In 298 HE, the Battle of Dead Town was fought in Haven City between the Krimzon Guard under Baron Praxis and Torn against the Metal Heads under Metal Kor during the Metal Head Wars.
Why did it happen?
When Damas became the leader of Haven City in 277 HE, the Metal Head Wars were at their height. Just ten years earlier, in 267 HE, an invasion of Metal Bugs under Metal Kaeden was stopped by the Kridder Ridder Extermination Company under Osmo Drawers. In 297 HE, Damas was betrayed and overthrown by Baron Praxis, who created a military force known as the Krimzon Guard to protect and enforce his rule over Haven City. Arrogant and inexperienced, Praxis believed that he could destroy the Metal Heads once and for all. At the Battle of the Metal Head Nest, Praxis was repulsed with many Guards being killed and numerous Security Tanks destroyed with Praxis himself losing the right side of his face. While a rebel movement known as the Underground was established under Samos Hagai aimed at restoring the House of Mar, the Metal Heads decided to take advantage of their victory to counterattack against Baron Praxis. In 298 HE, The Metal Heads decided to attack a section of the Slums, posthumously known as Dead Town, to feed on the power of the Sacred Site, which was all that remained of Sandover Village.
Who was involved?
The Krimzon Guard forces at Dead Town are estimated to have numbered 400 Guards and Civilians. The Guards were the elite infantry troops of Haven City under the command of Torn and were equipped with Blaster Rifles and Shock Rods which they used to terrorize Haven City’s inhabitants and fight the Metal Heads. The Krimzon Guard’s strategy was to patrol the streets in squads and use relentless firepower to gain a tactical advantage over their enemies. The Metal Head forces at Dead Town are estimated to have numbered 1,500 Grunts, Stingers, Sling Blasters and Rapid Gunners. While Grunts and Stingers relied on melee attacks to kill their prey, Sling Blasters and Rapid Gunners relied upon slingshot energy balls and dark eco laser rifles respectively to kill their opponents.
What happened?
Attracted to the energy of the Sacred Site, the Metal Heads broke through Haven City’s walls and began advancing towards the Sacred Site (Samos’ Hut). The Krimzon Guards subsequently engaged the Metal Heads in battle with fierce fighting between Guards and Sling Blasters with the latter inflicting severe casualties on both Guards and Haven Civilians. As the fighting turned in favour of the Metal Heads, Baron Praxis ordered his forces to fall back, but as he created a new wall, he left everyone outside the new barrier, Guards and Civilians, to die at the hands of the Metal Heads. Before that could happen, however, an Underground leader known as the Shadow (Samos Hagai) used his eco powers to force the Metal Heads to retreat. While this saved the Sacred Site, the district was ruined and subsequently abandoned.
What changed as a result?
The Battle of Dead Town was a strategic Metal Head victory. In the aftermath of the battle, Torn became disillusioned with Baron Praxis’ cruel tactics and corrupt rule and defected to the Underground where he became the second-in-command to Samos. At the same time, Baron Praxis made a deal with the Metal Head leader, Metal Kor, to begin trading regular shipments of eco to the Metal Heads in exchange for them to attack the city to justify Praxis’ continued rule over Haven City. Known as the Baron Eco Fund, this was funded through mining operations at the Strip Mine and Drill Platform, as well as donations from Haven Citizens. In addition to this, Praxis expanded his military through two experimental projects: the Dark Warrior Program and the KG Robots. While the Dark Warrior Program was abandoned in 300 HE in favour of acquiring the Precursor Stone and using its power to destroy the Metal Heads, the KG Robots would be taken over by Erol and used in the War for Haven City after the Baron’s death.
Bibliography
Jak and Daxter Wiki. “Baron Praxis.” Last revised February 14, 2022. www.jakanddaxter.fandom.com/wiki/Baron_Praxis
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Tim H. “Dead Town map.” Jak and Daxter Wiki. Accessed June 26, 2022. www.jakanddaxter.fandom.com/wiki/Dead_Town?file=Dead_Town_map.png