Black Brian
Sarna News
Similar in size to the Castles Brian of Terran Hegemony space, the Black Brian was a fortification on the Clan world of Dagda, the site of a major victory by the nascent Clan Jade Falcon and one of the final battles in Operation KLONDIKE.[1] The fortification was known as Brian Cache Dag-92-906 before the Pentagon Civil War,[2] gaining the nom de Guerre from the color of the walls after decades of war.[3]
History[edit]
Following the downfall of the Star League in Exile and the Second Exodus, the Brotherhood of Donegal gained control of the fort dominating the only pass through the Thorin Mountains of the eastern Dagda continent[3] of San Biagio.[1]
Operation KLONDIKE[edit]
The original plan called for the four Clans assigned to Dagda to take the Black Brian together, but after the losses and difficulties of the campaign up to that point, the ilKhan instead chose to bring in Clan Wolf and Clan Jade Falcon as reinforcements.[1]
Clan Wolf secured the Thorin Pass and the territory beyond while the Widowmakers and Burrocks were assigned to secondary objectives, including control of the air.[1] The Falcons neutralized the exterior defenses of the cache, with Nicholas Kerensky himself joining in the forces covering the withdrawal after a successful operation. The first mention of Lisa Buhallin is found in Jade Falcon annals of the battle, badly injured leading an assault BattleMech Star against the large weapon turrets of the Black Brian.[3]
Even without their gun emplacements, the Brotherhood was still a threat, able to sally forth from the cache's many entrances and conduct hit-and-run raids. A pair of Slings proved extremely frustrating to the Falcons by repeatedly reseeding minefields the Clans thought were cleared. A high altitude aerospace fighter patrol was established specifically to locate and destroy the two troublesome ’Mechs, which they did. The final phase of the campaign began, dubbed Operation FERRET.[4][5]
On 2 April 2822, the Wolves simultaneously assaulted three gates, each with a Binary of 'Mechs. One was breached, and the Brotherhood was forced to fall back, leading to the fall of the other two by midnight. The Jade Falcons entered the complex and, beset by a series of ambushes, slowly wore down the defenders. Khan Jerome Winson offered the Wolves as a relief force and was rebuffed by Khan Elizabeth Hazen. Fifty-four days later, Khan Hazen emerged with the final prisoner to find the rest of the Council of Khans assembled.[4]
Aftermath[edit]
Given their successes, Clan Jade Falcon hoped that Nicolas Kerensky would choose them to carry his legacy. The only rival was Clan Wolf, who Kerensky ultimately tied himself to. The Jade Falcons responded with public loyalty, but secret shock and outrage, leading to The Culling and the Jade Falcon's unique brand of conservatism.[6][7]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Historical: Operation KLONDIKE, p. 86
- ↑ Historical: Operation KLONDIKE, pp. 86–87: "The Siege of the Black Brian"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 14
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Historical: Operation KLONDIKE, p. 87
- ↑ Historical: Operation KLONDIKE, p. 162: "SL-1G Sling"
- ↑ Jade Falcon Sourcebook, p. 15
- ↑ Sorrow of Eden (novel)