As the Imperials advanced through the smoke unloading their materials, some canisters released a small electric discharge.
Those were timed detonators, which ignited the gas, and triggered a chain reaction similar to a massive fuel air bomb.
The explosion radius was large enough to rival that of smaller nuclear warheads, and hot enough to create a firestorm, igniting even the air
in engines and lungs.
Many Imperial units were wiped out from the explosion alone, those who weren't, continued forward, leaving it to platoons further back to collect the bodies and ship them back home, or burn them in large fires.
The automated warning was activated by the product 'dud' missiles were dispersing across the city, a potent bioweapon colloquially called 'the beast plague'. While Imperials were safe in their armors, most loyalist guards became infected, not counting those inside buildings or otherwise isolated. The virus worked quickly, taking partial control over neural system and hormonal glands of its victims, making them go berserk against the uninfected humans, regardless of political affiliation. The virus wasn't lethal, and didn't inhibit basic cognitive abilities of its hosts, effectively creating a third faction competing for control of the city.
Suddenly, Imperial advance found itself in a sandwich- Rebels in front of it, and berserk loyalists behind them. While being less numerous and somewhat lacking in armor, loyalists attacked with inhuman rage and ferocity. The harbor defense crews re-activated the cannons, lasers and railgun emplacements, and fired at the docked fleet... at almost point blank range.[/quote]
As presviously stated, Imperial troops took to surviving buildings as cover from the two factions.
The fleet in the docks was ripped into from the defenses, but quickly returned fire with their own assortment of heavy weaponry, rockets, jets and lasers.
