Battle of Caph (3039)

Battle of Caph (3039)
Part of War of 3039
Start Date June 3039 Planet Caph Result Federated Commonwealth victory
Factions
Draconis Combine	Federated Commonwealth
Commanders and leaders
Tai-sa Ysabeau Johnson Tai-sa Noritake Kansa	Field Marshal Vanessa Bisla
Forces involved
Ryuken-ni Ryuken-san	Third Crucis Lancers Thirty-third Avalon Hussars Davion Assault Guards Wolf’s Dragoons

Overview

As the LCAF and AFFC prepared for the War of 3039 they prepositioned several units for the eventual assault on Dieron, the Draconis Combine's district capital. The plan was for a strike of opportunity during Waves One or Two, with a concrete strike in Wave Three. In preparation for this the Thirty-third Avalon Hussars, Davion Assault Guards and most of Wolf’s Dragoons were secreted on world and bivouacked in the irradiated wastes of the Brunnel continent, with Field Marshall Vaness Bisla in overall command of the largest concentration of troops since the Fourth Succession War. DCMS intelligence was unaware of their presence, believing Caph to be defended only by the garrison force of the Third Crucis Lancers at the Aswan Military Reservation. The Dragoons were still battered from their feud with the Combine, though on paper four Regiments and Zeta Battalion were present, in actuality that amounted to barely ten battalions. Jaime Wolf was hesitant to even commit these forces, but was promised substantial sums of money and the right to be at the vanguard for the assault against Dieron, and if the war progressed well enough, Luthien.

In June Ryuken-ni under Tai-sa Ysabeau Johnson and Ryuken-san under Tai-sa Noritake Kansa landed outside the capital city of Aswan. They struck the defending Lancers from two directions and initially overwhelmed the defenders. After three hours of intense fighting both Combine commanders were surprised to see dozens of DropShips inbound carrying a battalion of the Guards and nearly all ten battalions the Dragoons had come to reinforce the Lancers. The Dragoons in particular had their blood up, viewing this battle as a rematch of the battle of Misery. Epsilon Regiment had several lances of Fleas, their pilots all trained by Sergeant Ulzanna Whitehead, and they threw themselves against the Ryuken with punches far above their weight class. Despite their skills and ferocity they could only survive for so long, either having their weapons shot off in reckless charges or just blasted to bits while attempting slashing attacks. Very few Fleas would survive the battle intact.

Other Dragoon and Commonwealth forces would fare better, managing to surround and trap the Ryuken inside Aswan. The fighting continued for several days which each side fighting hard for the upper hand. That arrived when Tai-sa Kansa led a two battalion strong force in a breakout from Aswan that veered to threaten the Hussars and remaining Guards in the Brunnell wastes. Commonwealth forces found their ability to maneuver on that irradiated continent severally hampered so were unable to engage properly. Some Ryuken slipped around the Hussars and inflicted severe damage on the staging base and facilities. This gave the Ryuken the breathing room needed to retreat off planet. They had been bloodied, but still operationally intact. The battle was cathartic for the Dragoons, allowing them to put the recriminations of Misery behind them without needing to burn the Black Pearl to the ground. For the Dragoons they lost more machines than lives, allowing a quicker rebuilding. The Battle of Caph ended up being little more than a footnote in history as the opportunity to invade Dieron never materialized. Ironically, the Dragoons would get the opportunity to set foot on Luthien thirteen and a half years later only this time to defend the Combine's capital against the Clans.

Bibliography

• Historical: War of 3039
• Technical Readout: Succession Wars