Operation Green Hammer

Operation Green Hammer Nova Caradian War of Establishment
NCDF forces preparing to engage at Tor Gol
Date 22.XII.1690 AN - Location Nova Caradian border The Green north of Nova Caradia
Belligerents
Nova Caradia	Shakhsoni Sodiq Raiders
Units involved
26th Border Defence Platoon	Muborizoni Khun
Strength
1,750	≈ 4,500
Casualties and losses
12 killed	44 killed 5 captured

Operation Green Hammer, otherwise informally known as the Nova Caradian War of Establishment, was a series of battles between the Nova Caradian Defence Force (NCDF) and various stateless raider factions from the Euran Green. Erupting following an escalation and coordination of attacks by the raiders, the conflict was the first combat deployment of the NCDF and served as a unifying, centripetal force in Nova Caradian politics.

Tor Gol Skirmish

Location of Tor Gol Ranch

The conflict began at an unassuming farm and ranch known locally as Tor Gol Ranch (Tor Gol being Sarnechi for “Blank Tor”) due to the large distinguishing block of white stone that rose out of the ground on the outskirts of one of the wheat fields. The roads wrapping around Tor Gol were used often as one of the patrol paths of the NCDF on their regular patrols mean to prevent raids on the farms.

On 22.XII.1690, the 26th Border Defence Platoon, a unit which included some 47 soldiers and one CAAT T-3 light tank, was on patrol duty in this area. As the unit rounded the corner around the Tor Gol itself, an IED placed within the tor detonated, damaging the leading tank and killing one of the soldiers following. A stream of raiders (a survey of the battlefield later would number the raiders at around 80) came over a nearby hill as the explosion went off, bearing a motley assortment of handguns, automatic weaponry, and some swords and knives.

The NCDF soldiers took cover behind the tor and some nearby trees, returning fire with their nearly-as-motley armament of old Caradian military weaponry. The tank’s treads were damaged by the IED, leaving it immobile and vulnerable to multiple petrol bombs lobbed its way. Despite the raiders’ larger numbers, they were repulsed by the NCDF after a significant number of them had been gunned down, many during their charge after the initial explosion. Most fled, but six raiders were captured alive by the NCDF, though one bled out before medical attention could be found. The tank was ultimately damaged beyond repair.

Subsequent interrogation of the prisoners revealed that the larger than normal force was created by an apparent alliance of stateless entities in the Green known as the “Shakhsoni Sodiq” (Devoted Ones), united only by their common language (a bastardised variant of Babkhi), and their anger over the republic’s expansion into southern Eura. The prisoners were then marched to an impromptu prison in Brațav.

Government Response

Following the skirmish, an emergency session of the Casa Legii was held to determine what should be done about the attack. Though small raids by bands of six to twelve people were somewhat common against the farms established in the Green, such a large group, and one that had declared itself to be a member of an alliance of such raiders, was concerning. The common theme of the discussion was that the fact that such an entity was a threat to the republic was depressing.

It was resolved that the best option was to defend land owned by Nova Caradian citizens in the Green but to hold out on an offensive plan until the end of the year, when appreciable amounts of the new standardised equipment purchased in the Genesis Initiative would have been delivered. The NCDF created makeshift bunkers along the edge of Nova Caradian land and border patrols were increased in number and equipment. Two Stratus Class airships began running surveillance patrols to better provide early warning to NCDF soldiers. Restrictions on joining the armed forces were also temporarily loosened.

International responses

Nation	Date	Reaction
Suren	13.XIV–24.XIV.1690 AN	The news that the invaders had arrived as far north as Sangisafed, as the area was known to the Vipian tribes of the region, so soon after the news of their initial landfall had been received was met with incredulity and anger in Surenshahr. The Mobad of Mobads himself prostrated himself in grief before the throne of the Shah and declared, after being bidden to rise, that there could now be no doubt that these foreign unbelievers, with their sacrilegious worship of the polluted "Black Flame" were unquestionably the noxious instruments of Angra Mainyu's foul designs. It was the Surenshah's duty to crush the head of this infidel king as surely he would a viper if he discovered one hiding in the grass. The Surenshah, after due deliberation, concurred. Durmish Khan from Kapavia, Bektash Khan from Chamrush Isle, and Zahedi Khan from the Surenshah's own household were instructed to attend upon his person with the hosts of their fedayeen to Mehrshahr. Orders were sent out provisions, rations and munitions sufficient seventeen thousand men under arms, as well as fodder for their mounts, to be taken from the arsenals of the Confederacy and brought to the specified assembly point. To Zahedi Khan was given command of the force and the Derafsh of the Suren, along with the blessings of the assembled mobads and herbads of Eternal Euran Orthodoxy. The Khan, stood before the throne along with the emissaries of the two other summoned khans, received the orders of his master. With the bodies of his fidai he was to count the guns of the enemy and bring a true and accurate telling to the Surenshah so that the proper demise of the barbarian usurpers of sacred Eura could be prepared. For the protection of the Khans the Surenshah ordered a demi-regiment of the gendarmes, six armoured cars, forty trucks, such artillery pieces as could be found, and a spotter plane to detached from the Popular Levy to accompany the expedition on its journey southwards.
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