Nial Slattery
Nial Slattery | |
|---|---|
| Personal | |
| Affiliation | Federated Suns |
| Career | |
| Rank | General[1] |
Nial Slattery was the commanding officer of the Fifth FedCom RCT during the War of 3039.[1]
History
General Slattery's Fifth FedCom and the mercenary Roman's Bar Hounds were tasked with conquering the Draconis Combine world of Halstead Station during the first wave of the War of 3039. This operation, while not expected to be difficult, was the Fifth FedCom's first offensive operation since its creation two years beforehand and was intended to rebuild the unit's confidence following a disastrous DropShip accident that claimed the lives of a third of its MechWarriors. The Bar Hounds quickly eliminated resistance in the capital city of Halstead City on 30 April and the Fifth FedCom only faced limited resistance after landing the next day. By 5 May, the Fifth FedCom considered the planet secured and was well into building fortifications in case of a Combine counterattack.[1]
When the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns' Quartermaster Corps began constructing supply caches on Halstead Station in preparation for the next waves of the conflict, Colonel Randy Roman questioned the placement of the caches in relation to the Fifth FedCom's fortifications. However, General Slattery chose to dismiss Roman's concerns, a choice that would come back to haunt him in the months to come.[1]
Word of Combine counterattacks and victories soon reached Halstead Station, causing Slattery to put his troops on high alert until it seemed as if no assault was imminent. Slattery's decision to have his troops stand down soon proved to be an error when the elite First and Seventh Sword of Light regiments appeared in the system before quickly making planetfall. As the First Sword launched probing attacks at the Fifth FedCom's defenses, Slattery's soldiers were too pleased at their resistance to realize that they were being pinned down for follow-up attacks by the Seventh Sword. With most of his forces committed against the First Sword, Slattery's unit was shattered when the Seventh Sword launched an orbital drop that placed them directly astride his rear area equipment stockpiles. In the chaos of the Fifth FedCom's collapse, an entire battalion under Major Donald Trent deserted and only a bold flanking attack from Roman's Bar Hounds allowed any elements of Slattery's RCT to escape the planet. Halstead Station was back in Combine hands by mid-August after only three months of FedSuns occupation.[2]