Difference between revisions of "Marathon Offensive"
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==Background== | ==Background== | ||
| − | Despite suffering [[Siege of Hesperus II (2853)|a narrow defeat at Hesperus II]] in [[2853]], Coordinator [[Miyogi Kurita]] felt that the Commonwealth - with its [[Triumvirate Regency]] mired in internal problems - was vulnerable to a new and broader offensive. With strife between the unpopular First Prince [[Michael Davion]] and his subjects also plaguing the Federated Suns, Miyogi | + | Despite suffering [[Siege of Hesperus II (2853)|a narrow defeat at Hesperus II]] in [[2853]], Coordinator [[Miyogi Kurita]] felt that the Commonwealth - with its [[Triumvirate Regency]] mired in internal problems - was vulnerable to a new and broader offensive. With strife between the unpopular First Prince [[Michael Davion]] and his subjects also plaguing the Federated Suns, Miyogi planned attacks against that realm too. Discarding his predecessors' planet-hopping strategy, Miyogi ordered his generals to instead mount strong and deep incursions intended to secure large swathes of territory.<ref name=HBHKp51-52>''Handbook: House Kurita'', p. 51-52</ref> <ref name=SSWp74-76/> |
==The Marathon Offensive== | ==The Marathon Offensive== | ||
===Federated Suns Front=== | ===Federated Suns Front=== | ||
| + | In April [[2854]] the DCMS opened its offensive against the Federated Suns with a raid-in-force against [[Kentares IV]]. Over the next six weeks the AFFS defenders waged a hit-and-run campaign against the invaders, with both sides sending reinforcements to the contested planet. However, this assault was in fact a diversion - with the infamous [[Kentares Massacre]] on the Suns' mind, the DCMS correctly expected its opponents to shift strength away from the real target: Robinson.<ref name=SSWp74-76/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The main offensive commenced in June with all-out attacks on [[Lucerne]] and [[Franklin]], with a second wave hitting [[Rochester]], [[Le Blanc]] and Robinson in July. Despite stiff resistance from the AFFS all but Le Blanc and Robinson had fallen to the Combine by mid-[[2855]]. Le Blanc's defenders eventually drove the invaders off-world. Despite being strongly protected the capital of the Draconis March, on the other hand, ultimately could not hold out against the four [[Sword of Light]] regiments and ten supporting regiments. Led by Miyogi Kurita personally, the Combine forces used all types of weapons of mass destruction to break AFFS resistance, a battle that became known as the "Rape of Robinson". Unable to divert reinforcements from Kentares, Prince Davion decided that the morale blow from surrendering Robinson was less costly than continued fighting and ordered AFFS units to retreat in August [[2858]].<ref name=SSWp74-76/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Elsewhere the offensive proceeded less successfully for the Combine. Attacks throughout 2855 and [[2856]] failed to conquer any of the targeted worlds | ||
===Lyran Commonwealth Front=== | ===Lyran Commonwealth Front=== | ||
Revision as of 05:31, 25 May 2023
| Marathon Offensive | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Second Succession War | ||||||||
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| Factions | ||||||||
| Attacker Draconis Combine |
Defender Federated Suns |
Defender Lyran Commonwealth |
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| Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
| Coordinator Miyogi Kurita | First Prince Michael Davion | Triumvirate Regency | ||||||
| Forces involved | ||||||||
| DCMS | AFFS | LCAF | ||||||
The Marathon Offensive was mounted by the Draconis Combine during the Second Succession War against its neighboring Successor States, the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth. Over a four-year period the Combine made only limited territorial gains from the Lyrans but managed to conquer Robinson, capital of the Suns' Draconis March.[1]
Contents
Background
Despite suffering a narrow defeat at Hesperus II in 2853, Coordinator Miyogi Kurita felt that the Commonwealth - with its Triumvirate Regency mired in internal problems - was vulnerable to a new and broader offensive. With strife between the unpopular First Prince Michael Davion and his subjects also plaguing the Federated Suns, Miyogi planned attacks against that realm too. Discarding his predecessors' planet-hopping strategy, Miyogi ordered his generals to instead mount strong and deep incursions intended to secure large swathes of territory.[2] [1]
The Marathon Offensive
Federated Suns Front
In April 2854 the DCMS opened its offensive against the Federated Suns with a raid-in-force against Kentares IV. Over the next six weeks the AFFS defenders waged a hit-and-run campaign against the invaders, with both sides sending reinforcements to the contested planet. However, this assault was in fact a diversion - with the infamous Kentares Massacre on the Suns' mind, the DCMS correctly expected its opponents to shift strength away from the real target: Robinson.[1]
The main offensive commenced in June with all-out attacks on Lucerne and Franklin, with a second wave hitting Rochester, Le Blanc and Robinson in July. Despite stiff resistance from the AFFS all but Le Blanc and Robinson had fallen to the Combine by mid-2855. Le Blanc's defenders eventually drove the invaders off-world. Despite being strongly protected the capital of the Draconis March, on the other hand, ultimately could not hold out against the four Sword of Light regiments and ten supporting regiments. Led by Miyogi Kurita personally, the Combine forces used all types of weapons of mass destruction to break AFFS resistance, a battle that became known as the "Rape of Robinson". Unable to divert reinforcements from Kentares, Prince Davion decided that the morale blow from surrendering Robinson was less costly than continued fighting and ordered AFFS units to retreat in August 2858.[1]
Elsewhere the offensive proceeded less successfully for the Combine. Attacks throughout 2855 and 2856 failed to conquer any of the targeted worlds