Magistracy Royal Guards

Magistracy Royal Guards
Formed	Reunification War Era
Affiliation	Magistracy of Canopus
Parent Command	Magistracy Armed Forces

History

The Magistracy Royal Guards has a long history of loyal service to its nation. After becoming independent again in 2786 the units were rebuilt. During the Succession Wars the regiment have little to do. Sometimes the soldiers fight against Marik raiders or show strength to the Taurians.

Star League

During the Star League era, the First and Second Canopian Cuirassiers were the only units of the brigade. They were the highest regarded units in Canopian service.

The Jihad

The unit took significant losses during the Jihad; when the Word of Blake firebombed the city of Crimson on Canopus IV, Raventhir's Iron Hand died trying to protect Magestrix Emma Centrella. The 1st Canopian Cuirassiers managed to avoid being destroyed during the bombing, although they took significant losses; with Senior General Hadji Doru leading the First, they formed a large part of the resistance on Canopus, constantly raiding and harassing the occupying Blakists and preventing them from consolidating their control of the planet. The only unit from the brigade to survive the Jihad comparatively intact was the 2nd Canopian Cuirassiers, who were on garrison duty on Buenos Aires when the Blakists attacked the Magistracy. The Second chafed to return to the Magistracy, and once Magestrix Naomi Centrella prevailed upon Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao to allow the Second to return to Canopian space the Second returned swiftly, providing an immediate message to any potential raiders or opportunists.

Post-Jihad

The Magestrix began rebuilding the Magistracy Royal Guards swiftly after the end of the Jihad; Major Jeremy Raventhir was moved out of the 1st Raventhir Cuirassiers to become the commanding officer of the reconstituted Raventhir's Iron Hand, with elite personnel from across the Magistracy Armed Forces joining the top-ranking cadets from the Emma Centrella Martial Academy to form the new Iron Hand. For his actions during the Jihad Colonel Lane Meisel of the 1st Canopian Cuirassiers was awarded the ruby Canopus Cluster (without having to pay the customary "donation"), the Fist of Raventhir and, somewhat controversially, the Ribbon of the Magestrix. Colonel Meisel was then promoted to General Meisel and appointed commanding officer of the Magistracy Royal Guards Brigade. Colonel Goss of the 2nd Canopian Cuirassiers was appointed executive officer to General Meisel, with command of the 2nd passing to Colonel Joseph Wulf.

The Guards have not been idle as the rebuilding continued; the bulk of the Iron Hand and the 1st were guarding Canopus in 3085, although a company from the Iron Hand routed a pirate attack on Bass in July; the 2nd had taken up position on Detroit, guarding the valuable facilities there.

In the Dark Age the Magistracy Royal Guards were used to protect vital systems in allied territory, critical resources in the Magistracy, and worlds that were returned to the Magistracy after the dissolution of the Free Worlds League.

Officers

Rank	Name	Command
Commanding Officers of the Magistracy Royal Guards
Colonel	Holly Van Dame	3025
General	Lane Meisel	3085
General	Lori Reed	3145

Other Officers

In 3085 the unit's XO was Colonel Goss.

Units of the Magistracy Royal Guards

• Raventhir's Iron Hand
• First Canopian Cuirassiers
• Second Canopian Cuirassiers
• Third Canopian Cuirassiers

Unit Insignias

• 

  Raventhir's Iron Hand

• 

  1st Canopian Cuirassiers

• 

  2nd Canopian Cuirassiers

Bibliography

• Field Manual: 3085
• Field Manual: 3145
• Field Report: Periphery
• Field Report 2765: Periphery
• The Periphery (sourcebook)