Operation Snow Crystal

Operation Snow Crystal (late ICY 959) is a special military operation of the Humankind Empire of Abh to annex the Federation of Hania in whole. This new military operation began shortly before the attack on the Imperial Capital Lakfakalle.

Background
In ICY 959, the leadership of the Federation of Hania offered to defect to the Empire with the Federation itself as a "dowry". Whether this is the truth or a plot to trap the Empire is unknown. However, it is certain that alliance friendly elements within the Federation where plotting to take over and attack the Empire. Despite this Empress Ramaj decided to take the opportunity in order to shorten the war and lessen the casualties.

Implementation
In I.C.Y 959, Federation Ambassador Tin Kuihan approached Prime Minister Burash with the offer from the Hania Federation to come under Imperial rule. Until then the Federation had been inactive in the War and recently even seceded from the Alliance. This move had stirred internal conflict and split the elites into two factions. Further, the ruling elite feared repercussion from the Alliance. The newly appointed Burash supported this offer, even though, it came secretly from the minority. Armed Forces General Staff Chief Faramunsh offered three operational concept plans.
 * 1) Aggressive approach, Quick Offensive
 * 2) *13th Twin Thorns Fleet invades the Federation alone, and revolving around the Central Zone subdues the People's Sovereign Stellar Union star system.
 * 3) *Forces within the Kryb, the Skiil and the Barkzedel Kingdom are redeployed; troops from the Kryb Kingdom move into the Federation. The remaining units of the two kingdoms are almost only for defense, and can only slowly perform an invasion.
 * 4) *The contingency plan would have a Force able to stop the Federation attack on the capital emerge from the capital, and with the 13th Twin Thorns Fleet cutting the supply line.
 * 5) Conservative approach, The Deliberate Crawl
 * 6) *Forces from the three kingdoms are diverted to the Larych Kingdom.
 * 7) *Reserve fleets 1st and 15th Twin Thorns Fleets are redeployed to the front line.
 * 8) *The 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Twin Thorns Fleets are organized into two groups, conquering the Federation territory around the Kryb Kingdom. The reserves of the kingdoms are untouched.
 * 9) Risky Approach, Two Spearheads
 * 10) *Similar to the conservative approach to mass large number of forces but,
 * 11) *Forces from the Kryb Kingdom's reserves invade while forces from the Skiil Kingdom rush to fill in the defensive gaps.

Burash intent on seizing the historic event, pushed for a quick and low political disaster plan; Invasion Plan No. ,. Despite uncertainty concerning the enemy's strength. Empress Ramaj aimed for a quick end of the war, and the risky plan was put into motion.

Invasion Plan 3
The reserve fleets and reserves from fleets of Operation Twin Thorns are mobilized and moved to the front. Reserves from fleets 11th to 14th form the new fleets of the Operation. Grand Admiral Kotoponi's fleet will serve as the main fleet. The fleets are divided into two groups to circumnavigate the galactic central sord group. Defense forces from the Kryb Kingdom invade as a third group, while forces from the Skiil Kingdom fill in between.

Beginning of Operation
Operation Snow Crystal began soon after Operation Twin Thorns was complete.

Aftermath
With the territories of the Federation of Hania assimilated the Empire would presumably control two-thirds of humanity. The forces from the Skiil Kingdom had not yet had time to redeploy, and the Kryb Kingdom's forces focused on the attack would have little to spare in defense and recon. Hania had turned the Abh preference for conquering space rather than worlds against them; trading space for time and surprise.

Hania sprung a surprise strategic offensive against the Kryb Kingdom. With Skiil's forces out of position and Kryb's defenses lowered, this culminated in the Battle of Kryb, which would take a tactical Abh victory and turn the situation in a dire strategic one. The Humankind Empire of Abh now had lost the initiative and now had to react and fight on terms the now Four Nations Alliance dictated.