Battle of Marlowe's Rift (3139)

Battle of Marlowe's Rift
Part of Dark Age era
Start Date 14 February 3139 Planet Marlowe's Rift Territorial changes Draconis Reach
Factions
(Attacker) Draconis Combine	(Defender) Federated Suns
Commanders and leaders
Henry Kincaid	Robert McShane
Forces involved
Wolf's Dragoons	Marlowe Militia

Overview

The Battle of Marlowe's Rift was the first battle of the Draconis Reach Campaign, which ended in a total defeat for the Federated Suns forces.

Prelude

The Draconis Reach was a chatic region between the Federated Suns and the Draconis Combine. Created about the 3080s, was claimed by both states, and though it said continous raids from one side against other, no one could effectively control it... though there were exceptions: the planet Marlowe's Rift was one of these. It was firmly under the control of the Suns, with a relatively strong and experienced militia. The Combine lacked the forces to claim the area, but that changed when warlord Matsuhari Toranaga contracted Wolf's Dragoons: their mission was, precisely, to conquer the Reach, and they began with Marlowe's Rift.

Aftermath

The battle ended in a total defeat for the defenders, with all the militia destroyed, and the planet firmly into Combine's hands. However, a lone DropShip would take off, carrying the wounded McShane and other of his men, despite the colonel's intent to remain and fight. McShane would swore to came back, and wouldn't come alone, becoming one of the Davions' leaders, fighting the Dragoons along all the Reach campaign.

Bibliography

• Redemption Rift (novel)