Beta Galaxy (Clan Steel Viper)

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Beta Galaxy
Disbanded 3075 (Destroyed)
Nickname Steel Fangs Galaxy
Affiliation Clan Steel Viper
Parent Command Clan Steel Viper touman


History[edit]

Beta Galaxy was originally based on New Kent.[1] The Galaxy was part of the Clan Steel Viper force for Operation Revival, the 104th Assault Cluster fought the First Falcon Striker Cluster in a Trial of Possession for Orkney in December 3051. After a two day battle the Clans agreed to share the planet.[2]

It was left out of the bidding for Tukayyid in favor of Zeta Galaxy and did not see further action until the post-Truce Trials of Possession for worlds held by Clan Jade Falcon.[1]

Post-Tukayyid[edit]

Beta Galaxy clusters fought on the following worlds post-Invasion:

  • In June 3052 the Viper Fusiliers and the 126th Striker Cluster captured Goat Path from Clan Jade Falcon in retaliation for raids against their merchants.[3]
  • The raid against Persistence in January 3054 turned into a three-month battle for the planet, which Beta eventually won.[4]
  • The Viper Fusiliers conducted a successful assault on Bensinger in April 3055.[4]

The Galaxy survived the withdrawal from the Inner Sphere in 3061 relatively intact. It was Beta Galaxy that later provided the main assault force against the Snow Ravens on Homer, although it is likely that the Ninth Guards were destroyed fighting against the Ravens in this action. The Steel Fang Assault Star supported Alpha Galaxy in 3065 during the assault on Lum.[5]

Wars of Reaving[edit]

The Viper Fusiliers were decimated and forced off Marshall in mid-3069.[6] In November of that year Beta Galaxy returned to Marshall. Declaring the Falcons dezgra they landed five Clusters on planet and destroyed the Second Velites to the last warrior.[7]

In 3072, Clan Coyote hit the Beta Galaxy positions on Londerholm and destroyed the 195th Striker in the fighting.[8]

A large Viper force of four Galaxies arrived at Tokasha in September 3074 . Finding Clan Blood Spirit forces in a position to take the entire planet the Vipers called their own Trial of Possession for it. The Blood Spirits had three Galaxies on planet and the Vipers landed all four of theirs to oppose them. The Vipers moved against each Galaxy in turn first crushing Zeta in Koche Mountains. Beta Galaxy found itself outflanked by the Spirits' Omicron Galaxy, but the timely arrival of Nu Galaxy crushed the defenders. Only the arrival of aerospace fighters bombing the Viper lines allowed a few of the warriors to escape. The assault by Gamma Galaxy overran the defensive line of Omega Galaxy allowing Alpha Galaxy to push on to the Blood Spirits headquarters killing their Khan.[9]

One of the last actions fought by the Vipers against the Society rebellion was the invasion of Circe. Beta supported by Chi Galaxy landed on the planet after the Clan Watch had disabled the SDS. The Vipers destroyed a cluster sized bandit force and then spent two months rooting out the rebels.[10]

IlKhan Andrews' violation of the Council's rules and traditions by shooting Khan N'Buta during the meeting pushed the Cloud Cobra Khan Hollyann Kardaan to condemn the act as evidence of the Steel Vipers' corruption, calling for an Annihilation of the Clan. Unable to fight off the combined Home Clans, the Vipers and Beta Galaxy were wiped out in 3075. Beta's last stand came on Circe. Two hundred DropShips of the combined Home Clans landed troops on the planet despite the fire of the SDS ground batteries. Beta counterattacked near Wales under cover of a storm and destroyed the Blood Spirits' Tau Galaxy. However they themselves were seriously damaged by aerial attack from Clan Cloud Cobra. Some of Beta may have managed to retreat into the ruins of Dehra Dun, but were soon hunted down and destroyed.[11]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of the Beta Galaxy
Galaxy Commander Ahmed Zalman 3024[12]
Galaxy Commander Jonathan Mercer 3052 - 3055[1][13]
Galaxy Commander Angelica Zalman 3055 - 3069[1][6]

Tactics[edit]

Different per Unit.

Composition History[edit]

3051-3053[edit]

Beta Galaxy[3][14]

3054-3058[edit]

Beta Galaxy[4][15][16]

3061[edit]

Beta Galaxy[17]

3067-3068[edit]

Beta Galaxy[19]

  • Viper Fusiliers
  • 126th Striker Cluster
  • 195th Striker Cluster
  • 233rd Battle Cluster
  • Beta Newt
  • Steel Fang Strike Star

3069[edit]

Beta Galaxy[6]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 144: "Beta Galaxy"
  2. Invading Clans, p. 89
  3. 3.0 3.1 Invading Clans, p. 89
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Invading Clans, p. 91
  5. Field Manual: Updates, p. 67
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Wars of Reaving, p. 41
  7. The Wars of Reaving, p. 47
  8. The Wars of Reaving, p. 106
  9. The Wars of Reaving, pp. 138–139
  10. The Wars of Reaving, p. 141
  11. The Wars of Reaving, pp. 149–150
  12. Seven Years' Bad Luck, p. 17
  13. Invading Clans, p. 94
  14. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 151: "Delta - Galaxy 104th Assault Cluster"
  15. Objective Raids, p. 30
  16. Invading Clans, p. 94
  17. Field Manual: Warden Clans, p. 165: "Clan Steel Viper"
  18. Explorer Corps, p. 53: "Known Steel Viper Facilities"
  19. Field Manual: Updates, pp. 79–80

Bibliography[edit]