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The Viego System War 2188–2190: A Summary 10/19/2013 11:43:39 AM
A summary of one of the wars that Reilly Campbell and members of her crew played a pivotal part in. Historical background for Gunship by J.J. Snow. Allied Organizational Command (AOC) Counter Alien Operations (CAO) strategy for 2188 was decided at the Bistron Conference Day 16–18 Year 2188. Simultaneous offensives on the alien occupied areas by the 2nd and 3rd Heavy Expeditionary (H-EXPED) Brigades were to be carried out to deny time for the Vhax forces to move troops between fronts during lulls. On Day 30 Year 2188, General Baskar Suilaman was assigned as the Commander-in-Chief for CAO efforts. General Suilaman favored offensive operations that would interdict Vhax supply routes to force alien forces to consolidate their troops in the area of the Viego system near Viego-3 and reduce the threat to his flank as he began redeployment operations from deep space. The 720th Inter Stellar Unit (ISU) Wing was assigned under the command of Major Alex Zain and was not formally subordinate to General Suilaman but several ISU units played key roles that helped to bring success to the overall doomed strategy that General Suilaman executed. On Day 62 Year 2188 Major Zain agreed to support 3rd H-EXPED landings on Viego-3 with elements of the 363rd ISU and deployed his troops as the advance force. Without coordination, General Suilaman changed his plan last minute. He decided to mount a combined offensive along the Vhax line in the Viego system before the 2nd H-EXPED had completed their offensive which was designed to cut Vhax supply lines and form a solid beachhead for AOC forces in the solar system. Seven days later the Vhax began an offensive against the 3rd H-EXPED as they entered the system near Kais-12. The costly defense of Kais-12 forced the AOC to commit divisions intended for the Viego-3 offensive, eventually reducing the overall military force contribution to 11 brigades against roughly 23 Vhax units of similar size but advanced armament. By Day 103 Year 2188 the ambitious AOC plan for a decisive victory had been reduced to a limited offensive to relieve pressure on the 2nd H-EXPED at Viego-2 by a battle of attrition.
The Vhax Commander, HyThrush Vhax Somir Tapidimai planned to end the war by splitting the AOC forces before reinforcements could be brought in. The ISU Alien Rapid Response teams (ARRT), if massed appropriately, could turn the tide in favor of the AOC due to their specialized weapon systems designed specifically to deal with Vhax forces. Tapidimai planned to defeat the large number of reinforcements headed for insertion at Kais-12 by interdicting them at the AOC muster point in deep space discovered by his scouts. This would force the AOC to respond to the breakthrough in their logistic lines. At the same time the HyThrush Vhax ordered forces to provoke a counter-attack on Kais-12 by threatening a key command and control node close to the existing front lines. Tapidimai chose to attack towards the Arga Range to take the heights, making the capital city of Ries untenable. The AOC would have to conduct a counter-offensive, from ground dominated by the Vhax forces and ringed with masses of heavy laser artillery, leading to huge losses and bringing the 3rd H-EXPED and conventional reserve forces close to collapse. The AOC would then have to begin a hasty relief-offensive which the Vhax would ensure also suffered huge losses. Tapidimai expected the relief offensive to fall on the plains south of Ries against the Sixth Vhax Legion and be destroyed. However, if these defeats were not enough to drive the AOC out, the Vhax would attack both AOC armies on Kais-12 and Viego-2/Viego-3 to end the AOC interference in the system for good. But the unexpected length of the AOC offensive and the need to replace many exterminated units at Kais-12, depleted the Vhax strategic reserve dedicated to support the Sixth Vhax Legion and reduced the Vhax counter-offensive strategy north of the Ries to one of aggressive defense. On Viego-3, the 363rd ISU continued to fight a series of trench warfare battles since neither side was willing to commit air support against the advanced X93 laser batteries that the Vhax had emplaced, some of which were now controlled by ISU forces.
The original AOC force in the Viego system lost the majority of their most experienced soldiers in the early battles of 2188 and 2189. The bulk of the army in 2190 was made up of new recruits, some corporate militias, and what remained of the AOC tactical leadership. These forces were augmented by ISU covert inserts including a team of six Gaiden. High attrition rates created many vacancies for senior commanders and specialists, which led to the recall of several combat capable retired officers and the promotion of many inexperienced newcomers. In 2190, General Suilaman was retired by the AOC and several key promotions occurred that changed the approach to the Viego system conflict. Maj Alex Zain was very suddenly promoted to Commander and took charge of the bulk of CAO efforts under Major General Ryan Bransen which eventually comprised three armies with 20 divisions. Under Commander Zain, divisional commanders were given great latitude in training and planning for the upcoming attacks of Day 184 Year 2190 which resulted in an extremely successful war plan due to decentralized execution and flexibility of force employment.
Despite considerable debate among Vhax Hyt Leadership, Tapidimai continued to pursue what was perceived by his superiors as a dishonorable policy of defense instead of executing a more aggressive offensive response to the deep space build up by the AOC. Vhax forces continued to maintain the high ground on Kais-12 and Viego-2 while on Viego-3 enemy forces labored to complete high explosive minefields, laser perimeter fences, and underground bunkers to protect their troops from the constant harassing attacks waged by the 363rd ISU elements. Railguns, rotating laser turrets, and passive detectors with critical kill switches worked to slow the ISUs down. Vhax troops occupied a series of layered defenses consisting of trenchworks and bunkers that were relayed to ensure real time communications and early warning of any large scale AOC movements. The lines were set far enough apart to allow for the efficient dispersal of ISU laser shot by phase-shift capable electo-shielding but could rapidly adjust to send outbound laser shot freely through the defenses without attenuation. However, the 363rd had managed to seize control of two brigades of X93 batteries before the layered defenses were completed on the east flank causing heavy losses to Vhax forces and pushing back the alien defenders at heavy cost to themselves.
AOC intentions evolved with the change in military leadership. AOC losses at Kais-12 reduced the contribution available for the offensive on Viego-2 and increased the urgency for the commencement of operations on Viego-3 where ISU forces had now been holding out against superior forces for more than 11 months. The principal role in the offensive devolved to the ISUs and on Day 261 Year 2190 Commander Zain ordered that the primary objectives were to relieve pressure on the 2nd H-EXPED on Viego-2 and begin extermination of the enemy. After a five-day laser artillery bombardment from space based platforms and inter-atmospheric vessels, the 4th H-EXPED and the 24th ARRT landed, killing 27,000 enemy troops while the 7th H-EXPED mounted a diversion at the enemy base of Jaizel. In phase two of operations, the 4th H-EXPED seized the Vhax key defensive positions, from Jaizel to the Galz River and then took the defensive positions south of the primary road and made ready to attack the Vhax command and control bunkers south of the road, while the 352nd ISU exploited this rapid success by advancing east and north with elements of the 24th ARRT. The 7th H-EXPED maintained one brigade on the north bank of the Galz River and two brigades on the south bank while the remaining brigades made a subsidiary attack to guard the right flank of the main assault force.
On Viego-3 Vhax laser artillery was organized by barrage sector and paired with light armor and hybrid weapon teams. Each Vhax HyFyst Commander and their subordinate leadership was expected to know the batteries covering the sector they were responsible for and to ensure the batteries were ready to engage any fleeting targets that the weakened 363rd ISU may present. As such, much of the 363rd had dug in, utilizing tunnels for cover and to launch attacks. To stand above ground for any period of time would mean Vhax targeting sensors would find, fix and finish as soon as their sector commander approved the attack. While the battle surged in favor of the AOC on Viego-2, Tapidimai, enraged by his losses, ordered the Viego-3 Vhax forces to assault the remainder of the 363rd ISU. The 363rd ISU had been trapped on Viego-3 following the failed insertion of the 3rd H-EXPED due to General Suilaman’s decision to launch an impromptu combined offensive that resulted in the initial loss of a forward beachhead in the Viego system. This failure resulted in high attrition rates for the 363rd during the initial landings and through the defensive phases.
Commander Zain contacted the 363rd ISU on Viego-3 and ordered them to hold their ground against the impending attack, promising reinforcements to support follow on maneuvers for enemy extermination operations. Captain Ryan Kelly, Captain Jeremy Gray and LT Reilly Campbell as the ISU officers in charge on Viego-3 received this order and immediately notified their forces in preparation for the Vhax assault and arrival of ISU gunships. Their troops were augmented by a Scout Sniper Brigade led by Staff Sergeant Joby Ty.
The 363rd was positioned on the eastern flank of the Vhax defenses. During the time they had been on Viego-3, Captain Kelly and Sergeant Ty had sent several recon patrols out to map the Vhax stronghold. These covert missions yielded critical information but at a high cost: by the time the final battle was waged the 363rd was at a quarter of its original strength due to some aggressive maneuvering that had bought the AOC additional time and thwarted several Vhax attempts to retake the lost sector.
Scouts had identified defenses of almost three battalion strength dug in around the forward perimeter. These deeper defensive positions were located on a forward slope. Immediately behind these positions were a series of artillery batteries and X93 laser turrets followed by another series of layered defenses. A gunship crew briefly gained purchase over the defenses only to be brought down by the X93 batteries but the loss was justified when the data stream came back showing several vulnerabilities. The ISU officers decided to take the initiative and attack before the Vhax could begin their assault.
The ISU attack was made by the remaining four brigades and began with a fifteen-minute hybrid artillery bombardment. Hybrid artillery fired a creeping barrage and the attacking waves followed with the light armor and mounted turrets until they successfully secured the forward trench. The objective was captured and the Vhax defense was put under great stress as their leaders ordered them to retake the ground to prevent ISU landing craft from utilizing the area that the 363rd had opened up. Captain Kelly divided the trenchworks into sectors and directed the officers and Sergeant Ty to have their troops turn the batteries back towards the Vhax defenses. As the Vhax surged to re-capture the forward trenchworks, LT Campbell detonated a series of high explosive fusion mines in the tunnels leading from the forward line to the control bunkers that she and her team had placed earlier at great risk to themselves and the operation. Her initiative paid off and is credited with slowing the Vhax enough to allow for the AOC landings that took place the next day. Without this bit of sabotage, communications would have remained clear and the Vhax would have been able to quickly launch a massive counter-attack through the tunnels that would have won them the battle.
The Vhax, fearing ISU reinforcements had already begun to infiltrate, quickly took up positions in the northern most sector and launched a successful counter battery attack, inflicting huge casualties on the remaining 363rd troops. Against Commander Zain’s wishes, Captain Gray abandoned the eastern sector and ordered all remaining forces to reinforce the forward line along the four sectors held by the ISUs. The Vhax were unprepared to meet the ISUs at their own front line, instead expecting that the 363rd would have retreated to the eastern sector where their back would be against terrain. By this time the 363rd had managed to turn the majority of the artillery batteries towards the Vhax positions. Once the concentration of Vhax troops on the front line began to build, the 363rd launched the bulk of the laser artillery under the electro-net, successfully killing the first and second waves of Vhax legionaries.
Commander Zain, upon word of the offensive, immediately ordered the 7th H-EXPED and the 720th ISU Wing to head for Viego-3 to provide reinforcements to defeat the Vhax defenses. The X93 batteries that still remained under control of the Vhax were poorly positioned to engage AOC forces landing in the eastern sector. They lacked direct line of sight and were blocked by the terrain. Provided the 363rd could hold the line, the AOC forces would be able to safely land and establish a fortification point from which to begin launching a larger offensive.
The 363rd was desperately battling increasing numbers of Vhax forces. The Vhax defense had been gravely underestimated and intelligence later revealed that Vhax infiltrations had ISU forces outnumbered at a ratio of 4:1. Numerous meetings were held by Captain Kelly, Captain Gray, LT Campbell and SGT Ty to coordinate joint defenses along the line. The Vhax began a methodical bombardment overnight and by the early hours had engaged in full offensive operations to regain the forward sectors. Many casualties were inflicted on the ISUs but the Vhax made slow progress against the improvised defenses the 363rd had thrown into place. All four ISU sectors held off major Vhax assaults by utilizing a hack that networked the seized enemy turrets. SGT Ty and Captain Gray maintained persistent defenses at the cost of all of their men. Captain Kelly was severely injured and about to be overrun when 720th ISU forces arrived to relieve him, beginning the counter-offensive and extermination phases of operations. LT Campbell and SGT Keen held the line for three hours until SGT Keen was killed by a high explosive laser round. LT Campbell held the line for another thirty minutes, until reinforcements could arrive, ensuring that the turret guns were continually supplied with ammo while defending her position, sometimes battling in close quarter engagements to prevent the enemy from flanking AOC forces to regain control of the X93 batteries they needed to engage friendly landing forces. For their efforts, these four sole survivors who held the line at Viego-3 were awarded the medal of valor.
Commander Zain oversaw the substantial reinforcement of Viego-3 and reorganized the AOC forces within the Viego system to repel any follow on attacks. Laser bombardment, nano-gas and ARRT/H-EXPED/ISU joint brigades were successfully employed as the Vhax struggled to withstand the strength of the AOC forces. Commander Zain attacked through Barnard 33 in the Orion Nebula, exploiting the Vhax exhaustion to gain ground for the final set of offensives leading to victory. The battle of Viego-3 was the turning point in the war against the Vhax eventually leading to the armistice agreement that was brokered by Commander Zain and establishing a deep space defensive zone to protect against future alien encroachment.
Want to know what happens next for Captain Campbell, Joby Ty, Commander Zain and the ISUs? Check out Gunship today on iTunes, Nook or Kindle and join the fight!
