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"We must, now, take this fight to the Locust."
Chairman Richard Prescott, during his speech

The Battle of Stromson Forest was a major battle that marked the beginning of Operation: Hollow Storm as the COG forces traveled to Landown to launch an assault on the Inner Hollow. This involved a mass transport of Assault Derricks, King Ravens, APCs and Centaurs escorting thousands of Gears from Jacinto City through the Locust occupied Stromson Forest and Landown Highway in order to reach the city of Landown. The Locust met with the COG forces by Nemacysts and mortars, Reaver squadrons, several Brumaks and Corpsers and thousands of Locust Drones.

Prelude[]

In Gale of 14 A.E., the Coalition of Ordered Governments launched the Lightmass Offensive, an operation utilizing the Lightmass Bomb to destroy the Outer Hollow and the Locust Horde. After, the cities of Tollen and Montevado mysteriously sunk underground and the Locust incursions on the Jacinto Plateau became more frequent, signaling to the COG that the Locust not only survived but returned with a greater force which was enough to sink entire cities. After the raid on Jacinto, the COG feared the city would be the next target by the Locust to sink, leaving humanity with no safe place left on Sera.

The Coalition devised Operation: Hollow Storm, a massive assault on the Inner Hollow to destroy the Locust stronghold. In order to launch thousands of Gears into the Inner Hollow by using the Grindlifts, the Coalition ordered a mass escort to the nearby city of Landown that was occupied by the Locust. It was decided based on historical context, being Winter of Sorrow when Landown was taken by the Locust, as well as strategic being the nearest place on the Jacinto Plateau that the Locust could dig through. The COG massed thousands of Gears, ranging from fresh recruits, conscripts and former prisoners to hardened veterans. For Chairman Richard Prescott and the COG leadership, this was humanity's last stand.

Order of Battle[]

Preparing for the Battle[]

On the morning of 1st Frost, 14 A.E., thousands of Gears were in attendance at Wrightman Base for Chairman Richard Prescott's speech. Those not in attendance were able to listen to the broadcast on numerous radio and television news stations as Chairman Prescott delivered a speech on the history of Sera and the Locust War. After speaking on the recent attacks of Tollen and Montevado, Prescott rallied the Gears to into the Inner Hollow and take the fight to the Locust Horde in order to end the war as they near extinction after fourteen years of fighting.

Gears were transported by numerous King Ravens, Armored Personnel Carriers, Centaurs, and Assault Derricks and prepared for departure at staging grounds outside Jacinto City. Many of the Assault Derrick drivers were former Stranded men now conscripts due to Operation Lifeboat. Several Gear squads were assigned to board and defend the Assault Derricks to Landown. After the arrivals and repairs, the massive escort convoy launched. Half of the convoy drove through the Stromson Forest while the other half took the Landown Highway.

Locust Attack in Stromson Forest[]

Upon arriving in Stromson Forest, Centaur Zero-Nine began to clear the path and reported no hostiles. Immediately after, the Locust began their assault on the convoy with Nemacyst mortars. On the Landown Highway, KR Four-One was hit and destroyed by a Nemacyst mortar while escorting the Assault Derricks. An Assault Derrick piloted by Pvt. Corey attempted to pass Rig 314, piloted by Pvt. Dizzy Wallin, on the Landown Highway but was hit by a Nemacyst mortar, slammed into the side of Rig 314, and fell of the ledge. After numerous mortar strikes destroyed the King Raven escorts, the Nemacysts focused on the Assault Derricks. One Nemacyst mortar hit the side of the cliff and caused a large boulder to roll down the Landown Highway, nearly knocking Rig 314 off the ledge. Sgt. Marcus Fenix used the Chain Gun on the roof of the Assault Derrick to take out the remaining Nemacyst mortars.

Stromsonforestreavers

Reavers attempting to destroy the Assault Derricks.

After securing the Landown Highway from Nemacyst mortars, a squadron of Reavers attacked the ridge and took out Rig D11. With D13 being one of the last Rigs on the ridge, the Reaver squads focused fire on them. Sgt. Fenix, Cpl. Santiago, and Pvt. Carmine were able to repel the Reaver attacks. KR Three-Six reported the path towards Landown was clear and would help defend ground forces. Among them was Rig D28, piloted by Pvt. Henny and boarded by Cpl. Damon Baird, Pvt. Tanner, and Pvt. Augustus Cole; and Rig D77, boarded by Pvt. Tai Kaliso - acting as the rear guard Rig in the convoy. Rig 314 broke down and was forced to stop for repair, slowing the COG advance and leaving them vulnerable to the mortar attacks and Locust ambushes. As Delta-One guarded Pvt. Wallin while repairing Rig 314, several Emergence Holes opened in the area, releasing Locust Drones. Struggling to defend the Rig, several Rigs and Centaurs, including Rig D28, came to reinforce Delta-One. However, most of the Rigs and Centaurs defending Rig 314 were destroyed by Nemacyst mortars and Drones. The Locust attack was repelled despite heavy losses and Rig 314 managed to get repaired, joining Rig D28 and Rig G53 back into the Stromson Forest.

Siege at Ferro Bridge[]

Southlandown

Brumak assault on Stromson Forest.

As the Assault Derricks neared Ferro Bridge to cross the river to Landown, the convoy was attacked by a coordination of large Emergence Holes in their path. Thousands of Drones and Boomers were released onto the surface and accompanied by a Brumak that destroyed numerous Rigs. Rig G53 was hijacked by Drones using grappling hooks. Rig 314 escaped the attack, but numerous Grapplers attempted to board and hijack the Rig. Delta-One was able to secure the Rig from Locust hijackers. Before arriving to Ferro Bridge, Rig G53 returned on the Highway hijacked with Locust Drones.

With only one Derrick being able to fit across Ferro Bridge, the Locust on Rig G53 attempted to prevent Rig 314 from crossing by pushing them to the side to drive them off the cliff into the ravine. Sgt. Fenix attempted to shoot at the Locust driver. Pvt. Wallin informed Sgt. Fenix that the windshields were bulletproof and began to repeatedly drive Rig 314 into the side of Rig G53, using the corner to continually break the windshield. Rig G53's windshield managed to break, which allowed Sgt. Fenix to kill the Locust pilot. Pvt. Wallin was able to push Rig G53 off the side into the ravine and managed to cross Ferro Bridge successfully.

Traversing the Landown Highway[]

A Brumak attacking Rig 314.

After the mass convoy of Assault Derricks crossed Ferro Bridge, Lt. Stroud and Control began to determine the launch coordinates as the Rigs started to arrive at Landown. Multiple Brumaks emerged from the Stromson Forest on the southside of Landown to attack the Rig groups on the highway. One Rig was destroyed by a Brumak's rocket launcher. Another Brumak emerged from the forest and began to attack Rig 314, but was shot in the face twice and killed by a Centaur. Lt. Stroud ordered to commence deployment, but a patrolling King Raven requested reinforcements before being shot down by a Brumak.

KR Three-Six informed Control they were being overrun and recommended that they evacuate all Rigs to Landown. Lt. Stroud complied and ordered all Rigs to break off from each other and race for Landown to avoid the Locust onslaught. While evacuating, Sgt. Fenix managed to kill the Brumak that shot down the escort King Raven. Dozens of Locust Drones entered the highway and began to grapple on the Rigs. Rig 314 and others repelled the grapplers, but another Rig was flipped over and destroyed by a Brumak. Rig 314 continued to drive and escape the Brumak. A Corpser emerged in front of Rig 314 but was shot back down into the Hollow. Another Corpser climbed a ledge and jumped down onto a Rig, taking it underground and destroying it.

A Brumak was stationed at the end of the highway leading directly into Landown and opened fire on the convoy. Sgt. Fenix ordered Pvt. Wallin to keep driving toward it. Sgt. Fenix fired the chain gun at the Brumak with supporting fire from Cpl. Santiago and Pvt. Carmine. They were able to destroy the Brumak's wrist-mounted chain guns, rocket launcher, and face; incapacitating it. Pvt. Wallin accelerated the Assault Derrick and struck the Brumak, killing it and clearing the route to Landown for the convoy.

Aftermath[]

Despite heavy losses, the majority of COG forces were able to arrive in Landown and deployed into the Inner Hollow. Thousands of Gears were killed, and many others were taken prisoner to be processed by the Locust. The COG had insufficient intel on the location of the Locust stronghold. Despite the initial wave in Operation: Hollow Storm being failure, the cause of the sinking cities was discovered to be a Riftworm and was promptly eliminated, and the Locust stronghold was eventually located and destroyed.

Appearances[]

Locust War
0 A.E. Emergence Day (Emergence in Jannermont · Emergence in Mattino Junction · Emergence in Ilima · Emergence in Porta Ogari · Emergence in Ephyra · Emergence in Kalona · Fall of Gorasnaya · Evacuation of Mercy) · Battle of Nordesca · Battle of Kinnerlake · Destruction of Halvo Bay (Destruction of Old Town · Battle of the Museum of Military Glory · Siege of Halvo Bay Military Academy · Evacuation of Seahorse Hills · Battle of Elliott's Mansion · Raid on Onyx Point · Bombing of Downtown Halvo Bay · Ambush on the Halvo Bay Courthouse · Battle of the Plaza · Evacuation of Halvo Bay)
1 A.E. Battle of Kaia (Battle of Jasper · Battle of Autrin) · Battle of Bonbourg · Second Battle of Jannermont · Fall of Ostri · Battle of Andius · Ambush on Voslov Bridge · Hammer of Dawn Strikes · Assassination of Ukkon (Mission to CIC Aldair · Rescue of Echo-Five · Assault on Industrial District · Mission to Claybourne · Rescue of Alpha-Two · Mission to Nedroma Health Institute · Battle of Imtik Imulsion Rig · Mission to Winlock Outpost · Mission to the Badlands · Mission to Zenic Province · Battle of Ukkon's Laboratory) · Battle of Oblivion · Skirmish in the Live Zone
5 A.E. Fall of Landown
9 A.E. Battle of Noroa · Riverside Skirmish · Evacuation of Ilima (Ambush on Checkpoint Zeta · Assault on Ilima Savings and Trust · Mission to Ilima High School · Battle of Downtown Ilima · Battle of Dr. Wisen's Orphanage)
10 A.E. Battle of Estana · Skirmish at Shenko Falls · Fall of Ephyra
11 A.E. Skirmish Outside the Wire
12 A.E. Raid on Ginnet Drive · Incursions at Endeavor
13 A.E. Battle on the Andius Highway · West Barricade Campaign · Raid on the CIC
14 A.E. Operation: Midnight · Jilane Massacre · Siege of the Slab · Lightmass Offensive (Battle of Embry Square · Mission to House of Sovereigns · Ambush at Tomb of the Unknowns · Mission to Old Ephyra · Assault on Franklin's Outpost · Mission to Lethia Imulsion Facility · Mission to East Barricade Academy · Mission to Timgad · Battle on the Tyro Pillar) · Ambush at Sovereigns Boulevard · Evacuation of North Gate · Mission to Tollen · Battle of the Tollen Dam · Evacuation of Speyer · Evacuation of Fort Reval · Battle Outside of Jacinto · Mission to the Pirnah Badlands · Battle for Fucked · Mission to Montevado · Battle Near Jacinto · Unidentified M.O.U.T. Battle · Liberation of Jilane · Siege of Jacinto City · Operation: Hollow Storm (Battle of Stromson Forest · Assault on Landown · Siege of the Inner Hollow · Battle of Ilima · Destruction of the Riftworm · Mission to New Hope Research Facility · Assault on Mount Kadar · Siege of Nexus · Battle of the Royal Palace · Sinking of Jacinto City) · First Mission to Merrenat Naval Base · Skirmish South of Port Farrall · Second Mission to Merrenat Naval Base · Battle of Port Farrall · Ambush Outside of Port Farrall
15 A.E. Skirmish in the Kashkur Foothills
17 A.E. Skirmish at Endeavor · Siege of Azura · Victory Day (Attack on the Sovereign · Battle of Centennial Bridge · Ambush on Hanover Coast · Battle of the Deadlands · Battle of the Anvegad Plains · Battle of Anvil Gate · Skirmish in Concord · Mission to Mercy · Mission to Char · Mission to Halvo Bay · Battle of Endeavor · Incursions in the Serano Ocean · Battle of Azura)
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