Covenant Worlds 1st Expeditionary Force

Covenant Worlds 1st Expeditionary Force
Formed 3138
Nickname Ex-Force
Affiliation Covenant Worlds
Parent Command Covenant Worlds Militia

The Covenant Worlds First Expeditionary Force was officially deployed on 2 May 3138 to assist in the Andurien War between their Oriente Protectorate allies and the Duchy of Andurien.

History[edit]

On the way to the system, the force arrived on 3 May 3138, in the Savannah system. There a Lyran JumpShip and aerospace forces holding control of Zenith Jump Point of the system.

The Lyran forces, including a Star Lord-class JumpShip, the Soledad, with escort DropShips the Kuan Ti-class assault DropShip San Jeronimo and the Okinawa-class fighter carrier Apopka. Soledad's CO & aerospace force commander, Captain Bernard Morristein. While Lyran battalion on the planet under the command of a Colonel Daily of the 6th Lyran Regulars.[1]

The Covenant forces split up with ground forces departing for the planet and aerospace forces including the carrier's half of the entire wing of aerospace fighters began attack run on the planet. Warden Marik, orders repeatedly that Soledad's commander to withdraw or surrender unconditionally. He also adds he will destroy the Soledad, sighting that Covenant Worlds can build large Star Lord-class JumpShips.

Captain Morristein considered his options, and felt that cost to pay against Marik forces was too great to risk his ships and crews. So he ordered all ships of his force to surrender. Marik ground forces dealt with the 6th's second-line battalion, which was already fighting Savannah militia forces.

On June 16th, Ex-Force,[2] to use its self-given nickname, had landed on El Giza, fighting 4th Andurien Cavalry on the Plains of Al Jizah in Duchy of Andurien. Thaddeus Marik led his force in rolling hillside and ravines of grasslands of purple Fronds. His forces, had difficulty with terrain due to grass lands hiding all the ravines and valleys. The communities, hidden by low valleys and buildings made from scrap metal, caused the expedition have hard time scanning the enemy. Warden Marik, surmised that the 4th was buying time for its sister unit, 2nd Andurien Guard on Mosiro, to prepare for the Orientes' arrival. The 4th fought a hit-and-fade campaign using combination of high metal, hidden ravines and valleys. Thaddeus's force discovers trenches left over from an ancient city that existed here before being destroyed in during the First Succession War.

Middle of July, the Ex-Force fought brutal battle for the planet against 2nd Andurien Guards & Mosiro Planetary Militia (MPM) in commercial center of the city of Al-Hassam.[3] The Andurien force fought from building to building, affecting most commercial areas. MPM continue fighting in underground traffic tunnels beneath the city.

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Covenant Worlds 1st Expeditionary Force
Warden Thaddeus Marik
Colonel Mark Timur[4]

Notes[edit]

Colonel Timur acted as the Covenant Worlds Militia coordinator.

Tactics[edit]

Unknown.

Composition[edit]

  • Ground Forces
    • Ex-Force, First Company
    • Alphard Militia
    • Nathan Militia
    • Angel II Militia
    • Kalidasa Militia
    • Connaught Aerospace Forces
    • Protectorate Coalition militia forces[5]

Notes[edit]

The mixed militia joined the expedition, brought unusual mix of vehicles and aerospace fighters, with not as much BattleMechs support as Thaddeus wished. Most of militia commands were split off into new command forms, but some retained their militia formation.

The size of actual formation was not specified but force's DropShips indicated force almost mixed battalion size force.[6]

It is unclear that Expedition was kept together when the Andurien War had concluded. One militia unit was seen fighting on Atreus during Operation Homecoming. However wasn't clear if they were part of the expedition or separate force assigned.

References[edit]

  1. To Ride the Chimera, p. 178: "Reference to battalion on planet"
  2. To Ride the Chimera, p. 186: "Nickname revealed"
  3. To Ride the Chimera, pp. 201–203
  4. Field Manual: 3145, p. 116: "Free Worlds League Military"
  5. To Ride the Chimera, p. 168: "Protectorate forces join the Covenant Worlds 1st Expeditionary Force"
  6. To Ride the Chimera, p. 167: "Force of size"

Bibliography[edit]