Lanzar
Before the arrival of the taskforce
It's late in the morning when the advance party arrives. The fleet is 12 hours behind you (meaning the five day deadline will end a few hours after nightfall on the last day).
All you can see of Lanzar from the sky is trees and lakes, and more trees, and more likes... there must be some damn civilisation somewhere around here; you are following a traffic control beacon after all.
Wait- there it is; almost imperceptible from the air from the jungle itself.
No need for a long orientation process for landing- the shield isn't up. You just drift in towards the structures- which at first you thought were mostly built from some form of metal, but as you close in, you see that large amounts of it are built from carapace- you wouldn't want to think what from.
A lot of the trees have been left intact as well- structures are built around them, on top of them, or even out of them. It's an obscure mix of primitve dwelling like that of a Wookie, and exploitative modern techniques.
There is a firm boundary between the city and the wild- and the wilds have been left wild indeed. In fact, you think you see some rustling in the trees as you go by.
The starport is big enough, and whilst not exactly like Coruscant, there are plenty of ships in the berths.
Landing goes off without incident, and no-one seems to picky about questioning you.
---
On the taskforce, the final procedures for departure are going ahead.
"If I assume control of the main operation," says Atar, "I'd rather you handled all the complications. Like that extraction mission for the Senators that was requested- put something together, find a decent Commander to be on standby. Feel free to pick the best troopers from the entire taskforce. Of course, any appointments will have to go by the Commissar first."
"What about myself?" says Lomax. "I'm keen for action. I am tired of all this ridiculous talk of naval power. Are we afraid to face a bunch of savages now? We'll be made a laughing stock if we don't face these people down on the battleground, man to beast."
"I think you may have a point there," says Atar. "To defeat the Osokans on land will go down in history- in fact, perhaps we can succeed where even the Jedi never fully pacified.
"Well, I see at least three roles that need to be fulfilled. Someone needs to lead the invasion. Someone needs to organise and defend the landing site. Someone needs to prepare any speical missions. Three objectives, three of us- all very well so far, but I am sure we'll be landed with more responsibilities as time goes by."
-
I can talk over potential blockade issues with the Captain and the Squadron Leader any time they wish.
Does anyone have nothing to do?
"Of course," General Coll says. "Why would we not receive more responsabilities? The more there are, there more we can achieve, and the more glory to us." He gives a quirky smile, which fades quickly.
"I must say, I would rather like to be the General to lead the march on Lanzar City," he adds. "But I will perform my duties where they are needed most. What objective did you wish to take, Atar? Lomax?"
Is he serious?
"I am sure you would like that, but this is not a battle to be led by one with no actual field experience," General Coll says. "No disrespect intended, Lomax, but these are Osokans. As elite as our forces may be in training and technology, the Osokans are rather rough fighters. I hope we outnumber their forces drastically, or it would be rough going for our stormtroopers. If not, it requires great tactical planning from experience."
Coll sits back in his chair. "As I said, no disrespect intended."
"And I think you greatly underestimate them," General Coll says. "They are formidable opponents, field army or not. In the city itself, where our walkers will be of little use, it will come down to how well we navigate our soldiers against these brutes. Their physical strength and astounding endurance is something we must be wary of, whether they are semi-intelligent savages or brain-deprived hosts of a Wol Cabbasite."
(Did the Jedi forces sent to Lanzar actually fight in Lanzar City itself? And do we know if Master Yoda went on that mission, just out of interest?)
Yes, the Jedi in fact took Lanzar City by force, but it took years (mind you, there were only 200 of them, going back and forth as the months passed.) And no, just for once, not Yoda.
"Navigate our soldiers indeed! What rot. We'll just send them in en masse. Casualties in an operation of this nature are irrelevant! Let them die for the Emperor; victory will still be ours."