BATTLE OF LYNE
The Battle of Lyne took place during the Third Ancerious War, on the planet of Aedleshaven. Forces of the Second Ancerious Galactic Alliance (SAGA) fought the Coalition of Organised Nations of Ancerious (CONA) for control of the planet and its vital trade lanes. The battle resulted in the withdrawal of OMPAF and Aedleshaven from CONA to become a neutral party, charging toll fees to both sides, as well as heavy losses for all parties involved.
BACKGROUNDThe Third Ancerious War was a conflict between Colonial (SAGA) and Unaligned (CONA) and their allies. The first shots were fired in the space lanes around Aedleshaven, prompting both sides to rush to land forces on the planet. OMPAF, the defensive military of Aedleshaven, sided with CONA and allowed them to garrison key cities on the surface including Anum, Lyne and Lemvig. The primary SAGA thrust was targeted at Lyne, which would pierce the CONA lines and allow them to be defeated in detail.
COMPOSITIONSAGA
SAGA mustered 20 divisions from eleven allied nations, formed into three thrusts. In the center was the Carnaithian 17th Suunta Airborne Division and 113th Muunia Atmospheric Arms Division, the Empyrian 77th Marines, the Restevian 77th Armoured and the 91st Walking Dead, the Huron 214th and 422nd Mechanized, and the RANGSI 2nd and 9th SAD, as well as reserve and headquarters forces who established a field presence for SAGA SOUCOM.
To the west, the Luitgen Strand Minevan volunteer battalion screened the Imaginese 34th Mechanized and 107th Armoured, and the Echotian Ivoran Armoured and Shikari Special Forces divisions. To the east were the IJN Marine Corps 121st Kiritappu Pythons and 845th Golden Eagles Regiments, the 225th and 347th Praetorian Divisions with a Colossus superheavy walker, and the 2nd and 3rd Andracken Symphonies. The SAGA landing forces totally approximately 350,000 personnel, and overall command of SOUCOM theater operations was delegated to General Kratok Avarikk of the Carnaithian Omniversal Empire. CONA
Dug in to well-prepared defensive positions, the backbone of the CONA force consisted of approximately 100,000 personnel formed around OMPAF units including the 40th Armoured
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and the Zetyan 536th Armoured. The Orillians provided several drone divisions including the 33477th Mechanized and the 44873rd Armoured. On the western flank, the 12th Kamperi and 69th Cobani SCUM Loyalist regiments occupied the Visofte Mountains, and the 10th Kel'Thulian artillery took position north of Lyne. Their eastern flank was composed of the Khanate 9th Nature Of Destruction division and the Marauder Horde. Overall command of the Lyne sector fell to OMPAF General Wulfrum.
In reserve to the east near Obling were the OMPAF 87th and the Zetyan 831st Mechanized whilst to the west were the OMPAF 39th Armoured and 82nd, 83rd and 85th Mechanized supported by the Zetyan 305th Armoured. Beyond them, the mercenary Divisione Azure was posted near Anum. By the end of the battle, CONA had committed approximately 300,000 personnel to the battle.
In reserve to the east near Obling were the OMPAF 87th and the Zetyan 831st Mechanized whilst to the west were the OMPAF 39th Armoured and 82nd, 83rd and 85th Mechanized supported by the Zetyan 305th Armoured. Beyond them, the mercenary Divisione Azure was posted near Anum. By the end of the battle, CONA had committed approximately 300,000 personnel to the battle.
ADVANCE TOWARDS LYNE
SAGA forces landed to the south of Lyne shortly before dawn, local time. They were met with enemy bombardment which caused heavy casualties among the RANGSI contingent. Shaking themselves into good order, the SAGA forces established a broad front and began to advance northwards towards Lyne, establishing their own command and supply positions to the south.
To the west, the Imaginese and Echotian Ivoran division were screened by the Minevan battalion and Echotian special forces units. Moving north-west, their strategic objective was to cut the road to Anum, where several OMPAF divisions and the famed Division Azure division were garrisoned, preventing those units from reinforcing CONA positions at Lyne. In the centre the Carnaithian divisions led the advance supported by the Empyrian, Restevian and Huron forces, with fire support from the remaining RANGSI artillery units. Their objective was to take Lyne itself and secure it as a foothold for further operations across Aedleshaven. |
To the east the Jade Marine Corps, Praetorians and Andracken advanced northwards along Valley 30, aiming to cut to cut the highway to Obling and Lemvig and thereby isolate the city's defenders. If successful, in conjunction with the western advance this would allow SAGA to defeat the CONA forces in detail.
MORNING
An errant orbital strike landed among the forward elements of the Jade 121st, resulting in several scout units lost to friendly fire and creating a significant obstacle to the SAGA advance along the valley floor. A major dust storm developed in the area, however, providing cover for the advance and allowing the 121st to penetrate the lines of the 40th OMPAF shortly after daybreak and drive them back with heavy losses. This opened up the eastern flank and allowed Praetorian forces, led by their Colossus, to advance on the eastern suburbs of Lyne. The 2nd and 3rd Symphonies moved further east to confront Khanate elements and stall CONA's counter-attack, engaging the Khanate Marauder Horde.
To the west, CONA began moving significant volumes of personnel and equipment towards Lyne. Whilst the Imaginese were able to overrun the Orillian 44873th Armoured with support from RANGSI artillery, SAGA was still vastly outnumbered to the west, with only the paper- |
thin Minevan volunteer battalion plugging the gap. The Shikari unit, composed of genetically-engineered Echotian bioweapons, advanced into the Visofte Mountains to attempt to drive back the CONA forces taking position there.
In the centre, despite heavy casualties on both sides, the Carnaithian-led SAGA advance continued to push forwards. General Avarikk launched a successful flanking attack with his Huron and Restevian forces, inflicting serious losses on the Orillian 33477th Mechanized and driving the defenders back towards the city.
In the centre, despite heavy casualties on both sides, the Carnaithian-led SAGA advance continued to push forwards. General Avarikk launched a successful flanking attack with his Huron and Restevian forces, inflicting serious losses on the Orillian 33477th Mechanized and driving the defenders back towards the city.
AFTERNOON
The 225th and 347th Praetorians both exited Valley 30 and moved towards the city of Lyne from the east, where their Colossus was taken down by cruise missile strikes from CONA forces. Street-to-street fighting became intense as the SAGA advance here slowed.
To the east of the city, the Khanate had been reinforced by the 87th OMPAF and 831st Zetyan Mechanized and was pressing the Andracken hard. With the Jade 121st regrouping from combat losses, the 845th moved eastwards to support the Andracken. Seeing the Marine Corps approach, the Khanate Nature Of Destruction division began to fall back to regroup with its allies. In the center, CONA lines had collapsed, allowing SAGA to enter the city proper where they were forced to fight building-to-building against prepared positions. |
Despite bloody fighting, the Suunta 17th Airborne made good progress, providing a spearhead for the central SAGA thrust which managed to push the defenders back from their defensive lines. The SAGA advance here began threatening to link up with the advancing Praetorians to the east, tightening the noose around the city.
To the west the Shikari were fighting to the death against SCUM Loyalists in the Visofte Mountains. The headlong attack was launched in an effort to delay the CONA advance over the Visofte Mountains. Along the highway, a significant force of OMPAF and Zetyans was advancing on Lyne, including the 83rd and 85th Mechanized, the 39th Armoured and the 305th Urban Armoured. The Imaginese advance was still dealing with the remnants of the Orillian 44873rd, leaving only the Minevan volunteers and one Echotian armoured division to plug the gap. To make matters worse, a Neo Almaz division managed to deploy undetected from hidden positions north of the highway.
In response, the Minevans deployed psionic illusions of non-existent regiments to check the CONA counterattack, giving the Imaginese time to regroup and plug the gap in the SAGA line.
To the west of the Visofte Mountains, Divisione Azure was slowly advancing along the coast, threatening to pull off a devastating flanking maneuver but delayed by internal sabotage as some of its general staff proved reluctant to embroil their prime division in the meatgrinder ahead of them.
To the west the Shikari were fighting to the death against SCUM Loyalists in the Visofte Mountains. The headlong attack was launched in an effort to delay the CONA advance over the Visofte Mountains. Along the highway, a significant force of OMPAF and Zetyans was advancing on Lyne, including the 83rd and 85th Mechanized, the 39th Armoured and the 305th Urban Armoured. The Imaginese advance was still dealing with the remnants of the Orillian 44873rd, leaving only the Minevan volunteers and one Echotian armoured division to plug the gap. To make matters worse, a Neo Almaz division managed to deploy undetected from hidden positions north of the highway.
In response, the Minevans deployed psionic illusions of non-existent regiments to check the CONA counterattack, giving the Imaginese time to regroup and plug the gap in the SAGA line.
To the west of the Visofte Mountains, Divisione Azure was slowly advancing along the coast, threatening to pull off a devastating flanking maneuver but delayed by internal sabotage as some of its general staff proved reluctant to embroil their prime division in the meatgrinder ahead of them.
NUCLEAR STRIKE
Shortly after SAGA forces entered Lyne, a Kel'Thulian commander at Haboore was given the green light to launch a tactical nuclear strike on the city itself. Launching several nuclear theater-level warheads, they landed a successful strike on the heart of Lyne. Millions were killed instantly, including thousands of CONA and SAGA personnel still in the city. Even at more extreme limits, the damage was intense. The SAGA central column was thrown into disarray with high casualties, saved from total annihilation only by the simultaneous destruction of the bulk of CONA forces still defending Lyne. Surviving SAGA forces in the center almost immediately began search and rescue operations, regrouping their remaining forces and searching amid the rubble for survivors from all nations.
To the east, the remains of the Jade 121st suffered intense radiation damage and were forced to retreat. Their airborne companies were so lethally irradiated that the pilots and paratroopers largely elected to die fighting in support of the 845th and the Andracken. The relatively intact 845th and 2nd Symphonies were able to drive back the CONA forces there, but the 3rd Symphony was almost entirely destroyed in the combat. |
To the west, the OMPAF advance turned back towards Anum, outraged at the destruction of Lyne by their supposed allies in CONA. Divisione Azure similarly withdrew, seeing no value in joining the conflict at this late stage.
AFTERMATH
Despite the staggering 70% losses suffered by the SAGA contingent, the battle ended with a general CONA withdrawal following the nuclear strike on Lyne. CONA and their OMPAF allies had lost more than half of their deployed personnel, as well as more than a million civilians. In the wake of the blast, OMPAF defenders laid down their arms, choosing to focus on rescue operations in which they were assisted by surviving SAGA and CONA forces.
Thrown into disarray by the nuclear strike, and with OMPAF withdrawing to leave large gaps in the defensive lines, the remaining CONA forces began to withdraw. Taking advantage of the confusion, a Minevan special operator known colloquially as 'The Snatcher' infiltrated the CONA theater command facility at Haboore, inflicting several high-ranking casualties which further damaged CONA cohesion and hastened their withdrawal. Obling and Lemving fell rapidly as CONA pulled its forces back, followed weeks later by the cities of Anum and Haboore.
Eventually a general ceasefire was declared, with Aedleshaven taking a neutral stance and enacting a toll system on their trade lanes rather than favouring either faction. SAGA and CONA withdrew their remaining forces from the planet.
Long term, the battle proved that the Unaligned militaries were capable enough to contend with Colonial ground forces during planetside operations. It also demonstrated SAGA's logistical ability to concentrate and move forces. More significantly, it caused a serious divide amongst CONA members, many of whom were appalled by the Kel'Thulian nuclear strike against Lyne. Aedleshaven dissolved its alliance with CONA and officially assumed a stance of neutrality.
Although SAGA defeated CONA in the field and drove them from Aedleshaven, it failed to achieve its primary objective to seize control of the planet, instead agreeing to recognise Aedleshaven neutrality and withdrawing its forces. It also suffered heavy casualties due to the nuclear strike, leading many to question whether the operation had been worth the cost in materiel and lives.
Thrown into disarray by the nuclear strike, and with OMPAF withdrawing to leave large gaps in the defensive lines, the remaining CONA forces began to withdraw. Taking advantage of the confusion, a Minevan special operator known colloquially as 'The Snatcher' infiltrated the CONA theater command facility at Haboore, inflicting several high-ranking casualties which further damaged CONA cohesion and hastened their withdrawal. Obling and Lemving fell rapidly as CONA pulled its forces back, followed weeks later by the cities of Anum and Haboore.
Eventually a general ceasefire was declared, with Aedleshaven taking a neutral stance and enacting a toll system on their trade lanes rather than favouring either faction. SAGA and CONA withdrew their remaining forces from the planet.
Long term, the battle proved that the Unaligned militaries were capable enough to contend with Colonial ground forces during planetside operations. It also demonstrated SAGA's logistical ability to concentrate and move forces. More significantly, it caused a serious divide amongst CONA members, many of whom were appalled by the Kel'Thulian nuclear strike against Lyne. Aedleshaven dissolved its alliance with CONA and officially assumed a stance of neutrality.
Although SAGA defeated CONA in the field and drove them from Aedleshaven, it failed to achieve its primary objective to seize control of the planet, instead agreeing to recognise Aedleshaven neutrality and withdrawing its forces. It also suffered heavy casualties due to the nuclear strike, leading many to question whether the operation had been worth the cost in materiel and lives.