Theogiorick punitive expedition

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The Theogiorick punitive expedition (1724–1726) was a campaign organised by the armed forces of the Benacian Union, Normark, and the Suren Confederacy aimed at the eradication of the Theogiorick enclave of an invasive alien species under the influence of a forbidden artificial intelligence. The majority of allied casualties, 36% of the total force deployed, succumbed to the effects of necrophagic spore bombardments, with a further 16% of allied personnel suffering from hyperthermia and other effects of prolonged exposure to extreme cold. The spore bombardments, combined with electronic warfare attacks by the malignant machine-intelligence, obliged the expedition to rely on incremental advances, supported by close air support provided by the Natopian Defense Force.

The expedition exposed deficiencies in the preparedness of allied forces for operations in arctic environments, as well as highlighting dangerous gaps in biological warfare defences.

Preliminary steps

Initial efforts revolved around inhibiting the ability of the artificial intelligence interface, masquerading as a digitised persona of Elijah Ayreon, to access the fragmented and decentralised global information networks operated on Micras. As the Defence Against Anomalous Phenomena had recently been degraded by a malicious cyberattack launched by rogue elements within the Imperial Forces of Shireroth, the primary effort against "Eli" was undertaken by the Commission for the Panopticon. The work of protecting the Benacian Data Network against intrusion, and isolating the points of interface exploited by Eli with regards to less secure global "internets", was the work of "Office G", a relatively small and specialist group, established in 1716 AN to focus upon "Cryptology & Linguistics" with an expansive remit which intruded significantly onto the digital domain.

Another significant focus of early activity was on the neutralisation of the gravship known as the "Kaiser Ayreon" which the stranded alien force at Theogiorick had been permitted to retain after the armistice concluded with the Raspur Pact. The vessel was obliged to host at all times a Tapfer Command assigned security detail of eight men and a liaison officer on board to monitor the adherence to the armistice and had undergone a period of inspection by the Natopian Spacefleet prior to its return. It was, at the time of the declaration of war, the only vessel effectively permitted to stage voyages from the Theogiorick main site to the outpost on Indigo where the remainder of the alien armada had been obliged to retreat to following their repulse from the near orbit of Micras.

Forces are mustered

The naval contingents of the three allied powers were directed to assemble in international waters off the Tapferite coast due south of Cape Newport (Natopia). The confluence to occur by no later than 24.XV.1724 AN.

To the acute embarrassment of the Benacian Union and Normark, neither state possessed an icebreaker registered under their respective flags with the capacity to sail under its own power from the Boreal Seas to the Antarctic of Micras. Commercial agents were duly sent out to identify vessels with suitably rated hulls for charter.

Additionally, further commercial agents, this being the euphemism that had been settled on, set forth to negotiate contracts with the Honourable Company, Kerularios & Company, and SATCo, for the hiring of a significant volume of tonnage in bulk containers and fuel tankers.

Task Force Order of Battle

• High Seas Fleet
  • 1st Surface Combatant Division
    • 1 squadron of 3 Maritime Air Support Regiment (7th Air Division)
  • 2nd Surface Combatant Division (attached from Eastern Fleet)
  • 6th Submarine Division
  • Streïkrupphvasza "Alexander"
    • 15 Command & Control Regiment (Salb XX)
    • 11 Commissariat Regiment (11th Manoeuvre Brigade)
    • 11 Inspectorate Regiment (Salb X)
    • 11 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb X)
    • 12 Area Defence Regiment (Salb XI)
    • 12 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb XI)
    • 29 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb VIII)
    • 31 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb X)
    • 32 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb XI)
    • 51 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb X)
    • 52 Motorised Infantry Regiment (Salb XI)
    • 4 squadrons of 59 Air Support Regiment (9th Air Division)

Task Force elements

•  Land Forces of the Benacian Union
  • 15,240x legionaries (1x command & control regiment, 1x commissariat regiment, 1x inspectorate regiment, 1x area defence regiment, 28x assault cohorts)

•  Maritime Forces of the Benacian Union
  • Carrillo-class amphibious command ship x1, manning requirement 842x1
    • carrying capacity 1,200x1 command & control regiment
  • Behaurnais-class amphibious assault ship x1, manning requirement 1,059x1
    • carrying capacity 1,687x legionaries, 16x NH-76 Dromosker, 16x UH-76 Dromosker
  • Rhodondra-class amphibious assault ship x4, manning requirement 1,070x4
    • carrying capacity 1,687x4 legionaries, 3x4 Strider-class landing craft, 4x4 AH-75 Cobra, 12x4 TR-279 Dront,6x4 UH-76 Dromosker
  • Montran-class destroyer x7, manning requirement 208x7
  • Protector-class missile frigate x14, manning requirement 210x14
  • Seafox-class corvette x2 (dispatch vessels), manning requirement 64x2
  • Type XXVII u-boat x6, manning requirement 135x6
  • Florimell-class Troop Landing Ship x48 (taken up from Benacian Merchant Marine), manning requirement 40x48
    • carrying capacity 120x48 legionaries
  • Logistic Support Vessel x27, manning requirement 120x27
    • assigned to carry stores
• 16,675 naval ratings (1x command & control regiment, 1x commissariat regiment, 1x inspectorate regiment, 11x vessel crewing regiments)

•  Aviation Forces of the Benacian Union
  • 16x AH-75 Cobra
  • 16x NH-76 Dromosker
  • 40x UH-76 Dromosker
  • 48x TR-279 Dront
  • 600 airmen (4x air support squadrons, 1x maritime air support squadron)