At long last, ye next update followeth.
A Clash of Eagles, Part 2
May 16th, 3050
Shortly after Field Marshal Hodges' aerospace fighters open the engagement against the Jade Falcons, a warning comes over the communications channel from the orbiting AWACS platforms that additional enemy ASFs are inbound; this complicates the tactical situation as the reinforcements from Clan Diamond Shark have raised the number of Clan aerospace fighters over Rookhaven to a total of 980 units (compared to Hodges' 700 units). To further lessen the odds against them, Hodges' aerospace fighters loose two more volleys of Sparrowhawk AAMs, which missiles accounting for another 75 of Clan Jade Falcon's ASFs and some 80 from Clan Diamond Shark.
Aghast over the losses that they have suffered thus far, the Clan air bosses order their fighters to close up and engage Hodges' aerospace assets at shorter range. Thereafter, a wild furball breaks out between the two aerial armadas; the sheer scale of the combat exceeding anything seen in the Inner Sphere since the First Succession War. Laser beams and PPC bolts cross the skies over Rookhaven, as do volleys of cannon fire; at all levels, it's the tactics, training and technological superiority of Field Marshal Hodges' aerospace squadrons that makes the difference. For example, there are a number of instances where one of more of Hodges' aerospace squadrons serve as bait in order to lure enemy air assets into such positions that they can be ambushed by twice their numbers.
A favorite tactic of Hodges' aerospace pilots is the 'Thach Weave', perfected by LCDR John S. Thach and Ensign Edward O'Hare during the Pacific Campaign of World War II on Terra. Here, a 'Finger-Four' formation would break into separate two-plane elements. In each element, one aircraft would serve as bait and the other would be the 'hook'. When an enemy aircraft would go after the bait, its pilot would turn towards the hook aircraft and cross its path. Once the distance between the bait and the hook aircraft was great enough, the hook would open fire on the enemy' aircraft's rear quarter. By this device (plus other tricks & stratagems such as dynamic deceleration, Immelmann turns and Frolov Chakras), Hodges' aerospace assets were able to inflict six kills for every loss they suffered.
Later on in the afternoon, Smoke Jaguar and Diamond Shark ground forces had just effected a rendezvous when they were flailed by a massive airstrike from Field Marshal Hodges' four bomb wings (the 1st & 2nd from Bristol, and the 3rd & 4th from Beecher), each of which are composed of 72 'Dominator' strategic bombers. These are 200-ton small craft, each of which carries a mixed 100-ton ordnance load (cluster, thermobaric, Inferno and laser-guided HE). The total amount of ordnance thus dropped comes to 28,800 tons; equal to 42.6% of the munitions dropped on Berlin throughout all of World War II. The main difference between that campaign and this one is that Hodges' ordnance was delivered within the space of 30 minutes (rather than over three years, as was the situation with Berlin); as the last bomb went off, Hodges' tank, mech and battlesuit units surged forward from their prepared positions under cover of a blizzard of long-range artillery and rocket fire.
Though grand and spectacular in the truest sense of the word, Hodges' 'Sunday Punch' served as cover for the true thrust of his attack, a nap-of-the-earth assault by the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Air Cavalry Divisions intended to capture the headquarters and command staffs of the Smoke Jaguars and Diamond Sharks. Having been previously dispatched, the divisional ground assets move into a position where they can support the attack helicopters and attack transports; the RSTA Cat’s Eye helicopters occupy themselves in scouting out enemy positions and designating targets of opportunity for service by tube artillery and ASM fire.
Clan Smoke Jaguar’s field headquarters is set up at the forward edge of their landing area, so as to better observe and control the ebb and flow of combat; with the arrival of Khan Ian Hawker and the Diamond Sharks, Khan Lincoln Osis and saKhan Sara Weaver waste no time is setting up a joint command council. Unfortunately for the two Khans, their efforts will soon come to an abrupt end.
The headquarters compound is guarded by six trinaries of light and medium omnimechs (90 units) plus four elemental binaries (200 units); these are supported by two trinaries of armor (30 units), with the remainder of the battlemechs, armor, artillery and elementals having been sent forward to join the attack. Just as the command staff is dealing with the effects of Field Marshal Hodges’ massive missile and aerial bombardments, saKhan Sara Weaver (in her capacity as operations officer) shouts out “my Khan, we have waves of enemy helicopters and aircraft attacking us from four different directions to our rear…”
“What?? Why was their no warning?”
“My khan, the enemy only appeared on our radar screens less than a minute ago.”
“This is some trick of that dezgra bastard Hodges; alert the omnimech trinaries, have the elemental binaries take up defensive positions and deploy the armor in support.”
“Aff, my khan.”
As the attack begins, General Gavvin carries out an order from Field Marshal Hodges by calling to his executive officer and saying “play Psy-War Op Two; make it loud.” While the Smoke Jaguars are reacting to the unfolding engagement, Hodges’ attack helicopters begin their runs accompanied by the playing of two songs from the 20th century Terran rock group Twisted Sister (‘I Wanna Rock’ and ‘We’re Not Gonna Take it’); following these are ‘Long Tall Sally’ (by Little Richard) and ‘Great Balls of Fire’ (by Jerry Lee Lewis). While the attack helicopters are playing out their symphony of destruction, the Cat’s Eyes are using their TAG systems to illuminate the Clan defensive forces as they move up. Each of Hodges’ Air Cavalry divisions is composed of an attack helicopter regiment (108 units), an RSTA regiment (108 units), a transport regiment (108 units and 15 companies of battlesuits (160 units each, with half of these held back to support the armor and artillery); in support are a battalion of light artillery (18 pieces) and a brigade of medium armor (108 units). In total, the force attacking the Smoke Jaguar headquarters comprises 432 attack helicopters, 432 Cat’s Eye RSTA helicopters, 432 transport VTOLs and 4,800 battlesuits. The outcome of the engagement is never in doubt; what follows is 15 minutes of hard fighting, with the Clan defenses taking 90% losses.
Khan Osis sends the signal to surrender; as his pride doesn’t allow him to meet the enemy commander just yet, he designates saKhan Weaver to meet with him. 45 minutes later, MG Richard Gavvin arrives by transport VTOl along with his security element of a platoon of battlesuits.
Weaver meets General Gavvin and enquires “you are the commanding officer of the forces which attacked us?”
“I’m Major General Richard Gavvin, and I have the honor to command Field Marshal Hodges’ air cavalry troops; who might you be?”
“I am saKahn Sara Weaver, second-in-command to my khan Lincoln Osis; he is currently indisposed. With me is Khan Ian Hawker of Clan Diamond Shark, whose forces came in response to Khan Osis’ call for support..”
MG Gavvin chuckles loudly and replies “I suppose that if I got my ass so completely kicked, I’d be indisposed too. Well, be that as it may, I accept the surrender of all Smoke Jaguar forces. As for whether or not the Field Marshal intends to take you as bondsmen, it will be for him to decide…”
Just then, a shot rings out from inside the headquarters enclosure; Gavvin’s battlesuit escort instantly levels their weapons, as if to defend against a possible suicide attack.
“What the hell was that, Weaver? I don’t react at all well to someone attacking under cover of a white flag…”
“Your pardon, General; it seems as if Khan Osis preemptively declared bondsref as he couldn’t bring himself to accept that he lost.”
“Very well. Since you just got promoted, you’ll send a message to all Smoke Jaguar elements that they are to jettison all of their ammunition stores, power down their energy weapons and abandon their vehicles; this also goes for your guys, Hawker. Do you both understand?”
“Aff, General Gavvin.”
Action Stations
May 17th-May 20th, 3050
Aaron Ranch, Joseph’s Corner, Pusou and the Plains of Dangalobee
Word of Field Marshal Hodges’ defeat of the Smoke Jaguars and Diamond Sharks quickly spreads throughout the rest of the Allied forces on the continent, further heartening them to press forward and see the action towards its conclusion. By way of comparison, news of the surrender is greeted by the other clans with shock and dismay; how could the Clans (who hold themselves superior to the spheroid degenerates) have suffered such a defeat?
Regardless, there is their duty to the Cause. The Smoke Jaguars, Wolves, Nova Cats, Ghost Bears and Steel Vipers still have very considerable offensive power left and so, combat operations are continuing. To make up for the shortfall in manpower occasioned by the surrender of Clan Diamond Shark, Khan Kerensky calls up Clan Steel Viper from their reserve position and puts them into frontline service; the Steel Vipers are sent to aid the Smoke Jaguars in their attack on the city of Aaron Ranch (defended by the 1st, 2nd and 10th Lyran Royal Guards). Finding his troops at the wrong end of a adverse correlation of forces, in that area, Field Marshal Ardan Sortek exercises his command discretion and calls for reinforcements.
These are speedily-provided by Field Marshal Hodges, and come from the 1st and 2nd Air Cavalry divisions, plus 15 squadrons of aerospace fighters from the 1st-5th Battlemech divisions. At the same time, ‘mech and tank forces from these units are proceeding towards Aaron Ranch wit all possible speed. As Aaron Ranch is 350 kilometers to the southwest of Rookhaven, it will take some five hours for Field Marshal Hodges’ reinforcements to arrive; at the forefront of the advance is Captain Richard Hodges command (the ‘Iron Mongers), reinforced to the level of a full battalion.
The city of Aaron Ranch is defended by the 1st, 2nd and 10th Lyran Royal Guards; these units are each composed of a regiment of assault mechs (108 units), an aerospace brigade (two reinforced wings with 24 aerospace fighters each, three regiments of armor (108 tanks each) and one infantry brigade (five regiments with 1,344 troops each); operating in support are 20 regimental combat teams (each with a mech regiment (108 units), an armor brigade (324 units), an aerospace fighter wing (36 units), an infantry brigade and a transport & support regiment. 20% of the Lyran Royal Guard units have been refitted with the very best of Field Marshal Hodges’ weapons, equipment and technology; the remaining 80% (plus the supporting RCTs) have had a more-limited refit, consisting of Star League neurohelmets, weapon stabilization systems, multi-spectral rangefinders and combat computers.
The city of Joseph’s Corner is defended by the Davion Brigade of Guards, the Eridani Light Horse and the Hong Kong Cavaliers (commanded by Field Marshal Ardan Sortek) ; defending the city of Pousou in the Skonnsen Mountains are the 1st and 2nd Sword of Light regiments and the 1st Genyosha regiment (commanded by Hohiro Kurita); the Plains of Dangalobee are defended by Wolf’s Dragoons, the Royal Black Watch Regiment, the Northwind Highlanders and the 331st Royal Battlemech Division (commanded by Kai Allard-Liao). Each of the four fronts has 20 Regimental Combat Teams operating in support; these forces are commanded by MG Duggan Marik, with General Thomas Calderon as his executive officer.
Between May 17th and May 20th, the actions of the Allied Expeditionary Force are carried through with the utmost vigor everywhere, except on the Plains of Dangalobee. Here, the antipathy that Clan Wolf has for Wolf’s Dragoons (for them having switched sides), the Royal Black Watch Regiment, the Northwind Highlanders and the 331st Royal Battlemech Division is met with near-fanatical levels of aggression by the Dragoons, the Highlanders and the Royals.
At Aaron Ranch, the 1st, 2nd and 10th Lyran Royal Guards mounted a furious delaying action until Field Marshal Hodges’ ground assets could reach them; this was done with support from the 20 RCTs assigned to that sector, the 1st & 2nd Air Cavalry divisions and the aerospace assets from the 1st-5th Division Combat Teams. Five hours later, the ground assets from the five DCTs arrived and engaged the Smoke Jaguars and Steel Vipers. The resulting engagement lasted until the early hours on the morning of May 18th, turning what was a very near-run thing for the Lyran Royal Guard units into a crushing defeat for the Clan clusters. Kill ratios for the fully-refitted portions of the Lyran Royal Guard units were 5-1 in their favor; Hodges’ DCTs and Air Cavalry divisions had the same ratio, while those partially-refitted portions of the Royal Guard units (and the supporting RCTs) had kill ratios of 2.5-1. In the skies above Aaron Ranch, AEF aerospace assets inflicted a kill ratio of 6-1.
Elsewhere in the vicinity of Joseph’s Corner, the engagement was similarly hard-fought; kill ratios were a combined 4.5-1 for the Davion Brigade of Guards, 5-1 for the Eridani Light Horse and 6-1 for the Hong Kong Cavaliers. At Pusou in the Skonssen Mountains, the 1st and 2nd Sword of Light regiments and the 1st Genyosha Regiment brought great distinction on themselves and House Kurita, inflicting a combine kill ratio of 7-1 against Clan Nova Cat.
Nowhere on the continent of Ohio was the action more hard-fought than on the Plains of Dangalobee. Here, Wolf’s Dragoons, the Royal Black Watch Regiment, the Northwind Highlanders and the 331st Royal Battlemech Division faced off against the forces of Clan Wolf. The antipathy that the Wolves have for these units showed in the ferocity with which they carried out their attacks; these were responded to in kind by the Dragoons, the Black Watch, the highlanders and the Royals. Of the engagements in the several areas of operation on Ohio, the Battle of The Plains lasted the longest; by the time that the guns fell silent late in the afternoon on May 20th, the AEF contingent had inflicted losses of 6-1 on the Wolves. Among the last of the Wolves to fall was Khan Ulric Kerensky, whose headquarters was over-run by the 331st Royal Battlemech Division. Clan Wolf’s most senior surviving officer was SaKhan Garth Radick; it was he who surrendered, thus bringing the Battle of Harvest to a close.
