The 5th Frontier War -------------------- The honour code - despite its valued place within Efate culture - has often been the source of some of the most intratacable conflicts on Efate. One well-known conflict - between the Keeslia'k and the Keia'ss noble houses - has often led to continuous bushfire wars in the bitter polar wastes of Efate. This conflict eventually grew like topsy: by 1107, it pitted most of the lesser noble houses against the five High Houses. Covert Zho support of the smaller houses was quite well-known: the Efate never were as phobic towards psionics as Imperials were, and often consider the 'truthful' Zhodani as basically more honourable than Imperials. Between 1000 and 1107, the Imperium/Domain/Regency had to send Marine units no less than *fifteen* times to restore the peace, with each incident worse than the last. During one of these incidents - the famous Razor Wars of 1107 - most of Makitii District was thrown in a state of chaos, requiring Imperial Marines to put down the rebellion (078-1107). The Imperials expected a walkover, considering the rather poor equipment the lesser noble armies had. Boy, were they surprised. The rebellious nobles didn't have much in the way of fancy equipment, but they were well prepared, and - with plenty of Zho advice and psionic aid - were able to hit the Marines unexpectedly hard throughout the Cackiit Highlands. While their tactic of using a Merc cruiser to deliver a 5MT nuclear warhead to the main body of Imperial troops failed (see "A Dagger at Efate", JTAS #?"), several other subterfuges - including sneaking a large supply of heavy fusion rifles - were successful. The marines were just getting a bead on the rebellion put down when the Fifth Frontier War swept thru Regina subsector, placing Efate under siege from 214-1107 to the armistice, declared at 099-1110 (The war was officaly declared over at 001-1111). Ferocious naval clashes ensued between the Zho. 1st Assault Fleet - tasked to take Efate - and the defending Imperial 193rd Fleet. However, because the Zho's could not secure their supply line through Louzy, the 1st Assault Fleet couldn't bring their full potential force to bear against the 193rd. The unconqured Imperial outposts at Louzy could also supply information to Imperial forces regarding incoming reinforcements, permitting the 193rd to successfully defend against several offensives. From mid-1109, the Zho's were releasing ships to fight at other fronts, but were still strong enough to resist the Imperial attempt to relieve Efate during Operation Iedshrpr (launched 029-1109), spearheaded by elements of the Corridor Fleet. The intense fighting was used by the High Houses as the justification to purge the lesser houses from all government positions. This led to even more embittered fighting, and eventually to several ugly atrocities. In the aftermath of the Fifth Frontier War, most of the lesser houses was stripped of their titles and exiled to Ley Sector by order of the Emperor: most of the major leadership was shot for High Treason. With the leadership of the Lesser Houses not only destroyed, but considered dishonourable - this in a culture that values honour above all else - the continual bushfire wars of Efate came to an permanent end.