The invasion of the Inner Sphere by the Clans began in the year 3049. Nearly one hundred years have passed since then, during which time the galaxy has known no measure of peace. The Age of War has passed, but there is no rejoicing among the stars. We have passed into a Dark Age.
The Blackout continues, and shows no sign of abatement. As time passes waiting for couriers on JumpShips, concerns have turned to the immediate. For some worlds in the Lyran Alliance, that concern has turned toward and area of space known as The Falcon's Reach.
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| Clan Jade Falcon 2nd Falcon Dragoons Vindemiatrix Army Badge |
A most warlike clan, their new Khan has decided that the old practices of using batchall are no longer necessary when dealing with the Inner Sphere. As a result, the most dangerous of the clans are even more dangerous in this new era. The Khan has made it clear to her warriors that conquest is the order of the day.
Jade Falcon forces are poised to take advantage of the blackout at the edges of the Falcon's Reach. The Khan is ready to order a new désant such as the one targeting Skye and the surrounding systems eleven years prior. This time, a score of planets in Lyran territory are potential targets. Under the cover of the Blackout, this could spell trouble for systems far from the Falcon's Reach.
The Khan finds this situation satisfactory, and begins to allow her commanders to begin their conquest of the Inner Sphere. Star Colonel Ayaan Mandaka is more than ready when the call is given, and prepares to set out for the longest shot of the coming désant..
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| Stormhammers Tharkan Strikers Vindemiatrix Army Badge |
The Lyran Alliance has seen better days. With the advent of the Blackout, the already weakened Armed Forces have additional hurdles to cross to effectively defend the frontier. As a result, the LAAF has resorted to hiring mercenaries to shore up gaps in their ability to garrison worlds - especially near the Falcon's Reach.
The Stormhammers are a unit of RAF defectors that have integrated with the Lyran Alliance. One Stormhammer unit in particular is made up of planetary defense specialists, the Tharkan Strikers. While other Stormhammer elements plot to retake Skye from Jade Falcon, the Tharkan Strikers are staging on Vindemiatrix to provide garrison and logistical support to the Stormhammer advance when the order is given.
Vindemiatrix's garrison, the 12th Lyran Guards, aid in collecting and processing resources for the assault. Without the HPG's, much of this work has to be carried out in advance of the actual attack as each element awaits courier ships from LAAF command. It promises to be grueling work...but the Lyrans are nothing if not industrious.
A New Désant
The Falcon's strike would come from Zebebelgenubi. Taken by surprise by the arrival of Clan ships in Vindemiatrix's space, the defenders had little chance to fight off the fleet in orbit. The ruthless Clan forces pushed ahead and began landing on the planet with little preamble or announcement.
For the defenders of Vindemiatrix, it is cold comfort that both the Tharkan Strikers and 12th Lyran Guards are present. The Khan's mongol doctrine demands everything be destroyed, razed to the ground. The Lyran defenders are quite aware of this fact, and quickly mobilize to defend the population centers.
The Falcon's forces that made planetfall are quite numerous, but have set up bases of operations in the sparsely populated Vindemiatrixian sulfur plains. Unfortunately, that happens to be where a lot of heavy industrial facilities for extracting resources are positioned - resources the Lyrans need to secure. The Falcons may well decide to destroy the facilities, if they learn how crucial they are to the Lyran plan to counter-attack and retake the Isle of Skye.
The Battle of Vindemiatrix has begun.
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