Battle of Desolation Moon

Fifth Battle of Desolation Moon
Part of the Phoenix Republican Uprising
Date	March 5322 AE
Location	[Some System]
Result	Pyrrhic Imperial Victory
Belligerents
Phoenix Empire	Jardin Republic
Commanders and Leaders
Fairika Ettiene bint Dunyazade al Lasalle	Jean-Emmanuel Killy
Roger Eric de Brightstar
Otto Alfons Krecek-Zervina
Units Involved
SMS Surfrir	Citadel de Paine Pursuit Group
131 Flotilla
Strength
9 Ships	12 Ships
Casualties & Losses
1,000+ Killed	1,000+ Killed
2 Heavy Cruisers Foundered	3 Cruisers Foundered
4 Destroyers Foundered	8 Destroyers Foundered

The Fifth Battle of Desolation Moon was a naval battle of the Phoenix Republican Uprising between ships of the Imperial Navy and Starforce and the Jardin Navy, fought on March 5322 AE. A pursuit group under the command of Commodore Jean-Emmanuel Killy translated in-system with the intent of scattering the Imperial forces regrouping at Port Hampton and return the escaped P.O.W. Colonel Fairika Ettiene bint Dunyazade al-Lasalle - commanding the liberated armored cruiser Surfrir - to custody. The assembled scratch force of Imperial stragglers attempted to escape through the Starways deeper into friendly territory but were intercepted in the orbit of Desolation Moon.

The destroyers on both engaging in a spectacularly violent close quarters melee on the moon's far side. Outnumbered, the Imperial screen was destroyed in a matter of minutes as their Jardin counterparts hurled themselves nigh-suicidally upon the cruisers behind. Fending off their attacks the Imperial cruisers formed up line abreast and retreated in a clockwise orbit around Desolation Moon, slingshotting themselves to the Starway with Jardin pursuit hot on their heels. During the resulting stern chase three Jardin and two Imperial Cruisers foundered in rapid secession, including Commodore Killy's flagship. In the aftermath, Colonel Fairika extended a ceasefire to JNS Fantine in order for both sides to conduct SAR and leave the system.

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