Battle of Brookeland (3144)
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| Battle of Brookeland (3144) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Factions | |||||||||
| (Attacker) Draconis Combine |
(Defender) Federated Suns |
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| Forces involved | |||||||||
| Tenth Ghost Eleventh Ghost |
Davion Light Guards | ||||||||
Prelude[edit]
On 14 March 3144 the Draconis Combine launched their long delayed invasion of the Federated Suns. The exact date the invasion flotilla arrived in the Brookeland system is unknown, but as the first world in the salient that would become known as the Dragon's Tongue, it was likely very close to the invasion's start date.[1]
Overview[edit]
The Combine hit Brookeland with the Tenth and Eleventh Ghost, which were met with the Davion Light Guards. In one of the initial meeting engagements, Leftenant Charles Delacourt and his squad of PAB-28 Sniper Suit equipped infantrymen allowed the frontlines to bypass their position until rear-echelon Combine units came into their vicinity. Striking from cover they killed several technician squads before fading into the hinterlands to establish guerilla networks.[2]
An Eleventh Ghost lance was patroling when Sho-sa Miguel Tanaka-Rheese, recently assigned to a HKZ-1F Hitotsume Kozo, moved out of formation to investigate a sensor anomaly. He shortly found himself surrounded by a squad of Cavalier battle armor and two Marksman M1 tanks. Too far out of position for his unit to support him, Miguel's inexperience with the heat curve caused his ’Mech to shutdown. The Cavaliers tore him out of his cockpit and took him prisoner.[3][4]
The Eleventh Ghost had two platoons of the much maligned Shillelagh tanks, "accidently" sent to them by the Procurement Department. Ignoring the intended insult the yakuza employed them the best they could, typically anchoring harassing units or waylaying routes of march. They employed this later tactic against a pursuing strike lance of Light Guards, unleashing waves of MMLs against their flanks and then laying down a smoke screen to cover the lance of Saladins that tore into the ’Mechs. While the strike lance lost two ’Mechs, in the ensuing melee every Shillelagh was destroyed.[5][6]
In response to this engagement, the Guards decided to strike back. Leftenant Vasily Arbotov and his lance of Gunsmiths were sent on an extended raiding mission. For two weeks they ranged in the Eleventh's backfield, destroying supplies and outposts alike. Within ten days nearly a battalion of Ghosts were pulled from the front lines to hunt Arbotov down, yet he proved adept at not only evading them but ambushing them in turn. When Arbotov returned to the Guards' lines they had lost one ’Mech but cost the Combine seven, six tanks, nineteen battlesuits, and uncounted tons of munitions, supplies and logistical transport.[7][8]
The Gunsmith was also employed against the Tenth Ghost. Subaltern Luisa Cordoba led her lance of Gunsmiths against two platoons of tanks in improved positions. Flanking around their positions her lance obliterated the portion of the Combine lines, opening a safe avenue of advance for her company.[7]
The Guards relied on more than just Gunsmiths on Brookeland, the JI2A1Attack APC also routinely punched above its weight. The 10th Ghost settled into defensive positions around the city of Meyer, content to let the Guards bleed themselves going on the offensive against their prepared positions. The Guards, especially Major Nathan Deladier of the battle armor section, had trained specifically for that scenario. Careful reconnoiter told the Guards what forces manned what positions, and they tailored the ammunition loads to that data. Supported with long range fire from ’Mechs and tanks, the JI2A1s raced in, firing tandem charges at Ghost armor and fragmentation warheads at infantry. As the Ghosts were back on their heels, the APCs disgorged their Grenadier passangers who caused even more carnage before the whole battalion faded back leaving nothing but dead Ghosts to mark their presence.[9][10]
While the Guards mauled the Ghosts, in the end the superior numbers proved too much to offset. The Guards retreated off world, leaving the Tenth and Eleventh barely able to muster two battalions between each them.
Aftermath[edit]
While in custody, Sho-sa Miguel Tanaka-Rheese fashioned a crude dagger and committed seppuku to atone for his failure.[3][4]
The two Ghost regiments were combined into the Eleventh, barely constituting two battalions. They transferred to Pascagoula to repair and refit, and much of the famous gem market inventory in Garnet City transferred to the yakuza's pockets.[11]
Pushed down below 50% strength, the Davion Light Guard transferred to Mayetta to recover and began requisitioning men and material from the Third NAIS Cadre[12]
References[edit]
- ↑ Era Report: 3145, p. 23: "Timeline of Events"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns, p. 4: "PAB-28 Sniper Suit"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Technical Readout: 3145, p. 130: "HKZ-1F Hitotsume Kozo"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine. p. 40: "HKZ-1F Hitotsume Kozo"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Draconis Combine, p. 16: "Shillelagh Missile Tank"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3150, p. 62: "Shillelagh Missile Tank"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Technical Readout: 3145, p. 88: "CH11-NG Gunsmith"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns, p. 32: "CH11-NG Gunsmith"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Federated Suns, p. 14: "J12A1 Attack APC"
- ↑ Technical Readout: 3150, p. 40: "JI2A1 Attack APC"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 60: "Eleventh Ghost"
- ↑ Field Manual: 3145. p. 77: "Davion Light Guards"