Editing Battle of Huntress (3060)

{{Update Needed|[[Forever Faithful]]}}
{{InfoBoxConflict
| conflict = Battle of Huntress
| partof = [[Operation SERPENT]]
| image = 
| caption = 
| date = 19 February [[3060]]
| enddate = 9 April 3060 / 21 April 3060 (Clan Goliath Scorpion Incursion)
| place = 
| planet = [[Huntress]]
| result = SLDF victory
----
Clan Smoke Jaguar annihilated
| territory = 
| faction1 = [[Second Star League Defense Force]]
| faction2 = [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]]
| faction3 = [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]]
| commander1 = [[General]] [[Ariana Winston]]
----
General [[Andrew Redburn]]
| commander2 = [[Khan]] [[Lincoln Osis]]
----
[[Galaxy Commander]] [[Hang Mehta]]
| commander3 = Galaxy Commander [[Rik Myers]]
| forces1 = [[Task Force Serpent]]
| forces2 = [[Clan Smoke Jaguar Touman|Clan Smoke Jaguar ''touman'']]
| forces3 = [[14th Scorpion Hussars (Escorpión Imperio)|Fourteenth Scorpion Hussars]],<br>[[35th Scorpion Cuirassiers (Escorpión Imperio)|Thirty-fifth Scorpion Cuirassiers]]
| environment = 
| conditions = 
}}
The '''Battle of Huntress''' was the culmination of [[Operation SERPENT]], a mission launched by the [[Second Star League]] to destroy [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] at its home planet. After a long journey to the [[Clan Homeworlds]], [[Task Force Serpent]], a multinational coalition under the command of General [[Ariana Winston]], invaded [[Huntress]] with the intent of capturing or destroying every military asset the Clan possessed.

Smoke Jaguar forces driven from the [[Inner Sphere]] by [[Operation BULLDOG]] learned of the invasion and counterinvaded with overwhelming force. After intense fighting and heavy losses on both sides, victory for the [[Second Star League Defense Force|Star League Defense Force]] was secured by the arrival of Prince [[Victor Steiner-Davion]] and Task Force Bulldog, which had accomplished its mission far ahead of schedule.

The battle marked the effective end of Clan Smoke Jaguar as an entity, with only a handful of warriors surviving. [[Khan]] [[Lincoln Osis]] fled to Strana Mechty, where he and his remaining warriors were defeated in the [[Great Refusal]]. The victory at Huntress came at great cost to the SLDF. Task Force Serpent suffered eighty percent casualties,<ref>''Flashpoint'', ch. 1</ref> and General Winston was killed in action.

The follow on battle with [[Clan Goliath Scorpion]] also showed that Clan's rapid deployment ability.  Upon hearing of the loss of the Jaguar Occupation Zone, Galaxy Commander [[Rik Myers]] assembled two fully-supplied Clusters aboard their transports in orbit above [[Tokasha]], believing an Inner Sphere strike on Huntress was imminent.

==Invasion==
{{quote|All commands, this is Dancer. The word is given. Commence Operation Serpent.|General Ariana Winston<ref name=SF12>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 12</ref>}}

===Covert raid on Mount Szabo===
The primary threat to the invasion was an active [[Reagan Space Defense System]] at Huntress, controlled by the planet's primary command and operations center located beneath Mount Szabo, near the planetary capital Lootera. [[DEST]] teams were sent in advance of the fleet with the objective of destroying the command center, opening the way for the assault force.<ref name=SF11>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 11</ref>

On 19 February 3060, DCS ''[[Haruna (Individual Kyushu-class WarShip)|Haruna]]'' jumped into the Huntress zenith point, broadcasting stolen IFF codes that identified her as the ''[[York (WarShip class)|York]]''-class ''[[Queen Lynx (Individual York-class WarShip)|Queen Lynx]]''. ''Haruna'' detached the ''[[Stiletto (Individual Broadsword-class DropShip)|Stiletto]]'', a genuine Clan ''[[Broadsword]]'' that had been captured at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], which was carrying the DEST teams. ''Haruna'' deployed her jump sail and, after a standard recharge cycle, jumped out-system on 26 February. ''Stiletto'', posing as the ''Tracker'', went unchallenged and reached Huntress on 1 March.<ref name=SF11/><ref name=SF14>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 14</ref>

Using stealth drop-cocoons, including an automated cocoon holding each team's equipment, the thirty DEST commandos under ''[[Sho-sa]]'' [[Michael Ryan]] made a successful [[w:High-altitude military parachuting|HALO]] drop into the Jaguar's Fangs mountain range west of Lootera at 0300. ''Stiletto'' then feigned a crash landing in Dhuan Swamp and landed in the Lunar Range on the continent of Abysmal, far from where any search would be looking for her.<ref name=SF14/>

The DEST teams, moving slowly to avoid detection, reached their objective on 5 March, only hours before the task force was due to jump in. They gained entry by hijacking a hovertruck and posing as Smoke Jaguar technicians, and eliminated the [[Elementals]] guarding the entrance with well-placed [[Tsunami Heavy Gauss Rifle|Tsunami]] sniper shots. Inside, the teams split up to hit different objectives. A technician in the SDS command center triggered an alarm before he was gunned down, and with surprise lost, the DEST teams swiftly planted their explosive charges and executed the remaining technicians. A rapid response team of two Elemental [[Point]]s arrived, engaging the commandos in a brief but vicious firefight that cost the DEST teams six men. The remaining twenty-four commandos escaped and the charges detonated on schedule, achieving the primary objectives of the mission.<ref name=SF15>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 15</ref>

===First naval battle===
{{quote|Send to all commands. Clear for battle, launch all Combat Air Patrol fighters. Message to Starlight. Starlight is to remain with and protect the transports. We're here, and no Clan buggers are going to make us leave!|Commodore Beresick}}

At 0630 on 5 March 3060, Task Force Serpent entered the [[Huntress]] system at the zenith point, and was confronted by Smoke Jaguar WarShips: a ''[[Sovetskii Soyuz]]''-class cruiser and two ''[[Vincent]]''-class corvettes. The ''Invisible Truth'' squared off against the enemy cruiser, trading weapons fire as they passed. As the ''Truth'' turned to reengage, the ''Rostock'' dove in from above to attack the enemy cruiser. The cruiser launched a furious broadside, severely damaging the ''Rostock''. As the ''Rostock'' attempted to withdraw, the Clan WarShip pursued, launching another salvo that blew the ''Rostock'' to pieces. In her pursuit of the ''Rostock'', the ''Sovetskii Soyuz'' had left herself open to the ''Invisible Truth'', which unleashed several punishing broadsides that destroyed the Clan vessel.<ref name=SF16>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 16</ref>

Meanwhile, the first ''Vincent''-class ship was intercepted by the ''Emerald'' and destroyed, dealing only modest damage to the ''Essex''-class WarShip. The second ''Vincent'' evaded the remaining WarShips in an effort to attack the JumpShips carrying the invasion force. She did minor damage to several vessels but was destroyed by the ''Starlight'', which suffered damage to her port weapons bays.<ref name=SF16/> After regrouping, the JumpShips launched their DropShips which were escorted by the ''Fire Fang'' and ''Ranger'' toward Huntress.<ref name=SF16/> As they arrived in orbit on 12 March, the invasion force met some resistance from Clan fighters—which served only to cause damage to one of the Kathil Uhlans' DropShips—before deploying to attack their assigned objectives.<ref name=SF17>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 17</ref>

===Ground assault===
The planet was garrisoned by two [[Galaxy|Galaxies]] of ''[[solahma]]'' troops—the [[Iron Guard Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Iron Guard]] and [[Watchmen Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Watchmen]], plus various training cadres and ''[[sibko]]s''.<ref name=SF11>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 11</ref> Although the Huntress garrison had seen its most useful military assets diverted to the Inner Sphere, former commander Benjamin Howell had creatively replenished it by requisitioning Inner Sphere salvage for "analysis" by scientists, then having it refurbished to equip his warriors. These efforts, when supplemented with some ancient Star League 'Mechs pulled from storage and repurposed prototypes, meant that the two Galaxies were fully equipped.{{cn}}

The Inner Sphere regiments were divided to attack military targets around the planet simultaneously, preventing the Smoke Jaguars from concentrating their defense in one place. The invasion force would hit every major city on Jaguar Prime, the main continent, as well as the facilities on Abysmal, an unpopulated continent used for training operations.<ref name=SF11/>

====Lootera and Mount Szabo====
General Winston and her headquarters unit accompanied the [[21st Striker Regiment|21st]] and [[151st Light Horse Regiment|151st]] Light Horse Regiments, commanded by Colonels [[Edwin Amis]] and [[Charles Antonescu]] respectively, on a combat drop three kilometers northwest of Mount Szabo. Their target was a large MechWarrior training facility several kilometers west of the landing zone.<ref name=SF17/> Defending the facility was the Galaxy Command Trinary and [[12th Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|12th ''Solahma'' Cluster]] of the Iron Guard Galaxy, along with the [[44th Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|44th ''Solahma'' Cluster]] and a Fighter Trinary of the Watchmen Galaxy.<ref name=TotC42>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 42</ref> The Light Horse regiments captured the facility after taking only light casualties. The DEST teams, having evaded the enemy, rendezvoused with this group.<ref name=SF17/>

The [[71st Light Horse Regiment]] under Colonel Sandra Barclay made their drop just north of the capital Lootera, with the objective of seizing the Field of Heroes and the Smoke Jaguar [[genetic repository]]. Defending the city against them was the 44th ''Solahma'' Cluster and Galaxy Command Trinary of the Watchmen Galaxy.<ref name=TotC42/> The 71st captured the repository intact with relatively light casualties,<ref name=SF17/><ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 22</ref> but the Elemental guards within the facility barricaded themselves inside, forcing the Horsemen's infantry units to clear them out room by room.<ref name=SF24>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 24</ref>

While most of the [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] [[2nd Division (ComStar)|2nd Division]] was held in reserve, the Third Battalion was assigned to seize the Mount Szabo facility. This operation went off without incident, mostly because the DEST attack had caused extensive damage, allowing them to seize the location without much trouble.<ref name=SF22/>

The task force had secured the training camp, Lootera and its spaceport, and the Mount Szabo facility. General Winston established the Field of Heroes as her field headquarters.<ref name=SF17/>

====Pahn City====
The [[Northwind Highlanders]] attacked a major industrial center near Pahn City, which was defended by the [[48th Battle (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|48th Battle Cluster]] of the Watchmen Galaxy.<ref name=TotC42/> Colonel [[William MacLeod]] flooded the Smoke Jaguars' frequencies with bagpipe music, cutting off their radio communications and limiting them to hand signals and line-of-sight laser communications.<ref name=SF20>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 20</ref>

The Highlander DropShips grounded and deployed [[MacLeod's Regiment]] and the [[Royal Black Watch]]. [[Star Colonel]] [[Cara]], in command of the defense, was enraged by the attackers' use of the Star League's insignia, and ordered the entire Cluster to converge on her position and engage. She and her warriors were further infuriated to see the crest of the Royal Black Watch and threw themselves into the fight. This was exactly what Colonel MacLeod had intended. With the Smoke Jaguars distracted, his main force bypassed the defenders and marched on the factory complex. As Star Colonel Cara realized what was happening, she ordered a withdrawal, but her efforts were hampered by the Highlanders' jamming.<ref name=SF20/><ref name=TotC26>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 26</ref>

As they advanced on the factory, the Highlanders were taken aback by a unit of [[ProtoMech]]s that swarmed out of the facility to engage them at close range. The attack stalled as the Inner Sphere [[MechWarrior (pilot)|MechWarriors]] struggled to deal with the unprecedented threat, and MacLeod ordered the Highlanders to fall back and regroup. The fighting degenerated into a free-for-all that raged for several hours in and around Pahn City. It ended when MacLeod pressed the attack against the factory, seizing it intact and eliminating the mixed enemy force. The Highlanders took advantage of the 'Mech factories and began repairing their units. They also salvaged what they could, prioritizing the ProtoMechs and the ProtoMech factory.<ref name=SF20/><ref name=TotC26/>

====Myer====
The Kathil Uhlans attacked an industrial complex near the city of Myer, which was defended by the [[63rd Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|63rd ''Solahma'' Cluster]] of the Watchmen Galaxy.<ref name=TotC44>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 44</ref> Although the enemy put up stiff resistance, the Uhlans captured their objective with only light casualties.<ref name=SF22>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 22</ref>

One Warrior, [[Magda]] of Charlie Assault Star, Trinary Assault distinguished herself by using her ''isorla'' ''[[Dart (BattleMech)|Dart]]'' to kill the matched pairs of [[Pegasus (Combat Vehicle - Hovertank)|Pegasus]] and [[Saladin]] hovercraft of Charlie Lance, 1st Company, 3rd Battalion<ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 51</ref> before losing her last functional weapon. Refusing to withdraw she attempted to charge the WLF-2 ''[[Wolfhound]]'' of Charlie Lance, 2nd Company, 1st Battalion<ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 50</ref> but was shot out of her ’Mech in the process.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade'', p. 10</ref>

====Bagera====
The [[Eleventh Lyran Guards]] encountered heavy aerospace resistance on approach to Bagera, which they believed to be garrisoned only by the [[77th Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|77th ''Solahma'' Cluster]] of the Iron Guard Galaxy.<ref name=TotC42/><ref name=SF22>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 22</ref> Unknown to them, the Smoke Jaguars had reinforced Bagera with a large number of freshly-blooded warriors and their instructors, all equipped with front-line OmniMechs.

Before the Guards had finished deploying, they were attacked by a [[Supernova Trinary]] fielding Inner Sphere and second-line Clan 'Mechs mixed with Elementals. The Guards repulsed the initial attack, but took heavy losses: fifty-one of their 120 'Mechs were lost. A second wave of at least twenty-five OmniMechs, mostly heavy- and assault-class, supported by more Elementals, hit the Guards hard. Marshal [[Sharon Bryan]] was shot out of her ''[[Banshee (BattleMech)|Banshee]]'' after a heated engagement with a ''[[Cauldron Born]]'', and her second-in-command, Colonel [[Timothy Price]], ordered a withdrawal. After Bryan was rescued by a ''[[Fulcrum]]'' hovertank, she quickly determined that the Eleventh Guards were in danger of being overrun, and called General Winston to request naval fire support.<ref name=SF22/>

In low orbit over Bagera, the ''Fire Fang'' opened fire on the Smoke Jaguar position with its [[Light Naval Gauss|naval gauss]] and [[Light NPPC|PPC]] batteries. With the shots landing only a hundred meters off target, the effect was devastating. Clan BattleMechs and Elementals were immediately destroyed by the energies of the strike. The fire support broke the Jaguar force and the Eleventh Guards were able to mop up what opposition remained.<ref name=SF22 />

====New Andery====
The [[Knights of the Inner Sphere]] and [[Kingston's Legionnaires]] were assigned to strike a large training camp east of New Andery. After encountering minimal opposition—a pair of ''[[Avar]]'' fighters that were quickly destroyed—Colonel [[Paul Masters]] decided to ground his DropShips instead of performing the high-altitude drop that was originally planned. The task force quickly defeated a Star of 'Mechs standing sentry outside the base, followed by fifteen Jaguar cadets who powered up their second-line 'Mechs to defend the installation.<ref name=SF19>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 19</ref>

Half an hour after the Inner Sphere forces secured the training facility, the [[33rd Assault (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|33rd Assault Cluster]] of the Iron Guard Galaxy arrived to defend New Andery.<ref name=TotC42/><ref name=SF19/> Colonel Masters ordered the Legionnaires to entrench themselves in defensible positions in front of the training base, behind hastily-constructed earth berms. The Jaguars hit the Legionnaires with light OmniMechs and Elementals, while the Knights stealthily moved through the Shikari Jungle to encircle the enemy.<ref name=SF19/><ref name=TotC25>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 25</ref>

Masters' plan to outflank the Smoke Jaguars hit a major snag when a second group, consisting of two Trinaries of heavy 'Mechs and Elementals, attacked the Knights' Third Battalion, pinning it in place. Meanwhile, the force attacking the Legionnaires brought up three Trinaries of frontline OmniMechs that pressed hard all along the front, leading Colonel [[Samuel Kingston]] to call for support. Colonel Masters detached a company from each of his other battalions to reinforce the Third, then led the rest of the Knights back to assist the Capellans. As they emerged from the jungle, they were met by a line of [[ProtoMechs]]. Fighting their way through the new enemy, the Knights linked up with the Legionnaires, allowing Kingston to fall back, but the mobility of the ProtoMechs and the harder-hitting OmniMechs slowly pushed them back further. After four hours of fighting, the Jaguars retook the training base and continued to press the Inner Sphere troops, relenting only after they were driven to the outskirts of New Andery. The Knights' Third Battalion had held its ground, and was ordered to rejoin the main host.<ref name=SF19/><ref name=TotC25/>

The group was in a poor tactical position, and at less than half strength. With few viable options, Masters contacted General Winston, who swiftly deployed two Level III Com Guard units from the 2nd Division. An hour later, with the Com Guard forces still en route, the Jaguars renewed their attack. Colonel Masters' ''[[Anvil]]'', already heavily damaged, was knocked out early when a ''[[Hunchback IIC]]'' severed his machine's leg. As he ran back to his command post on foot, the Com Guards arrived. The reinforcements made a [[Hover-Drop Maneuver|direct low-altitude combat drop]] and within forty-five minutes the Smoke Jaguars collapsed, retreating to the south under close pursuit. Barely a Trinary of forces managed to escape. The Knights and Legionnaires suffered heavy casualties, with the Knights at 50% effective strength and the Legionnaires under 30%.<ref name=SF19/><ref name=TotC25/><ref name=SF22/>

====Abysmal====
The [[2nd St. Ives Lancers|Second St. Ives Lancers]] and the [[4th Drakøns|Fourth Drakøns]] attacked a training camp located on the continent Abysmal. The base was used for desert warfare training, which was not taking place at the time of the assault, and only the training staff was present. The instructors were swiftly defeated and the base secured. The attackers suffered the fewest casualties of all the task force, with four Lancer 'Mechs and one Drakøn 'Mech destroyed.<ref name=SF22/>

====Falcon Eyrie====
The [[MI6]] teams, the "Rabid Foxes", were deployed to monitor the only other Clan on the planet, a small [[Clan Jade Falcon|Jade Falcon]] base known as the Falcon Eyrie located in the Eastern Mountains. The Falcons were not expected to intercede on behalf of the Smoke Jaguars, but the Davion commandos were sent to observe and report if they moved to join the fight.

The plan involved a high-altitude jump into the vicinity of Falcon Eyrie, but bad weather made a HALO jump impossible. Captain [[Roger Montjar]] decided on a low-altitude jump under the storm clouds, accepting the risk of detection to get his troops into place quickly. From an altitude of three hundred meters, the ''[[Claymore (DropShip class)|Claymore]]''-class DropShip ''[[Marcinko]]'' deployed twenty commandos in stealth [[battle armor]] via parachute and released twelve drop pods stuffed with their gear. The commandos divided into four teams. Team Two positioned itself in an observation post directly above the Eyrie itself, while Teams One, Three and Four spread out to form a picket line of several kilometers along the ridgeline overlooking the facility.<ref name=SF18>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 18</ref>

The low altitude jump was detected by both the Jade Falcons and the Smoke Jaguars. [[Star Colonel]] [[Nikolai Icanza]], in command of the Eyrie, correctly surmised the troops' mission and determined to leave them alone as long as they didn't attack. He informed Khan Marthe Pryde of the evolving situation on Huntress.<ref name=SF18/> Meanwhile, a pair of Smoke Jaguar scientists who were searching for new ore veins spotted one of the MI6 observation teams. One of them, a warrior caste dropout, correctly determined that they must be from the Inner Sphere. After returning to Lootera, the two reported their findings to Elemental [[Star Captain]] [[Tullain]]. The Star Captain led two [[Point]]s of Elementals into the mountains to attack the commandos while they were preoccupied with the Jade Falcons.<ref name=SF21>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 21</ref>

The observation team detected the Elementals heading directly toward their location. Sergeant [[Henry Kramer]] ordered his team to destroy its equipment and abandon their position. After sending one his men to alert Captain Montjar, he led his three remaining commandos away from the area, leaving a distinct trail to draw the Elementals off. After several hours of pursuit, the commandos decided to fight it out. They mined a small defile with directional antipersonnel mines, then waited in ambush. When a full Point of Elementals had entered the kill zone, the commandos sprang their trap, using [[Thunderstroke Gauss Rifle]]s, [[SRM]]s, and [[Inferno]] rounds to eliminate both Points, at the cost of two men.<ref name=SF21/>

===General Order 01051===
{{quote|Pursuant to General Order, number TFS oh-one-oh-five-one, upon completion of the initial assault on the planet Huntress, the units comprising Task Force Serpent are to take every measure possible to eliminate the war-making ability of Clan Smoke Jaguar. To this end, the units of Task Force Serpent are to destroy all barracks, 'Mech hangars, fighter bays, command, communication, and control centers, and military repair facilities. Likewise, all factories, warehouses, armories, shipyards, and any other facility or installation that may be used for the construction of war materiel, or the storage, or transport of the same, must be destroyed or rendered unusable by Clan Smoke Jaguar. Such stores of weapons, ammunition, spare parts, food, and other military supplies, as well as those military assets that can be captured intact and transferred off planet by the units of Task Force Serpent should be secured by the units of Task Force Serpent and protected from deliberate sabotage by the forces of Clan Smoke Jaguar. The commander of Task Force Serpent is charged with the initial disposition of all captured materiel. All combat losses not provided for by a unit's Table of Organization and Equipment will be made up out of captured materiel wherever possible. All other captured materiel will be shipped for transport back to the Inner Sphere, where it will be disposed of by Star League Defense Force command. Such captured materiel that cannot be used by the units of Task Force Serpent and that cannot be shipped for transport back to the Inner Sphere is to be likewise destroyed.|Ariana Winston, reading General Order 01051}}

In less than twelve hours, the invaders had accomplished their initial objectives and seized control of the planet. On the morning of 13 March, General Winston summoned her unit commanders and read out General Order 01051, directing them to dismantle or destroy all military equipment and all military-industrial facilities. The order was intended not only to destroy the war-making ability of the Clan, but also to demonstrate the terrible nature of warfare.<ref name=SF23>''Sword and Fire'', ch. 23</ref><ref name=SW2>''Shadows of War'', ch. 2</ref>

Colonel Paul Masters asked General Winston to reconsider the order, fearing that they would either lose control of their troops in the destruction to follow, or that their troops would resent the orders, leading to a breakdown in discipline. Colonel Kingston and Colonel MacLeod joined Masters' protest. As they argued with the other commanders, General Winston fired a shot from her pistol, bringing an abrupt end to the dispute, and overruled the objections. The demolition order stood, but it would be limited to facilities—Winston ordered that humans were not to be harmed.<ref name=SF23/>

The soldiers proceeded to dismantle the Clan war machine. They followed their orders without taking any vengeance against the civilians and even permitted lower caste members to assist with their demolition efforts. The sheer amount of destruction exhausted the task force's supply of explosives, so the effort continued with BattleMechs mounting energy weapons and infantry wielding sledgehammers and cutting torches.<ref name=SF24/><ref name=SW2/>

===Pahn City raid===
Galaxy Commander [[Russou Howell]] had rallied roughly three Trinaries of BattleMechs and Elementals into the Black Shikari Jungle. In the early hours of 15 March, in need of ammunition and other supplies, he initiated a raid of the Pahn City factory complex, which was defended by the Northwind Highlanders. Adopting the battle plan suggested by [[Star Commander]] [[Tonia]], he first sent one Trinary to make a diversionary attack on the Highlanders' DropShips, grounded five kilometers away from the factories. Colonel MacLeod ordered nearly the entire regiment to defend the transports, leaving a single company behind to defend the complex.

With the complex defenses denuded, the rest of the Smoke Jaguar force attacked, pushing back and occupying the defenders. Elementals, dismounted MechWarriors, and others seized fully-loaded hovertrucks and grabbed as much as they could before retreating back into the jungle. Colonel MacLeod ordered his forces back to meet the main attack, but arrived too late—the raiders had already made off with a large quantity of supplies and destroyed the rest. With the attack on the factory a success, the diversionary force retreated as well.<ref name=SW3>''Shadows of War'', ch. 3</ref><ref name=TotC12>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 12</ref>

==Counterinvasion==
===Prelude===
While Task Force Serpent was on its way to Huntress, Operation BULLDOG ran wild through the Clan Occupation zone, seizing thirty-two worlds from [[Clan Smoke Jaguar]] and [[Clan Nova Cat]] in the first two waves. In August 3059, Khan Lincoln Osis ordered all Jaguar forces in the Inner Sphere to retreat to Huntress, where they could consolidate and rebuild.{{cn}}

On 13 March 3060, Osis addressed the [[Grand Council]] in the [[Hall of Khans]] on [[Strana Mechty]], informed the assembled Khans of the invasion of Huntress, and asked for their aid in liberating the planet. After discussion, the Council unanimously refused, viewing the invasion as a matter that concerned only the Smoke Jaguars.<ref name=SW1>''Shadows of War'', ch. 1</ref>

Osis spent the next few days assembling a force to take with him to Huntress. In addition to his personal guard, he had the Command Trinary [[The Jaguar's Den (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|The Jaguar's Den]], and the [[Shroud Keshik (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Shroud Keshik]] of his [[saKhan]], [[Brandon Howell]]. He recruited twenty-three volunteers from the older Smoke Jaguar warriors serving in support roles on Strana Mechty into an ''ad hoc'' unit that he named [[The Jaguar's Heart (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|The Jaguar's Heart]]. When he departed on his command ship, the ''[[Streaking Mist (Individual Black Lion-class WarShip)|Streaking Mist]]'', Lincoln Osis had only two short Clusters to lead into battle.<ref name=SW10>''Shadows of War'', ch. 10</ref>

Meanwhile, during the nine-month journey back to Clan space, Galaxy Commander [[Hang Mehta]] reorganized surviving Smoke Jaguar troops together into a new [[Provisional Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Provisional Galaxy]], and conducted [[Trial of Position|Trials of Position]] during recharge stops to appoint new officers. She received orders from Osis to liberate Huntress, and arrived at the system's zenith point on 19 March 3060.<ref name=SW5>''Shadows of War'', ch. 5</ref>

===Second naval battle===
Mehta ordered all DropShips carrying the Provisional Galaxy to detach and accompanied them on a high-g burn for Huntress, leaving Star Commodore [[Clarinda Stiles]] in command of the ''[[Liberator (WarShip class)|Liberator]]''-class cruiser ''[[Korat (Individual Liberator-class WarShip)|Korat]]'' and two ''[[Vincent]]''-class corvettes, ''[[Ripper (Individual Vincent-class WarShip)|Ripper]]'' and ''[[Azov (Individual Vincent-class WarShip)|Azov]]''. Aboard the ''Invisible Truth'', Commodore Alain Beresick led ''Starlight'', ''Emerald'' and ''Fire Fang'' to engage the enemy's WarShips. ''Antrim'', ''Ranger'' and ''Haruna'' were to wait until they could slip past and engage the enemy's five JumpShips.<ref name=SW6>''Shadows of War'', ch. 6</ref>

''Invisible Truth'' moved to intercept ''Korat'' while the accompanying escorts engaged. The lead Jaguar corvette, ''Azov'', got into a close-range slugging match with ''Starlight'' and ''Emerald'', exchanging fire with both. ''Emerald'' turned to avoid a missile salvo, exposing her previously-damaged port side to ''Ripper''. A flurry of naval autocannon fire from ''Ripper'' tore through and caused massive damage to ''Emerald'', putting her out of the fight. ''Starlight'', still engaged with ''Azov'', poured a full salvo of fire into ''Azov''&#39;s damaged stern and penetrated her magazines, touching off explosions that tore the ship apart.<ref name=SW7>''Shadows of War'', ch. 7</ref>

''Starlight'' and ''Ripper'' rounded on each other, and ''Starlight'' destroyed ''Ripper''&#39;s engines at the same time that ''Ripper'' knocked out ''Starlight''&#39;s helm control. With neither ship able to change its course, the two slammed into one another. Captain [[Stan O'Malley]] aboard the ''Starlight'' ordered his crew to abandon ship, but both vessels were obliterated in an explosion before anyone could escape.<ref name=SW7/>

Meanwhile, ''Invisible Truth'' and ''Korat'' circled one another, maneuvering to avoid broadside salvos from the other. ''Invisible Truth'' followed ''Korat'' through a sudden reversal, and the ships exchanged blows, then rolled to present their undamaged sides to the enemy. Star Commodore Stiles drove her ship into a desperate turn that allowed her to score a hit on the ''Truth''. But as ''Korat'' gained the upper hand, ''Fire Fang'' hit the ''Korat''&#39;s wrecked starboard side, causing massive internal damage. Star Commodore Stiles refused to surrender, and ''Invisible Truth'' and ''Fire Fang'' continued firing until ''Korat'' was gutted from bow to stern, leaving her a burning hulk.<ref name=SW7/>

With the destruction of the enemy WarShips, the Star League had won the battle, but failed to stop the Clan forces entirely. Two JumpShips, presumably equipped with [[Lithium-Fusion Batteries]], escaped, jumping back out of the system. Many DropShips penetrated the defensive screen, burning at high speed toward Huntress. ''Starlight'' was lost with all hands, ''Emerald'' was effectively destroyed and abandoned, and ''Antrim'' was damaged beyond the possibility of field repair. Most of the other SLDF ships were damaged to some degree.<ref name=SW7/><ref name=SW8>''Shadows of War'', ch. 8</ref>

===Landfall===
While the Smoke Jaguar reinforcements were on the way to the planet, Serpent technicians attempted to repair the Reagan Space Defense System, but the DEST team had done ''too'' good a job neutralizing it. With the planetary defenses out of action, General Ariana Winston planned for a ground campaign. She divided her troops into two field armies. The Eridani Light Horse, the Com Guards, and the St. Ives Lancers were concentrated at Lootera and designated the 'North-Group'. The 'South-Group' consisted of the First Kathil Uhlans, the Knights of the Inner Sphere, and the Northwind Highlanders, and was stationed at Osis Lake at the southwest corner of Jaguar Prime under General Redburn's command. The Eleventh Lyran Guards, the Fourth Drakøns, and Kingston's Legionnaires were hidden in the Lunar Mountains on the continent Abysmal as a reserve force, with their DropShips ready to reinforce either army. Winston also recalled the nekakami team to Lootera.<ref name=SW8>''Shadows of War'', ch. 8</ref>

On 26 March, the Smoke Jaguars' Provisional Galaxy reached Huntress, where they were met by Eridani Light Horse [[aerospace fighter]]s. The aerial combat saw the Clan aerospace fighters practically destroyed, along with a few Clan DropShips, though most were able to reach the ground.<ref name=SW8/><ref name=SW17>''Shadows of War'', ch. 17</ref> Galaxy Commander Hang Mehta had placed Star Colonel Paul Moon in command of the counterinvasion,<ref name=SW5/> and as the Clan DropShips approached, Moon challenged General Winston to meet him on the plains west of Lootera, a challenge she accepted. Other Smoke Jaguar forces landed in the Dhuan Mountains to engage the southern group.<ref name=SW8/>

Later that day, the ''[[Streaking Mist (Individual Black Lion-class WarShip)|Streaking Mist]]'' arrived at a pirate point, carrying carrying ilKhan Lincoln Osis and the forces he had gathered at Strana Mechty. Without detailed maps of the system, the Serpent WarShips were unable to make use of the same pirate point, and could only transmit a warning to General Winston. Osis ordered the Shroud Keshik and Jaguar's Heart to join the fight in the south, while he led the Jaguar's Den to secure Lootera.<ref name=SW10>''Shadows of War'', ch. 10</ref> The Eridani Light Horse aerospace fighters attempted to intercept these reinforcements, but were driven off by the Smoke Jaguar fighter escorts..<ref name=SW16>''Shadows of War'', ch. 16</ref>

====Northern Army Group====
The designated battlefield was a scattering of low rolling hills and clumps of scrubby trees, sandwiched between the city and the Jaguar's Fangs mountain range. General Winston placed the Com Guards in the center of the battle line, supported by the 21st Striker Regiment and the St. Ives Lancers. The Horsemen's other two regiments were put in reserve a kilometer behind the main line, and between them, the Horsemen's extensive [[artillery]] assets. All wounded personnel were moved into the Smoke Jaguar genetic repository, a location that the Clan wouldn't dare to attack directly, and the DEST teams were ordered to occupy the Mount Szabo facility and defend it against recapture.<ref name=SW8/>

Star Colonel Paul Moon landed south of the battlefield with Alpha and Bravo Clusters, and both Clusters charged across the open ground towards the SLDF. The artillery opened up with advanced [[Smoke Shell]]s containing a mixture of white phosphorous and jamming pods, a combination that clouded the Jaguars' vision and their advanced sensor systems, denying them the advantage of their extended weapons ranges. The next salvos were [[Cluster Shell]]s that saturated the Jaguar formation with airbursts of armor-piercing bomblets. Their effect on the Jaguar 'Mechs varied, but they were ''incredibly'' deadly to the Elementals riding them. Paul Moon was hit by a submunition that punched straight through his body and blew him clear of the 'Mech he was riding.<ref name=SW9>''Shadows of War'', ch. 9</ref>

Enraged by such a "cowardly" attack, the Jaguar MechWarriors continued their charge into the main SLDF battle line and engaged in close-quarters combat. After the initial attack was rebuffed, General Winston realized the Jaguars were preparing a second attack wave, but the enemy was assembling too close to her own forces for her artillery to continue its attack. She ordered the reserves into the fight. The 71st and 151st succeeded in flanking and breaking up the second wave before it could attack, forcing the Smoke Jaguars to retreat. Paul Moon, badly wounded yet still alive, was captured by mop-up forces.<ref name=SW9/> Although the enemy had been driven from the field, General Winston's forces had also taken a heavy beating and were nearly down to half-strength.<ref name=SW10/>

With Paul Moon gone, Galaxy Commander Hang Mehta took command of the northern Smoke Jaguar force and attacked the Inner Sphere position again during the early hours of 27 March. General Winston immediately deployed her forces in defense of the city, but the expected attack never came. Rather than continue her head-on attack, Mehta circled around to avoid the waiting Horsemen and instead hit the Com Guards, intent on seizing the Mount Szabo command center and the genetic repository, while also detaching a [[Trinary]] of her fastest light and medium 'Mechs to attack the Field of Heroes.<ref name=SW12>''Shadows of War'', ch. 12</ref>

General Winston was caught off guard, and the opposing forces fought hard in the darkness, with the Jaguars steadily pushing the Com Guards out of the spaceport toward the southwest corner of Lootera. The Com Guards dug in and, reinforced by the 151st, halted the Smoke Jaguar advance. When the 71st hit them in the flanks, the Jaguars' main force was driven northwards out of the spaceport. Meanwhile, the Trinary detached to take the Field of Heroes had engaged with the St. Ives Lancers, who successfully defended the Field. But as Mehta's main force retreated, it slammed directly into the Lancers' flank, and the Lancers broke and ran, triggering a general rout of the entire army. The Com Guards attempted an orderly withdrawal, but the urban streets prevented them from holding formation, and they broke and fled as well. Suspicious of a trap, Mehta declined to pursue, and instead consolidated control of the city.<ref name=SW12/>

As the Inner Sphere forces started to arrive at the designated rally point northwest of Lootera, General Winston led her command company to the Field of Heroes to evacuate the wounded and the medical teams before the Jaguars got to them. She was surprised to find the DEST teams still defending the wounded in accord with her orders, and directed them to withdraw to the rally point. When Winston ordered a general evacuation, the Horsemen's chief surgeon Dr. Fuehl persuaded her to leave the most severely injured in the care of a small team of volunteers.<ref name=SW13>''Shadows of War'', ch. 13</ref>

After General Winston rejoined the northern army, it moved steadily westwards, eventually setting up a defensible bivouac in the foothills of the Jaguar's Fangs. Winston sent out hovertanks to scout for Jaguar activity, and at around 0300 on 28 March, one of them located a large Jaguar army settling in for the night in an abandoned metal processing facility. The scouts indicated that repairs were underway on half the 'Mechs, with more heavily damaged 'Mechs junked and stripped for parts, and ballistic weapons swapped out in favor of energy weapons, an indication that the Clan force was running low on supplies. Upon hearing this report, General Winston decided to gamble and ordered a quick raid in force, hoping to catch the enemy unprepared before sunrise. Unfortunately for her, the ilKhan had anticipated the possibility of a night raid and posted scout units a kilometer away from the encampment. The scouts sounded the alarm, providing plenty of time for the Jaguars to launch a counterattack. The battle became a straight-up slugging match where the Jaguars took full advantage of their weapons' superior ranges, and they easily repelled the assault.<ref name=SW15>''Shadows of War'', ch. 15</ref>

While the SLDF attempted a fighting withdrawal, they were set upon by an unexpected foe: Galaxy Commander Russou Howell and the survivors of the original garrison appeared from out of the Shakiri Jungle and hit their flank, turning the retreat into a rout back to the bivouac. The SLDF suffered stiff losses, and Colonel Edwin Amis, commander of the 21st, was captured.<ref name=SW19>''Shadows of War'', ch. 19</ref><ref name=SW24>''Shadows of War'', ch. 24</ref> On 29 March the ilKhan returned to the secondary C<sup>3</sup> facility in Lootera, which the technician caste had restored to functionality, and gave Galaxy Commander Mehta her orders: hunt down the remaining freebirths and kill them.<ref name=SW17>''Shadows of War'', ch. 17</ref>

====Southern Army Group====
In the Dhuan Mountains, the Smoke Jaguars attacked the SLDF troops three times. They were pushed back each time, but after the third attack was repulsed, the three SLDF regiments were at half-strength. The 4th Drakøns were available to reinforce the position, but the southern group would need to secure a landing zone for them. That opportunity that never came, as a wave of Smoke Jaguars reinforcements arrived, comprising forty fresh OmniMechs and fifty Elementals, including the Shroud Keshik, the personal guard of [[saKhan]] [[Brandon Howell]].<ref name=SW10/>

The fresh Clan troops linked up with the other Jaguar units and charged forward against the entire SLDF position, ignoring losses to the hastily-prepared [[vibrabomb]] minefields. After holding off three previous attacks, the fourth charge was too much for General Redburn, and he ordered a fighting retreat to the rally point, followed by a withdrawal into the Dhuan Swamp.<ref name=SW10/>

As the Inner Sphere army withdrew, the Jaguars renewed their attack. With the SLDF forces damaged, low on ammunition, and exhausted from the furious attacks, the Jaguars pressed hard. When two stars of OmniFighters suddenly hit the buckling Inner Sphere lines in a strafing run, the professional retreat turned into a rout, and the three units ran flat out for the swamp, despite the best efforts of their leaders and officers to control the situation. The Royal Black Watch Company of the Northwind Highlanders — joined by a few Knights of the Inner Sphere — maintained cohesion and refused to run. Volunteering as a rearguard, they engaged the Jaguars on their own in an effort to allow the rest of the army to rally and regroup. By the time they were cleared to retreat, only three of the ad hoc rearguard remained, but they had bought the time needed for the Inner Sphere army to vanish into the swamp.<ref name=SW14>''Shadows of War'', ch. 14</ref>

The wild, uncoordinated retreat had scattered the army throughout the swamp. The terrain made any kind of unit coherency difficult and rendered command 'Mech tactical computers almost useless in generating a picture of the battlespace. By the next day, the regiments had managed to regroup sufficiently that they could start moving with purpose again and continued south into the swamp, though nearly half the army had been killed, captured, or gone missing in the rout. Meanwhile, saKhan Brandon Howell ordered the Jaguar's Heart to lead the pursuit while he and his Keshik remained on solid ground 'overseeing' the situation.<ref name=SW14/>

On 28 March, the pursuing Jaguars made contact with the SLDF forces, running first into the Northwind Highlanders' rearguard, then engaging the Kathil Uhlans as well. Colonel Masters and his Knights moved to assist, but their progress was slow, and General Redburn arrived with his command lance just in time to prevent the left flank from being overrun.<ref name=SW14/> Further help arrived when the Horsemen's fighter contingent provided close air support, blunting the Jaguars' pursuit. The next day, the Eridani aerospace assets came again to provide support for the beleaguered southern army. Air strikes using a mixture of strafing and bombing runs, combined with [[Target Acquisition Gear|TAG]]-directed [[Air-Launched Arrow Homing Missile|Arrow-IV]] strikes, hammered the Jaguar pursuit force enough that they pulled back almost to the edge of the swamp, calling for additional troops that simply weren't available.<ref name=SW16/>

====Retreat====
After its disastrous night raid, the northern army group was reduced to half-strength. Worse, even with fewer units, supplies were rapidly running out, making repairs increasingly difficult. Intercepted communications confirmed that the Jaguars had brought their secondary C<sup>3</sup> facility in Lootera online, and Lincoln Osis was using it to direct the campaign. General Winston ordered her team of nekakami to eliminate the facility, but forbade them from targeting the ilKhan for assassination.<ref name=SW17/>

With few options, Winston decided to fall back further into the mountains, find a secure location, and bring in Fourth Drakøns and Kingston's Legionnaires to support the northern group, while deploying the Lyran Guards to reinforce the southern army. Before they could move, the Smoke Jaguars attacked again, using their superior knowledge of the local terrain to appear without warning, hitting the camp of the Seventy-first Light Horse while its MechWarriors struggled to power up their 'Mechs. The Light Horse retreated and much of its artillery, baggage train, and wounded were captured by the Smoke Jaguars before the SLDF rallied and threw back the Clan attack.<ref name=SW18>''Shadows of War'', ch. 18</ref><ref name=SW19>''Shadows of War'', ch. 19</ref>

The northern army group retreated, hampered by its inadequate maps of the area, and delayed by the slow crossing of a dubious bridge, eventually setting up a new bivouac on a section of mountain road. Major Ryan volunteered to have his team set up an observation post five kilometers out from the bivouac to monitor their rear while the group tried to get some rest and repair, and General Winston reluctantly approved. With [[Light_Target_Acquisition_Gear|man-portable TAG designators]], the five commandos would be in a position to spot for units equipped with [[Arrow IV Homing Missile|Arrow IV]] missiles. Later that day, a reconnaissance star of OmniMechs appeared in the mountain pass. Ordered to let them go by, Ryan and his men waited for a larger force, which arrived half an hour later: two Trinaries of 'Mechs and many supporting Elementals. The group sprang into action.<ref name=SW20>''Shadows of War'', ch. 20</ref><ref name=SW21>''Shadows of War'', ch. 21</ref> Three Clan 'Mechs were destroyed by the guided missile attack and a fourth heavily damaged, but the Clanners quickly located the hidden DEST team and nearly wiped them out. Only Major Ryan and one other commando survived to rejoin the northern army the next day.<ref name=SW23>''Shadows of War'', ch. 23</ref>

Three hours after the DEST team was overrun, Fifth Recon reported Smoke Jaguar 'Mechs engaging their position. The Eridani 'Mechs and combat-ready Com Guards advanced to engage the Jaguars away from their bivouac, while the rest of the army remained behind to guard the baggage train.<ref name=SW21/> The attack was a feint. Using her superior knowledge of the local terrain, Galaxy Commander Hang Mehta led a smaller force along a hidden mountain pass to strike directly at the bivouac. Charging without warning into the rear area, her 'Mechs and Elementals quickly overwhelmed the Lancers and Com Guards who had been left behind, destroying all supplies and equipment that couldn't be carried off, and executing any prisoners who wouldn't be useful as bondsmen. Their task done, the raiding force left and the main Clan force broke off its diversionary attack.<ref name=SW22>''Shadows of War'', ch. 22</ref>

The Inner Sphere forces continued their retreat, traveling for sixteen hours until on 30 March, they came through a narrow mountain pass onto a plateau where they could rest. The plateau provided enough space for the Eleventh Lyran Guards to land their DropShips, bringing additional forces, fresh supplies, and medical relief for the wounded. Meanwhile, in the south, the Fourth Drakøns and Kingston's Legionnaires had landed on the edge of the Dhuan Swamp and linked up with General Redburn.<ref name=SW23/>

General Winston finally made radio contact with Commodore Beresick, and received the bleakest news yet. The ''Invisible Truth'' had detected at least twenty jump signatures at the system's zenith point—a substantial fleet had arrived. Beresick moved to intercept the inbound reinforcements in orbit, and Winston prepared for Serpent's last stand. As the northern army dug in, the Smoke Jaguars launched a final attack.<ref name=SW23/>

====Nekakami strike====
Meanwhile, in Lootera, the nekakami team sent by General Winston had silently entered the C<sup>3</sup> building, eliminating guards and other personnel in their way. Each of the four carried ten kilograms of [[pentaglycerine]] charges and planted them at key structural points throughout the building, setting the timer for five minutes. On their way out, they stumbled across Lincoln Osis and his four bodyguards emerging from the main elevator.<ref name=SW19/>

A volley of poisoned shuriken eliminated the ilKhan's bodyguards in moments, but [[Kasugai Hatsumi]] stopped [[Rumiko Fox]] from killing the ilKhan, because their orders prohibited assassination. Instead, Kasugai challenged Osis to a [[Trial of Grievance]] over his actions against the Draconis Combine. Sending his team out, Kasugai ordered [[Honda Tan]] to pass the ilKhan his [[w:Ninjatō|shinobigatana]] and drew his own. The two began their duel as the timers on the charges steadily counted down.<ref name=SW19/>

After a short but intense sword duel, Osis overextended, and Kasugai struck his leg, cutting through the femur and nearly severing it.  Kasugai closed in for the kill, but as he raised his sword for a final decapitating strike, the ilKhan twisted away, seized his dropped sword, and stabbed Katsugai through the chest, killing him.<ref name=SW19/>

As Osis lay bleeding on the floor, an Elemental security patrol stumbled onto the scene and carried him from the building only moments before the charges went off.<ref name=SW19/>  Galaxy Commander Russou Howell, who had also been in the building, also left just before it exploded.<ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 16</ref>  Osis was evacuated onto the ''Streaking Mist'', which jumped to Strana Mechty on 30 March.<ref name=SW24>''Shadows of War'', ch. 24</ref>

===Final stand===
{{quote|Colonel, this is Beresick. The inbounds are Task Force Bulldog. I am in contact with Prince Victor Steiner-Davion and the Precentor Martial. They said to tell you, 'Well done and prepare to stand down.' They'll take over from here.|Commodore Beresick}}

The northern army marched out to face the Smoke Jaguars in a narrow defile of the mountain pass. For once, the terrain did not allow the Jaguars to simply outflank the defenders, resulting in an impasse where only a few units at a time could engage. The Jaguars pressed in relentlessly. General Winston, seeing her soldiers dying, suddenly stepped forward into the pass to personally challenge a ''[[Summoner]]'' of the Jaguar's Den. The two traded fire until the Clan MechWarrior knocked General Winston's 'Mech to the ground and fired a [[PPC]] directly into her cockpit, killing her instantly.<ref name=SW24>''Shadows of War'', ch. 24</ref>

Colonel Charles Antonescu destroyed the ''Summoner'', announced the general's death over the radio, and assumed command of the northern group. Moments later, he received a message from Commodore Beresick: The new arrivals were ''not'' a Clan reinforcement fleet, but a detachment of Task Force Bulldog that had come to support Task Force Serpent.<ref name=SW24/>

When the fleet arrived ten days later on 9 April, the battle for Huntress was finally ended. Confronted by fresh troops, most Smoke Jaguars refused to surrender and fought on until death, inflicting only light casualties on the enemy. Galaxy Commander Hang Mehta chose to commit ''[[bondsref]]'' rather than be taken alive, an escape taken by many other senior officers. No trace could be found of Russou Howell. As for ilKhan Lincoln Osis, the SLDF learned from prisoner interrogations about the nekakami attack and his escape aboard the ''Streaking Mist'', which had left the system mere hours before Task Force Bulldog's arrival. None of the nekakami reported in to General Redburn, who assumed overall command of Task Force Serpent.<ref name=SW24/>

==Skirmish at Falcon Eyrie==
On 26 March, in the midst of the Jaguar counterinvasion, a firefight broke out between Clan Jade Falcon and the MI6 teams assigned to Task Force Serpent. The MI6 teams were maintaining their watch over Falcon Eyrie when ten armored Elementals and fifty unarmored infantry arrayed themselves in parade formation just inside the high chain link fence surrounding the compound. Captain Montjar contacted General Winston with the news, who reiterated her previous orders: monitor the facility and attack only if fired upon first.<ref name=SW11>''Shadows of War'', ch. 11</ref>

Without warning, one of the commandos launched an inferno SRM missile at the Jade Falcons, enveloping several of them in flames. The two sides exchanged fire until Star Captain [[Gythia]], the Jade Falcon commander, ordered her troops to cease fire. After Montjar followed suit, the two commanders spoke and each explained that their orders were not to fire unless fired upon. Star Captain Gythia told Montjar that she'd called off the fight because the Jade Falcons' honor had been satisfied, but warned that further attacks would bring Clan Jade Falcon into the battle for Huntress. Returning to his own lines, Captain Montjar was determined to discipline the trooper who had opened fire, but learned that he was dead.<ref name=SW11/>

==Clan Goliath Scorpion Incursion==
<!-- The depiction in Forever Faithful radically alter this event, the timeline, and the forces used.  A more careful reading of that source and any questions to the Devs/Authors will be needed to reconcile these two sources. Don't forget the Infobox for the enddate! -->
After hearing of the expected attack on Huntress, Galaxy Commander [[Rik Myers]] jumped into the system on 21 April with the [[14th Scorpion Hussars (Escorpión Imperio)|Fourteenth Scorpion Hussars]] and [[35th Scorpion Cuirassiers (Escorpión Imperio)|Thirty-fifth Scorpion Cuirassiers]].  This movement was almost certainly accomplished with [[Alpha Galaxy (Clan Goliath Scorpion)|Alpha Galaxy's]] naval assets: the [[McKenna (WarShip class)|''McKenna''-class]] flagship CGS ''[[Lei Kung]]'', [[Lola III|''Lola III''-class]] CGS ''[[Sagitta]]'', [[Aegis|''Aegis''-class]] CGS ''[[Corona Borealis]]'', and/or [[Congress|''Congress''-class]] CGS ''[[Bernlad (Individual Congress-class WarShip)|Bernlad]]''.  The likely presence of those vessels, while it inevitably caused much consternation among the SLDF flotilla, did not result in any known combat between the fleets. The two Clusters made landfall on the Abysmal continent and after two hours of limited fighting with the battered Smoke Jaguar remnants had claimed the entire continent.<ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 111: "35th Scorpion Cuirassiers (Scorpions of the Veil)"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 108: "Naval Assets"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: Warden Clans'', p. 164: Deployment Tables - Identity of second Cluster.</ref>

==Aftermath==
The warrior caste of Clan Smoke Jaguar was virtually annihilated by the battle. Task Force Serpent had accomplished its mission, but paid a steep price. From a force originally equal to ten regiments, it had been reduced to less than two. Each unit was granted salvage rights to equipment sufficient to restore it to 110% of its original strength, with the rest pooled and sold to form a fund for survivors and families of the deceased. Colonel [[Paul Masters]] was placed in command of salvage and recovery operations on Huntress, while Victor Steiner-Davion led an expedition to [[Strana Mechty]] to challenge the Clans' collective decision to invade the Inner Sphere.<ref>''Prince of Havoc'', ch. 2</ref> General [[Andrew Redburn]] and a lance of the Kathil Uhlans accompanied him and fought alongside him in the [[Great Refusal]], defeating Lincoln Osis and the last of the Smoke Jaguars.<ref>''Prince of Havoc'', ch. 10</ref><ref>''Prince of Havoc'', ch. 14</ref>

After its return to the Inner Sphere, Task Force Serpent was dissolved. All remaining WarShips and the Eridani Light Horse were integrated into the Second Star League Defense Force.<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 89</ref> The First Kathil Uhlans were disbanded and most surviving members were assigned to the newly-formed [[1st Royal BattleMech Regiment|First Royal BattleMech Regiment]].<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 101</ref> While the Northwind Highlanders returned to their mercenary life, the [[Royal Black Watch]] joined the Star League Defense Force as well, returning to its place as bodyguards of the [[First Lord]].<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 98</ref> The Fourth Drakøns were disbanded and the survivors spread among the rest of the [[KungsArmé]].<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 98</ref>

==Participating units==
===Star League Defense Force===
Operation SERPENT was one of the largest military operations conducted by the Inner Sphere since the fall of the original [[Star League]]. In total, the task force consisted of 55,000 personnel; over a thousand [[BattleMech]]s, aerospace fighters, and [[combat vehicle]]s; ninety-eight [[DropShip]]s and twenty-seven [[JumpShip]]s and [[WarShip]]s.<ref name=TH14>''The Hunters'', ch. 14</ref><ref name=TwotCp8>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 8, "Task Force Serpent Composition"</ref>

====Ground units====
* [[Eridani Light Horse]]
** [[21st Striker Regiment|Twenty-first Striker Regiment]] (reinforced regiment)
** [[71st Light Horse Regiment|Seventy-first Light Horse Regiment]] (reinforced regiment)
** [[151st Light Horse Regiment]] (reinforced regiment)
* [[Northwind Highlanders]]
** [[MacLeod's Regiment]] (reinforced regiment)
** [[1st Gurkhas|First Gurkhas]] (battalion)
** [[Royal Black Watch]] (company)
* [[1st Kathil Uhlans|First Kathil Uhlans]] (reinforced regiment)
* [[2nd St. Ives Lancers|Second St. Ives Lancers]] (reinforced battalion)
* [[Kingston's Legionnaires]] (regiment)
* [[1st Knights of the Inner Sphere|Knights of the Inner Sphere]] (reinforced regiment)
* [[11th Lyran Guards|Eleventh Lyran Guards]] (reinforced regiment)
* [[2nd Division (ComStar)|Com Guard Second Division]] (regiment)
* [[4th Drakøns|Fourth Drakøns]] (reinforced battalion)

====Special operations====
* [[DEST]] - Teams Four, Five and Six; ten operatives each; [[Kage]] battle armor
* [[Department of Military Intelligence|MI6]] - two teams of ten operatives each; [[Infiltrator Mk. II]] battle armor
* [[ROM]] - one agent
* [[Nekakami]] - four operatives

====Fleet====
* ISS ''[[Invisible Truth (Individual Cameron-class WarShip)|Invisible Truth]]'' - [[ComStar]], ''[[Cameron (WarShip class)|Cameron]]''-class battlecruiser<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* ISS ''[[Ranger (Individual Lola III-class WarShip, ComStar)|Ranger]]'' - ComStar, ''[[Lola III]]''-class destroyer<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* ISS ''[[Emerald (Individual Essex-class WarShip)|Emerald]]'' - ComStar, ''[[Essex]]''-class destroyer<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* ISS ''[[Starlight (Individual Essex-class WarShip)|Starlight]]'' - ComStar, ''Essex''-class destroyer<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* DCS ''[[Haruna (Individual Kyushu-class WarShip)|Haruna]]'' - [[Draconis Combine]], ''[[Kyushu]]''-class frigate<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* FCS ''[[Antrim (Individual Fox-class WarShip)|Antrim]]'' - [[Federated Commonwealth]], ''[[Fox (WarShip class)|Fox]]''-class corvette<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* FCS ''[[Rostock (Individual Fox-class WarShip)|Rostock]]'' - Federated Commonwealth, ''Fox''-class corvette<ref name=TwotCp8/>
* CGBS ''[[Fire Fang (Individual Whirlwind-class WarShip)|Fire Fang]]'' - [[Clan Ghost Bear]], ''[[Whirlwind]]''-class destroyer (captured at [[Battle of Trafalgar]])<ref name=TH28>''The Hunters'', ch. 28</ref>
* Various [[JumpShip]]s and [[DropShip]]s<ref name=TH12>''The Hunters'', ch. 12</ref>

===Clan Smoke Jaguar===
====Huntress garrison====
*[[Iron Guard Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Iron Guard Galaxy]]
**Galaxy Command Trinary
**[[33rd Assault (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|33rd Assault Cluster]]
**[[12th Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|12th ''Solahma'' Cluster]]
**[[77th Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|77th ''Solahma'' Cluster]]
*[[Watchmen Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Watchmen Galaxy]]
**Galaxy Command Trinary
**[[48th Battle (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|48th Battle Cluster]]
**[[63rd Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|63rd ''Solahma'' Cluster]]
**[[44th Solahma (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|44th ''Solahma'' Cluster]]
**Fighter [[Trinary]]
*Huntress fleet
** ''[[Sovetskii Soyuz]]''-class heavy cruiser
**Two ''[[Vincent Mk. 42]]''-class corvettes

====Reinforcements====
* '''Inner Sphere survivors'''
**[[Provisional Galaxy (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Provisional Galaxy]]
***Alpha Cluster
***Beta Cluster
***Charlie Cluster
***Delta Cluster
***Echo Cluster
**CSJ ''[[Korat (Individual Liberator-class WarShip)|Korat]]'' - ''[[Liberator (WarShip class)|Liberator]]''-class cruiser
**CSJ ''[[Azov (Individual Vincent-class WarShip)|Azov]]'' - ''[[Vincent]] Mk. 42''-class corvette
**CSJ ''[[Ripper (Individual Vincent-class WarShip)|Ripper]]'' - ''[[Vincent]] Mk. 42''-class corvette
* '''Khan's reinforcements'''
**Khan Osis Bodyguard - [[Nova (unit)|Nova]]
*** ''[[Dire Wolf]]'', ''[[Warhawk]]'', ''[[Ebon Jaguar]]'', ''[[Night Gyr]]'', ''[[Stormcrow]]'', 10 Elementals
**[[The Jaguar's Den (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|The Jaguar's Den]]
**[[Shroud Keshik (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|Shroud Keshik]]
**[[The Jaguar's Heart (Clan Smoke Jaguar)|The Jaguar's Heart]]
**CSJ ''[[Streaking Mist (Individual Black Lion-class WarShip)|Streaking Mist]]'' - ''[[Black Lion]]''-class battlecruiser

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[The Hunters]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Shadows of War]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Sword and Fire]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Twilight of the Clans]]''

[[Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations|Huntress]]