Editing Battle of Terra (3058)


{{InfoBoxBattle
| conflict = Battle of Terra (3058)<br>Operation ODYSSEUS
| partof = [[ComStar Schism]]
| image = 
| startdate = 28 February [[3058]]{{cn}}
| enddate = 7 March 3058{{cn}}
| planet = [[Luyten 68-28]]<br/>[[Ross 248]]<br/>[[Terra]]
| place =  [[Terra]]<br/>[[Venus]]<br/>[[Luna]]<br/>[[Mars (planet)|Mars]]<br/>[[Titan Yards]]
| result = [[Word of Blake]] victory. All objectives accomplished except the taking of the [[Titan Yards]]
| territory = [[Word of Blake]] conquest
| faction1 = [[Word of Blake]]
| commander1 = [[Precentor Martial of the Word of Blake|Precentor Martial]] [[Trent Arian]]
| command1 = WoBS ''[[Blake's Redemption]]'', [[Vincent (WarShip class)|''Vincent''-class]],<br>WoBS ''[[Deliverance]]'', [[Essex|''Essex''-class]],<br>
----
[[1st Division (Word of Blake)|First Word of Blake Division aka "Shadow Lancers"]],<br>[[2nd Division (Word of Blake)|Second Word of Blake Division]],<br>[[3rd Division (Word of Blake)|Third Word of Blake Division]],<br>[[4th Division (Word of Blake)|Fourth Word of Blake Division]],<br>[[5th Division (Word of Blake)|Fifth Word of Blake Division]],<br>Operation ODYSSEUS Support Detachment,<br>
----
Liberation Flotilla, including:<br>WoBS [[Avenging Fury (Individual Avenger-class DropShip)|Avenging Fury]], [[Avenger (DropShip class)|''Avenger''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Divine Redemption (Individual Fury-class DropShip)|Divine Redemption]], [[Fury (DropShip class)|''Fury''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Fife (Individual Leopard CV-class DropShip)|Fife]], [[Leopard CV (DropShip class)|''Leopard CV''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Pride of Gibson (Individual Leopard CV-class DropShip)|Pride of Gibson]], [[Leopard CV (DropShip class)|''Leopard CV''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Enlightened Vision (Individual Intruder-class DropShip)|Enlightened Vision]], [[Intruder (DropShip class)|''Intruder''-class]],<br>WoBS [[DeGrasse (Individual Union-class DropShip)|DeGrasse]], [[Union (DropShip class)|''Union''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Faith Eternal (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Faith Eternal]], [[Union (DropShip class)|''Union''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Hobart (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Hobart]], [[Union (DropShip class)|''Union''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Perry (Individual Hamilcar-class DropShip)|Perry]], [[Hamilcar (DropShip class)|''Hamilcar''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Seeker of Justice (Individual Hamilcar-class DropShip)|Seeker of Justice]], [[Hamilcar (DropShip class)|''Hamilcar''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Halland (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Halland]], [[Achilles (DropShip class)|''Achilles''-class]],<br>WoBS [[True Believer (Individual Hannibal-class DropShip)|True Believer]], [[Hannibal (DropShip class)|''Hannibal''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Azov (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Azov]], [[Overlord (DropShip class)|''Overlord''-class]],<br>WoBS [[Knox (Individual Overlord-class DropShip)|Knox]], [[Overlord (DropShip class)|''Overlord''-class]],<br>WoBS ''[[Griffin (Individual DropShip)|Griffin]]'', unknown-class,<br>WoBS ''[[Ingram (Individual DropShip)|Ingram]]'', unknown-class
| faction2 = [[ComStar]]
| commander2 = [[Precentor]] [[Lisa Koenigs-Cober]]
| command2 =  [[Com Guards|Com Guard]] fleet bases at [[Luyten 68-28]] at [[Ross 248]],<br>CSV [[Narbonne (Individual Dante-class WarShip)|Narbonne]], [[Dante (WarShip class)|''Dante''-class]],<br>CSV ''[[Invisible Truth (Individual Cameron-class WarShip)|Invisible Truth]]'', [[Cameron (WarShip class)|''Cameron''-class]],<br>
----
[[201st Division (ComStar)|201st Com Guards Division]],<br>[[Sandhurst Royal Military College|Sandhurst Training Regiment]],<br>Primus's Bodyguard,<br>Branch of Terran Affairs Security Group,<br>[[ROM|ROM Corps]],<br>[[War Academy of Mars|War Academy of Mars Cadets]],<br>[[Venus|Aphros Security Corps]],
----
Terran Security Fleet, including:<br>CSV [[Charleston (Individual Avenger-class DropShip)|Charleston]], [[Avenger (DropShip class)|''Avenger''-class]],<br>CSV [[Alexander Nikolayev (Individual Achilles-class DropShip)|Alexander Nikolayev]], [[Achilles (DropShip class)|''Achilles''-class]],<br>CSV [[Jeanne D'Arc (Individual Leopard CV-class DropShip)|Jeanne D'Arc]], [[Leopard CV (DropShip class)|''Leopard CV''-class]],<br>CSV [[Casablanca (Individual Leopard CV-class DropShip)|Casablanca]], [[Leopard CV (DropShip class)|''Leopard CV''-class]],<br>CSV [[Sawakaze (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Sawakaze]], [[Union (DropShip class)|''Union''-class]],<br>CSV [[Trafalgar (Individual Union-class DropShip)|Trafalgar]], [[Union (DropShip class)|''Union''-class]];
----
Titan Yards Defense Squadron:<br>[[Titan Yards|Warwick Station]], [[Bastion (Space Station class)|''Bastion''-class]],<br>CSV [[Avenging Sword (Individual Leopard-class DropShip)|Avenging Sword]], [[Leopard (DropShip class)|''Leopard''-class]],<br>DCS [[Hatakaze]], [[Okinawa (DropShip class)|''Okinawa''-class]],<br>CSV [[Swift Justice (Individual Condor-class DropShip)|Swift Justice]], [[Condor (DropShip class)|''Condor''-class]];
----
[[Recharge Station|Brandenburg Station]],<br>[[Recharge Station|Versailles Station]]
| faction3 = 
| commander3 = 
| command3 = 
}}
'''Operation ODYSSEUS''' was the codename for [[Word of Blake]]'s successful invasion of [[ComStar]]-held [[Terra]] in [[3058]].

==History==
===Preparations===
In the wake of the disastrous [[Operation SCORPION]] and [[ComStar Schism|Reformation and Secularization of the Order]], the former ComStar split into the secular ComStar and the fanatical offshoot the Word of Blake. ComStar held the bulk of the original Order's [[hyperpulse generator]] stations as well as its headquarters world of Terra, while the Word sought exile in [[Free Worlds League]] under former ComStar [[Adept]] [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Thomas Marik]].{{cn}}

The Blakists however only considered the League a temporary home, openly desiring to unseat those they derided as heretics from humanity's homeworld, despite the fact the secular ComStar had a considerable military advantage - even the heavily damaged post-[[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Tukayyid]] [[Com Guards]] numbered some fifty [[Division|Divisions]] while the newborn [[Word of Blake Militia|Blake Guards]] had barely a tenth of that number. The Blakists thus turned to their one area of superiority over ComStar: covert intelligence. With over two-thirds of the pre-Schism [[ROM]] defecting to the Word, [[Precentor ROM]] [[Alexander Kernoff]] was able to both purge ComStar infiltrators and infiltrated agents back into the secular Order, leaving it all but blind to the Word's intentions and preparations for a future strike.{{cn}}

The Word of Blake's efforts received a considerable boost with the [[Operation GUERRERO|Marik/Liao invasion]] of [[3057]], placing the regained [[Free Worlds League]] and [[Capellan Confederation]] worlds' HPG stations in Word of Blake hands as well opening opportunities to secure many more in the politically unstable region near Terra called the [[Chaos March]]. The Blakists' increasing control of communications in the region and the surge in troop movements allowed them to shift their forces closer to Terra underneath the secular ComStar's nose, with the Word's agents within the secular ROM suppressing what little information did reach them.{{cn}}

The political instability of the Chaos March also resulted in a huge demand for [[Mercenary|mercenaries]], enticing many units to seek new contracts, including the ComStar-employed [[Brion's Legion]]. Contracted with the Order since their disastrous showing in the [[Fourth Succession War]], the chance for a short-term high paying contract and finally emerging from ComStar's shadow prompted the Legion to leave Terra. With the Legion making up half of the depleted post-Tukayyid [[Terran Defense Force]], ComStar was left with two choices, hire another mercenary unit or reassign a Com Guard division deployed elsewhere in the Inner Sphere.{{cn}}

ComStar initially favored shifting one of the divisions that had been transferred from the disputed [[Lyons Thumb]] to bolster the defenses in the [[Free Rasalhague Republic]] in the wake of the [[Refusal War]], but fearful of inflaming tensions with [[Archon]] [[Katherine Steiner-Davion]] and [[Precentor Martial of ComStar|Precentor Martial]] [[Anastasius Focht|Anastasius Focht's]] caution against any weakening of the Com Guard forces along the Clan border resulted in the fateful decision to replace the Legion with another mercenary unit.  Among the shortlist of suitable replacements for the Legion was the highly regarded [[21st Centauri Lancers]].<ref name=SS-100>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 100: "The Fall of Terra - Opening Moves"</ref><ref name=TFOT-7>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 7: "Operation Odysseus - Gathering Storm"</ref>

===The Shadow Lancers===
Formerly employed by the Free Worlds League, the Lancers were one of the mercenary units used by Thomas Marik to recapture [[Sarna March]] worlds, bolstering the Marik forces landing on [[Wasat]]. Unfortunately the Captain-General would then "loan" the Lancers to the Capellan Confederation, the unit taking heavy casualties aiding [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] against the [[2nd FedCom RCT|Second FedCom RCT]] on [[Hsien]]. Aggrieved at the poor treatment by Thomas Marik, the Lancers ended their four decades of service with the Free Worlds League, with [[Colonel]] [[Evelena Haskell]] using a Word of Blake HPG station to send notification to [[Outreach]] that her mercenary unit was for hire.{{cn}}

When word of this reached the Word of Blake's ''de facto'' leader [[Precentor]] [[William Blane]], he sensed a unique opportunity and hurriedly traveled with the Blakist Precentor Martial [[Trent Arian]] to [[Atreus (FWL)|Atreus]]. Seeking an audience with Captain-General Thomas Marik, Blane and Arian presented their plan to induce ComStar to hire the Lancers as replacements for Brion's Legion, secretly substituting disguised Word of Blake troops for the mercenaries, severely weakening ComStar's Terran Defense Force to pave the way for a successful invasion. While declining to provide direct military aid, the Captain-General did agree to provide logistical and transport assets as well as ordering the League's military and intelligence agencies not to interfere.{{cn}}

Returning to Gibson by means of a League-provided [[Command Circuit|command circuit]], Blane and Arian met with the Blakists' [[Ruling Conclave]] and rapidly secured support for the plan, now code-named Operation Odysseus. By this time ComStar had also narrowed their list of suitable replacements for the Legion, with the highly respected 21st Centauri Lancer's A-rating and subtle maneuvering by Blakist elements within the secular Order prompting ComStar to sign a five-year contract with the mercenary unit on November 30th 3057, with the Lancers to arrive on Terra by January [[3058]].{{cn}}

With the first phase of Operation ODYSSEUS complete, elements of the Blakist [[6th Division (Word of Blake)|6th]] and [[1st Division (Word of Blake)|1st Divisions]] then assaulted [[Nestor]], the home base of the Lancers and took the unit's dependents to Gibson as hostages. This would be the first combat deployment for the new BCN-3R ''[[Buccaneer (BattleMech)|Buccaneer]]''.<ref name=TFOTp62>'"The Fall of Terra'', p. 62: "BCN-3R Buccaneer"</ref><ref name=TRO3060p98>''Technical Readout: 3060'', p. 98: "BCN-3R Buccaneer"</ref><ref name=TROJp106>''Technical Readout: Jihad'', p. 106: "BCN-3R Buccaneer"</ref> When the real Lancers arrived on Nestor, the 1st Division's commander Precentor [[Suzanne Mulvanery]] offered them a stark choice: lie low for the next few months and be reunited with their families or put their dependents' lives at risk if they chose to oppose the Word. The mercenaries reluctantly complied. The two Word of Blake divisions then proceeded to reorganize themselves to match the reported composition of the real 21st Centauri Lancers while Blakist operatives within ComStar altered Com Guard records to avoid security problems with the Lancers' "new personnel recruited to replace losses on Hsien". The new "Shadow Lancers", led by Mulvanery masquerading as Colonel Evelena Haskell, headed to Terra.{{cn}}

Landing in January in the midst of regular Com Guard rotation of troops, with the [[104th Division (ComStar)|104th Division]] shifted to the Free Rasalhague Republic and with Precentor Martial Focht hosting interstate wargames on Tukayyid, the so-called Shadow Lancers immediately occupied the facility recently vacated by Brion's Legion at Bowling Green. Kentucky. Within days the disguised Word of Blake units began a series of joint orientation exercises with the Com Guard [[201st Division (ComStar)|201st Division's]] Alpha and Beta [[Level III|battalions]], slowly reaching out to Word of Blake sympathizers and agents within ComStar. With Precentor Martial Focht and the Com Guard high command distracted by the [[Jade Falcon Incursion (3058)|Jade Falcon incursion]] into the [[Lyran Alliance]] and paying scant attention to Terra's military defenses, by the end of February the Shadow Lancers were in place and ready to launch their attack. Luck also continued to favor the Blakists when a spate of bad weather flared up across North America and confined many Com Guard units to base, prompting the Word's forces to strike.<ref name=SS-100-2>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 100: "The Fall of Terra - The Shadow Lancers"</ref><ref name=TFOT-8>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 8: "Operation Odysseus - A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"</ref>

[[File:Operation Odysseus 2 (The Fall of Terra).png|right|thumb]]

===Outbreak===
On February 28 as the TDF's new commander Precentor [[Lisa Koenigs-Cober|Lisa Koenigs-Cober's]] [[DropShip]] approached Bowling Green for an inspection tour of the 21st Centauri Lancers, a pair of Shadow Lancer fighters shot her ship down in Odysseus's opening move. The headhunter mission failed: Lisa had planned to do a combat drop, and thanks to that, she with her [[Quickdraw]] and Demi-Precentor [[Stephen Crown]], in a [[Shadow Hawk]], managed to jump and survive the fall.{{cn}}

Simultaneously, Word of Blake agents began operations across Terra, the single most effective one being computer-systems engineer Satoshi Fujishima. Posing as a civilian computer systems engineer, Fujishima had been hired during ComStar's overhaul of their computerized base security in the wake of the Schism, installing a "backdoor" that gave him almost complete control over ComStar's computer systems. When the Shadow Lancers attacked Koenigs-Cober's DropShip, Fujishima sent a command sequence to all Com Guard and TerraSec facilities that they were overrun by enemy forces and to go into autonomous mode, the defense systems assuming the ComStar personnel inside were hostile and trapping them within their own bases. As a result, Fujishima had effectively neutralized some two hundred Com Guard and TerraSec bases, greatly simplifying the Blakist offensive.{{cn}}

The next step, the capture of [[Hilton Head]] complex, however did not go according to plan. While the lockdown left Hilton Head's security in shambles and prevented its personnel from broadcasting requests for help, the Primus's bodyguard unit of light armor and infantry put up stiffer than expected resistance to the Shadow Lancers' [[Combat Vehicle|armor forces]] charged with taking the complex, the Blakist forces pulling back to soften it up with artillery fire in preparation for a second assault.<ref name=TFOT-12>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 12–13: "Scenario 1: Hold the Line"</ref><ref name=SS-102-2>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 102: "The Fall of Terra - Assault on Hilton Head"</ref> The surprise arrival of Koenigs-Cober to their rear also disrupted the attack, as she destroyed some of their artillery and ammunition supplies before breaking through to Hilton Head and ensuring the safe evacuation of Primus Mori, destroy most of the facilities on the island but not before to looting them of valuable information and technology.<ref>''Malicious Intent'', ch. 23</ref>

Elsewhere Blakist moles assassinated key ComStar officials and attacked important Com Guard barracks and armories, including a nerve gas attack to neutralize ComStar ROM's headquarters near Cairo, preventing a unified defense against Odysseus.{{cn}}

With the 201st Division serving as the main security force for North America, the Shadow Lancers targeted their base at Salina, Kansas as a priority target once the Blakists launched their assault against Hilton Head. Despite their numerical superiority, Precentor Mulvanery opted for a surprise attack, with a pair of Lancer fighters requesting emergency landing clearance before dropping two J91 Fuel-Air Explosive devices on the base, destroying the 201st's command staff and killing or injuring almost half its combat-ready troops. However the unit's junior officers under [[Adept]] [[Edelle Kearny]] rallied the survivors of the 201st against the Blakists, the remaining twenty-two [[BattleMech|BattleMechs]] of the 201st withdrawing under the cover of a raging blizzard and breaking through the encircling Blakist forces to head toward the [[Gunnison Castle Brian|Gunnison]] [[Castle Brian]] in the Rocky Mountains.<ref name=TFOT-9>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 9: "Operation Odysseus - Homecoming"</ref><ref name=TFOT-14>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 14–15: "Scenario 2: When the Bough Breaks"</ref><ref name=SS-102>''Shattered Sphere'', pp. 100–102: "The Fall of Terra - Outbreak of War"</ref>

===Invasion===
The Blakist [[WarShip|WarShips]] ([[Vincent (WarShip class)|''Vincent''-class]] WoBS ''[[Blake's Redemption]]'' and [[Essex|''Essex''-class]] WoBS ''[[Deliverance]]'') staged disruption raids against Precentor [[Alain Beresick|Alain Beresick's]] Com Guard fleet bases at [[Luyten 68-28]] in [[Ross 248]]. The ''Deliverance'' jumped into Luyten 68-28 where it engaged at least the [[Cameron (WarShip class)|''Cameron''-class]] CSV ''[[Invisible Truth (Individual Cameron-class WarShip)|Invisible Truth]]'' while the ''Blake's Redemption'' jumped into Ross 248 where it engaged at least the [[Dante (WarShip class)|''Dante''-class]] CSV ''[[Narbonne (Individual Dante-class WarShip)|Narbonne]]''.  Both WarShips suffered heavy damage yet were able to delay the intervention of the [[ComStar WarShip Fleet]] at Terra before jumping out again, their primary mission.  With the [[Titan Yards]] still in ComStar hands, they were forced to limp back to the [[Free Worlds League]] for repairs.<ref>''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', p. 116: "Aid From the Word of Blake"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 44: "The WarShip Fleet"</ref><ref>''Twilight of the Clans'', p. 15: "Commodore Alain Beresick"</ref> In the closing hours of February 28th the Word of Blake's invasion flotilla began to arrive via a [[Pirate Jump Point|pirate jump point]] in translunar orbit. Unable to call upon WarShip reinforcements, the Com Guard forces on Luna could not prevent the Word of Blake fleet reaching Terran orbit.{{cn}}

With the scattered [[SDS]] stations presenting a deadly threat to the Word's invasion and unaffected by the Com Guards' general computer systems lockout, the Word launched commando raids to seize control of them before their fleet arrived. While the majority easily fell to the Word's [[Tornado]]-equipped troops, others put up more resistance such as the Santo Tomas Andean laser battery which was able to launch its Damocles mirror to orbit before it finally fell.<ref name=TFOT-9/><ref name=TFOT-16>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 16–18: "Scenario 3: Free Fall"</ref><ref name=SS-102-3>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 102: "The Fall of Terra - War in Space"</ref>

By midday the Blakist forces arrived and began to land troops at primary and secondary sites across Terra. These attacked included a [[regiment]]-sized formation securing the Com Guards' Terran-based headquarters at the [[Sandhurst Royal Military College]] in the British Isles and two [[Level III]] formations apiece taking the Terran Government at Geneva and the Court of the Star League in Washington State.  These included at least four ''[[Toyama (BattleMech)|Toyamas]]'', the first combat deployment of the design.<ref>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 64: "TYM-1A Toyama"</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: 3060'', p. 118: "TYM-1A Toyama"</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: Jihad'', p. 158: "TYM-1A Toyama"</ref>

Secondary forces of varying sizes and compositions landed at the École Militaire in Paris, key manufacturing and research facilities, the already pacified ROM headquarters near Cairo and several Com Guards facilities that escaped the lockdown.  In China, elements of the 201st based out of the [[T'ienchen Castle Brian|T'ienchen]] [[Castle Brian]] were able to inflict punishing damage on the [[3rd Division (Word of Blake)|Third Division]] before reinforcements forced them to retreat into the Castle.  Accompanying the Third was Adept [[Greg Bushroe]] in a vintage ''[[Ostscout]]''<ref>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 43-44: "Interesting Times"</ref><ref>''Recognition Guide: ilClan, vol. 2'', p. 6: "Ostscout"</ref> With Shadow Lancer 'Mech reinforcement, the Blakists finally took Hilton Head, though Com Guard booby traps inflicted heavy losses and crippled many of the facilities the Shadow Lancers hoped to take intact.<ref name=TFOT-12/> By the evening of March 1st the Blakist Precentor Martial Trent Arian landed at Sandhurst to establish his command post, declaring martial law and requesting the surrender of the remaining Com Guard forces, though none did.<ref name=TFOT-10-CF>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 10: "Operation Odysseus - Capricious Fate"</ref>

[[File:Operation Odysseus (The Fall of Terra).png|right|thumb]]

===Battles elsewhere in the Terran System===
Though focusing the bulk of their attention on taking Terra, the Word of Blake also launched attacks against the other notable ComStar-held bases on [[Venus]], Luna, Mars and the vitally important [[Titan Yards]].{{cn}}

While the capture of Venus and the [[Military Academy of Aphros]] were easily achieved, one of the most dangerous attacks during Odysseus was the Blakist assault against the newly reopened [[War Academy of Mars]]. While [[Star League era]] terraforming provided the planet with a breathable atmosphere, the Word's [[5th Division (Word of Blake)|5th Division]] was ill-prepared for combat in Mars' lighter gravity, taking heavy losses against the WAM's cadets who were more experienced with operations on that world. Though the Fifth was ultimately successful in taking the academy, only six Blakist BattleMechs were left operational at its conclusion, a narrow victory that could have easily resulted in defeat instead.<ref name=SS-102-3/><ref name=TFOT-45>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 45–46: "Scenario 14: God of War"</ref>

The battle for the Titan Yards was not so close. Having lost the element of surprise that allowed the attacks on Terra to succeed, the ComStar defenders were well prepared when the Blakist Liberation Fleet led by [[Gregory Zwick]] arrived. The heavier fighter screens of the Com Guard defenders easily repulsed the lighter Blakist fighters, inflicting heavy damage on the advancing Blakist fleet. Among the Blakist fleet was [[Maribel Johns]], who accounted for eight solo kills during the operation.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 240: "IRN-SD1 Ironsides"</ref> While Zwick's forces succeeded in landing troops on a number of shipyards, the ComStar fighters aided by supporting [[DCMS]] ships being refitted at Titan as part of the [[Explorer Corps (ComStar)|Explorer Corps]] agreement soon forced Zwick to order a withdrawal, Com Guard forces quickly recapturing the Blakist-held facilities. The arrival of a the Com Guard [[Dante (WarShip class)|''Dante''-class]] CSV [[Narbonne (Individual Dante-class WarShip)|Narbonne]] shortly after the battle's conclusion firmly cemented ComStar's control of the valuable facility.<ref name=SS-102-3/><ref name=TFOT-47>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 47–49: "Scenario 15: Per Ardua Ad Astra"</ref>

===Fall of the Com Guard Defenders===
Meanwhile in North America, the remnants of 201st's Alpha and Beta IV's fought a number of rearguard actions at Sharon Springs, Ordway and Pueblo as the Shadow Lancers pursued them,<ref name=TFOT-23>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 23–24: "Scenario 6: Nowhere to Run"</ref> until their luck ran out by March 2nd. Harried by the Blakist forces through the Front Range, the 201st's survivors succeeded in reaching the Gunnison Castle Brian only to discover they could not enter, having been under attack and unaware of the Blakist computer lock-down of Com Guard facilities. Trapped in a box canyon, the 201st found themselves caught between the Shadow Lancers and Blakist reinforcements moving down from Washington State. While a number of Com Guard 'Mechs were able to flee, the bulk were destroyed, with the 201st effectively ceasing to exist as a unit, signaling the end of the Com Guards' battle for North America.<ref name=TFOT-10-2>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 10: "Operation Odysseus - The Tide Turns?"</ref><ref name=TFOT-50>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 50–51: "Scenario 16: End of the Line"</ref><ref name=SS-102-2/>

In the British Isles, the cadet forces at Sandhurst were somewhat luckier. When they proved unable to hold Sandhurst,<ref name=TFOT-27>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 27–28: "Scenario 8: Serve to Lead"</ref> the cadets withdrew westward and divided into two, one group (Task Force Epee) heading toward the Salisbury Plain training ranges in the north, the others moving to secure supplies (Task Force Saber) and a route into Wales (Task Force Foil) in the south. While the northern group successfully used the training field's simulator and drone systems to confuse the attackers,<ref name=TFOT-34>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 34–35: "Scenario 9: Fields of Camlann"</ref> the southern groups fought a number of rearguard actions while gathering supplies through the Cotswold and Malvern Hills before heading towards the Severn River. <ref name=TFOT-36>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 36–37: "Scenario 10: Who Dares Wins"</ref><ref name=TFOT-30>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 30: "Scenarios 9–12: Mini-Campaign Rules"</ref><ref name=TFOT-10-2/>

Forced to use the two bridges just north of Bristol, while the bulk of the southern groups succeeded in crossing before Word of Blake fighters destroyed the main spans of each bride, over a fifth of the Sandhurst cadets were trapped between the river and the invaders and forced to surrender.<ref name=TFOT-38>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 38–39: "Scenario 11: Croeso Y Cymru"</ref> The surviving task forces linked up and squared off with the numerically superior invaders in West Wales, both sides suffering heavy losses before the Com Guard forces finally crumbled. Cadet Epsilon II [[Duncan Fergusson]] lost his ''[[Crockett]]'' in this final engagement after twenty-two hours of setting ambushed.  Though believed dead, his body was never recovered, and several cadets were known to have escaped into the mountains before the remaining troops chose surrender over certain annihilation, signaling the end of active ComStar defense by March 5th. Adept Epsilon III [[Will Clark]] distinguished himself in this campaign with three ’Mech kills in his ''[[Buccaneer (BattleMech)|Buccaneer]]''.<ref name=TFOT-40>''The Fall of Terra'', pp. 40–42: "Scenario 12: Season's End"</ref><ref name=TFOT-10-2/><ref>'"Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 218: "CRK-5003-1 Crockett"</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: Succession Wars'', p. 160: "CRK-5003-1 Crockett"</ref><ref name=TRO3060p98/><ref name=TROJp106/>

===Aftermath===
With the formal cession of hostilities on March 7th 3058, the entire Terran system aside from the Titan Yards was under Word of Blake control.{{cn}}

Mistakenly assuming that both sides would want him alive to break the lockout and thus relatively safe, [[Satoshi Fujishima]] emerged from hiding on March 7th and made his way to Blakist occupied ComStar compound overlooking the Imperial Palace, only to be killed by a sniper within sight of its gate. While no-one claimed responsibility, it was assumed Fujishima was assassinated on the orders of the secular ComStar, because without his aid the Word found themselves the victim of their own strategy, forced to crack each Castle Brian and base manually, delaying their pacification. The Word of Blake believed the assassin to be [[Eagle Corps]] member [[Theresa Mathews]].{{cn}}

While the Free Worlds League and Capellan Confederation immediately recognized the Word of Blake as the legitimate ruler of Terra, the Federated Commonwealth, [[Draconis Combine]], [[Lyran Alliance]] and [[St. Ives Compact]] only grudgingly recognized the Word of Blake's ''de facto'' possession, though they did agree not to launch military action against Terra. The Free Rasalhague Republic joined with the secular ComStar in condemning the occupation, though ComStar indicated it would continue to focus the threat of the Clans in the immediate future. The Word's efforts to seek a seat on the [[Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission]] on Outreach were outright denied.{{cn}}

And about the real 21 Centauri Lancers, Mulvanery send them a message explaining them than they can go to recover their dependants. Once on Gibson, Evelena Haskell was received by the Blakist [[Precentor]] [[Sylvia Elliot]], which had been watching them. All where unharmed, but the Lancers didn't forget or forgive the Blakist's actions: after sending their families far away, the bulk of their forces, led by Haskell, returned to Gibson, where they attacked the Blakist base, killing any Blakist which didn't surrendered and razing the base. Evelena killed Elliot personally. After taking any salvage, the lancers returned to [[Outreach]], where a MRBC commission declared them all innocent of all charges. And the betrayal and blackmail of the Lancers soured the Blakists' efforts to attract more reputable mercenaries..<ref>''This Too Pass Shall'' [[Shrapnel #10]]'' pp. 342</ref> 

With new combat performance data on the NXS1-A ''[[Nexus]]'' and RJN101-A ''[[Raijin]]'' exposing their flaws of thin armor and lack of long-range weaponry, Blakist forces demanded that these models be redesigned.  [[Precentor Martial]] [[Cameron St. Jamais]] agreed, giving birth to the NXS2-A ''Nexus II'' and RJN-200-A ''Raijin II'' respectively.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade'', p. 96: "NXS2-A Nexus II"</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: Jihad'', p. 48: "NXS2-A Nexus II"</ref><ref>Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade'', p. 98: "RJN-200-A Raijin II"</ref><ref>''Technical Readout: Jihad'', p. 102: "RJN-200-A Raijin II"</ref>

By April 3058 Precentor Martial Trent Arian was named as Governor of Terra, the selection of the "officer on the ground" a compromise prompted by the increased political infighting among the Word of Blake in the wake of Odysseus. On Arian's instructions many of the reforms imposed by the secular ComStar were wound back as the Word shifted the bulk of their personnel to Terra.<ref name=TFOT-11>''The Fall of Terra'', p. 11: "Operation Odysseus - New Order"</ref><ref name=SS-102-4>''Shattered Sphere'', p. 102: "The Fall of Terra - Aftermath"</ref>

Rebuilding their forces using salvage and matériel looted from Com Guard storehouses, the Word faced resistance from guerrillas on all three of the Sol system's inhabited worlds. Africa and Australasia in particular saw lingering resistance from escaped Com Guard units, though these dwindled over time as the Blakists grew more successful at combating them.  The [[T'ienchen Castle Brian]] held out until the entire Third Division could be brought to bear, but even that came at the cost of two Level IIIs.<ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 53: "3rd Division: Pure Thoughts and Actions IV-Mu"</ref><ref>''Field Manual: ComStar'', p. 55: "5th Division: The Chosen IV-Eta"</ref>

The Blakist victory wasn't complete: the Com Guards of the local garrison who escaped managed to stay hidden, helping ComStar forces from [[Case White (event)|Case White]] and [[Stone's Coalition]] who did planetfall, helping them to finally liberate the Earth. The Word of Blake continued to try to root them out however, finding the VT-5M ''[[Vulcan]]s'' they purchased from [[Nimakachi]] especially suited to the task.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade'', p. 42: "VT-5M Vulcan"</ref>

A few skirmishes continued after the Word declared victory, a Level II of the 201st located in Central Africa consisting primarily of the new ''[[Grim Reaper]]'' faced an ambush staged by mixed elements of the Shadow Lancers' Alpha Battalion. While the unit's ''[[Nexus (Star Python)|Nexus]]'' and ''[[Raijin (Fujin)|Raijin]]'' tied up the Blakist infantry and armor, the four ''Grim Reaper''s took out a Blakist ''[[Black Knight]]'' and ''[[Bombardier]]'' with a concentrated assault, escaping into the jungle having lost only one of the ''Grim Reaper''s.<ref name=TRO3055U>''Technical Readout: 3055 Upgrade'', p. 44: "GRM-R-PR29 ''Grim Reaper''"</ref>

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[BattleForce 2]]''
* ''[[The Fall of Terra]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: ComStar]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]''
* ''[[Malicious Intent]]'' (novel)
* ''[[Shattered Sphere]]''
* ''[[This Too Shall Pass]]''

[[Category:Clan Invasion Era Military Operations|Terra (3058)]]