Operation HAMMERFALL

Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field Operation HAMMERFALL was a mid thirty-second century military campaign launched by Lyran Commonwealth to weaken and prevent the neighboring former Marik states from reforming Free Worlds League. General Heinrick and his team from the strategic planning section of Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces high command created principles of the operation.

Campaign Planned Objectives

The principles of Hammerfall was to weaken both the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey and the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth so they would be unable to strike against Lyran Commonwealth. The military operation included three waves :

• First Wave: Calls on Lyran forces punch through space or "Wedge" between the Duchy and Marik-Stewart. Claiming worlds between the two states to prevent coordination of two state's armies should they try unite against them. While at the same time striking both state's borders at same time. World of Helm is ear marked as being furthest world Lyran forces would strike. The forces strike the worlds of Concord, Bondurant, and Danais which are known locations for the Silver Hawk Irregulars be based out of.

Also, Hammerfall would take worlds near Clan Jade Falcon worlds. Taking these worlds would be deny Clan Jade Falcons from taking them and expanding their reach. General Heinrick controlling scheduling of the planned invasions, would use these worlds as staging points, and when further strikes would be conducted from them. These worlds include: New Kyoto, Algorab, and Vindemiatrix.

• Second Wave: This where invasion forces stationed spinward of Marik-Stewart Commonwealth will penetrate deeply into the nation cutting that nation in two. While forces that would be in "Wedge" between Commonwealth and Duchy will shift in laterally into Tamarind and hit the capital world Tamarind.

• Final Wave: Lyran forces in Commonwealth will shift to surround the world of Marik cutting it off from rest of worlds and give it weak border with old Republic space. Then resources would be shifted to aide Lyran forces Duchy's space to mop up.

However, Lyran planning was not informed of Clan Wolf being involved with the invasion and Marik-Commonwealth space would be their target in the invasion.

Campaign History

Regimental Units Assigned

Lyran Commonwealth Armed Forces

• 1st Hesperus Guards - Commanded by Duke Vedet Brewster
• 2nd Lyran Regulars
• 3rd Lyran Regulars - Commanded by General Bernard Nordhoff
• 5th Lyran Regulars
• 8th Lyran Regulars - Reserve
• 2nd Royals Regiment - Reserve
• 4th Royals Regiment - Reserve

Conception

Conceived by Archon Melissa Steiner, as means to strengthen her House in face of multiple threats looming after collapse Republic of the Sphere and fall of HPG nets. The operation included secret alliance with Clan Wolf of the occupational zone to through Lyran's space to occupy worlds on their border with the league.

Also, it was designed to tie up political rival and opponent of her policies, Duke Vedet Brewster of Hesperus II by having him lead military campaign into the old Free World League space. Trillian Steiner was sent to both Clan Wolf-In-Exile and Duke Vedet to pitch the operation.

Clan Wolf-in-Exile Khan Patrik Fetladral meet with the Archon on Tharkad in January, 3137 to formalize their plans to invades.

The LCAF began bring up regiments to staging bases along the Marik border between later 3136 - early 3137.

First Wave

In July 3137, Lyran forces begin to invade the "Wedge" area and in the Commonwealth. Lyran forces being lead by Duke Vedet and his First Hesperus Guards were coded named "Gauntlet" while forces penetrating Marik-Stewart Commonwealth named Anvil.

By July 3137, Lyran forces had landed in Free Worlds League. Duke Vedet, lead Gauntlets forces with his newly formed First Hesperus Guards regiment and invade the world of Shasta. While the 3rd Lyran Regulars with General Nordhoff's company landed on Gallatin and meets heavy resistance from local defender, who turned out to be elements of the Silver Hawk Irregulars. In running hit and run battle, they escaped on waiting DropShips.

The 2nd Lyran Regulars over course of three days of fighting took the world of Saltillo and other forces seized Alorton.

In August, Duke Vedet's forces invaded and wiped out the Millungera militia to last man. While General Nordoff's Third Regulars again engaged in heavy fighting with Silver Hawk Irregulars on Uhura. The Third taking heavy damage, causing the invasion timetable to be setback. The appearance of the Silver Hawks on Uhura has taken Lyran officials including their intelligence agency back by surprise.

Roderick Frost in conference with Trillian Steiner and her aid Klaus Wehner figure out that Silver Hawks in the Commonwealth are being used as moral booster, resistance, and guerilla warfare instead of traditional fighting. The Hawks appear to bleeding Lyran forces and making worlds that Lyran captured harder hold.

Second Wave

Between September - early October of 3137 - Third Lyran Regulars were assisted in conquest of Marik-Stewart world of Bondurant by the 1st Hesperus Guards due to lack of reinforcements from Royals units. The campaign for Bondurant was brutal on both units, leaving the Third at only 40 percent operational. Though ending in victory, both units were damaged and needed rest and refit. The Royals regiments were deployed to old Skye of the Republic take key worlds there to deny the Clan Jade Falcons in the Falcon's Reaches from gather more resources. They took such worlds such as Algorab. Auxiliary Battalion B1, also known as the Broken Swords Battalion were deployed to took the world of Labourgiere and faced off with militia unit called Fangs of Marik. While the 5th Lyran Regulars struck the world of Niihau.

Final Wave

In November, Trillian Steiner traveled to Tamarind to meet with Duke Fontaine Marik, leader of Duchy to convince him to surrender. Broken Swords battalion, on orders by Trillian, traveled days behind her incase she needed aide. The 2nd Royals Regiment are ambushed while during their drop on Vindemiatrix. Clan Jade Falcon forces intercepted their forces as they made landing to dropzone, taking 50 percent casualties.

3rd Lyran Regulars with Fourth Royals invades Simpson Desert. While 1st Hesperus Guards deploy to aid Second Royals.

Late November through December, Broken Sword Battalion arrives and ends up fighting 1st Tamarind Regulars around capital of city of Zanzibar on Tamarind. They end up rescuing Trillian Steiner and her aide.

On Danasi from 6th, Duke's Guard forces took capital city of Breckenridge. However, the city became a trap as supplies had been stripped, facilities sabotaged and population began to rally against the raiders occupying their capital city. Elements of the Silver Hawk Irregulars and planetary militia known as "Daredevils of Danasi" had began doing raids on Guard forces.

The Duke Vedet, being desperately for supplies and support, called on the reserve troops that were set aside for both the 3rd Lyran Regulars and his own forces. He felt that they would not be needed for conquest of Tamarind. Thinking that Broken Swords Battalion had damaged the defenders enough for the Third to take planet without support.

By December 14th, two battalions of the 3rd Lyrans Regulars arrive with General Nordhoff commanding, attempt to "rescue" situation on Tamarind. After arriving on Harvison Flats, where Roderick forces clashed with Tamarind's defenders, but they did not finding evidence of the units destruction. Third Lyrans are then attacked by in masse by 1st Tamarind Regulars entire regiment, which was not damaged as Third's commander had hoped. Broken Swords using their dropships slipped behind 1st Tamarind's rear flank. Then Hauptmann Roderick Frost, reveals he his Steiner, he rallys both Lyran forces slice the defender's regiment in half. In midst of the battle, now knowing he had left member of the Steiner family to die, General Nordhoff flees the battle & planet with trusted several officers and warriors. Leaving Roderick Steiner in command of Third Regulars, later taking city of Zanzibar. Where Trillian Steiner brokers a armistice with Duke Fontaine Marik's advisor which ends conflict in Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey.

In March, 3138, Archon has passed word of Clan Wolf had enter the war Marik-Stewart Commonwealth and all forces were to treat them as non-hostile allies. Clan Wolf forces would begin taking worlds within the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth at time word of the announcement reach Lyran forces.

Lyran forces had become bogged down by heavy resistance within Marik-Steward Commonwealth as well trouble with Clan Jade Falcon forces coming from the Falcon's Reaches within the former Republic space.

The 1st Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster commanded by Star Colonel Alaric Wolf, would first see action together on Helm in April. However, Wolves & Lyran forces were not cooperating due to political, cultural, and the personal issues between commanding officers: Duke Vedet & Alaric Wolf. Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown, but was rebuffed by heavy resistance Silver Hawk Irregulars hidden among civilians farmers.

By May 22nd, Trillian Steiner had called in 1st Steiner Strikers, lead by Colonel Roderick Steiner to try move invasion of Helm. Two days later, battle for capital city resumed, with it ending all the city's defenders destroyed by Alaric Wolf heavy handedness. The destruction of the the Silver Hawks units after surrendering to Lyran and Wolf forces would later be noted as the Helm Massacre.

By June 5th, "Coalition" forces from Helm moved to relocated capital of the Commonwealth on Stewart. Lyran/Wolf forces invaded city of New Endinburgh, trying to capture Captain-General Anson Marik. Lyran & Wolf forces continued to operate as separate task forces on the ground. The invasion forces, fought Silver Hawk companies defending the city. Duke Vedet was nearly killed by bomb planted within motorcade reportedly transporting the Captain-General to safety. Vedet lead forces into New Endinburgh Palace, where they try to root out Marik and some his surviving forces defending the palace. The invasion of palace ended with Anson Marik's life, effectively triggering the collapse of Marik-Stewart Commonwealth's government.

Notes

The story arch for the Free Worlds League invasion of 3137-3138 is strung between two novels. Some details of the invasion are not clear in The Last Charge. Which does make clear if Operation HAMMERFALL in fact ended after the collapse of the Marik-Stewart Commonwealth government.

Bibliography

• Era Report: 3145
• Fire at Will (novel)
• The Last Charge (novel)