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Wapakoneta

File:12thgaledon.jpg

The 12th Galedon Regulars fought Beta Regiment on Wapakoneta and Crossing

Main article: Battle of Wapakoneta (Fourth Succession War)

When the Fourth Succession War broke out, Beta Regiment defended the Federated Suns world of Wapakoneta alongside Delta Regiment, which was likewise operating well understrength. Attacking the planet were Kurita's 3rd Proserpina Hussars, an elite unit, and 12th Galedon Regulars, landing on-planet September 17, 3028. Colonel Shostokovitch and Delta commander Kathleen Dumont emerged from their planning sessions with a strategy that would take advantage of Wapakoneta's small land mass, using a guerilla warfare defense with hidden supply depots. The Dragoons had thoroughly familiarized themselves as much as possible with the terrain, and were well prepared to defend the continent of New Wisconsin, fighting amongst its vast forests.

Early in the campaign, Beta's Third Provisional Company, led by Captain Michael Vanduesen, managed to go behind enemy lines along the Sarola River and attacked the Galedon Regulars' main airfield. The Third Provisional destroyed two-thirds of the Kuritan Aerospace assets - 25 fighters in all - on the ground, but were themselves annihilated when they were trapped, facing the overwhelming force of the two DCMS regiments. Some of the Dragoons were effectively executed even after their 'Mechs were destroyed, an act that became typical of the fighting on Wapakoneta. Although it was a terrible sacrifice to make, the action did the Dragoons and advantage in air support for the rest of the campaign. The Dragoons were still badly outnumbered, but they were more familiar with the terrain of the world, and received aid from the local citizens. With these factors, they continued to wage a guerilla warfare campaign against the DCMS troops. Also working in their favor was a lack of coordination between the Twelfth Galedon, a green unit that had taken the lead, and the Third Hussars, who were frustrated at the seeming incompetence of the Twelfth's commander.

The 3rd Proserpina Hussars

In the weeks that followed, the Dragoons split into company and lance-sized units, using hit-and-run tactics and refusing to give the Kuritans a pitched battle that would allow them to take advantage of their superior numbers. This approach was usually successful for the Dragoons, chipping away at the Galedon Regulars and futher undermining their cooperation with the Proserpina Hussars. Unfortunately, as effective as this tactic was in the forests and mountains, it was less so in the flat plains, where the DCMS troops were able to use their superior numbers. The Dragoons' efforts were aided by the fact that the Regulars' commander, Sho-sho Tarsus Bodoli, kept his forces on the main roads in tightly packed convoys, easy prey for small groups of elite Dragoons. The Proserpina Hussars and their commanding officer, Sho-sho Bruce Lee Bernstein, grew frustrated at this ineffective approach, eventually splitting off his regiment and breaking it into company-sized units. This proved effective when a light company of Hussars trapped Beta Regiment's Fourth Provisional Company at Stiverson Pass near Stiverson City. The Dragoons, mostly former members of Charlie Battalion's Red Guard, had been attempting to attack a light company of the Galedon Regulars, who themselves had been mauling a cavalry unit from the local militia. Outnumbered two-to-one, only five Beta 'Mechs escaped, and it seemed to become a turning point in the campaign, as the Dragoons were forced to retreat more and more in the wake of these new developments. Both Dragoon Colonels recognized that a change in approach was called for or they would be destroyed one company at a time. They successfully used Beta's Fifth Provisional Company, under the command of Captain Danielle Rondema, to lure a battalion of the Hussars into a massive ambush, where almost the entirety of the remaining Dragoons attacked. Known as the Fight of Ploven's Fields, Colonel Dumont activated a minefield beneath the Hussars, and a dozen Kuritan 'Mechs were destroyed before they managed to withdraw. The Hussars regrouped with the Galedon Regulars, looking to rest and repair.

The Dragoons, meanwhile, had decided to make a stand at the city of Hannibal. While pushing towards that city, however, they were blocked by elements of the Twelfth Galedon, who had taken the key town of Bakir, through which the only bridge to cross the Bakir River went through. The Regulars were well-entrenched, with artillery and Aerospace fighter support. With the battle not going well, Colonel Dumont was approached in her 'Mech by an elderly woman, Mavis Greenthorn, who had been an AFFS veteran and who had braved the battlefield to give the Dragoons information about the terrain to help the mercenaries prevail. Revealing a hidden location where the river was shallow enough for 'Mechs to safely cross, the Colonel led the remaining Dragoons across the river, then doubled-back to Bakir, where they surprised the Kuritans from behind. The Regulars quickly withdrew, and the Dragoons would blow the bridge, buying themselves a month worth of time while the Kuritans found a way around the river. Reaching Hannibal was not without cost, however, as Beta's Fifth Provisional Company was intercepted by a superior force. Again facing two-to-one odds, Rondema's Roughnecks attempted to repeat their famous feat from Misery. This time, however, fortune was not on their side. Surrounded by nearly two battalions, the Roughnecks were destroyed, killed to the last man. This further reduced the Dragoons' numbers. Evacuating the civilian population of the city, the Dragoons had until late April to prepare. After the Kuritans established a secure position outside the city, they began a campaign of bombardment with their remaining Aerospace fighters. The Dragoon 'Mechs took cover in the city's vast underground mining facilities, avoiding serious damage while the city above was reduced to rubble. When the Kuritan 'Mechs finally attacked on 9 May, the Dragoons used the rubble as natural defensive positions, and the mercenaries and Wapakoneta militia ambushed their enemies repeatedly. Beta's First Provisional Company, led by Captain Susan Flandrey, was able to pick off two recon lances of Kuritans when they were cutoff. The rest of the Dragoons then attacked, destroying several Kuritan 'Mechs and forcing them to pull back. When the DCMS attacked again two weeks later, they did so in lance-sized units. The Dragoons split their remaining forces into three groups; Red Fire, Orange Fire and White Fire. Colonel Shostokovitch commanded Orange Fire with Beta's command lance, the survivors of Beta's Fourth Provisional Company, and Delta's First and Second Provisional Companies. Colonel Dumont, her command lance and Delta's Third and Fourth Provisional Companies would form White Fire. Captain Flandrey would command the Red Fire Group, leading the remnants of Beta's First and Second Provisional Companies. Orange and White Fire would hold the line above, attempting to pickoff individual Kuritan lances. Red Fire attached their 'Mechs to the underground trains and effectively creating a rapid response force that could strike at the attackers from below. The size of Colonel Dumont's 'Mech and several other heavy machines made this difficult, however, as the tunnels had never been designed for their size. This delayed their deployment when the fighting began to turn against the Orange and White Fire Groups. Pursued by the lances of the Proserpina Hussars, Red Fire was chased into the underground caverns. Captain Ramon Magdaleno and his Second Provisional Company led the pursuing Hussars into a side tunnel, where explosives had been set. Realizing they were being setup, the Hussars broke off their pursuit, forcing the Dragoons to detonate earlier than intended. Although they destroyed eleven Hussar 'Mechs, three Dragoons, including Captain Magdaleno, were lost. Magdaleno's last stand allowed most of his remaining warriors to make it out. Demoralized, the Hussars retreated. The White Fire group was able to save Orange Fire when they appeared behind the Galedon Regulars, leading the Twelfth to pull back as well. Although the Dragoons had again taken heavy losses, they remained alive and in control of Hannibal. In the aftermath of the battle, weather conditions made any further Combine attacks impossible for more than a month, with supplies for both sides running low. Using the winter storms as cover, the Dragoons withdrew through the underground tunnels and reached their DropShips, which they used to escape the planet. Of the nine companies of 'Mechs Beta and Delta had entered the battle with, only four had survived. After nine months of the Dragoons holding off two regiments, the battle for Wapakoneta was finally over.