Operation Draconian
Seizing the Lorell system
First Battle of Lorell - First Assault on Lorell
"I have just received word from Countess Endala that House Olanji has attacked the Consortium Navy! Prepare for ground assault!"- Last words of Lady Paradoc of the Lorell system.
Early in the morning of February 27 3946, the joint forces of House Ci'hani, House Olanji and House Par'wandi, known as the Royal Draconian Order, entered the Lorell system. They destroyed all nearby sensor stations before transmitting a signal to Lorell which was received by Countess Tylger. The Countess had Lady Paradoc killed before her operatives deactivated all planetary shield generators and defensive batteries.
House Paradoc's fleet in the Lorell system along with the neutral Consortium Navy forces were taken completely by surprise by the Royal Draconian Order's attack, which led to the loss of hundreds of ships within a matter of minutes. The Order broke a hole in the defending fleet's lines, letting them drop troopships on to Lorell's surface.
Within twelve hours, all major areas of Lorell were under the control of the invaders and the remains of the defending fleet either surrendered, retreated or defected. Princess Da'tan arrived shortly thereafter and met with Lady Ci'hani, Lady Olanji, Lady Par'wandi and Countess Tylger in Avalon. From there she announced the formation of the Draconian Union and the defeat of Princess Ta'lan's sympathizers in the Lorell system.
The Lorell system became the capital system of the Draconian Union with Princess Da'tan herself governing the system, with some day-to-day assistance from Countess Mantar. The old House Paradoc palace was rebuilt in to the Royal Draconian Palace in Northern Avalon.
Chaos over the Capital
First Battle of Hapan
Lady Tini'duran of Maires was among Princess Da'tan's supporters and had been informed beforehand of the planned attack on Lorell. She began plans for the evacuation of Maires as she realized she would not be able to hold the planet for long if Princess Ta'lan decided to retaliate. She outlined Operation Tini'duran in much haste in order to launch the attack at the same time as Lorell was set to fall.
Agents of House Tini'duran seized control of the Consortium Navy's ships protecting her planet, bringing them in to her own personal fleet. She used her armada to create a chaotic situation in the Hapan system, destroying hundreds of ships, several defense and shipyard stations in addition to two lunar bases before jumping to hyperspace to the Lorell system.
Formation of the Sword Confederacy
The seriousness of the situation became painfully obvious to Princess Ta'lan after House Tini'duran's actions in the Hapan system along with the evacuation of many noble houses' estates and embassies on Hapes Prime. She called a session of Lorell Hall, where the absence of many members of the nobility gave the Princess a clearer overview of the size of the rebellion. She decided to postpone her coronation, on advise from the royal advisors, and asked her supporters to join her in the creation of the Sword Confederacy. She vowed to reunite the Hapes Consortium, with force if necessary.
Borders between the two factions were drawn between the location of deep space supply and defense stations which had previously been used for deployment of long range starfighters and re-supplying of slower convoys. Many of these station commanders had a preference as to which side they wanted to join, and many of the stations went through power struggles and mutinies before permanent borders were established. Most of the battles during the first year of the war were centred around these stations.
The Sword Confederacy Retaliates
Invasion of Maires
First Assault on Maires
A few hundred thousand of the most devoted troops had stayed behind on Maires to hold the world for as long as they could and to inflict maximum amount of damage onto Ta'lan loyalists. When the Sword Confederacy forces arrived on March 3, orbit of Maires was empty apart from a few vessels which gave the invading fleet little trouble. The assault proved much more troublesome. The Draconian troops on the planet operated the computer control centres and kept the shields of the planet up while defense batteries opened fire on any capital vessel within range.
The Sword Confederacy was finally able to land troops and assault vehicles on the southern continent on March 7. However the task of conquering the planet would prove difficult, despite the low number of Draconian troops. It was not until October 19 that the final Draconian stronghold surrendered on the planet and the Sword Confederacy gained air superiority. Some sporadic resistance from the local population and also small Draconian militant cells continued during the first decade of the war, making the occupation of the planet difficult for Princess Ta'lan's forces.
Zukan Resists
First Battle of Wert - Second Battle of Wert
The Zukan system was under the governance of Lady Xarlac, one of Princess Da'tan's strongest sympathizers. While she had not pledged her forces or loyalty to either side, she firmly resisted the presence of Sword Confederacy ships and Consortium Navy vessels leaning towards Princess Ta'lan's cause. In retrospect it seems likely that the Lady was planning to sit the war out and eventually allign with whatever side appeared to be winning.
Fearing that Xarlac would join the Draconian Union, Princess Ta'lan ordered her forces to take the Zukan system and the capital world Wert to temporarily unseat the Lady on June 8. Xarlac's forces defeated the Sword Confederacy in the first battle of Wert, annexing most of the defeated fleet. Not wanting to lose face, Lady Zului of Ut was dispatched to deal with House Xarlac on July 2.
A lengthy battle ensued, ending favourably for House Zului and the Sword Confederacy. Lady Xarlac's remaining forces retreated to the Orthwell system before officially joining the Draconian Union on July 5 3946.
Operation Tini'duran
Operation Sword
Standoff in the Sarr system
First Battle of Sarr - First Assault on Sarla
Operation Serlanum
Seizing Zaa
First Battle of Zaa - First Assault on Morthorn - First Assault on Balcalanakt
