Operation Starslayer

Operation Starslayer is a 6-Day long operation lasting from July 3rd to July 9th in the Ymir Sector during the Second Galactic War. The objective was to defend the X system and the surrounding systems from Automaton attacks. Despite constant assaults and being surrounded deep in enemy space, the Helldivers have made a valiant defense. The fierce Operation has been spread out over 5 planets.
== Prelude to the Campaign ==
The initial Helldiver presence in the Ymir sector began a month earlier during Operation Valiant Resistance. Wezen, Vega Bay, and Wasat were liberated during this offensive, with inroads being made into retaking Meissa. Strangely, the X system was never occupied by either side during the fighting, remaining under marginal Super Earth control despite being surrounded in Automaton space prior to the Operation. During the First Galactic War, X-45 was fought over and suffered from radioactive destruction. It was transformed into a swampy forest overgrown with life over the century in between. A weapons lab from this war was discovered buried in rubble. With radiation at safe levels, Super Earth high command has begun efforts to recover the technology buried therein. The campaign has unlocked Tier 5 Super Destroyer upgrades and may provide plans for an Interplanetary battle station. With this incredible opportunity came danger however. It is suspected that a data breach created by automaton hackers provided them knowledge of X-45's value. Super Earth acted swiftly in issuing the major order with the goal of defending X-45, ensuring its valuable knowledge fell solely into democratic hands.
== July 3rd ==
The Operation began on July 3rd. The first planets to see fighting on this day were X-45 itself, Meissa, and Wezen. Both planets received major boosts to their defenses from Helldivers responding to the call to arms. S.E.A.F regular forces were also at the height of their numerical strength at this time. These forces amassed on Aesir Pass. 
Initially, a minor automaton attack was launched against X-45 from Meissa. This pitiful assault was repulsed before the end of the day thanks to the significant reinforcement from Super Earth.
The main automaton stronghold in the Ymir sector was Meissa. A liberation campaign had been waged on Meissa since early June, but had since become bogged down. Super Earth reinforcements rapidly captured Meissa during this operation. By the end of July 3rd, the system was 45% liberated.
Fighting also broke out on Wezen. The least amount of defending force was concentrated here, causing the fighting to become prolonged. Wezen would also be withheld from the Automaton forces.
The Helldivers won this first day of combat.
== July 4th ==
Battles on Meissa, X-45, and Wezen happened on this day.
Wezen was fully retaken early in the day. Peace would only last on this planet until later in the day of July 4th, however. Another battle began on July 4th. Helldiver attention had shifted elsewhere, resulting in a rapid loss of territory.
Fighting also continued throughout the night on Meissa. Later in the day, Meissa's liberation had reached as high as 85%. The campaign came to a quick pause as an Automaton force attacked X-45 once more from Meissa. 
The attack against X-45 once again floundered. Meissa was nearly retaken, leaving the invader's access to supply tenuous. Fighting continued once again on all three systems into the night.
The advantage still seemed to be in the favor of the Helldivers.
== July 5th ==
On July 5th, the violence escalated. Fighting occured on every planet in the Ymir Sector.
X-45 was held early in the day on July 5th. The automaton assault was heavily resisted, and their supply lines from Meissa were severed. The capture of Meissa early in the day of July 5th even opened up the path to Matar Bay. Although this was a quiet day on X-45, the same cannot be said for the other planets in the sector.
A relentless assault began on Vega Bay. The automatons rapidly took ground here. Helldiver forces fought hard to stifle their progress
On Wasat and Wezen, things looked even more grim. Unchecked progress was made late into the day. Wezen had been nearly lost by the end of July 5th. Surprisingly, The attack against Wasat was abandoned by the enemy. 
This abandonment seems to be a tactical retreat, designed to distract Helldiver forces. This move strengthened automaton assaults against Vega Bay and a new attack on Meissa. The fighting grew even more desperate on Vega Bay, as it seemed like the planet would be lost. The apparent falls of Vega Bay and Wezen made the supply situation very arduous for Helldiver forces. With the only apparent source of supplies coming from X-45, The loss of external support risked the possibility of attrition. 
The Automatons made significant gains on this day. Wezen and Vega Bay were almost entirely lost. Heavy fighting continued on Meissa through the night. 
== July 6th ==
On July 6th, Disaster struck on far away Aesir Pass.
S.E.A.F reinforcements had amassed here to assist in the Operation. However, Helldiver reinforcements had not been able to prevent the fall of this planet during the operation. With most forces locked in combat in the Ymir sector or scattered across the Eastern Front, little help could be spared to defend the planet. Furthermore, the S.E.A.F bases in the east were converted into campgrounds due to the temporary saturation of Super Earth's manpower needs.
By this day, a cache of MLS-4X Commando rocket launchers had been recovered, but more time was needed to find the plans for the battle station. 
Wezen was lost on this day. The last ~300 Helldivers, desperately trying to hold the supply lines open were forced to retreat with the loss of Vega Bay. Minor fighting does continue on Vega Bay. On Meissa, the hard fought defense was barely won, leaving the planet in democratic hands. Sporadic fighting continued on this day, resulting in little more than stalemate.
== July 7th-9th ==
Larger battles picked up once more the next day. The scale of the operation shrunk down to Vega Bay, Wasat, and X-45.
A minor liberation campaign still continued on Vega Bay. This was one direction that the Automaton assault against X-45 could come from.
A final assault against Wasat was made. It would become apparent that this was another desperate ruse, however. 
Heavy yet inconsequential fighting continued on Wasat and Vega bay until the 8th. Early in the day of July 8th, A final offensive was opened against X-45. Wasat was defended successfully by the middle of July 8th, and a few thousand Helldivers continued to put a thorn in the enemy's side on Vega Bay.
The attack against X-45 was launched from Vega Bay. Helldiver forces retained a significant edge over the enemy during this attack. By the middle of July 8th, Wasat was retaken. With nearly all the forces in the Ymir sector focused on retaking X-45, the planet fell late into the night of July 8th. After X-45 was saved, ~12,000 of the remaining Helldivers rotated to Vega Bay. By July 9th, the operation came to a successful conclusion.
== Outcome / Casualties ==
The Operation was a tactical victory for Super Earth. X-45 and Wasat were successfully defended from the automatons. Meissa was also captured during this operation. More significantly, new technologies were reclaimed. The new MLS-4X Commando Rocket Launchers, new tier 5 ship upgrades, and the plans for an interplanetary battle station were recovered. 
The automatons did gain a major strategic victory also. They conquered Wezen and Vega Bay. Concerningly, this leaves the free systems of the Ymir Sector very isolated from Super Earth space. Their capture of Aesir Pass also significantly reduced the scale S.E.A.F forces, and temporarily prevented further enlistment.
Accurate casualty reports were not collected for this operation. On X-45, it is known that ~5,500,000 Helldivers fell. ~240,000,000 Automatons also lie in the planet's mud. The net casualty numbers are much greater than this due to the fighting on other planets, which are unknown. A massive amount of S.E.A.F forces also perished due to the adjacent fighting on Aesir Pass.
Category:Major Operations
Category:Operation Starslayer