| Siege of Demarco Colony | |
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| Date: | December 24th, UC 0096 - January 1st, UC 0097 |
| Conflict: | Zeon Civil War |
| Combatants: | |
| Region: | Demarco Colony, Nexus Sector, Space |
| Status: | Zenora Victory... |
| Outcome: |
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| Creator: | 2091riveraisrael |
The Siege of Demarco also known as The Battle of Demarco was a key engagement in the Zeon Civil War, from December 24th, UC.0096, to January 1st, UC.0097, fought between the Principality of Zeon and Zenora Empire for control of Demarco Colony.
The Battle was known to repel the Zenora Invasion, despite overwhelming odds on the colony surface with the arrival of both Heirshy and Char Aznable with reinforcements from Zaden, the victory however would be short lived as Gryps II was then fired on the colony breaking it in half.
It was from this engagement, in which the Principality of Zeon was able to learn about the Gryps II Colony lazer.
In the outcome of this disastrous engagement, the Principality of Zeon abandoned the ruined colony and retreated to both Corrusilum and Wreath Colonies.
The destruction of Demarco also led to the complete and total annihilation of Nexus Sector, leaving only Sierra Colony the only Principality of Zeon intact, and under Zenora Imperial Rule.
Prior to the Events[]
Following the fall of Sierra Colony, including the crushing failed counterattack that was suffered by the Principality of Zeon on November 16th, UC 0096, Zenora forces immediately began to dig in, in and outside Sierra Colony, for in the wake of a second Zeon Counterattack should occur. However as the days progressed, the Principality of Zeon's counter attack had never came, thus giving the Zenora military forces the time they needed in order to muster up their forces, in order to prepare for a full scale blitz of Sierra Colony's neighbor colony to the east Demarco, which if they were to conduct a victory at Demarco, could allow the Zenora Imperial the ability to expand their foothold within Zeon Space, and roll over all remaining Zeon colonies within the week, plus crushing Side 3 from 4 different sides, rendering the colony, nearly impossible to defend from 4 different locations.
However, as plans were thought up, the Principality of Zeon at the time during the month long wait, had been conducting trainings led by Char Aznable, which in turn was able to boost the moral of the distraught Zeon pilots, in hopes of making even the old One Year War era mobile suits that the Principality of Zeon possessed at this very moment, at least easier to fight and evade more modernized mobile suits, even if their mobile suits were not fast enough, nor durable enough compared to the Zenora Imperial modern day mobile suits, while also dodging funnel fire.
During the training, Zeon ground infantry, including armored battalions and air force pilots were also trained on how to strike and deal decisive blows against mobile suit targets, by aiming at the weak spots, while also learning to be quick in hitting them before they could dodge out of the way. These teachings would soon be put to the ultimate test on December 24th, UC 0096 on Christmas Eve, when Zenora the army of the Zenora 3rd Orbital Shock Troopers arrived and Invaded Demarco Colony, taking over a vast amount of the colony's interior while also establishing an orbital blockade in space in hopes of preventing any future Zeon counter attack.
With the use of every mobile suit that the Principality of zeon had used ever since the One Year War, Zeon forces now under both the commands of Rear Admiral Kycilia Zabi and Dozle Zabi.
The Siege[]
Space Warfare[]
Eastern Orbital Breakthrough[]
The first of the Principality of Zeon's official battle group arrived at around 2:00 in the afternoon, where they immediately began the deployment of Mobile Suits and its smaller Musai class cruiser in order to begin the great engagement against the Zenora Imperial navy.
Dozle's battlegroup, while it was engaged with the Zenora blockade gave Admiral Kycilia's battlegroup, that was fitted with heavy cruisers battleships, and Dolos Carriers, the advantage she needed in order to hit the Zenora cruisers from the flank eventually causing the Zenora forces to divide its forces from both east and west, in order to prevent the Principality of Zeon from descending on Demarco.
Heirshy was launched along with Char Aznable, and M'Quve in order to help clear the way for the Zeon fleet to approach Demarco from the east.
Heirshy, Char and M'Quve were successful in breaking through a Zenora cruiser that was holding its ground on F Field, further allowing a massive break through in the Zenora orbital lines, gaining Kycilia entry through the blockade, but were still met with fierce resistance from Zenora, as all 3 Zeon aces, Heirshy Char, and M'Quve would have to escort the fleet until it is able to decimate what was left of the eastern flank.
Despite a hard fight that nearly lasted 2 hours on the eastern front of the war in space, Heirshy was able to secure the main entrance to enter Demarco Colony from the side, allowing the Principality of Zeon orbital fleet to decimate an entire section of the Zenora Imperial blockade around Demarco, and begin the deployment of GAW Carriers to the Colony interior.
Western Orbital Breakthrough[]
Though Admiral Kycilia's group was able to break through the eastern defenders, Dozle was experiencing difficulty with newly developed Zenora Imperial long range fire Battleships, which was causing a severe toll against his light cruisers, and even destroyed 2 of his Dolos Carriers. As a result, of the heavily entrenched western fleet, many Zeon mobile suits were easily shot down before they could even make it within range of the Conga-class battleship's main close range guns, prompting Heirshy, Char and M'Quve to intervene and aide Admiral Dozle in their breakthrough, to the Colony's western dockline, so that Dozle can begin deployment of his forces as well.
As Heirshy, attacked from the center with a large squad of Gelgoogs, Char Aznable attacked from the left with Zaku II's and Rick Doms, while M'Quve attacked on the right through the use of Gyans, and Zaku I's, the point of this attack was to try and destroy at least 3 of the lighter Zenora class cruisers so that Zeon Mobile suits could make it over to attack the long range Conga-class battleships in the rear.
Though it proved difficult in taking on the Zenora defneses, all 3 aces were succesfully able to breach the outer line, allowing Dozle's fleet to move through, and engage the Conga, destroying the prototype Zenora Battleship, and finally opeining up the way to the Western gate to Demarco.
Battle for Entry into Demarco[]
With the Zenora orbital blockade now reduced to ruble, and reinforcements arriving from the unfinished colony of Corga, the 3 aces of Zeon were then separated in order to take part in the assault for both main side gates on Demarco Colony, while the Corga fleet focused on the main entrance of the Colony.
Zenora forces knowing that the Principality of Zeon had broken through its orbital defenses, immediately locked down the Colony, in hopes of preventing Zeon forces from entering the inside, which would force the Principality of Zeon to fight for all 3 space gates in hopes of overruling the lock down, and reopening the colony again. Fighting for the gates were hard to conduct, due to the Zenora forces heavily fortifying the giant metal hallways, which in turn took both Zeon Mobile Suits and ground forces to clear. On the North the Corga based fleet was unable to make it to the front gate, due to heavy resistance, forcing the fleet to instead rely on heavy bombardment of Demarco Colony's front gate, while the other 2 battle groups focused on the Eastern and Western gates.
Heirshy made a wager on who would clear the gates first, and competed with Char and M'Quve on the western front while he was on the East, where eventually by the late afternoon, Heirshy was able to win the wager and allowed the Principality of Zeon entry into the colony from the east.
The western gate was secured just 4 minutes after Heirshy had cleared the Eastern gate, thus allowing the Principality of Zeon to finally send their forces into the Colony in order to begin the great counter attack.
War Inside Demarco[]
Battle for Desumus[]
Upon entry into Demarco, the Principality of Zeon had unleashed all mobile suits that they had from the One Year War, while engaged in battle with the Zenora Imperial mobile suits, while at the same time landing ground troops and ground tanks, in order to try and reclaim some of the towns and cities that were in ruble following the Invasion hours earlier.
As fighting for the Colony raced on, the Principality of Zeon's training since the Fall of Sierra Colony, had paid off, for within less than 30 minutes, the Principality of Zeon were able to trap the Zenora forces within the city of Desumus, the capital of Demarco Colony, the Zenora EMpire now were suffering the same fate that Zeon had suffered at Demarco last month, and were now cut off and surrounded.
Although they were cut off, they were still able to repel wave after wave of Zeon forces, and ground forces, while at the same time destroying more of the capital city in order to use as cover, some skyscrapers were demolished by Zenora Mobile suits and were reshaped to act as a bunker and pill box for the mobile suits, while giant ravines were even dug up to act as trenches, in hope of preventing the Zeon ground army from getting any closer to the city.
As Night fell, the Principality of Zeon were able to launch a full scale offensive from the east, where Heirshy was able to cover the Principality of Zeon as they were erecting a bridge across the ravine, where as a result allowed the Principality of Zeon entry into the city from the East.
With Zeon mobile suits now advancing into the city ruins, the Zenora defense soon broke apart, similar to how Zeon's did in November, allowing the rest of the Zeon main force to cross over the ravine, and overrun the city by December 25th, UC 0096, prompting a Zeon victory within the capital city, and destroying a large portion of Zenora's military occupational forces on the ground.
The Principality of Zeon would then celebrate Christmas in the ruins of Desmus, knowing that the Zenora Empire has no reserves on the colony, and could not launch a successful counterattack against the city.
Fight for the Colony[]
After Christmas day, the Principality of Zeon renewed their assault on the rest of the Colony, as the Zenora Empire struggled to hold the ground that they had conquered a day earlier, but as hours progressed, mixed in with the trainings taught by Char Aznable, the forces of Zeon were able to steamroll over most of the Zenora defenses, while at the same time opening up the main gate on December 28th, UC 0096.
However to the North, the Zenora Empire was able to launch a successful counter attack against Dozle's forces, forcing the Principality of Zeon out of the city of Roma, and halting the Zeon advance in the North.
Despite this turn of events, the Principality of Zeon were able to secure and reclaim fort Grenora, a Zeon Fortress that was meant to house the military forces that were defending the colony prior to Zenora's take over, further allowing the ground forces to make their way North, and West at the same time in hopes of both liberating the cities of Azgarth and Zazifar. Zenora was unable to hold off the Principality of Zeon at Zazifar, and were later forced to abandon the ruins of the city reinforcing Roma to the North.
At this point on December 30th, UC 0096, the Principality of Zeon was able to successfully reclaim over 89 percent of Demarco Colony, while preventing any Zenora forces from getting away. Char Aznable was successful in launching multiple raids behind Zenora lines in order to destroy fuel depots, ammunition checkpoints for Zenora mobile suits, and supplies, further killing the defenders at Roma, while they have been under siege for the last 4 days.
M'Quve led an offensive against the main Zenora line at Gerta Park on December 31st, UC 0096, and was able to successfully break through the Zenora defenses within the park and link up with Char's unit in the deep north while Heirshy and the main Zeon forces to the South continued to hammer their way into Roma.
With the city on the verge of being overrun, Leader of the Zenora Invasion Admiral William Cortex, relayed the failure of the Invasion, and instead ordered Code 1315, to Zenora High Command, before shooting himself on January 1st, UC 0097 on New Years day preventing his capture to Zeon military forces.
Sudden Turn of Events[]
With Admiral Cortex gone, leadership within the Zenora garrisons in Roma and remaining occupied territories fell into chaos, as the Principality of Zeon began to overrun the colony, leading to young captain Samuel Harlock to organize a retreat out of the Colony, before the Principality of Zeon could eradicate them.
Little did he know, was that this would be the last order that he would ever make as by 4:15 PM on January 1st, UC 0097, a sudden enormous blast of lazer fire blast straight through the Demarco, obliterating Harlock, along with the entire city of Roma, along with the entire midsection of the colony.
Evacuation of Demarco Colony[]
Once the sudden turn of events soon made Demarco unstable, as the colony began to break apart from within, forcing what was left of the Principality of Zeon to start abandoning the colony and back to the fleet outside.
Evacuation made it nearly impossible, as those who no longer were in Mobile Suits died imminently from the lack of oxygen that was conducted once Demarco had broken in too, therefore killing all Zeon ground troops, with the exception of some in the tanks, and mobiles suits, along with the entire Colony's Civilian population.
With Time running out and the Colony breaking up, the Principality of Zeon Space forces worked through great lengths to bring in as much ground based mobile suits that they could, while Musai Cruisers even entered into the Colony in order to evade in the evacuation. Within a matter of minutes, time had completely run out, and the colony shriveled to pieces, killing 30,000 Zeon forces who were not in mobile suits, along with 400,000 Zenora forces who were still in the city prior to the colonial lazer strike.
Aftermath[]
After evacuating Demarco Colony, what was left of the Colony broke apart, leaving only 2 halves of what used to be one of the Principality of Zeon's most largest colony in their space destroyed. The turn of event came as a shock to the Zabi Family and the entire Zeon population, while Char Aznable declared this move as a form of Cowardice, while the Zabi Family in general saw this form of action as massive aggression against a civilian population.
News of the destruction of Demarco spread like wildfire among the entire Zaon Colonial space section, with many citizens crying out of mourning while others cried out of rage against Zenora once again, as if it were Side-9 all over again.
By January 29th, UC 0097 after several weeks of mourning the loss of Demarco Colony, Supreme Commander Gihren Zabi held an emergency war meeting at Ruined A Baoa Qu, in order to discuss war plans and a possible search for the colony lazer that destroyed one of their largest colonies in their space. This question was answered quickly, by Char Aznable who declared that it was Gryps II that destroyed Demarco, and even mentioned how the Colony Lazer was once a battle ground back in UC 0088, at the time of the Gryps War, when Titans AEUG and Axis Zeon forces were fighting a 3 way battle against each other, and how the Colony Lazer was fired once during the engagement, obliterating what was left of the Titan fleet.
When asked about it by Heirshy, Char stated that he was able to recognize the blast due to the size, when he first fought there during the Gryps War.
With the Principality of Zeon's discovery of the Colony Lazer Grips II, Supreme Commander Gihren came up with a plan to try and assault the ColonY Lazer in order to prevent it, from being used against them twice, where by February 12th, of UC 0097, the Principality of Zeon after having to spend 1 month in morning, and recovering would then begin the Gryps Campaign.
On the Zenora side, the destruction of Demarco Colony further prevented, a full Zenora blitz into Zeon Territory, while at the same time shocking most of the soldiers prior to the colony's destruction where they after having to spend the first days of the war being unstoppable with only minor loses began to take a heavy toll, this further got Kox Ernest to not underestimate the Principality of Zeon even if they were older then they were, and plans were soon changed with skill, in hopes of matching the Principality of Zeon's strategies, making it over to Side 3 before UC 0098.
Trivia[]
- The Siege of Demarco, all though destroyed on January 1st, UC 0097 and declared as a Zenora victory, was actually the first Battle since the start of the War where the Principality of Zeon were able to defeat Zenora Modernized Mobile suits in both space and within the Colony...
- The Destruction of Demarco according to Heirshy was the Equivalent of Operation British on how the Principality of Zeon dropped a Colony on Earth, only now the roles were reverse and it was the Principality of Zeon now suffering the massive tragedy, only by a Colony Lazer instead of an orbital Colony drop, due to them being in Space and not on Earth...
- It is unknown why the Zenora Empire chose to destroy Demarco Colony, or inflict their own version of Operation British on the Principality of Zeon, though it could be stated that this along with the Side-9 Massacre could be described as Karma coming back to bite the Principality of Zeon due to all of the deaths and lives that were taken caused by them in the One Year War...
- The Battle for Demarco was the first battle in the Zeon Civil War, where every Principality of Zeon Mobile Suit was used in Battle, as during the Invasions of Side-9 and Sierra Colony, it was mostly just Zaku II's I,s and Doms defending the colonies at the time...
- It was said that the victory conducted by all the Mobile Suits in the Principality of Zeon taking part, forever changed the outcome on how the Principality of Zeon conducted battle throughout the remainder of the war, and would send in all Its Mobile Suits to the frontlines, even when newer more modernized Mobile suits were being created as the war progressed.
- The Destruction of Demarco is what led to the Principality of Zeon's discovery of Gryps II, and the Gryps Campaign...
- The Battle of Demarco was the final engagement in Nexus Sector, as the Sector was abandoned by the Principality of Zeon on the 29th, of January in UC 0097, leaving the Zenora Empire to claim control of the sector...