Conflict Zone War for Terra Again

Conflict Zone War for Terra Again

Conflict Zone War for Terra Again is the third sourcebook for Battletech Vengeance, detailing mainly the fights around Terra as the Fortress Wall falls and Clan Wolf is left exposed.

Dramatis Personae
Random Attribution Tables
Missions and operations
- The Jaded Mandarin Affair
Atlas
- Territorial Changes

Battle for the Vesper Marches

In November 3152, the LCAF sends an ultimatum to Vedet Brewer: surrender the Vesper Marches or be invaded. Brewer was unsure of what forces Trillian Steiner could muster at the time, and countered the ultimatum by saying he wanted the High Duchy of Vesper to be recognized instead.
Clan Jade Falcon forces being stretched thin at the time, Stephanie Chistu orders Jiyi Chistu to retake the Vesper Marches after building a more trusting relationship between the two.
In mid-January 3153, two regiments of the Lyran Guards, supported by a frigate, enter the Vesper March, while Jiyi Chistu’s 2^nd Falcon Guard strikes Zhongshan.
Brewer’s First Hesperus Guard is skilled and well-equipped and manages to fight the LCAF forces on an equal footing by being supported by local nobles and minor mercenary units, but as pressure grows, Vedet Brewer gathers what he has left and flees the Vesper Marches towards the Timbuktu Collective.
In May 3153, Jiyi Chistu and Steiner leadership agree to the separation of the Vesper Marches, with the Falcons losing control of Melissia and a few other worlds but being “officially” granted control of a few other worlds.
Jiyi Chistu reports his success to Stephanie Chistu, who reintegrates him into her own formation before naming another Star Colonel to command the worlds of the former Vesper Marches.

The Wall Falls, Hell’s Horse STAMPEDE

Alaric Ward relied heavily on the Fortress System to protect Terra, but in early 3153, the system has a catastrophic failure, which can only be seen as sabotage.
- Various groups are blamed for the sabotage, primarily Republic Remnants and Capellan infiltrators, but the actual culprit is the Wolverine Union, looking for more ways to destabilize the current power structure of the Inner Sphere.
With his troops split between the Wolf Empire and Terra, Alaric tries to bolster his troops quickly by allowing Trials of Position to members of lower castes, but fewer men and women accept the call then he would have wanted.
A Capellan ship jumps into Terra’s space in February 3153, before immediately jumping out. Clan Wolf leadership give the order to Clan Smoke Jaguar to deploy the small number of forces they have available on worlds along the Capellan border.
In late February 3153, Alaric Ward is met by a group of Republic Remnant officers led by Max Ergen, who pledge their allegiance to the new Star League. Understanding how dire his situation was, Alaric accepts and gives Ergen the rank of “Star Colonel-In-Waiting”, as he doesn’t quite know what his actual plan is going to be for the remnant forces joining him.
In March 3153, Khan Gottfried Amirault sends a batchall to Alaric Ward for a Trial of Possession for Terra, threatening to bring the full force of Clan Hell’s Horses against Terra if refused. In a bid to not damage Terra anymore than it was already, the ilKhan offers Amirault that their forces meet on Yorii instead of Terra, which the Hell’s Horses Khan accept.
Taking a cue from ComStar, Alaric begins planning a defense in depth of Yorii immediately, mobilizing the former Republican forces to setup fortifications before the engagement, along with preparing them for an engagement with the Hell’s Horse.
In late April 3153, the Battle of Yorii begins as the Hell’s Horse land 3 Galaxies to face off against Alaric’s 2 Galaxy’s and the Republic Remnant he accepted into his forces.
- Alaric’s preparation pays off, as tank obstacles and anti-tank fortifications hamper the quick movement of a lot of Amirault’s units. The Hell’s Horses claim the actions of the Wolf as dezgra, but the Wolf reply that the defense of Terra is worth any action.
- Republican infiltrators and saboteurs hit the supply lines of the Horses, which angers SaKhan Fulk Lassenerra, which begins hunting them down, weakening the front line between the two major Clans.
- Max Ergen kills two Hell’s Horses commanding officers at the battle of Shenobi, with his Republican forces holding the city against a larger Hell’s Horse attack force.
- Alaric Ward challenges Gottfried Amirault to a duel, which the Hell’s Horses Khan accept. After one of his Ultra AC/10 jams, Amirault charges Alaric’s Savage Wolf. Alaric replies by taking off one of the assault ‘Mech leg off with two ER PPC shots, which comes crashing down, crushing Amirault in the cockpit of his machine as it falls.
- Fulk Lassenerra takes command of the Hell’s Horses, but the combined forces of the Wolves and Republic Remnants fight him back.
By June 3153, the Battle of Yorii is over and the Hell’s Horses pull back to their Occupation Zone under a new Khan.
Max Ergen and his men request that his troops be officially recognized by the ilKhan, which moves to create a new Clan, Clan Thunder Boar, after the Ergen’s family coat of arms. Yorii is given to Khan Max Ergen as his new Clan’s home.

Capellan Front

Prohaska Moon, Khan of the newly reborn Smoke Jaguars, strikes Keid in a pre-emptive attack against the Capellan Confederation, meeting limited resistance from local defenders.
Reconnaissance missions and intelligence gathering missions against the Capellan show extremely limited military presence within “striking distance” of Terra, which makes saKhan Richmond Howell very wary of the whole situation.
- House Liao mobilization of troops is limited due to interference in the Rimward periphery and along the Andurien border, both of which they view as potential threats at this point in time.
- Daoshen Liao orders McCarron’s Heavy Cavalry, under the control of his Daughter-Sister Danai Liao-Centrella, to begin probing attacks against the Wolves, hitting Pollux and Graham.
- Smoke Jaguar forces counterattack on Graham, retaking the world easily as Danai only left a token force on the world to distract them.
- Both the Liao forces and Smoke Jaguar forces continue striking various worlds in minor attacks, capturing supplies and damaging logistics chains, but no major strike are ordered by either sides.
By June 3153, with the end of the Battle of Yorii, the ilKhan begins mobilizing more troops towards the Capellan front, even moving troops from the center of the Wolf Empire towards the galactic core.
At the same time, after striking a deal with his sister and her husband, Daoshen Liao begins mobilizing more Capellan troops towards Terra.
More pressure is put towards the Wolf worlds as more Capellan regiments move in, with Danai Liao-Centrella being named High Marshall while Daoshen takes direct control of the assault towards Terra.
Against the full force of the Capellan Confederation, Clan Wolf and Smoke Jaguar understands they are no match and call for assistance from other members of the Star League.
- Stephanie Chistu’s Jade Falcons gather what force they can and go to reinforce the Wolf Empire again, this time facing Danai Liao-Centrella’s McCarron’s Heavy Cavalry and their supporting units.
- Clan Snow Raven doesn’t respond immediately, due to their distance from Terra.
- Clan Ghost Bear immediately mobilizes the Rasalhague Galaxy, Polar Galaxy and Phi Galaxy to support Clan Wolf, promising more troops “if the situation on the Combine border subsides”.
- Clan Nova Cat is in no position to move to support the Wolves at this point, but promise troops as soon as they become available.
- Clan Sea Fox provides 2 Galaxies for the defense of the New Star League, with Mori Hawker leading the defense himself, taking care of protecting the logistics line of the Star League forces.
In August 3153, Capellan forces hit Caph, but are repelled by Corporate Security forces in league with consultancy firm CGIL. The world itself claims independence from both sides of the conflict but supports the “New Star League” in general.
Daoshen Liao and the bulk of his forces hit Sirius, against which Alaric mobilizes his elite troops, led by Anastasia Kerensky and Miriam Shaw (formerly of Clan Wolf in Exile).
- The fight starts very rough for Clan Wolf as Miriam Shaw is killed by Daoshen Liao himself in a frontal attack between both units.
- Anastasia Kerensky takes command of the Wolf forces and relies heavily on her experience as a mercenary commander to set up ambushes, choke points and generally “fight dirty”, which the Liao forces accept wholeheartedly, unlike the Hell’s Horses previously.
In September 3153, a secondary Liao force strikes New Earth, forcing Alaric to mobilize his own Beta Galaxy to face the enemy, with Sea Fox’s Khan Mori Hawker providing support leading his own Galaxy.
- The Battle of New Earth is also rough, as the Capellan have been ordered to level the planet if required, with Khan Ward and Hawker having to fight to protect civilian populations.
- Mori Hawker is critically wounded in the fighting, and while he requests to die an honorable death, Alaric brings him back to his command center, where Petr Kalasa challenges Hawker to a quick trial of position for the title of Khan, with Mori Hawker being given a new title as “Minister of Trade” within the Star League.
- By the end of October, the Capellan forces are pushed off New Earth.
In early December 3153, additional Ghost Bear troops are deployed on Sirius as the fighting on the planet intensifies with new strike forces from the Capellan Armed Forces land planetside.
In January 3154, Smoke Jaguar forces lead raids deep into Liao space to capture equipment and try to damage the morale of the Capellan military, with limited effect.
Chance Vickers begins stalking Danai Liao-Centrella, trying to alleviate some pressure on the Wolf Empire and on the Sirius front.
Khan Max Hegen brings the forces of Clan Thunder Boar to Liberty, where he plunders a Liao resupply convoy and captures the planetary headquarters.
In March 3154, Draconis Combine forces hit Northwind, but are met with a Davion task force which was monitoring the situation on the Capellan/Wolf front.
At the same time, Anastasia Kerensky is injured in a fight against Daoshen Liao, and forced to return to Terra to recover. Alaric Ward takes command of the troops on Sirius directly.
In April 3154, a group of protestors, under the name of Free Capella, detonate a nuclear device on St.Ives. Actual Free Capella claims no responsibility, the actual perpetrators are Wolverine Union / Word of Blake infiltrators.
Daoshen Liao orders a purge of Free Capella elements within the Capellan Confederation, but instead of leading to a repression of the riots in Capellan space, more and more riots and protests start happening.
- Those protests are a mix of actual Free Capella elements and agitators, both from the Wolverine Union and from Clan Smoke Jaguar Watch elements.
In May 3154, elements of the Rimward Alliance move in on various Rimward worlds of the Capellan Confederation in a “liberation event”, as the local government began petitioning to join either the Fronc Reach or the Aurigan Trade Alliance.
By the summer of 3154, political pressure on Daoshen Liao starts piling, but he refuses to let go of his war against the new Star League.
2 Clan Snow Raven warships appear near Terra, bringing new troops and their own firepower to Clan Wolf’s forces.
Having recovered from her injuries, Anastasia Kerensky joins Chance Vickers operations against Danai Liao-Centrella. The heir of the Capellan Confederation is finally killed on Castor, her Black Knight destroyed by Anastasia Kerensky’s new Ryoken II.
With the death of his heir, and the war bogged down, Daoshen Liao falls into depression and retreats to Sian.
- Without their leaders, the Capellan military start falling back as McCarron’s Heavy Cavalry defects to Clan Wolf under the leadership of Cyrus McCarron.
Federated Suns forces start putting pressure on the Capellan state in the Capellan Marches, and move in to “liberate” the former St.Ives Compact, with Liao Xiaolin, grand-daughter of Tormano Liao, as their leader.
In November 3154, Daoshen has a fit of rage and executes multiple courtiers before being restrained by Maskirovka officers. Without a clear succession plan as he thought he was immortal and infallible, Daoshen Liao is put into “custody of the State”.
Alaric Ward sends a peace treaty with Anastasia Kerensky to the CCAF provisional headquarters, which the CCAF military accept as they are forced to control massive protests and the loss of some important worlds as the Duchy of Andurien and Magistracy of Canopus begin their own military action against the Confederation, Ilsa Centrella claiming the Capellan throne.
Jerome St. Jamais, a mechwarrior part of the Wolf’s Dragoons who had joined Clan Wolf, is revealed to be Kali Liao and Cameon St. Jamais’s grand-son, and also claims the Capellan Throne.
- With the support of Cyrus McCarron and the New Star League, Jie Xu Liao-St.Jamais is brought to Sian where his heritage is confirmed by genetic testing and takes over the role of Stewart of the Confederation, refusing the actual title of Chancellor while his grand-uncle is still alive.
- Ilsa Centrella stops her bid for the control of the Capellan Confederation as Liao Jie Xu actually seems to have the support of the population along with the backing of the New Star League.
By the end of 3155, the Capellan-Star League War is over, with a permanent peace treaty signed by the new leadership of the Confederation and Alaric Ward on Sirius.

The Combine-Federated War

Davion Reconquista

The Federated Suns are planning a massive counter-offensive against the Draconis Combine (that’s the Snake Dragon people, Sarah) in late 3152, pulling troops from all the Marches towards the Dragon’s Tongue.
The Draconis Combine reinforces the troops in the Dragon’s Tongue, but also mobilizes troops towards the Rasalhague Republic front, confident that they would be able to maintain both front lines against a weakened Federation and the Bears being forced to fight the Hell’s Horses.
In December 3152, Julian Davion leads a strike against Paulding, routing the Combine defenders on the planet.
Matsuhari Toranaga requests additional troops from Yori Kurita. His request is denied as Yori mobilizes the Arkab Legion towards the Rasalhague Front. Toranaga starts recalling troops from other Dragon’s Tongue worlds toward New Avalon.
In February 3153, the global warship fleet of the AFFS enter New Avalon space, forcing the 2 ships Matsuhari Toranaga had in reserve to retreat or risk destruction. Massive riots erupt throughout the planet against the Draconis Combine occupier.
By the end of March 3153, New Avalon is again in the hands of the Federated Suns. Warlord Matsuhari Toranaga is guaranteed safe passage with the remainder of his troops. He resettles his Etat-Major on Plymouth.
Toranaga requests military support from Combine high command again, with drip fed new battalions being moved to the Federated Front and Dragon’s Tongue as the first strikes against the Rasalhague Dominion begin.
Toranaga manages to keep the Dragon’s Tongue more or less together for the time being as Julian Davion and Erik Sandoval focus on rebuilding their troop’s morale after the victory on New Avalon.
By June 3153 and the start in earnest of the Capellan – Star League War, Clan Snow Raven understand that they cannot send major forces to support the ilClan near Terra. Their strategy to help comes in reducing the pressure on Clan Ghost Bear by making a series of strikes against worlds near their border.
The reaction from the DCMS high command is almost instantaneous, forcing their regiments committed to the Rasalhague Front to relocate as quickly as possible.
In August 3153, the Davion Operation NEW DAWN is launched striking deep in the Dragon’s Tongue, cutting Matsuhari Toranaga’s supply line further.
House Kurita’s counter-attack against the Raven Alliance begins, with the DCMS retaking most worlds that were captured as the Raven’s barely left any forces to defend them. At the other end of the Combine, Alpha, Beta and Rho Galaxy of the Rasalhague Dominion begin attacks against Combine worlds.
Yori Kurita declares the position of the Combine as “standing on an anvil between two hammers”, and she plans a diplomatic mission to Terra to meet with Alaric Ward.
In October 3153, Plymouth falls to the AFFS forces led by Erik Sandoval. Matsuhari Toranaga flees again, this time towards the interior of the DCMS occupied space.
By November 3153, the DCMS forces in the Dragon’s Tongue are all retreating.
In December 3153, Yori Kurita travels to Terra to appeal to the ilKhan in order to stop the aggression from Clan Snow Raven and the Rasalhague Dominion.
- In front to the Clan council, she makes a point that House Kurita has not been a threat to Clan Wolf and that House Davion’s victory would upset the balance of power in the region.
- The head diplomat from Clan Nova Cat rebukes Yori Kurita, claiming that any and all Clans have a duty against House Kurita for their actions against their clan.
- Clan Ghost Bear expands on this looking at the multiple Combine – Ghost Bear Wars, “Even with guarantees and entreaties of friendship, how can the Clan trust the Draconis Combine anymore?”
- Yori Kurita challenges the council to a Trial, to which Aberdeen Mehta laughs, quoting Alaric Ward, “that the Combine is not the equal to Clan Wolf, so it would be impossible to create a Circle of Equals”.
- Clan Sea Fox refuses to sell new equipment to House Kurita until they agree to stop all military action against Clan Snow Raven and Clan Ghost Bear.

The DCMS moves additional forces to what would later become their next front against the Federated Suns.

Azami Secession

Clan Ghost Bear enters negotiation with the Azami Brotherhood to let them “re-establish their homeland” protected by the New Star League.
In February 3154, Yori Kurita meets with Matsuhari Toranaga on New Samarkand. Toranaga requests to be allowed to perform seppuku but it is refused, as he is given the command of the forces on the Raven Alliance front. Tai-sho Theodore Ichiriu, of the First Sword of Light, is given command of the Federated Suns front.
- Agreements between the Raven Alliance and Del Monte actually keeps New Samarkand from being attacked, unbeknownst to the Draconis Combine.

The Davion front begins easing for the Combine as Julian Davion refocuses his attention towards the Capellan Confederation after the nuclear strike on St. Ives in April 3154.
In May 3154, the Azami Brotherhood comes to the Yori Kurita with a proposal to have their own nation established around Al’Nair. The proposal is obviously refused, but the Arkab Legion and the remainder of the Azami Brotherhood accept the terms from the Rasalhague Dominion instead.
During the summer of 3154, Yori Kurita and her commanders manage to retake all worlds which had been attacked by the Raven Alliance. The Ravens no longer pose a threat to the Combine at this time.
Davion loyalists and mercenaries reinforce the position of the Azami Brotherhood against DCMS attacks, while the Ghost Bears gets pushed back by the Combine forces, led by the Amphigean Light Assault Group.
The Legion of Vega plans a strike directly against Terra in November 3154. The 2 ^nd and 8 ^th Vega jump in Terran space and barely have time to release their dropships before their ships are destroyed by the new defense apparatus designed by the Snow Raven and Ghost Bears around the jump points of Terra.
The small number of Vega troops who land on Terra are met by Clan Thunder Boar‘s elite and are captured.
Alaric Ward sends a message to Yori Kurita informing her that the aggression of House Kurita needs to stop or more concrete actions will be taken by the Star League in general.
The Federated Suns strike more worlds on their Combine border, led by the 1 ^st Crucis Lancer and General Thaddeus Varnay.
Releasing pressure from the other fronts, the DCMS is able to face the AFFS more effectively Their supply lines exhausted and their troops shocked from the constant state of war, the DCMS has a hard time fighting effectively.
Julian Davion requests a peace meeting on Terra between him and Yori Kurita. Yori Kurita refuses as she now sees Terra as enemy territory. Negotiations between the parties ensue and Arc-Royal is selected for the peace talks.
By mid-3155, a delegation of Combine and Federated Suns officers and leaders meet on Arc-Royal. Clan Wolf’s Anastasia Kerensky is also sitting on the talks in the name of the Star League.
A peace agreement between the Combine and the Federated Suns is signed re-establishing the border between the nations to what they were more or less in 3135. All parties also agree to recognize the new Azami Brotherhood territory as an independent state.
The New Star League clearly makes it known that they do not take any sides in the conflict between the Combine and the Federated Suns, but that ruthless aggression against the Clan would be responded in kind.