FSRB Chpt 260

==The Federated Suns Reborn - Chapter 260==
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April-May 3072Operation Harvest - Wave 7
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===Wave 7 of Operation Harvest - Status Report===
A hold was initially placed upon most operations as the AFFS came to terms with the losses of Rigil Kentares. Ongoing actions continued, but at a low level tempo. However in May the AFFS went back on the offensive. So far no attempts were made to begin operations with the Terran System.
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Existing Operations
====New Home====
While all three units on New Home had suffered heavy losses in the ongoing fighting they were more than capable of continuing the hunt for the few remaining WoB troops on planet with the help of the specialist anti-insurgency conventional infantry brigade that had been sent to reinforce them. The Davion Old Guard RCT in particular, it's ranks filled with long term AFFS veterans, proved particularly good at hunting down the handful of insurgents. A handful of infantry battalions of militia and some armored companies were also formed up over the course of the two months.
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====Procyon====
Work continued to integrate the world into the Federated Suns, with the Castle Brian renamed Tintagel. Zeta Battalion of Wolf's Dragoons and Alpha Regiment of the 12th Vegan Rangers were separately informed they were being considered for action in any drive into the Terran system. Both units began receiving upgraded equipment and supplies from the AFFS - the Rangers at no cost and the Wolf's Dragoons at cost only. When several members of Zeta Battalion became aware of this it was explained that the Vegan Rangers had not breached their contracts or broken the law recently....so were being given a better deal. Loyalty was being rewarded. At the same time General Tom Stancel shifted a company of troops from both the Beta and Gamma Regiments to bring the Alpha's up to full strength and began integrating the new soldiers into the unit with a crash course. 
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====Zosma====
Tension between the pro-FedSuns and pro-Lyran factions continues to simmer even as the 6th Robinson Rangers attempts to keep things under control through most of April, but when news of the events on Thorin arrives things escalate. A series of armed clashes between both sides only makes thing worse. The green 6th Robinson Rangers attempts to avoid any suggestion that they are acting in a similar manner to their Lyran counterparts on Thorin and stay firmly neutral, but unfortunately this is misconstrued. Their lack of support for the pro-FedSuns movement and Government actually causes a fall in support for the FedSuns by the end of May (after an upsurge in response to the deaths on Thorin) although pro-Davion sentiment is still a strong majority. 
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====New Earth====
Unlike on Zosma, there is no back swing towards the Lyran Alliance and the news of the events on Thorin only strengthens popular sentiment against Tharkad. Indeed the New Earth government formally offer to send some of their newly formed "Planetary Guard" to aid their "fellow countrymen" on Thorin. However, given the presence of the 1st Revenant Guards RCT, strong elements of the 3rd Ceti Hussars RCT and elements of the 1st Davion Guards RCT, this allowed New Earth Duke Sakuma gratefully declines the aid.
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====Oliver====
On Oliver, the AFFS and it's allied Clan formations are reinforced with the arrival of the 11th Avalon Hussars RCT, 1st New Ivaarsen Chasseurs, and the Sun Jaguar's Alpha Galaxy. However, for the bulk of April the various forces merely continue to tighten their grip on the siege lines around the city of Gordon and it's BattleMech factory complex - as many are wondering whether or not some of the forces gathered will be recalled to replaces losses at Rigil Kentares. That isn't to say however that they do nothing. Battle Armored troopers and Clan Elementals begin probing the WoB lines and infiltrating the city in particular. They particularly concentrate on taking out power and water to the city. By the time that the WoB forces realize that is the targets over 40% of the city is without power and over a third of the city has no water supply. Attempts to prevent the AFFS and Clan forces from taking out more of the cities infrastructure proves difficult if they are also to hold the perimeter in strength. By mid May most of the city is without basic amenities and people are rioting and attempting to leave the city. Having to choose between fighting on two fronts against the civilians and the allied troops facing them the WoB is forced to allow the people to flood out of the city over the next two weeks. Which then allows the AFFS units to begin using their heavier guns to begin breaking into the city properly as May comes to a close.
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====Rigil Kentarus====
For all of April, the worst that the AFFS forces within the system do is launch attacks using aerospace fighters against isolated WoB forces. While devastating for a handful of WoB forces caught by these air attacks, they are little more than harassment for the main bodies of WoB troops. The veteran 7th Division along with three entire Protectorate Guard formations with a strong BattleMech force in each weather these attacks well. 
However, at the beginning of May the AFFS made planetfall. The initial landings took place on opposite sides of the planet, with the 2nd Davion Guards RCT and the 2nd Ceti Hussars RCT leading the attacks. Each location was situated just close enough to enemy forces as to tempt them into attacking, but not quiet so close as to risk them over running the landings. The leadership of the 3rd Rigil Kentares Protectorate Guard wisely chose not to sally force from it's fortified city positions against the 2nd Davion Guard, knowing their over strength air wings reputations. However, the 1st Rigil Kentares Protectorate Guard did move to attack the landing of the 2nd Ceti Hussars. At which point the 1st Woodstock Borderers and 7th Chisolm Raiders LCT dropped around their advancing column. Choosing to swiftly turn and attack the smaller LCT formation the effectively planetary militia force found it had bitten off more than it could chew against the veteran Raiders. Standing just long enough to heavily damage the advancing Protectorate Guard forces before withdrawing and then repeating the maneuver again and again the 7th Chisholm Raiders inflicted heavy damage while they bought enough time for the Hussars and Borderers to close in and attack the now out of position 1st Rigil Kentares Protectorate Guard. As the local troops attempted to fall back their chosen quarry counter attacked and crushed any last organized elements. After an eight day battle the AFFS troops have destroyed the 1st Rigil Kentares Protectorate Guard and seized their base for their own use. 
At the same time, the 2nd Davion Guards have been joined by the 1st El Dorado Tercio RCT and the 6th Chisholm Raiders LCT. Using the Raiders as a screen they begin probing at the defensive positions of the 3rd Protectorate Guard. In the meantime the 2nd Protectorate Guard and the 7th WoB Militia dig in around the capital - although 2 combined arms Level III formations are dispatched to screen against any drive from the 2nd Ceti Hussars, 1st Woodstock Borderers, and 7th Chisholm Raiders LCT. The rest of the month largely involves small scale unit actions as both sides probe and test the other for weaknesses.
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===ComGuards/AFFS Operations===
====Bryant====
Throughout April both the AFFS and ComGuard's continue to probe and attempt to track down the hidden base of the WoB forces. On the 3rd of May they are successful, one of the ComGuard's Battle Armor Level I formations witnessing a WoB Grasshopper withdrawing into a cave formation. Carefully withdrawing with the information, the squad avoids giving away the fact they now know the location of at least one entrance to the base. Both 3rd ComGuards Army and the 2nd Dragonlords RCT immediately begin planning a large scale attack. Elements of both formations are withdrawn for maintenance and approval is granted for a risky dropship carried assault on the enemy base - with battle armor leading the way. The operation is due to commence on the 1st of June. 
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===ComGuards Operations===
====Alula Australis====
The entire time is spent refitting the equipment and resting the troops for what by now most are referring to as the "big push". Entirely new BattleMechs are issued for any suspect equipment, troops are reintegrated into large scale formations and trained in army level attacks while training in combat drops is increased. Few can doubt that the ComGuards are preparing to return to Terra.
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0260, Chapter
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0251, Chapter