Difference between revisions of "Battle of Greeley (3152)"
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| − | The Draconis Combine invasion of the Federated Suns and creation of an occupation zone, the [[Dragon's Tongue]] at the end of the [[Dark Age Era]] proved to be short-lived. [[Operation DAWN]], the reconquest of [[New Avalon]] by the Suns crippled the Kuritans. Still worse than their losses in troops was the ''de facto'' decapitation of them: ''Kanrei'' [[Matsuhari Toranaga]] was lost on New Avalon, and Coordinator [[Yori Kurita]] didn't involved herself in the defense of the remaining occupied worlds. Only a [[Sho-sa]], [[Masashia Miura]] wanted to take command. Combining the survivors of New Avalon defenders from the [[Ryuken]] and [[Genyosha]], he formed a joint unit, named ''Black Sword''. However, from the start, Black Sword hadn't time to react, as the Federated Suns launched [[Operation SOLAR FLARE]], an all out assault against the Tongue worlds. One by one they fell, with the Kuritan defenders barely delaying the FedSun advance. When the second wave of Solar Flare was launched, it became evident than the Combine positions were doomed... but Miura refused to surrender or retreat: his honor didn't allowed him to do so.<ref>''Dominions divided'' pp. 73</ref> | + | The Draconis Combine invasion of the Federated Suns and creation of an occupation zone, the [[Dragon's Tongue]] at the end of the [[Dark Age Era]] proved to be short-lived. [[Operation DAWN]], the reconquest of [[New Avalon]] by the Suns, crippled the Kuritans. Still worse than their losses in troops was the ''de facto'' decapitation of them: ''Kanrei'' [[Matsuhari Toranaga]] was lost on New Avalon, and Coordinator [[Yori Kurita]] didn't involved herself in the defense of the remaining occupied worlds. Only a [[Sho-sa]], [[Masashia Miura]] wanted to take command. Combining the survivors of New Avalon defenders from the [[Ryuken]] and [[Genyosha]], he formed a joint unit, named ''Black Sword''. However, from the start, Black Sword hadn't time to react, as the Federated Suns launched [[Operation SOLAR FLARE]], an all out assault against the Tongue worlds. One by one they fell, with the Kuritan defenders barely delaying the FedSun advance. When the second wave of Solar Flare was launched, it became evident than the Combine positions were doomed... but Miura refused to surrender or retreat: his honor didn't allowed him to do so.<ref>''Dominions divided'' pp. 73</ref> |
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Revision as of 08:37, 21 June 2023
| Operation SOLAR FLARE | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of The IlClan Era | |||||||
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| Factions | |||||||
| (Attacker) Federated Suns |
(Defender) Draconis Combine |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Erik Sandoval-Groell | Masashi Miura | ||||||
| Conditions | |||||||
| Normal | |||||||
The Battle of Greely is an early IlClan Era military operation that was undertaken by the Federated Suns against the invader Draconis Combine in June 3152.
Contents
Operation Brief
The military operation took place within the planet of Greely exclusively.
Operation History
Factions & Known Units Involved in the Conflict
Federated Suns
Draconis Combine
Origin of Conflict
The Draconis Combine invasion of the Federated Suns and creation of an occupation zone, the Dragon's Tongue at the end of the Dark Age Era proved to be short-lived. Operation DAWN, the reconquest of New Avalon by the Suns, crippled the Kuritans. Still worse than their losses in troops was the de facto decapitation of them: Kanrei Matsuhari Toranaga was lost on New Avalon, and Coordinator Yori Kurita didn't involved herself in the defense of the remaining occupied worlds. Only a Sho-sa, Masashia Miura wanted to take command. Combining the survivors of New Avalon defenders from the Ryuken and Genyosha, he formed a joint unit, named Black Sword. However, from the start, Black Sword hadn't time to react, as the Federated Suns launched Operation SOLAR FLARE, an all out assault against the Tongue worlds. One by one they fell, with the Kuritan defenders barely delaying the FedSun advance. When the second wave of Solar Flare was launched, it became evident than the Combine positions were doomed... but Miura refused to surrender or retreat: his honor didn't allowed him to do so.[1]
Launch of the Operation
Greeley found himself in the most key position: the reduced Dragon's Tongue was in its narrowest point there, so it posession became key to both sides. Miura obviously knew that, because the mainstay of the remaining Combine forces began gathering there, and Erik Sandoval, the AFFS commander on the field, concentrated his efforts on taking the world, at any cost.[2]
Greeley, an arctic wasteland, became the key battlefield in the campaign, a glorious last stand for the samurai loyal to the dead kanrei and abandoned by their Coordinator. Ironically, the planet itself had little value: it hadn't industry or resources to justify a great campaign... but his position in the Tongue gave it a key strategic value. The main battlefield was Fort Greeley, a former AFFS and Star League base. The base had became Miura's headquarters. Since he had ensconced his troops on the base, Masashi enacted a strict lockdown of the entire planet, stockiling supplies and rationating them, allowing his troops to rest and rearm.[3]
The Suns' assault, ironically, caught Miura by surprise. Thinking it was merely a raid to destroy supplies, sent only a handful of patrols towards Fort Greeley's surrounding towns, without approaching the capital. The AFFS forces took great care to don't disturb the locals' way of life, which made them slightly welcome them, and help them to starve the kuritans. Within some days, Miura realized the food shipments ceased top arrive at Fort Greeley, and prepared to move his infantry into the nearby city, to force the population to obey, but before they can do so, three companies of Davion light 'Mechs moved to the capital. Miura had to retreat the infantry to the fort.[4]
There were more Combine forces in system, but these, the Hikage, under the command of Sho-sho Ikeda, didn't approach the planet fast, taking their time. Still worst, before the real battle could began, Seventh Ghost quietly disappeared. But the survivors of the Ryuken-san and the Eleventh Ghost rallied to Sho-sa Miura and his last Black Sword soldiers. Mustering First Battalion of the Black Sword, he led them towards the capital, but when he began his movements, Erik sent his forces to Fort Greeley. Fearing to lose his main base, Miura retreated his forces there, preparing to make a final stand. Taking no chances, Erik brought the fresh Fifth Robinson Strikers to support the assault guards and Dawn Guards. The battle outside the tundra, around Fort Greeley, lasted only two hours, with the Strikers bearing the brunt of the Combine attacks. The Davion assault, led by Justin Sortek, broke the Combine lines, but before his men could enter inside the base, Erik ordered him to cease fire: the Hikage had aborted his combat drop. In reality, Ikeda never wanted to help their forces, only to allow the Davions to crush the remnants of Toranaga's hardliners, to put all blame of the defeat to him.[5]
By sunset, all had ended: Fort Greeley lay into Suns' hands, and every Black Sword member lay dead. Masashi Miura was one of those killed. The few survivors from the Ryuken and Eleventh Ghost requested seppuku to their lords. Soon after, Erik negotiated with Ikeda, making a deal: he signed a cease fire across all the Tongue's occuppied worlds, allowed him to retreat of all remaining kuritan forces to their space.[6][7]
Conflict Conclusion
The battle of Greely signaled the end of years long open war between the Combine and the Suns, and also signaled the end of Operation Solar Flare. Both sides were so much exhausted than any plans to retake lost worlds from the other side were put aside. The DCMS focused in defensive operations, and the Suns in rebuilding their shattered units and planets. Yori Kurita rebuild the DCMS making it only loyal to her, while, ironically, the victor of the conflict -theorically, at least- the Federated Suns, was divided in two leaders: Julian Davion being the -official- supreme commander, but with Erik Sandoval being the most popular and commander of most of the troops. However, a conflict between them didn't explode... at least, for the moment. So a tenous peace extended through the Combine-Suns border.[8]
Notes
Gallery
Davion Assault Guards during the last part of the Battle of Greeley
