BATTLE OF CASS CITY
The Battle of Cass City was a part of the Sarnath Campaign. The Jade Empire, Union of Worlds and FRK landed ground forces to assault the city and removed the Great Marchander Guild of Commerce from power. The battle was a pyrrhic victory for the allies, as Merger forces detonated a psionic EMP which stranded two regiments of Jade Marines, resulting in their near total destruction as an effective fighting force.
BACKGROUND
Following the allied victory in the First Battle over Marchand, they were left with relatively unopposed control of the space around the planet. Unwilling to risk significant collateral damage to civilians and infrastructure by an inaccurate orbital bombardment, several cities were selected as invasion targets with the aim of removing the GMGC power structure.
Cass City, on the southern coast of the single vast continent of Marchand, was selected as a target for the Jade Marine Corps and the forces of the Union and FRK. ORDER OF BATTLEThe Jade Marine Corps initially deployed two regiments, the 305th and the 642nd, amounting to roughly 15,000 marines and 570 vehicles with additional air support from the 7th Fleet. but by the end of the battle their commitment had risen to 37,000 marines.
The Union and FRK sent three combined-arms divisions total, mustering 32,000 soldiers, as well as support from aerial and fleet assets. Against them, the GMGC mustered approximately two million professional security contractors and assorted trained militia, with two regiments of armoured vehicles numbering in the region of 4,000 vehicles. They also had significant fixed and mobile SAM and artillery elements. INITIAL MOVEMENTSThe Union and FRK forces landed first, east of the city, and advanced methodically, fighting through a screen of ambushes and skirmish units along the Northern and Southern branches of the Eastern Highway. Once Bailiwick Zboril had reoriented his forces to counter the Union advance, the Jade Marine Corps began landing to the south-west of the city, quickly assaulting the GMGC's remaining forward positions.
UNION ADVANCEThe GMGC fortified a ring inside the New Jutland district in the east of the city. Driven back by the Union advance, the GMGC forces retreated to this line and then, in a pre-planned move, detonated a series of mines along the front of their positions. This blunted the Union attack, forcing a pause in their advance as they regrouped. The Union countered by deploying advance teams to penetrate the enemy line at various points in preparation for a general breakthrough, whilst the main Union-FRK force dug in to consolidate their gains.
JADE ADVANCEAs night fell the two Jade regiments advanced relatively unopposed in the west, brushing past the skeleton defenses and penetrating rapidly into the heart of the city. Before they could achieve their dual objectives of securing the regional GMGC headquarters complex and assaulting the rear of the GMGC lines at New Jutland, however, they were subjected to a psionic EMP.
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This attack disabled their electronics, leaving them without armour, firearms or auxiliary systems and bringing down most of their aerial assets. Being biologically light-dependent, this also put the Jade Marines at immediate risk. They were immediately swarmed by crowds of attackers, primarily members of the Cult of Carcaros, some of whom had undergone significant biological and mental deformation due to their connection with the Merger. Armed with melee and makeshift weapons, with the occasional gunpowder firearm that was immune to EMP damage, they assaulted the disoriented Jade Marine formations in close combat.
Fighting was brutal and although they were equipped with AA-42 gunspears, AA-26 hikatana and other melee-capable weapons, the two regiments suffered heavy losses. Clusters of survivors rallied in nearby buildings where they tried to hold out until reinforcements arrived, lighting fires in an attempt to survive through the night.
Fighting was brutal and although they were equipped with AA-42 gunspears, AA-26 hikatana and other melee-capable weapons, the two regiments suffered heavy losses. Clusters of survivors rallied in nearby buildings where they tried to hold out until reinforcements arrived, lighting fires in an attempt to survive through the night.
GMGC COUNTER-ATTACK
Taking advantage of the stalled Union advance and the fact that the Jade contingent had been defeated, the GMGC launched a counter-attack composed of two huge armoured columns to the north and south of the Union line.
The Union-FRK force had significantly entrenched itself, however, and concentrated artillery fire and airstrikes served to weaken the GMGC thrusts. Advance Union troops positioned on the flanks were also able to disrupt enemy lanes of advance and cause havoc among their support echelons, and after several hours of fighting the GMGC assault began to fade as they ran low on fresh armoured vehicles.
Further attacks by Cultist groups and Merger abominations were repelled with the assistance of Union forces held in reserve who shored up the battered defenses, securing the Union's hold on the eastern zones of the city.
The Union-FRK force had significantly entrenched itself, however, and concentrated artillery fire and airstrikes served to weaken the GMGC thrusts. Advance Union troops positioned on the flanks were also able to disrupt enemy lanes of advance and cause havoc among their support echelons, and after several hours of fighting the GMGC assault began to fade as they ran low on fresh armoured vehicles.
Further attacks by Cultist groups and Merger abominations were repelled with the assistance of Union forces held in reserve who shored up the battered defenses, securing the Union's hold on the eastern zones of the city.
JADE RESERVE DEPLOYMENT
General Terusada, the Jade Marine officer in charge of ground deployments in the theatre, immediately deployed three additional regiments from her reserves, leaving only three aboard the Jade fleet above. The 31st Icebear was deployed to form a cordon around the west and north of the city to contain the situation and recover any friendly units that escaped from the city on foot. The elite 15th Kajiyan Tigers were assembled to advance on the city on foot and assault the GMGC headquarters, prepared to fight in close quarters with tedate shields alongside their AA-42 and AA-26 weapons, bows and other EMP-redundant equipment. They were supported by high-flying aerial assets providing overwatch and carrying additional supplies, which also dropped high-grade flare munitions to flood the area with light. The 77th Tanuki, still below strength after its assault on the moon of Ba-Sten during the First Battle over Marchand, was divided. The bulk of the force accompanied the 15th, whilst its pioneer and airborne units began to scour the city for survivors.
Brevet-Captain Mitsuyoshi Kuriyabashi of the 77th volunteered to lead elements of the pioneer rescue force, eventually locating Captain Tamachi of the 305th who was commanding a mixed force of some 200 survivors, many of them injured. Kuribayashi assisted Tamachi in repelling another Merger assault before escorting them back out of the city towards the forward positions of the 31st Regiment.
Brevet-Captain Mitsuyoshi Kuriyabashi of the 77th volunteered to lead elements of the pioneer rescue force, eventually locating Captain Tamachi of the 305th who was commanding a mixed force of some 200 survivors, many of them injured. Kuribayashi assisted Tamachi in repelling another Merger assault before escorting them back out of the city towards the forward positions of the 31st Regiment.
ASSAULT ON THE GMGC HEADQUARTERS
With the bulk of the professional GMGC units destroyed by the Union or still pinned down fighting them, only Cult militia stood in the way of the 15th Regiment's advance. Supported by airstrikes from above psionic EMP range, the phalanxes of the Kajiyan Tigers were able to advance to the GMGC headquarters and storm the facility, which was not designed to withstand attack by melee-armed infantry. The unit was able to penetrate the defenses, killing Bailiwick Zboril and dismantling the device used to generate the psionic EMP before utilising fresh equipment to signal their success.
AFTERMATH
Although Cass City was now under Jade Imperial control and Bailiwick Zboril's forces were routed, the battle left the Jade Marine forces in-system severely depleted, with two whole regiments almost entirely destroyed and two further regiments suffering casualties during the combat.
From the initial force of 15,000 marines deployed to the city, less than 2,000 escaped alive, the majority wounded. These losses forced General Terusada to suspend plans for an assault on the city of Blidh and focus on consolidating the existing territorial gains made by the allies.
From the initial force of 15,000 marines deployed to the city, less than 2,000 escaped alive, the majority wounded. These losses forced General Terusada to suspend plans for an assault on the city of Blidh and focus on consolidating the existing territorial gains made by the allies.