Operation CONTAGION

Operation: CONTAGION

The DCMS unit was disorganized and no effort was started to stop the invasion of the LCAF. Theodore Kurita called the CO's from all units in the Dieron District for a meeting. He argued that the rear of the Steiner front was underdefended. His plan was to get behind the front line, use the planets for offensive actions and bring the Commonwealth advance to a halt. The officers agreed with him. Theodore gets support from an unexpected direction. Duke Aldo Lestrade had send diplomats to discuss the possible independence of the Federation of Skye with the support of the Draconis Combine. The tai-sa chose Dromini VI as the first target of the Operation.

Dromini VI: Step One

Attackers: Seventeenth Benjamin Regulars, Fourteenth Legion of Vega, and Eleventh Legion of Vega

Defenders: LCAF garrison

Outcome: The DCMS sent some ISF operatives to the world where they supported the anti-Commonwealth movement. The hostility on the planet increased seriously. The local garrison was overpowered by the rebels. In the next few days the DCMS units arrived at the system.

Dromini VI: Step Two

Attackers: Tenth Lyran Guards

Defenders: Seventeenth Benjamin Regulars, Fourteenth Legion of Vega, Second Legion of Vega, Third Dieron Regulars, and Genyosha

Outcome: The Guards began a frontal assault but were surrounded and beaten. The CO Frederick Steiner offer himself as hostage, when his unit could retreat off planet. Theodore Kurita agreed. The LCAF sent the First Royal Guards and Barrett's Fusiliers to catch the heir of the Dragon but without success. Loki agents sabotaged six of Theodore Kurita's JumpShips. With such losses the operation were stopped. The DCMS retreat back to Combine space.

Skondia

Attackers: Fourteenth Legion of Vega

Defenders: five regiments of militia infantry and two militia 'Mech battalions

Outcome: After a series of hopeless defensive actions the Fourteenth Legion overwhelmed the defenders and secured the planet for the DCMS.

Nusakan

Attackers: Fifth Sword of Light and Genyosha

Defenders: Kell Hounds

Outcome: The fight for this planet was short and brutal. Even the superior numbers could not turn the tide for the Dragon and the defending mercs battered the Sword of Light to a shadow of its former self. Then the Genyosha arrived to. The fight was battle out between the two COs. The Hounds gained another victory and the beaten CO (Yorinaga Kurita) killed himself because he would not live with the shame of defeat by normal mercenaries.

Alphecca

Attackers: Third Dieron Regulars

Defenders: militia infantry

Outcome: The defending militia tried to beat the Kuritan 'Mech battalion in open battle but suffered horrendous losses and surrendered to the invaders.

Conclusion

The Lyrans had many things going for them. They had the Rasalhague rebels fomenting insurrection and providing them with intelligence. They had Takashi Kurita's distraction with Wolf's Dragoons. They used these advantages to push the Draconis Combine back along a very broad front. They took a number of traditionally Rasalhagian worlds from the Combine, though their successes did not match what the Federated Suns managed to achieve against the Capellans.

Lyran military doctrine was significantly different than that of the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns. Where the AFFS executed several different "waves," effectively leapfrogging each other, the Lyrans used their wall of assault 'Mechs and pushed into the Draconis Combine on a very broad front. This was not a tactic that had served the Lyrans well in the past, but circumstances conspired to make it a feasible strategy for the Fourth War.

The Lyran offensive was stalled when the Combine struck back and scored a couple of worlds that put them within one jump of Skye, a regional capital. Unwilling to continue pressing forward, but unable to reclaim their lost worlds, the Lyran assault ground to a halt.

Bibliography

• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 1
• NAIS The Fourth Succession War Military Atlas Volume 2