Battle and Treaty of Jericho

The **Battle of Jericho** and the subsequent **Treaty of Jericho** marked the end of the **Frontier Wars** a two hundred year long conflict between Earth and the Core Worlds, and the Outer most colonies seeking independence from the **United Earth Governing Alliance,** which had become a more authoritative government than democratically operated government.

## Battle of Jericho IV

### Opening Engagement

The Battle of Jericho IV began on June 22, 2561 when the Third Fleet engaged the heavily prepared and armed defense fleet that the Expanse Sovereign Union had mustered after the loss of their primary fleet due to the suicide run by the **Spirit of Endurance.** While the opening engagements were initially a success, the planet of Jericho which was heavily fortified against an attack dug-down and opted to a more defensive strategy, leaving their ships to defend the colony, and anti-air to prevent troops from deploying. The Third Fleet would be forced to retreat after six days of fighting to fall-back until the fleet arrived.

### Battle

The Battle which after the opening engagements would last a total of 16 months, with the planet being subject to a heavy siege, with the **United Earth Military Command** giving the planet to unconditionally surrender. However, they would not, and the UEG would cut off all supplies to the planet, including fuel, fresh water, and food, in hopes of starving the planet out. However, after 6 months they would begin to supply drop food only into civilian populated areas, as a show of good faith to the civilian population. The main citadel at the capital would be laid to waste by orbital bombardment, killed hundreds of civilians who had volunteered to protect it.

After 16 months, the local civilian population began a small scale civil war against the government, with calls to surrender, however it would be put down, but in that time, it gave the UEMC a chance to deploy ground troops for the final assault.

### Final Engagement

The final engagement against the largest military base on the planet would be a short lived battle, with nearly all supplies run out, and short on food, water, and other essential medical supplies, **Chancellor Darwin** would make the decision to unconditionally surrender, with his only request being that the UEG treat the sick and wounded.

In a show of faith, he would go out himself and surrender, offering to them a chance to show mercy to the soldiers who were left defending. He would be arrested.

## Treaty of Jericho IV

180 years after the opening engagements, **Chancellor Darwin** and **President Ducane** would sign the *Treaty of Jericho* which would recognize both sides illegal actions, but also set a legal requirement that all insurrectionist colonies were to surrender all weapons, and battle equipped vessels. The disarmament would however be limited to prevent a complete disarmament with local militias being allowed weaponry in-case of emergency but were required to register. The Treaty would also require that all higher up members of the ESU military be brought to justice, Admiral Mazo who had ordered the attack on Drexicon IX and Tarrakus would be captured, and executed for crimes against humanity and other various war crimes.

The Treaty also had a clause within it, agreed-upon by both parties, to take up responsibility for each others actions, with Chancellor Darwin requesting that they investigate ONI which he insisted. The investigation would in-turn result in the dissolvement of ONI.

In the end the Treaty would layout the ground-work for repatriation for the colonies over a strict set of time, in which they had to demilitarize, surrender weapons and those deemed criminals of war, as well as to fall in line with the remaining colonies without a major insurrectionist. The Treaty determined if all rules were followed, the colonies would regain their voting rights in full within 15 years. Jericho and the Pegasi System however, would regain them in 30.