Battle of Modxco

The Battle of Modxco was an invasion of the planet Modxco by the Saegon Empire. Modxco was a world of significant industrial importance to the Omote Federation, who relied on the planet's infrastructure for military and material production.
Targeted for it's value to the Federation, and as such the United Tribune, the Saegon invaded the planet in response to the Battle of Gregorsoh two days earlier.
== Premise ==
The Battle of Gregorsoh infuriated the martial populace of the empire, who wanted swift action in response. Commander General Zain ordered the 51st army sector, led by General Avner Ryker, to invade Tribune space and demonstrate the army's capability. Commander Admiral Doros recommended an invasion of the world Modxco, a world of significance to the Tribune war effort as a major producer of military hardware. He sent Admiral Janika of the Third Fleet to support the 51st in their assault.
Modxco's defense forces consisted of security teams that guarded the extensive factory & rail network, veteran workers, and the 31st Sapper Corps. The military engineers of the 31st were responsible for the handling and transport of goods meant to supply the federal army, only recently charged with the dispersal of equipment to tribune members. Although they provided security, the 31st was underequipped to take on an invading force with the capacity of the Saegon army.
== Battle ==
The Third Fleet arrived and, thanks to previous recon, had already designated aerial defenses for destruction. The local defenders were caught unaware and quickly scrambled, contacting federal command informing them of an imperial invasion. Still disoriented by the previous battle, the UT Navy was unable to muster a response, leaving the Federation to deal with it themselves.
General Ryker landed in a makeshift camp roughly twenty minutes after the battle began and led his forces from a command tent while Admiral Janika ensured any reinforcements would quickly be cutoff. The 51st, specifically the 4th Assault Division led by Lt. Colonel Likha, engaged the 31st Sapper Corps on open ground roughly three miles outside the nearby factory complex.
=== Open Field Battle ===
Modxco is an arid world; while the whole planet isn't desert, the area surrounding the local factories can definitely be classified as such. The ground consists of mostly sand and clay, forming an almost loose-soil. While it's more than sturdy enough for a soldier to stand on, the heavy vehicles utilized by the Saegon army quickly sank into the earth. Tanks and transports managed to deliver forces roughly halfway to meet the 31st, where soldiers disembarked and engaged their foes on foot while vehicle crews attempted to free their rides from the dirt.
Despite the arid climate, the clear sky and comfortably cool air led to favorable conditions for boots on the ground. The sappers of the 31st dug ramparts and a handful of foxholes as fast as they could, though the encroaching enemy meant they were rudimentary at best. Most of the initial fighting occurred in vast open spaces, with only patches of trees and earthworks to interrupt. A lack of cover concerned both sides, but the tenacity of the Saegon and lack of experience from the Omote meant the 4th Assault was able to constantly push their opponents further and further back. It took roughly 90 minutes for the 4th to reach the first set of factories, whereupon they faced the sappers hidden in buildings, now supported by local security forces.
=== Urban Combat ===
Ryker pummeled the rear sections of the complex with artillery, serving to strike fear into the defenders and stop any potential backup or retreats. General Pebin, now coordinating federation troops as best he could, ordered the evacuation of the planet. The defenders would hold off the invaders as long as possible for the civilian populace and surviving fighters to evacuate. The announcement bolstered the defenders commitment, and an estimated 3-4,000 factory workers joined the battle, many having served in the armed forces before joining the defense industry. The factory workers set their machines to assemble small arms and anti-personnel grenades, supplying both themselves and the sapper corps. Fighting was intense, particularly in the center plaza connecting the "major eight" manufactories in a shared courtyard. The addition of munitions from the factory meant the engineers had an edge over the attackers, essentially being able to throw an endless stream of grenades in their direction. Fighting remained constant, however progress grounded to a halt and both sides resorted to suppressing the other without much effect. Ryker ordered the artillery to fire their arcs higher and higher, creating the effect of an enclosing circle of destruction, demolishing any and all buildings in their wake. The attackers formed their own perimeter, allowing the artillery to force the defenders out from the other side and into their kill zones. Any and all ships available were busy evacuating the workforce, meaning the only hope the engaged protectors had was to break through in a last ditch effort. While this may have been possible, the counter-attack was uncoordinated and the occupants of each building came out at random intervals. Without a united front, the sappers, security, and workers were cut down one by one as they rushed the invaders firing lines.
=== Evacuation ===
While the last of the engaged defense groups were annihilated, the remaining military and civil forces were allowed to retreat and jump out of the system to empty space, where they were picked up by the Federation Navy. The Third Fleet, being on the other side of the planet, sent fighters to harass the transports but not destroy them. The pilots used scare tactics and fired around the ships as they attempted to leave, terrifying the passengers who were defenseless. A mix of panic and anger would seep into Omote society from stories of the survivors.
== Aftermath ==
The point of the battle was initially thought by the UT to be the capturing and repurposing of the worlds factories for enemy use. While this was a legitimate reason, the point was later revealed to them by Saegon newscasts: Propaganda. The Third Fleet was entirely capable of glassing the planet, but demonstration of the Saegon Army at work far outweighed any material gain. Despite fighting being contained to a single zone of the planet, the invasion had kicked the entire system's workforce out and inflicted significant casualties on the 31st Sapper Corps.
The loss of Modxco cut the Tribune off from a vital supplier of military hardware, and left the Omote Federation reeling. The effects of it's loss would contribute to the eventual collapse of the Federation military, months before the Tribune would suffer the same fate.