View source for Battle of Hesperus (2787)

{{InfoBoxBattle
| conflict   = Operation BROKEN BLADE
| partof     = [[First Succession War]]
| image      = 
| startdate  = December [[2787]]
| enddate    = January [[2788]]
| planet     = [[Hesperus II]]
| place      = 
| result     = House Steiner Victory
| territory  = 
| faction1   = [[Draconis Combine]]
| commander1 = ''[[Tai-sho (rank)|Tai-sho]]'' [[Hiroshi Pederson]]
| command1   = 4 BattleMech regiments,<br>Naval forces (over 20 WarShips plus supporting assets)
| faction2   = [[Lyran Commonwealth]]
| commander2 = [[Admiral]] [[Luther Weisskopf]]
| command2   = [[30th Lyran Guards]],<br>Naval Forces (30 WarShips, 50 assault DropShips, and 20 fighter carriers)
| faction3   = 
| commander3 = 
| command3   = 
}}
The '''First Battle of Hesperus II''' was a major assault launched by the [[Draconis Combine]] in December [[2787]], designated '''Operation BROKEN BLADE'''.<ref name=FSWp62>''First Succession War'', p. 62: "Holding Hesperus"</ref>

==Overview==
[[File:Operation Broken Blade, Space Battle.jpg|right|thumb|The Lyran and Draconis fleets in the space battle in Hesperus II's orbit.]]
After the [[Battle of Skondia (2787)|Battle of Skondia]], the Draconis Combine redeployed their fleet to Hesperus II, repairing the vessels and reinforcing it with several WarShips. The Draconis fleet consisted of over twenty WarShips escorting a ground invasion force of four [[BattleMech]] [[regiments]] and supporting assets. It did not expect significant spaceborne opposition at Hesperus II and were surprised to face a Lyran fleet of approximately 100 combat vessels, including thirty WarShips.<ref name=FSWp62/>

Operation BROKEN BLADE's objective was to hamper the [[Lyran Commonwealth]]'s ability to manufacture war matériel by destroying as much of the production facilities on [[Hesperus II]] as possible. Though the Combine WarShips managed to destroy some orbiting factories, they were unable to support the ground assault because of the strong Lyran defense fleet. But since the attackers' plan presupposed orbital support, the ground attack failed to overcome the defenders.

A key point of the ground battle happened when two [[House Kurita|Kurita]] 'Mechs made their way through the Lyran lines during a orbital bombardment. Their mission was to destroy an aboveground vehicle factory. Facing them were only two Lyran 'Mech—one intact and the other crippled. At the cost of one Lyran life and the death of several factory workers who joined the defense, they managed to defeat and capture both Kuritan pilots, saving the factory.<ref>''Broken Blade'' p. 27</ref>

===Aftermath===
The [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] withdrew in January [[2788]], having suffered more casualties than they had dealt.<ref name=FSSp50>''First Succession War'', p. 50: "Operation BROKEN BLADE"</ref> In nearly a month of brutal space combat, the Draconis had lost over half of the fleet while their ground assault forces had been reduced to less than two regiments,<ref name=FSWp62/> including the loss of the entire [[Eighteenth Dieron Regulars]] and mercenary [[Fifty-second Heavy Assault Regiment]].<ref name=FSSp50/>

In the wake of the immense battles at [[Skondia]] and Hesperus, House Kurita would limit the scope of their actions against the Lyran Commonwealth for the next twenty years to mostly border raids and small-unit battles of no larger than a [[battalion]], shifting resources to their ongoing invasion of the [[Federated Suns]].<ref name=FSSp50/>

==Units involved==
===Draconis Combine===
* [[18th Dieron Regulars]]
* [[5th Sword of Light]]
* [[8th Sword of Light]]
* [[Fifty-second Heavy Assault Regiment]] (mercenaries)

===Lyran Commonwealth===
* [[30th Lyran Guards]]
{{clear}}

==Reference==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[First Succession War]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Steiner]]''
* ''[[Broken Blade]]'' (BattleCorps story)

[[Category:First Succession War Era Military Operations|Hesperus II, 01st]]