Firstly, apologies for not updating recently, I've just recovered from a pretty big bout of illness that rendered me bed bound for a few days. And had to look after my kids and partner who also fell ill, hope you guys enjoy this one story reported to me by RoiduCrepuscule so thank you for sending this in to me <3

The Opening Blitz

The battle for Shackled Chasm began with a sudden and precise strike from two Warden tanks that stormed Colonial defenses with overwhelming speed. In less than five minutes, the tanks obliterated the Colonial relic base, leaving the defenders scrambling to regroup. Supporting them were 29 well-coordinated infantry, who drove the remaining resistance back, gaining control of key chokepoints. According to leaked reports from Colonial High Command, the swift collapse was attributed to the defenders being caught unprepared after an earlier skirmish.

Private Theo Malvern, one of the few survivors, described the chaos: "We didn't even see them coming. By the time we heard the first shell, half our defences were gone. It wasn’t a battle—it was a slaughter."

Determined to regain control, the Legion launched a counterattack with three half-tracks, two light tanks, and twelve infantry. Despite an initial breakthrough that reclaimed parts of the factory, the Colonials were pushed back as waves of Warden infantry surged forward. The sheer number of Wardens overwhelmed the attackers, forcing them to retreat to their defensive lines. Meanwhile, a Warden squad entrenched themselves inside the factory, using its infrastructure as a staging ground for further operations.

Sergeant Leah Cross of the Legion recounted: "We had them on the run until reinforcements showed up. Their infantry just kept coming—we couldn’t hold the factory with our numbers."

The First Warden Assault on the Outpost: A Struggle for Control

The first Warden assault on the Colonial outpost was a fierce and chaotic engagement that tested the resolve of both sides. Without tank support, the Wardens relied on infantry, using sheer numbers and coordination to challenge the Colonial defences. The initial wave saw nearly 40 Warden soldiers advancing under the cover of mortar fire. Their strategy was to overwhelm the Colonials’ first line of defence, using smoke grenades to obscure visibility and grenades to clear trenches.

The Colonials responded swiftly, utilizing their entrenched machine gun positions and infantry to repel the attackers. Machine-gun fire from the trenches created devastating kill zones, mowing down advancing Warden troops. Despite suffering heavy casualties, the Wardens pressed on, attempting to breach the defences with explosives.

Corporal Ewan Delaney described the intensity of the fight: “They just kept coming, wave after wave. We were running low on ammo, and every time we thought they’d break, another squad came through the smoke.”

For 30 minutes, the battle raged as Wardens launched desperate assaults from multiple angles. Colonial defenders adjusted their lines, employing coordinated counterfire to stem the tide. One particularly harrowing moment came when a Warden squad nearly breached the northern trench line, only to be stopped by a well-placed grenade from a Colonial infantryman.

Despite their determination, the lack of armoured support proved to be the Wardens’ undoing. A final attempt to rush the outpost was met with a flanking manoeuvre by Colonial infantry, forcing the attackers into a deadly crossfire. Exhausted and out of options, the Warden forces withdrew to regroup.

As the dust settled, the Colonials began reinforcing their lines, knowing full well that the Wardens would not give up so easily. The outpost stood strong, but the battle was only a prelude to the larger conflict to come.

​
​
​A Factory Under Siege

The factory became a focal point for both sides, with Colonial forces eventually retaking it after a gruelling series of close-quarters engagements. However, Warden engineers had already begun rebuilding the destroyed relic base nearby, turning the tide once again. The Colonials found themselves facing not only waves of infantry but also relentless artillery strikes targeting their fortifications.

An unnamed Colonial officer leaked orders emphasizing the factory's importance: “Hold the factory at all costs. Its loss would mean the loss of Shackled Chasm.” Despite this urgency, the Colonials struggled to maintain their grip, as Warden forces systematically eroded their defenses.

The Wardens launched an ambitious attack on the Colonial outpost with infantry alone, aiming to overwhelm the first line of defences. However, without tank support, their advance faltered. Colonial half-tracks bolstered the defences, forcing the Wardens to withdraw after a gruelling 30-minute engagement.

The Siege of Vanguard

With their initial assault repelled, the Wardens regrouped and launched a larger, more coordinated attack on Vanguard from the northeast. This time, they deployed at least 40 infantry, four tanks, and artillery units to lay siege to the town. The bombardment was relentless, with artillery shells raining down on defensive positions and infantry advancing under the cover of tank fire.

Colonial defenders, initially supported by six tanks and three half-tracks, found themselves at a disadvantage as their supply lines struggled to keep up. A shortage of 40mm ammunition rendered their armour ineffective, and Warden artillery systematically targeted their tanks, forcing a retreat.

Private Lucas Ward, a tank crewman, recalled the chaos: “We were sitting ducks without shells. Every shot we couldn’t return was another nail in our coffin.”

​
​As night fell, the Wardens maintained their assault, sending wave after wave of infantry against the battered Colonial defenders. Artillery fire illuminated the night sky, hammering hill defences and forcing the Colonials to reposition. Despite reinforcements and additional armour, the unyielding attacks wore the defenders down.

By morning, the Colonial North and South Legions launched a desperate counteroffensive, bolstered by artillery and a rocket truck. The combined forces managed to reclaim the factory, destroy the rebuilt relic base, and push the Wardens out of the northeast bunker base.

Colonial artillery officer Captain Mariah Kane described the turning point: “The rocket truck was a godsend. It shattered their lines and gave us the momentum we needed to push them back.”

“It was like they were testing us,” said Corporal Ewan Delaney. “They probed our lines, looking for weaknesses, but we held firm.”