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−	{{InfoBoxBattle	+	{{InfoBoxConflict
−	| conflict = Battle of Helm	+	| conflict = ''Battle of Helm (3138)''
	| partof = [[Operation HAMMERFALL]]		| partof = [[Operation HAMMERFALL]]
−	| image =	+	| image = The_Last_Charge_image.jpg
−	| startdate = 19 April [[3138]]	+	| caption =
−	| enddate = 28 April 3138	+	| date = From 19 to 28 April [[3138]]
		+	| place = [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
	| planet = [[Helm]]		| planet = [[Helm]]
−	| place = Helmdown
−	| result = Lyran and Wolf victory; Silver Hawks' partial destruction
	| territory =		| territory =
−	| faction1 = [[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br>[[Clan Wolf]]	+	| faction1 = (Attacker)<br />[[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br />[[Clan Wolf]]
−	| commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br>[[Vedet Brewer]]<br>[[Roderick Steiner]]	+	| faction2 = (Defender)<br />[[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
−	| command1 = [[1st Hesperus Guards]]<br>[[1st Steiner Strikers]]<br>[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)|Alpha Galaxy]]	+	| commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br />[[Vedet Brewer]]<br />[[Roderick Steiner]]
−	| faction2 = [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
	| commander2 = [[Anson Marik]]		| commander2 = [[Anson Marik]]
−	| command2 = [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]]	+	| forces1=
−	| faction3 =	+	| forces2=
−	| commander3 =	+	| result = Partial Hawks' annihilation, lyran and Wolf victory
−	| command3 =	+	| environment =
		+	| conditions = Normal
	}}		}}
−	The '''Battle of Helm (3138)''', also known as the '''Helm Massacre''', was a late [[Dark Age Era]] military operation undertaken by the allied [[Clan Wolf]] and [[Lyran Commonwealth]] forces against the defending [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth|Marik-Stewart]] defenders.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 108</ref>
		+	The '''Battle of Helm (3138)''', aka ''Helm Massacre'' was a late [[Dark Age Era]] military operation undertaken by the allied Clan Wolf and Lyran forces against the defending Marik Stewart defenders.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.108</ref>
		+
		+	==Operation Brief==
		+	The military operation took place in Helm's capital, Helmdown.
		+
		+	==Operation History==
		+	===Factions & Known Units Involved in the Conflict===
		+	====Lyran Commonwealth====
		+	*[[First Hesperus Guards]]
		+	*[[1st Steiner Strikers]]
		+
		+	====[[Clan Wolf]]====
		+	*[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)]] (one Cluster)
		+
		+
		+	====Marik-Stewart Commonwealth====
		+	*[[Silver Hawk Irregulars]]
		+
		+	----
	===Origins of the Conflict===		===Origins of the Conflict===
−	[[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Trillian Steiner]] used [[Anson Marik]]'s reformation of the [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] as an excuse to invade former [[Free Worlds League]] space, enlisting the help of Clan Wolf in exchange for granting the wolves new worlds. Although tenuous, the alliance served both the Lyrans' and the Wolves' interests for the time being.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 24</ref>	+	The reformation by Anson Marik of the disolved [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] was used as excuse by the Lyran Archon [[Trillian Steiner]] to invade the former [[Free Worlds League]] space. She enlisted the help of Clan Wolf, in exchange for new worlds to them. The alliance was tenous, but it served both the lyrans and the Wolves interests, at least for the time being.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.24</ref>
	===Lyran Invasion===		===Lyran Invasion===
−	Reinforced by Clan Wolf forces, the Lyran invasion was almost unstoppable: the minor forces of the Marik-Stewart Commonality were overwhelmed and, worse still, a second front formed as [[Marik]] and nearby worlds were invaded by the [[Spirit Cats]] and [[Oriente Protectorate]]. Only the Silver Hawks were able to stymie the invaders on several occasions but their small size, barely having a regiment in strength, limited their effectiveness.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 23–24</ref>	+	Reinforced by Clan Wolf forces, the lyran invasion was almost unstoppable: the minor forces of the Marik-Stewart Commonality were overwhelmed, and still worse, they had two fronts, as their planet [[Marik]] was invaded by the [[Spirit Cats]] and nearby worlds by the [[Oriente Protectorate]]. Only the Silver Hawks were able to stymie the confound the invaders in several occasions, but their small size, barely a regiment, limited their effectivity.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 23–24</ref>
	===Attack on Helm===		===Attack on Helm===
−	The First Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster, commanded by then-[[Star Colonel]] [[Alaric Wolf]], would first see action together on Helm in April. The bulk of the Irregulars had been sent offworld, leaving behind only two skeleton companies to delay the invaders' advance as long as possible. Fortunately for the Silver Hawks, the Wolf and Lyran forces were not cooperating due to a number of issues and a lack of trust between their commanding officers [[Duke of Hesperus II|Duke]] [[Vedet Brewer]] and Alaric Wolf. In addition, Brewer had his own ambitions and only followed the Archon's plans because it benefited him. Archon Trillian Steiner, assisting the invasion from the front lines, used her diplomatic skills to get both units to work together.	+	The 1st Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster, commanded by then [[Star Colonel]] [[Alaric Wolf]], would first see action together on Helm in April. However, before that, the bulk of the Irregulars was sent offworld, leaving behind only two skeleton companies to delay the invaders' advance as long as possible. Wolves & Lyran forces were not cooperating due to political, cultural, and the personal issues between commanding officers: Duke Vedet & Alaric Wolf. Alaric distrusted the lyrans, and vice versa. Besides, Brewer had great ambitions and only followed his Archon because it benefited him. Trillian, which assisted to the invasion from the front lines, had to use diplomacy for both units to work together.
−		+	Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown, where the Irregulars have entrenched, but were rebuffed by heavy resistance Silver Hawk Irregulars hidden among civilian farmers.
−	Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown where the Silver Hawk Irregulars had entrenched themselves but encountered heavy resistance from the Irregulars' forces hidden amongst the civilian farmers. By 22 May, Steiner had called in the [[First Steiner Strikers]] led by her cousin [[Colonel]] [[Roderick Steiner]] to reinforce Brewer and Alaric Wolf's troops.<ref>''The Last Charge'', ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 24</ref>	+	By May 22nd, Trillian Steiner had called in [[1st Steiner Strikers]], led by her cousin, Colonel [[Roderick Steiner]] to try move invasion of Helm.<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.24</ref>
−
−	===The Helm Massacre===
−	On 28 April,<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 20: Timeline of Events - 3138</ref> the battle for the capital city resumed as the Wolves initiated their attack, clashing with the Silver Hawks while the Hesperus Guards simultaneously advanced, supported by artillery fire and the newly-arrived First Strikers. The Irregulars were compelled to retreat toward the city center with the Lyran forces in pursuit, however the Hesperus Guards were hindered by concentrated artillery fire, forcing them to abandon the chase.<ref>''The Last Charge'', chs. 11–12</ref>
−	The Hawks continued their strategic retreat through the city, employing hit-and-run tactics to harass both Lyran and Wolf forces. Alaric Wolf then ordered air strikes to bombard the city center, facilitating the Wolves' advance. Fearing the overwhelming three-sided assault, the Hawks, now disoriented and leaderless, decided to surrender to Brewer's forces, perceiving him as the most honorable. [[Lieutenant]] [[Fred Parsons]] initiated contact with the duke, proposing the Irregulars' surrender, and Brewer accepted the proposed terms.<ref>''The Last Charge'', chs. 13–14</ref>	+	===The Massacre===
		+	Two days later, the 28 April, the battle for capital city resumed with the Wolves attacking it by his own initiative, engaging the Silver Hawks. Then, the Hesperus Guards followed, covered by artillery fire,m and later, the 1st Strikers joined the assault. The Irregulars were forced to retreat to the center of the city, with the lyrans pursuing them, but the Hesperus Guards fell to concentrated artillery fire, forcing them to cease persecution.<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 11-12</ref>
−	The surrender attempt went awry when a significant portion of the Hawks, led by Lieutenant [[Zeke Carleton]], began firing indiscriminately. Despite Duke Vedet communicating the surrender to Roderick and Alaric, the Wolf leader ignored the ceasefire order and led a final charge against the Hawks. Mercilessly, the Wolves, encountering only scattered resistance, killed both surrendering and rebellious Hawks, including Lieutenant Parsons, and the event became known as the Helm Massacre.<ref>''The Last Charge'', chs. 15–16</ref> This event deeply shook Anson Marik's resolve and Trillian Steiner promptly covered up the incident. Duke Vedet, furious with the Wolves for stealing his victory, vowed never to collaborate with them again.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 23: "Hammerfall & Homecoming"</ref>	+	The Hawks continued retreating through the city, hiting and running, harassing both lyran and Wolf forces. Alaric Wolf then ordered his bombers to bomb the city's center. The destruction made easier the Wolves' advance. The Hawks then ceased fighting, only running, fearing the Wolves. They fell into disarray under the three-side attack, after the Strikers joined the battle. Leaderless and confused, the Hawks' officers and soldiers decided to surrender to Brever's forces, believing him to be the most honorable. Lieutenant [[Fred Parsons]] contacted the Duke, offering his unit's surrender, and Vedet accepted, offering him the terms.
		+	But the surrender attempt failed when the bulk of the Hawks began firing at all directions, even before Parsons and Brever have decided the terms. Anyway, the Duke communicated to Roderick and Alaric the surrender, but the Wolf leader didn't receive the order and led the last charge against the Hawks. Despite the Wolves finding only isolated resistance, they killed any surrended or fighting Hawks, including Parsons, taking no prisoners. Alaric Wolf's heavy handedness made the battle to be noted as the ''Helm Massacre''. However, the massacre didn't affect Anson Marik and was promptly covered up by Trillian Steiner. Vedet was also furious with the Wolf leader for having stole him his victory and vowed never to work with them again. The exact number of Hawks' soldiers and support personnel was between fifty and one hundred.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 20: Timeline of Events/April 28th - Helm Massacre Noted</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 23: Hammerfall & Homecoming - Invasion of Helm and snapshot of events noted</ref><ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 13-16</ref>
	===Aftermath===		===Aftermath===
−	By June 3138, Anson Marik made his final stand on [[Stewart]] and died fighting to protect his worlds from the joint Lyran/Wolf invaders. With Marik's sole heir disinherited two years prior, the collapse of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth became inevitable. Survivors of Anson's newly formed Silver Hawk Irregulars, created to honor the original [[Silver Hawks Coalition]], could only watch the absorption of most of said Coalition by the Wolf Empire.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp. 17–18: "The Hammer Falls"</ref><ref name=EA_40>''Empire Alone'', pp. 40–41: "A New Coalition"</ref>	+	Helm became a decisive battle in Hammerfall: soon after, Anson Marik died on [[Stewart]], and the Marik-Stewart Commonality died with him, but Anson made sure to ensure the Silver Hawks' survived.
−		+	The Hawks remained protecting the last worlds of the Coalition still free, and played a part in the rebirth of the Free Worlds League.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.17-18</ref>
−	Their opportunity for revenge arose on 7 August [[3151]], when Colonel [[Lucas Cameron-Witherspoon]] led a strike on Helm with the First Battalion of the [[Gryphons]]. Despite Helm not being historically a Silver Hawks world, the Gryphons, many of whom were survivors of the Helm Massacre, held a deep-seated vendetta against Clan Wolf and their mission was mainly to inflict maximum casualties on the Wolf warriors stationed there. After initial skirmishes, the Wolves withdrew to the Nagayan Mountains where the Gryphons spent a week hunting them down. By 13 August, only Wolves from the Clan's civilian castes remained on Helm. After claiming victory, Cameron-Witherspoon honored the Silver Hawk Irregulars who had fallen during the Helm Massacre with a monument outside Helmdown.<ref name=EA_40/>
−	==Gallery==	+	Anyway, the Hawks never forgot the massacre, or forgive the wolves: they mantained a vendetta against the wolves. At the dawn of [[IlClan Era]], with the Empire almost defenseless, they began retaking historical Silver Hawk's worlds, Colonel [[Lucas Cameron-Witherspoon]] led the Gryphons' First Battalion to Helm, landing there on 7 August [[3151]]. Fueled by their hate to the Wolves, they led the charge against the minimal Wolf garrison through the Nagayan Mountains, hunting down the Wolf warriors to a man. After the victory, Lucas commissioned a monument outside Helmdown which commemorated all the Silver Hawk Irregulars killed there in 3138.<ref>''Empire Alone'' p. 40-41</ref>
−	<gallery>
−	The Last Charge cover.jpg|Alaric Ward's ''Timber Wolf'' leading the last charge
−	</gallery>
	==References==		==References==
Line 53:		Line 65:
	==Bibliography==		==Bibliography==
−	* ''[[Empire Alone]]''	+	* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]'' (sourcebook)
−	* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''	+	* ''[[Empire Alone]]'' (sourcebook)
	* ''[[The Last Charge]]'' (novela)		* ''[[The Last Charge]]'' (novela)
	[[Category:Late Dark Age Era Military Operations|Battle of Helm (3138)]]		[[Category:Late Dark Age Era Military Operations|Battle of Helm (3138)]]

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{{InfoBoxConflict | conflict = ''Battle of Helm (3138)'' | partof = [[Operation HAMMERFALL]] | image = The_Last_Charge_image.jpg | caption = | date = From 19 to 28 April [[3138]] | place = [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]] | planet = [[Helm]] | territory = | faction1 = (Attacker)<br />[[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br />[[Clan Wolf]] | faction2 = (Defender)<br />[[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]] | commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br />[[Vedet Brewer]]<br />[[Roderick Steiner]] | commander2 = [[Anson Marik]] | forces1= | forces2= | result = Partial Hawks' annihilation, lyran and Wolf victory | environment = | conditions = Normal }} The '''Battle of Helm (3138)''', aka ''Helm Massacre'' was a late [[Dark Age Era]] military operation undertaken by the allied Clan Wolf and Lyran forces against the defending Marik Stewart defenders.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.108</ref> ==Operation Brief== The military operation took place in Helm's capital, Helmdown. ==Operation History== ===Factions & Known Units Involved in the Conflict=== ====Lyran Commonwealth==== *[[First Hesperus Guards]] *[[1st Steiner Strikers]] ====[[Clan Wolf]]==== *[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)]] (one Cluster) ====Marik-Stewart Commonwealth==== *[[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] ---- ===Origins of the Conflict=== The reformation by Anson Marik of the disolved [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] was used as excuse by the Lyran Archon [[Trillian Steiner]] to invade the former [[Free Worlds League]] space. She enlisted the help of Clan Wolf, in exchange for new worlds to them. The alliance was tenous, but it served both the lyrans and the Wolves interests, at least for the time being.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.24</ref> ===Lyran Invasion=== Reinforced by Clan Wolf forces, the lyran invasion was almost unstoppable: the minor forces of the Marik-Stewart Commonality were overwhelmed, and still worse, they had two fronts, as their planet [[Marik]] was invaded by the [[Spirit Cats]] and nearby worlds by the [[Oriente Protectorate]]. Only the Silver Hawks were able to stymie the confound the invaders in several occasions, but their small size, barely a regiment, limited their effectivity.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 23–24</ref> ===Attack on Helm=== The 1st Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster, commanded by then [[Star Colonel]] [[Alaric Wolf]], would first see action together on Helm in April. However, before that, the bulk of the Irregulars was sent offworld, leaving behind only two skeleton companies to delay the invaders' advance as long as possible. Wolves & Lyran forces were not cooperating due to political, cultural, and the personal issues between commanding officers: Duke Vedet & Alaric Wolf. Alaric distrusted the lyrans, and vice versa. Besides, Brewer had great ambitions and only followed his Archon because it benefited him. Trillian, which assisted to the invasion from the front lines, had to use diplomacy for both units to work together. Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown, where the Irregulars have entrenched, but were rebuffed by heavy resistance Silver Hawk Irregulars hidden among civilian farmers. By May 22nd, Trillian Steiner had called in [[1st Steiner Strikers]], led by her cousin, Colonel [[Roderick Steiner]] to try move invasion of Helm.<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.24</ref> ===The Massacre=== Two days later, the 28 April, the battle for capital city resumed with the Wolves attacking it by his own initiative, engaging the Silver Hawks. Then, the Hesperus Guards followed, covered by artillery fire,m and later, the 1st Strikers joined the assault. The Irregulars were forced to retreat to the center of the city, with the lyrans pursuing them, but the Hesperus Guards fell to concentrated artillery fire, forcing them to cease persecution.<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 11-12</ref> The Hawks continued retreating through the city, hiting and running, harassing both lyran and Wolf forces. Alaric Wolf then ordered his bombers to bomb the city's center. The destruction made easier the Wolves' advance. The Hawks then ceased fighting, only running, fearing the Wolves. They fell into disarray under the three-side attack, after the Strikers joined the battle. Leaderless and confused, the Hawks' officers and soldiers decided to surrender to Brever's forces, believing him to be the most honorable. Lieutenant [[Fred Parsons]] contacted the Duke, offering his unit's surrender, and Vedet accepted, offering him the terms. But the surrender attempt failed when the bulk of the Hawks began firing at all directions, even before Parsons and Brever have decided the terms. Anyway, the Duke communicated to Roderick and Alaric the surrender, but the Wolf leader didn't receive the order and led the last charge against the Hawks. Despite the Wolves finding only isolated resistance, they killed any surrended or fighting Hawks, including Parsons, taking no prisoners. Alaric Wolf's heavy handedness made the battle to be noted as the ''Helm Massacre''. However, the massacre didn't affect Anson Marik and was promptly covered up by Trillian Steiner. Vedet was also furious with the Wolf leader for having stole him his victory and vowed never to work with them again. The exact number of Hawks' soldiers and support personnel was between fifty and one hundred.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 20: Timeline of Events/April 28th - Helm Massacre Noted</ref><ref>''Era Report: 3145'', p. 23: Hammerfall & Homecoming - Invasion of Helm and snapshot of events noted</ref><ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 13-16</ref> ===Aftermath=== Helm became a decisive battle in Hammerfall: soon after, Anson Marik died on [[Stewart]], and the Marik-Stewart Commonality died with him, but Anson made sure to ensure the Silver Hawks' survived. The Hawks remained protecting the last worlds of the Coalition still free, and played a part in the rebirth of the Free Worlds League.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.17-18</ref> Anyway, the Hawks never forgot the massacre, or forgive the wolves: they mantained a vendetta against the wolves. At the dawn of [[IlClan Era]], with the Empire almost defenseless, they began retaking historical Silver Hawk's worlds, Colonel [[Lucas Cameron-Witherspoon]] led the Gryphons' First Battalion to Helm, landing there on 7 August [[3151]]. Fueled by their hate to the Wolves, they led the charge against the minimal Wolf garrison through the Nagayan Mountains, hunting down the Wolf warriors to a man. After the victory, Lucas commissioned a monument outside Helmdown which commemorated all the Silver Hawk Irregulars killed there in 3138.<ref>''Empire Alone'' p. 40-41</ref> ==References== <references /> ==Bibliography== * ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]'' (sourcebook) * ''[[Empire Alone]]'' (sourcebook) * ''[[The Last Charge]]'' (novela) [[Category:Late Dark Age Era Military Operations|Battle of Helm (3138)]]

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