Sarna Massacre?

BattleTechnology News Service

by Bob Carter

June 1, 3029, Sarna, Sarna Commonality or possibly, the Sarna March of the Federated Suns!

The Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers were hungry for Capellan blood after the death of their wellloved Duke, Michael Hasek-Davion. The Fifth's RCT under General Gordon Hartstone was in command of an operation involving the two regiments of the Crater Cobras, the second regiment of the Screaming Eagles and fifteen regiments of regulars, a highly important operation - the invasion of Sarna itself. The plan, as worked out by the Capellan Operations Command of the Federated Suns with General Hartstone assisting, had the combined units make three jumps, waiting to recharge in uninhabited systems, then landing in four locations on the continents of Jacarlos and Conoshal for a coordinated sweep.

As the units left the final jump point in the dropships, the Fusiliers' eagerness for battle overwhelmed their sense of responsibility to the other units participating. Their ships accelerated at 2.5 G, leaving behind the other ships, who were restrained to 1.5 G. They also left behind a large percentage of their ammo resupply, which was being transported with the Cobras. This might not have mattered. The unit had a splendid combat record; General Hartstone expected to have two days to vent the Marcher Regiment's fury on Sarna before the other units could "get in on the fun."

This might not have mattered - if Federated Sun's intelligence had been complete. Secretly, McCarron's Armored Cavalry, all four regiments of the Big Macs, had been relocated on Sarna. And they had a grudge of their own. Remember what the AFFS did to their second battalion six years ago? They came as a complete surprise to the Fusiliers. Between bloody ground battle and aerospace fighter strafing, the Fifth was cut to pieces. Of 132 'Mechs, 15 remained. Eight of the ten supporting regiments were annihilated.

The Cobras' and the Eagles' leaders met while in transit. Colonel Westrick, commander of the Cobras, came up with a daring massed strike. By the month's end the planet seemed destined for Davion hands. During those last days of the month the incident seems to have occurred where units from the Fusiliers devastated a ComStar facility. As it now stands, the planet still does not belong to the Federated Suns, the Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers has ceased to exist - and ComStar has placed an interdict against the Federated Suns. It is rumored that General Hartstone survived the battle in Liao hands, and that Prince Hanse has personally refused him ransom. Duke Morgan Hasek-Davion was unavailable for comment.

BattleTechnology News Service

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