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| 3067: Dec-Gen. Vanderhoff is killed when his DropShip is destroyed by Word of Blake forces while attempting to evacuate Tharkad. Col. John Robertson Jr. assumes command of the Blackhawks. 3068: Draconis Combine forces seize David, headquarters world of Black Mango Industries as well as home of large number of Blackhawk dependents. Blackhawks turn over defense of Kandersteg to ComStar's 208th Division and return to David to drive off Combine forces. Due to the sheer scope of the Word of Blake Jihad and the chaos spreading across the Inner Sphere, Blackhawks high command believes remaining in this current situation is increasingly untenable. Black Omega units sent out to search for possible sites to relocate. Preparations begin for possible mass migration of Blackhawks and civilian dependents. 3069: Black Omega unit locates WoB base near Tortuga Dominions. Tortuga selected as site of relocation. Plans laid out to eliminate WoB presence as well as any pirate bands still remaining in Tortugan space. Dismantling of Black Mango facilities on David and Leipsic begins. Several WarShips being built for the now defunct SLDF are sold to ComStar and the Federated Suns to raise cash reserves for move. Blackhawks retain use of five WarShips to serve as fleet arm in the coming operation against the Word of Blake. The Blackhawks assemble a "coalition" force of mercenary, disgruntled House troops along with additional WarShips and BattleMechs supplied by TerraFirm Industries into a "Battletech Universe" Task Force. Prominent coalition members include the Redstar Renegades, Task Force Hammer, a newly organized BTU Regiment,and the Exodus Road Haulers. 3070: Feb-89th and 38th Dragoon regiments with WarShip support assault WoB outpost (Grayhaven) near Tortugan space. Blakist AeroSpace fighters launch a spread of nuclear armed missiles against Blackhawk WarShips. Anti-missile defenses successfully intercept incoming threat. Blackhawk and WoB fighters engage in furious firefight. Blackhawk WarShips move to engage two WoB Essex destroyers guarding a Faslane class mobile ship yard. Blackhawk flagship Avenger supported by the cruisers Netanyahu and Vigilant take on the WoB Warships while the cruisers Defiant and Thunderbolt capture the Faslane shipyard. Blackhawk Task Force moves against Grayhaven, WoB units refuse order to surrender and launch additional nuclear weapons against them. Blackhawks WarShips respond by commencing orbital bombardment against Blakist units and defensive positions. Blackhawk ground forces along with the Redstar Renegades land to clear out remaining WoB personnel and take control of underground industrial complex. Black Omega troops manage to disarm nuclear self-destruct system preventing destruction of the complex. |
| 3071: Apr- Blackhawk Task Force moves to secure Tortugan worlds. Black Omega infiltration teams eliminate bandit leaders on Tortuga Prime. A single motley battalion of bandit BattleMechs takes to the field and is quickly cut down. Blackhawk units sweep through remaining Tortugan systems and root out last remaining pirate bands. Search of nearby star systems continues for any Word of Blake activity. 3072: Convoys from Inner Sphere begin arriving in Tortugan space. Engineering crews begin work on new infrastructure and settlements on all six Tortugan worlds. BTU Task Force supported by Task Force flagship Agamemnon, and the BTU heavy carrier Ticonderoga captures WoB outpost on Blackwind. 3073-4: Transport convoys of settlers and supplies continue to increase. Blackhawks set up new headquarters facility on Tortuga Prime. Task Force fleet engages Word of Blake WarShips in the Tanis system. WoB ships destroyed, but Blackhawk cruiser Vigilant is also lost. 3075: Representatives from Blackhawks Coalition and Inner Sphere settlers along with Tortugan natives meet to discuss the formation of a formal system of government. Dec. 15th a constitiution is ratified and the formation of the Tortuga Republic is declared. Blackhawk Coalition units form the core of the new Totrugan Armed Forces. Recognized by the Federated Suns, ComStar, Lyran Alliance and the Outworlds Alliance. 3076: Full diplomatic/trade relations established with the Federated Suns and the Outworlds Alliance. Formally recognized by the Magistracy of Canopus, Draconis Combine and Capellan Confederation. 3076: Newly reconstructed Black Mango facility on Tortuga Prime comes online. Main production output focuses on heavy industrial and construction equipment. Development of infrastructure and industrial base continues. Development and exploration of natural resources accelerates. Convoys of settlers and equipment continue to arrive. Mining and agricultural colonies being established on several surrounding systems to further expand resource base. |
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