Operation RAT

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Operation RAT
Part of Fourth Succession War
Start Date 3028 End Date 3029 Result Decisive Federated Suns Victory Territorial changes Massive territorial gains for the Federated Suns, including Tikonov.
Factions
Attacker Federated Suns	Defender Capellan Confederation
Conditions
Normal

Wave 1

The Federated Suns launched Wave 1 with the following objectives in mind:

• Secure worlds for leapfrogging territorial expansion
• Cripple the Capellan command and control structure
• Destroy or neutralize the most powerful CCAF units

Aldebaran

Attackers: Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry RCT, Fourth Davion Guards RCT and the Redfield Renegades

Defender: Warrior House Ijori and 16 regiments of armor and infantry

Outcome: The Fourth Davion Guards, reinforced by armor and infantry regiments, engaged the first battalion of Warrior House Ijori and drove them through the town of Chouchu into their hidden DropShips, sustaining only minimal casualties. The Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry was not so fortunate in their engagement of the House's second battalion. The CCAF forced the Fourth Deneb around the southern continent, until House Ijori managed to intercept an order to withdraw meant for the Redfield Renegades. Acting on this information, the commanding officer of the Ijori second battalion was able to ambush the retreating Renegades around their DropShips. Unfortunately, Davion reinforcements arrived on site and surrounded the Ijori forces. When asked to surrender, the Warrior House declined and fought to the last man. The Renegades redeployed to reinforce the invasion efforts of AFFS forces on Liao.

Liao

Attackers: 33rd Avalon Hussars RCT, the Blue Star Irregulars, and the Redfield Renegades

Defender: Warrior House Lu Sann, First Confederation Reserve Cavalry, Vincent's Commandos, and the Capellan Hussars

Outcome: During the First Wave, AFFS troops invaded Liao with the support of all three Blue Star Irregulars regiments, dropping unopposed onto the planet's surface. The 1894th Light Horse Regiment of the Blue Star Irregulars met and defeated Vincent's Commandos after a short battle, while the Thirty-third Avalon Hussars defeated the First Confederation Reserve Cavalry and forced it to retreat towards the Avatars of Painful Death and 21st Rim Worlds, who were making preparations to assault Warrior House Lu Sann inside the Forbidden City. The First Reserve Cavalry attacked the 21st Rim Worlds and was quickly repulsed, but managed to lure them into a trap set by the Capellan Hussars' second regiment. While the Rim Worlds was able to withdraw, they lost their commanding officer in the action. Meanwhile, the Avatars of Painful Death were able to engage and destroy the first battalion of Warrior House Lu Sann. The Avalon Hussars tried to link up with Blue Star Irregular forces, but were hindered by the Reserve Cavalry. House Lu Sann special forces infantry launched a raid behind the lines of the AFFS forces and caused further chaos. Only when the Redfield Renegades arrive did the tides of battle change in favor of the Federated Suns. The Renegades dropped behind House Lu Sann and entered the Forbidden City, unopposed. The Forbidden City lost, all remaining CCAF forces chose to retreat. The Capellan Hussars, the remaining battalion of House Lu Sann, and the last battalion of the Reserve Cavalry were all that managed to depart. As a reward for their success, the Renegades were left to garrison the world while the other AFFS forces redeployed to attack Genoa.

Algol

Attackers: Third Davion Guards RCT and the 71st Light Horse Regiment, Eridani Light Horse

Defender: First Ariana Fusiliers

Outcome: The invasion of Algol began with several aerospace skirmishes between the Guards' aerowing and scattered CCAF fighters, which were quickly destroyed by the more organized AFFS wing. Feeling that the level of resistance was relatively low, the Guards commander had his aerospace fighters rearm for ground attack and probed a location where he believed the Ariana Fusiliers' aerospace units were based. The Guards' aerowing caught the Fusilier fighters on the ground and were able to destroy them entirely. Now clear of any aerial opposition, the Seventy-first Light Horse made planetfall outside the spaceport of Groffer's Toil and behind the Fusiliers' battlelines. The second battalion of the Fusiliers, not expecting this to be the Light Horse's landing zone, was annihilated when they tried to launch a rear assault on the Seventy-first's column moving on the spaceport. Meanwhile, the Third Davion Guards caught the Fusiliers' first battalion, led by Tormana Liao, outside the city of Schan and tore into them with ferocity. A brutal fight culminated in the complete destruction of the Fusiliers' headquarters as the Guards overwhelmed their position and called in a danger-close artillery barrage. Tormana Liao was killed and the remaining third battalion of the Ariana Fusiliers quickly retreated offworld.

New Hessen

Attackers: First and Second New Ivaarsen Chasseurs

Defender: First and Second New Hessen Irregulars

Outcome: As New Hessen was a popular training ground that hosted multiple CCAF 'Mech regiments at a time, the AFFS forces carefully timed their invasion to take place when only two units, the First and Second New Hessen Irregulars, were planetside. Despite their intimate knowledge of the terrain, the First Irregulars made an error by selecting open terrain to engage the invaders. Though they hoped to outmaneuver the 'Mech forces, they were pinned in place by AFFS aerospace units, and were annihilated once the 'Mechs of the First Chasseurs closed with them. The Second Irregulars chose to fight in the planetary capital against the Second Chasseurs, but again miscalculated, as this was the regimental specialty of the Second Chasseurs, who left the defenders no chance of achieving victory. Only one battalion of Irregulars, along with a handful of conventional forces, survived to make an escape offworld.

Pleione

Attackers: The Screaming Eagles

Defender: Third Battalion, McCrimmon's Light Cavalry

Outcome: Screaming Eagle aerospace fighters surprised most of the Third Battalion in the open, wiping out an entire company. Survivors were able to retreat to a converted Star League fortress built into a tabletop mountain that the CCAF had nicknamed "Thunder Rock." There, they mounted a staunch defense for the better part of three weeks. Finally, the Screaming Eagles airdropped a battalion of 'Mechs on the top of the mountain and were able to enter the complex. Fierce fighting ensued, but the Screaming Eagles had surprised the Light Cavalry. Another company was eliminated when they attempted to flee through an exit in the mountain's side, and the remaining Light Cavalry surrendered to the invaders. Two battalions of Eagles were left to garrison Pleione, while the others redeployed to support the invasion of Gan Singh.

Poznan

Attackers: Gamma and Delta Regiments, 12th Vegan Rangers

Defender: 6 Planetary Militia Regiments

Outcome: The 12th Vegan Rangers were able to empower the planet's oppressed ethnically Hispanic population in their fight against the Capellan ruling class. Their help, combined with the lack of any real 'Mech resistance, allowed the Rangers to easily take the planet with minimal losses.

St. Andre

Attackers: Davion Light Guards RCT, Alpha and Beta Regiments, 12th Vegan Rangers.

Defender: Justinia's Cuirassiers, Cochraine's Goliaths, First Battalion, Blackwind Lancers

Outcome: While the AFFS units were able to make planetfall unopposed, Beta Regiment was quickly engaged by the Blackwind Lancers and requested assistance from Alpha. Seeing Alpha Regiment moving to support its sister, Justinia's Cuirassiers struck them mid-movement, turning the battle into an escalating melee. Alpha was reinforced by the Davion Light Guards and Beta Regiment and their combined effort broke the Cuirassiers' back, forcing their commanding officer to surrender. While the battle between the Cuirassiers and the Rangers raged, the Blackwind Lancers attempted a strike on the AFFS base camp, but were quickly repulsed by elements of the Light Guards who had been left to guard the site. Their surrender allowed the AFFS to secure the CCAF headquarters and capture Capellan radio frequency and encryption data, which were then utilized to lure Cochraine's Goliaths into a trap. While the two forces were equally matched, and the fighting brutal, the AFFS units eventually forced the Goliaths to surrender, securing the planet.

Shensi

Attackers: 1st Davion Guards RCT

Defender: Planetary Militia forces

Outcome: While the Shensi militia put up a fierce and determined fight, their fates were sealed from the beginning. The First Davion Guards quickly secured the planet after beating them into submission.

Styk

Attackers: 20th Avalon Hussars RCT, Davion Heavy Guards RCT

Defender: Third Battalion, 4th Confederation Reserve Cavalry, Warrior House Fujita

Outcome: Thanks to the interference of the MIIO, the defenders lost most of their effective aerospace defenses to sabotage. The remaining aerospace fighters had no chance against the invading Davion forces and were quickly rendered a non-threat. The Twentieth Avalon Hussars set a trap for the Fourth CRC and managed to encircle them. After two attempts to break the encirclement, the Cavalry was forced to surrender. The elite infantry of Warrior House was outmatched and slaughtered by the 'Mechs and combined arms of the Davion Heavy Guards. As the remaining Capellan forces began their withdrawal from the planet, they boarded DropShips that had been sabotaged by MIIO operatives. The resulting catastrophic failures generated losses that were horrendous among the CCAF. The Tao 'Mechworks (the Capellan Confederation's third-largest 'Mech manufacturer at this time) was secured without damage.

Wave 2

The focus of the second wave was on Tikonov, as it was the capital world of the Tikonov Commonality, was a major economic power for the Confederation, and held the capacity to harbor several 'Mech regiments that could counterattack the Federated Suns' advance. Also noted was that the leader of the Commonality, Pavel Ridzik, held a major base on the planet. AFFS planners hoped that the seizing of this world, and the possible capture of Ridzik, would bring the Commonality down in one fell swoop, significantly weakening Capellan military resistance across the theater.

Tikonov

Attackers: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Crucis Lancers RCTs

Defender: "Night Riders" deep-space interdiction unit, MacGregor's Armored Scouts, 4th Tau Ceti Rangers, Hamilton's Highlanders, 2nd Ariana Fusiliers, Ariana Grenadiers, 1st Chesterton Voltigeurs, 2nd Chesterton Voltigeurs, 3rd Chesterton Voltigeurs, approximately eighty Tikonov Planetary Militia armor and infantry regiments

Outcome: Before the AFFS task force could make planetfall, they were faced with The Night Riders, an interdiction unit consisting of a Vengeance-class DropShip Carrier, two Union CV-variant DropShips and around seventy aerospace fighters. Though the Lancers sustained significant fighter losses, no AFFS DropShips were destroyed, and all were able to safely land at their respective dropzones. Outside the port city of Bulun, the Seventh Crucis Lancers fought against MacGregor's Armored Scouts and their attached planetary militia battlegroup, which consisted of numerous armor and infantry regiments. The battle was fierce, but eventually the majority of the Armored Scouts were destroyed during a failed attack against the Seventh's headquarters company. Their 'Mech support defeated, the remaining CCAF forces subsequently surrendered. The Eighth Crucis Lancers met the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers' battlegroup at the city of Kazan. After several days of brutal fighting, the Rangers ignored a final order from Ridzik to fight to the last man and retreated from Tikonov in their own DropShips. Without the support of their 'Mechs, the militia units's defenses quickly crumbled. The Eighth secured Kazan and pushed to link up with the Sixth to complete their new task: secure the planet's capital, Tikograd.

Defending the capital city were Hamilton's Highlanders, elements of Stapleton's Iron Hand, and numerous militia support units. Knowing that these forces were dug in and ready behind the city's massive walls, the Lancers launched an intense artillery barrage that targeted those defenses. Several breaches were created, allowing AFFS forces to establish a beachhead in the administrative and residential sectors of Tikograd, but the Lancers were slowed as they were forced to deal with the minefields laid behind them. Knowing that Ridzik had threatened to destroy the industrial sector of Tikograd if it was attacked, they launched distracting strikes on the other two sectors while the Seventh combat dropped into the industrial sector to secure it. In spite of Ridzik anticipating this move, as well as some nearly-fatal errors on the part of AFFS command, the sector was eventually secured, the Highlanders destroyed, and Ridzik forced to flee the planet. Without their leader, Tikograd quickly surrendered unconditionally.

Elsewhere on the planet, the First Crucis Lancers fought against the Second Ariana Fusiliers and their battle group at the city of Karaganda. They inflicted heavy losses and forced the remaining Fusiliers to retreat from the planet. At Gizhiga, the Second defeated the Ariana Grenadiers after a fierce battle and captured all survivors. The Third Lancers overcame the forces headed by the First Chesterton Voltigeurs at New Moscow while the Fourth Crucis Lancers vanquished the Second Voltigeurs through intense jungle combat outside Ulan and the Fifth easily crushed the Third Voltigeurs at Tselinagrad. While control of Tikonov was not complete, all of the major objectives of the initial invasion had been achieved successfully.

Tsitsang

Attackers: 1st Davion Guards RCT

Defender: Planetary Militia forces

Outcome: The First Davion Guard were able to eliminate all resistance and secure Tsitsang with minimal losses.

Genoa

Attackers: 33rd Avalon Hussars RCT, Blue Star Irregulars

Defender: Planetary Militia forces

Outcome: Planet easily secured by AFFS forces.

Gan Singh

Attackers: Two Screaming Eagles mercenary regiments
Assisted by the Fourth Garrison Force (six regiments of Davion occupation troops)

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The mercenaries had no problems securing the planet for the AFFS. The militia had no chance against them.

Buchlau

Attackers: Gamma and Delta Regiments of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers
Assisted by First Garrison Force

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The mercenaries defeated the militia after a fierce battle.

Hunan

Attackers: 1st Aragon Borderers
Reinforced by the Delta Company of the Davion Light Guards 'Mech regiment

Defender: Freemont's Cuirassiers (1b)

Outcome: The Borderers had difficulties to fight the heavy machines of the defenders, only the supporting Delta Company changed the tide of battle for the invaders.

Zurich

Attackers: 4th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT

Defender: First Battalion of Trimaldi's Secutors

Outcome: Only one company survived the fight with an entire RCT and was able to retreat off world.

Ningpo

Attackers: 3rd Davion Guards RCT

Defender: First battalion of McCrimmon's Light Cavalry
Marion's Highlanders

Outcome: The Cavalry was no opponent for the elite Guards. Only the Highlanders were equal in size and experience. The fight came to a standstill and a truce was negotiated.

Alrescha

Attackers: 1st New Ivaarsen Chasseurs

Defender: Second battalion of the Hamilton's Highlanders
Second Battalion of MacGregor's Armored Scouts

Outcome: The triumph of the crushing defeat of both CCAF battalions got overshadowed, because a squad of the Death Commandos nearly killed the CO of the Chasseurs.

Wave 3

Menkar

Attackers: 7th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The Lancers crushed the militia with ease.

Achernar

Attackers: 1st Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The Lancers made short work of the defenders.

Kansu

Attackers: Delta Regiment of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: After several days of fighting, the mercenaries accepted the surrender of the militia.

Yangtze

Attackers: 1st New Ivaarsen Chasseurs

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: That world was secured through the seasoned soldiers of the Chasseurs.

Ronel

Attackers: Two heavy battalions of Miller's Marauders,
Twelve regiments of the Addicks Draconis March Militia

Defender: First battalion of Kerr's Intruders

Outcome: After the rivalry of two officers of the invading force got settled, the invasion became a success. The defending Intruders surrendered to the Davions.

Tybalt

Attackers: 4th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Third battalion of Lothar's Fusiliers

Outcome: Bad circumstances by the invaders delayed the invasion, but in the end only one company of the Fusiliers could retreat offworld.

Slocum

Attackers: 3rd Davion Guards RCT

Defender: Second battalion of McCrimmon's Light Cavalry

Outcome: The Guards landing happened unopposed. The defenders thought the invaders were afraid and began with an assault, but the Davions had other ideas, beat the Capellans and secured the planet. One company of Liaos survived and retreated offworld.

New Canton

Attackers: Screaming Eagles
Ten garrison Regiments

Defender: First battalion of the 4th Confederation Reserve Cavalry
Third Battalion of Trimaldi's Secutors

Outcome: The task force formed two equal battle-groups. The 1st Regiment sought after the Battalion of the Cavalry. The Capellans retreated in the forest, where they got surprised by the invaders and pinned at the river side. The CO of the Eagles began to slaughter the Liao soldiers after they surrendered, but the arriving AFFS forces forced the CO to put all weapons down for an investigation.
: The 2nd Regiment tried to catch the Battalion of the Secutors. Two attached infantry regiments made an air assault in front of the retreating Capellans. The fight cost the invaders four battalions, but the arrival of the 2nd Regiment secured the victory for the Davion forces.

Arboris

Attackers: 33rd Avalon Hussars RCT
Two Regiments of Blue Star Irregulars

Defender: First Regiment of McCarron's Armored Cavalry

Outcome: The invaders had an open bill to pay with the mercenaries. The Hussars got surprised by a rear attack from the Armored Cavalry and made life difficult for them. Because the supporting air wing got destroyed by Davion fighters, the invading forces had now air superiority. The 1st Mac met the Avalon Hussars in close combat and got shattered by the two Blue Star Irregular-Regiments. Only one battalion survived and retreated back to Capellan space.

Saiph

Attackers: 4th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT

Defender: Third battalion of Justine's Grenadiers

Outcome: The harsh environment worked for the defenders. Blizzards and bad weather hindered the Light Cavalry to catch the Grenadiers. Only bad luck secured the victory for the 4th Deneb, because the Grenadiers Techs filled the cooling system with the wrong lubricant, which slowed the machines down.

Tigress

Attackers: 2nd Crucis Lancers RCT
3rd Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Warrior House Hiritsu 'Mech Regiment
Second battalion of Kerr's Intruders
Laurel's Legion, a battalion

Outcome: The Intruders got surprised and crushed by the 2nd Crucis Lancers in a jungle fight. The 3rd Crucis Lancers only made slow progress because of the successful mobile defense of the Warrior House and the elite Infantry. Both RCTs tried a final assault with no result. The chaos after the assault was used by the joint CCAF forces of the Warrior house and Laurel's Legion and the fight went fierce. The overall commander of the CCAF then ordered an entire retreat. The Legion had no other choice but to leave a whole company behind. That sacrifice allowed the remaining House battalion to retreat offworld.

Jonathan

Attackers: 5th Crucis Lancers RCT
6th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: 2nd Kearny Highlanders
Second battalion of Freemont's Cuirassiers

Outcome: The 6th Crucis Lancers captured the supplies of the Highlanders and with them the families of the unit. The Highlanders began a counterattack to free their members, but without success, so both sides separated from each other to reorganize. Negotiations were held and all Highlanders units changed sides, in exchange for their home planet Northwind. The Cuirassiers then tried a surprise assault, but that attempt got uncovered and the Lancers destroyed the Capellans when they tried to retreat.

Wave 4

Fourth Wave focused on isolated Capellan worlds near Terra and the eventual linking of the Federated Suns and the Lyran Commonwealth

Menkalinan

Attackers: Both regiments of the Screaming Eagles

Defender: Menkalinan Militia and the 2nd battalion of the 1st Free Worlds Guards

Outcome: The mercenaries received insufficient supplies as punishment for their behavior on New Canton. Their morale was low and the soldiers discussed about the possibility to join another realm with better handling for their hired guns. Only hard negotiations between the Eagles and the AFFS delivered results: The command would receive their supplies, and the Eagles would conquer Menkalinan. The Capellans, like the Marik forces, had an equal influence over the planetary government. On both sides the militia had a strength of twenty conventional regiments. On the surface of the planet occurred sometimes border clashes, with no significant changes. The FWLM secretly deployed three companies of the 1st Free World Guards on the planet, to conquer it completely. During the march onto the capital, the Davion mercenaries landed and gave the Guards a show of force. The Eagles fought the Capellan militia and the Guards received an order to help the beleaguered CCAF units. The Mariks made a rear area assault and caused chaos, so the Eagles had to fall back to regroup. But the superior numbers of the invaders secured the victory. The Guards received orders to leave the planet, and without the support of their allies, the Capellan militia had no chance to survive.

Tall Trees

Attackers: 4th Deneb Light Cavalry RCT

Defender: Thirty regiments (most of them infantry)

Outcome: The landing went with an attempt of three defending regiments to repel the invaders. The Capellans got pushed aside with only few casualties. The Cavalry got the order to secure the secret research facilities on the planet. The large population was another obstacle during the invasion, and the resistance movement created chaos whenever possible (blowing bridges up, sniper attacks and so on). Ten militia regiments made a desperate attempt to stop the invaders, but the Davions crushed them during the occurring fights. The Cavalry found the facility they were ordered to secure in ruins and the bodies of Death Commandos on site. The troops which secured the facility, died through an unknown virus. The assigned Hazmat Team isolated all ill soldiers for further studies.

Shipka

Attackers: Gamma and Delta regiments of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The experienced invaders brushed the defenders aside with ease. The mercenaries secured in this progress a cache with spare parts for space vessels.

Foochow

Attackers: 7th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The Lancers broke all resistance with the capture of the political and industrial heart of the planet.

Foot Fall

Attackers: 5th Crucis Lancers RCT
6th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The High Command assigned two commands to the invasion force. They believed the invading forces would engage Warrior house units, but after the landing, the situation showed that there were no defending 'Mech forces. The Lancers secured the planetary capital after one day of battle.

Woodstock

Attackers: 33rd Avalon Hussars RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The invading Hussars had no difficulties in securing this breadbasket for the Federated Suns.

Bharat

Attackers: 1st Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The only loss during the invasion occurred when a Union DropShip suffered mechanical problems and broke apart in the atmosphere of the planet.

Hamal

Attackers: 1st New Ivaarsen Chasseurs

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The light 'Mechs of the Chasseurs beat the experienced desert fighters of the militia and all resistance calmed down.

Highspire

Attackers: Bell Capellan March Militia

Defender: 1st Kearny Highlanders and Local Militia regiments

Outcome: The secret negotiations with the AFFS gave the Highlanders their home planet Northwind, in exchange to stand down in all clashes with AFFS forces. The 1st Kearny then abandoned the planet. The invading Bell Capellan March Militia had no problems with the defending militias.

Azha

Attackers: 3rd Davion Guards RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The militia was larger than normal, because the planet was important to the CCAF. The defenders did their best to block the invading Guards, but had no chance against one of the best units of the AFFS.

Second Try

Attackers: 20th Avalon Hussars RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The cold environment was a heavy burden for the invading Hussars. The invading forces needed eight longs weeks to secure the planet for the AFFS.

Wave 5

The overall objective was the same as it had always been, to conquer the Confederation and destroy as many Liao regiments as possible

Corey

Attackers: 20th Avalon Hussars RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The militia had never a chance for victory.

Zaurak

Attackers: One battalion from the Gamma Regiment of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers
Two regiments of Davion armor and four regiments of infantry

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The defenders had the weather on their side. The climatic conditions of this planet are extreme. The attacking rangers were not ready for such an environment, and the defenders used the quickly changing weather to their advantage. Only with the securing of the Militia-HQ, the mercs had a chance to win. It took several attempts to reach this goal.

Menkib

Attackers: 5th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The reservists of the local militia was no match for the regular units of the Davions.

New Macao

Attackers: 7th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The militia got defeated during a brief battle.

Mandate

Attackers: 6th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: Because of being a harvest ground for new Warriors House aspirants, the common people of this planet were fierce loyal to house Liao. The civilian casualties ran high and the morale of the Lancers ran low, because they had to kill women, and even children, to complete their mission. The defending militia used the volunteers as human shields. In regard of the devastating losses, the government surrendered before another bloodbath to happen.

Wei

Attackers: 12th Vegan Rangers, Delta regiment and two battalions from Gamma
Three regiments of armor and four regiments of infantry

Defender: Sung's Cuirassiers and many local militia regiments

Outcome: The unit assigned to the Rangers were the best Hazard Teams available, because of rumors of a nerve gas. The Rangers attacked three times during their approach to the planetary capital and the casualties ran high, but the medtechs and mechanics adopted new ways to counter the gas. The defenders blocked the way to the target with barricades. The supporting artillery of the defenders got destroyed through the Rangers air support. When the CCAF saw their chance, they began a charge, but the mercs saw this as a way to win the battle, too. The fight lasted several hours and the mercenaries left six companies of fallen comrades on the field, but the defenders suffered horrendous losses and abandoned the planet.

Remshield

Attackers: Davion Light Guards RCT

Defender: First battalion Hurloc's Hussars and First battalion of the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers

Outcome: The defending units stood on two different locations. One part of the Light Guards was tasked with reconnaissance, and the main body attacked the Rangers. The defenders had heavier machines and used this to their advantage, but after the command gained an early success, the superior numbers of the Guards began to count. The Rangers retreated and left the planet to the Davions. The Hussars had not enough support and, after a few days of battle, they surrendered to the Guards.

Tsingtao

Attackers: Davion Heavy Guards RCT

Defender: Second battalion of Hurloc's Hussars

Outcome: The command of the Hussars suffered of a bad supply situation. The Guards met no resistance at their landing on planet. The reason for this was a fight between the CCAF defenders, which erupted after a heated discussion. After losing nineteen 'Mechs, the surviving soldiers surrender without another fight to the Guards.

Sarna

Attackers: 5th Syrtis Fusiliers RCT
Two regiments of the Crater Cobras
2nd regiment of the Screaming Eagles
15 conventional regiments
and as reinforcement: Davion Heavy Guards RCT
Davion Light Guards RCT

Defender: Sarna Militia and the McCarron's Armored Cavalry (2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Regiment)

Outcome: The Davions landed on four drop zones (On Nova and Supernova = Crater Cobras, the 2nd Screaming Eagles = on Blackhole, the 5th Fusiliers = on Pulsar).

The Fusiliers used a higher acceleration rate to land first on the planet. The unit was blinded because they want to avenge their murdered Duke.

The 2nd Battalion faced the 4th MAC and suffered heavy losses. The 3rd tried to get out of the attacks of Capellan aerospace fighters, who strafed their positions, but were soon engaged in battle with the arriving 3rd MAC. The losses on the Davion side run high: 93 'Mechs destroyed, with 15 salvaged by the MAC. 10 DropShips destroyed and 80 percent of the supporting units got annihilated.

The remaining invasion force landed in one group. Both sides waited the following month who would take the first step. When no reinforcement came, the MAC met the invaders near the drop zone and, after several probing attacks, started a final assault. The Davion high command send badly needed reinforcements. The MAC discovered, that they faced fresh troops, the arriving Davion Heavy and Light Guards, and attempted to flee the battlefield. The retreat to their DropShips cost them nearly three full battalions.

Wave 6

Truth

Attackers: Davion Heavy Guards RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The defending forces had no chance against the invading forces.

Kaifeng

Attackers: Davion Light Guards RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: The fight for this planet was a bloody campaign, because the CO of the defenders was fanatically loyal to Liao and led his troops into death.

Matsu

Attackers: 7th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Local Militia

Outcome: An internal fight between equal forces of the local militia left many dead, and the Lancers had nothing to do after their landing.

Heligoland

Attackers: 6th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: Kingston's Legionnaires

Outcome: The Lancers secured the water supply for the planetary capital where the Legionnaires waited for them. After fourteen days under the burning sun, the CCAF unit ran out of water and choose to attack the invaders, but the Lancers were ready for the desperate defenders. During the ongoing battle, the CO of the Legionnaires asked for a ceasefire, in which they retreated to Capellan space.

Palos

Attackers: Gamma and Delta regiments of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers and twelve conventional regiments

Defender: 2nd Confederation Reserve Cavalry and twenty veteran tank and infantry regiments

Outcome: The Vegan Rangers landed far out of the site of the Capellan defenders. The invaders were repeatedly attacked by fighters of the Cavalry. The Rangers headed to the planetary capital only with minor skirmishes. When the mercenaries split their forces in three parts, two smaller ones for flanking maneuvers, and one as the main body, the defenders charged and didn't realize the remaining smaller forces of the Davion invaders. The CO of the Rangers ordered his troops back to close the trap and, after the Capellan commanding officer refused to surrender, the battle for this battalion was over the hard way. The other Cavalry units lifted offworld without another fight.

Sakhalin

Attackers: 5th Crucis Lancers RCT

Defender: First battalion of Kamakura's Hussars

Outcome: The Lancers were only ready to meet regular militia, but no large 'Mech force during the landing progress. The invaders had a difficult task to secure the planet without sufficient 'Mech support. The ongoing fight lasted for the next twenty-one days and were too much for the Hussars. They retreated offworld and traveled back to confederation space.

Kathil (counterattack) + Sian (surprise attack)

Attackers: 1st Kathil Uhlans

Defender: Death Commandos
Second battalion of the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers
Warrior House Imarra (on Sian)

Outcome:

Part 1:

Maximilian Liao prepared an ambitious plan. The ComStar interdiction gave the Chancellor the opportunity he needed. The bold plan was to assault Kathil with its jump drive engine manufacturing center. Liao thought without the center and its repair capacities, the AFFS would be affected greatly. He thought it would stop any further invasion, because their JumpShips could get no more needed maintenance. In a next step, the plan had the goal to reconquer all lost territory and to destroy all invading forces in that progress. The high command got information from a spy in the staff of the CCAF, that Hanse Davion gave orders to form a new unit from different parts of regular commands and on planet militia. The 1st Kathil Uhlans were born from the double strength company of the Light Davion Guards, the survivors of the 5th Syrtis Fusiliers on Sarna and companies of the standing militia.

Tasked with the raid were two experienced, fanatical units: the 2nd battalion of the 4th Tau Ceti Rangers and the Death Commandos. The raiders split in two equal forces. The Commandos lost one company during the first landing phase, and the surviving twenty-four machines got destroyed by a well-arranged ambush of the defenders. The Rangers lost 'Mechs to a minefield and surrendered after a series of attacks, which left only eight machines functional. Morgan Hasek-Davion guaranteed the Rangers save passage back to Capellan space, when the spy on Sian would be rescued by a camouflaged Ranger-DropShip.

Part 2:

The Uhlans used the ID of the Rangers to get to Sian. They reported, that they caught Morgan Hasek-Davion. The Chancellor had bold dreams with the Davion prisoner, but during the last phase of the landing, the DropShip fired at the waiting machines of House Imarra. The 'Mechs were only ready for ceremonial duties, and the gas of the missiles burned the newly invented Triple Strength Myomer of the House 'Mechs with ease. The Kathil Uhlans landed and waited long enough for Justin Xiang Allard, the spy, to get to the spaceport and make it save home, back to the Federated Suns. This event was too much for the ruler of the Capellan Confederation and he descended into madness.

• Creation of the St. Ives Compact (formerly the St. Ives Commonality) as a buffer state between the Capellan Confederation and Federated Suns

Wave 7

Goal: to gain as much territory as possible before a truce. The following planets surrendered without a fight:

• Bora
• Campertown
• Chamdo
• Elnath
• Lesalles
• Old Kentucky
• Phact
• Quemoy
• Raballa
• Sarmaxa
• Ulan Bator
• Wazan
• Yunnah

Tsinghai

Attackers: 20th Avalon Hussars RCT
Gamma and Delta regiments of the Twelfth Vegan Rangers

Defenders: A battalion of the 5th Confederation Reserve Cavalry and a battalion of Preston's Lancers

Outcome: The Rangers met the Cavalry in a valley. The defenders made a fighting retreat and lost four lances, before reaching their DropShip and making it offworld. The Lancers made it harder for the invaders to gain their victory. After several successful ambushes, the Hussars used their numerical superiority to secure the planet. After a few days of fighting, only twelve Lancer 'Mechs made it back to Capellan space.

Bibliography

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