Difference between revisions of "Battle of Helm (3138)"

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| result = Lyran and Wolf victory; Silver Hawks' partial destruction  
 
| result = Lyran and Wolf victory; Silver Hawks' partial destruction  
 
| territory =  
 
| territory =  
| faction1 = (Attacker)<br>[[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br>[[Clan Wolf]]
+
| faction1 = [[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br>[[Clan Wolf]]
 
| commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br>[[Vedet Brewer]]<br>[[Roderick Steiner]]
 
| commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br>[[Vedet Brewer]]<br>[[Roderick Steiner]]
 
| command1 = [[1st Hesperus Guards]]<br>[[1st Steiner Strikers]]<br>[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)|Alpha Galaxy]]
 
| command1 = [[1st Hesperus Guards]]<br>[[1st Steiner Strikers]]<br>[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)|Alpha Galaxy]]
| faction2 = (Defender)<br>[[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
+
| faction2 = [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
 
| commander2 = [[Anson Marik]]
 
| commander2 = [[Anson Marik]]
 
| command2 = [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]]
 
| command2 = [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]]
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| command3 =  
 
| command3 =  
 
}}
 
}}
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 forces against the defending Marik Stewart defenders.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 108</ref>
+
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>
  
 
===Origins of the Conflict===
 
===Origins of the Conflict===
Line 28: Line 28:
  
 
===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. Wolves and Lyran forces were not cooperating due to a number of issues and lack of trust between their commanding officers Duke [[Vedet Brewer]] and [[Alaric Ward]]. In addition, Brewer had his own ambitions and only followed the Archon because it benefited him. Archon Trillian Steiner, which assisted the invasion from the front lines, used her diplomatic skills to get both units to work together.
+
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. Wolves and Lyran forces were not cooperating due to a number of issues and lack of trust between their commanding officers [[Duke of Hesperus II|Duke]] [[Vedet Brewer]] and Alaric Ward. In addition, Brewer had his own ambitions and only followed the Archon because it benefited him. Archon Trillian Steiner, which assisted the invasion from the front lines, used her diplomatic skills to get both units to work together.
  
 
Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown where the Silver Hawk Irregulars had entrenched, but encountered heavy resistance from their forces hidden amongst the civilian farmers. By May 22nd, Steiner had called in the [[First Steiner Strikers]], led by her cousin Colonel [[Roderick Steiner]].<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 24</ref>
 
Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown where the Silver Hawk Irregulars had entrenched, but encountered heavy resistance from their forces hidden amongst the civilian farmers. By May 22nd, Steiner had called in the [[First Steiner Strikers]], led by her cousin Colonel [[Roderick Steiner]].<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 24</ref>
  
 
===The Massacre===
 
===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>
+
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'' chs. 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.  
 
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, led by Lieutenant [[Zeke Carleton]] began firing at all directions. Anyway, the Duke communicated to Roderick and Alaric the surrender, but the Wolf leader ignored 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>
+
But the surrender attempt failed when the bulk of the Hawks, led by Lieutenant [[Zeke Carleton]] began firing at all directions. Anyway, the Duke communicated to Roderick and Alaric the surrender, but the Wolf leader ignored 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'' chs. 13–16</ref>
  
 
===Aftermath===
 
===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.  
 
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>
+
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>  
+
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'', pp. 40–41</ref>  
  
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
The_Last_Charge_image.jpg|Alaric Ward's ''Timber Wolf'' leading the last charge
 
The_Last_Charge_image.jpg|Alaric Ward's ''Timber Wolf'' leading the last charge
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 54: Line 53:
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]'' (sourcebook)
+
* ''[[Empire Alone]]''
* ''[[Empire Alone]]'' (sourcebook)
+
* ''[[Field Manual: 3145]]''
 
* ''[[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)]]

Revision as of 11:35, 24 November 2023

Battle of Helm (3138)
Conflict details
Part of Operation HAMMERFALL
Start Date From 19 April 3138
End Date 28 April 3138
Planet(s) Helm
Location(s) Helmdown
Result Lyran and Wolf victory; Silver Hawks' partial destruction
Attacking Forces
Affiliation Lyran Commonwealth
Clan Wolf
Commanding Officer(s) Alaric Ward
Vedet Brewer
Roderick Steiner
Command(s) 1st Hesperus Guards
1st Steiner Strikers
Alpha Galaxy
Defending Forces
Affiliation Marik-Stewart Commonwealth
Commanding Officer(s) Anson Marik
Command(s) Silver Hawk Irregulars
Other Forces

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 defenders.[1]

Origins of the Conflict

Archon Trillian Steiner used Anson Marik's reformation of the Silver Hawk Irregulars as an excuse to invade the former Free Worlds League space. She enlisted the help of Clan Wolf in exchange for new worlds. The alliance was tenuous but it served both the Lyrans' and the Wolves' interests for the time being.[2]

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 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 a regiment, limited their effectiveness.[3]

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. Wolves and Lyran forces were not cooperating due to a number of issues and lack of trust between their commanding officers Duke Vedet Brewer and Alaric Ward. In addition, Brewer had his own ambitions and only followed the Archon because it benefited him. Archon Trillian Steiner, which assisted the invasion from the front lines, used her diplomatic skills to get both units to work together.

Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown where the Silver Hawk Irregulars had entrenched, but encountered heavy resistance from their forces hidden amongst the civilian farmers. By May 22nd, Steiner had called in the First Steiner Strikers, led by her cousin Colonel Roderick Steiner.[4][5]

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.[6]

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, led by Lieutenant Zeke Carleton began firing at all directions. Anyway, the Duke communicated to Roderick and Alaric the surrender, but the Wolf leader ignored 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.[7][8][9]

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.[10]

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.[11]

Gallery

References

  1. Field Manual: 3145, p. 108
  2. Field Manual: 3145, p. 24
  3. Era Report: 3145, pp. 23–24
  4. The Last Charge ch. 10
  5. Field Manual: 3145, p. 24
  6. The Last Charge chs. 11–12
  7. Era Report: 3145, p. 20: Timeline of Events/April 28th - Helm Massacre Noted
  8. Era Report: 3145, p. 23: Hammerfall & Homecoming - Invasion of Helm and snapshot of events noted
  9. The Last Charge chs. 13–16
  10. Field Manual: 3145, pp. 17–18
  11. Empire Alone, pp. 40–41

Bibliography