Difference between revisions of "Operation EXODUS"
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'''Operation Exodus''' refers to the departure of the [[Star League Defense Force]] from the [[Inner Sphere]] following the collapse of the [[Star League]].  Under the command of [[Aleksandr Kerensky]], the Exodus Fleet traveled for many hundreds of light-years before eventually discovering and settling on the [[Pentagon Worlds]]. Their descendants would go on to become the [[Clans]] and return to the Inner Sphere as conquerors during [[Operation Revival]].
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After the [[Amaris Coup]] Only 113 Divisions of the [[Star League Defense Force]] remained<ref name=CSs011>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 011</ref>.
 
  
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The first exodus of [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] of 8 July [[2784]]. Eighty percent of the [[SLDF]] followed Kerensky into exile after convening the plan on 14 February, 2784. The operation consisted of:<ref>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', pp. 6-7 - "Exodus"</ref>
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==History==
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The operation ended 24 August, [[2786]] when arriving on the [[Pentagon Worlds]].
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===Amongst the Rubble===
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With the [[Operation Liberation|liberation of Terra]] and the end of the [[Amaris Civil War]], General Kerensky and his close friend General [[Aaron DeChevilier]] discussed what would come next.  Both men knew that [[House Cameron]] was dead and that the [[Great Houses]] would rather pick over the [[Terran Hegemony]]'s carcass than rebuild it. DeChevillier, half-jokingly, made the suggestion that the SLDF simply flee into deep space and found their own colonies from which to watch the [[Succession Wars|coming conflagration]].  Though not immediately acted upon, the suggestion would go on to serve as the basis for what eventually transpired.<ref name=TCWK6>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 6</ref>
  
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==Involved units==
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Regardless of their private musings many within the Inner Sphere took heart to the belief that General Kerensky, his fame legendary at that point, would assume the position of [[First Lord]].  When the [[High Council]] reconvened amid the ruins of [[Unity City]] on 10 October, [[2780]], however, they proved Kerensky's suspicions correct.  Immediately one of the few things they could agree upon (besides appointing [[Jerome Blake]] to rebuild the League's communication network) was that Kerensky would ''not'' be elected to the position.  Instead eight days later they stripped Kerensky of his title as Protector of the Star League, much to the furious protestations of their own citizens, and ordered that [[Terra]] be demilitarized with all SLDF units returning to their peacetime positions.  The General's only response was to meet the Great Lords in Throne Room at Unity City and plead that [[Rim Worlds Army|Republican]] forces be treated with leniency before leaving for the SLDF's temporary headquarters on [[New Earth]].<ref name=TSL95>''The Star League'', p. 95</ref>
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* 6 Million Personnel
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* 1,349 [[JumpShip]]s
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Within the week General DeChevillier had informed Kerensky that the SLDF stood ready to help him overthrown the High Council and assume the title of First Lord.  Kerensky's response was that he was too tired for treason and would remain loyal to the Star League until the very end.  After ten months of exhausting and furious debate though it soon became apparent that the High Council was at an impasse.  On 12 August [[2781]] they released a curt statement detailing their inability to come to a decision and that the Star League would be dissolved.<ref name=TSL95/>
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* Over 5,000 [[DropShip]]s
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* Over 400 [[WarShip]]s
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Many believed that Kerensky now had all the justification needed to seize power, but instead the General spent the next two years shuttling between the House Lords trying to reconcile their differences.  Kerensky's attempts fell on deaf ears, despite the House Lords' own citizens backing his effort, and instead they began increasing the size of their militiaries.  This included recruiting former Republican soldiers, offering wealth and even titles and land for their services, and in August [[2783]] their efforts turned to the SLDF itself; when Kerensky objected to these cynical machinations they stripped him of his rank as [[Commanding General]].  The defection of the [[91st Heavy Assault Regiment]] ''en masse'' to the [[Federated Suns]] a month later was the final straw for Kerensky.<ref name=TCWK6/><ref name=TSL95/>
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===The Fateful Departure===
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Kerensky made his decision to implement Operation Exodus around the time of the Ninety-first's defection and preparations began immediately.  On 14 Februrary, [[2784]], in a meeting at an empty wooden warehouse on Terra, Kerensky and the rest of High Command outlined their intentions to over two hundred high-ranking officers.  Kerensky's speech, that the heart and soul of the Star League still lived on inside each soldier and that the only way to preserve it was for them to escape the coming storm, drew standing ovations.  News of the plan quickly spread throughout the entire SLDF, with each individual was asked to make the decision of whether to stay or go, though absolute secrecy was maintained.  In the end over eighty percent of the force decided to go, with the remainder feeling that to abandon the Inner Sphere would be improper.  Among those who stayed were a few complete units, among them most famous being the [[Eridani Light Horse]].<ref name=TSL95/>
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 +
Furious preparations began for the coming Exodus.  Damaged ships underwent hectic repairs at many League shipyards, while all available [[JumpShip]]s produced by commercial manufacturers was bought up.  Military bases were stripped of all supplies, families made ready to move and massive amounts of resources bought on the open market, sometimes directly from the House realms themselves.  For their part the House Lords, apart from [[Coordinator]] [[Minoru Kurita I|Kurita]], were oblivious to these maneuvers and none knew their true purpose.<ref name=TSL95/>
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On 8 July General Kerensky gave his famous order - "Exodus" - and the huge force assembled at New Earth and fifty other star systems made the jump.  The ships made a beeline for the Draconis Combine, stopping only in star systems with a sizable SLDF base to strip of supplies and cryptically replying when asked as to their mission that they were "out on extended maneuvers."  Along the way the convoys also picked up civilians, many having suffered greatly during the civil war and disposed to leave everything behind, while others were "invited" to join for their skill set.  Records kept by the Clans would later hint some may have been less-than-willing participants.<ref name=TSL96>''The Star League'', p. 96</ref><ref name=TCWK8>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 8</ref>
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Despite its diminished size the SLDF was still vastly stronger than any of the Houses' forces and all feared that these mysterious maneuvers were part of a new campaign of revenge and conquest.  Coordinator Kurita became especially perturbed when the convoys' routes became clear, knowing full well how he had mistreated Kerensky and been friendly with [[Stefan Amaris]] during the civil war.  Harboring suspeciions that the SLDF was planning on leaving the Inner Sphere and knowing something of the General's mindset, he knew it was better to remain calm than to panic and ordered his forces to not attack.  As the SLDF passed peacefully through Combine space his convictions were proved correct, and the convoys began to assemble at their rendezvous point above [[New Samarkand]] on 2 October, with the entire force assembled ten day after.<ref name=TSL96/>
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A pair of SLDF bases were located on the planet, each with extensive wilderness surrounding them.  For the next three weeks the members of the fleet were shuttled back and forth from their ships to the planet to rest for the coming journey, their campfires dotting the landscape as they prepared for the ordeal ahead.  It was also during this time that Kerensky fulfilled his last duty as Protector and delivered the bodies of Amaris and his family to the University of New Samarkand's medical school.  Finally on 5 November the Exodus fleet began to leave the system, its sheer size requiring a full day for every ship to leave with the last being the battleship ''[[McKenna's Pride]]'', and made its way through the [[Periphery]].  It's last confirmed sighting would be in orbit above [[Gutara V]] before disappearing from the Inner Sphere forever.<ref name=TSL96/>
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 +
===The Exodus Road===
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 +
 
 +
 
 +
==Order of Battle==
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At the end of the civil war only 113 [[Division]]s of the SLDF remained<ref name=CSs011>''ComStar (sourcebook)'', p. 011</ref>.  Of these units over a hundred agreed to follow Kerensky: thirty-two [[BattleMech]] divisions, seventy-six [[infantry]] divisions, and sixty-three independent regiments.  A total of nearly six million personnel, a third of which were soldiers and the rest civilians, were carried in 1,349 JumpShips, 402 [[WarShip]]s and over 5,000 [[DropShip]]s.<ref name=TSL96/><ref name=<ref name=TCWK7>''The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky'', p. 7</ref>
  
 
===Armored Divisions===
 
===Armored Divisions===
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*''[[ComStar (sourcebook)]]''
 
*''[[ComStar (sourcebook)]]''
 
*''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
 
*''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
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*''[[The Star League]]''
  
 
[[Category:Political Events]]
 
[[Category:Political Events]]
 
[[Category:Star League Era Military Operations|Exodus, Operation]]
 
[[Category:Star League Era Military Operations|Exodus, Operation]]

Revision as of 17:17, 29 August 2013

Operation Exodus refers to the departure of the Star League Defense Force from the Inner Sphere following the collapse of the Star League. Under the command of Aleksandr Kerensky, the Exodus Fleet traveled for many hundreds of light-years before eventually discovering and settling on the Pentagon Worlds. Their descendants would go on to become the Clans and return to the Inner Sphere as conquerors during Operation Revival.

History

Amongst the Rubble

With the liberation of Terra and the end of the Amaris Civil War, General Kerensky and his close friend General Aaron DeChevilier discussed what would come next. Both men knew that House Cameron was dead and that the Great Houses would rather pick over the Terran Hegemony's carcass than rebuild it. DeChevillier, half-jokingly, made the suggestion that the SLDF simply flee into deep space and found their own colonies from which to watch the coming conflagration. Though not immediately acted upon, the suggestion would go on to serve as the basis for what eventually transpired.[1]

Regardless of their private musings many within the Inner Sphere took heart to the belief that General Kerensky, his fame legendary at that point, would assume the position of First Lord. When the High Council reconvened amid the ruins of Unity City on 10 October, 2780, however, they proved Kerensky's suspicions correct. Immediately one of the few things they could agree upon (besides appointing Jerome Blake to rebuild the League's communication network) was that Kerensky would not be elected to the position. Instead eight days later they stripped Kerensky of his title as Protector of the Star League, much to the furious protestations of their own citizens, and ordered that Terra be demilitarized with all SLDF units returning to their peacetime positions. The General's only response was to meet the Great Lords in Throne Room at Unity City and plead that Republican forces be treated with leniency before leaving for the SLDF's temporary headquarters on New Earth.[2]

Within the week General DeChevillier had informed Kerensky that the SLDF stood ready to help him overthrown the High Council and assume the title of First Lord. Kerensky's response was that he was too tired for treason and would remain loyal to the Star League until the very end. After ten months of exhausting and furious debate though it soon became apparent that the High Council was at an impasse. On 12 August 2781 they released a curt statement detailing their inability to come to a decision and that the Star League would be dissolved.[2]

Many believed that Kerensky now had all the justification needed to seize power, but instead the General spent the next two years shuttling between the House Lords trying to reconcile their differences. Kerensky's attempts fell on deaf ears, despite the House Lords' own citizens backing his effort, and instead they began increasing the size of their militiaries. This included recruiting former Republican soldiers, offering wealth and even titles and land for their services, and in August 2783 their efforts turned to the SLDF itself; when Kerensky objected to these cynical machinations they stripped him of his rank as Commanding General. The defection of the 91st Heavy Assault Regiment en masse to the Federated Suns a month later was the final straw for Kerensky.[1][2]

The Fateful Departure

Kerensky made his decision to implement Operation Exodus around the time of the Ninety-first's defection and preparations began immediately. On 14 Februrary, 2784, in a meeting at an empty wooden warehouse on Terra, Kerensky and the rest of High Command outlined their intentions to over two hundred high-ranking officers. Kerensky's speech, that the heart and soul of the Star League still lived on inside each soldier and that the only way to preserve it was for them to escape the coming storm, drew standing ovations. News of the plan quickly spread throughout the entire SLDF, with each individual was asked to make the decision of whether to stay or go, though absolute secrecy was maintained. In the end over eighty percent of the force decided to go, with the remainder feeling that to abandon the Inner Sphere would be improper. Among those who stayed were a few complete units, among them most famous being the Eridani Light Horse.[2]

Furious preparations began for the coming Exodus. Damaged ships underwent hectic repairs at many League shipyards, while all available JumpShips produced by commercial manufacturers was bought up. Military bases were stripped of all supplies, families made ready to move and massive amounts of resources bought on the open market, sometimes directly from the House realms themselves. For their part the House Lords, apart from Coordinator Kurita, were oblivious to these maneuvers and none knew their true purpose.[2]

On 8 July General Kerensky gave his famous order - "Exodus" - and the huge force assembled at New Earth and fifty other star systems made the jump. The ships made a beeline for the Draconis Combine, stopping only in star systems with a sizable SLDF base to strip of supplies and cryptically replying when asked as to their mission that they were "out on extended maneuvers." Along the way the convoys also picked up civilians, many having suffered greatly during the civil war and disposed to leave everything behind, while others were "invited" to join for their skill set. Records kept by the Clans would later hint some may have been less-than-willing participants.[3][4]

Despite its diminished size the SLDF was still vastly stronger than any of the Houses' forces and all feared that these mysterious maneuvers were part of a new campaign of revenge and conquest. Coordinator Kurita became especially perturbed when the convoys' routes became clear, knowing full well how he had mistreated Kerensky and been friendly with Stefan Amaris during the civil war. Harboring suspeciions that the SLDF was planning on leaving the Inner Sphere and knowing something of the General's mindset, he knew it was better to remain calm than to panic and ordered his forces to not attack. As the SLDF passed peacefully through Combine space his convictions were proved correct, and the convoys began to assemble at their rendezvous point above New Samarkand on 2 October, with the entire force assembled ten day after.[3]

A pair of SLDF bases were located on the planet, each with extensive wilderness surrounding them. For the next three weeks the members of the fleet were shuttled back and forth from their ships to the planet to rest for the coming journey, their campfires dotting the landscape as they prepared for the ordeal ahead. It was also during this time that Kerensky fulfilled his last duty as Protector and delivered the bodies of Amaris and his family to the University of New Samarkand's medical school. Finally on 5 November the Exodus fleet began to leave the system, its sheer size requiring a full day for every ship to leave with the last being the battleship McKenna's Pride, and made its way through the Periphery. It's last confirmed sighting would be in orbit above Gutara V before disappearing from the Inner Sphere forever.[3]

The Exodus Road

Order of Battle

At the end of the civil war only 113 Divisions of the SLDF remained[5]. Of these units over a hundred agreed to follow Kerensky: thirty-two BattleMech divisions, seventy-six infantry divisions, and sixty-three independent regiments. A total of nearly six million personnel, a third of which were soldiers and the rest civilians, were carried in 1,349 JumpShips, 402 WarShips and over 5,000 DropShips.[3][6]

Armored Divisions

BattleMech Divisions

List of 32 of a reported 32 Divisions.

Infantry Divisions

72 of a reported 76 Infantry Divisions involved.

63 Independent Regiments

24 of reportedly 63 Independent Regiments.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 6
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Star League, p. 95
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 The Star League, p. 96
  4. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 8
  5. ↑ ComStar (sourcebook), p. 011
  6. ↑ The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky, p. 7

Bibliography

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