View source for Andurien Secession

{{InfoBoxBattle
| conflict   = Andurien Secession
| partof     = [[Succession Wars]]
| image      = 
| startdate  = 11 September [[3030]]
| enddate    = [[3040]]
| planet     = 
| place      = 
| result     = Andurien secession crushed<br>Capellan Confederation survives Canopian-Andurian invasion
| territory  = 
| faction1   = [[Duchy of Andurien]]<br/>[[Magistracy of Canopus]]
| commander1 = Dame [[Catherine Humphreys]],<br>[[Magestrix]] [[Kyalla Centrella]]
| command1   = 
| faction2   = [[Capellan Confederation]]
| commander2 = [[Chancellor]]-regent [[Romano Liao]]
| command2   = 
| faction3   = [[Free Worlds League]]
| commander3 = [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]]
| command3   = 
}}
The '''Andurien Secession Crisis''', or more simply the '''Andurien Crisis''', began in September [[3030]] when the [[Duchy of Andurien]] rebelled against the [[Free Worlds League]], seceding to create a small nation state unto itself and allying with the [[Magistracy of Canopus]] to invade the [[Capellan Confederation]]. The League's initial response to this secession was stymied by the incapacitation of [[Captain-General of the Free Worlds League|Captain-General]] [[Janos Marik]] by a sudden stroke, and against a Confederation severely weakened by the [[Fourth Succession War]] the Andurien-Canopus alliance made a number of initial gains. However, by [[3035]] the Confederation had managed to throw back the invaders, and then the [[Free Worlds League Military]] began its campaign to reconquer the renegade province. It would not be until [[3040]] before the last resistance was pacified and the crisis ended.<ref name=FWL-910>''Field Manual: Free Worlds League'', pp. 9–10</ref>

==Prelude==
Andurien had been the cause of much trouble for the Free Worlds ever since it was conquered by [[Allan Marik]] and given to the Humphreys family to rule.  The [[Age of War]] began when the Capellan Confederation declared war on the Free Worlds to "liberate" the planet from their rule, and the two powers fought [[First Andurien War|three]] [[Second Andurien War|separate]] [[Third Andurien War|conflicts]] over the issue.  The last lead directly to the creation of the [[Star League]], which declared the matter in favor of House Liao and granted them control over Andurien.  The rump Duchy of Andurien remained under the rule of House Humphreys, which relocated to [[Kanata]] and (despite the insulting loss of Andurien) continued to serve the Free Worlds and Star League.  [[Melissa Humphreys]] was appointed governor of the occupied Magistracy of Canopus after the [[Reunification War]], where she helped to rebuild and modernize the [[Periphery]] nation and cement a good relationship between her family and the Centrellas.  The start of the [[Succession Wars (History)|Succession Wars]] saw Andurien reconquered by Marik forces, and it would remain part of the Free Worlds throughout the era under the rule of the Humphreys.<ref name=HBW40>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 40–42</ref>

The Humphreys' relationship with House Marik had also been contentious, a fact highlighted during the reign of Dame [[Catherine Humphreys]].  Since first ascending to her position, Dame Humphreys had taken a strict isolationist stance and invoked the [[Home Defense Act]] every year to keep Andurien forces out of federal control.<ref>''House Marik (The Free Worlds League)'', p. 149</ref>  Dame Humphreys refused to take sides during [[Anton's Revolt]], but it is believed the rebellion helped galvanized her own aspirations of independence for Andurien.  After being rebuffed by the [[Principality of Regulus]], Catherine sough aid for this dream from outside the League and reached out to her friend, [[Magestrix]] [[Kyalla Centrella]], who entered into a secret agreement to create a new nation together.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 44</ref><ref name=HBW51>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 51</ref>

The [[Fourth Succession War]] was not nearly as damaging to the Free Worlds League as it was to the Capellan Confederation and [[Draconis Combine]], but it would plant the seeds of the Anduriens' attempt at secession.  While not targeted by the [[Federated Commonwealth]], the League was compelled into the fight as part of the [[Kapteyn Accords]].  Janos Marik's foot-dragging on the matter was not to his allies' liking though, and after a [[Operation Dagger|half-hearted offensive]] the [[FWLM]] was forced to retreat by a surprise attack from the "[[Tikonov Free Republic]]" supported by Lyran forces.  Part or all of several provinces were lost, and Parliament was furious.

Among the loudest critics was Catherine Humphreys, who argued the Captain-General needed to retake the worlds lost to FedCom ''and'' immediately attack the Confederation to, as she put it: "put a sick animal out of its misery."  Indeed, during the last years of the war Catherine had ordered the secret bombing of a Capellan hospital on [[Scarborough]] and used the CCAF's reactions as justification to occupy [[Palladaine]] with Andurien troops for a brief time.  However, weeks of furious arguments was apparently leading nowhere, and Catherine's patience had run out.  On 11 September 3030, Dame Humphreys declared the [[Act of Incorporation]] null and void and formally allied the now independent Duchy of Andurien with the Magistracy of Canopus.  Two days later, the [[Defenders of Andurien]] and [[Magistracy Armed Forces]] launched their invasion of the Capellan Confederation.<ref name=HBW45>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 45</ref><ref name=HBW51/>

==Andurien-Canopus Invasion==
===3030===
In their opening attacks on the Confederation, the Anduriens and Canopians were pursuing two wildly different strategies.  With no reserves and only one regiment held back to defend Andurien, Dame Humphreys' forces targeted key Capellan worlds in an attempt to shatter the defenders' military, economy and fighting spirit before they realized a war was on.  Meanwhile, the Magistracy's goal was simply to capture as much territory as possible, and attacked along a broad front.  On many planets, the attackers met minimal if any resistance and were able to quickly capture their targets.  However, the invasions of worlds vital to the Confederation such as [[Betelgeuse]] and [[Grand Base]] stalled for lack of adequate forces and stiff resistance by the [[CCAF]].<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 51–57</ref>

When news of the Andurien secession reached the other League planets it created a backlash in favor of the Marik rulers. Using this mandate, Captain-General [[Janos Marik]] took steps to consolidate his power, most significantly with the creation of the [[Internal Emergency Act]] of 3030. The primary provision of this act was to strip many of the powers of the Home Defense Act which had limited the power of both the Captain-General and the federal government to demand combat forces from local and regional governments.  Opposition to this act from Parliament was browbeaten into submission as being unpatriotic - though notably both the Principality of Regulus and the [[Duchy of Oriente]] were not subject to the new Acts restrictions - and it was passed with minimal debate.<ref name=HBW45/><ref name=HBL46>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 46</ref>

Unfortunately, on 22 October, Janos Marik suffered a stroke which left him unable to discharge his duties as Captain-General.  With no appointed heir, a power struggle broke out between [[Duggan Marik]] and [[Duncan Marik]], with Parliament deadlocked over who should take over.  This situation would last for months and leave the League unable to respond to the Anduriens' secession.<ref name=HBL46/>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|13 September
|[[Primus (system)|Primus]]
|Mercenary
* [[Tooth of Ymir]]
** 1 battalion
|CCAF
* Militia
|Andurien Victory
|-
|13 September
|[[Prix]]
|Mercenary
* Tooth of Ymir
** 1 battalion
|CCAF
* None
|Andurien Victory
* Planetary government surrenders without fight
|-
|19 September
|[[Repulse]]
|MAF
* [[Second Canopian Light Horse]]
* [[Second Canopian Cuirassiers]]
* [[Second Canopian Fusiliers]]
|CCAF
* [[Kincade's Rangers]]
|Stalemate
* MAF forces control only major population centers
|-
|29 September
|[[Grand Base]]
|Andurien
* [[Sixth Defenders of Andurien]]
|CCAF
* [[Warrior House Fujita]]
** 1 battalion
* [[Death Commandos]]
* Militia
|Stalemate
* [[Earthwerks]] factory partially captured
* CCAF training facilities captured
|-
|October
|[[Palladaine]]
|Andurien
* [[Third Defenders of Andurien]]
|CCAF
* Militia
|Andurien Victory
|-
|October
|[[Drozan]]
|MAF
* [[First Canopian Light Horse]]
* [[Harcourt's Destructors]]
** Harcourt's Aliens<br/>
Mercenary
* [[Caesar's Cohorts]]<br/>
|Capellan
* [[Warrior House Dai Da Chi]]
|Stalemate
* MAF forces control agricultural infrastructure
* CCAF forces control mountains, urban centers
|-
|October
|[[Renown]]
|MAF
* [[First Canopian Fusiliers]]<br/>
Mercenary
* [[Hudsenn's Red Devils]]
** Jenkin's Armored Cavalry<br/>
|CCAF
* Militia
|Canopian Victory
|-
|October
|[[New Roland]]
|MAF
* [[Clayborne's Commandos]]
|CCAF
* Militia
|Canopian Victory
|-
|November
|[[Altorra]]
|Mercenary
* [[Carson's Renegades]]<br/>
|CCAF
* Militia
|Andurien Victory
* Raiding only
|-
|November/December
|[[Fronde]]
|Mercenary
* Carson's Renegades<br/>
|CCAF
* Militia
|Andurien Victory
* Raiding only
|-
|November
|[[Gunthar]]
|MAF
* [[Third Canopian Fusiliers]]
|Mercenary
* [[Fifteenth Dracon Regiment]]
|Stalemate
|-
|2 December
|[[Betelgeuse]]
|Andurien
* [[First Defenders of Andurien]]
|CCAF
* [[Warrior House Kamata]]
|Stalemate
|-
|12 December
|[[Jacomarie]]
|MAF
* [[Canopian Highlanders]]
** Long's Light Lancers
|CCAF
* Militia
|Canopian Victory
|-
|December
|[[Sax]]
|MAF
* Canopian Highlanders
** MacGraw's Marauders
|CCAF
* Militia
|Canopian Victory
* Violent reprisals against guerrilla attacks<br/> inflame insurgency
|-
|December
|[[Andarmax]]
|MAF
* Magistracy Militia<br/>
Mercenary
* [[Killer Bees]]
|CCAF
* Militia
|Canopian Victory
|-
|}

===3031===
With the lack of a military reprisal from the Free Worlds, the Duchy of Andurien continued to build on the gains it had made the previous year.  Raiding forces were sent deep into Confederation territory to keep CCAF reinforcements at bay and additional worlds were occupied.  Additionally, the worlds of [[Shiba]] and [[Buenos Aires]] voluntarily agreed to come under Andurien control in October thanks to a campaign of psychological warfare and targeted assassinations carried out by special "Liberation Units" the Anduriens had appropriated when they seceded.  Unfortunately, the situation on Betelgeuse remained a quagmire, while Andurien forces were forced to retreat from Grand Base.  The Magistracy too was bogged down in heavy fighting on several worlds, forcing them to reconsider expanding their front and instead resupplying ones already invested until they were resolved.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 57–62</ref>

Meanwhile, the succession crisis in the Free Worlds was finally resolved, though not to Duggan's or Duncan's liking.  On 11 January [[Thomas Marik]], having served in [[ComStar]] for the last few decades, returned to Atreus bearing [[Verigraph]] documents proving his claim as the rightful heir to the Captaincy-General.  With the backing of several powerful supporters, including Duke [[Christopher Halas (30th c.)|Christopher Halas]] and [[SAFE]] Director Jaime Cornel, Thomas was made a regent by Parliament, assuming the title "Warden of the Perimeter Defenses" while his father remained as Captain-General.<ref>''Historical: Brush War'', p. 46</ref>
{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|January-December
|Betelgeuse
|Andurien
* First Defenders of Andurien<br/>
Mercenary
* Tooth of Ymir (2 February)
|CCAF
* Warrior House Kamata
* [[Warrior House Hiritsu]] (9 July)
|Stalemate
|-
|January-December
|Gunthar
|MAF
* Third Canopian Fusiliers
|Mercenary
* Fifteenth Dracon Regiment
|Stalemate
|-
|January-April
|Grand Base
|Andurien
* Sixth Defenders of Andurien
|CCAF
* Warrior House Fujita
** 1 battalion
* Death Commandos
* Militia
|Capellan Victory
* Andurien forces retreat 17 April
|-
|January-July
|Repulse
|MAF
* Second Canopian Light Horse
* Second Canopian Cuirassiers
* Second Canopian Fusiliers
|CCAF
* Kincade's Rangers
|Canopian Victory
* Rangers retreat 9 May
* Resistance ends 6 August
|-
|January-August
|Drozan
|MAF
* First Canopian Light Horse
* Harcourt's Destructors
** Harcourt's Aliens<br/>
Mercenary
* Caesar's Cohorts
|CCAF
* Warrior House Dai Da Chi
|Canopian Victory
* Warrior House disappears 3 August
|-
|February/March
|[[Hexare]]
|Mercenary
* Carson's Renegades
|CCAF
* [[Home Guard (Capellan Confederation)|Home Guard]]
* [[Prefectorate Guard]] (Reinforcements)
|Capellan Victory
* Raid only
* Mercenaries retreat 14 March
|-
|12 March
|[[Ingersoll]]
|Andurien
* [[Fifth Defenders of Andurien]]
|CCAF
* [[Fifth Confederation Reserve Cavalry]]
|Andurien Victory
* Raid only
* Anduriens retreat 23 March
|-
|March
|Palladaine
|CCAF
* [[New Hessen Armored Scouts]]
|Andurien
* Third Defenders of Andurien
|Andurien Victory
* Armored Scouts investigated by<br/> [[Maskirovka]] for acting without orders
|-
|April
|[[Sigma Mare]]
|Andurien
* [[Fourth Defenders of Andurien]]
|CCAF
* [[Second Confederation Reserve Cavalry]]
|Andurien Victory
* Second Cavalry effectively destroyed,<br>CO prosecuted for negligence
|-
|9 May
|[[Hustaing]]
|Andurien
* Carson's Renegades
|CCAF
* Home Guard
|Andurien Victory
* Raid only
|-
|May
|[[Jasmine]]
|Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|CCAF
* [[Warrior House Ijori]]
|Andurien Victory
* Raid only
|-
|September
|[[Carmen]]
|Andurien
* Carson's Renegades
|CCAF
* Militia
|Andurien Victory
* Raid only
* Mercenaries escape 23 September
|-
|}

===3032===
The war had stalled for the Andurien-Canopus alliance and was threatening to turn against them.  Dame Humphreys, having already lost two of her children to the fighting, was growing pessimistic about her chances for victory but knew there was no turning back.  She suspected that the sluggish Confederation response to the invasion so far had been part of a Liao trick and kept her troops on high alert.  Those fears were realized when the Big MAC showed up at Betelgeuse and ended the Anduriens' hopes of capturing the vital manufacturing center.  The Magistracy was able to hold on to many of the worlds it'd taken thus far, and Magestrix Centrella ordered her generals to prepare for future offensives, but they too started suffering losses as the Capellans fought back.  In the meantime, Thomas Marik was content to allow the Anduriens to spend themselves fighting against the Capellans, using the time not just to gather intelligence but get his own house in order.  Secessionist passions had flared up on other planets in the time since the crisis began, such as [[Wallacia]] and [[Kujari]], and many in Parliament still clamored for the Mariks to do something about the FedCom alliance.  Both would force the regent's hand and lead to unfortunate disasters.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 62–65</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|January-May
|Betelgeuse
|Andurien
* First Defenders of Andurien
* Third Defenders of Andurien (January)
* Fourth Defenders of Andurien (January)<br/>
Mercenary
* Tooth of Ymir
|CCAF
* Warrior House Kamata
* Warrior House Hiritsu
* Prefectorate Guard (mid-February)<br/>
Mercenary
* [[McCarron's Armored Cavalry]] (9 May)
|Capellan Victory
* All Andurien forces retreat by 23 May
|-
|January-July
|Gunthar
|MAF
* Third Canopian Fusiliers
|Mercenary
* Fifteenth Dracon Regiment
|Capellan Victory
* Fusiliers retreat on 9 July
|-
|January/February
|[[Bentley]]
|Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|CCAF
* None
|Andurien Victory
* Andurien forces depart 2 March
|-
|February
|[[Tsinghai]]
|FWLM
* [[Fourth Free Worlds Guards]]
|Mercenary
* [[Black Widow Battalion]]
|FedCom Victory
* Fourth Guards effectively destroyed,<br/>flee to FedCom territory
|-
|2 March
|Drozan
|CCAF
* Warrior House Dai Da Chi
* Kincade's Rangers
|MAF
* First Canopian Light Horse
* Harcourt's Destructors
** Harcourt's Aliens<br/>
Mercenary
* Caesar's Cohorts
|Capellan Victory
* MAF survivors retreat early March
|-
|March
|Sigma Mare
|CCAF
* [[Blandford's Grenadiers]]
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|Capellan Victory
|-
|April
|[[Turin]]
|MAF
* Canopian Highlanders
** Long's Light Lancers
|CCAF
* [[Kamakura's Hussars]]
* [[Ishara's Grenadiers]]
|Capellan Victory
|-
|March
|Palladaine
|CCAF
* [[New Hessen Armored Scouts]]
|Andurien
* Third Defenders of Andurien
|Andurien Victory
* Armored Scouts investigated by<br/> [[Maskirovka]] for acting without orders
|-
|June
|[[Latice]]
|Andurien
* Carson's Renegades
|CCAF
* [[Warrior House Lu Sann]]
|Andurien Victory
* Raid only, escape after 36 hours
|-
|June
|Prix
|Mercenary
* McCarron's Armored Cavalry
** 2 regiments
|Andurien
* Third Defenders of Andurien
** 1 battalion
* Militia
** 1 battalion
|Capellan Victory
|-
|June
|Primus
|Mercenary
* McCarron's Armored Cavalry
** 2 regiments
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|Capellan Victory
* [[DropShip]] accident claims 60 killed,<br/>largest loss of life for Big MAC
|-
|4 September
|[[Shiro III]]
|FWLM
* [[Sixth Marik Militia]]
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|League Victory
* Raid only
|-
|September
|Palladaine
|FWLM
* Sixth Marik Militia
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|League Victory
* Raid only
|-
|September
|[[Second Try]]
|FWLM
* [[Second Marik Militia]]
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|League Victory
* Raid only
|-
|September-October
|Wallacia
|FWLM
* [[Second Oriente Hussars]]
|Mercenary
* Black Widow Battalion
|Secessionist Victory
* Wallacia & Kujari remain independent<br/>"associates of the Free Worlds"
|-
|}

===3033===
With the Capellan counterattack ongoing, the Magistracy fared the worse out of the alliance, losing worlds and valuable matériel to Liao forces.  Luckily for the Anduriens: "stay-behind" groups were able to slow down the Liao offensive, buying them breathing space to pivot towards the Free Worlds.  An attack was launched on Scarborough, base of operations for a number of FWLM raiding and reconnaissance missions into the Duchy of Andurien, but would end in defeat.  Thomas Marik, continuing to placate critics in Parliament, launched additional raids into FedCom territory, promising that the territory lost during the Fourth Succession War would be returned once the present crisis was resolved.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', p. 65</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|April
|Jacomarie
|CCAF
* Warrior House Dai Da Chi
* Ishara's Grenadiers
|MAF
* Canopian Highlanders
** Long's Light Lancers
|Capellan Victory
|-
|May-June
|Repulse
|CCAF
* Kincade's Rangers
* Warrior House Dai Da Chi (10 June)
|MAF
* Harcourt's Destructors
** Drummond's Destroyers
|Capellan Victory
|-
|May
|[[Scarborough]]
|Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|FWLM
* [[Twelfth Atrean Dragoons]]
|Free Worlds Victory
|-
|October
|[[Wasat]]
|FWLM
* [[Thirteenth Marik Militia]]
|FedCom
* Garrison forces
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|October
|[[Oliver]]
|FWLM
* [[Iron Guard]]
|FedCom
* Garrison forces
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|}

===3034-3035===
With the Andurien-inspired rebellions in their rear pacified and the Magistracy largely pulling its forces back to defend their territory, the Capellan armed forces were able to mop up the remaining planets still under enemy occupation; when the fighting finally tapered off in mid-February [[3035]], the borders had been returned to their prewar state.  [[Chancellor]]-regent [[Romano Liao]], however, was not content with a return to the status quo, and began launching punitive raids into Duchy and Magistracy territories with the suspected intention of invading the Duchy and returning Andurien to Capellan rule.  The Chancellor was informed, however, that the Free Worlds League would view any invasion of the rebellious Duchy as an invasion of the League itself and be met with military action.  Though forced to back off from her plans, Romano nevertheless still intended to send a message to her would-be conquerors.  In May, whether by accident or not, a regiment of the Big MAC raided Scarborough.  Luckily the FWLM unit stationed there were away raiding Duchy territory, avoiding the two sides from coming to blows, but the diplomatic crisis it created overshadowed a pair of raids launched at the homeworlds of the Duchy and Magistracy, letting Dame Humphreys and Magestrix Centrella know just how far the long arm of House Liao could reach.<ref>''Historical: Brush War'', pp. 66–68</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|February
|Shiba
|CCAF
* McCarron's Armored Cavalry
** 2 regiments
|Andurien
* Fourth Defenders of Andurien
|Capellan Victory
|-
|May
|Renown
|CCAF
* Kamakura's Hussars
* Ishara's Grenadiers
|MAF
* Harcourt's Destructors
** Drummond's Destroyers
|Capellan Victory
|-
|June-July
|Buenos Aires
|CCAF
* McCarron's Armored Cavalry
** 2 regiments
|Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|Capellan Victory
|-
|August
|Andarmax
|CCAF
* Kamakura's Hussars
* McCarron's Armored Cavalry
** 1 regiment
|MAF
* Canopian Highlanders
** MacGraw's Marauders
* Magistracy Militia<br/>
Mercenary
* Killer Bees
|Capellan Victory
|-
|November
|Palladaine
|CCAF
* Blandford's Grenadiers
|None
|Capellan Victory
|-
|November-February
|New Roland
|CCAF
* House Dai Da Chi
* Kamakura's Hussars
|MAF
* Clayborne's Commandos
* First Canopian Light Horse
* Harcourt's Destructors
** Harcourt's Aliens<br/>
Mercenary
* Caesar's Cohorts
|Capellan Victory
* Planet pacified 19 February
|-
|16 May
|[[Andurien]]
|CCAF
* Death Commandos
** Demi-company
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|Andurien Victory
* Assassination attempt
|-
|17 May
|[[Canopus IV]]
|CCAF
* McCarron's Armored Cavalry
** Fourth Regiment
|MAF
* [[Canopian Cuirassiers]]
* [[Raventhir's Iron Hand]]
|Canopian Victory
* Raid only
|-
|}

==Invasion of Andurien==
By 3035, the Andurien-Canopian alliance had suffered a calamitous defeat at the hands of the Capellans, and on 19 March Janos Marik was fully recovered from his stroke and well enough to resume the Captain-Generalcy.  Thomas Marik's strategy of slowly isolating the Duchy had done its job and the time seemed right for the Free Worlds League to go on the offensive and return its rebellious Duchy back under League control.  On 1 June a strategy meeting was held on Atreus, with Janos, Thomas, Duncan and Duggan in attendance.  A little after thirty minutes in to the meeting, after Duncan was called away on important news, a bomb hidden in portable holotable exploded. Janos and Duggan Marik were killed instantly; Thomas' body and those of several others in attendance were never found but presumed dead.  Though himself injured in the blast, Duncan was first to start digging through the rubble to try and find survivors.  A battered and still bruised Duncan was the one to announce the Captain-General's death, winning him much sympathy among the masses, and with none of the other surviving Mariks to dispute his claim Duncan Marik was nominated and confirmed the new Captain-General on 18 June.  Nine days later, Duncan announced incontrovertible evidence that it was Andurien forces responsible for the bombing and declared that the time for diplomacy was over: the invasion of Andurien would begin.<ref>''Historical: Brush War'', p. 68</ref><ref name=FWL-910/><ref name=20YUp52f>''20 Year Update'', pp. 52–53</ref><ref name=HHM49>''Handbook: House Marik'', pp. 49–50</ref>

Almost as soon as he had assumed the Captain-Generalcy Duncan Marik began moving FWLM units in position for the expected assault on Andurien.  Almost as quickly, Parliament, ever eager to quarrel even in a crisis, began hamstringing his efforts.  In the preceding years of regency Thomas had been able to use diplomacy to get what was needed, but the authoritarian Duncan rubbed many MPs the wrong way.  While only Regulus and Oriente could actually deny the Captain-General their provincial military forces under the new Internal Emergency Act, the other provinces provided the requested units but not the logistical support for them, forcing the federal government to foot the bill.  The Captain-General's initial request for a blank check caused consternation for many MPs, and it was only through the diplomatic maneuverings of Speaker Stewart and the Duke of Oriente that sufficient funding was secured.<ref name=HBW70>''Historical: Brush War'', p. 70</ref>

===3035===
As soon as he could escape the "petty matters of politics," Duncan Marik left for the front line, selecting [[Mosiro]] to serve as his base of operations and, as the disparate forces of the FWLM shuffled in, ordering war games take place on [[El Giza]] and [[Kwamashu]] so units could become acclimated to working with each other.  However, the last months of 3035 would be spent raiding the Duchy to gather intelligence and prepare for the inevitable assault, as well as to keep the Federated Commonwealth and Capellans off balance.  FedCom forces would launch counterraids in response to these incursions, though with little success.  The piratical [[Circinus Federation]] launched its own raid to try and take advantage of the situation, only for their attack to be rebuffed and a counterraid on [[Clayborne II]] succeeded in destroying military equipment and leveling a petty lord's keep.<ref>''Historical: Brush War'', pp. 70–72</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|October
|[[Conquista]]
|FWLM
* [[First Atrean Dragoons]]
** Alpha Battalion
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|October
|[[Shiro III]]
|FWLM
* First Atrean Dragoons
** Beta Battalion
|Andurien
* First Defenders of Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|November
|[[Milton]]
|FWLM
* [[Fifth Regulan Hussars]]
|FedCom
* Garrison forces
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|November
|[[Nestor]]
|AFFC
* [[Second Republican]]
|FWLM
* [[Fifth Fusiliers of Oriente]]
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|November
|[[Harsefeld]]
|AFFC
* [[Third Republican]]
|FWLM
* [[First Sirian Lancers]]
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|November
|[[Sierra]]
|Circinus Federation
* [[Black Warriors]]
|FWLM
* [[Fifth Oriente Hussars]]
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|December
|Palladaine
|FWLM
* [[Sixth Marik Militia]]
|CCAF
* Garrison forces
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|}

===3036===
Duncan Marik began the invasion in full with the targeting of seven Duchy worlds in 3036, most of which were seen as easy conquests.  That complacency was quickly disabused on many of the worlds, with FWLM forces bloodied and bruised against surprising opposition.  Perhaps the greatest surprise of the campaign however did not come on the battlefield: on 5 December, Thomas Marik presented himself before Parliament, worse for wear but clearly alive.  Thomas reported that he had been pulled from the rubble by ComStar and undergone rehabilitation on [[Terra]], all the while keeping abreast of the situation.  He revealed that ComStar's own investigation into the bombing revealed no participation by Andurien, and while not outright saying so suspicion quickly fell on Duncan as the culprit.  After a battery of tests proved Thomas' identity (and, perhaps most importantly, a lack of any bionic enhancements), Parliament took the unprecedented step of voting Duncan out of office and bestowing the title of Captain-General on Thomas.  Duncan, however, remained in the field and in command of the forces attacking Andurien, leading to a potentially precarious situation for the League.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 72–74</ref><ref name=HHM49/><ref name=20YUp52f/>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|January
|[[Ingonish]]
|FWLM
* [[Third Free Worlds Guards]]
* [[Thirteenth Marik Militia]]
* Iron Guard
|Andurien
* Militia
|Free Worlds Victory
* Government and military facilities captured within<br/>five days, total pacification within two weeks
|-
|April
|[[Leyda]]
|FWLM
* [[First Oriente Hussars]]
* [[Eighteenth Marik Militia]]
|Andurien
* Militia
|Free Worlds Victory
* Total pacification completed by May
|-
|May
|[[McAffe]]
|FWLM
* [[Fifth Fusiliers of Oriente]]
* [[Ninth Regulan Hussars]]
|AFFC
* None
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
* Lyran forces retreat
|-
|May
|Shiro III
|FWLM
* [[Atrean Hussars]]
* [[First Marik Militia]]
* [[First Fusiliers of Oriente]]
|Andurien
* First Defenders of Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|Free Worlds Victory
* Andurien forces retreat 7 June
|-
|May
|[[Villanueva]]
|FWLM
* [[First Oriente Hussars]]
* Second Oriente Hussars
|Andurien
* Garrison forces
|Free Worlds Victory
|-
|August
|[[Uhuru]]
|AFFC
* Lyran forces
|FWLM
* [[Twentieth Marik Militia]]
|Free Worlds Victory
* Raid only
|-
|4 December-ongoing
|[[Cursa]]
|FWLM
* [[First Free Worlds Guards]]
* [[Twenty-fifth Marik Militia]]
|Andurien
* Militia
* Fourth Defenders of Andurien (hidden)
|Stalemate
|-
|}

===3037===
With [[Thomas Marik]] having returned and won the unyielding support of Parliament, Duncan Marik was a desperate man.  The former Captain-General was convinced there was only one course of action left if he was to regain everything he'd lost: win the war decisively and quickly.  Casting his previous strategy aside, Duncan gathered his forces for a bold attack on the important world of [[Xanthe III]].  Unfortunately that same boldness would cost him his life: on 4 February, while personally leading a detachment on what was thought to be an easy operation, Duncan Marik was killed in action.  With the offensive on Xanthe faltering, Thomas Marik stepped in to personally take command and ultimately win the battle.  Afterwards, Thomas ordered a pause on all offensive operations for the rest of the year so a new strategy could be hashed out.  The Captain-General also turned his attention to Parliament, speaking eloquently about how friction and instability between it and the Captain-General had been the cause of many problems during this and previous wars.  Prior to Duncan's death he had introduced the [[Addendum to the Incorporation]], sweeping legislation which would do away with the Home Defense Act and other constraints placed on the Captain-General, and using his diplomatic skills was able to pass it.  This dramatic change would allow the Captain-General greater ability to deploy the FWLM and hopefully bring the crisis to a swift end.<ref>''Historical: Brush War'', pp. 73–76</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|January-May
|[[Cursa]]
|FWLM
* First Free Worlds Guards
* Twenty-fifth Marik Militia
|Andurien
* Fourth Defenders of Andurien
|Free Worlds Victory
* Andurien forces retreat
|-
|February-May
|[[Xanthe III]]
|FWLM (Initial)
* [[Tenth Marik Militia]]
* [[Fifteenth Marik Militia]]
Mercenary (Initial)
* [[Head Hunters]]
FWLM (Reinforcements)
* [[First Fusiliers of Oriente]]
* [[Fifth Marik Militia]]
* Twelfth Atrean Dragoons
* Iron Guards
|Andurien (Initial)
* Third Defenders of Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
Mercenary (Reinforcements)
* Tooth of Ymir
|Free Worlds Victory
* Duncan Marik killed 4 February
* Andurien forces retreat
|-
|}

===3038===
The enforced pause allowed the League to plan a more measured strategy for reconquering Andurien.  One at a time, each of the outer planets would be conquered in turn, with sufficient reserves in place should the situation warrant it, until only Andurien itself stood alone.  As it happened, this caution proved unnecessary, but nevertheless the detailed planning which went into these invasions proved to outside observers that Thomas Marik had martial abilities.  In the meantime, raids continued to be launched by the Free Worlds League into the Lyran half of the FedCom alliance, and vice versa, including [[Nestor]], [[Epsilon]] and [[Galisteo]], but despite fears of a broader war breaking out was not to come to pass.<ref>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 76–77</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|11 February
|[[Sadurni]]
|FWL
* [[Eleventh Atrean Dragoons]]
* [[Eighth Orloff Grenadiers]]
|Andurien
* Third Defenders of Andurien
** 1 battalion
|Free Worlds Victory
* Andurien forces retreat after two weeks
|-
|August
|[[Ryerson]]
|FWLM
* [[Second Marik Militia]]
* [[Fourth Marik Militia]]
|Andurien
* Militia
|Free Worlds Victory
* Planet surrenders 100 hours after invasion begins
|-
|August-October
|[[Lopez]]
|FWLM
* [[Fourth Oriente Hussars]]
* First Free Worlds Guards
* Thirteenth Marik Militia
|Andurien
* Sixth Defenders of Andurien
** 2 battalions
* Militia
|Free Worlds Victory
* Andurien forces surrender 21 October
|-
|9 November-ongoing
|[[Conquista]]
|FWLM
* Sixth Marik Militia
* [[Second Free Worlds Guards]]
* [[Atrean Hussars]]
|Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|Ongoing conflict
|-
|}

===3039===
The year 3039 would see the end of one conflict and the beginning of another.  With its outer defenses laid bare, Andurien was open to invasion, and a blockade had been imposed with only humanitarian aid - inspected by ComStar - allowed through.  However, Thomas Marik knew that, where before the defenders had been willing to give ground, in the event of an invasion their backs would be up against the proverbial wall and would fight all the fiercer for it, causing greater casualties for both sides and more collateral damage.  Hoping to avoid this if at all possible, Thomas extended a final olive branch to Dame Humphreys and negotiations took place in Geneva on Terra, with ComStar serving as neutral arbiters.  Unfortunately the by late May negotiations failed: while the threat of House Liao retaliation was enough for the Anduriens to contemplate rejoining the League and even disbanding its military, they refused to surrender Dame Humphreys and the rest of the leadership to face Federal justice.  With invasion imminent, [[Primus of ComStar|Primus]] [[Myndo Waterly]] gave one final warning that the [[Com Guards]] would defend themselves, the [[HPG]] network, and certain vital civilian infrastructure on Andurien from any aggression by either party.<ref name=HBW82>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 78–82</ref>

Before it could begin though, the [[War of 3039]] kicked off.  Although primarily an invasion of the [[Draconis Combine]] by the FedCom alliance, the Free Worlds saw this as an opportunity to retake some of the worlds it had lost during the Fourth Succession War, and launched their own [[War of 3039#Free Worlds League Operations|invasions and raids]] on a number of worlds.  Most of these ended in defeat, in part because of the forces needed for the Andurien conflict, with few standout achievements.<ref name=HBW82/>

Despite this siphoning of forces, the battle of Andurien would be one of the largest of the early [[thirty-first century]], and (as Thomas Marik feared) one of the bloodiest of the secession crisis.  The First Marik Militia captured the Humphreys Palace in early December, though it wouldn't be until later that month that Catherine herself was captured and, wishing to spare her people are further bloodshed, agreed to surrender.<ref name=HBW82/>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"; text-align:center;
|-
! '''Date'''
! '''Location'''
! '''Attacker'''
! '''Defender'''
! '''Outcome'''
|-
|January - March
|[[Conquista]]
|FWLM
* Sixth Marik Militia
* Second Free Worlds Guards
* Atrean Hussars
|Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
|Free Worlds Victory
* Andurien forces escape 10 March
|-
|April
|[[Lurgatan]]
|FWLM
* Eighth Orloff Grenadiers
|Andurien
* None
|Free Worlds Victory
|-
|10 June - January
|[[Andurien]]
|FWLM (Initial)
* First Marik Militia
* First Free Worlds Guards
* Eleventh Atrean Dragoons
* [[First Regulan Hussars]]
* First Fusiliers of Oriente
* [[Second Fusiliers of Oriente]]<br/>
Reinforcements (September)
* Eighth Orloff Grenadiers
* [[Third Free Worlds Guards]]
* Home Guard
* Tenth Marik Militia
* [[Always Faithful]]
|Andurien
* First Defenders of Andurien
* Third Defenders of Andurien
* Fourth Defenders of Andurien
* Fifth Defenders of Andurien
* Sixth Defenders of Andurien
|Free Worlds Victory
* Dame Catherine Humphreys captured 19 December
* Major resistance ended January 3040
|-
|}

==Aftermath==
Tens of thousands were killed during the course of the secession crisis, with millions more displaced and trillions of [[M-Bill]]s in damage, and all for seemingly no point: no territory was lost or gained by the Inner Sphere powers, with the borders largely restored to their pre-Crisis boundaries. Dame Humphreys was set to go on trial for treason, but it was not to be. On 19 March 3040, she died of a heart attack. With the main instigator dead, Thomas Marik decided to pardon most of the remaining military and political leadership in an effort to help the reconstruction.<ref name=HBW84>''Historical: Brush Wars'', pp. 83–84</ref>

In attempting to gain greater independence, the Duchy of Andurien lost everything. Andurien itself was occupied for a time and a federally appointed governor was placed in charge of running the duchy; House Humphreys would not resume its sovereignty of Andurien until [[3048]], when [[Dalma Humphreys]] (the least offensive of Catherine's heirs) was allowed to resume control. The Defenders of Andurien were forcibly disbanded, its equipment used to raise the [[Free Worlds Legionnaires]], and the Duchy was specifically banned from raising any future military forces.<ref name=HBW84/>

The crisis set the stage for many changes in the governmental policies of the Free Worlds League. The adoption of Thomas Marik's Addendum to the Incorporation can be directly related to this and the other conflicts that engulfed the Inner Sphere during this period. The Addendum formalized and made permanent many of the emergency laws and policy changes that were enacted in response to the crisis, increasing the role and power of the federal government at the expense of the provinces. Another change which can be linked to the crisis is the enactment of the [[Military Reorganization Act]] which standardized military education and the structure of the Free Worlds League Military, making a body of soldiers that was loyal to the Free Worlds League as a whole rather than being loyal to any regional, world or local governmental body.<ref name=FWL-910/>

For the Confederation, victory in throwing back the invading forces provided a much-needed morale boost after the disastrous Fourth Succession War.  Though the combined Andurien-Canopus militaries were by no means military heavyweights, the threat they presented was no less real.  The victories achieved gave something which the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]] could build upon towards regaining some of their lost strength.  The [[Warrior House Orders]] in particular were able to quickly rebuild from the bevy of new recruits which swelled their ranks.<ref>''20 Year Update'', p. 59</ref>

For the first time since the start of the Succession Wars, a Periphery power had attempted to exert itself in the Inner Sphere, though the Magistracy of Canopus failed in the end.  However, the expected retaliatory strikes against the Canopians would never come.  Instead, on 9 May 3040 [[Emma Centrella]] overthrew her mother and made conciliatory moves to the Free Worlds League, formally apologizing for her realm's role in the crisis and paying significant reparations to help rebuild Andurien.<ref name=HBW84/>

The crisis was also the first demonstration of ComStar's new military force, whose defense of civilian safe havens during the final battle on Andurien gained the organization widespread praise and allowing for the Com Guards to begin more widespread deployment.<ref name=HBW84/>

==See Also==
* ''[[Every Twelve Seconds]]''

==References==
<references />

==Bibliography==
* ''[[20 Year Update]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Free Worlds League]]''
* ''[[Handbook: House Marik]]''
* ''[[Historical: Brush Wars]]''
* ''[[House Marik (The Free Worlds League)]]''

[[Category:Wars]]
[[Category:Rebellions]]
[[Category:Fourth Succession War Era Military Operations]]