion as it echoed around the towering canyon walls before plunging on in to the storm. Around him, scores of Snowtroopers silently pushed forward against the wind, almost invisible against Rhen var’s snowy landscape.

Captain Gwynzer raised the macrobinoculars to his eyes and scanned the distant hilltop, he squinted in an effort to see more detail through the rising blizzard, flurries of snow masking any detail. He had arrived on Rhen var only a few weeks ago along with his second in command, Lt. Commander Samzi, and the other remnants of his disgraced squad. Although recognised as being tactically brilliant, Gwynzer and his unit had been sent to the icy world in punishment. Imperial Command would not soon forget the losses inflicted by a band of Rebel insurgents at the Tattooine city, Bestine.

He too paused at the sound of the echoing blast, barely audible above the harsh wind that snapped around them. “Too far to be the main Rebel advance,” he said glancing at the nearby medic, “must be the armoured battle on the other side of the mountains.”

“I guess.” answered the medic as the snow collected around his protective white armour. Behind them, Oddball broached a small hill and trudged onwards through the drifts, reaching back to his utility belt and grasping a small object. Activating the units power control he placed the portable shield generator around the hastily erected Eweb blaster cannon.

“Anything?” asked the gruff trooper.

Gwynzer studied his latest addition to the squad before turning his gaze back towards the distant peak. “Nothing yet, take up positions covering the flank, I don’t want to be surprised.” Oddball nodded in agreement then ventured back through the snow, followed by two other troopers. Over the howl of the wind came the unmistakable high pitch of speederbikes. Gwynzer looked back to Samzi, his eyes burning in to the medic even through the protective helmet and cold, “No-one gets through this position. No-one.”

Moff Targ Th’Nar watched with satisfaction as green dots on the screen indicated the placement of his troops. He was in overall command of the secret Rhen var facility and had placed groups of his troopers along strategic positions. There were limited approaches to the base, by utilising the terrain and a small number of standard Imperial watchtowers, he was confident the beleaguered Rebels would fail. His forces were deployed so that should one area be lost, they could retreat and regroup before plunging back and reclaiming the territory. Crack units held the rearmost positions, ready to rush forward to bolster the sacrificial troops that held the frontline. He rubbed his hands in quiet satisfaction and considered adding the ATST to the battle, maybe even accompany it himself and lead by example.

Gurd led the Rebel strike force as they secured the first peak, soldiers of the Alliance rushed around him, dropping to the powdery snow as they looked through weapon sights. Speederbikes flashed past as drivers circled round checking for enemy troops, occasionally slowing to allow their passengers to dismount. Behind them, more troops advanced from the Rebel transport and took up position as Gurd studied the terrain. Two routes lay open, one a small narrow canyon that may leave them open to sniper fire. The other took them directly through an Imperial watchtower and represented the greatest danger. He couldn’t risk any Imperial troops advancing from the rear. Weighing the options, he sent a small scout party towards the canyon before jumping on a nearby speeder and ordering the main force towards the small outpost.

Oddball lay prone, occasionally shaking himself to dislodge the falling snow as the wind flapped around him. The first Rebel speeder bike materialised out of the storm and as another member of the squad shouted its arrival, he opened fire. The T-21 spat bolts of lasers towards the vehicle at an astonishing rate, some hissing harmlessly past, the vast majority striking home and shredding the vehicle apart. It exploded, instantly vaporising the two passengers, a shower of red hot molten slag raining down around the Imperial troops and melting in to the crisp white ground.

Gwynzer and Samzi both ducked at the sight of the fireball, feeling the ferocious heat wash over them, shrapnel bouncing harmlessly from the protective shield that cocooned them. The squad leader opened with rapid bursts of the Eweb as he caught sight of more and more Rebel soldiers advancing towards them.

“Deploy beacons!” he bellowed, struggling to be heard over the wind and the growing firefight, “I need positions on those Rebel scum!”

A Snowtrooper to the side of the outpost heard the command and rushed forward, the small beacon in his hand. Activating the small area scanner he threw it towards the enemy before retreating back towards cover. He didn’t see or hear the fragmentation grenade plop in to the snow behind him, the explosion carrying him high in to the air. His plastoid composite armour caught much of the blast, but the shockwave still penetrated through, rendered unconscious he was now badly exposed.

“Man down!” cried Oddball as he caught sight of the trooper flying through the air like a ragdoll. Samzi was already running towards the downed comrade, E11 carbine in his hands as he snapped off shots at the distant snow covered shapes. “Cheesebrained idiot.” huffed Oddball, hauling himself and the light repeating blaster from the snow then running forwards. The medic lay exposed before him, kneeling over the casualty while shots ran out around them. Oddball dropped to one knee and raised the T-21 to his sights, sending a storm of laser fire hurtling through the wind and snow towards the enemy.

Samzi helped the man struggle to his feet as he began to respond to the emergency treatment, “You’ll live,” he shouted over the noise around them, pulling the man back to the relative safety of the outposts imposing watchtower, “get up there and try to give some supporting fire.” The medic indicated the sheltered ladder to the towers upper level and the trooper nodded in understanding. Stumbling forwards he grasped it and began to make his way up, Samzi watched to ensure he was safe then made his way back to Gwynzer.

Gwynzer kept up the rapid bursts of energy that kicked out from the heavy blaster cannon, Rebel soldiers either ducking away as they caught sight of the gun, or falling victim to the high energy slugs as they ripped through bone and flesh. More speederbikes sounded in the distance and the Squad Leader called for another power generator as the one at his feet died, “I need ammo!”

High above on an overlooking mountain, a Rebel speeder bike tore through the snowstorm, it barely slowed as the rear passenger jumped off, his momentum sending him rolling through the powdery white dust. The sniper picked up the deadly Disrupter rifle that had been thrown clear and crept forwards, the Imperial outpost now lay sprawled below him. He checked the weapon, wiping the snow from the sights and satisfied himself with a grunt that the power cell was still charged. He dipped his head down to the weapons powerful scope and adjusted it, the distant Eweb gun emplacement filled his view. Holding his breath, he steadied the crosshairs over the head of the Imperial officer there, his finger tightening over the trigger as he took up first pressure, readying for the final shot.

Oblivious to the threat, Gwynzer kept up the barrage of fire as a support trooper ran forward, coupling another power generator to the powerful gun perched atop its tripod. Over to his left Oddball maintained a rigid fire and manoeuvre routine, retreating three or four steps then crouching and spitting a quick burst from his T-21. Gaining ground on the hill that rose from the ground behind the watchtower, he was able to easily pick out the Rebel ground forces as they kept up their tireless advance. 
Trooper 3001 rose as he completed coupling the power generator to the officer’s gun emplacement. The disrupter shot tore through his chest, the cold quickly sapping his strength as he dropped to his knees before keeling over inside the small protective bubble. Gwynzer threw himself to the floor as Samzi ran forward, checking the fallen troopers vital signs he looked at the squad leader and shook his head.

“Where’s the sniper?” gasped Gwynzer, frantically looking round for the source of the shot. Around them, the small personal shield seceded to the freezing temperatures and petered out, Rebel infantry fire kicking up the snow around them. The pair ran from the exposed position as another disrupter shot tore through the Eweb, destroying it in a localised fireball. Oddball tracked the shot and maintained a steady barrage of angry red light in the snipers direction as Rebel troopers began flooding around the feet of the tower.

Gurd hauled the speeder bike to a stop at the base of the Imperial building and dismounted, the battle grew in volume over the sound of the wind, laser fire and fragmentation blasts echoing from the sides of the towering hills and mountains. “Try to reach the top floor!”  He snapped to the Alliance soldiers as they ran past, “We have to take this area!”
He followed a trio of his fellow Rebels as they sprinted along the side of the building, barely pausing as they rounded the corner. Maybe if they had used more caution they might have survived, or perhaps over the sound of the howling gale they never would have heard constant bleep of the armed proximity mine. As it was, all four of the soldiers died instantly as the first trooper activated the deadly device, scattering them to the wind as they were engulfed by the explosion.

“I’ve got ammo here!” Called Gwynzer, his troops massing around him as power cells began to fade and more Rebels poured in. “Defend this position, don’t let them through!” He drew his DL-44 and fired at an Alliance soldier, surprised by the sudden sight of the small squad of Imperials, the shot hitting him square in the face. Over the screaming winds a new sound could be heard, resonating around the ice and snow came the incessant metallic clang of a walker as it’s feet struck against ice and rock.

Targ Th’Nar grinned manically from the Walkers narrow view ports as he came in sight of the battle. Rebels were starting to overcome the Imperial troops, who still fought on valiantly. Beside him, a concerned support trooper manned the secondary guns, convinced that should the Moff die then he would be forced to take the same course. Targ fired a volley of concussion grenades and cackled as half a dozen of the scum flew in to the air, the rest scattering in fear.

The Imperials spirits soared as the ATST began opening fire behind them, Rebels stopped in their tracks as the vehicles powerful cannons chewed through flesh or threw up clouds of vaporised snow. Oddball advanced first, firing the T-21 from his hip as he strode forward, buoyed by the presence of the striking grey harbinger of death.

Gwynzer towered over his troopers and bellowed at them as the Rebels began their retreat, “Kill them all!” He led the group as they advanced, coldly shooting the fleeing troops in the back as they marched onwards through the snow.

Gwynzer smiled coldly behind his helmet as they pushed through the storm, his line had held, they had proven their worth.

Bite my shiny metal Tie Fighter!