Lone Wolves

Insignia of the Lone Wolves
Lone Wolves
Affiliation Mercenary
Parent Command Independent


Overview[edit]

The Lone Wolves are a loose collection of independent lances fighting together as a mercenary cartel. They never registered with the Mercenary Review and Bonding Commission (or previously the Mercenary Review Board) and are not particularly picky about their members' backgrounds either. The cartel serves as a logistics provider to its individual members who have to purchase and pay the unit for all supplies and services in advance, but enjoy great freedoms otherwise.[1][2][3]

Throughout the years scores of lances and companies have passed through the unit's organization. Some remain for years, some just for months.

At the beginning of each day, all mercenaries are paid in full. Individual units within the Lone Wolves can choose to fight or flee as they see fit, but once the sub-unit accepts money to fight, it is expected to be battle ready.[4][3]

They should not be confused with the second regiment (the "Lone Wolves") of the Outworlds Alliance's 3rd Alliance Air Wing (the "Dark Rain").

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

Apparently forming on Galatea in the mid-thirtieth century from warriors of various houses, the Lone Wolves are best known for appearing just before a fight and offering their services to the defender. If the defender declines their offer the Lone Wolves will try to get a contract with the attacker.[5] Many loose groups claimed the name "Lone Wolves", making it difficult to determine to what extent they can be considered to be the same unit.[6][3]

The Lone Wolves participated in the defense of the Free Worlds League planet Rochelle against a Lyran Commonwealth assault that ended in 3007.[7] It was during this action that the extremely loosely organized Lone Wolves coalesced into a more coherent, recognizable mercenary force, though they still deliberately eschewed unified command and never registered with the Mercenary Review Board as a unit. Instead, they formed "The Committee", a logistics cartel that individual mercenaries could join or leave as they pleased.[6]

Each Company, Lance, and sometimes even individual 'Mech, is considered an independent contractor that owes no loyalty to other members of the Lone Wolves. The Committee demands payment from their employer every day, and each day they pay the MechWarriors who fight. If a MechWarrior doesn't like the deal or wants to take a day off, he is free to do so but won't be paid for that day. Once a MechWarrior is paid, The Committee expects him to fight.[8][3] Every MechWarrior must pay for every single work that is done for their equipment by the Lone Wolves' technical group.[3]

They participated in the Galtor campaign of 3025 on the side of the Federated Suns. Here, their first action occurred when the 21st Galedon Regulars performed a combat drop that landed the DCMS unit in the middle of the Lone Wolves' base camp outside New Derry. After inflicting 60% casualties on the Combine unit the Lone Wolves began arguing with each other over salvage rights, which allowed the surviving enemy forces to escape.[9][3] In late September, they faced off against the 2nd Amphigean Light Assault Group and the 8th Galedon Regulars. After fighting on the world for five months, they retreated off-world with captured loot and supplies when the Federated Suns commander, General William Dobson, was killed.[10] The unit suffered 75% casualties during that contract.[4]

During the Fourth Succession War, the Lone Wolves seemed to possess insider knowledge of the Federated Suns offensive plan. They appeared in small numbers on world after world in Capellan Confederation space to offer their services, but the Confederation ignored them.[6]

Civil War Era[edit]

The Lone Wolves mercenary unit withstood the FedCom Civil War without casualties, deliberately staying below the radar by hiring out in smaller "packages" (instead of being present as one large unit). After the conflict they went to Outreach to offer their services as a garrison force, but the planetary government refused, citing the presence of Wolf's Dragoons.[11]

Jihad Era[edit]

Mere weeks later, the Wolves' prediction than they would be needed proved true once more, when Waco Rangers launched their surprise attack on Outreach, the First Harlech. When the assault came, the Lone Wolves were divided from within and sat on the sidelines instead of offering to join the attackers. They even held open their offer to the defenders, but were refused. Some renegade Lone Wolves then defected and joined forces with the attackers, which prompted many of the rest to fight on the side of Wolf's Dragoons, partially to save the Lone Wolves' reputation. The Committee had the defectors and renegades hunted down, destroying their stolen DropShip in a brief battle at the jump point. The pro-Dragoons portion that remained to fight alongside the defenders, ironically, were meanwhile mistaken as enemies and vanquished by Dragoon defenders. At this, The Committee decided to leave Outreach before it became a graveyard for the whole unit and fled to Galatea with what remained of the Lone Wolves for rest and refit.[12]

Dark Age[edit]

The Wolves survived the Word of Blake Jihad and the Dark Age eras.

ilClan Era[edit]

In 3151 they proved their unnatural talent to know where they're most needed, and traveled to Alyina, in the Hinterlands, in the newly born state, the Alyina Mercantile League. The AML had precisely decided to hire mercenaries... but the Wolves arrived before, expecting to find work in a new realm, especially if it can offer Clan BattleMechs as payment. The League's leader, the Syndic Marena decided to hire them. It proved to be a fortuitous investment: a group of Pirates which had raided Alyina before to steal new BattleMechs attacked in September, but the Wolves engaged them and drove them off.[13]

Under the AML rule, the Wolves proved to be reliable, behaving professionally, if a bit standoffish... but others not: after another contracted group, the Tread of Doom broke its contract, and stole prisoners and money from the AML before escaping, Marena considered voiding all mercenary contracts, but the Wolves' leader, Major McHale, interceded on the others' behalf and convinced her to only renegotiate the contracts.[14]

Ironically, the Lone Wolves didn't stay too much under the AML's contract: they didn't renewed his six-month contract, citing the Major Albert Heidegger, a lack of action, and traveled along with a group of AML Jade Falcon loyalists exiled to Sudeten, capital of the Clan Jade Falcon Remnants. The Clans didn't like mercenaries, but the Remnant's leader, Khan Jiyi Chistu was more moderate; he didn't contract the Wolves, but allowed them to land on Sudeten, to rest and refit... though also ordered the Watch to ply them info about the AML Mercantile Militia.[15]

Once more, the Wolves arrival proved to be very opportune: less than two weeks later, the 3 March 3152, an invading force arrived to Sudeten, led by both Clan Hell's Horses khans.[16]

The Lone Wolves initially stay apart from the Falcons and Horses fight, while the Battle of Sudeten (3152) raged... but, despite the fact they weren't under contract, when the Horses' Thirty-Ninth Mechanized Assault Cluster threatened the Trellshire Heavy Industries factory, Major Heidegger decided to intervene: they cannot flee Sudeten with the Horses in the way, so they can die at the Horses hands... or assist the Falcons, which had housed them. The Wolves chose the latter option, and they charged into the Thirty-Ninth flank, saving the Falcon defenders and forcing the Horses to cease his attack.[17]

In the fight, the Wolves lost about a company, but after the Falcon victory, Chistu rewarded them: he praised their bravery and, considering their actions a suitable Trial of Possession for the parts and equipment necessary to rebuild the company. He also gave a salvaged Dire Wolf to Heidegger.[18]

Officers[edit]

"The Committee" (longest serving members within the Lone Wolves) run all operations for the unit. The Committee negotiates all contracts and sets all internal regulation. Beyond that, they don't act as a cohesive unit and thus the concept of "commanding officer" is not applicable for the Lone Wolves as a whole; individual sub-units and groups may or may not have their own command (sub-)structure.

Tactics[edit]

During the Galtor Campaign, the Lone Wolves showed that they were particularly skilled in urban combat,[19] and they have garnered a reputation as urban combat specialists since.[6] However, the fluctuating membership and loose cohesion of the unit means their tactics and performance tend to vary wildly between deployments.

Dragoon Ratings[edit]

3067[edit]

Dragoon Rating: B+

Composition History[edit]

3025[edit]

  • Lone Wolves (Veteran)[4]
  • The Committee (One 'Mech Company)
  • Hakim's Company (One 'Mech Company and two Armor Lances)
  • Negef's Company (One 'Mech Company and two Armor Lances)
  • Force For Galaxy Freedom (One 'Mech Company)
  • Independence (Two Armor Lances)
  • Albrot's Company (Two 'Mech Lances)
  • Company of Wolves (One 'Mech Lance and one Armor Lance)
  • Crowned Seraph (Reinforced 'Mech Company)
  • God's Judgement (Two 'Mech Lances)
  • Lords of the Sword (One 'Mech Company and Two 'Mech Lances)
  • Sword of Moses (Reinforced Armor Company)
  • Brothers of Israel (One 'Mech Lance)
  • Memorialists (One 'Mech Lance)
  • The Elected Ones (One 'Mech Lance)
  • Black November (One 'Mech Lance)
  • Golden Rays (One 'Mech Lance)
  • John "Big Booty" Stetson's Company (One 'Mech Lance and one Armor Lance)
  • Freedom Fighters (Four Infantry Platoons)

3067[edit]

- Mostly light 'Mechs, with a few assault lances.

The Lone Wolves' support force is a hodgepodge of infantry, armor, and aerospace fighters. Its size, composition, and technology all tend to fluctuate from week to week.

  • Support 100%

3152[edit]

  • Lone Wolves (Veteran)[20]
  • 1 BattleMech Battalion
  • 1 Combat Vehicle Battalion
  • 1 Aerospace Fighter Flight

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. Mercenaries Supplemental II, p. 48: "Unit Profile"
  2. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 88: "Unit Profile"
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 56
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Galtor Campaign, p. 49: "Lone Wolves"
  5. The Galtor Campaign, p. 9
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Combat Manual: Mercenaries, p. 56
  7. BattleCorps scenario Twins
  8. The Galtor Campaign, p. 49
  9. The Galtor Campaign, p. 17
  10. Historical Turning Points: Galtor, p. 14
  11. Mercenaries Supplemental 2, p. 48
  12. Mercenaries Supplemental Update, p. 88
  13. Tamar Rising, p. 45
  14. Tamar Rising, p. 46
  15. Tamar Rising, p. 55
  16. Tamar Rising, p. 63
  17. Tamar Rising, p. 84
  18. Tamar Rising, p. 67
  19. Historical Turning Points: Galtor, p. 7
  20. Tamar Rising, p. 113
  21. Tamar Rising, p. 52

Bibliography[edit]