Sarna News: Bad 'Mechs - Icestorm

Difference between revisions of "Battle of Helm (3138)"

m (Undo revision 1021576 by Fredericmora (talk) In no way does this make any sense.)
Tag: Undo
(updating infobox, copyedits for the first half)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{InfoBoxConflict
+
{{InfoBoxBattle
| conflict = ''Battle of Helm (3138)''
+
| conflict = Battle of Helm
 
| partof = [[Operation HAMMERFALL]]
 
| partof = [[Operation HAMMERFALL]]
| image =
+
| image =  
| caption =
+
| startdate = From 19 April [[3138]]
| date = From 19 to 28 April [[3138]]  
+
| enddate = 28 April [[3138]]
| place = [[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
 
 
| planet = [[Helm]]
 
| planet = [[Helm]]
 +
| place = Helmdown
 +
| result = Lyran and Wolf victory; Silver Hawks' partial destruction
 
| territory =  
 
| territory =  
| faction1 = (Attacker)<br />[[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br />[[Clan Wolf]]
+
| faction1 = (Attacker)<br>[[Lyran Commonwealth]]<br>[[Clan Wolf]]
| faction2 = (Defender)<br />[[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
+
| commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br>[[Vedet Brewer]]<br>[[Roderick Steiner]]
| commander1 = [[Alaric Ward]]<br />[[Vedet Brewer]]<br />[[Roderick Steiner]]
+
| command1 = [[1st Hesperus Guards]]<br>[[1st Steiner Strikers]]<br>[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)|Alpha Galaxy]]
 +
| faction2 = (Defender)<br>[[Marik-Stewart Commonwealth]]
 
| commander2 = [[Anson Marik]]
 
| commander2 = [[Anson Marik]]
| forces1=  
+
| command2 = [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]]
| forces2=  
+
| faction3 =  
| result = Partial Hawks' annihilation, lyran and Wolf victory
+
| commander3 =  
| environment =  
+
| command3 =  
| conditions = Normal
 
 
}}
 
}}
 +
The '''Battle of Helm (3138)''', also known as the Helm Massacre, was a late [[Dark Age Era]] military operation undertaken by the allied Clan Wolf and Lyran forces against the defending Marik Stewart defenders.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 108</ref>
  
The '''Battle of Helm (3138)''', aka ''Helm Massacre'' was a late [[Dark Age Era]] military operation undertaken by the allied Clan Wolf and Lyran forces against the defending Marik Stewart defenders.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.108</ref>
 
 
==Operation Brief==
 
The military operation took place in Helm's capital, Helmdown.
 
 
==Operation History==
 
===Factions & Known Units Involved in the Conflict===
 
====Lyran Commonwealth====
 
*[[First Hesperus Guards]]
 
*[[1st Steiner Strikers]]
 
 
====[[Clan Wolf]]====
 
*[[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Wolf)]] (one Cluster)
 
 
 
====Marik-Stewart Commonwealth====
 
*[[Silver Hawk Irregulars]]
 
 
----
 
 
===Origins of the Conflict===
 
===Origins of the Conflict===
The reformation by Anson Marik of the disolved [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] was used as excuse by the Lyran Archon [[Trillian Steiner]] to invade the former [[Free Worlds League]] space. She enlisted the help of Clan Wolf, in exchange for new worlds to them. The alliance was tenous, but it served both the lyrans and the Wolves interests, at least for the time being.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.24</ref>
+
[[Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth|Archon]] [[Trillian Steiner]] used [[Anson Marik]]'s reformation of the [[Silver Hawk Irregulars]] as an excuse to invade the former [[Free Worlds League]] space. She enlisted the help of Clan Wolf in exchange for new worlds. The alliance was tenuous but it served both the Lyrans' and the Wolves' interests for the time being.<ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 24</ref>
  
 
===Lyran Invasion===
 
===Lyran Invasion===
Reinforced by Clan Wolf forces, the lyran invasion was almost unstoppable: the minor forces of the Marik-Stewart Commonality were overwhelmed, and still worse, they had two fronts, as their planet [[Marik]] was invaded by the [[Spirit Cats]] and nearby worlds by the [[Oriente Protectorate]]. Only the Silver Hawks were able to stymie the confound the invaders in several occasions, but their small size, barely a regiment, limited their effectivity.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 23–24</ref>
+
Reinforced by Clan Wolf forces, the Lyran invasion was almost unstoppable: the minor forces of the Marik-Stewart Commonality were overwhelmed and still worse, they had two fronts as [[Marik]] and nearby worlds were invaded by the [[Spirit Cats]] and [[Oriente Protectorate]]. Only the Silver Hawks were able to stymie the invaders on several occasions, but their small size, barely a regiment, limited their effectiveness.<ref>''Era Report: 3145'', pp. 23–24</ref>
  
 
===Attack on Helm===
 
===Attack on Helm===
The 1st Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster, commanded by then [[Star Colonel]] [[Alaric Wolf]], would first see action together on Helm in April. However, before that, the bulk of the Irregulars was sent offworld, leaving behind only two skeleton companies to delay the invaders' advance as long as possible. Wolves & Lyran forces were not cooperating due to political, cultural, and the personal issues between commanding officers: Duke Vedet & Alaric Wolf. Alaric distrusted the lyrans, and vice versa. Besides, Brewer had great ambitions and only followed his Archon because it benefited him. Trillian, which assisted to the invasion from the front lines, had to use diplomacy for both units to work together.
+
The First Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster, commanded by then-[[Star Colonel]] [[Alaric Wolf]], would first see action together on Helm in April. The bulk of the Irregulars had been sent offworld, leaving behind only two skeleton companies to delay the invaders' advance as long as possible. Wolves and Lyran forces were not cooperating due to a number of issues and lack of trust between their commanding officers Duke [[Vedet Brewer]] and [[Alaric Ward]]. In addition, Brewer had his own ambitions and only followed the Archon because it benefited him. Archon Trillian Steiner, which assisted the invasion from the front lines, used her diplomatic skills to get both units to work together.
Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown, where the Irregulars have entrenched, but were rebuffed by heavy resistance Silver Hawk Irregulars hidden among civilian farmers.
+
 
By May 22nd, Trillian Steiner had called in [[1st Steiner Strikers]], led by her cousin, Colonel [[Roderick Steiner]] to try move invasion of Helm.<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', pp.24</ref>
+
Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown where the Silver Hawk Irregulars had entrenched, but encountered heavy resistance from their forces hidden amongst the civilian farmers. By May 22nd, Steiner had called in the [[First Steiner Strikers]], led by her cousin Colonel [[Roderick Steiner]].<ref>''The Last Charge'' ch. 10</ref><ref>''Field Manual: 3145'', p. 24</ref>
  
 
===The Massacre===
 
===The Massacre===

Revision as of 11:31, 24 November 2023

Battle of Helm (3138)
Conflict details
Part of Operation HAMMERFALL
Start Date From 19 April 3138
End Date 28 April 3138
Planet(s) Helm
Location(s) Helmdown
Result Lyran and Wolf victory; Silver Hawks' partial destruction
Attacking Forces
Affiliation (Attacker)
Lyran Commonwealth
Clan Wolf
Commanding Officer(s) Alaric Ward
Vedet Brewer
Roderick Steiner
Command(s) 1st Hesperus Guards
1st Steiner Strikers
Alpha Galaxy
Defending Forces
Affiliation (Defender)
Marik-Stewart Commonwealth
Commanding Officer(s) Anson Marik
Command(s) Silver Hawk Irregulars
Other Forces

The Battle of Helm (3138), also known as the Helm Massacre, was a late Dark Age Era military operation undertaken by the allied Clan Wolf and Lyran forces against the defending Marik Stewart defenders.[1]

Origins of the Conflict

Archon Trillian Steiner used Anson Marik's reformation of the Silver Hawk Irregulars as an excuse to invade the former Free Worlds League space. She enlisted the help of Clan Wolf in exchange for new worlds. The alliance was tenuous but it served both the Lyrans' and the Wolves' interests for the time being.[2]

Lyran Invasion

Reinforced by Clan Wolf forces, the Lyran invasion was almost unstoppable: the minor forces of the Marik-Stewart Commonality were overwhelmed and still worse, they had two fronts as Marik and nearby worlds were invaded by the Spirit Cats and Oriente Protectorate. Only the Silver Hawks were able to stymie the invaders on several occasions, but their small size, barely a regiment, limited their effectiveness.[3]

Attack on Helm

The First Hesperus Guards and a Clan Wolf Cluster, commanded by then-Star Colonel Alaric Wolf, would first see action together on Helm in April. The bulk of the Irregulars had been sent offworld, leaving behind only two skeleton companies to delay the invaders' advance as long as possible. Wolves and Lyran forces were not cooperating due to a number of issues and lack of trust between their commanding officers Duke Vedet Brewer and Alaric Ward. In addition, Brewer had his own ambitions and only followed the Archon because it benefited him. Archon Trillian Steiner, which assisted the invasion from the front lines, used her diplomatic skills to get both units to work together.

Clan Wolf attacked Helm's capital city of Helmsdown where the Silver Hawk Irregulars had entrenched, but encountered heavy resistance from their forces hidden amongst the civilian farmers. By May 22nd, Steiner had called in the First Steiner Strikers, led by her cousin Colonel Roderick Steiner.[4][5]

The Massacre

Two days later, the 28 April, the battle for capital city resumed with the Wolves attacking it by his own initiative, engaging the Silver Hawks. Then, the Hesperus Guards followed, covered by artillery fire,m and later, the 1st Strikers joined the assault. The Irregulars were forced to retreat to the center of the city, with the lyrans pursuing them, but the Hesperus Guards fell to concentrated artillery fire, forcing them to cease persecution.[6]

The Hawks continued retreating through the city, hiting and running, harassing both lyran and Wolf forces. Alaric Wolf then ordered his bombers to bomb the city's center. The destruction made easier the Wolves' advance. The Hawks then ceased fighting, only running, fearing the Wolves. They fell into disarray under the three-side attack, after the Strikers joined the battle. Leaderless and confused, the Hawks' officers and soldiers decided to surrender to Brever's forces, believing him to be the most honorable. Lieutenant Fred Parsons contacted the Duke, offering his unit's surrender, and Vedet accepted, offering him the terms. But the surrender attempt failed when the bulk of the Hawks, led by Lieutenant Zeke Carleton began firing at all directions. Anyway, the Duke communicated to Roderick and Alaric the surrender, but the Wolf leader ignored the order and led the last charge against the Hawks. Despite the Wolves finding only isolated resistance, they killed any surrended or fighting Hawks, including Parsons, taking no prisoners. Alaric Wolf's heavy handedness made the battle to be noted as the Helm Massacre. However, the massacre didn't affect Anson Marik and was promptly covered up by Trillian Steiner. Vedet was also furious with the Wolf leader for having stole him his victory and vowed never to work with them again. The exact number of Hawks' soldiers and support personnel was between fifty and one hundred.[7][8][9]

Aftermath

Helm became a decisive battle in Hammerfall: soon after, Anson Marik died on Stewart, and the Marik-Stewart Commonality died with him, but Anson made sure to ensure the Silver Hawks' survived. The Hawks remained protecting the last worlds of the Coalition still free, and played a part in the rebirth of the Free Worlds League.[10]

Anyway, the Hawks never forgot the massacre, or forgive the wolves: they mantained a vendetta against the wolves. At the dawn of IlClan Era, with the Empire almost defenseless, they began retaking historical Silver Hawk's worlds, Colonel Lucas Cameron-Witherspoon led the Gryphons' First Battalion to Helm, landing there on 7 August 3151. Fueled by their hate to the Wolves, they led the charge against the minimal Wolf garrison through the Nagayan Mountains, hunting down the Wolf warriors to a man. After the victory, Lucas commissioned a monument outside Helmdown which commemorated all the Silver Hawk Irregulars killed there in 3138.[11]

Gallery

References

  1. Field Manual: 3145, p. 108
  2. Field Manual: 3145, p. 24
  3. Era Report: 3145, pp. 23–24
  4. The Last Charge ch. 10
  5. Field Manual: 3145, p. 24
  6. The Last Charge ch. 11-12
  7. Era Report: 3145, p. 20: Timeline of Events/April 28th - Helm Massacre Noted
  8. Era Report: 3145, p. 23: Hammerfall & Homecoming - Invasion of Helm and snapshot of events noted
  9. The Last Charge ch. 13-16
  10. Field Manual: 3145, pp.17-18
  11. Empire Alone p. 40-41

Bibliography