Tales of a "no Name" Mercenary Unit

Breaking News:

On October 11th, 3042. The chatter flowed quickly out of the planet Bensinger about an amazing development. Comstar, who wasn't really watching the Chaso Legion Mercenary unit with any level of scrutiny, began doing so. The local Adepts at the backwater HPG facility, on Bensinger, were stunned into silence. The message sent from the world, at Maximum priority, unencrypted to roughly twelve worlds. Obviously, a mistake due to being overwhealmed by the breakthrough of these primitive "screw heads", this couldn't be happening.

On October 14th, 3042. Scarcely three days after the unencrypted HPG blunder rolled out of the HPG station on Bensinger a response returned to the station. Three adepts disappeared mysteriously. By the end of the month, a completely different staff had replaced everyone at the HPG.

On October 15th, 3042 a communique came in for the Fedcom forces on world. A message was sent out as "Confirmed".

On October 16th, 3042 a communique came in, was recieved by Colonel Niles Crawford (who was recently promoted) from Fedcom high command. His response was "Confirmed"

On October 17th, 3042 a communique came in, was recieved by Major Jack Ryan, of the Chaos Legion. His response was "I await your team of Scientists from NAIS"

By the end of the month, most of the inner sphere had already heard a "rumor" that some, "no name" merc unit stationed on some backwater hell hole had designed and created a battlemech from SCRATCH in less time than it took to develop any of the most recent battlemech designs. Designs of note are the Merlin in 3010, Hatchetman in 3025, Wolfhound in 3028, Daboku in 3039... Ice Daemon in 3042, not by a House Army... but by a small mercenary unit with almost no funding using experimental and salvaged parts.

By the beginning of November there was a NAIS detachment on world to inspect the mech (they used a command circuit to come from New Avalon). They are still here, and have been providing supplemental security and throwing the unit whatever it needs for their time and cooperation.

By the end of December, with the new marketing ad, cadets had already started clamoring for enrollment from academies like the New Avalon Institute of Science, Naglering, and even the Academy on Outreach.

Thanks to Comstar, the Chaos Legion has already become famous across the Inner Sphere.

(Game terms = Everyone in the unit recieves a +100 to reputation, whether you want it or not)

Recap:

May 3rd, 3042 - Chaos Legion Manatee Dropship touches down roughly one week prior to Cadre Duty Mission Start

May 3rd, 3042 - Unit takes out a 750K C-Bill loan and immediately orders a massive list of personal armaments, gear and vehicles for the unit who has no staff to support this order at this point.

May 4th, 3042 - Unit launches massive, on world recruitment campiegn.

May 5th, 3042 - Unit attends a top shelf party catering to Governor Kelly. It is a debaucherous affair. Issac Grimm strips for the audience and sleeps with Governor Kelly. C.C. Expels projectile vomit as Ria punches her in the gut to prevent her from sleeping with, albeit drunk, Lisa the lesbian governor's aide.

May 6th, 3042 - Unit initiates full scale training program for all current members of the unit as well as designing an infrastructure for further recruits and training.

May 7th, 3042 - Jack Ryan meets with Governor Kelly in a, no nonsense, direct conversation about "giving back" to the world of Bensinger. In return for four battlemechs, the unit will recieve a large landhold in a town and the prospect of an Academy under the legion's direction will be re-located there with additional investment of 1 Million C-Bills. Jack inquires about his salvage rights and is told about a mech trapped in the ice. He asks about other opportunities and trades a fully functional Locust battlemech for a experimental, Draconis Combine Assault Mech with a flaw in its CASE system.

May 8-9th, 3042 - The unit discovers a primitive Dervish trapped in the ice, using flamers and lasers they excavate it. They find a crippled Marco explorer mech there as well. They also locate a Torrent Bomber that was shot down as well as additional buried vehicles. The Dervish is reactivated, and piloted on manual by Jack dragging salvage (Marco) back to the base just before their contract begins.

In the weeks that follow the unit begins hiring local people, expanding the size of the unit. They train the militia to repair and pilot their mechs and realize there is a behind the scenes plot by the corporations to take over the world's government (which they have been unable to influence and control). There are sporadic pirate raids and a Criminal Syndicat on world that stepped in to fill the void of the local crime after they were sold out by one of their runners.

In the months that follow, the Militia distingusihes itself and impresses the Fedcom forces. The Unit gains recognition for their training regimines. The active militia mech presence removes the necessity for a re-enforced battallion to be present on world. Thus, the majority of the Fedcom forces pull out leaving behind only a token force of two lances and two laser platoons. The militia, with extra and refunded funding purchases an additional Lance of fast response armor and purchases prototype Endo steel with Jack's help to refit all of their mechs. The Urban mech's engine is upgraded and it now carries the best protection (of their mechs) with Ferro Fibrous armor as well.

in a deal brokered by Jack, trading a massive amount of standard hardware out, the fedcom forces begin dropping War of 39 prototype weapons, equipment and parts on world in droves. This hardware is immediately refurbished and used to refit all Legion Mechs. The Firestarter is traded for an even greater influx of Prototype Endo Steel, Prototype Ferro Fibrous, Myomer and engineering and mech, raw, assembly equipment. They recieve a "Lion's Share" of Prototype XL Engines that do not operate (actually, several do). They are first generation XL prototypes and attempts to recreate the bulky, lighter drive systems for mechs and vehicles. These engines, keep rolling in. The legion keeps sending out, functional standard Fusion engines. The legion gets all of these engines up and running and are fileding them with last generation Freezers.

Weapons and hardware that were basically battlefield failures and bizzare odd tonnage weapons with different range, damage and heat profiles are re-tooled to actually operate. These weapons are then fitted into existing battlemechs with suprisingly effective results.

Jack gets his damaged LAM back as a "thank you" from Fedcom command. It's battle rom is destroyed, thus no evidence of his parents attacking him exists. It is refitted and restored to operational status with Collin's help, jack's knowledge of conversion equipment and the full schematics for the LAM get it running in record time.

near the end of the contract the unit assembles, from scratch a hand built Battlmech designed to train new pilots with startling effeciency. It is groundbreaking in the fact that it is : 1. A battlemech of completely new design built by a merc unit with little to no funding and using experimental parts. 2. Sports a weapons modification that is truly unique, an autocannon that strips away much of its bulk and weight to be mounted effectively on the chassis as its centerpoint weapons system. the first implementation works, yet it jams frequently. the second implementation works like a charm basing off the lessons learned form the first. 3. It is equipped with completely modular weapons pod space in its arms to allow flexibility of training loadouts and multi role capability without the need to switch mechs.

the unit is a rising star in the Inner Sphere. Comstar and Wolf's Dragoons take notice immediately...

Command Roster:

Colonel Jack Ryan
Duties: Training, Administration, Logistics & Federated Commonwealth Liaison; Secondary: Pinpoint Lance Support
Mech: Phoenix Hawk LAM

Colonel James McKenna
Duties: Company & Command Lance, Field Commander; Secondary: Quartermaster
Mech: SLDF Mongoose

Lieutenant Collin "Mac" McCreedy
Duites: Infantry Commander; Secondary: Mechwarrior Cadet

Lieutennant Hanz Delmichft
Duties: Lance Commander/Command Lance Pilot; Seconndary: Faceman
Mech: Blackjack

Lieutenant Issac Grimm
Duties: Command Lance Pilot; Secondary: Poster Boy/Hot Brittish Rock Star
Mech: Hatchetman

Lieutanant Ria Smith
Duties: Command Lance Pilot; Secondary: Infiltration Specialist
Mech: Fire Hawk

Lieutenant Cicial Cesco
Duties: Command Lance Pilot; Secondary: Hot Master Technician/Engineer
Mech: Daboku

Lieutenant Martin McKinzie
Duities: Lance Pilot
Mech: Ostscout

Lieutanant Jim Beam
Duites: Lance Pilot/Trainer
Mech: Marco aka "Postal"

Lieutanant Joline Campbell
Duties: Lance Pilot/Trainer
Mech: Stinger

Aerospace Pilot Capitan Brenda Kael
Duties: Aerospace Lance Commander/Strategic Support Operations
Fighter: Boeing Jump Bomber (refit) w/2 Tons of Cluster Bombs & 2 Tons of Laser Guided Bombs

Battlefield Unit Reorganization:

The unit has been operating with more mechs in the field, simultaneously, than any other known unit. Thus, standard lance tactics do not apply. A new tactical regimine has been employed to utilize mech additions over 4 in the field.

Lance = 4 Mechs

Claw = 5 mechs

Scourge = 6 Mechs

Claw: A lance of four battlemechs, with the commander in a highly mobile mech separate of the lance itself. The commander in this scenario employs long range attacks and directs his units without, direct, engagement. Typically, the commander operates the unit as if he is surveying the battlefield and directs his/her forces accordingly. The tactics are more complex, as the Field commander must perform scouting duties and employ some manner of strategic placement in the field of battle. A Claw is typically, directly, supported by an Aerospace fighter on standby for additional tactical support.

Scourge: A lance of four battlemechs, with the commander in a highly mobile mech separate of the lance itself, supported by a second highly mobile scout class mech. The commander in this scenario employs long range attacks and directs his units without, direct, engagement. Typically, the commander operates the unit as if he is surveying the battlefield and directs his/her forces accordingly. The tactics are extremely complex, as the Field commander directs his appointed scout unit to continuously expand the surveiled terrain in conjunction with himself and will employ strategic placement in the field of battle. A Scourge is, directly, supported by an Aerospace fighter on standby & may also reserve another fast response aerospace unit (like a LAM) for additional tactical support.

HPG Message to: Major Jack Ryan
Chaos Legion

From: MRBC
Nicholas Wolf
Wolf's Dragoons

Re: Dragoon Rating

Major Ryan,

We at the MRCB are rather amazed by your rise in status over the past six months. We would like to formally extend to you an invitation to come to Outreach and compete in our field combat arena to test against Wolf's Dragoons when you have the time. We feel that testing your mettle against the best and brightest will shed som light upon the rumors surrounding your unit's capabilities. With that said, we will make it a priority to get your unit here and will be dispatchng a Jumpship to your location on Bensinger to ferry you here, then deposity you and your unit anywhere in the innersphere afterward. Naturally, all you need do is signal us from yoru local Comstar HPG station. We have a voucher for live video communications at the HPG when you are ready to request transport.

Besides the above mentioned information, it is our distinct pleasure to announce to you that you Dragoon rating is currently valued at a "C" level. Should you obatin additional dropship support to cover 100% of your unit assets as well as a Jumpship of any kind, your rating will immediately rise to a "B" rating after you inform the MRBC of your new acquisitions. if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to visit the HPG on Bensinger and we have a representative standing by in a nearby system that can asnwer any of your questions and concens in real-time communication.

Sincerely,

Nicholas Wolf
Wolf's Dragoons

Local News Net
Planet Bensinger

21:30 Local Time

The Chaos Legion has faced down the pirates and decimated their force, the Last mechs, an Atlas and two Archers went down within moments of one another. This is a stellar victory for the people of Bensinger, however, it is not without great loss and sadness. This victory comes too late to save the Capitol City and main starport of the world. As it has been raised, some twho weeks ago the fighting took to the streets of the Capitol City. The main pirate force moved on it with blinding speed. The main fuel depots for the starport were among the first losses. Then the city itself was bombed and shelled. A running mech battle was fought with combined Fedcom, Militia and Chaos Legion forces in the city streets. The resultant damage of the engagement left the city shattered, with survivors reloacting under guard to the Chaos Legion Land Hold and other less populated outlying communities. The central government is missing and the Corporations have begun to actively arm themselves, especially after a pirate assault decimated one of their industrial plexes.

Iin the moments after the main pirate forces fell, another bandit force moved on the Comstar HPG facility, in the heart of the shattered city. These mechs fought a brutal and incredibly violent advance on the HPG, with Comstar defensive units becoming overwealmed within roughly an hour of hard fighting. The facility was siezed and all personnel have semingly been executed. Since that time the HPG dish was re-directed, sending a burst transmission out just prior to the facility's detonation. A force 5 earthquake rolled out from the site of the blast, as several detonations disrupted the Fusion reactor deep underground. The resultant critical overload split the surface of the surrounding territory for a rougly 3 mile, diameter radius. The thermo fusion/nuclear like blast erased 50% of what had been the downtown area of Bensinger's capitol city.

What will we do? How will we survive? We all hope the Chaos Legion thinks of something, because people are pretty damned scared. The Corporations are moving, and they are moving to take control... now.

Two Weeks Earlier

The Fighting in the main City had been repelled, finally, and Jack Ryan made his way to the Comstar HPG. There he met with the Adepts, and sent out two communiques. One to Fedcom command, requesting assistance on behalf of the Fedcom forces on world and the second, he pulled in a favor, from Wolf's Dragoons.

"Not certain if we're going to make it to test on Outreach, things are looking rather grim on Bensinger right now" Jack

Dragoon rep "I will relay the information you forwarded us in the data burst to Dragoon Command. We can bring in some relief forces, but you know this is going to cost you"

"yeah, I know, I want Widomaker Company. I am wiring you 1.5 Million C-Bills, get them here... yesterday" Jack

"Will do, eta, about a month." Dragoon Rep

Jack thought to himself and hoped like hell they would still be alive when the Dragoons dropped on world.

3044 Early January
The Chaos Legion has seized three Capellan Worlds - Capricorn III, Ares and Necromo in a blinding and unexpected raid. News coming out of both Capricorn III and Necromo is slow, sincere there are no HPGs there. Ares sends word immediately, before the planet falls.

Early January 3044 - Candance Liao Assassinated, leaving Daniel Allard-Liao in charge of the St. Ives Compact as Regent. Their son, Kai, will assume control after Daniel Allard steps down.

Mid January 3044 - Romano Liao is assassinated, what's even more of an upset is that the entire ruling house disappears... Overnight.

Late January 3044 - An announcement is made from the Capellan Seat of Power. Apparently, Emperor Chow Yun Fat is now the ruling dictator of the Confederation. The mere uttering of his name alone, sends a chill down the spine of all Capellans. Not to mention, any loyalists to the previous throne immediately galvanize behind his imposing figure.

Emperor Yun Fat's statement "It is unfortunate that Fedcom backed insurgents have siezed, illegally, three of our worlds. They will be dealt with, in time. What troubles me the most is the terrible loss of my, cousin, Candance Liao. While she separated her worlds over disputes with the former ruling house, there is no reason at all why we do not now join together as one, again moving forward.

The "official" word on the street is that St. Ives has actually opened talks with the Capellan Confederation about possible re-absorption.

Early February 3044 - The Capellan Confederation launches a, multi pronged assault siezing the following worlds (Calseraigne, Sadurni, Lurgatan, Conquista, Shuen Wan, Goodna, Scarborough [FWL] & Ziliang, Manapire, Verlo, Frazer, Brmohead & Velhas [Fedcom]) in a brutal and unyeilding engagement. Many commands are wiped out, without any word as to why or how... The Confederation begins waging a war on two fronts, prior to even begin dealing with the Chaos Legion incursion... It is almost as if they don't even care...

-Chaos Legin re-enforcements arrive on Capricorn III, Necromo and Ares.

Ominous Indeed...

Fedcom Support is slow to respond to the Chaos Legion incursion, seeing their immediate losses. They begin to shift their forces to the borders of the Confederation. Fedcom Mobilization efforts are slow on the "Northern" front. The "eastern" front of the Confederation meets stiff and immediate mobilization of former Fed Suns Units. The FWL, is slow to hear the words of the Province of Andurien, however, after the truth of the matter settles in they mobilize their forces and muster along the Western Front of the Confederation.

St Ives, hands out an official order for their Lancers to withdraw from Chaos Legion Held Territories, the St. Ives Lancers do not leave. They remain, in defiance of their orders. Giving the Chaos Legion another Regiment to defend with (comprised of mechs solely outfitted with lostech and Veteran or Better Pilots).
-The regiment is tight lipped under questioning, however, there is some "lack of trust" after St. Ives opened up talks with Emperor Yun Fat. Apparently, the Colonel of the Lancers knows something of what the man is capable of... And has no desire to be re-unified with him.

The Voice of Regent Prime Minister Daniel Allard-Liao falls silent... In the days that flow forward.

****News Flash****

Today, the first activity seens since the Capellan assault wave hit occurs. The Federated Commonwealth has begun to mobilize, militia garrisson units have embarked for Capricorn III, Ares and Necromo. The first wave of which has already deployed in these systems. Apparently, the "Fox" had not been reeling from the attacks. He immediately dispatcahed support and holding forces to the three systems in the form of a Full Aersopace Wing to each, which just arrived today clearly stating their intention to support the Chaos Legion Efforts to Hold and advance.

A second, task force, simultaneously showed up in the St. Ives Compact, followed shortly afterward by a comnbined Chaos Legion offensive led by Jack Ryan. With the open usage of warships in the field of battle the St. Ives compact fell into line immediately. It is with great sadness, that we announce today that Daniel Allard-Liao is dead. His body was found alongside that of his wife, who died just days earlier. They are being laid to rest in a ceremony later this week, after the return of their Son, Kai-Allard-Liao, from the academy he was attending.

In an unprecedented manuver, the St. Ives Compact politically united with the forces of the Chaos Legion today. Reports are sketchy as to how this recently formed mercenary unit has been able to not only grow, innovate and expand, but it has now become a Successor State in its own right. We will await a public statement by the new governmental unit.

In other news, Fedcom forces are building on the FWL border, as well as the Draconis border. Like movements of troops from both states are likewise responding, or had already responded.

Is this the beginning of a "Fifth Succession War"?

Finally, in other news there is some mention of an internal struggle in Comstar. Many of their stations have ominously fallen silent... What can this mean?