Operation Twin Thorns

Operation Twin Thorns  (ICY 959) was an offensive operation of the Humankind Empire of Abh against the Four Nations Alliance, fought in the territories of the United Mankind in the Great War. The objective was to split the United Mankind in half and to isolate it from the Four Nations Alliance.

Background
As the war rages on, the Empire found it necessary to break the supply lines of the Four Nations Alliance, respectively Three Nations Alliance, in order to shorten the war.

Part 1
Split the United Mankind from the Siullzede/Rasuisu and Barke Kingdom to the galactic Sord center.

Part 2
Circum navigate the galactic Sord center and cut the connection between the United Mankind, the Republic of Greater Alkont, the People's Sovereign Union of Planets, and the Hania Federation.

Two groups of forces were created to implement the plans simultaneously. One was sent to take the Kemal system. The other was sent to take the Mairal system.

Begining of the Operation
Sometime after the Martine Gate War Games in the Hyde System, the Star Forces launched Operation Twin Thorns.

People's Sovereign Union of Planets Warzone
The operation met moderate resistance from the People's Sovereign Union of Planets on the Barke Kingdom side of the operation. Soon the Star Forces reached one of its primary target, the Kemal Sord. As the main military production base of the PSUP the Kemal system heavily defended. The battle of the Kemal Gateway claimed the most casualties on this side of the operation. The PSUP's use of long-range mines effectively slowed Star Force advance, but ultimately the Star Forces broke through. The new attack ships of the Devastation squadrons from the 24th Twin Thorns fleet proved their value in the main assault on the main installations around the gas planet Akaddo.

United Mankind & Republic of Greater Alcont Warzone
The Star Forces met more fierce battles with the United Mankind. It took the operation longer to reach the supply junction of the three nations triangle in the Mairal system. However, already weeks before, the Star Forces had successfully cut off the supply route to the United Mankind forces. The Republic of Greater Alcont had already reversed the flow of supply for their own while the Federation of Hania kept back. To prevent the base from falling into the Empire's grasp the United Mankind selfdestruct their base. In its place the Star Force set up their own new supply base as usual.

Aftermath
Near the end of the operation the Star Forces accomplished the destruction of one of the (Four)Three Nations Alliance most important supply bases, conquered the most important military production base of the People's Sovereign Union of Planets, and fulfilled its primary objectives of isolating the United Mankind. Following the end of the operation the Star Force initiated Operation Snow Crystal. The War was about to end a lot sooner than expected in favor of the Empire, when the Imperial capital Lakfakalle was attacked.

Territories conquered

 * Elkon system
 * Kemal system
 * Socratic system
 * Mairal system