Operation Hydra Days 1 through 6
by Alex BensonBelow is a detailed overview of the first six days of the Thyatian offensive against the Minrothad Guilds. Day one represents the official start time of the offensive as declared by the campaign commander Adm. Helena Daphotarthius.
Note-Ship movement is based on a base movement of 40 miles per day. This slow pace is due to the large forces assembled and the heavily laden transports. The distance travelled is given the following day. Also given is the distance remaining. Each Day gives the status of the force as of dawn of that day.
Day 1
Force A: Assault force converges at Assembly Point "Alto" outside of the port of Crossbones. After a lengthy period to get all the vessels in proper order, Adm. Helena orders them to proceed. This start occurs late in the day. Their destination is Minrothad City which lays some 208 miles away.
Force B: Assault force converges at Assembly Point "Nora" off the coast of Hattias. Assembling quickly, they are able to depart around noon. Their destination is Harbortown which is about 315 miles away.
Force C: Assault force converges at Assembly Point "Lance" off the Thyatian Coast. Assembly is rapid and force is quickly under way. Their destination is the northern tip of Open Island which lays about 88 miles away.
Force D: Assault force converges at Assembly Point "Dagger" off the Thyatian Coast. Assembly is swift and the force is quickly under way. Their destination is Fire Island which is about 120 miles away.
Day 2
Force A: Due to start time, force has only sailed 12 miles from Assembly Point the previous day. Leaving 196 miles to destination.
Force B: Due to start time, force has only sailed 21 miles from Assembly Point the previous day. Leaving 315 miles to destination.
Force C: Due to start time, force has only sailed 32 miles from Assembly Point the previous day. Leaving 56 miles to destination.
Force D: Due to start time, force has only sailed 31 miles from Assembly Point the previous day. Leaving 89 miles to destination.
Day 3
Force A: Travels 40 miles. Leaves 156 miles to destination. Late in the day, lookouts report ships trailing Force D's group. Suspecting they are pirates, Adm. Helena increases speed and dispatches message via crystal ball to commander of Force D.
Force B: Travels 43 miles. Leaves 272 miles to destination. No contacts.
Force C: Travels 42 miles. Leaves 14 miles to destination. No contacts. Does receive message concerning pirates shadowing Force D. Told to proceed but keep a look out. With Landing Zone close, troops are readied for landing.
Force D: Travels 41 miles. Leaves 33 miles to destination. After receiving message from Adm. Helena, lookouts spot shadowing pirates. Under the admiral's orders, troops make ready for the expected fight the following day.
Day 4
Force A: Travels only 21 miles due to battle with Privateer Fleets. Leaves 135 miles to destination. See below Comments for battle details.
Force B: Travels 47 miles. Leaves 225 miles to destination. No contacts.
Force C: Travels 14 miles to take up a position off the northern tip of Open Island. Landings of 4th Cohort and 28th Kerendas Cohort. Naval units loiter in the landing area to guard against Minrothad Naval Forces. After the troops are landed, naval units prepare to proceed south to Malfton.
Force D: Travels only 15 miles due to battle with Privateer Fleets. Leaves 33 miles to destination. See below Comments for details of battle.
Comments: Using the cover of night, Adm. Helena moves her warships closer to the pirates following Force D. Several other pirate vessels are noticed to join the group. By dawn, the pirates are close to Force D. As instructed by Adm. Helena, Force D captains turn their warships about to meet the pirates. With Force A's warships approaching from their rear, the pirate ships are sandwiched in between the two Thyatian Forces. Using their numerous sailing ships to herd the pirates together, the Thyatian war galleys move in and systematically destroy the pirate vessels. Several pirate vessels do mange to break through the Thyatian picket lines. These are chased down and dispatched by teams of Thyatian sailing ships positioned outside the pickets for that specific reason. In particular, the ballista mounted aboard these vessels come heavily into play.
At the battles end, both Privateers Fleets are destroyed. The majority of the ships are sunk. However, six pirate vessels are taken as prizes. There are also 42 pirates taken prisoner. Damage to the Thyatian ships is minimal. Several ships have received damage and will have to proceed slowly while repairs are made enroute.
Day 5
Force A: Travels only 27 miles due to the general slowing for damaged ships. Leaves 108 miles left to destination. Damaged vessels receive repairs.
Force B: Travels 48 miles due to good weather and calm seas. Leaves 177 miles to destination.
Force C: Naval force travels 20 miles. Leaves 38 miles to Hin capital. Troops march 10 miles inland in a southern direction. Leaves 30 miles to go.
Force D: By nightfall, Force D is anchored off Fire Island. Assault operation commences. See Comments for details.
Comments: 20 Marines of Force D row ashore to investigate the artillery emplacements at the Harbourmasters town. Arriving they find the emplacements occupied by elements of Retebius Air Fleet and mages from Sclaras. The defenders are either dead or prisoners. The Hattian marines take control of the town and prisoners.
The mages begin dispelling the enchantments of the Barricade. This done they remove it, freeing the passage into the inlet.
The galleys accompany the troop transports up the Reedy River to Cove Harbour. The Forces other sailing ships remain outside the inlet on look out for pirate vessels. Using the harbour facilities, they begin unloading their cargo of troops. The Thyatian Marines focus their assaults on boarding the pirate vessels docked. The Cohort troops envelope the dock facilities and spread into the city itself.
Cove Harbour's residents quickly organise their defences. However, the small contingent of troops on duty quickly fall to the Thyatians. Still, they stubbornly resist fighting for every block before falling back.
By morning, Thyatian forces occupy the docks and Privateer Guild Hall, along with the southern third of the city. Though surrounded and isolated from their pirate brethren, Shantytown is still resisting the Thyatian Troops. The Thyatian commanders opt to allocate Cohort troops along with Marines to thrust through the Shantytown section later in the day after the troops have gotten some rest.
Day 6
Force A: Still slowed by damaged ships Force A has proceeded only 29 miles. Leaves 79 miles to destination.
Force B: Travels a healthy 47 miles under clear skies and steady seas. Leaves 130 miles to destination.
Force C: Naval forces sail 21 miles. Leaving 17 miles to Malfton. Land forces continue their march putting 18 miles behind them. Leaves 14 miles to Malfton.
Force D: Sailing ships having taken
up stations around inlet to Reedy River. Marines of war galleys and
troops of the 14th Cohort smash through Shantytown. They then join
in on the fight to take the rest of the city. Dividing their forces
up into small box formations, they push through the pirate
defenders. By dusk, the Thyatians control most of the city. The
unoccupied area is the section referred to as the Guild Masters'
Mansions. The Thyatian commanders place the remnants of 14th Cohort
around this perimeter to prepare for an assault on the following
day. The Marines are pulled off the line and spend the night
stripping the occupied areas of their wealth.