AATiPDC Chpt 29

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==Chapter 29 - An American Tanker in Prince Davion's Court==
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===Operation Dragonslayer===
January 4th, 3050
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After Clan Smoke Jaguar was defeated on Wolcott by the Draconis Combine, the new ilKhan Ulric Kerensky (appointed after the death of his predecessor Leo Showers over Radstadt) resolved that the Kuritans had behaved dishonorably and would no longer be given the benefit of a Batchall. Instead, they would be attacked without warning. Upon returning to Luthien after their victory on Wolcott, Gunji-no-kanrei Theodore Kurita, Tai-sa Hohiro Kurita and Shin Yodama began to plan for the next Clan attack.
On January 4th, 3050, the ISF developed actionable intelligence that the Smoke Jaguars and the Nova Cats intended to attack Luthien directly. In a strategy meeting, it was suggested that units of the Ryuken be recalled from their border posted to assist in the defense of the planet. However, this was overruled as it was decided that the Ryuken forces were more valuable where they were. Accordingly, Luthien would be defended with those forces on the planet (plus those that could be raised and equipped in the time available). Theodore Kurita realized that the correlation of forces likely to face him would be highly-adverse, so he sent a message to First Prince Hanse Davion requesting assistance. In turn, this message was passed to Field Marshal Hodges on Bristol.
Hodges responded immediately and arrived in the Luthien system on January 28th. Upon making planetfall, a strategy meeting was held where Theodore Kurita said "hail and well-met, Hodges-san; my call for assistance has been answered beyond all expectations. Among the troops I have at my disposal are the 1st and 2nd Sword of Light regiments, the 1st and 2nd Genyosha, the Otomo, and the 2nd Legion of Vega. What forces have you brought?"
"Kanrei-sama, I have five of my Division Combat Teams and three of my Air Cavalry Divisions. In total, the DCTs comprise 30 battalions of mechs, 5 heavy tank brigades, 30 battalions of Battlesuits, 5 artillery brigades, 5 air-defense artillery brigades, 310 aerospace fighters and 900 logistics vehicles; the three air-cavalry divisions are composed of 9 combat aviation brigades, 3 battalions of light artillery, 3 brigades of medium tanks and 45 companies of battlesuits.”
"That is simply amazing, Hodges-san; where did all that force come from?”
“Kurita-sama, believe me when I tell you that I’ve been getting ready for a day like this for the last twenty years. What’ve I listed is only one-third of what I’ve got available…”
“That’s a very considerable force, Hodges-san; one that could defend several planets by itself. Did I hear you correctly when you say that you have battlesuits?"
"You did indeed; they're a nasty little surprise that my tech people started working on back in 3031. My suits are based on the SLDF Nighthawk Mk XXI PAL; and, to use a poker analogy, they're the ace up my sleeve. Something that will come as an unpleasant surprise to our opponents."
"Indeed; now let us look to our deployments."
In view of the importance of Luthien Armor Works and Imperial City, Field Marshal Hodges posted one of his DCTs and one of his air cavalry divisions in such a position that they could reinforce the defenders of these locations whenever and wherever needed. Elsewhere, Hodges posted himself, two of his DCTs and one of his air cavalry divisions alongside Takashi Kurita and the Dragon's Claws at the head of the Kado-Guchi valley; the remaining two DCTs and the final air cavalry division took up station on the Tairakana Plains near the shores of Basin Lake (where they reinforced the OtomoItalic, the 1st Sword of Light regiment and the 2nd Legion of Vega).
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=== The Battle of Luthien ===
Luthien, Draconis Combine
February 9th, 3050
The attack on Luthien began on February 9th, 3050 at 0530 hours local time when Jumpships belonging to Clan Smoke Jaguar and Clan Nova Cat arrived at the system's jump points and began their run towards the planet. The 3rd and 7th Aerospace wings of the DCMS continued to engage Clan forces until they passed out of their range; these engagements lasted the better part of an hour and resulting in the loss of 15 Clan aerospace fighters and two dropships. In orbit above Luthien, the Black Dragons Aerospace Wing and numbers of Field Marshal Hodges' aerospace fighters engaged the remainder of the Nova Cats' 3rd Aerospace Wing as they attempted to make planetfall on the Tairakana Plains. This aerial engagement proved very costly, as another Clan dropship was destroyed and two more heavily damaged; enough of the 3rd Wing's aerospace fighters were shot down that it became combat-ineffective.
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==== The Battle Commences ====
February 10th, 3050
0500 hours
Clan Smoke Jaguar's landings commenced at 0500 hours and, as there was no Batchall issued, Theodore Kurita dispatched joint reconnaissance patrols from Field Marshal Hodges' 1st Air Cavalry Division and the troops commanded by Shin Yodama in order to ascertain the disposition of Clan forces. It so happened that Yodama's patrol encountered and were engaged by Elementals from the Smoke Jaguars' Delta Galaxy. Yodama called for assistance from 1 AIRCAV's attack helicopter regiment and the Elementals were driven off with heavy casualties; the intelligence thus gained was passed to higher headquarters for further analysis.
Just over two hours later at 0715, the ground battle commenced with an attack by the 1st Jaguar Guards. In opposition, there were three regiments of the Otomo supported by two of Field Marshal Hodges' DCTs. The engagement began with long-range missile and autocannon fire; the Guards charged to close the range with the Otomo, but encountered a vibrabomb minefield in front of the position held by the Otomo; to their very great surprise, the Jaguars found that the mechs in front of them were remotely-controlled drones loaded with explosives. As they reeled from losses inflicted by the exploding mines, the Guards were attacked from the front by the real Otomo mechs and by the DCTs on their flanks; their advance eventually bogged down and ground to a halt.
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0715-0915 hours
The 1st Jaguar Guards were augmented by the 5th Jaguar Regulars and further-reinforced by clusters from Clan Nova Cat; together, they counter-attacked the center of the Allied line. Further reinforcements arrived from the Otomo and the 2nd Sword of Light; in turn, the Clans called in a series of airstrikes; these were seen off by a combination of Kurita and DCT aerospace fighters (with assistance from the two DCTs integral ADA regiments). After an hour or so, the Smoke Jaguar and Nova Cat contingents were forced to retreat in the face of massed tube artillery and rocket fire; in so doing, they were continually-harassed by 1 AIR CAV's medium tanks and divisional artillery.
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0930-1130 hours
As the Clan forces attempted to move towards Imperial City, a massive air engagement was fought in the city’s air defense zone; on one side were the aerospace fighters of the 5th DCT and those of the 3rd and 7th Aerospace wings of the DCMS and the several Luthien defense regiments, while the Clans threw several entire aerospace clusters into the battle. Over the course of two hours, the defenders’ superior numbers drove the Clan aerospace clusters from the skies and gave tem total air superiority.
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1350 hours
Elsewhere on Luthien, the Clans attempted to destroy the Arisaka Munitions Complex located in the Shaidan Basin of the Amori Military District. The forces assigned to the task were the Smoke Jaguars’ 22nd Freebirth Cluster; these were opposed by the Amori Militia (along with four surface combat vessels from the 33rd Coastal Patrol Squadron. The militia demonstrated as if they meant to stand and fight; then, they feigned a disorderly retreat in order to goad the 22nd Cluster into following them. When the Cluster crossed the two bridges over the Amori River, Tai-I Velk ordered demolition charges to be set off; the bridges were dropped, thus trapping the Clan troops against the river. Thereafter, the Coastal patrol vessels came out of hiding and attacked the 22nd Cluster, supported by militia tank units. Seeing that there was no safe way out and that the 22nd would have been destroyed if they resisted further, Star Captain Edna (the Cluster’s senior surviving officer) surrendered her troops.
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1400 hours
While the action in the Shaidan basin was concluding, a squad of Field Marshal Hodges’ battlesuit troops managed to infiltrate Clan Nova Cat’s secondary landing zone and capture the Clan dropship Broadsword. There was a brief firefight in the dropship’s main mech bay, during which the Broadsword’s crew was captured; several stars of Clan Elementals arrived to relieve the vessel’s defenders, but were too late to prevent it from taking off. The Elementals were driven off by concentrated fire from the Broadsword’s guns and the ship was flown to Imperial City’s main military spaceport.
Also at 1400 hours, a Clan cluster made its way towards Luthien Armor Works with the intention of destroying as much of the complex as possible; they were met by LAW’s security force, plus Field Marshal Hodges’ 3rd DCT and 2nd Air Cav Division. Clan operations were seriously-hampered by the complex’ machinery, plus the steel-reinforced buildings (which prevented almost all of their sensor feeds and communications from getting through; their targeting sensors also had difficulties in getting locks for the same reason). So encumbered, the Cluster found itself attacked through the air, from all directions on the ground and was virtually wiped out.
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==== The Battle Conclusion and Aftermath ====
2130 hours
The stated objective of the Clan assault on Luthien wasn't just the capture of imperial city; other secondary objectives were the destruction of Luthien Armor works, plus the destruction of the Arisaka Munitions Complex on the southern continent of Sakura and the facilities of the Nijunen Iron Mine 25 kilometers south of Takaoguchi (which deposit having a total of 600 billion tons of titaniferous magnetite ore grading out between 70-80% iron oxide). In regards to Nijunen, the Smoke Jaguars' 225th Battle Cluster made a night drop at 2130 hours on the outskirts of the mine, but found it defended by the 143rd Luthien Defense Regiment (commanded by Tai-Sa Alexi Nagumo). The troops of the 143rd skillfully used the mine complex' terrain to their advantage and fought the 225th to a standstill; this delay allowed for airstrikes to be called in that forced the 225th Cluster to retreat with very heavy losses.
Small-scale engagements continue all throughout the theater of battle throughout the rest of the night and into the morning of February 11th. At 1600 that afternoon, the largest single engagement of the Luthien Campaign took place in the Kado-Guchi Valley. The defenders consisted of seven DCMS regiments personally-commanded by Takashi Kurita, plus two DCTs and an Air Cavalry division led in person by Field Marshal Hodges; The Smoke Jaguars and the Nova Cats realized that this was to be an all-or-nothing engagement, so they committed all of their remaining forces and their reserves.
30 minutes before the battle began, the Coordinator met with Field Marshal Hodges to plan their final deployments. Takashi Kurita grins and says “Hail and well-met, Hodges-san; I am honored beyond measure to have you fighting at my side.”
“The honor is all mine, Kurita-sama; it’s now up to us to show these barbarian interlopers the unwisdom of their course of action.”
“Well-said; the vengeance of the Dragon will fall upon them as surely as the rains of Spring and Summer. I for one am looking forward to the coming battle; Have you any suggestions as to how to deploy our forces?”
“Hai, Kurta-sama. The Smoke Jaguars and the Nova Cats are looking to take control of Luthien and in so doing, deal the Combine a serious (perhaps even fatal) blow. You’re target #1 on their hit parade, so why not turn this to our advantage?”
“How so, Hodges-san?”
“Coordinator, in the fight that’s coming, you should have your bodyguard units and other attached troops demonstrate as if they mean to make a stand and fight it out. Then, when you deem that they have made enough resistance, you and they should feign a panicked and disorderly retreat (just as green troops would do in a similar situation). When the Clanners give chase, that’s when we’ll have them. My tanks and mechs will be dug in hull-down on the reverse slope, while my artillery will be ready and waiting to fire at my command; there isn’t a single square meter of ground between here and where I’m dug in that hasn’t been registered for attention by tube artillery and rocket fire. When they’re heavily engaged with us, that’s when my Air Cav guys will strike them from behind and the flanks; in short, we’ll draw them into a fire sack, tire the sack off and then beat it with an ugly stick.”
“Hodges-san, you speak like a veteran of many campaigns; this is an inspired piece of strategy. Whatever gave you the idea?”
“Coordinator, it comes from my study of Terran military history. You see, back during the days of Feudal Japan, the samurai of that era were not above using various forms of deception to gain victory in battle; I thought it only proper to use the idea in a modern context..”
“Indeed. Now, let’s look to this day; unless I am mistaken, the Clans will be on us before much longer.”
“Wise words, Coordinator. I say ‘spurs to horse and death to fools…”
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February 11th, 3050
Clan Nova Cat units managed to overcome DCMS resistance in the Waseda Hills and make their way toward the mouth of the Kado-Guchi Valley. As planned, Takashi Kurita and the Dragon's Claws moved down to the valley's mid-point and took up positions for intercept. First to be engaged was Clan Nova Cat' 32nd Assault Cluster, which lost a total of eight mechs in the opening volley. Stunned at this unexpected turn of events, Khan Severen Leroux swallowed his pride and called for assistance from the Smoke Jaguars; the 145th Jaguar Regulars, the 315th Jaguar Battle Cluster and the 22nd Jaguar Regulars responded. Together with the remaining Nova Cat forces, started pushing the Dragon's Claws backwards.(thus causing attention to fall upon Takashi Kurita's position).
Seeing an opportunity to end the battle by capturing the Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, the Smoke Jaguars and the Nova Cats surged forward , thus causing the Kuritas to seemingly break and run. In reality, this was only a clever ruse designed to lure the Clans into a trap. When Takashi Kurita and the Dragon's Claws passed through where Field Marshal Hodges and his two DCTs were concealed, they continued onwards for another kilometer before turning to face their pursuers in an apparent last stand.
Unfortunately for the Clans, this was not to be, Just when the Smoke Jaguars and the Nova Cats thought they had the Kuritas in their sights, Hodges' two DCTs opened up from their hull-down positions and destroyed a dozen Clan mechs in the opening volley. Suddenly and without warning, the Clan forces were struck on the flanks by Hodges' battlesuit troops, in the middle by intense artillery and rocket fire and from behind by attack helicopters from the 3rd Air Cavalry Division. Then, Takashi Kurita and the Dragon's Claws rose up, charged and rejoined the battle.
The engagement lasted the better part of the next two hours, during which time Field Marshal Hodges and his tank accounted for a total of seven enemy mechs; four from the Nova Cats (including Khan Severen Leroux' Daishi (taken out with a through-armor shot to the gyro) and three from the Smoke Jaguars. Captain Richard Hodges piloted his father's Green Lantern and accounted for six enemy mech. When added to the losses inflicted by Field Marshal Hodges' troops and those of Takashi Kurita, this convinced Severen Leroux (who had been rescued by his bodyguards from the wreck of his Daishi) and Lincoln Osis to order a withdrawal.
During the retreat, SaKhan Sarah Weaver was killed by a shot to the cockpit from one of Field Marshal Hodges' tanks. By the time that the Nova Cats and the Smoke Jaguars made it back to their landing zones, the two Nova Cat Galaxies lost 75% of their remaining forces, while just 15% of the Smoke Jaguars boarded their dropship and evacuated.
The Battle of Luthien ended with hundreds of damaged mechs, tanks and downed aircraft scattered all over several battlefields. As the last Clan dropship lifts off, Field Marshal Hodges stands tall in the commander's hatch of his tank and shouts at the retreating enemy 'WHO'S YOUR DADDY??' Afterwards, he waits to meet with Takashi Kurita to discuss matters relating to battlefield salvage and what's to be done with enemy prisoners of war.
"Hail and well-met, Coordinator; the fortunes of war have certainly smiled upon us today..."
"They certainly have, Hodges-san; it will be many-a-day before those Clan interlopers forget how roughly they were handled here."
"Well-said. I trust that you and yours are well?"
"My son and grandson acquitted themselves well on the battlefield, just as any son of House Kurita would. How goes it with you?"
"I am unharmed, if a little tired. I gave those damned nipple-necks cause to remember my name, as did my son Richard; between the two of use, we accounted for 13 enemy mechs..."
"Sugo-ine, Hodges-san"; the tone of Takashi's voice indicating both respect and amazement for such an achievement.
"Coordinator, your compliment is gratefully received. As victory is ours, there are two issues to be decided; the first of these concerns battlefield salvage and the second involves what to do with the prisoners of war we took. The Overlord-C my guys grabbed is intact and is therefore considered a prize of war; I've got enough dropships of my own and I don't need another one.
So, I'd like you to consider it a gift."
"My thanks, Hodges-san; you are indeed a worthy ally. "
"Thanks really aren't necessary, Kurita-sama; think of it as a gesture of respect from one fighting man to another. Now, as to the Clan machines that will be salvaged from various battlefields; Luthien is your planet and by rights, the majority of the salvage belongs to you."
"True enough. However, it would be ungrateful of me not to recognize your contribution to our victory. Therefore, by the authority vested in me as Coordinator of the Draconis Combine, I hereby award you a full one-third of all material recovered from the battlefield."
"Ahh. The Coordinator is generous beyond my worth."
"Hodges-san, this modest humility of yours is worthy of a true samurai. What are you going to do with your material?"
"Kurita-sama, I'll be establishing something I call the 'National Training Center' (or NTC); I'll use my portion of the salvage to equip NTC's training cadre with Clan mechs and vehicles and have them trained in Clan strategy and tactics. I'll run my own units through NTC on a rotating basis so, If my guys happen to encounter the clans again, they'll be familiar with how the nipple-necks think and fight."
"An excellent idea, Hodges-san. In other matters, there are now the enemy prisoners to be considered."
"Coordinator, when the Clans take prisoners of war, those individuals are taken into the Clan and made bondsmen. These people wear a small woven cord around their right wrists as a sign of their status. Those who show promise are given an opportunity to test out and become a mechwarrior/aerospace pilot and join the Clan. Assuming the candidate succeeds, the bondcord is cut and the individual is no longer a bondsman. A bondsman might also be released by their bondholder after a set period of time or, they might never be released at all."
"A strange system, Hodges-San, to be sure."
"Indeed, Kurita-sama. If the captured individual's honor wouldn't permit him to submit to becoming a bondsman, he'll refuse the bond (bondsref) and commit ritual suicide.:
"The honor part I can understand."
Field Marshal Hodges this statement with a nod of the head, then responds "Civilians can be made bondsmen; in which case, they are adopted into the same caste (merchant, scientist, etc) as in their original clan."
"How do the Clans treat their captives?"
"Coordinator, in general, most clans treat their captives with decency. The one exception is Clan Smoke Jaguar, who are infamous for their cruelty to their bondmen; this bunch only accepts trueborns into their ranks."
"What are 'trueborns', as you call them?"
"As difficult as it is to believe, the majority of Clan children aren't conceived and born naturally, as the rest of us are. Instead, conception takes place in a petri dish or test tube (hence the term ‘test tube babies’). Then, the fetus is transferred to a fluid-filled vat of chemicals where it grows to term; this is why I and others refer to trueborn clanners as 'Tanks'. The umbilical cord attaches near the base of the neck, which is why I call them 'nipple-necks'. The Clan term for someone conceived and born in the natural way is 'freebirth'. To them, the term is both perjorative and a deadly insult."
Takashi Kurita shakes his head in disgust and clears his throat, as if to remove a bad taste in his mouth.
"That's no way for people to live, Hodges-san. Having children and seeing them grow up is part of what makes us human; is this not so?"
"You speak the truth, Coordinator. Now, as to what should be done with the prisoners, I propose that the Smoke Jaguars be released immediately, without making them our bondsmen; I'll tell them to their faces that they're more trouble than they're worth and that they're unworthy of being accorded the honor of serving the Combine or the Federated Commonwealth. The Jaguars will consider such treatment to be highly-shameful and a terrible insult."
"What of the others?"
"Though they lost, the Nova Cats fought well against us. Therefore, I'd recommend that they be taken in as our own version of bondsmen Those who refuse the bond will not be allowed to commit suicide; instead, they will be released. For those that accept the bond, you can give them a place to settle. If nothing else, they'd be a valuable source of intelligence..."
"An excellent suggestion, Hodges-san. Upon my authority as Coordinator, it will be as you say."
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