Prinz Eugen Mutiny
Sarna News
The Prinz Eugen Mutiny was a rebellion and desertion that took place in 2785 during the Exodus from the Inner Sphere. It was dealt with quickly and ruthlessly by forces loyal to General Kerensky and would have far-reaching repercussions.[1]
| Prinz Eugen Mutiny | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Exodus from the Inner Sphere | |||||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Major Elizabeth Hazen | General Wilbur Braso (mutineer leader) | ||||||||
| Forces involved | |||||||||
| Small SLDF task force and marines | Various officers and crews of nine vessels | ||||||||
| Environment | |||||||||
| Space | |||||||||
| Conditions | |||||||||
| n/a | |||||||||
Contents
Prologue
General Aleksandr Kerensky led the bulk of the Star League Defense Force away from the Inner Sphere in 2784, in an attempt to save the men and women of the Regular Army from the horrors of war and the machinations of the self-serving House Lords. His fleet was not only made up of soldiers, but also many civilian families who chose to accompany them into exile in the Deep Periphery. Through several months of travel on a meandering course meant to discourage pursuit, the fleet moved deeper and deeper into the unknown. But before long, tensions due to the hardships of travel as well as from the strain of confinement in the cramped space of JumpShips and DropShips would manifest - sometimes in horrific ways[2] - but more often as simple dissent.[3][4]
Sedition and Mutiny
This dissension would grow first among many of the civilians, and later among the crews and officers of several vessels. Many of these dissatisfied people would raise doubts about where they were headed, with some even wondering if the Great General even had a planned destination at all. Soon enough, mutiny would be thick in the air on many vessels of the Exodus fleet.[3][4]
Events would finally come to a head in August of 2785, nearly 14 months after the massive fleet's departure from the New Samarkand rendezvous point. Nine vessels, led by the Texas-class Prinz Eugen and its commander, Admiral Votok, and officers General Wilbur Braso, Captain Peter Karpov, and Captain Nigel Karrige among several others would announce that they were headed back to the Inner Sphere, tired of the long and seemingly pointless journey into the Deep Periphery.[1][5][6][7]
General Kerensky and his staff's reaction would be swift and brutal. A task force detached from the rest of the fleet led by Major Elizabeth Hazen with 160 Marines, and accompanied by Andery Kerensky (who had played some role in the rebel's decision to head back[8]), was sent out in pursuit of the renegade ships. After a short boarding action accompanied by an intense firefight in the halls of the Prinz Eugen, SLDF Marines secured the vessel. The other eight ships of the fleet surrendered without a fight soon afterward.[9][10]
Major Hazen lead the mutinous ships back to the fleet where swift trials were conducted at the jump point. All officers at or above the rank of Captain were executed, with Major Hazen giving the orders to carry out the punishment. Andery Kerensky would likewise take part in the execution at the request of his father.[9][10]
Aftermath and Legacy
This incident would have a further negative effect on the morale within the Exodus fleet. The mutiny itself was bad enough, but General Kerensky's harsh reaction was viewed in a shocking light by many who accompanied him on the Exodus.[11]
In response to this, Kerensky would issue General Order 137, which is etched at eye level in the common rooms of every Clan vessel even to this day. It was as much a justification for his reaction to the mutiny as it was a statement about the operation's goals. It would come to be the core of what is known as the Hidden Hope Doctrine.[11]
After the formation of the Clans, the Prinz Eugen was used as a prison ship in orbit near Strana Mechty as an abject reminder, [12] until it was subverted by The Society and destroyed during the defense of the Tanis system during the Wars of Reaving. [13] [14]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 16, 17 - "Prinz Eugen"
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 17 - Lieutenant Nigel Polczyk, letter to his brother, 22 May 2786
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wolf Clan Sourcebook, p. 8 - "Exodus"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Clans: Warrior of Kerensky, p. 7 - "Exodus"
- ↑ Invading Clans, p. 103 - "Anna Rosse"
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 111 - "Jason Karrige Profile"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3057 Revised, p. 160, "Texas Ship Profile"
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 16 - Colonel Absalom Truscott, Personal Journals, 30 September 2785
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 9 - "Elizabeth Hazen"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 16 - Major Elizabeth Hazen, Personal Journals, 28 September 2785
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Wolf Clan Sourcebook, p. 9 - "Hidden Hope"
- ↑ Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 139 - "Strana Mechty"
- ↑ The Wars of Reaving, p. 61 "Bandit Caste: Commodus Van Houten"
- ↑ The Wars of Reaving, p. 61 "Steiner's Folly"
See Also