Battle of Mars (2163)

The Battle of Mars was a forty-five day series of engagements in November and December of 2163, fought initially by forces of the Frieden and Koslovic movements until the massive intervention of Unified Earth Government (UEG) troops and the ships of the United Nations Space Authority (UNSA). Following the apparent assassination of the Frieden leader Nadja Mielke on November 3, her movement launched attacks against known Koslovic forces throughout the system. The Frieden offensive was focused on Mars, especially the Argyre Planitia region, igniting fears of renewed devastation akin to the Jovian Crisis or the fighting on Earth so recently concluded. The UEG moved quickly to intervene, dispatching a fleet of UNSA spacecraft conveying both UEG ground forces and the new UNSA Marine Corps. Operating under a new unified command structure, UNSA and UEG forces successfully launched a shock assault on the Argyre Planitia region on December 9 and pacified the region by December 25. 
The victory at Mars facilitated the formation of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC), providing the massive popular support the UEG executive and UN secretary-general had hoped for in the lead-up to the deployment of UEG-UNSA troops and ships. 
==Background==
By the summer of 2163, the widespread fighting on Earth, Luna, and Mars had largely died down as Frieden and Koslovic forces withdrew to lick their wounds and reorganize. In July 2163, the last of the long-fought Amazon sieges concluded, attacks on commercial shipping decreased by half, and casualty counts throughout the system declined significantly for the first time in fifteen months. 
The death of Nadja Mielke in an apparent assassination undid completely the brief peace of summer. The ranks of the Frieden movement swelled enormously as its leadership screamed for vengeance and declare open war on the Koslovic movement in its entirety. Subterfuge was abandoned entirely as the Frieden movement charged headlong into war: fleets assembled across the system as armies grew out of gathering militia movements. Unlike the limited and local offensives seem during the Inner System Crisis, the goal of this systemwide offensive was nothing short of extermination of all Koslovic affiliates, adherents, and supporters. 
Mars, long perceived as the beating heart of Koslovism, was assailed by the Frieden movement seven days after the death of the Frieden leader. Both Deimos and Phobos soon played host to sizable Frieden fleets, which continued to grow throughout November and December, occasionally sortieing against known pro-Koslovic shipping. But the real fighting was happening on the planet's surface. 
==Frieden revenge offensive (November 10 - December 9)==
==Order of battle==
UNSA Mars Expeditionary Fleet
The UNSA Fleet was composed of 204 total ship: 21 carriers, 23 cruisers, 68 destroyers, 17 frigates, and 75 auxiliaries. 
*21 carriers - 7 heavy carriers, 5 assault carriers, and 9 light carriers
*23 cruisers - 1 super-heavy cruiser, 7 heavy cruisers, and 15 light cruisers
*58 destroyers - 3 super-heavy destroyers, 25 heavy destroyers, and 40 light destroyers
*17 frigates - 6 heavy frigates, 1 multipurpose frigate, and 10 light frigates
*75 auxiliaries
Category:Battles