Diab Theatre

The Diab theatre is a major theatre of operations between the Warlord Pact and Peacekeeper Alliance in the Great War. Fighting began in the fourth year of the war during Operation Stormbreaker when Margan forces, covering the withdrawal of their Pact allies, attacked outlying Diab colonies to draw their attention away from the front, ultimately contributing to the failure of Stormbreaker a few months later. Fighting resumed in earnest when the Pact launched a three-pronged invasion of Diab space as part of Operation Sledgehammer and established a sizeable foothold within Diab territory.

Two years later, Pact forces secured both Lichos and Veos, the latter of which had successfully resisted invasion during Sledgehammer. A few months later, the Pact then began Operation Thaelvak, another major offensive. Though initially successful, the operation regressed into a stalemate following the Battle of Embaelos, where the command fleet of the Repzork 277th armada suffered heavy casualties. The Diabs launched a counteroffensive into the 'Thaelvak Salient' in year 9, but this to bogged down due to persistent Pact counterattacks. But the chaos caused by the collapse of the Saracin Empire, combined with the Pact needing to spread its forces across a growing number of battlefronts, took its toll on Pact defenses. The Diabs breached the salient late into year 10 and encircled millions of Pact forces. After a year of bloody and disorganized fighting, the Pact withdrew from the salient. The Diab pursued and broke into the foothold in an attempt to capture Baltreos, the Pact's command center in the region, but were forced to withdraw as Asanian forces began attacking Diab territory elsewhere. Staggering losses on both sides caused a relative lull in the fighting, though sporadic skirmishes were commonplace. In response to the disaster, the Repzork replaced the commanding sector marshal, Yuluvar Eras, with Thalkae Xelnir, a Telkevan-class sapient artificial intelligence masquerading as a normal officer. Shortly afterward, the Necraal Schism broke out, causing Warlord infighting as Pact forces and Necraal rebels unsuccessfully attempted to apprehend Hor'or loyalists.

In year 13, the Diabs attacked Pact colonies supplying the foothold, particularly those of the Repzork. The unexpected attack caused a pause in supply shipments and for a time pulled Pact attention away from the foothold, allowing the Diabs to reclaim a few outlying colonies, though they were once again repelled when the Repzork began Operation Counterweight and deployed an immense surge of troops into the region in preparation for a new offensive. Before the operation was launched, the Margan returned from the Void and offered their support to the Pact, which readily accepted their aid despite the resentment of many officials. The Warlords then began a new offensive, during which time the Margan encountered the Asanians and swiftly inducted them into the Pact. The Necraal returned in force soon after following the deissipation of the Ion storms, firmly swinging the theatre back in the Pact's favor.

History
See also: Great War

Year 4
Main page: Operation Stormbreaker

By the fourth year of the Great War, the conflict had decidedly turned in the Pact's favor, with the Peacekeepers on the defense on all fronts and the Rach military near the point of total collapse. It was during this period that the Peacekeepers established contact with the Empire of Diablos, which joined the Alliance with the aim of deterring Pact aggression and fighting what they saw as worthy adversaries. With the Diabs as the vanguard, the Peacekeepers initiated Operation Stormbreaker with the goal of shattering the Pact's military supremacy. Warlord forces suffered heavy casualties in the opening battles and began withdrawing across all fronts. The Margan stayed behind to guard the retreat, and in the ensuing engagement, the Verdant Flail Dynasty breached Alliance lines and attacked the Diab mainland, targeting logistics and production facilities. Fighting would rage for two months before the Verdant Flail was repelled, but their efforts contributed to the failure of Stormbreaker later that year.

Year 5
Main pages: Operation Downfall, Vedrthar Front

When Pact officials convened to plan Operation Downfall following the Peacekeeper retreat, many were eager to exact revenge upon the Diabs. For the first phase of Downfall, Operation Sledgehammer, great emphasis was placed on limiting the Diab's future offensive capabilities so as to prevent a repeat of Stormbreaker. The Pact settled on a plan to establish to permanent foothold within Diab space from which future offensives could be launched directly into the mainland. The Vedrthar Sector, a major hub for Diab military forces, was chosen as the target, with its capitol of Baltreos as the main objective.

Anticipating a prolonged and bloody war of attrition, a vast number of Warlord troops were dedicated to the Diab wing of Downfall. These forces were organized into three battle groups:


 * 1st Battle Group: Margan Fleet of the Morning Star under the command of General Apulon of the Verdant Flail Dynasty and the Gyrr 3rd Tazorag Battle Fleet under War Chief Bhatuzorig.


 * 2nd Battle Group: Zaretian 7th Fleet under Lord General Atlas, Necraal 31st Shock Fleet under Commandant Var, and the Gyrr 12th Tanzag Auxiliary Fleet.


 * 3rd Battle Group: Repzork 57th Combined Armada, comprised of the 277th, 14th, and 537th armadas under Sector Marshal Yuluvar Eras and the Gyrr 20th Khonghan Auxiliary Fleet.

With the commencement of Operation Downfall, all three battlegroups advanced towards the Vedrthar sector. Fighting began when the 1st Battle Group engaged elements of the Diab 399th fleet around Sevethos but quickly spread across Vedrthar as the Pact expanded their front. Though the Diabs had been anticipating an attack, they were unprepared for the scale of the invasion and quickly began losing ground despite dogged resistance. The Diab Outer Fleet deployed the 496th, 523rd, 112th, and the 10th fleets to reinforce the sector, but despite inflicting heavy casualties on the invaders, they were unable to halt the Warlord's advance. Within the first few months of fighting, several colonies, including Sevethos, Urdos, Alvainos, and Glasos were captured by the Pact. With each victory, the 537th armada, as well as rear elements from the other two battle groups, stayed behind to fortify their new holdings and secure their supply lines.

Once they had cleared a path, Pact forced pushed towards the core of the Vedrthar sector, beginning the First Battle of Baltreos. The 3rd battle group focused its forces on Baltreos and the surrounding colonies as the 1st and 2nd battle groups moved to surround the region and prevent Diab reinforcements from reaching the capitol. The encirclement failed, however, as the Margan were stalled at Falkeos, providing Diab forces a relatively secure route into the region. Ferious urban combat erupted across Baltreos as the Diabs contested every inch of ground, stalling the Pact's advance. But attrition was taking its toll on the defenders, whose situation became dire when Pact forces broke the stalemate at Falkeos and conquered the planet, closing the only secure route to Baltreos. Reinforcements attempted to punch through Pact lines but were unsuccessful, sealing Baltreos' fate. The defenders would nevertheless fight to the last man, earning considerable respect from the Repzork, who would later construct a statue of the ancient Diab goddess Haratahavi in honor of those who died defending the planet.

With Baltreos secure, the Pact continued its advance into Vedrthar. Much of the sector would fall into Pact hands after more bitter fighting, but the Diabs scored a major victory against the 14th armada at Veos, where the Diab 112th fleet crippled the Repzork's Ikatan star base, which had to be scuttled to prevent its capture. Nevertheless, though the offensive began to lose momentum, attacks would continue until the destruction of the Rach's stealth generators, signaling the end of Operation Sledgehammer and the beginning of the invasion of Norsus. Pact forces subsequently withdrew to the new Baltreos Foothold. The Diabs would attack the foothold at several points, but were unable to break its defenses.

Years 7-9: Renewed Pact Offensives
Main page: Lichos Front, Battle of Lichos, Second Battle of Veos, Operation Thaelvak, Battle of Embaelos 

Year 10-12: Operation Iron Gauntlet
Main page: Operation Iron Gauntlet, Battle of Helia, Second Battle of Baltreos, Asanian Front

Year 13-15: Outer-World Assaults & Operation Counterweight
Main page: Outer World Assaults, Operation Counterweight

Year 16-present: Margan Return
Main page: Battle of Mardos