The Empire begins with the Fourth Scourge.

Chapter 2769 Complete Collapse
2768, Complete Collapse

What makes a successful design?

For example, the hover tank, such as the TX-130 Sabre tank commonly used during the Galactic Republic era. This tank was fast, maneuverable, and later versions were equipped with basic deflector shields. It also possessed a light laser cannon powerful enough to deal with most ground units, allowing it to quickly penetrate the battlefield and strike the enemy's weak points.

Its design is simple and reliable, with low maintenance costs, adaptable to various terrains, and performed excellently in the clone wars. Therefore, it is a successful design.

For example, the heavy armored unit is the AT-TE walking machine from the Galactic Republic era. This six-legged walking machine is known for its heavy armor and powerful firepower. It is equipped with a heavy particle grenade launcher and multiple anti-personnel laser turrets, and can penetrate enemy lines head-on to provide strong support for infantry.

Its stable structure and strong off-road capability, though not fast, allow it to reliably advance through complex terrain, making it a trustworthy mobile fortress on the battlefield. With a clear design objective, specialized function, and well-defined battlefield role, it made significant contributions to the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars, thus making it a successful design.

So, let's take a look at the 1-H super-heavy hover tank.

It attempts to possess the mobility and speed of the TX-130, combined with the powerful firepower and protection of the AT-TE, and as a hovering unit, it can easily install deflector shields. It sounds incredibly wonderful, and this should be the most perfect armored unit, right?
However, in reality, to meet the requirements for protection, the 1-H hover tank was fitted with an alloy armor layer with an average thickness of 200mm, which brought a huge weight. Then, the firepower of a heavy laser cannon and a medium turbo laser cannon, plus the firepower of two twin-mounted anti-personnel blaster cannons, brought additional weight and energy load.

So, armor and protection were achieved, but mobility was greatly reduced. So, they started working on an anti-gravity engine. In order to support the tank to hover at a height of two meters and achieve the speed that a hover tank should have, the anti-gravity engine became very large. In addition, it had a terrifying energy consumption, requiring a sufficiently large reactor.

This resulted in the need to increase the vehicle's size to accommodate the engine and energy system, which further increased the weight, while energy consumption couldn't keep up. This created a vicious cycle, ultimately leading to a colossal vehicle measuring 20.5 meters long and 8.4 meters high. Even with lightweight alloy armor, its combat weight reached 180 tons!
This thing has completely transformed into an armored monster.

Despite its theoretically powerful performance, its uncontrolled size and weight resulted in maneuverability far below design expectations, and its massive size made it a prime target.

While its maximum speed reaches 300 kilometers per hour, its turning performance is extremely poor, and it requires a long acceleration time. Although its armor protection is strong, in order to control weight, the side armor has been weakened, leaving only the front and top with heavy protection, resulting in a serious imbalance in overall protection.

Finally, the excessive energy consumption caused a conflict between the 1-H tank's weapon system and deflector shield system. Under normal circumstances, no problems were apparent, but in high-intensity combat environments, when the deflector shield was severely attacked, it would consume the weapon system's energy, causing the main cannon of the heavy laser cannon to output only about 40% of its normal power.

Thus, the tank that the Galactic Empire spent a fortune developing ended up being nothing more than a beautiful toy.

In contrast, the M-850 Grizzly tank, although classified as a super-heavy tank in the Kingdom of Dawn, is only 12.4 meters long, 7.2 meters high, and has a combat weight of only 71.4 tons, which is only a little less than half that of the 1-H tank.

However, the Grizzly tank has a very compact design, highly integrating the power system and weapon layout, effectively controlling the overall size and weight of the vehicle. For example, the two medium-sized turbine laser cannons use hybrid ammunition. The disadvantage of this pre-loading mode, which is similar to artillery shells, is that the number of shots is limited, with the tank carrying only 80 rounds. However, the advantage is that it has greater power and lower energy consumption.

Furthermore, this tank resolutely abandoned the hovering mode, continuing to rely on tracked drive. This is because the Grizzly tank's battlefield role has never been high-speed assault, but rather fire support for infantry or assault operations, which do not require high speed. As for terrain adaptability, it does sacrifice some capabilities, but as long as the correct role is found, this is not a problem.

The Rattlesnake assault tank, which the Dawn Kingdom's army is currently testing, is a hovering assault tank. If the terrain is not suitable for the Grizzly Tank, then other equipment can be deployed.

Therefore, with its highly targeted design, the Grizzly Tank can maximize its advantages in specific environments.

For example, in this encounter, the Grizzly Tank can be said to have maximized its advantages and completely crushed the Galactic Empire's 1-H super-heavy hover tank.

As it turns out, wanting everything is not advisable; doing one thing to the extreme is the best approach. Perhaps the 1-H super-heavy hover tank has greater battlefield adaptability and can operate in more environments, but its high cost limits its effectiveness.

Therefore, the Grizzly tank, which costs only a quarter of the cost of the 1-H super-heavy tank, is a successful design.

Thanks to the outstanding performance of the Grizzly Tanks, the Dawn Kingdom's armored forces defeated the Galactic Empire's armored forces on the flank and successfully advanced into the Black Mountain Base.

The Galactic Empire Army, having just dealt with the A-130 Predator mechanical wolves and the Injori Avengers, quickly mobilized its forces to try and stop this steel torrent, but to no avail; the Grizzly Tanks completely crushed their defenses.

Meanwhile, the infantry of the Kingdom of Dawn had already entered the range of the deflector shield, and the Fourth Legion and the Vulture Company launched a surprise attack from the flanks and rear.

The Imperial forces at the Black Mountain base have completely collapsed.

The Galactic Empire's army stationed here previously numbered 100,000, but some were recalled after the landing site was attacked. Now, there are still more than 70,000 troops, a large number of long-range fire support units, and a large amount of military supplies prepared for a future counterattack.

Now, the army at Black Mountain Base has been massacred, and a large amount of supplies have fallen into the hands of the Kingdom of Dawn.

Inside the Black Mountain base, the massive body of a Grizzly tank rolled over a barracks, its turret spinning as it fired two salvos at a distant communications base station! Boom! Boom!! The powerful turbo-laser cannons instantly blasted the base station to pieces!

Dawn Kingdom soldiers, clad in CMC-300 power armor, patrolled the ruins of the base, meticulously eliminating any remaining survivors. Gunfire rang out intermittently, and all the Imperial soldiers who stubbornly resisted were mercilessly killed.

And among them, there were some bright red figures!
It was a very sturdy and heavy powered armor, reaching a height of 2 meters. Its armor was much thicker than that of the CMC-300, and even its entire head was covered by armor, with only its eyes showing.

Such powered armor is enough to send chills down your spine.

Even more terrifying is that they are equipped with two plasma flamethrowers! This is the heavy-duty version of the CMC-300 power armor—the CMC-660 power armor, codenamed Fire Bat! The armor, made of fire-resistant materials, can withstand astonishingly high temperatures, allowing them to equip powerful plasma flamethrowers and shoot flames up to a distance of 100 meters.

These firebat powered armored vehicles moved slowly across the battlefield, but were incredibly terrifying. Any firing positions or bunkers they targeted were instantly engulfed in flames, and the Imperial soldiers hiding inside screamed as they were burned to ashes.

Flames are always the most effective way to take life.

……

When news of the fall of Black Mountain Base reached the Galactic Empire's command center on the planet Dantuin, Zell Johnson, who had just moved the command center to the capital city of Garang, smashed his tactical tablet on the spot, cursing under his breath.

He had just taken over the entire operation on Dantuin, and was not yet familiar with General Maximilian Wells's previous strategic deployments, so he decided to maintain the status quo.

As a result, the Black Mountain base was completely captured after only one day of defense, and there was no hope of any of the troops inside returning.

With the fall of Black Mountain Base, Kunda City will face a direct attack from the Kingdom of Dawn's army. To make matters worse, the industrial zone built by the Galactic Empire around Kunda City will also be threatened.

Especially with the landing site in Kongda City still under repair and the transport fleet in outer space constantly being harassed by the Kingdom of Dawn, this industrial zone is extremely important. Weapons and ammunition needed in large quantities during peacetime operations can be produced locally, saving on transportation costs.

It can be said that once the industrial zone of Kunda City is destroyed by the Kingdom of Dawn, the Galactic Empire will immediately be in trouble.

Lieutenant General Zell Johnson had no choice but to bite the bullet and call for reinforcements from the rear.

Upon receiving the distress call and learning of General Maximilian Wells's sacrifice, Dunn Wessex was furious. In his view, he had already dispatched 200 million troops to reinforce Dantuin, and not only that, but there were also mountains of supplies piled up at the transit station behind the planet. He had even allocated some of his most valuable possessions—his fleet—to that direction.

Dunn-Wessex now sees his fleet as his lifeline, fearing that if its deterrent power weakens, the Dawn Kingdom will launch a full-scale attack on his home planet, Palin-Minor.

Even so, he still allocated 50 capital ships and 2000 escort ships and light cruisers to protect the logistics route to Dantuin, which was like cutting off his own flesh.

He certainly wouldn't care about the Dawn Kingdom's new equipment or the harassment of the transport fleet. From his perspective, he had already given everything he could; all that mattered now was the result.

However, Dunn Wessex cannot simply ignore Zell Johnson's plea for help.

Now that the Kingdom of Dawn is also reinforcing its forces in that direction, Dunn feels that his plan has succeeded. He has successfully drawn the Kingdom of Dawn's attention to the planet Dantuin, thus making the planet Palin-Minor safe.

Next, he only needs to continuously increase his troops and military pressure on the planet Dantuin, and then he can return to the center of the Empire, operate in that center of power, and obtain more fleets.

Having made his decision, Dunn-Wessex ordered another 50 ground troops, including 20 KX-series security robots, to be deployed to Dantoin. He then gave Admiral Gerald Pererain, who had just recovered from his injuries, some instructions on how to hold the line, before boarding the shuttle and heading towards the Imperial center.

……

Time flew by and it was October 15th, 9 BBY. Boxing Day was fast approaching, with only 20 days left.

The imperial capital was naturally brightly decorated, filled with a festive atmosphere. In addition, the military operations of the Dawn Kingdom had basically ceased during this month, giving the Galactic Empire a precious respite. From the highest strategic command to ordinary soldiers, everyone thought that the year should just pass by like this.

Moreover, good news is also coming from other directions.

Admiral Thrawn's operation to hunt down the former super traitor, former Imperial Marshal Demetrius Zarin, is progressing very smoothly. Even though the enemy possesses superweapons such as the TIE-Defender fighter, Admiral Thrawn still manages to command his fleet to defeat Zarin's rebel fleet.

Zarin's plan to establish his own base in the Outer Ring Sector was completely thwarted, and his half-built production line was destroyed by Thrawn, forcing him to flee once again.

During this process, Demetrius Zarin also had a conflict with his biggest helper—the former Imperial Inquisitor, his elder sister Arden Lin. The two groups went their separate ways, and Arden Lin disappeared without a trace.

The current Zalin are just a pack of stray dogs, running around and barely surviving. It's only a matter of time before they are completely annihilated by Solong.

Even better news was that Thrawn rescued many engineers who were developing the TIE-Defender fighter during the operation. After sending them to the headquarters of the Shina Fleet System, Palpatine ordered Marshal Orman Tag to start the analysis work as soon as possible and rebuild the TIE-Defender fighter project so that this super fighter could become an important weapon of the Imperial Army.

Dunn-Wessex was also actively campaigning in the heart of the Empire, making arrangements everywhere, and began to publicize his operational plan to hold the North to the Supreme Strategic Command, declaring that he would completely pin down the main fleet of the Kingdom of Dawn in the North. Then, he would use this plan to request more reinforcements.

This is a very typical example of harboring a bandit to enhance one's own prestige. However, the question is, can he really keep this "bandit" in check?
On October 19th, 16 days before the new year, Dunn Wessex was hosting Imperial Marshal Rufon Digolinus at a top-tier club when he suddenly received some shocking news!

The outer space base on the planet Dantuin has suffered a devastating blow! The transport fleet has scattered and fled, and the escort fleet has been completely destroyed! The super-large space station and spaceport have also been severely damaged in the battle and are temporarily unusable!
Reinforcements on the ground battlefield of Dantuin have now been completely cut off!