System: Xhosa VII

Xhosa VII is a world of barren plains, interrupted by mountain chains and thick forests. It is rich in deposits of metals and chemical energy resources. The planet's population has tended to cluster about the five main spaceports, leaving the rest of the planet only sparsely inhabited by loggers, hunters, and farmers. The capital city is named New Xhosa.

[3039] Kanrei Kurita himself led the Operation Orochi assault on Xhosa VII - the Draconis Combine’s feigned counter-invasion of the Federated Suns during the War of 3039 - taking the Ryuken-go across the Combine/FedSuns border in late July and hitting Xhosa VII on 3 August. He didn’t have the entire Ryuken-go with him, however; one battalion continued on to Clovis while the third battalion remained on their JumpShip, ready to instantly respond to wherever it was needed.

The Kanrei struck hard, initially grounding just outside of Ginti and taking control of the warehouses there. Kurita hit the veritable jackpot; normally home to the Davion Light Guards, Ginti had but a relatively small garrison and still housed a great deal of materiel and supplies for the Light Guards. The Ryuken suffered heavy casualties, but they made off with almost more booty than they could carry, allowing them to operate for months more.

The Kanrei spent most of the rest of the month on the world, striking target after target. He eventually brought in the final Ryuken battalion, making the world’s defenders believe a second regiment had come in to finish the job, so to speak. The two Ryuken battalions worked in concert and individually, further confusing Xhosa’s militia, but primarily targeted the bases and facilities normally occupied by the Light Guards.

On 26 August, the Kanrei left the world and made his way to Exeter while the third Ryuken battalion continued their own raids on the world. Surprisingly, it wouldn’t be until early November that the AFFS would finally send any significant forces to oppose the Ryuken (a “free” regiment of conventional armor landed in early September, but half the regiment fell prey to a surprise coordinated Ryuken air and ground strike). Marshal Winston Vaskursian, having led the Seventh Crucis Lancers and Second New Ivaarsen Chasseurs away from New Mendham, grounded and deployed his significant forces to counter the reported two enemy BattleMech regiments on the planet.

His aerial reconnaissance soon told him that his enemy was barely battalion-strength, however, and he immediately sent as much as he could against them as quickly as he could. Less than an hour of battle was all that was required to send the Ryuken packing; they lifted off under heavy fire, losing one DropShip and more than a company of ‘Mechs. The Ryuken did manage to get away with thousands of tons of supplies, though, tempering the victory. The Ryuken battalion returned to the Combine heroes, their job done well.

There are no functional factories located on this planet.