Free Mutineers

Free Mutineers
Organization Profile
Type	Independence movement
Founded	c. 3044

The Free Mutineers was a coalition of independence movements on a number of planets controlled by the Draconis Combine, covertly supported by the Federated Commonwealth towards a possible Fifth Succession War.

Known sub-movements

Free Galedon V Mutineers

Apparently one of the first Free Mutineer movements, the Free Galedon V Mutineers were rioting in the capital Washkatin by August 3044, with the Draconis Combine estimating the rebels at 10,000 strong but independent estimates closer to 100,000. The rebels were supported by arms manufacturer Novastar Armaments, prompting the Combine to destroy a large manufacturing facility while mercenaries shot out their downtown office on 10 September. Despite this, the rebels had taken most of the capital by 15 October, leaving only a Combine foothold along the main route into the city from the south. The rebels then laid siege to the office of planetary governor Mosami Horkiro on 22 October, but he escaped with the help of the mercenaries as the city fell.

The Combine would not let this stand. They surrounded the city on 22 October, shelling the city with artillery for days with little regard for civilian casualties. Finally, on the night of 2 November, a surprise flanking attack from the north by Combine mercenaries drove the rebels into waiting regular Combine forces, shattering the movement. The Combine put out bounties for the only two surviving leaders, Jonathan Collins and Harris Tweet. Mercenaries were said to have caused most of the casualties among the Mutineers during this campaign.

Free Proserpina Mutineers

A Free Mutineer movement had emerged on Proserpina by 2 November 3044, led by Elijah Harris. This prompted the Draconis Combine to send the 1st Amphigean Light Assault Group under Tai-sa Ishajii Michaels to quash the uprising, while the Federated Commonwealth covertly supported the rebels with mercenaries -- ironically, the same mercenaries had fought for the Combine against the Free Galedon V Mutineers. The mercenaries hot-dropped into the Crystal Desert on 31 July 3045, immediately blunting a Combine surprise attack on a rebel base with at least 4 Combine 'Mechs destroyed. On 20 September the mercenaries infiltrated a firebase and killed Sho-sa Varus "The Butcher", who was nicknamed such for allegedly ordering the massacre of 206 civilians during the last summer's Freedom Marches. Michaels responded with a declaration of no quarter.

The rebels emerged from the desert victorious after major actions on 22 October, including the interdiction and destruction of an entire Combine Assault lance by rebel artillery and mercenary spotters. The Combine immediately began to evacuate government officials from the capital, with 600 leaving that very day. Combine violence against civilians began to intensify, culminating in mass killings on 4 November. The rebels and mercenaries stormed the capital two days later, liberating a POW camp and taking the spaceport, cutting off the retreat of the remaining Combine forces. The Mutineers set up a provisional government, but canonically Proserpina seemed to be back under Combine control by 3050. The death toll of the conflict was estimated at nearly 100,000.