Battle for Talmar

In 3208, the Emerald Legion enacted their invasion plans for the sector. It required gaining control of Talmar and its pre-human planetary defense cannon. The battle on this planet determined the fate of every planet in the sector, and defending forces were heavily outgunned by the invaders.

Precursors

The Emerald Legion had spent decades researching Talmar and intervening in subtle ways to weaken the planet to their tactics. They planted Legionnaires in various positions on the planet, from everyday workers keeping tabs on the populace to political assistants nudging officials in desired directions. Other times they abducted native Talmarians to implant a chip in their brains that could be used to manipulate that person's behavior. These innocents became unwilling sleeper agents for the Legion.
The Legion's goal was keep the planet isolated and out of the Protectorate Alliance. In doing so, the planet remained TL2, with primitive weaponry and without allies to call upon. Ryker Derrix's rise to power in the Unchained Armada disrupted this, as he armed his mercenaries with TL4 gear acquired off-planet. The Legion countered this by feeding tensions with the local Yellow Jackets militia. In pointing the two groups at each other, neither could prepare for what was to come.
In addition to Talmar being an easy target, it was also home to a pre-human alien planetary defense cannon. The Legion's goal was a swift takeover and immediate control of this cannon - housed in a location locals called The Hive - to fully entrench themselves on the planet. The alien data disk they acquired from Geotera was all they needed to use it for their own purposes.

Information

Belligerents

Attacking
Emerald Legion

Defending
Unchained Armada
Night Knights
Yellow Jackets

Included under Conflict

Legion Incursion

Start Date

3208

Ending Date

3208

Conflict Result

The Legion suffered a resounding defeat, but defending forces took heavy losses.

Location

Talmar

Start of Battle

Battle began as three Emerald Legion battleships arrived in Talmar space. The Armada was a small force, and their frigates stood little chance against such firepower. The Legion began landing dropships of forces and mechs at New Argos, locking the city down and forcing civilians to remain indoors under threat of death. Another team went to the Hive to secure it from the occupying Yellow Jackets.
The Legion did not prepare for a third group to intervene, however. The trio calling themselves the Night Knights.

End of Battle

The Knights overpowered the small Legion team at the Hive, and having reclaimed the alien disk for themselves, used the last ammunition to destroy all three Legion battleships in orbit in a fusillade. To destroy the mechs holding New Argos hostage, the Night Knights turned the city's radio tower into a massive EMP. It fried the electrical systems, in some cases killing the pilot and in others, making them much easier targets for the remaining Yellow Jackets.
The radio tower collapsed under the force of the blast, further destroying parts of the city. Thankfully, there was enough prior warning that the Yellow Jackets were able to evacuate affected areas, resulting in no casualties to civilians.

Battle Sites

Combat occurred across three key locations:

Unchained Armada insignia by Rin Garnett

In Orbit

The Unchained Armada, bolstered by allies such as Alice and Tavari Zima, drew fire from the battleships and destroyed dropships before they could land on planet, though suffered heavy casualties in the process.

Yellow Jackets emblem by Rin Garnett

New Argos

The Yellow Jackets protected citizens from the invading force, despite being heavily outgunned. They secured shelter beneath city hall and used guerilla tactics across the city to distract the mechs.

Night Knights logo by Rin Garnett

The Hive

The Night Knights rushed to stop the Legion from taking control of the Hive. If the Legion found means to use the cannon, the planet would be lost.

Consequences

• Dozens of non-combatant Legionnaires landed on Talmar in escape pods. Many claim to have no knowledge of the worst of the Legion's actions. These could be lies, or their memories have been manipulated through telepathy.
• New Argos is partially destroyed between damage caused by Legion mechs and the collapsed radio tower. Many are left without homes or employment due to destroyed buildings.
• The Unchained Armada suffered heavy casualties and is drastically reduced in size and efficacy. However, more Talmarians view the group positively after seeing their sacrifice.
• The Yellow Jackets similarly suffered casualties and faces an internal schism as some militia cells had unknowingly aided the Legion at the expense of others.
• Though civilian casualties remained low, many still lost their lives or suffered other forms of harm both physical and mental. Division between those who favor alliance with the Protectorate and those who would rather isolate grows.
• Though pockets of Legionnaires remain across the sector, their invasion failed and the Legion Incursion ends. Other planets have been made aware of Legion tactics and begin routing out infiltrators.