Siege of Tiber
Осада Тибра
# SIEGE OF TIBER
The Siege of Tiber was a key battle between the [United Empire of Earth (UEE)](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VyvyKxy4v6-united-empire-of-earth) and invading [Vanduul](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VpGPp92gdO-vanduul). Lasting from SEY 2732 to 2736, it consisted of extensive ground and air engagements, mass bombings, and a military blockade from the Orion and [Vector (VS-1)](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VgEE5KQeWY-vector-system-vs-1) [jump points](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0rqzJPaMpY-jump-point) by Vanduul forces and the Virgil and Oberon jump points by UEE forces. Losses were heavy on both sides; conservative estimates put [Human](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0Nwpnr6wa2-humans) and Vanduul combined casualties in the lower millions. The Siege ended with UEE defeat on 29 December 2736, when a [Kingship](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/V3qWn9Dlvm-vanduul-kingship) jumped into the [system](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VaZwNWg372-system) from Orion. Half of the UEE's forces in Tiber were destroyed in the subsequent battle. After such heavy losses, the UEE was forced to cede Tiber to the Vanduul.
# BACKGROUND
On 18 February 2712 Tiber's neighboring system, Orion, was unexpectedly [lost to the Vanduul](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/RMXyYxqw8K-battle-of-orion). UEE forces that had defended Orion fell back to the Tiber system and formed a secondary defense line in anticipation of another invasion. However, the Vanduul remained in Orion to harvest its resources, and showed no intention of pursuing the retreating UEE ships. After several tense months, UEE leadership concluded that another unified incursion of allied [Vanduul Clans](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/R9vzjxmEBx-vanduul-clans) at the scale of the Battle of Orion was unlikely to occur. The Imperator authorized the buildup of military forces at an accelerated pace to fortify the system.
Regular intelligence-gathering missions were launched into Orion to spy on the Vanduul. The system didn't have a single incident until 04 February 2726, when a solitary Vanduul [Blade](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/RegdeBENkw-blade) exited the Orion jump point. By 16 November 2726, Vanduul Clans were regularly launching raids on Tiber. It seemed that another invasion might be on the horizon.
# THE SIEGE
On 19 April 2732, a large Clan took and held the Tiber-Orion jump point. The UEE responded by dispatching the 81st, 22nd, 6th, and 31st Battle Groups, commanded by Grand Admiral Tesca Halimeade, to eradicate the invaders. Key ships in the Battle Groups were sent to guard the Virgil and Oberon jump points and defend other areas identified as potentially threatened. In a surprise move, Halimeade issued orders that no ship was to directly engage the Vanduul around the Orion jump point, hoping that a defensive position would stall the invasion and give him enough time to find a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
By mid-2733, multiple Clans drawn into Tiber by the continued fighting were battling one another over space stations and outposts as often as they clashed with UEE forces. Most of the UEE's capital ships remained in dock during this time as Halimeade searched for a way to communicate with the Vanduul. By early 2734, three of the Clans that had emerged victorious from repeated battles against the other Clans launched separate concentrated assaults on Tiber II. They tore through the UEE's lines of defense, dropped [Harvesters](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/0n1MYzOkG7-harvester), and established encampments across the planet.
With the loss of the Tiber II, Halimeade was forced to abandon his strategy and go on the offensive. The main flagship of the 31st long docked at [INS Aniene](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/VlNPQMPnrA-ins-aniene), the UEES *Aquilon*, led the fleet to the outskirts of Tiber II in order to lure the Vanduul camped there into attacking. The strategy paid off; most Vanduul on the planet eagerly joined the fray, leaving their on-ground encampments only lightly guarded. As the battle continued, strike teams from the 81st and 22nd Battle Groups entered Tiber II's atmosphere with little resistance and conducted aerial bombardments of the Vanduul strongholds there, destroying the majority in under a few hours. The decimated Clans fled the system.
Finally committed to total war, Halimeade used this bait-and-switch tactic again and again to reclaim lost territory. For over a year, Vanduul numbers slowly dwindled. However, due to more Clans entering Tiber as often as defeated Clans fled it, progress was not going as fast as UEE authorities would have liked.
On 04 November 2735, a large Clan appeared in what seemed to be an