Battle of Kathil (3062)

Battle of Kathil
Part of FedCom Civil War
Start Date 16 November 3062 Location District City Planet Kathil
Factions
(Attacker) Loyalists	(Defender) Allies
Commanders and leaders
Hauptmann General Mitchell Weintraub	Major General Donald Sampreis
Forces involved
Eighth FedCom RCT Eighth Donegal Guards	Kathil CMM Second NAIS Training Cadre First Capellan Dragoons
Environment
Urban
Conditions
Normal

Overview

Considered by many to be the first true battle of the FedCom Civil War, the Battle of Kathil was the spark that ignited many other flashpoints across the Federated Commonwealth's territory as news of it spread like wildfire. Though initially a conflict between an untested unit of the Federated Commonwealth Corps and a Capellan March Militia unit supported by an NAIS Training Cadre, the battle soon grew to encompass such renowned units as the Donegal Guards, Syrtis Fusiliers, and Davion Brigade of Guards. As with many other battles during the Civil War that followed, it was long, bloody, and costly for both factions.

Prelude

The roots of the Battle of Kathil begin in a few different places, chiefly and most often named being the growing resentment between the "Loyalist" supporters of Katherine Steiner-Davion and her Lyran Alliance and the supporters of Victor Steiner-Davion, whom the so-called "Allies" viewed to be the legitimate ruler of the Federated Commonwealth. But often overlooked in these analyses is the role that Field Marshal Duke George Hasek played in sparking the conflict. True to his family's history, Duke Hasek saw the conflict as an opportunity for the Capellan March to gain more independence from New Avalon. He had already commissioned the design of the Federated Suns' first home-produced BattleMech, the Templar, on Talon, and knew that the industrial juggernaut of Kathil was a lynchpin in maintaining the March's security. Hasek decided to consolidate his powerbase, and ordered the reformation of the Kathil CMM, a unit that had been off the rosters since the end of the Fourth Succession War.

When the unit was finally reformed in October of 3062, he deemed the Eighth FedCom RCT, which had been maintaining the planet's defenses for some time, unnecessary and ordered them off the world. He believed that by relocating the unit, which he knew to be very pro-Katherine, to Halloran V, he could sidestep any future conflict with either side of the brewing Civil War. Unfortunately, Hauptmann General Mitchell Weintraub flat-out refused the order, stating that he and his unit had been assigned to the Kathil garrison by the Archon-Princess herself and that the Duke's order could hardly countermand hers. Additionally, Weintraub noted that the Kathil CMM was brand new, and barely had the qualifications necessary for the world's defense. Hasek, sensing trouble, ordered the First Capellan Dragoons to Kathil. He knew that this unit was fiercely loyal to himself and believed that they might be able to help "convince" the Eighth FedCom to leave Kathil without a fight. This was not to be the case.

Bibliography

• FedCom Civil War (sourcebook)