II Legio

Legio II logo.png
II Legio Cataphracti
Formed Between 3048 and 3052[1]
Nickname The Caesar's Own
Affiliation Marian Hegemony
Parent Command Marian Hegemony Armed Forces

II Legio Cataphracti is a military unit of the Marian Legions.

History[edit]

In 3054, II Legio was sent to invade the Lothian League. They and other supporting units fought for a year, but by 3055 the Lothian League was a part of the Marian Hegemony. II Legio was left in place to enforce the will of the Caesar. Despite this, there was great deal of resistance to Marian rule, and the population was primed for a rebellion.[2] II Legio was stationed on Lordinax in 3055, when the Caesar's heir was assigned to command the unit. He took command in 3060.[3]

II Legio had been facing a protracted guerrilla campaign for several years. The constant fighting had crushed the unit's morale despite receiving constant reinforcements from the core of the Hegemony. Julius O'Reilly was able to negotiate a peace agreement with the leader of the resistance movement, thus earning his unit's loyalty. II Legio then followed Julius to the Illyrian Palatinate, where they forcibly integrated that nation into the Hegemony.[3]

In 3063 the Second Legion arrived on Alphard to support their commander.[4] They cut down the loyal members of I Legio who attempted to defend Sean O'Reilly.[5] After the new Caesar had raised all the plebian members of the legio to patrician status, the Second Legion returned to the Illyrian District, where they were assisted in the ongoing integration efforts. Taking a page from their former commander, the members of Second Legion were using understanding and peaceful integration tactics rather than punitive assaults. Despite this, II Legio was forced to put down some armed resistance.[6]

In 3066 the Second Legion was one of several legiones assigned to invade the Circinus Federation. Unlike its fellow legiones, the Second was unable to take their assigned world due to heavy resistance. They did salvage a lot of advanced technology from their battlefields, however, and also seized a Mule-class DropShip full of weapons that were supposed to go to the Black Warriors.[7] In 3067 the Second Legion was assigned to garrison Ballalaba.[8]

When the Marian Hegemony invaded several Free Worlds League worlds on the 11th of November 3077, II Legio was one of the legiones assigned to the campaign. II Legio attacked the planet Kendall, where the defending FWLM forces resorted to desperate tactics to defeat II Legio - tactics which included the use of tactical nuclear weapons. As a result of the tactics used by the defenders II Legio was largely destroyed and thousands of civilians were killed. The few survivors of II Legio retreated to the nearby world of Landfall in early December.[9] The nuclear strike reduced the Second Legion to a mere 20% of its original strength, but they were stationed on Illyria to rebuild.[10]

After rebuilding their strength, the soldiers of the Second Legion were split into two groups and used to garrison the former Circinus Federation worlds of Maximillian and Blantleff. Though mostly quiet, the Second had responded to several raids by former Federation soldiers who had turned to piracy. The Second was able to repel these strikes easily, and the lower level conflict allowed the new troops to gain some experience.[11] These two battle groups were still on Maximillian and Blantleff in 3085.[12]

In 3117 the planet Landfall was the site of an open rebellion against the Marian Hegemony rule of the planet, instigated by groups and individuals looking to see Landfall rejoin the Free Worlds League. Named the Free Leaguers, the rebels were able to gather resources from other nearby systems that used to be members of the League and launched their rebellion, swiftly gaining control of large portions of Landfall. The rebellion was ultimately put down by forces from II Legio, in part because of a significant defeat for the rebels at the town of New Erewhon when Marauder battle armor suits attached to II Legio fought a close-quarters battle with rebel 'Mechs in the streets, a battle that saw the local rebel leader captured alive after being pulled out of the broken remains of his Cadaver. The subsequent treason trial and execution of that leader, T. "Pony Man" Harris, was broadcast throughout the Hegemony.[13]

They spent most of the Lothian Rebellion showing the flag in the former Illyrian Palatinate worlds. In 3128 they destroyed ten 'Mechs that had killed the planetary governor of Illyria and his family, despite being outnumbered two to one.[14] In 3145 the legio was spread across the Illyria, Trasjkis, and Trondheimal systems.[15]

Dark Age[edit]

In 3147 elements of II Legio and III Legio attacked Gibraltar. They engaged the 7th Tamarind Regulars battalion, and forced it off-world.[16] In 3148 a maniple of II Legio raided Conakry.[17] The FWLM counterattacked several systems taken by the Marian Hegemony, isolating II and III Legio in the Duchy of Tamarind-Abbey. II Legio sent two raiding forces to hit Merton and Sackville, returning with enough supplies to remain combat effective. Prima Cohors of II Legio was stationed on Hazeldean, and renewed strikes by the FWLM forced them to go to ground. After several weeks of guerrilla warfare, the cohors left the world, losing a Union-class DropShip in the process.[18]

II Legio was on Illyria in November 3150. Camacho's Caballeros, 1st Tamarind Regulars, 7th Tamarind Regulars, and the 8th Tamarind Regulars landed on the world and fought their way across the planet to capture the capital city. By the end of November, II Legio was on the run, executing guerrilla attacks on the FWLM troops and protecting the planetary governor. More legiones were rushed to the world to support II Legio, but by the end of the year Illyria (and its associated province) were under control of the Free Worlds League.[19]

Officers[edit]

Rank Name Command
Commanding Officers of II Legio
General Adolf Burake 3058[20]
Prefect Theodore Penn 3064 - 3067[6][8]
Prefect Darina Snyders 3085[12]
Prefect Colby Pritchard 3145[15]

Tactics[edit]

II Legio prefers overwhelming forces to strike down enemy forces.[6]

Composition History[edit]

3058[edit]

Second Marian Legion

1st Cohort (1 Cohort/Regular/Fanatical)[20]
- Stationed on Logan Prime
2nd Cohort (1 Cohort/Regular/Reliable)[20]
- Stationed on Lordinax
3rd Cohort (1 Cohort/Green/Reliable)[20]
- Stationed on Leximon

3064[edit]

II Legio (Regular/Fanatical)[21]

Prima Cohors (1 Cohort/Veteran/Fanatical)[6]
- Prima is the heaviest cohors of the legio, fielding a full assault Maniple of upgraded designs.
Secunda Cohors (1 Cohort/Regular/Fanatical)[6]
- Secunda was recently commanded by Julius O'Reilly.
Tertia Cohors (1 Cohort/Regular/Reliable)[6]
- The bulk of older assault 'Mech designs are used by the Tertia.
II Auxilia Loricatus (1 Legion/Regular/Reliable)[6]
II Auxilia Mobiliaris (1 Legion/Veteran/Fanatical)[6]

3067[edit]

II Legio (Veteran/Fanatical)[8]

Prima Cohors (1 Cohort/Elite/Fanatical)[8]
Secunda Cohors (1 Cohort/Veteran/Reliable)[8]
Tertia Cohors (1 Cohort/Elite/Reliable)[8]
Quarta Cohors (1 Cohort/Regular/Fanatical)[8]
Quinta Cohors (1 Cohort/Regular/Reliable)[8]
II Auxilia Loricatus Legio (1 Legion/Veteran/Fanatical)[8]
  • CO: Prefect David Hudson
II Auxilia Mobiliarius Legio (1 Legion/Veteran/Fanatical)[8]
II Caelum Wing (1 Wing/Veteran/Reliable)[8]

3085[edit]

II Legio (Veteran/Fanatical)[12]

Prima Cohors (Elite/Fanatical)[12]
  • CO: Prefect David Hudson
Secunda Cohors (Elite/Fanatical)[12]
Tertia Cohors (Veteran/Fanatical)[12]
  • CO: Prefect Crosby Ton
Quarta Cohors (Regular/Fanatical)[12]
  • CO: Prefect Wilma Bohn
Quinta Cohors (Regular/Fanatical)[12]
II Auxilia Loricatus Legio (Veteran/Reliable)[12]
II Auxilia Mobilaris Legion (Regular/Reliable)[12]
II Caelum (Wing/Elite/Fanatical)[12]

3145[edit]

II Legio (Veteran/Fanatical)[15]

Prima Cohors (Elite/Fanatical)[15]
Secunda Cohors (Veteran/Reliable)[15]
Tertia Cohors (Veteran/Fanatical)[15]
Quarta Cohors (Regular/Fanatical)[15]
Quinta Cohors (Veteran/Fanatical)[15]
II Prima Auxilia Legio (Regular/Reliable)[15]
II Secunda Auxilia Legio (Regular/Fanatical)[15]
II Caelum Wing (Elite/Fanatical)[15]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ The Periphery, 2nd Edition, p. 56
  2. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 70
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 71
  4. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 72
  5. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 77
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Field Manual: Periphery, p. 78: "II Legio Unit Profile"
  7. ↑ Field Manual: Updates, p. 195
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 Field Manual: Updates, p. 202: "Marian Hegemony Armed Forces Deployment Table - 3067"
  9. ↑ Jihad: Final Reckoning, p. 58: "The Jihad in Review"
  10. ↑ Field Report: Periphery, p. 15
  11. ↑ Field Manual: 3085, p. 143
  12. ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 Field Manual: 3085, p. 151: "Marian Hegemony Deployment Table - 3085"
  13. ↑ Technical Readout: 3145 Mercenaries, p. 6: "Marauder Battle Armor"
  14. ↑ Field Manual: 3145, p. 196
  15. ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 Field Manual: 3145, p. 202: "Marian Hegemony Armed Forces"
  16. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 38
  17. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 71: "Sword of Damocles"
  18. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 89
  19. ↑ Shattered Fortress, p. 90
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 The Periphery, 2nd Edition, p. 61
  21. ↑ Field Manual: Periphery, p. 143

Bibliography[edit]

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