The Skirmish in Ilatas was another battle that occurred during the Cruentusian War. Although relatively small in scale compared to some battles, it was considered quite important, as it saw the final breaking of the alliance between the Necasian Military, now under the control of Askar Invado, and the Zayre. It occurred when the day that Carsal Redharn, former leader of the Necasians until Askar Invado's usurpation, was scheduled to be executed arrived. Askar Invado arranged for him to be killed by firing squad at a large stadium in the Necasian capital city of Ilatas. However, Storm Ironwings, heroine of the Zayre, had feelings for Redharn, launched a successful strike to rescue him, much to the anger of Askar Invado.
Prelude[]
After the disastrous Battle of Cul-Huq, Askar Invado had used manipulation to have Carsal Redharn blamed for the defeat and usurped him as leader, sentencing him to death a few months from the battle on false charges of treason. When Redharn's execution was decided, Askar announced that it would take place in the Vendi Amphitheater on the edge of the Necasian capital, Ilatas. Redharn was to be executed by Askar himself, in an event that would be broadcast across Necasian territory on HoloNet channels. Askar felt that any potential allies of Redharn would could interfere had been liquidated, but just to be safe he had a brigade of NPEC troops provide security.
However, Askar had forgot one important element that, until recently, had been a part of the Necasian Military. The Zayre, allies of the Necasians for most of the war up until that incident, had more or less unofficially denounced their affiliation with the Necasians, upon seeing the Necasian brutality on Cul-Huq and their napalming of Selonia. Upon hearing of Redharn's scheduled execution, Storm Ironwings decided to rescue him, with the help of some of the Zayre's most elite warrior-women, due to harboring feelings for the imprisoned Redharn. Hours before the execution, and her planned rescue, she ordered the rest of the Zayre, who had set up home in a camp not far from Ilatas, to leave, to avoid Necasian repercussions once the mission had been successful. She ordered them to head for Ankarr, where she felt they would be safe. The evacuation was conducted discreetly, and with all the uproar amongst the Necasians as execution time approached, it was given little attention.
When the time for Redharn's execution drew near, Ironwings and her squad positioned themselves near the stadium and, as Askar loaded the gun with which he intended to kill Redharn, she gave the order to strike upon the unsuspecting Necasians, in a quick hit and run attack, which should surprise and destabilize the Necasians with minimal loss of Zayre life.
The Skirmish[]
The rescue[]
Eat hot lead, mongrel bitch!
—An NPEC trooper to Ironwings
As Askar aimed the gun at Redharn, Ironwings swooped in, diving in front of Redharn as Askar fired. The bullet impacted harmlessly on Ironwing's armor, but winded her slightly. Shocked, Askar shouted to his troops to open fire as the Zayre swooped into the stadium in a violent attack upon the Necasians, targeting key members. As Askar's bodyguards attempted to usher him to safety, Askar instead turned and fought, and narrowly avoided death at the hands of Ironwings due to the selfless sacrifice of one of his soldiers. After Askars fleeing, the NPEC troops on guard moved in, engaging the Zayre. To their horror, the Zayre found that even NPEC militiamen were tougher than DTM militants or Srav conscripts, and found themselves being blown back by their shotguns and stunned by their tear gas grenades. A few Zayre managed to get in close, but in response the NPEC troops raised their riot shields, deflecting their attacks with well trained movements, in a powerful defense.
However, Ironwings was more familiar with the weaknesses of Necasian troops than most of the Zayre. Using her powers to brew up a miniature thunderstorm in the stadium she sowed confusion in the ranks of the NPEC troops. Some of the Zayre took the opportunity to try and fly out of the stadium, but came under heavy fire by the machine guns of the ARAVs and NPEC men outside. Redharn, who had now pulled himself together, advised Ironwings that they had no choice but to keep low in such conditions. Concurring, Ironwings and the Zayre used lightning to blow a hole in the side of the stadium, and moved quickly outside.
The chase[]
You're telling me that with all the forces at our disposal, we cannot take out one vehicle with a man and some mongrel freaks inside it? Get to it!!
—Askar
Outside the stadium, Redharn and the Zayre came under fire from all directions by ARAVs and troops, who were being reinforced by Necasian Ironhog armoured troop carriers. Outnumbered, outgunned and encircled, the situation looked grim for Redharn and his Zayre allies. However, Redharn thought quickly, and instructed the Zayre to use their wind powers to expunge the occupants of the nearest ARAV and, moving quickly, Redharn and as many Zayre as possible scrambled into the ARAV, with Redharn taking the wheel. As the remaining Zayre provided cover, Redharn accelerated, informing Ironwings that their only chance now was to get to the spaceport on the opposite side of the city.
However, Askar had decided that he was going to take out Redharn and the Zayre by any means necessary now, with complete disregard to the fact that it was a Necasian vehicle. From a makeshift command center in the back of an Ironhog, he directed Ironhogs to block off certain streets and ARAVs to hold junctions at strategic points along the route Redharn was taking. However, wtih Redharn's driving skills and the Zayre's abilities, they bypassed most of the blockades, taking alternate routes when necessary and, when some NPEC troops in the city tried to intercept them, Redharn simply ran them over.
By now, Askar was losing patience. He correctly guessed that Redharn was heading for the spaceport, and ordered troops with missile launchers and RPGs to take positions on buildings around it. As Redharn's ARAV drove into the square in front of the spaceport, they opened fire. A missile successfully hit one of the ARAV's wheels, causing it to skid to a halt and the Zayre were forced to use lightning to take out the rooftop troops, but they now had a new problem; a piece of debris had embedded itself in Redharns' foot, severely hindering him and his ability to drive.
Under siege[]
As the Zayre helped Redharn out of the wrecked vehicle, more Ironhogs packed with NPEC reinforcements entered the square, and their armor repelled any attacks the Zayre threw at them, so they quickly entered the spaceport, holing themselves inside. Redharn informed them that there would be no use in trying to steal a ship now due to the planetary defense systems, but he could use his knowledge of the Necasian mainframe to shut them down temporarily from a terminal in the spaceport. As Redharn got to work, the Zayre occupied all entrances to the spaceport, repelling any NPEC troops as they got near. Redharn warned them, however, that soon Askar would be bringing up the heavy artillery, so they had to stay alert.
As Redharn progressed with his hacking, NPEC troops armed with mortars began bombarding the spaceport from afar, disorientating the Zayre, who dared not risk going outside. Listening in to radio communications, Redharn learned that Askar was authorizing a carpet bombing strike on the spaceport, so he sped up his efforts. Finally, he cracked the last firewall and shut down the defense systems, and he and the Zayre scrambled into a SkyBull-class transport at the spaceport. Taking the controls, Redharn piloted it upwards, using the armament to bombard some of the troops around the spaceport as he took off. As Askar tried to scramble DarkBird fighters to take the transport down, the Zayre created a storm above the city, blocking radio communications. With this, the transport safely made its way through the atmosphere and as soon as it was clear it jumped to hyperspace.
Aftermath[]
Immediately after the battle, Askar made a televised speech to the Necasian population, announcing the Zayre betrayal and branding them 'backstabbers' and 'mongrel traitors'. He pledged that the Necasian Military would eradicate the Zayre civilization at the first opportunity, and to this end he placed a large bounty on the whole Zayre population. Meanwhile, Necasian generals had to adjust to the loss of Zayre support, and as the Military began to re-adjust itself, the Srav Federation began to make its moves, putting its sights on now-vulnerable Necasian worlds, such as Kothlis.