Battles of the Sino-Russian Arm
The Battle of Zhang Te: In the Skies
Pre-battle
Zhang Te, having broken free from the Chinese arm proper, presented a glaring gap in the Chinese defensive line. Its FTL path presents an alternate pathways along the Chinese arm, allowing Russian forces to bypass many standard paths. Zhang Te rebuffs attempts to negotiate integration into China, opting to remain neutral; a stable independent economy and sizable military force support this choice of action. Rumours of Russian ambassadors landing on the planet led to outcry and calls for the colony's reconquest. When Zhang Te broke off all negotiations, this pushed China to action.
After much deliberation, China sent a fleet to retake Zhang Te, with the goal of reasserting government control and preventing Zhang Te's suspected alliance with Russia. Admiral Cao Heng-Tong, an elder commander, led the Joint Assault Force against the system, meeting up with a secondary force led by the younger Admiral Shao Wen-Lu. The operation plan was to crush the naval forces and engage in a series of blitzkrieg-style ground assaults to overwhelm the Zhang Te supersoldier forces. Reports suggested that Zhang Te naval power was significantly less than that of their ground forces, and the force was designed to achieve space superiority quickly. Russian intervention was considered, and Admiral Shao was tasked with watching and intercepting any Russian involvement.
Zhang Te, using a collection of old contacts from pre-breakdown, manages to catch wind of the assault, preparing its forces. While deciding to hold its own defense, Zhang Te makes a deal with Russia to 'purchase' a fleet of ships, crewed by 'volunteers' that will man and advise the Zhang Te captains. Admiral Xu Jeng, a heavily-augmented military leader from the Breakdown, leads the defense, preparing a defense close to the planet.
Battle
Chinese Forces
Chinese 1st Assault Task Force
Commander: Admiral Cao Heng-Tong
Chinese 2nd Assault Task Force
Commander: Admiral Shao Wen-Lu
Zhang Te Forces
Commander: Admiral Xu Jeng
Russian Forces
Commander: Admiral Roman Doschevo
Overview
-Chinese Forces arrive at Zhang Te space, to discover enemy fleet in defensive position. Admiral Cao immediately began advance, directing Shao and his own unit to spread out, and attempt to breach the enemy line. Zhang Te's forces seem to have anticipated the attack, having assumed defensive lines; they are substantially outnumbered by the joint forces.
-Initial clashes prove surprisingly indecisive, much to Cao's surprise; Zhang Te's Admiral Xu adopts a strategy of hit-and-run attacks, breaking attention from the main line. Mine-fields slow the Chinese advance, but overwhelming firepower lead to the loss of several cruisers. The minefield is cleared, as Shao remains as reserve.
-Russian Forces arrive suddenly as the fighting reaches a still-point, demanding Chinese withdrawal. Admiral Shao moves to engage the Russian Fleet as it attempts to reinforce the Zhang Te line, resulting in a clash near the planet. Russian presence brings the battle to a nearer parity, but China still holds a numerical advantage.
-Zhang Te forces are forced back to avoid heavy casualties, losing some of its orbital position. Cao pursues, and Admiral Xu suddenly reverses direction, catching the fleet by surprise and cutting past them to regain orbital position. As the 1st Fleet attempts to exploit the maneuver to outflank Zhang Te, one battlecruiser, Bloody Red Morning, suddenly diverts to blindside the pursuing forces. Captain Yan Ming of the vessel, seeing an opportunity, attempted to break into the Chinese fleet and halt their maneuver; her gamble pays off, stopping the assault on the Zhang Te forces. Cruisers advance to meet the confused Chinese fleet, and command breaks down, leading to the destruction of several heavy warships.
-Cao forced to withdraw, Shao ordered to pull back to regroup. Shao does so, allowing the Russian fleet to bolster the Zhang He line.
-Tensions rise between Cao and Shao over the battle during planning, as Cao refuses to call for reinforcements. The older general, feeling that he made a grave error in not launching ground forces, plans a second attack to break through to the planet's surface and ravage the planetary defenses; Shao insists that this will leave them open to counterattack by the Russians, and that they should wait for support and engage in a protracted naval war. Cao pulls rank, ignoring Shao's request; meanwhile, Zhang Te and Russia regroup and prepare.
-The Chinese fleets merge, and prepare a joint attack on the orbital defenses, applying their full force. Zhang Te and Russian forces hold the line, folding out to prevent flank attacks; then, Shao orders several of his cruisers to break away, cutting around the defenses and attempting to rush a portion of the planetary defenses. Heavy fighter and suit combat leads to heavy damages on either side.
-Shao attempts to clear a section of the planetary defenses quickly, preparing to launch drop pods, as the defenders beat against Cao's defensive wall. However, Cao's defense falters under a sudden surge by Russian forces, taxing his already-damaged forces. Russian battleships break and flank the remainder of the Chinese bulwark, as Zhang Te Falls back onto the orbital guns, leading several overzealous cruisers to their deaths before advancing to mop up. Cao's capital ship is crippled in the fight, as Russian forces break through to engage Shao.
-Shao's attempts to remove GTO systems prove too slow, and he withdraws the remainder of his forces from Cao's defenses in order to protect his landing forces. The maneuver leaves them open to Russian pursuit, causing most to be lost before they're able to regroup. Seeing Cao's forces breaking under Zhang Te assault and the loss of command, Shao withdraws from his attempts at Planetfall, choosing to save his forces. Shao and his forces manage to escape the Russian fleet, leaving the system.
Results
China: Admiral Cao is captured by the Zhang Te forces, and his fleet is almost entirely decimated. Shao suffers significant losses, and is forced to withdrawal to the nearest Chinese sector to regroup. The entire operation is an embarrassing defeat for the Chinese, though reports decisively place defeat on Cao's pride. The captured admiral is ransomed back to the Chinese, despite two attempts at suicide, and his third occurs upon his arrival in home space.
The Russian Fleet is heavily ravaged in the battle. Zhang Te offers help in repairing the ships, lending materials and manpower, and the Admiral returns in much better shape than he thought. Russian and Zhang Te relations were strengthened greatly; Russian/Zhangte trade increases. Russia responds to Chinese accusations saying that the ships were purchased to deal with Exhuman uprisings in the Zhang Te sector, as a gesture of goodwill, and received volunteers to that end. China made no protest.
Zhang Te establishes itself as an independent force to be reckoned with. Captain Yan Ming is praised for her daring maneuver and awarded by Admiral Xu with a greater command and promotion. Efforts increase into building the Zhang Te naval forces, as well as research into mobile suits and ground forces. Concerns over Chinese retaliations were raised; in addition, some officials were concerned that Russian influences would exert themselves on Zhang Te's independence. The battle was a wake-up call to how tenuous Zhang Te's position was in the Chinese arm, and how vigilant they'd have to be.