CS3056-43

=Chapter 43= 
----
==Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War ==
It is interesting you characterize Aragorn Plains as a battle? We always regarded it as the disposal of vermin.
- Star Commander Delkeith Malthus, Jade Phoenix Mercenary Cluster in an interview with DBC News, “The War of ’56, 10 Years On – What Have We Learned?” Broadcast 24 August, 3066
----
===Fighting Falcons on the Plains of Aragon===
The Plains of Aragorn
Sarna
Capellan Confederation
May 18th, 3057
-----
Subcommander Thomas Kutzov cursed again as his warbook struggled to identify the ‘Mechs approaching his line. He’d seen the types before, he couldn’t remember where, but somewhere. Been in the saddle too long, doesn’t matter really, they’ll die like the rest. Fools facing us on an open plain. We’re gonna murder them. 
What he couldn’t get over was how they’d identified themselves to the Nightriders. First, they’d identified themselves as the “Jade Phoenix Mercenary Cluster” and then they asked who defended their position. Asked? They couldn’t be the Clans? Clans didn’t do the Mercenary thing. And if anyone ought to know that, it was McCarron’s Armored Cavalry. Colonel Wilson did the smart thing by telling these weirdos to go to hell. 
Even though we lost 3rd Battalion in that damn ambush by the Kestrel Grenadiers, we’re still two elite battalions in pretty good shape, we should make short work of these guys. And we’ve managed to mine our front and flanks nicely, ought to force them right down this plain, where we can cut them up and kill them. 
Kutzov moved his Grasshopper into line with the rest of his lance, and smiled. He looked forward to the maneuvering fight that was due to start, and the Davions are stupidly obliging. The Davions had reinforced with two RCTs some days ago, but the Chancellor himself had promised help.
A cry soon came up over the company net. “Here they come, they’re advancing like it’s a parade.” Kutzov increased the magnification. The enemy ‘Mechs were all in bright jade green, no accents, save a unit insignia of a jade colored falcon, with a sword in its talons rising from an orange, and blue flame no other colors. They advanced at a walking pace, seemingly in no hurry to meet what Kutzov had been assured was their doom. Now, he wasn’t so sure of that.
Their company commander’s growl filled the frequency. “It’s just some Davions back from the Clan front looking to screw with us. Let’s trash their Clan toys and show them who owns this world.“ His voice seemed higher pitched than normal. Jesus, did the Davions bring home pet Clanners? Am I going to die here?
As if to answer that question, spears of verdant and cerulean light reached out from the enemy line. Oh my god, they are Clanners. They’re opening up at 650 meters. And they’re hitting! He turned his ‘Mech’s head just in time to see a Hunchback in another lance be decapitated by a PPC. Oh my god, that warrior didn’t even have time to scream! Fear gripped Kutzov like a scratchy blanket, and his fair skin went clammy as his blue eyes went wide. His breathing soon quickened, and he had to get a hold of himself as he began to hyperventilate.
The radio net began to tell a tale of disaster.
“-shit, 22 is down, he got hit three times by a PPC and he was just..gone!” 
“Christ, get these damn mini-mechs off of me, they’re tearing me apart! Oh god, one’s going to blow my coc-“
“…Sweet Jesus, those Clanners have Yen-Lo-Wang at their head! Shut ‘em down and surrender boys and girls, we don’t have a hope in hell.”
“All Dark Horse Callsigns, sauve qui peut, pull back to Phase Line Quartz. The order has been given to-“ that was from the Colonel himself, and for him to give that order. It must have been bad, Kutzov heard signs of a struggle, then several pistol shots.
“Dark Horse, this is Colonel Lisa Chen of the 19th Special Loyalty Tasks Battalion. Colonel Wilson has been relieved of his command and summarily executed for treason and cowardice. I am now in command. You will close with these Clanners and show them what Capellan manhood consists of-“ there were more shots and confused cries and screams.
Kutzov began to backpedal, firing his Large Laser in the general direction of the enemy as he covered friendly ‘Mechs that were more damaged than his try to get clear of the rapidly unfolding disaster.
Kutzov swallowed then spoke into his mic. “Dark Stallion Two-One, this is Dark Stallion Two-Two, Can you raise Six?”
The voice of his Lance leader came in choppy and broken, the jamming is really heavy, I am surprised we can get anyone on the net at all. “Two-Two, his Marauder is down, and they’ve got some of those Elementals of theirs finishing the job. I don’t dare get close to him in this captured Enforcer. As it is, I’ve lost a hip and I don’t have a hope in hell of getting away. Two-Two, take charge of the Lance and get it back to the dropships. Get clear of this world, we’ll be back some day. It’s time to save the Cavalry.” 
Kutzov’s eyes stung. Commander Chueng was popular with her warriors, her ‘can do’ attitude was infectious and she had really done well commanding the unruly men and women of Fire Lance, Ambleov’s Company, 2nd Nightriders, McCarron’s Armored Cavalry. Now to die here, like this? “Ma'am, are you sure, we can come get-“
“Negative Two-Two, take command and follow your orders, get the hell out of here. Sarna’s lost, we were the flank. Now the flank’s in the ****** wind, and things are chaos at regiment. You’re the only person I can raise. Shit, I got bigger problems, one of their mediums just noticed me. Good luck Two-Two, to the next life.”
Kutzov slammed the left arm of his command couch in frustration. He had orders, what could he do? He keyed the radio again. “Dark Stallion Two-Two to any Dark Stallion Two callsigns? Come in please? Sound off.”
“This is Two-Four to Two-Two, Two-Three lost a leg as those bastards began to close. My Griffin is operational, if you can call it that. What are your orders, boss?”
“Run like hell and pick up any stragglers.” he commanded them.
A shrill cry came over the net in the clear, and it broke through all the cross chatter on the net. “All commands, this is Ringmaster Six. Retreat to the dropships. Save yourselves and whomever else you can. Let the Mask fight the Davions themselves if they want. The 7th Crucis Lancers just broke our southern flank! If we stay, we’re going to get cut off against the river. Out.”
Kutzov swore mightily “If I ****** live through this, I am leaving the Armored Cavalry.”
-----
===Battle for Sarna, Part 4===
-----
Sarna, Part 4
Attackers: McCarron’s Armored Cavalry (All Regiments), 1st Battalion, House Kamata, One Company of Death Commandos, Sarna Home Guard.
Defenders: 12th Vegan Rangers (all remaining regiments), 1st Kestrel Grenadiers, 7th Crucis Lancers RCT, Davion Assault Guards RCT, Jade Phoenix Mercenary Cluster, 2 Artillery Brigades.
The end on Sarna was as climactic as the entire battle had been, as the Capellans simply ran out of time to finish off the 12th Vegan. They had managed to destroy most of Gamma Regiment since forcing the crossing over the Grey River, but the temporary advantage had evaporated on May 8th, with the arrival of two RCTs and a “mercenary” cluster of former Jade Falcon POWs hired by no less than Kai Allard-Liao himself.
McCarron discounted the reports of ClanTech present in the new FedCom units as little more than propaganda, and shifted the Nightriders (who were down to two battalions) to cover the Northern flank and Gordon’s Demons to cover the South. McCarron hoped to bloody the FedCom nose long enough to finish things in Salomek before he withdrew in triumph.
What happened was an unmitigated disaster. The Nightriders were an elite unit, but they had never faced the Clans, or more importantly, their superior technology. Capellan ‘Mechs were cut down at ranges most of McCarron’s ‘Warriors could not fathom. With no less than Kai Allard-Liao at their head, they slowly advanced into the teeth of the Nightriders, destroying their 2nd Battalion, and forcing the 3rd to flee pell-mell for their dropships. Coupled with an attempted takeover of the Nightriders by the attached Special Loyalty Tasks Battalion, barely two companies made it off Sarna and back to Capellan space.
In the South, a massive prep barrage with air and artillery shattered the Demons, whose morale had been shaky since being pulled out of the city fighting in Salomek after suffering 30% casualties. The regiment lost 15% of its ‘Mechs and vehicles to the bombardment, and then was slammed into by the 7th Crucis Lancers, leading off with a battalion of captured Clan tech ‘Mechs. Like the Nightriders, they did their best, but the Demons were brutally overrun. Barely a battalion of the Demons fought their way clear and managed to escape off world, the rest of the Armored Cavalry either died in the streets of Salomek in the coming weeks, or made their way off world. By the time the brigade returned to Menke to rebuild, there was little more than 4 battalions of a once proud 5 regiment force left. The Death Commandos fought to the last man, as did House Kamata, with the Home Guard surrendering on the 22nd. Sarna was declared secure on the same day.
The Battle of Sarna had ended, ACTIVE PANTHER kicked off three days later.
------
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I knew it wasn’t the beginning of the end for the Capellan Confederation after Sarna. But I also knew it wasn’t the end of the beginning either. But I did know, from here on in, we dictated the tune, and Katherine and I intended to play the final note on Sian, as a eulogy for our parents.- Victor Steiner-Davion, “Reflections”,Davion Palace Press, New Avalon, 3071
------
“To borrow from an American President, ‘But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate -- we cannot consecrate -- we cannot hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.’” President Lincoln was right then, and he is right now. What these brave men and women, Regular, Reserve, and Mercenary sacrificed in the name of the Commonwealth can never be repaid. It shall never be forgotten. As I light this eternal flame of Reflection and Remembrance in honor of all the souls lost here, and elsewhere to stem the Capellan-Marik advance, let us also remember those who survived, and our obligations to them…”- Katherine Cox Steiner-Davion,Speech Given on the Dedication of the Sarna Victory Memorial and opening of the Commonwealth Cemetery at Salomek, March 9th, 3061
-----
Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter
Category:Clover Spear - The Story of the '56 War Chapters
Category:Works by Jason Weiser