Asahi Jidai, 9/30/2141, Nightly News Headlines
Over the course of last night and this morning, the invasion forces of the Terran Imperium have crossed Kochikaze borders and attacked mobile forces and military fortifications of Tsutsui and Mohara. The Imperial 77th Field Brigade made its move while the Tsutsui-Mohara-Asakura forces were still assembling from multiple vectors to campaign against the foreign space invaders. The Tsutsui military reports that the Imperials cut across their southern border with the Tsuchimikado Forest, into Mohara, where it destroyed two reinforcement columns before returning. The alliance forces attempted to press the injured Imperial 77th into decisive battle but were unable to do so before it converged with a second Imperial brigade and shattered the alliance sky cruiser fleet. The Imperials destroyed a total of 35 Sky Cruisers (16 Mohara, 16 Tsutsui, and 3 Asakura) and 2 Assault Transports over the course of these battles, shattering the aerial combat strength of the gathered alliance fleet and leaving only its ground-unit transportation force and escorts, which managed to withdraw back to Tsutsui's primary fortifications in time. Faerskor also reports that the Ace Commander Segarum Faerskor also participated in the early phases of the battle with the elite 7th Incarnum Juggernaut Squadron, but was forced to withdraw due to overwhelming Imperial firepower as the aggressors cornered a single squad of Moharan Cruisers heading up to the front.
Tetsuo Tsutsui, the head of the Tsutsui, was reported to have been killed when his flagship was destroyed during the battle. Tsutsui officials publically announced that their people are prepared for mass-mobilization, to arm every ex-mercenary and make the Imperialists pay in blood for the killing of their leader. For a people which several years of mercenary service is almost seen as a rite-of-passage to adulthood, it is expected that the Tsutsui will be able to significantly bolster their forces, as long as equipment is available - armaments that the Tsutsui have also spent decades stockpiling. The Tsutsui has yet to release any news on who will succeed him to lead their province during this crucial time.
During the decisive engagement, Kochikaze military forces, which recently surrendered to the Imperials at the order of Kasai Kochikaze, rose up in rebellion at the city of Senrei. Unfortunately for them, the Imperials responded swiftly and crushed the rebellion with military might. Accounts from the city's residents confirm that the aerial bombardment and even siege weapons such as heavy flamers were utilized during the battle despite the urban setting. Civilian casualties, while currently untallied, are presumed to be heavy in light of these tactical choices, especially in a number of the city blocks that were virtually demolished by the fighting. A ranking Kochikaze civil official who wishes to be kept anonymous spoke out that "it is obvious from these actions, that despite the Imperials' sugar-coated words and pretentious acts of sincerity, they care little, if any at all, for the people of Chroma. That crap they're announcing - that's just self-justification for their own greed, nothing more." When asked about the fact the Imperials quickly repaired the battle damage dealt to the city, the official responded "They can repair those buildings they trashed, but can they replace all the belongings that was annihilated to specks of dust by their missiles? How about all those lives they've shattered, or eliminated entirely? It's like as if someone killed your kids and then offer you some money to 'pay' for it."
Military analysts are baffled by the Imperials' actions during the battles today. As far as intelligence gather, the 77th Brigade should have been the only force available. The Mohara claims that when the 77th departed, they confirmed that the Imperial military base in Kochikaze was virtually emptied. But somehow a new, second Brigade of armed forces popped up between the time of the 77th's departure and when the alliance cruiser fleet began their chase of a 77th brigade attempting to withdraw back to Kochikaze. Short of equipping an entire Brigade's vehicles with teleportation capabilities, which would raise costs to astronomical levels, experts were unable to figure out how the Imperium managed to instantaneously move in the new Brigade. All that can be offered is a warning to Chromian commanders that the Imperium can instantaneously move not only small strike groups but also large military forces.
A council of Moharan military analysts also claim that the Imperium must be rooted deeply in the concepts of fanaticism, based on its military performance. Battlefield reports show that Imperial forces managed to hold together and even maintain a certain degree of cohesion even at remarkably high casualties levels. One analyst commented "It's remarkable in a military perspective, but it's also against human nature! It makes you ask yourself - are they brainwashing their own troops or something? Or are they really aliens who just look like us but with completely foreign thought processes?"Statistics: Posted by Zanaikin — Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:00 pm
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