The Conflict
Prelude
Earth sets up a blockade around Mars, looking to further hamper Lunar mobility between planets. This causes full political fighting between Earth and Luna, and for the first time mentions and discussions fo Lunar independence are had in political forums, not just local civic centers. Riots start across Mars as Earth military personnel setup outposts on Phobos and Deimos. Lunar officials both home and on Mars call for Earth to pull back thier encroching militry presence, stating it's not only harmful for relations, but the citizens of Mars are being placed in danger. Martian colonists establish local militias and a provincial government, stating proximity of Earthen and Lunar ships and the increased likelihood of a ground war breaking out near Martian habitats, they needed to take steps to ensure their immediate concerns and safety.
Xanthe Outpost, Xanthe, Mars
(Earth Control)
Members of the Lunar Army visited the central Earthen outpost at Xanthe, stating an attempt to learn why the Earth military had begun establishing semi-permanent posts on planet. To show initial peaceful intentions the Lunar personnel came unarmed, but had spent the previous months training on how to snatch the weapons form nearby opponents, both aware or not.
At a given signal Lunar marines breached the other side of Xanthe outpost from the outside via boarding pod launched from the nearby Tycho, shrapnel from the pod crashing through the outer wall struck and killed Cpt. Willson Hent, making him the first official casualty of the war. Taking advantage of the confusion Lunar Army personnel surprised their Earthen counterparts by swiftly disarming a number of the commandos and holding up the rest. From there they scoured the of the base, flushing out resistors and pulling the rest to the central meeting and mess hall. Meanwhile the marines worked to secure the base’s control room, the firefight claimed the lives of the only Lunar personnel during the battle, the first being Lt. Anjelica Perl-Duncan. But within minutes the marines had the control room locked down and disabled the base defenses that had begun firing on the Tycho.
Immediately after the battle the Earthen forces were taken as prisoners, the Lunar congress promising to release them as soon as all other Earthen military personnel were off the surface of Mars. They said that they wanted no further aggression between the two nations (the first use of the term regarding Luna in an official statement), Earth’s response was to begin the Martian campaign.
Historical Significance
Although what was ultimately relatively bloodless attack and on a fairly small and unimportant military facility, what came to be known as the Battle of Xanthe Outpost became unofficial start to the
Lunar Revolutionary War.
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