Editing Prinz Eugen Mutiny

The [[Prinz Eugen Mutiny]] was a rebellion and desertion that took place in [[2785]] during the [[Operation EXODUS|Exodus]] from the [[Inner Sphere]].  It was dealt with quickly and ruthlessly by forces loyal to General Kerensky and would have far-reaching repercussions.<ref name=H:OKp16,17>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', pp. 16–17: "Prinz Eugen"</ref>

{{InfoBoxConflict
| image       = 
| partof      = Exodus from the Inner Sphere
| date        = August of [[2785]]
| enddate     = same day
| place       = ''Prinz Eugen'' ''[[Texas]]''-class battleship and other various vessels
| planet      = Uncharted star system midway along Kerensky's Exodus route
| commander1  = Major Elizabeth Hazen
| forces1     = Small [[SLDF]] task force and marines
| commander2  = Major General Wilbur Braso,<br />Admiral Votok<br />(mutineer leaders)
| forces2     = Various officers and crews of nine vessels
| commander3  =
| forces3     =
| environment = Space
| conditions  = n/a
| result      = Victory for the SLDF task force
}}

==History: Prologue==
General [[Aleksandr Kerensky]] led the bulk of the [[Star League Defense Force]] away from the Inner Sphere in [[2784]], in an attempt to save the men and women of the Regular Army from the horrors of war and the machinations of the self-serving House Lords.  His fleet was made up not only of soldiers, but also many civilian families who chose to accompany them into exile in the [[Deep Periphery]].  Through several months of travel on a meandering course meant to discourage pursuit, the fleet moved deeper and deeper into the unknown.  Before long, tensions due to the hardships of travel - as well as from the strain of confinement in the cramped space of [[JumpShip]]s and [[DropShip]]s - would manifest in horrific ways,<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 17: "Lieutenant Nigel Polczyk, letter to his brother, 22 May 2786"</ref> but most often as simple dissent.<ref name=WCSp8>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 8: "Exodus"</ref><ref name=TC:WOKp7>''The Clans: Warrior of Kerensky'', p. 7: "Exodus"</ref>

==Sedition and Mutiny==
This dissension grew first among the many civilians, and later among the crews and officers of several vessels.  This growing mass of dissatisfied people would raise doubts about where they were headed, with some even wondering if the Great General even ''had'' a planned destination at all.  Soon enough, mutiny was thick in the air on many vessels of the Exodus fleet.<ref name=WCSp8/><ref name=TC:WOKp7/>

On 27 June 2785, a group of high-ranking officers met onboard the [[SLS Hermes|SLS ''Hermes'']] by admiral [[Robert Nicholls]]' initiative, ostensibly for civilians to express their concerns... but in fact, it was to plan their sedition. The unexpected presence of Kerensky's underage son, [[Andery Kerensky]], gave the seditionists an appearance of legitimacy, though no open dissent was voiced.<ref>''Fall from Glory'', pp. 28–35</ref>

Events finally came to a head in August of [[2785]], nearly 14 months after the massive fleet's departure from the [[New Samarkand]] rendezvous point.  Nine vessels, led by the ''[[Texas]]''-class ''[[Prinz Eugen]]'' and its commander, Admiral Votok, along with officers [[Major General]] [[Wilbur Braso]], amongst others, would announce that they were headed back to the Inner Sphere, tired of the long and seemingly pointless journey into the Deep Periphery.<ref name=H:OKp16,17/><ref>''Invading Clans'', p. 103: "Anna Rosse"</ref><ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 111: "Jason Karrige Profile"</ref><ref name=TRO:3057Rp160>''Technical Readout: 3057 Revised'', p. 160: "Texas Ship Profile"</ref>

General Kerensky and his staff's reaction was swift and brutal: Knowing that allowing the mutinous ships to leave would incite others to follow them, a task force was detached from the rest of the fleet to bring the rebellious flotilla back into the fold. Led by Major [[Elizabeth Hazen]], and accompanied by [[Andery Kerensky]], who had played some role in the rebels' decision to head back,<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 16: "Colonel Absalom Truscott, Personal Journals, 30 September 2785"</ref> A fleet was sent in pursuit of the renegade ships, intercepting them two jumps away. Then, a boarding action composed of 160 marines was launched. During the assault, the mutinous ships fired their weapons, destroying at least half a dozen assault [[DropShip]]s. After a short boarding action accompanied by an intense firefight in the halls of the ''Prinz Eugen'', SLDF Marines secured the vessel. Admiral Votok died during the action, along with most of the Eugen's executive staff, which forced Braso to surrender unconditionally. Most of the ringleaders and their cronies were identified and rounded up.  The other eight ships of the fleet surrendered without a fight soon afterward.<ref name=TRO:3057Rp160/><ref name=JFSp9>''Jade Falcon Sourcebook'', p. 9: "Elizabeth Hazen"</ref><ref name=H:OKp16>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 16: "Major Elizabeth Hazen, Personal Journals, 28 September 2785"</ref><ref>''Fall from Glory'', pp. 52–53</ref>

Major Hazen led the mutinous ships back to the fleet where swift trials were conducted at the jump point. All officers at or above the rank of Captain were executed, with Major Hazen giving the orders to carry out the punishment. Andery Kerensky likewise took part in the execution, reportedly at the request of his father.<ref name=JFSp9/><ref name=H:OKp16/>

==Aftermath and Legacy==
This incident would have a further negative effect on morale within the Exodus fleet.  The mutiny itself was seen as bad enough, but General Kerensky's harsh reaction was viewed in a shocking light by many who accompanied him on the Exodus.<ref name=WCSp9>''Wolf Clan Sourcebook'', p. 9: "Hidden Hope"</ref>

In response to this, Kerensky issued his well-known ''General Order 137'', which is etched at eye level in the common rooms of every Clan vessel even to this day.  This directive was as much a justification for his reaction to the mutiny as it was a statement about the operation's goals.  It would come to be the core of what is known as the [[Hidden Hope Doctrine]].<ref name=WCSp9/>

Andery Kerensky was deeply affected by the mutiny and deaths. The fact that his brother had manipulated him soured the relations between them for decades. Andery never forgot his execution of [[Lieutenant Colonel Surkai]], and this probably inspired the Clans' tradition of ''[[surkai]]'', to ask forgiveness.<ref>''Fall from Glory'', p. 63</ref>

After the formation of the [[Clans]], mutiny was considered one of the worst crimes.<ref name=ACtA012>''Exodus Road'', p. 200</ref> As for the ''Prinz Eugen'', it was used as a prison ship in orbit over [[Strana Mechty]] as an abject reminder of the price of dissension,<ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 139: "Strana Mechty"</ref> until it was subverted by [[The Society]] and destroyed during the defense of the [[Tanis]] system in [[3073]], during the [[Wars of Reaving]].<ref name=TWoR-61>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 61: "Bandit Caste: Commodus Van Houten"</ref><ref name=TWoR-126>''The Wars of Reaving'', p. 126: "Steiner's Folly"</ref>

==List of Officers killed==
* Admiral Votok (killed in the assault).
* Admiral Robert Nichols (executed).
* Major General Wilbur Braso (executed).
* Lieutenant Colonel Surkai (executed).
* Captain [[Peter Karpov]] (executed).
* Captain [[Nigel Karrige]] (executed).



"Return to the Inner Sphere is impossible for us. Our heritage and our convictions are different from those we left behind. The greed of the five Great Houses and the Council Lords is a disease that can only be burned away by the passing of decades, even centuries. And though the fighting may seem to slow, or even cease, it will erupt again as long as there are powerful men to covet one another’s wealth. We shall live apart, conserving all the good of the Star League and ridding ourselves of the bad, so that when we return - and return we shall - our shining moral character
will be as much our shield as our BattleMechs and fighters."
—Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky, General Order 137, 5 October 2785<ref name=WCSp9/><ref>''Historical: Operation Klondike'', p. 17 - ''Commanding General Aleksandr Kerensky, General Order 137, 5 October 2785''</ref>


==Notes==
* The ''Prinz Eugen'' mutiny was instigated to a degree by [[Nicholas Kerensky]], an early example of his machinations. Sensing the dissatisfaction among some officers in the Exodus fleet, Nicholas allowed their mutiny to happen (and even duped his brother Andery Kerensky into playing an unwitting role in it, using his friend "Jess", really [[Jennifer Winson]], to manipulate him) so that the mutineers could be made an example.<ref>''Fall from Glory'', p. ?{{cn}}</ref>

* The only other known mutinous ship was the SLS ''Hermes'', which had the ''Prinz Eugen''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bad reputation; after being appropriately renamed ''Treachery'', it was added to [[Clan Snow Raven]]'s fleet in the [[thirty-second century]].<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 133</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Clans: Warriors of Kerensky]]''
* ''[[Fall from Glory]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Historical: Operation Klondike]]''
* ''[[Invading Clans (sourcebook)|Invading Clans]]''
* ''[[Jade Falcon Sourcebook]]
* ''[[Technical Readout: 3057 Revised]]''
* ''[[The Wars of Reaving]]''
* ''[[Wolf Clan Sourcebook]]''


[[Category:Rebellions]]
[[Category:Political Events]]