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[[Image:Capellan Confederation logo.png|right|100px]]
 
[[Image:Capellan Confederation logo.png|right|100px]]
 
[[Image:St Ives logo.png|right|125px]]
 
[[Image:St Ives logo.png|right|125px]]
The '''Capellan–St. Ives War''' (known as the '''''Xin Sheng'' Campaign''' to the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]]), as its name implies, was a war that primarily involved the [[Capellan Confederation]] and the [[St. Ives Compact]]. Referred to as a civil war by both sides and acknowledged as such by decision of the [[Second Star League|Star League]], it was regarded diplomatically as an "internal Capellan matter". Regardless, the war would involve units from virtually every faction and would serve as a preview to the brutality witnessed during the [[Federated Commonwealth Civil War]]. Though the conflict officially started in [[3061]], hostilities began in [[3060]]. The war lasted from 3061 until [[3063]].<ref name=ER:3062p26>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 26</ref>
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The '''Capellan–St. Ives War''' (known as the '''Xin Sheng Campaign''' to the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]]), as its name implies, was a war that primarily involved the [[Capellan Confederation]] and the [[St. Ives Compact]]. Referred to as a civil war by both sides and acknowledged as such by decision of the [[Star League]], it was regarded diplomatically as an "internal Capellan matter". Regardless, the war would involve units from virtually every faction and would serve as a preview to the brutality witnessed during the [[Federated Commonwealth Civil War]]. Though the conflict formally started in [[3061]], hostilities began in [[3060]]. The war lasted from 3061 until [[3063]].<ref name=ER:3062p26>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 26</ref>
  
 
==Background==
 
==Background==
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Short of the troops needed to finish retaking the Chaos March and holding the Disputed Territories, [[Chancellor]] [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] personally traveled to [[Canopus IV]] to negotiate with [[Magestrix]] [[Emma Centrella]] for [[Magistracy of Canopus|Canopian]] aid. Under the proposed agreement, the [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] would augment CCAF operations in exchange for advanced technology access and educational aid. Sun-Tzu Liao's decisive actions in ending the [[Pirates War]] cinched the deal for the Magestrix and the alliance between the Magistracy of Canopus and Capellan Confederation was finalized in [[3058]].<ref name=ER:3062p17>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 17</ref><ref name=ER:3062p27>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 27</ref>
 
Short of the troops needed to finish retaking the Chaos March and holding the Disputed Territories, [[Chancellor]] [[Sun-Tzu Liao]] personally traveled to [[Canopus IV]] to negotiate with [[Magestrix]] [[Emma Centrella]] for [[Magistracy of Canopus|Canopian]] aid. Under the proposed agreement, the [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] would augment CCAF operations in exchange for advanced technology access and educational aid. Sun-Tzu Liao's decisive actions in ending the [[Pirates War]] cinched the deal for the Magestrix and the alliance between the Magistracy of Canopus and Capellan Confederation was finalized in [[3058]].<ref name=ER:3062p17>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 17</ref><ref name=ER:3062p27>''Era Report: 3062'', p. 27</ref>
  
While this détente was occurring, the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3058)|Jade Falcon Incursion]] took place, the result of which led to the [[1st Whitting Conference]] and the formation of the [[Second Star League]] in November of 3058. Political rivalries of the various [[Inner Sphere]] leaders present resulted in the selection of Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao as [[First Lord]] of the Star League. Under the mantle of the Second Star League, operational control of most Chaos March military production facilities, including [[Sarna]] and [[Styk]],<ref name=HB:HLp63>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 63</ref> was obtained by [[Periphery]] allies of the Confederation. It was also during this period that the ''[[Xin Sheng]]'' movement was started.<ref name=FM:CCp14/><ref name=HB:HLp62>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 62</ref>
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While this détente was occurring, the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3058)|Jade Falcon Incursion]] took place, the result of which led to the [[1st Whitting Conference]] and the formation of the [[Second Star League]] in November of 3058. Political rivalries of the various [[Inner Sphere]] leaders present resulted in the selection of Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao as [[First Lord]] of the Star League. Under the mantle of the Second Star League, operational control of most Chaos March military production facilities, including [[Sarna]] and [[Styk]],<ref name=HB:HLp63>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 63</ref> was obtained by [[Periphery]] allies of the Confederation. It was also during this period that the [[Xin Sheng]] movement was started.<ref name=FM:CCp14/><ref name=HB:HLp62>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 62</ref>
  
 
[[Operation BULLDOG]] began in [[3059]]. On November 1, a task force including Prince [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] and [[Kai Allard-Liao]] left the Inner Sphere to reinforce [[Task Force Serpent]] on [[Huntress]]. [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] was left as Regent of the [[Federated Commonwealth]].
 
[[Operation BULLDOG]] began in [[3059]]. On November 1, a task force including Prince [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] and [[Kai Allard-Liao]] left the Inner Sphere to reinforce [[Task Force Serpent]] on [[Huntress]]. [[Yvonne Steiner-Davion]] was left as Regent of the [[Federated Commonwealth]].
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| Flew Star League colors and acted as a WarShip escort
 
| Flew Star League colors and acted as a WarShip escort
 
|-
 
|-
| [[Avenging Sword (Individual Aegis-class WarShip)|Avenging Sword]]
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| [[Avenging Sword (Aegis)|Avenging Sword]]
 
| ComStar
 
| ComStar
 
| 3062
 
| 3062
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==Political and Military Actions==
 
==Political and Military Actions==
 
===Phase I: Appearances and Politics===
 
===Phase I: Appearances and Politics===
The departure of Prince Victor Steiner-Davion for the [[Clan Homeworlds]] was discovered by the [[Maskirovka]] in March of 3060.<ref name=ToAp6>''Threads of Ambition'', p. 6</ref> Without the aid the ruler of the mighty AFFC could bring, the St. Ives Compact could never withstand a direct invasion from the Capellan Confederation. However, two factors prevented a frontal assault from being attempted: the [[Star League Council]] and the ''Xin Sheng'' movement.
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The departure of Prince Victor Steiner-Davion for the [[Clan Homeworlds]] was discovered by the [[Maskirovka]] in March of 3060.<ref name=ToAp6>''Threads of Ambition'', p. 6</ref> Without the aid the ruler of the mighty AFFC could bring, the St. Ives Compact could never withstand a direct invasion from the Capellan Confederation. However, two factors prevented a frontal assault from being attempted: the [[Star League Council]] and the Xin Sheng movement.
  
The St. Ives Compact could rely on the Star League Council votes of itself, the Federated Commonwealth, the [[Draconis Combine]], and the Rasalhague Republic as opposed to the Capellan Confederation's, the Free Worlds League's and the Lyran Alliance's votes.<ref name=ToAp10>''Threads of Ambition'', p. 10</ref> This guaranteed that any invasion would be condemned by the Star League along with its threat of foreign interference. With Sun-Tzu Liao already using the prestige of being First Lord to launch the ''Xin Sheng'' movement,<ref name=FM:CCp14>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 14</ref><ref name=HB:HLp62/> any perceived abuse of his office would have very well crippled that effort as well. For these reasons, all actions they took must be seen as legal, reasonable, and right.
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The St. Ives Compact could rely on the Star League Council votes of itself, the Federated Commonwealth, the [[Draconis Combine]], and the Rasalhague Republic as opposed to the Capellan Confederation's, the Free Worlds League's and the Lyran Alliance's votes.<ref name=ToAp10>''Threads of Ambition'', p. 10</ref> This guaranteed that any invasion would be condemned by the Star League along with its threat of foreign interference. With Sun-Tzu Liao already using the prestige of being First Lord to launch the Xin Sheng movement,<ref name=FM:CCp14>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 14</ref><ref name=HB:HLp62/> any perceived abuse of his office would have very well crippled that effort as well. For these reasons, all actions they took must be seen as legal, reasonable, and right.
  
In July of 3060, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao and [[Isis Marik]] began a tour of various Capellan worlds bordering the St. Ives Compact. To promote the ''Xin Sheng'' movement, the Chancellor took this opportunity to elevate the [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] into the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces as a regular line unit. Calls for pan-Capellan unity and praise for those who did not abandon the realm rang from planet to planet. In the St. Ives Compact, such words were seen as the insult they were intended as, and agitation began to increase. [[Duchess]] [[Candace Liao]] recognized the danger and reassigned the fanatical [[Khorsakov's Cossacks]] away from the border. Despite these precautions, a battalion of Blackwind Lancers jumped the border and attacked the Chancellor's retinue anyway.<ref name=HB:HLp64>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 64</ref>
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In July of 3060, Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao and [[Isis Marik]] began a tour of various Capellan worlds bordering the St. Ives Compact. To promote the Xin Sheng movement, the Chancellor took this opportunity to elevate the [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] into the Capellan Confederation Armed Forces as a regular line unit. Calls for pan-Capellan unity and praise for those who did not abandon the realm rang from planet to planet. In the St. Ives Compact, such words were seen as the insult they were intended as, and agitation began to increase. [[Duchess]] [[Candace Liao]] recognized the danger and reassigned the fanatical [[Khorsakov's Cossacks]] away from the border. Despite these precautions, a battalion of Blackwind Lancers jumped the border and attacked the Chancellor's retinue anyway.<ref name=HB:HLp64>''Handbook: House Liao'', p. 64</ref>
  
 
In September of 3060, the 2nd Battalion of the [[Blackwind Lancers]] under the command of [[Major]] [[Trisha Smithson]] plus two mercenary companies left their garrison on [[Denbar]] and assaulted the Confederation world of [[Hustaing]] with the intent of capturing or killing Chancellor Liao and his fiancée, Duchess Isis Marik. The principal defenders on-planet were only the Chancellor's escort, [[Warrior House Hiritsu]], and the local [[Home Guard (Capellan Confederation)|Home Guard]].<ref name=HB:HLp64/> The fighting devastated the capital city of Qingliu and spurred massive anti-Confederation protests throughout the Compact. It ended in October with the unconditional surrender of the St. Ives troops. The entire operation was doomed to failure as not only was Sun-Tzu Liao not present but that Major Smithson was revealed privately to be a Maskirovka agent.
 
In September of 3060, the 2nd Battalion of the [[Blackwind Lancers]] under the command of [[Major]] [[Trisha Smithson]] plus two mercenary companies left their garrison on [[Denbar]] and assaulted the Confederation world of [[Hustaing]] with the intent of capturing or killing Chancellor Liao and his fiancée, Duchess Isis Marik. The principal defenders on-planet were only the Chancellor's escort, [[Warrior House Hiritsu]], and the local [[Home Guard (Capellan Confederation)|Home Guard]].<ref name=HB:HLp64/> The fighting devastated the capital city of Qingliu and spurred massive anti-Confederation protests throughout the Compact. It ended in October with the unconditional surrender of the St. Ives troops. The entire operation was doomed to failure as not only was Sun-Tzu Liao not present but that Major Smithson was revealed privately to be a Maskirovka agent.
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A secondary thrust was composed of individual battalions of the 2nd St. Ives Lancers, of which Cassandra Allard-Liao was a part. Focused on raiding enemy forces and resupplying the beleaguered defenders along the front, they acted as a mobile reserve that stalled and occasionally reversed the Capellan advance.<ref name=FM:CCp105/>
 
A secondary thrust was composed of individual battalions of the 2nd St. Ives Lancers, of which Cassandra Allard-Liao was a part. Focused on raiding enemy forces and resupplying the beleaguered defenders along the front, they acted as a mobile reserve that stalled and occasionally reversed the Capellan advance.<ref name=FM:CCp105/>
  
On Denbar, the recently disbanded 2nd Battalion of the Blackwind Lancers emerged from extinction to destroy the Regimental Command Company of the 3rd Confederation Reserve Cavalry. Resupplied back to battalion strength by the 2nd St. Ives Lancers' supply runs, they then transferred to Indicass under the authority of ''[[Mandrinn]]'' Tormano Liao and his newly arrived Free Capella.<ref name=FM:CCp113>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 113</ref> There they and Free Capella attempted to retake the planet or at least prevent the CCAF from securing it.
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On Denbar, the recently disbanded 2nd Battalion of the Blackwind Lancers emerged from extinction to destroy the Regimental Command Company of the 3rd Confederation Reserve Cavalry. Resupplied back to battalion strength by the 2nd St. Ives Lancers' supply runs, they then transferred to Indicass under the authority of Mandrinn Tormano Liao and his newly arrived Free Capella.<ref name=FM:CCp113>''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 113</ref> There they and Free Capella attempted to retake the planet or at least prevent the CCAF from securing it.
  
 
On St. Loris and Taga, the Capellan Confederation advanced their campaign to reclaim their former commonality. Like Milos and even Denbar, significant portions of the planet's population welcomed the return of the Confederation and promptly defected when given the chance. This allowed the CCAF a natural staging ground from which to expand their control.
 
On St. Loris and Taga, the Capellan Confederation advanced their campaign to reclaim their former commonality. Like Milos and even Denbar, significant portions of the planet's population welcomed the return of the Confederation and promptly defected when given the chance. This allowed the CCAF a natural staging ground from which to expand their control.
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That mystery was solved on the 2nd of May, 3062; on that day Kali Liao informed the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation that her [[Thuggee]] Cult had obtained canisters of the Wei nerve gas<ref name=FM:CCp87/> and would begin attacking military and political targets in the St. Ives Compact immediately. Horrified by the upcoming humanitarian disaster and the even more dangerous political consequences that came with it, Sun-Tzu put his sister into custody and began coordinating with Duchess Candice Liao to stop the Thuggees. Fortunately, the mentally unbalanced Kali Liao was more than willing to give up her followers at the request of her brother. The [[Black May]] attacks would last till early June and kill only 10,000 out of the 5 million originally estimated to die. Kali Liao was handed over to the Star League Council for a war crimes trial in Atreus. She would be found innocent by reason of insanity but be exiled to Highspire by her brother, Sun-Tzu Liao. Maskirovka Director [[Sasha Wanli]] fled the Capellan Confederation and defected to the St. Ives Compact over the belief that she would be executed for her failure to stop the Black May attacks. She was assassinated a few months later on St. Ives.
 
That mystery was solved on the 2nd of May, 3062; on that day Kali Liao informed the Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation that her [[Thuggee]] Cult had obtained canisters of the Wei nerve gas<ref name=FM:CCp87/> and would begin attacking military and political targets in the St. Ives Compact immediately. Horrified by the upcoming humanitarian disaster and the even more dangerous political consequences that came with it, Sun-Tzu put his sister into custody and began coordinating with Duchess Candice Liao to stop the Thuggees. Fortunately, the mentally unbalanced Kali Liao was more than willing to give up her followers at the request of her brother. The [[Black May]] attacks would last till early June and kill only 10,000 out of the 5 million originally estimated to die. Kali Liao was handed over to the Star League Council for a war crimes trial in Atreus. She would be found innocent by reason of insanity but be exiled to Highspire by her brother, Sun-Tzu Liao. Maskirovka Director [[Sasha Wanli]] fled the Capellan Confederation and defected to the St. Ives Compact over the belief that she would be executed for her failure to stop the Black May attacks. She was assassinated a few months later on St. Ives.
  
Regardless, the first few days of Black May achieved complete surprise and targeted as many high-ranking soldiers and politicians that it could. It succeeded in killing ''Mandrinn'' Tormano Liao and General Simone Devon on the first day. Duchess Candice Liao and Major Cassandra Allard-Liao were saved at a great cost. Isis Marik's JumpShip was saved by her escorting WarShip. The commanding officers of the Blackwind Lancers, the 2nd Janissaries,<ref name=FM:CCp112/> Raymond's Armored Infantry,<ref name=FM:CCp109/> the 7th FedCom RCT, and Nashuar's Military Coordinator were killed.
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Regardless, the first few days of Black May achieved complete surprise and targeted as many high-ranking soldiers and politicians that it could. It succeeded in killing Mandrinn Tormano Liao and General Simone Devon on the first day. Duchess Candice Liao and Major Cassandra Allard-Liao were saved at a great cost. Isis Marik's JumpShip was saved by her escorting WarShip. The commanding officers of the Blackwind Lancers, the 2nd Janissaries,<ref name=FM:CCp112/> Raymond's Armored Infantry,<ref name=FM:CCp109/> the 7th FedCom RCT, and Nashuar's Military Coordinator were killed.
  
 
The loss of so much senior leadership and the desperate need for chemical warfare precautions allowed the CCAF to make incredible gains. Resistance on Indicass collapsed as Free Capella and the 2nd Janissaries fled the world. However, battle after battle showed the Capellans taking more casualties as both Compact soldiers and civilians alike blamed the Capellan Confederation itself for Black May. The brutality of the fighting, especially on Nashuar, reached a whole new level.
 
The loss of so much senior leadership and the desperate need for chemical warfare precautions allowed the CCAF to make incredible gains. Resistance on Indicass collapsed as Free Capella and the 2nd Janissaries fled the world. However, battle after battle showed the Capellans taking more casualties as both Compact soldiers and civilians alike blamed the Capellan Confederation itself for Black May. The brutality of the fighting, especially on Nashuar, reached a whole new level.
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During this period, evidence of ComStar's military aid to the Compact would be discovered. The scandal would force ComStar to withdraw from the conflict altogether.<ref name=FM:Up85/> This leaves only the SLDF as Victor Steiner-Davion's contribution to the Compact's defense.
 
During this period, evidence of ComStar's military aid to the Compact would be discovered. The scandal would force ComStar to withdraw from the conflict altogether.<ref name=FM:Up85/> This leaves only the SLDF as Victor Steiner-Davion's contribution to the Compact's defense.
  
Meanwhile, on 15 August 3062, Protector Grover Shraplen of the Taurian Concordat formed the [[Trinity Alliance]] with the Capellan Confederation, and Magistracy of Canopus. This led to a full commitment to the St. Ives war and more Taurian Defense Force regiments arriving to tip the scales even more heavily to the Confederation's favor.<ref name=FM:Pp49/>
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Meanwhile, on 15 August 3062, Protector Grover Shraplen of the Taurian Concordat formed the [[Trinity Alliance]] with the Capellan Confederation, and Magistracy of Canopus. This lead to a full commitment to the St. Ives war and more Taurian Defense Force regiments arriving to tip the scales even more heavily to the Confederation's favor.<ref name=FM:Pp49/>
  
 
===Phase VII: Peace Talks and Surrender===
 
===Phase VII: Peace Talks and Surrender===

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