Battle over Earth (Gem War)

Battle over Earth
Part of the Gem War
Fleets engaging en route to Earth
Date 3–13 July 2011 Location In orbit over Earth Result Inconclusive; surviving forces withdraw
Belligerents
Clone Guild	Blue Fleet	Republic of Coruscant
Commanders and leaders
General Valorum Mark Sykes	Hannibal Barca Ismail Jazari Rocket	Commodore Caroline

The Battle over Earth (July 3–13, 2011) was the second confrontation between the Clone Guild and the Cosmonarmada Vostok in the Gem War. The full Guild fleet, under direct command of General Valorum, ambushed the CAV Blue Fleet as it entered the Solar System in pursuit of the Gem. Intervention by Coruscant devastated both fleets, forcing crash landings by the Guild flagship and the Crobuzon on opposite sides of the planet, stranding both commands.

Background

Following extensive research in the Cosmonarmada's archives, Hannibal ordered the Blue Fleet to Earth, intending to destroy the Gem. However, the Supreme Council overrode his request for all available ships to join the mission, seizing the opportunity to strip him of command and declaring the Blue Fleet a rogue element; consequently, only the Miocene Arrow joined the task force.

Although Taillesskangaru had escaped Wetickra, the Guild succeeded in acquiring enough material to continue cloning the Chosen Ones. Colonel Sykes' next objective was choxorn; Valorum assembled the starfleet, intending to abduct him from Japan.

Contact

The two fleets entered the Solar System at the same time and soon engaged. The Miocene Arrow was boarded by Clone troopers and the surviving crew, including Taillesskangaru, began evacuation. When Sykes learned Tailless had survived, he ordered the Arrow destroyed; Valorum initially complied, but as Sykes grew increasingly insubordinate he had the colonel arrested. The escape craft landed onboard the flagship Crobuzon.

Coruscanti intervention

Coruscanti Star Destroyers focusing fire on the Crobuzon.

The Coruscanti navy now joined the battle. Communications systems disabled, the Crobuzon was unable to respond to the hail and was shot down. The fleet then turned on the Guild; losses mounting, Valorum deployed an emergency EMP countermeasure to allow evacuation of surviving forces, accidentally knocking out his own ship. Surviving forces on both sides retreated.

Aftermath

Having tracked the Crobuzon's descent, Fleet Admiral Brown ordered follow-up reconnaissance to identify and "harass" the survivors. By the time the patrol reached the crash site, however, the crew had abandoned ship, avoiding detection via a secret submarine.