Battle of Wayside (3062)

Part of The Clan Invasion
Start Date 2 June 3062 Planet Wayside V Result Jaguar overwhelming victory
Factions
(Attacker) Clan Goliath Scorpion	(Defender) Clan Smoke Jaguar
Commanders and leaders
Galactic Commander Rik Myers	Paul Moon
Forces involved
Thirty-Fifth Scorpion Cuirassiers
Conditions
Normal

The Battle of the Straits was a late Clan Invasion Era battle between the last Smoke Jaguars and a Cluster of Clan Goliath Scorpion.

Operation Brief

The military operation took place within the narrow straits between the New Northwind Continent and New Scotland Continent on Wayside V.

Operation History

Factions & Known Units Involved in the Conflict

Clan Smoke Jaguar

• Forty-seventh Garrison Cluster (a Binary)

Clan Goliath Scorpion

• Thirty-Fifth Scorpion Cuirassiers

Origin of Conflict

The destruction of Clan Smoke Jaguar after Operation Bulldog and Operation SERPENT destroyed the Clan, but left hundreds, if not thousands, of their warriors and members of the lower castes on a limbo. The Second Star League enclave on Huntress was a chaotic place, with former warriors killed for food, or enslaved. The lower castes didn't fare better: the Star League failed to clear their status or give them all work. In this chaotic place, a guerrilla force was born. Lead by the so called the Jaguar, in reality Russou Howell, former commander of the planetary garrison, they began raiding the Star League enclaves, slowly increasing their number. Unwilling to join him, but also to allow his Clan to die, former Jaguar bondsmen Paul Moon, along with the Nova Cat warrior Baldur, in reality Baldur, former Jaguar which helped the League to destroy his clan, they made a plan to escape from Huntress along with thousands of warriors and members of the lower castes. Their destination: Wayside V, were they expected to create a viable colony. They asked for safcon to Santin West, Nova Cat Khan. He agreed, but prevent them to expect a persecution from Goliath Scorpion forces, which will attempt to absorb the Jaguars remnants. His warnings were proved right.

After their departure, the Goliath Scorpion's officer Rik Myers captured and tortured to death the Jaguar's lieutenant Oliver Howell, obtaining the info he needed. Taking a Cluster, the 35th Cuirassiers, by his own initiative, and against the opinion of all his officers, quickly departed in his persecution.

The 25 May 3062, the Scorpion's JumpShip arrived at the Wayside system. The Jaguars' two WarShips alerted them almost at the moment. Myers contacted Moon, making his Batchall. The Jaguars bid away their WarShips, and in exchange asked Rik to erase all traces of Wayside if they lost. The scorpion accepted. The chosen battlefield was the Straits, a narrow canyon between two continents, it was and the main way to reach the Jaguar's colony. It was so narrow than a single Binary could cover it. Their presence would attract the Scorpions there, and the binary would hold them. But that was only part of the plan: Moon would lead his Ghosts, a Elemental armored force, through the airless continent, while a Cluster, lead by Inanna, would be hidden under a nearby sea, awaiting to surround and crush the Scorpions. The Binary chosen for the suicide stand would be Wayside's original garrison, a Binary of solahma from the 47h Garrison cluster: they hadn't integrated very well into the colony, and knowing than very few -if any-would survive will made the obstacle they were for the colony. As one of these warriors, Dresden was injured in an accident, Trent will replace him and lead the rest, against Star Captain Av Weaver opinion.

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The Battle

The 2 June, the scorpions landed nearby the Straits, and soon found a Mist Lynx light 'Mech scouting. Myers, confident, ordered his Cluster to follow him. The pilot, Alvarez, quickly rejoined the Binary, and Trent-Baldur gave his unit the orders: they had to keep the Scorpions focused only on them, so they had to fire multiple targets. His men didn't liketo break Zellbrigen, but knowing their Clan's survival was on stake, they obeyed. The battle began as soon as the Scorpions came to range. The defenders opened fire at extreme range, standing their ground. Myers was surprised to find only a Binary: he expected much more but, guessing that they were only the first line, ordered a full assault of two Stars. But their attempt to charge through the defenders to see what was behind them failed, and the Jaguars' Binary annihilated them. Meanwhile, Moon's Ghost team was surrounding the battlefield. The Jaguars fought as demons, making the Scorpions pay for every charge. Their wounded warriors remained on foot, surviving somehow. Myers sent a recon Star of 'Mechs to scout the nearby sea, but Moon's force, along with the hidden one, overwhelmed and annihilated them before they can report the hidden force's presence. Meanwhile, the Binary was almost destroyed. Only then, Myers realized than behind the downed 'Mechs didn't appear more. But before he was able to realize the trap, Moon and Inanna's forces fell behind his Cluster. Baldur was still alive and fighting, but his Timber Wolf was dying, and a Fire Scorpion, piloted by Myers, downed him. Baldur was severely wounded, but before passing out, managing to hear the Scorpion's leader yielding. The battle was won, but the price was terribly high: only Baldur, Av Weaver and two more warriors survived, and Baldur died soon after in the hospital, with Moon and Inanna at his side.

Conflict Conclusion

The overwhelming defeat allowed the Jaguars to continue living at their way. The Scorpions' JumpShips and DropShips became isorla, and the captured Scorpions' warriors were forced to work in the fields until they had enough food to return to Huntress. Surprisingly, several found that work attractive, and refused to return, joining the Wayside community. Trent's death made Paul Moon the only leader of the group. He took the title of Custos and renamed his group as the Fidelis.

Bibliography

• Forever Faithful (novel)