Second Huffman Conflict

The Second Huffman Conflict was a major war fought between the Oceania Cooperative Union and the United States of the New Continent. It serves as the main backdrop for the plots of Front Mission First, Front Mission Online, and the first act of ''Front Mission 5. It's origins are explored during the events of Front Mission 2089. ''

Background
The roots of the Second Huffman Conflict can be traced back to deep seated resentment between the OCU and USN over the outcome of the First Huffman Conflict. The Huffman Treatyundefined, which concluded the conflict in 2071, left the island divided between the two superpowers, as well as banning the use of weapons that were deemed "inhumane" and would cause long lasting environmental damage, such as chemical and nuclear weapons. The treaty also designated Longrivers Island an internationally protected zone under the direct control of the Zaftran Peace Mediation Organization (PMO).

Although the treaty put an end to the immediate hostilities, tensions remained high and in 2086, a series of skirmishes and incidents across the island known as the Huffman Crisis precipitated by The Vampires and masterminded by Sakata Industries threw the island into chaos. The crisis prompted the two super-states to begin increasing their military presence on the island and both began hiring mercenaries in order to bolster their ranks. By 2089, political tensions between the two countries had risen to the point that war seemed inevitable and small scale conflict occurred on or across the Mail River daily with the public unaware of Sakata's true role in the unrest.

The Larcus Incident
On June 3, 2090, an OCU reconnaissance unit led by Royd Clive was sent to investigate a USN munitions factory in the Larcus District. The unit comes into contact with the USN's 212th Independent Military Branch, led by Driscoll, and a battle ensues. During the battle, Karen Meure was captured by the USN forces and the factory was destroyed in an explosion, forcing the OCU to flee. When news broke of factories destruction, the USN announced that 62 were killed in the explosion and publicly accused the OCU of sending wanzers to attack the factory. The OCU denied the allegations, and claimed that the incident was staged by the USN to justify a full scale occupation of Huffman.

Unbeknownst to the public, the Larcus factory was actually a B-Device research facility being operated by the Nirvana Institute. Driscoll, one of the Institutes leading members, had planted the explosives within the facility in order to destroy any trace of the Institutes inhumane experiments as per the Puppet Soldier Program. Nevertheless, the incident was the spark needed to ignite the flames of war, and the USN and OCU declared war on one another soon afterwards.

Capture of Freedom City
On June 10th At 9 am, three USN divisions, led by Brigader General Patrick S. Winger, encountered four attacking OCU Army divisions and started the Freedom City invasion operation. USN Army, 344th Battalion, 112th Special Squadron, Lynx Platoon successfully intercepts a moving OCU army heavy combat helicopter and in recognition of their initiative they became part of the spearhead north; tasked with destroying all OCU Army early warning defense radar facility (Western Coast of Roxta Desert, District 3), which assisted and facilitated the invasion of USN Paratroopers, besides crippling the OCU anti-aircraft battallion on the West Bank of Roxta Desert.

After destroying forward defenses USN Lynx platoon supports USN Army 7th Transport Unit under attack by OCU stragglers. The transport vehicle is able to leave the battlefield and return to base safely.

From the night into the next morning the 334th Armored Battalion from Lupidis reaches OCU's Freedom City Defense Line and attacks it in a high altitude airborne assault via three transport aircraft. The OCU army's line of defense collapses due to a coordinated pincer attack with USN ground forces. Some routed units, such as the OCU 48th Defense Unit, withdrew to the center of Freedom City immediately. The remaining troops of the OCU army were thoroughly annihilated or later converged on city hall in an attempt to regroup and form an effective defense.

The next day, on June 11th At 13:00 (1:00PM), the USN Army's Sweeping Operation in Freedom City began. The 64th Mobile Squadron (known as Hell's Wall) opens and leads a breakthrough alongside the Silver Lynxes, and the regular army advances in their rear. Due to the intensity of the USN's siege of city hall, the mayor of Freedom City called on the OCU Army to surrender to the 46th Defense Force's refusal. Hell's Wall then continued the mop up operation after this request failed. Some inside the USN have the view that the successful suppression by such small strike units is a surprising outcome. Due to the fall of Freedom, the actual border has moved to the southern tip of the Roxta Desert to the west. All OCU Border Guard units (previously along the Mail River) are reorganized into a consolidated frontline defense unit. By tomorrow morning, USN troops completely controlled Freedom City.

At a Sakata Industries branch near Freedom, Spirit of Huffman forces(formed of escapees from Larcus and various Sakata blacksites) attempt to attack the company's transport vehicles, but the USN Silver Lynx platoon eliminates them. Immediately before completing their delivery, OCU troops and USN Lynx platoon patrols become engaged in combat, with Ensign Kevin Greenfield and others witnessing transportation of materials and equipment and defending the Sakata Industries transport.

On June 12th around 11:30 am, Lark Valley a small city in the southwestern part of Freedom City, is destroyed in an indiscriminate attack by USN cruise missiles; The reason is suppressed publicly but is privately due to the loss of a B-Device Equipped prototype Wanzer in the city that Nirvana could not afford to be discovered or recover.

Central Area Fierce Battle Period
A stalemate between the two militaries becomes clear starting on June 12th turning the area across the Roxta Desert into a no man's land. This situation continued for a year; OCU Defense Ministers announce the introduction of larger WAP units than based in the mainlands. 80% of the WAP deployed to Army, Navy and Air Forces stationed at the General Headquarters were reorganized as a Huffman Island Expeditionary Unit and dispatched to retake the lost Freedom City territory along with restoring the border at the Mail River.

Conversely the USN Department of Defense was in urgent need to continue it's offensive west and not lose steam, therefore recruiting any willing USN Army WAP pilots for dispatch to Huffman Island. Many new army units would be established, on both sides, in multiple attempts to create a decisive breakthrough in the stalemate.

By August 2090, OCU Army Akatsuki Regiment, one such unit, is organized to push into USN territory and succeeds in small victories like recapturing government complexes or rescuing captured officials in enemy territory. At this time, to take advantage of the need for more materials, a WAP "pilot appointment test" was conducted by Sakata Industries at OCU Army Iron Hearts Regiment and USN Army Proud Eagles Regiment this was actually a cover to help secure B-Device materials, pretending to fill vacancies in test pilot seats for Nirvana Institute.

WAP pilot abductions by apparently autonomous units of unknown affiliation began to occur more frequently. Some of the USN victims were protected by the 5th Division Special Task Force at the unit's temporary garrison. The remaining abductee pilots were shot down by the USN Army 17th Mobile Squadron during their transfer in a heavy combat helicopter. A similar incident occurred in the OCU army, and a heavy combat helicopter in what would become infamous 'transfer missions' was shot down by the OCU army Kazm Owls Special Regiment.

Displeased at the disruptions and information leaks, Sakata Industries would orchestrate for both the Kazm Owls and 17th Mobile Squadron to be annihilate each other during the field test of OSV-XX Griffin as overseen by Driscoll on Sakata's behalf. Both armies secretly intend to launch a large number of B-Device equipped Wanzers in the recovery of Freedom City which Sakata can now control distribution of as the main developer of the B-Device.

While OCU army elements transfer potential B-Device material from the New Milgan Orphanage to Gray Rock Hospital, the unknown transport unit is intercepted and destroyed in an attack led by Ensign Alfred Balfor. The material was recovered by Iron Hearts, who were planning to extradite a 'material candidate' who was kidnapped by OCU Army Captain Malcolm O'Brien(and some other suspects). The culprit was killed when pursued by the OCU regular army, but the candidate successfully fled the island. A similar incident occurred within the USN army, and the material candidate being transferred to the Nirvana organization fled the island with the guidance and support of the Proud Eagles.

This series of incidents / accidents and information manipulations that occurred in the military related to B-Devices were ultimately the subject of investigation by the Inspector General of the Military Legal Affairs Bureau in both the OCU and USN forces. Though these Investigations would be purposefully misdirected by military officials like General Winger, Driscoll, and Major Olson.

With the investigation's beginning a year has passed and by the end of June 2091, About 300 elite Japanese OCU Defense Force ground troops are dispatched to Huffman Island, they joined the OCU regular army and prepared to participate in the counter-offensive operation to retake Freedom City. In the mean time Memorial ceremonies for victims of the Larcus incident in various parts of USN territory are held, the same day The OCU army organizes the Canyon Crow and makes a new push to create mass mercenary corps to augment the last enlistment drive.

The OCU Army Organizes the Canyon Crow
USN Tank Divisions, 16th Special Machine Company, Advance Squadron, and 1st Mobile Task Force invades the jungle area east of Ballinden renewing the push west that had become stagnant with fighting around Roxta. OCU Army Canyon Crow deploy on their first major operation and eliminate these forces, blunting the USN offensive. Next an OCU military transport carrying a new Sakata Industry missile launcher crashed into a hillside 30 miles northeast of New Milgan as a result of engine trouble. Canyon Crow and USN 529th Mobile Task Force engage in battle to recover the equipment. Canyon Crow defeats them and collects the cargo. The OCU 1st Army Transport Division is attacked on the New Milgan Freeway by the USN's 56th Special Squadron, which is intercepted by the prepared and well armed Canyon Crow. The transport unit arrived at its destination, Menasa, with minor damage thanks to the Crows efforts and helped establish their reputation as a unit.

OCU Military Gray Rock Hospital was attacked by the 212th Independent Military Branch belonging to the Nirvana Institute(led by Driscoll); the OCU Army Frontline Urban Defense Corps responded. In support of the inferior OCU Army vehicle unit, Canyon Crows joins with the unit and destroys the Nirvana affiliated unit. After completing the transfer of materials from the hospital, the 212th blew up the hospital and withdrew. At about the same time as the battle, the USN Silver Lynx platoon and a separate regiment of the OCU Urban Defense Corps, engaged in reconnaissance activities, is attacked by the Silver Lynx in the suburbs of Gray Rock; The USN platoon succeeds in defeating the regiment before being ordered to then fall back and regroup with Driscoll who claims the attack on Gray Rock to be a failure. The USN Army commences Operation Willy Willy in response, centered on three OCU Rail Cannons defended by paratrooper corps situated near Gray Rock hoping to soften it's defenses and make a major push towards New Milgan, Gray Rock, and western ports to end the war. This offensive ends inconclusively and the USN lose the offensive momentum created by the conquest of Freedom City.

On July 23, 2091 At 14:00, USN 214th Reconnaissance Unit and OCU scouts engage in skirmishes within the Roxta Desert 14 km southwest of Freedom City. In what becomes the opening battles of the Freedom City Recapture Operation by the OCU Ground Forces.

Freedom City Recapture Operation
On July 30th, 2091 at 8 o'clock, the USN army garrisoned in Freedom City (at this point comprised largely of units from the 214th Armored Division and 214th Reconnaissance) prepare a defense against the OCU Army's planned invasion having to compensate for many army units lost in the recently failed offensives and incidents of the Central Area Fierce Battle Period.

The main force of the defense unit was based around the 64th Mobile Squadron placed on the final defense line before the city itself along side the Silver Lynx Platoon and Black Hounds Corp. Second Lt. Kevin Greenfield, devised a diversion attack on the advance column of the assault force, OCU Mobile Task Force, and lure them to an ambush area where the Black Hound Corps was waiting hoping to blunt the offensive pre-maturely; this attack was a complete success and the Mobile Task Force was annihilated but failed at causing any confusion amongst OCU forces. USN Platoons in each area still had to respond to multiple intrusions across the entire line, with reports from headquarters at Fort Monas that reinforcements will arrive from the mainland USN Army a week later.

OCU Army and Air Defense Forces conduct joint operations. Canyon Crow eliminates an anti-aircraft missile launcher battery comprised of 268th Air Defense Regiment and continues to do battle with unit of the USN Army Special Attack Squadron, Frontline Urban Defense Regiment; which is deployed 100 km southeast of Freedom City as a frontline combat support unit. A reconnaissance unit belonging to the USN Army 3rd Division Special Information Company discovers a new weapon for capturing Freedom, a Bayan, which was secretly deployed by the OCU Army near Freedom. Although attempts were made to destroy the weapons, the OCU Army Canyon Crow, who made an emergency weapon escort sortie, responded and the USN troops were mostly destroyed attempting to capture the Mobile Weapons.

Gina, who belongs to the 3rd Division Special Information Company of the USN Army, is engaged with OCU troops in the mountains of the Huffman 1st Highway Elevated Road along the Huffman Railway. The USN Lynx platoon neutralizes the OCU army's train guns deployed in the mountains near Freedom. Air strikes by OCU began on USN defense units deployed around Freedom in light of the lost rail guns, and soon this indicated the beginning of a massive ground battle between the 1st Army of the OCU Ground Forces and USN Defense Forces began. The first all-out attack of the OCU army. The USN Army maintained the Freedom Eastern Defense Line, which was then the 64th Mobile Squadron and supporting units, but some OCU troops evaded the line and diverted to the west creating a small crack in the line.

The next day, August 1st, At 11 o'clock, the OCU Army 1st Army Mobile Division Company attempts a breakthrough and the USN Army 64th Mobile Squadron engage them at the USN Army Front Base just outside Freedom City, the OCU unit was destroyed and it seemed the OCU just may falter. Immediately after, the OCU Army Canyon Crows continue the offensive instead of the 1st and defeat the 64th Mobile Squadron; with this blow the Eastern Defense Line begins to collapse. The USN Army Black Hound retaliates to the loss of Hell's Wall, but the OCU Army's superiority remains unchanged as the air strikes by the OCU army continue to pummel and tie down USN counter-offensives.

On August 2nd at 16:00, the USN military headquarters issues an order of general retreat from Freedom City. The entire defense force begins to withdraw back across the Mail River towards Fort Monas or the Peseta Frontline Base. The OCU Army Canyon Crow and the USN Army Silver Lynx platoon meet briefly during the retreat, but there was no engagement as the OCU army had almost completely seized Freedom City in the same day. At night, OCU Army Canyon Crow eliminates North Freedom's Remaining USN Unit, the 198th Special Platoon. OCU Air Defense Force, Tactical Air Command pursues withdrawing USN troops, Reorganized OCU troops begin deploying to eastern Freedom.

On August 3rd at a dam in the upper reaches of the Mer River in the Wayne Mountains, USN troops install bombs to destroy the dam facilities and cripple the gains of OCU forces, but Canyon Crow wipe out the installation work and removes the bombs.

Peseta Operations
USN Silver Lynx platoon discovers refugees and troops from Freedom at Mount Wayne, these Civillians were recovered and transferred to Bertica. USN Silver Lynx platoon and OCU troops engage at a resource plant just west of Peseta. OCU Army Canyon Crow and USN 12th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron in the meantime fight in Lark Valley and recover Lark Incident survivor Molly O'Donnell. OCU Army Canyon Crows then defeats the 76th Combat Support Squadron of the USN Army Supply Unit / Army Single Mobile Squadron, which was gathering in the north of Lark Valley.

The OCU Army Canyon Crow assaults and suppresses the USN Border Guard, which blocked the advance of the OCU Army Tank Division with a solid defense; the OCU wants to make up for this by by crossing the river and getting ahead of remnants retreating still from Freedom and realize that to do this they must destroy all routes of retreat and control the Mail River. The OCU Army eliminate the 438th Armored Defense Squadron of the USN Border Guard with a pincer attack between the OCU Army Tank Division and Canyon Crows. The OCU army completely controls the Mail River as a result of defeating the 438th. USN Army Command sets up an interception line along the road connecting the Mail River and Peseta in response hoping to save some retreating units.

The next day, August 4th, OCU troops blow up a mountain railway bridge on the Besk River. In this operation, OCU Army Canyon Crow and USN Army 891st City Guard Mobile Platoon engage and the OCU succeeds in destroying the bridge; with this major blow whole divisions of the USN army still retreating east and using this railroad to swiftly redeploy from the old front, were divided, encircled, and cut off.

OCU troops cross the Peseta border and invade the city of Peseta. At 18:00, USN Army 214th Armored Division and OCU Shock Troopers engaged each other. The USN army succeeds in defeating this attack and creating a short lull in the the offensive. After the deadlock, OCU army main forces would redouble their efforts and conquer Peseta. A Ambush Attack Unit of the OCU Army and a USN Army City Defense Unit lacking an officer engage in Berchika. OCU Army Ensign Connolly,, died due to the runaway actions of a Type 90 Prototype utilizing a B-Device. at 21:00, OCU Army Tank Division conquers Berchika and establish a temporary headquarters there.

The OCU Army 1st Infantry Division sets up a garrison 120 km west of Fort Monas. OCU Army Canyon Crow moving to the garrison base from Freedom City engage USN Army 76th Mobile Squadron in the Parunta Desert, the Crows defeat this; A unit led by Second Lieutenant Kevin Greenfield of the USN Army, heading for Lupidis, and a unknown Nirvana Institute-associated Unit engage. The second lieutenant was detained for violating USN military discipline, and disobedience to orders. An emergency order from OCU Army Headquarters protects Jan Ehin, who escaped from the Nirvana Institute facilities, in the forests just west of Fort Monas. the Crows would engage in combat with the same Nirvana unit that coincidentally attacked Kevin the same day.

Operation "Eagle Tears" begins it's first steps with a strategy to besiege and capture Fort Monas along with Morgan Fortress in the interest of breaking the back of the USN Army on Huffman Island creating another short pause in the war.

Operation Eagle Tears and Ceasefire
On August 9th, the final day of the war, The USN Army builds an absolute line of defense at Fort Monas and Morgan Fortress. Three B-Device equipped Type 90 prototypes were placed at Morgan Fortress along with the 360th Mobile Defense Squadron, Army Tank Division, Special Squadron Front Defense, Fortress Unit D.

OCU Army 1st Army attempts to advance, but due to attack by Morgan Fortress' Giant Turret, are forced to fall back. Canyon Crow infiltrates the fortress, destroys the turret, and eliminates the 360th Squadron. As a result, the main OCU force is reinvigorated and advance. All remaining USN Army Corps begins to converge on Fort Monas to make a final stand.

Part of the OCU 1st Army is isolated, but troops that entered the suburbs of Fort Monas march further into the city. Following the completion of the first wave of Operation Eagle Tears by the OCU Army Air Defense Force, the second wave by the 1st Airborne Division, and the Mobile Division started. Even after the first wave, surrender was advised and destruction operations (of assets and material) was carried out for USN military by Urban Defense Units scattered throughout the city. At 10 o'clock, USN Army 214th Armored Division(previously at Freedom) and OCU Army Mobile Squadron engaged. The USN Army defeats this attack. In the North district of the largest battlefield of the war, the USN Army 16th Defensive Platoon armed with a Type 88 Seaking and the OCU Army Canyon Crow engage. The Crows succeed and move on, At 13:00, units of the USN Army 214th Armored Division and the OCU 1st Army armed with a Growning using urban control specifications was engaged in the city of Fort Monas. The USN army also defeats this attack and blunt the push on Fort Monas.

In the mountainous areas east of Fort Monas, the OCU Army Canyon Crow fall back from the city and are intercepted by USN Army's 52nd Mobile Platoon continue to engage in fighting. Negotiations began in the midst of their battle and a ceasefire was declared at 16:00.

Aftermath
The USN commander, Brigadier General Patrick S. Winger received the conditions of surrender where the USN would politically controlled three-quarters of the island; both countries accepted the ceasefire drafted by the Peace Mediation Organization. The Second Huffman Conflict was over. Both troops stationed on Huffman Island were under the control of the Republic of Zaftra as peacekeepers.

Despite the efforts of the PMO to end the war a smaller conflict would continue between the Peace Mediation Organization, remnants of the Nirvana Institute and the Spirit of Huffman in the eastern part of the island that would end with massive global political consequences.