BATTLE OF WHITEWHARF
The Battle of Whitewharf was a surprise assault by Justicar forces on the Jade mining colony of Whitewharf in the Ancerious Galaxy. The garrison forces, consisting of the 6th Company of the 711th regiment and two ships of the 7th Fleet, were rapidly overwhelmed and fought primarily to facilitate the evacuation of the planet, which ultimately fell under Justicar control.
BACKGROUNDYears prior to the planet's settlement by the Jade Empire, it was claimed by the Veronis Tribunal according to the Justicari Charter. When the Jade Empire suddenly arrived and began rapid colonisation of the planet, the Veronis Tribunal decided to take action.
Over the course of several months, hidden in bulk mining containers and other smuggling methods, the Veronis Tribunal built up a regiment-sized force in subterranean holdouts, using existing mining operations to mask and disguise their presence. They augmented their forces by kidnapping colonists and converting them, willingly or forcibly, such as Umeji Fumimaro, a local mining baron. INITIAL ASSAULTIn the evening of the 5th Sapphire, 2488, a series of explosions were detonated under the cities of Stakesby and Ruswarp as a prelude to the attack, following which the Justicar infantry and IFVs stormed out of the breaches and onto surface level, killing and capturing civilians indiscriminately. The platoon garrisoning Ruswarp, as well as nearly a dozen marines in Stakesby, were killed almost immediately as this assault caught the garrison by surprise.
GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCEA platoon commanded by Sergeant Alonso Campos was on guard duty outside Governor Alain Park's residence at the time of the attack. Sending Marines Hitaki and Ishido to secure the governor and extract him via the emergency egress tunnel, Sergeant Campos arrayed his platoon across a pillbox and nearby canal ditch, attempting to stall the attackers.
Despite destroying an enemy IFV and inflicting moderate casualties, the platoon suffered heavy losses from an emplaced enemy grenade launcher and was forced to withdraw inside the compound. Becoming separated, Campos and four survivors headed towards the spaceport whilst Park, Hitaki and Ishido were intercepted by Enforcer Ra-mei, who killed the marines and took Park prisoner. ASSAULT ON THE SPACEPORTThe bulk of the marine garrison was based in barracks at the main spaceport in Stakesby. With approximately 90 marines available to him, the rest with Campos or already dead in the initial bombing attack and orbital bombardments, Captain Byakko Whitewharf organised a perimeter defense in the hopes of holding the spaceport long enough for civilians to evacuate.
An initial volley from two SAM-SSM Balm AFV platforms degraded the first enemy SPAAG platform, enabling further vessels to evacuate. Justicar infantry pressed the assault, breaching the perimeter in several places even as the defenders used a volley of Kasen Rockets to slow down the Justicar MBT formation. The Justicar attack was thrown into momentary confusion when their forward command post |
was attacked by Huoming warrior-monks of the Precept of the Crane. Bailif Aptera, commanding the local forces, was killed before the monks could be driven off. Despite this, sustained pressure saw the destruction of both Jade SAM platforms and one of the light tanks, as the surviving marines fell back into the spaceport itself, their fighting withdrawal covered by the remaining light tank and gunfire from a Kankyo IV Orbital Dropship.
SPACE ENGAGEMENT
In space, eight Justicar warships emerged outside of effective weapons range and began an assault towards the planet. Two battleships, two frigates and a cruiser moved against the three orbital platforms, quickly destroying one and disabling a second, whilst the remaining two frigates and cruiser made for the IJN Side Of White Sliced and Full Lobster pot, a Katsumo frigate and a Katana destroyer.
The Jade ships reacted aggressively, separating the three ships of the enemy combat group and picking them off one-by-one whilst their fighter contingent engaged and defeated the Justicar strike force. The combat was costly, however, resulting in the sinking of the Side Of White Sliced. After orbitally bombarding the city of Saltwick and subduing the orbital platforms, Justicar Captain Hanos turned his battleships and second combat group towards the IJN warships. Captain Talida of the Full Lobster Pot, despite landing a lucky with a Gyaku-Tanken Cannon that struck the bridge of one of the Retribution-class battleships and killed Captain Hanos, was compelled to surrender due to heavy damage, in exchange for safe passage for the surviving civilian evacuees and fair treatment for her crew.
The dropship, last few civilian vessels and a scattering of evacuation shuttles and snubfighters exfiltrated the system, leaving the Veronis Tribunal in control of Whitewharf.
The Jade ships reacted aggressively, separating the three ships of the enemy combat group and picking them off one-by-one whilst their fighter contingent engaged and defeated the Justicar strike force. The combat was costly, however, resulting in the sinking of the Side Of White Sliced. After orbitally bombarding the city of Saltwick and subduing the orbital platforms, Justicar Captain Hanos turned his battleships and second combat group towards the IJN warships. Captain Talida of the Full Lobster Pot, despite landing a lucky with a Gyaku-Tanken Cannon that struck the bridge of one of the Retribution-class battleships and killed Captain Hanos, was compelled to surrender due to heavy damage, in exchange for safe passage for the surviving civilian evacuees and fair treatment for her crew.
The dropship, last few civilian vessels and a scattering of evacuation shuttles and snubfighters exfiltrated the system, leaving the Veronis Tribunal in control of Whitewharf.
AFTERMATH
WIP