Editing Operation TIAMAT

{{InfoBoxConflict
| conflict = Operation TIAMAT
| partof = [[Dark Age]]
| image = 							
| caption = Operation TIAMAT
| date = 4 June [[3149]]
| enddate = April [[3150]]
| place = 
| planet = 
| territory = 
| faction1 = [[Capellan Confederation]]<br>[[Draconis Combine]]
| faction2 = [[Republic of the Sphere]]<br>[[Federated Suns]]
| commander1 = [[Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation|Chancellor]] [[Daoshen Liao]]<br>[[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] [[Yori Kurita]]<br>''[[Gunji-no-Kanrei]]'' [[Matsuhari Toranaga]]
| commander2 = 
| forces1=[[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]]<br>[[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery]] 
| forces2= [[Republic Armed Forces]]<br>[[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]]
| result = [[Unity Pact]] members gain Republic and FedSuns territory around [[Terra]]
| environment = 
| conditions = 
}}


'''Operation TIAMAT''' was a joint offensive launched in [[3149]] by the [[Draconis Combine]] and [[Capellan Confederation]] against the [[Republic of the Sphere]] and the [[Federated Suns]].

==Background==
In January [[3149]] the Republic of the Sphere dropped [[The Wall|the Wall]] and returned to the interstellar stage with a [[Operation SHOFAR|series of lightning moves]] intended to buttress the Republic's defenses against its enemies. Subsequently [[Operation ERUPTIO]] saw the [[Republic Armed Forces]] ravage the [[Dieron Military District|Dieron Military District's]] units and kill its [[Tai-shu|Warlord]] on [[Dieron]] itself. Meanwhile the Capellan Confederation mounted its own [[Operation BÀOYÌNG|assault]] against the now-exposed Republic worlds on its [[Galactic Directions|rimward]] border, gaining several worlds with surprising ease.<ref name=SFp64-65>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 64-65</ref> <ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 66</ref>

The success of the CCAF offensive led Capellan [[Chancellor of the Capellan Confederation|Chancellor]] [[Daoshen Liao]] to believe [[Terra]] itself was vulnerable, but he was also wary of potential Republic traps. To counter any Republican machinations, he dispatched an embassy to [[Luthien]] to propose an alliance between his realm and the Draconis Combine. While initially reluctant to risk Terra falling to a rival House as a result of their assistance, the revelation that [[Devlin Stone]] had returned to lead the Republic swayed the Combine's leadership into agreeing to the Capellan proposal. The resulting [[Unity Pact]], signed on 21 April, included an agreement to a joint offensive against the Republic and its [[Federated Suns]] ally.<ref name=SFp64-65/> <ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 67-68</ref>

==Operation TIAMAT, Phase One==
The [[Draconis Combine Mustered Soldiery|DCMS]] struck first in June with attacks upon four Federated Suns worlds in the [[Terran Corridor]], swiftly seizing all of its targets. These conquests cut the Suns off from its Republic ally and created the first shared border between the Combine and Confederation since the mid-[[Third Succession War]].<ref name=SFp72-73>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 72-73</ref>

The DCMS' victories enabled the Capellans to focus their efforts against the Republic itself, launching their attack in August against [[Epsilon Indi]], [[Bryant]] and [[Liberty]]. While the CCAF faced sustained resistance only on the last world, the swiftness with which they all fell fueled Daoshen Liao's concern that the Republic was enticing his soldiers into an ambush.<ref name=SFp72-73/>

==Operation TIAMAT, Phase Two==
''Kanrei'' Toranaga initially planned to mount his military's portion of Wave Two in late October, but [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns|AFFS]] strikes against the [[Dragon's Tongue]] in September forced a change of focus to the Combine's other major front. While the renewed threat from [[Operation PERCEVAL|Task Force Perceval]] was contained by mid-November, the Combine was unable to simultaneously attack the Republic as planned.<ref name=SFp73-75>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 73-75</ref>

In light of the oddly swift downfall of its previous targets, the CCAF attacked its first Wave Two targets in October with a sense of caution. The Capellans' fears proved unfounded, with [[Procyon]] and [[New Home]] both falling in short order. Nonetheless, Daoshen limited the next assault to a single target, [[Keid]], deciding that this victory would give his military direct access to Terra while minimizing the risk of Republic surprises. Keid also fell swiftly, leaving the Confederation on the doorstep of humanity's homeworld.<ref name=SFp73-75/>

==Capellan Halt and the Combine's Second Wave==
As [[3150]] dawned the Capellan military assembled its forces in the region rimwards of Terra and Daoshen Liao moved to his [[Liao (system)|ancestral homeworld]], all in anticipation of invading Terra. However the regiments earmarked for that invasion's first wave all suffered a spree of sabotage in March which both weakened them and led to Daoshen postponing the invasion until he could ascertain the Republic's defenses on Terra.<ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 79-80</ref>

The Draconis Combine finally mounted its second wave in February [[3150]], invading three Republic worlds across the Combine's border. The Republic's sabotage attacks against the Capellans left the Dieron District's new Warlord [[Mineo Tadashige]] to dispatch scouting raids first. Upon learning that the target worlds of [[Asta]], [[Altair]] and [[Fomalhaut]] were lightly defended by militia, the DCMS attacked and seized all three systems.<ref name=SFp80>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 80</ref>

==TIAMAT's End==
The damaging covert strikes against the CCAF in March led to Daoshen ending the Confederation's portion of TIAMAT. [[Coordinator of Worlds|Coordinator]] [[Yori Kurita]] decided likewise shortly after due to the Combine's worsening situation on the Federated Suns front. Nonetheless, Operation TIAMAT had resulted in territorial gains for both of the Unity Pact members, placing both within striking distance of Terra itself.<ref name=SFp80/> <ref>''Shattered Fortress'', p. 101, "Timeline"</ref>

==References==
<references />
==Bibliography==
* ''[[Shattered Fortress]]''

[[Category:Late Dark Age Era Military Operations|TIAMAT, Operation]]