Difference between revisions of "Palmyra Disaster"
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The invasion named: Operation SUNSHOWER, and was without doubt inspired by his great-grandfather, [[Hanse Davion]]. This invasion much like in the [[Fourth Succession War]] was meant to neutralize the Capellan Confederation once for all. For this invasion, Caleb reserved the bulk of the AFFS, neglecting all of the other Federated Suns frontiers.
 
The invasion named: Operation SUNSHOWER, and was without doubt inspired by his great-grandfather, [[Hanse Davion]]. This invasion much like in the [[Fourth Succession War]] was meant to neutralize the Capellan Confederation once for all. For this invasion, Caleb reserved the bulk of the AFFS, neglecting all of the other Federated Suns frontiers.
 
   
 
   
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Caleb especially ignored the [[Draconis Combine]] frontier. This would allow both the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] and [[Ryuken]] regiments to easily conquer the [[Draconis Reach]] without any opposition. This would allow Wolf's Dragoons to make advances deep into Federated space.
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Caleb especially ignored the [[Draconis Combine]] frontier. This would allow both the [[Wolf's Dragoons]] and [[Ryuken]] regiments to easily conquer the [[Draconis Reach]] without any opposition. This would then allow Wolf's Dragoons to make advances deeper into Federated space.
 
   
 
   
 
In [[3143]], Duke [[Corwin Sandoval]] of the [[Draconis March]] would launch an attack into the [[Draconis Reach]] which was a contested area of space between the Draconis Combine and the Federated Suns. Duke Corwin Sandoval has been ordered to cease the hostilities with the Draconis Combine directly from [[New Avalon]]. However since the Duke was never punished for any attacks into either the Draconis Reach or the Draconis Combine the attacks would continue. The attack into The Draconis Reach would eventually prove unsuccessful. The Draconis Combine would then launch an attack in 3144 and invade the Draconis March of the Federated Suns through the Periphery Corridor. This action would force Caleb to react to the Draconis Combine push into Federated space.<ref>''Field Manual 3145'' p. 20</ref>
 
In [[3143]], Duke [[Corwin Sandoval]] of the [[Draconis March]] would launch an attack into the [[Draconis Reach]] which was a contested area of space between the Draconis Combine and the Federated Suns. Duke Corwin Sandoval has been ordered to cease the hostilities with the Draconis Combine directly from [[New Avalon]]. However since the Duke was never punished for any attacks into either the Draconis Reach or the Draconis Combine the attacks would continue. The attack into The Draconis Reach would eventually prove unsuccessful. The Draconis Combine would then launch an attack in 3144 and invade the Draconis March of the Federated Suns through the Periphery Corridor. This action would force Caleb to react to the Draconis Combine push into Federated space.<ref>''Field Manual 3145'' p. 20</ref>

Revision as of 19:14, 8 July 2020

The Palmyra Disaster was a catastrophic defeat of the Federated Suns forces under a surprise attack of the Draconis Combine in the Dark Age.

Prelude

Since Caleb Davion's ascension to First Prince of the Federated Suns, Caleb began concentrating AFFS forces and started planning a massive invasion of the Capellan Confederation.

The invasion named: Operation SUNSHOWER, and was without doubt inspired by his great-grandfather, Hanse Davion. This invasion much like in the Fourth Succession War was meant to neutralize the Capellan Confederation once for all. For this invasion, Caleb reserved the bulk of the AFFS, neglecting all of the other Federated Suns frontiers.

Caleb especially ignored the Draconis Combine frontier. This would allow both the Wolf's Dragoons and Ryuken regiments to easily conquer the Draconis Reach without any opposition. This would then allow Wolf's Dragoons to make advances deeper into Federated space.

In 3143, Duke Corwin Sandoval of the Draconis March would launch an attack into the Draconis Reach which was a contested area of space between the Draconis Combine and the Federated Suns. Duke Corwin Sandoval has been ordered to cease the hostilities with the Draconis Combine directly from New Avalon. However since the Duke was never punished for any attacks into either the Draconis Reach or the Draconis Combine the attacks would continue. The attack into The Draconis Reach would eventually prove unsuccessful. The Draconis Combine would then launch an attack in 3144 and invade the Draconis March of the Federated Suns through the Periphery Corridor. This action would force Caleb to react to the Draconis Combine push into Federated space.[1]

Preparations

Furious for the audacity of the Combine's attack, Caleb initially was reluctant to give up his original plan, but at the end, either common sense or his advisor's words changed Caleb's mind and the First Prince moved the AFFC to met the Dragon's advance.

Caleb's plan was named: Operation MANDRAGORA. His objective was to attack the Draconis Combine capital district of New Samarkand, expecting to draw the Kurita invaders back into the Combine space.

Caleb chose the planet Palmyra. Palmyra, which was directly in the line of the Combine advance, would be the staging point for the AFFC.

As the Davion naval fleet was much smaller than the Combine fleet, Caleb extended an invitation to Raven Alliance Khan McKenna, who Caleb had a relationship with. Khan McKenna promised to send several WarShips to Palmyra to support Caleb's attack into the Draconis Combine. Caleb would wait for their arrival, however his plan never be realized.

The Battle

On 19 June 3144, Caleb's plans came to an end. The Invasion was behind schedule. The Clan Raven Warships failed to arrive... and never would. In their place, House Kurita came in force. A brilliantly executed sneak attack surprised the AFFS on Palmyra and First Prince Caleb. The first loss was the Warship Lucien Davion which was destroyed to a concentrated attack of McFadden's Sky Storm.

The destruction of the Davion Warship stranded the Federated Suns forces on Palmyra on the surface, rendering them easy targets. The Combine's Pocket WarShips after finishing the destruction of the Lucien Davion, would then turn their weapons against the exposed AFFC ground forces, destroying them with impunity.

After a full day of raining fire upon the Federated troops, the DCMS ground forces landed on Palmyra to finish destroying any survivors. Over the next week, thirteen AFFC commands would be destroyed. Most of the remaining survivors would be captured.

Caleb, however would survive the orbital bombardment and the initial assault. Caleb was away at the headquarters of the First Royal Cavaliers during the orbital bombardment and initial attack. Caleb would lead a detachment of survivors into the Tower Mountains before the camp was destroyed.

The Prince and the remaining survivors would last in the mountains for six days avoiding Combine Patrols trying to make their way to a secondary drop port. On 25 June 3145, the Prince was found by a patrol from the Fifth Sword of Light. Following orders of the Kanrei not to kill the First Price, the DCMS troops surrounded Caleb's Marksman tank but did not attack the First Prince. Caleb's tank engaged Kurita Shiro BattleMech. The mechwarrior in response, kicked the tank, flipping the tank over, crushing the turret and killing First Price Caleb Davion.[2]

Aftermath

The loss of thirteen regiments was a devastating blow to the Federated Suns. The sudden loss of over 1400 BattleMechs, thirty armor and infantry regiments, and entire aerospace wings took a heavy toll on the AFFS. Among the losses was the AFFS High Command and their Support staff. The Prince's Champion, Erik Sandoval-Groell , the last remaining part of the Davion High Command would become the leader of the remaining AFFC forces left on Palmyra.

The DCMS forces exploited their success and in August 3144 took the Draconis March capital, Robinson . During the attack Duke Sandoval was killed. With the fall of New Syrtis to the Capellan Confederation in the following year New Avalon would fall to the Draconis Combine. The Federated Suns would face the worst period in its over 800 year history. This would leave Caleb's successor, Julian Davion, who was currently on the other side of the Inner Sphere, with the situation of Draconis and Capellan forces pushing deep into Federated space, a greatly reduced and demoralized AFFC, and the loss of both Duke Sandavol-Groell and Duchess Amanda Hasek.

Much of the disaster would be laid on Caleb's shoulders. Gathering so many units in one location broke all AFFS practices. Caleb ordered the warship Lucien Davion into a low geosynchronous orbit directly over his command section. This decision made the warship vulnerable to any attack from a higher orbit.

After the attack, Clan Snow Raven would soon take three Federated Suns worlds after the Palmyra Disaster. The clan may have betrayed Caleb in exchange for being left alone to conquer the Davion rimward worlds.[3]

It is currently unknown how many survivors made it thought the bombardment and the following assault on Palmyra. It is unconfirmed that the Combine's victory was complete in the total destruction of all thirteen mech regiments. It is unknown if some or any remaining elements of the Davion Heavy Guards may have survived on Palmyra escaping into hiding or into fleeing into the wild to fight a guerrilla war against the DCMS.[4]

Federated Suns Units Lost in the Disaster

References

  1. ↑ Field Manual 3145 p. 20
  2. ↑ Field Manual 3145 p. 21
  3. ↑ Field Manual 3145 p. 71
  4. ↑ Field Manual 3145 p. 77

Bibliography

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